ULTRASONIC IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ACTUATING TRANSDUCER ARRAY THEREOF

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an adaptive transducer array for controlling an element pitch by an imaging system according to an action mode. SOLUTION: A plurality of transducer elements 26 of the transducer array 24 are connected to beam formation channels 28 by a multiplexer means 36' having plural states. In one multiplexer state, successive transducer elements are respectively connected to successive beam formation channels to form an opening with a small pitch equal to the distance between the center lines of adjacent two transducer elements. In another multiplexer state, selected transducer elements (every other element or every pair) are respectively connected to successive beam formation channels to form an opening with an increased element pitch equal to or more than twice the small pitch.