Patent ID: 7826308
Filing Date: 2010-11-02
Classification: G01S,G10K

Abstract:
1. A method for optimal design of non-uniform weighted periodic sparse arrays for an ultrasound imaging system, the ultrasound imaging system having an array transducer including a total of N elements, the method comprising the steps of: (a) setting an interval P (b) setting an interval P (c) setting a transmit apodization function WT(n) configured to be applied to the beam pattern of the transmit sparse array; (d) setting a receive apodization function WR(n) configured to be applied to the beam pattern of the receive sparse array; (e) converting a first electric signal into a transmitted ultrasonic wave from the transmit sparse array; and (f) converting a received ultrasonic wave received by the receive sparse array into a second electric signal; wherein at least one independent time delay is applied to all N array transducer elements.