Patent ID: 6013032
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: A61B,G01S,G10K,Y10S

Abstract:
A subarray receive beamformer for use in an ultrasound imaging system including a two-dimensional array of ultrasound transducer elements that define a plurality of subarrays, said subarray beamformer comprising:receive circuitry, responsive to transducer signals generated by receive elements of an associated subarray in response to received ultrasound energy, wherein the receive elements of the associated subarray are distributed in at least two dimensions on said two-dimensional array, said receive circuitry providing first and second subarray signals, said first and second subarray signals each comprising a sum of weighted component signals derived from said transducer signals; anda phase shift network for phase shifting and combining said first and second subarray signals to provide a phase shifted subarray signal.