Abstract:
In order to facilitate recognition of the correct orientation of a connector, the rear portion of a connector  24  is configured to form an elevation angle when the front portion of the connector can be correctly inserted into a receptacle  500  in a horizontal direction.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a connector case, ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic imaging apparatus, and particularly to a connector case containing an electric contact assembly, an ultrasonic probe comprising such a connector case, and an ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising such an ultrasonic probe.  
         RELATED ART  
         [0002]    An ultrasonic imaging apparatus scans the interior of a subject to be imaged with a beam of pulsed ultrasound, receives an echo, calculates image data corresponding to the intensity of the echo, and produces an image commonly referred to as a B-mode image based on the image data. This process is sometimes referred to as B-mode imaging.  
           [0003]    Moreover, the ultrasonic imaging apparatus calculates a Doppler shift of the echo of pulsed ultrasound, and produces a color image representing dynamics of blood flow etc., which is commonly referred to as a color Doppler image, based on the Doppler shift. This process is sometimes referred to as color Doppler imaging.  
           [0004]    Furthermore, the ultrasonic imaging apparatus obtains a Doppler signal of an echo of continuous wave (CW) ultrasound, and displays the signal as a frequency spectral image and as a sound (Doppler sound). This process is sometimes referred to as continuous wave Doppler measurement.  
           [0005]    In any of the above-described imaging or measurement, an ultrasonic probe is used for transmission of the ultrasound and reception of the echo. The ultrasonic probe is connected to a body of the imaging apparatus via a flexible cable. A user takes the ultrasonic probe in the hand, and uses the probe by abutting it against a desired portion on the subject to be imaged.  
           [0006]    A plurality of types of purpose-specific ultrasonic probes are kept handy, and an appropriate one of them is selected for the purpose at hand and used by connecting the probe to the imaging apparatus body. The connection of the ultrasonic probe with the imaging apparatus body is established by a connector. The user connects the ultrasonic probe to the imaging apparatus body by inserting the connector provided at an end of the cable of the ultrasonic probe into a receptacle provided in the imaging apparatus body; and removes the ultrasonic probe from the imaging apparatus body by withdrawing the connector from the receptacle.  
           [0007]    The orientation of the connector in which the connector can be inserted into the receptacle is fixed and the connector has a structure such that it cannot be inserted in orientations other than the fixed one. However, the user may, by mistake for example, sometimes attempt to insert the connector forcibly in a wrong orientation and break the connector or receptacle.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector case that facilitates recognition of the correct orientation of a connector, an ultrasonic probe comprising such a connector case, and an ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising such an ultrasonic probe.  
           [0009]    (1) The present invention, in one aspect for achieving the aforementioned object, is a connector case having a front portion to be inserted into a receptacle and a rear portion out of which a cable is led, and containing an electric contact assembly therein, wherein the connector case is configured so that the rear portion forms an elevation angle when the front portion can be correctly inserted into the receptacle in a horizontal direction.  
           [0010]    (2) The present invention, in another aspect for achieving the aforementioned object, is an ultrasonic probe comprising: a probe body; a cable having one end connected to the probe body; an electric contact assembly connected to the other end of the cable; and a connector case having a front portion to be inserted into a receptacle and a rear portion out of which the cable is led, and containing the electric contact assembly therein, the connector case being configured so that the rear portion forms an elevation angle when the front portion can be correctly inserted into the receptacle in a horizontal direction.  
           [0011]    (3) The present invention, in still another aspect for achieving the aforementioned object, is an ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging apparatus body provided with a receptacle; a probe body; a cable having one end connected to the probe body; an electric contact assembly connected to the other end of the cable; and a connector case having a front portion to be inserted into the receptacle and a rear portion out of which the cable is led, and containing the electric contact assembly therein, the connector case being configured so that the rear portion forms an elevation angle when the front portion can be correctly inserted into the receptacle in a horizontal direction.  
           [0012]    In the invention of the aspects as described in (1)-(3), the connector case is configured so that the rear portion forms an elevation angle when the front portion can be correctly inserted into the receptacle in a horizontal direction; therefore, when the user attempts to insert the front portion inversely, the rear portion is directed downward to awkwardly interfere with the supporting surface on which the apparatus provided with the receptacle is placed. Thus, the user becomes aware of the mistake instantaneously.  
           [0013]    (4) The present invention, in still another aspect for achieving the aforementioned object, is a connector case having a front portion to be inserted into a receptacle and a rear portion out of which a cable is led, and containing an electric contact assembly therein, wherein the connector case has a color on a side that is obverse when the front portion can be correctly inserted into the receptacle in a horizontal direction, which color is different from that on a reverse side.  
           [0014]    (5) The present invention, in still another aspect for achieving the aforementioned object, is an ultrasonic probe comprising: a probe body; a cable having one end connected to the probe body; an electric contact assembly connected to the other end of the cable; and a connector case having a front portion to be inserted into a receptacle and a rear portion out of which the cable is led, and containing the electric contact assembly therein, the connector case having a color on a side that is obverse when the front portion can be correctly inserted into the receptacle in a horizontal direction, which color is different from that on a reverse side.  
           [0015]    (6) The present invention, in still another aspect for achieving the aforementioned object, is an ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging apparatus body provided with a receptacle; a probe body; a cable having one end connected to the probe body; an electric contact assembly connected to the other end of the cable; and a connector case having a front portion to be inserted into the receptacle and a rear portion out of which the cable is led, and containing the electric contact assembly therein, the connector case having a color on a side that is obverse when the front portion can be correctly inserted into the receptacle in a horizontal direction, which color is different from that on a reverse side.  
           [0016]    In the invention of the aspects as described in (4)-(6), the connector case is configured to have a color on a side that is obverse when the front portion can be correctly inserted into the receptacle in a horizontal direction, which color is different from that on a reverse side; therefore, when the user attempts to insert the front portion inversely, the user is made instantaneously aware of the mistake by the different color.  
           [0017]    (7) The present invention, in still another aspect for achieving the aforementioned object, is a connector case having a front portion to be inserted into a receptacle and a rear portion out of which a cable is led, and containing an electric contact assembly therein, wherein the connector case comprises an insertion stopping member that is retracted from an insertion stopping position to a release position by gravity when the front portion is in a position in which it can be correctly inserted into the receptacle in a horizontal direction.  
           [0018]    (8) The present invention, in still another aspect for achieving the aforementioned object, is an ultrasonic probe comprising: a probe body; a cable having one end connected to the probe body; an electric contact assembly connected to the other end of the cable; and a connector case having a front portion to be inserted into a receptacle and a rear portion out of which the cable is led, and containing the electric contact assembly therein, the connector case comprising an insertion stopping member that is retracted from an insertion stopping position to a release position by gravity when the front portion is in a position in which it can be correctly inserted into the receptacle in a horizontal direction.  
           [0019]    (9) The present invention, in still another aspect for achieving the aforementioned object, is an ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging apparatus body provided with a receptacle; a probe body; a cable having one end connected to the probe body; an electric contact assembly connected to the other end of the cable; and a connector case having a front portion to be inserted into the receptacle and a rear portion out of which the cable is led, and containing the electric contact assembly therein, the connector case comprising an insertion stopping member that is retracted from an insertion stopping position to a release position by gravity when the front portion is in a position in which it can be correctly inserted into the receptacle in a horizontal direction.  
           [0020]    In the invention of the aspects as described in (7)-(9), the connector case is configured to have an insertion stopping member that is retracted from an insertion stopping position to a release position by gravity when the front portion is in a position in which it can be correctly inserted into the receptacle in a horizontal direction; therefore, even if the user attempts to insert the front portion inversely, the insertion is stopped by the insertion stopping member and the user becomes aware of the mistake instantaneously.  
           [0021]    Preferably, the insertion stopping member has a pivotally supported arm, one end of which is provided with a stopper plate and the other end of which is provided with a weight, so that the configuration can be simplified.  
           [0022]    (10) The present invention, in still another aspect for achieving the aforementioned object, is an ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging apparatus body provided with a receptacle; a probe body; a cable having one end connected to the probe body; a connector case having a front portion to be inserted into the receptacle and a rear portion out of which the cable is led, and containing an electric contact assembly connected to the other end of the cable therein; and warning means for generating a warning sound when the front portion of the connector case is about to be inserted into the receptacle in an incorrect orientation.  
           [0023]    In the invention as described in ( 10 ), there is provided warning means for generating a warning sound when the front portion of the connector case is about to be inserted into the receptacle in an incorrect orientation; therefore, when the user attempts to insert the front portion inversely, the user is made instantaneously aware of the mistake by the warning sound.  
           [0024]    Preferably, the sound is a noise, because the warning means can be simplified.  
           [0025]    Preferably, the sound is a voice message, because an explicit warning can be made.  
           [0026]    In this case, the voice message is preferably a multilingual voice message, because a variety of users can be accommodated.  
           [0027]    Preferably, the imaging apparatus body has a generally rectangular-parallelepiped outer shape in which the height dimension is smaller than the length and width dimensions, and has a housing provided with the receptacle on one of its surfaces other than the bottom and upper surfaces, so that a flat ultrasonic imaging apparatus can be constructed.  
           [0028]    In this case, the imaging apparatus body preferably has on an upper surface of the housing a generally planar display section that is tiltable around a hinge, so that a flat ultrasonic imaging apparatus including the display section can be constructed.  
           [0029]    As described above in detail, the present invention can provide a connector case that facilitates recognition of the correct orientation of a connector, an ultrasonic probe comprising such a connector case, and an ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising such an ultrasonic probe.  
           [0030]    Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0031]    [0031]FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the physical configuration of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic views showing the physical configuration of an imaging apparatus body.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the physical configuration of an ultrasonic probe.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 5 is the configuration of a connector.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the relationship between the connector and a receptacle.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 7 is the configuration of the connector.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 8 is a front view of the connector.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIGS. 9 and 10 show the configuration of an insertion stopping mechanism.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the relationship between the connector and the receptacle.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 12 is a block diagram of means of generating a warning of wrong insertion. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0041]    Several embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. The physical configuration of an ultrasonic imaging apparatus is schematically shown in FIG. 1, which is one embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the apparatus represents an embodiment of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention. With respect to the apparatus, front and rear, right and left, and up and down directions are defined as indicated by arrows shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0042]    As shown in FIG. 1, the present apparatus has an imaging apparatus body  100  and an ultrasonic probe  2 . The ultrasonic probe  2  is comprised of a probe body  20 , a cable  22  and a connector  24 . The probe body  20  is connected to one end of the cable  22 , and is removably connected to the imaging apparatus body  100  via the connector  24  provided at the other end of the cable  22 .  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 2 shows the imaging apparatus body  100  without the ultrasonic probe  2 . As shown, the imaging apparatus body  100  is constructed by joining a generally planar panel  300  to a generally box-shaped body  200  via a hinge  400 . The hinge  400  is provided between the upper portion of the rear end of the body  200  and the lower end portion of the panel  300 .  
         [0044]    The panel  300  can rotate relative to the body  200  around the hinge  400 . The hinge  400  has a moderate frictional resistance to allow the panel  300  to be fixed at an arbitrary rotation angle.  
         [0045]    When the panel  300  is rotated counterclockwise to the maximum degree in the drawing, the panel  300  can be turned down on the upper surface of the body  200  as shown in FIG. 3. This condition will be sometimes referred to as the folded condition of the imaging apparatus body  100  hereinbelow. That is, the panel  300  can tilt toward the body  200 . In the folded condition, the imaging apparatus body  100  has a so-called slim and generally rectangular-parallelepiped outer shape in which the top-bottom dimension is smaller than the front-rear dimension and the right-left dimension.  
         [0046]    The upper surface of the body  200  is configured as an operating section  210  of the present apparatus. The operating section  210  has a keyboard  212  and an input pad  214 . The input pad  214  is provided with a pair of click buttons  216 . The input pad  214  is used as a pointing device.  
         [0047]    A right side surface of the body  200  is provided with a receptacle  500  for connecting the connector  24  of the ultrasonic probe  2 . It should be noted that the position at which the receptacle  500  is disposed is not limited to the right side surface, but the receptacle  500  may be provided on the left side, rear or front surfaces; in effect, the position may be any surface other than the upper and bottom surfaces. The receptacle  500  is an embodiment of the receptacle of the present invention.  
         [0048]    A front surface of the panel  300  is configured as a display section  310 . The display section  310  has an image display device  312  and a pair of sound output devices  314 . For the image display device  312 , a flat panel display, such as, for example, an LCD (liquid crystal display), is employed. For the sound output devices  314 , speakers, for example, are employed.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 4 shows the ultrasonic probe  2  removed from the imaging apparatus body  100 . The ultrasonic probe  2  is an embodiment of the ultrasonic probe of the present invention. The configuration of the probe represents an embodiment of the ultrasonic probe in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0050]    The probe body  20  is connected with one end of the cable  22 , and the other end of the cable  22  is connected with the connector  24 . The probe body  20  is an embodiment of the probe body of the present invention. The cable  22  is an embodiment of the cable of the present invention.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the connector  24  from four directions. FIG. 5( a ) is a front elevational view, ( b ) is a top plan view, ( c ) is a rear view, and ( d ) is a lateral side view. As shown, the connector  24  has a connector case  250  containing an electric contact assembly  240  therein. The connector case  250  has an opening  252  in its front. The electric contact assembly  240  protrudes toward the opening  252  within the connector case  250 .  
         [0052]    The connector case  250  is an embodiment of the connector case of the present invention. The configuration of the case represents an embodiment of the connector case in accordance with the present invention. The connector case  250  is also an embodiment of the connector case in the ultrasonic probe and the ultrasonic imaging apparatus of the present invention. The electric contact assembly  240  is an embodiment of the electric contact assembly of the present invention.  
         [0053]    The electric contact assembly  240  has a plurality of pin-like electric contacts  242 . The electric contact number assignment is represented in the drawing by that at a single location. The plurality of electric contacts  242  are implanted on a substrate (not shown) in parallel with one another toward the front. The plurality of electric contacts  242  are surrounded by a sleeve  244 . The length of the sleeve  244  is slightly larger than the length of the electric contacts  242 .  
         [0054]    The cable  22  is led out of the rear surface of the connector case  250  through a cylindrical portion  254 . A plurality of electric wires constituting the cable  22  are connected to respective ones of the electric contacts  242  within the connector case  250 .  
         [0055]    The lower surface of the rear portion of the connector case  250  forms an elevation angle α with respect to a direction extended from the lowest surface, or the bottom surface, of the connector case  250 . Accordingly, the cylindrical portion  254  and the cable led out of the portion  254  also have the same elevation angle α. Although the upper surface of the rear portion is shown to have the same elevation angle in FIG. 5, the upper surface need not have such an elevation angle, and it suffices for at least the lower surface to have the elevation angle α. The connector  24  thus constructed is inserted into the receptacle  500  in the imaging apparatus body  100 .  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the connector  24  and the receptacle  500 . As shown, the receptacle  500  is comprised of a concave portion having an opening  502  into which the front portion of the connector  24  can be inserted, and an electric contact assembly  240 ′. The electric contact assembly  240 ′ is provided inside the concave portion. The electric contact assembly  240 ′ protrudes toward the opening  502  of the receptacle  500 .  
         [0057]    The electric contact assembly  240 ′ is a contact counterpart for the electric contact assembly  240  of the connector  24 . The outer periphery of the electric contact assembly  240 ′ has a shape and size matched to the inner dimension of the sleeve  244  of the electric contact assembly  240 , and also has a plurality of holes (not shown) matched to the plurality of electric contacts (pins)  242  in the electric contact assembly  240 . Each hole has an electric contact strip on its inner surface. The electric contact strips are connected to an electric circuit within the imaging apparatus body  100 . The electric contact assembly  240  and the electric contact assembly  240 ′ are engaged with each other by inserting the connector  24  into the receptacle  500 , thereby establishing electric connection.  
         [0058]    Since the imaging apparatus body  100  is of slim type, the height of the lower side of the receptacle  500  from a supporting surface  600  on which the imaging apparatus body  100  is placed is quite small. However, the connector  24  has an elevation angle at the lower surface of the rear portion, and hence the clearance between the lower surface of the rear portion of the connector  24  and the supporting surface  600  is sufficiently large. Thus, insertion and withdrawal of the connector  24  by the user&#39;s hand can be easily done.  
         [0059]    On the other hand, when the user attempts to insert the connector  24  into the receptacle  500  inversely with respect to the top-bottom direction of the connector  24 , due to a mistake for example, the rear portion, the cylindrical portion  254  and the cable  22  exiting from the rear portion of the connector  24  interfere with the supporting surface  600  because the elevation angular configuration of the rear portion works inversely. Therefore, the insertion of the connector  24  is impossible or extremely difficult. That is, correct insertion is easy to do and incorrect insertion is impossible or extremely difficult to do, and thus correct connector insertion is spontaneously conducted.  
         [0060]    Correct connector insertion can be facilitated by utilizing the color of the connector instead of forming an elevation angle at the rear portion of the connector case as above. An example of such a case is shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 7( a ), ( b ) and ( c ) are top plan view, lateral side view and bottom plan view of the connector  24 , respectively. As shown, the connector case  250  exhibits a color A on its upper half surface, or on a side that is obverse when the connector case  250  is correctly inserted into the receptacle  500 ; and exhibits a color B on its lower half surface, or on a side that is reverse when the connector case  250  is correctly inserted into the receptacle  500 .  
         [0061]    The colors A and B are different from each other: for example, the color A is a quiet or inconspicuous color, and the color B is a loud or conspicuous color. Thus, when the user attempts to insert the connector inversely by mistake, the conspicuous color B, for example, is perceived and the user becomes aware of the mistake easily. Such coloring may be combined with the formation of the elevation angle as described above.  
         [0062]    The prevention of wrong connector insertion may also be achieved by mechanical stopping means. Specifically, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 8, an insertion stopping mechanism  260  is provided on either side of the upper portion of the sleeve  244  around the electric contact assembly  240  to stop the incorrect insertion.  
         [0063]    [0063]FIGS. 9 and 10 show enlarged views of a portion at which the insertion stopping mechanism  260  is disposed. A right end portion is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. A left end portion is in symmetry with the right end portion. FIG. 9 is a front elevational view and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view across line A-A.  
         [0064]    As shown, the insertion stopping mechanism  260  has a stem  268  rotatably supported by a bearing  270  provided on the outer periphery of the sleeve  244 . The tip of the stem  268  is attached with an arm  264 . The direction of the arm  264  is perpendicular to the stem  268 . The arm  264  is elbowed in a plane perpendicular to the stem  268 .  
         [0065]    The arm  264  is provided with a stopper plate  262  and a weight  266  respectively at the ends. The stopper plate  262  is parallel to the stem  268 . The stopper plate  262  is an embodiment of the insertion stopping member of the present invention. The stopper plate  262 , arm  264  and weight  266  constitute a rotator that is rotatable around the stem  268 . A portion from the stem  268  to the stopper plate  262  in the arm  264  will be sometimes referred to as an upper arm, and a portion from the stem  268  to the weight  266  as a lower arm hereinbelow.  
         [0066]    The moment of rotations of the lower arm having the weight  266  is larger than that of the upper arm having the stopper plate  262 . Accordingly, the rotator attempts to rotate to a position at which the lower arm stands vertically owing to gravity acting on the weight  266 , but the rotation is inhibited by the upper arm colliding with a stopper  272 . As a result, the rotator stops with the upper arm standing upright. In this condition, the stopper plate  262  lifts up away from the front surface of the sleeve  244 . The position of the stopper plate  262  at this time will be sometimes referred to as a release position hereinbelow.  
         [0067]    When the stopper plate  262  is in the release position, the connector  24  can be inserted into the receptacle  500  to engage the electric contact assembly  240  with the electric contact assembly  240 ′ in the receptacle  500 .  
         [0068]    On the other hand, when the user attempts to insert the connector  24  into the receptacle  500  inversely with respect to the top-bottom direction of the connector  24 , the top-bottom relationship is inverted with respect to that in FIGS. 9 and 10, and the arm  264  rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 10 owing to gravity acting on the weight  266  and stops at a position where the stopper plate  262  collides with the sleeve  244 . The position of the stopper plate  262  at this time will be sometimes referred to as a stopping position.  
         [0069]    In the stopping position, the stopper plate  262  overlaps the front surface of the sleeve  244 , as indicated by broken line in FIGS. 9 and 10. Accordingly, even if the user attempts to insert the connector  24  to the receptacle  500 , it is impossible to engage the electric contact assembly  240  with the electric contact assembly  240 ′, thereby preventing the wrong insertion.  
         [0070]    Such an insertion stopping mechanism may be provided in the connector which has the elevation angle or in that which is color-coded as described above. Thus, the prevention of wrong insertion can be achieved more securely.  
         [0071]    The prevention of wrong insertion may moreover be performed by a warning generated as a noise or automatic voice message. For this purpose, the connector  24  and the receptacle  500  are configured as exemplarily shown in FIG. 11. As shown, a light-emitting element  504  and a light-receiving element  506  are provided inside the receptacle  500 , and a reflector  508  is provided inside the connector  24 .  
         [0072]    The light emitting element  504  and light receiving element  506  are disposed in the upper portion of the innermost surface of the receptacle  500  so that they face toward the opening  502  of the receptacle  500 . The reflector  508  is disposed in the lower portion of the innermost surface of the connector case  250 .  
         [0073]    By such a configuration, when the connector  24  is inserted into the receptacle  500  in a correct orientation, the light-emitting element  504  and reflector  508  do not face each other and the quantity of light received by the light-receiving element  506  is low; however, when the user attempts to insert the connector  24  inversely in the top-bottom direction, the light-emitting element  504  and reflector  508  face each other and the quantity of light received by the light-receiving element  506  is increased. Thus, correctness of the orientation in which the connector  24  is inserted can be determined from the quantity of light received by the light-receiving element  506 .  
         [0074]    Thus, as shown in FIG. 12, a wrong insertion is detected based on the quantity of light received by the light-receiving element  506  at a warning unit  510  provided in the imaging apparatus body  100 . When wrong insertion is detected, a warning generated as a noise or voice message is made through the sound output device  314 . The voice message is desirably multilingual. A portion consisting of the light-receiving element  506 , warning unit  510  and voice output device  314  is an embodiment of the warning means of the present invention.  
         [0075]    While the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments hereinabove, various changes or substitutions may be made on these embodiments by those ordinarily skilled in the art pertinent to the present invention without departing from the technical scope of the present invention. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention encompasses not only those embodiments described above but all the embodiments that fall within the scope of the appended claims.  
         [0076]    Many widely different embodiments of the invention may be constructed without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described in the specification, except as defined in the appended claims.