Systems and methods for beam enhancement

摘要

Beam enhancement through sidelobe reduction and/or mainlobe sharpening is shown. Embodiments utilize dynamic resolution, improved dynamic resolution, and/or enhanced dynamic resolution techniques to synthesize beams, such as ultrasonic beams used in ultrasonic imaging, having desired attributes. Embodiments simultaneously form a first sample beam and a second or auxiliary sample beam for every sample to synthesize enhanced scan beams. According to a dynamic resolution techniques herein a new beam may be formed from the sum of the two sample beams. A synthesized dynamic resolution beam of embodiments has reduced sidelobes with relatively little or no spread of the mainlobe. An enhanced dynamic resolution beam sharpening function can be applied to provide a further enhanced beam, such as to further narrow the mainlobe.

主权项

1. A method of operating an ultrasound system, the method comprising:
receiving transducer element signals from one or more ultrasound transducer elements; weighting and summing the individual transducer element signals to produce a first beam and a second beam, wherein the first beam includes a first mainlobe having a width and a pair of first sidelobes adjacent the first mainlobe, and wherein the second beam includes a second mainlobe having a pair of peaks that are substantially aligned with the pair of the first sidelobes and that have a phase generally opposite a phase of the first sidelobes; and combining the first and second beams to produce a third beam that includes a third mainlobe having a width less than the width of the first mainlobe.