An ultrasonic probe for emitting ultrasonic energy toward a test object and for receiving echo data generated thereby, the ultrasonic probe comprising: a plurality of ultrasonic transducers; an integrated circuit connected to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers, the integrated circuit comprising: a plurality of transmitter and receiver circuits, the plurality of transmitter and receiver circuits each generating electrical signals transmitted to one of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers for causing ultrasonic energy to be emitted therefrom, and each receiving the echo data detected by the one of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers; and a control circuit connected to the plurality of transmitter and receiver circuits for controlling the transmission of the electrical signals to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers and for processing the received echo data detected by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers to form processed echo data including summing the received echo data from all the transmitter and receiver circuits connected to it using receiver delay circuits as part of a beam forming calculation process; the plurality of transmitter and receiver circuits and the control circuit being fabricated on the single integrated circuit; an analog-to-digital converter connected to the integrated circuit for digitizing the processed echo data; a control unit connected to the analog-to-digital converter and receiving the digitized processed echo data for processing it into A-scan summation data; and a digital interface connected to the control unit for transmitting the A-scan summation data. a plurality of ultrasonic transducers; an integrated circuit connected to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers, the integrated circuit comprising: a plurality of transmitter and receiver circuits, the plurality of transmitter and receiver circuits each generating electrical signals transmitted to one of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers for causing ultrasonic energy to be emitted therefrom, and each receiving the echo data detected by the one of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers; and a control circuit connected to the plurality of transmitter and receiver circuits for controlling the transmission of the electrical signals to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers and for processing the received echo data detected by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers to form processed echo data including summing the received echo data from all the transmitter and receiver circuits connected to it using receiver delay circuits as part of a beam forming calculation process; the plurality of transmitter and receiver circuits and the control circuit being fabricated on the single integrated circuit; an analog-to-digital converter connected to the integrated circuit for digitizing the processed echo data; a control unit connected to the analog-to-digital converter and receiving the digitized processed echo data for processing it into A-scan summation data; and a digital interface connected to the control unit for transmitting the A-scan summation data. a plurality of transmitter and receiver circuits, the plurality of transmitter and receiver circuits each generating electrical signals transmitted to one of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers for causing ultrasonic energy to be emitted therefrom, and each receiving the echo data detected by the one of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers; and a control circuit connected to the plurality of transmitter and receiver circuits for controlling the transmission of the electrical signals to the plurality of ultrasonic transducers and for processing the received echo data detected by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers to form processed echo data including summing the received echo data from all the transmitter and receiver circuits connected to it using receiver delay circuits as part of a beam forming calculation process; the plurality of transmitter and receiver circuits and the control circuit being fabricated on the single integrated circuit; an analog-to-digital converter connected to the integrated circuit for digitizing the processed echo data; a control unit connected to the analog-to-digital converter and receiving the digitized processed echo data for processing it into A-scan summation data; and a digital interface connected to the control unit for transmitting the A-scan summation data.