Patent ID: 8795179
Filing Date: 2014-08-05
Classification: G01N,G01S

Abstract:
1. A gain control method for B-mode ultrasonic imaging, the method comprising: receiving image data comprising a plurality of pixels; determining an empty area of the image data comprising noise and a signal area of the image data comprising features of interest; calculating, using a processor, a background noise threshold based on values of one or more pixels in at least one of the empty area and the signal area; calculating, using the processor, a signal threshold based on values of one or more pixels in the signal area; computing, using the processor, an initial gain value estimate based on an estimated uniform amplification of the image data necessary for appropriate observation of the signal of interest; generating, using the processor, a nonlinear gain curve specifying the gain to be applied to the plurality of pixels, wherein the nonlinear gain curve specifies the gain to be applied to each pixel based on a corresponding value of the pixel, wherein the nonlinear gain curve includes: transforming, using the processor, pre-gain pixel values to post-gain pixel values using the nonlinear gain curve.