Ultrasound imaging system having a reduced number of lines between the base unit and the probe

摘要

PCT No. PCT/DE94/00777 Sec. 371 Date Dec. 26, 1995 Sec. 102(e) Date Dec. 26, 1995 PCT Filed Jul. 6, 1994 PCT Pub. No. WO95/02197 PCT Pub. Date Jan. 19, 1995An ultrasound imaging system has a probe containing a 2-D array of transducer elements and a base unit for the phase-delayed driving of the transducer elements of the array. Transmit pulsers digitally controlled by the base unit are provided for the transducer elements in the probe, and an address decoder is provided for the transmitting state, and a multiplexer for the ultrasonic signals in the receiving state. For the transmitting state, the probe and the base unit are interconnected via digital control lines and, for the receiving state, via a number of signal lines that is reduced by the multiplexer factor of the multiplexer.