Steven R Freeman

US Patent:

6801148, Oct 5, 2004

Filed:

Jan 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/760531

Inventors:

Steven R. Freeman - Ann Arbor MI
Matthew ODonnell - Ann Arbor MI
Thomas E. Linnenbrink - Monument CO
Marc A. Morin - Woodland Park CO
Marshall K. Quick - Colorado Springs CO
Charles S. Desilets - Edmonds WA

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor MI

International Classification:

H03M 300

US Classification:

341143, 341172, 341144, 341155, 600447

Abstract:

A method and apparatus are provided for reducing distortion in a dynamically delayed digital sample stream of an imaging system. The method includes the steps of delta-sigma modulating an input analog signal of the imaging system at a frequency above the Nyquist frequency of the input analog signal to generate a digital sample stream and changing a length of the sample stream to delay a portion of the sample stream while maintaining synchronism between a delta-sigma modulator and a demodulator of the system.

US Patent:

6867720, Mar 15, 2005

Filed:

Aug 27, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/649209

Inventors:

Steven R. Freeman - Ann Arbor MI, US
Matthew O'Donnell - Ann Arbor MI, US
Thomas E. Linnenbrink - Monument CO, US
Marc A. Morin - Woodland Park CO, US
Marshall K. Quick - Colorado Springs CO, US
Charles S. Desilets - Edmonds WA, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor MI

International Classification:

H03M003/00

US Classification:

341143, 341155, 341172, 341144

Abstract:

A method and apparatus are provided for reducing distortion in a dynamically delayed digital sample stream of an imaging system. The method includes the steps of delta-sigma modulating an input analog signal of the imaging system at a frequency above the Nyquist frequency of the input analog signal to generate a digital sample stream and changing a length of the sample stream to delay a portion of the sample stream while maintaining synchronism between a delta-sigma modulator and a demodulator of the system.

US Patent:

6937176, Aug 30, 2005

Filed:

Sep 27, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/950760

Inventors:

Steven R. Freeman - Seattle WA, US
Gary Allen Schwartz - Seattle WA, US
Raf Lodewijk Jan Roovers - Wommelgem, BE
Lucien Johannes Breems - Eindhoven, NL
Theodore Philip Fazioli - Salem NH, US

Assignee:

Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. - Eindhoven

International Classification:

H03M003/00

US Classification:

341143, 341155

Abstract:

A receive beamformer, and ultrasound system incorporating such a receive beamformer, is constructed to implement multi-bit analog to digital conversion in such a way that the need for gain control in the channel architecture preceding the digital conversion circuitry is obviated. Accordingly, the beamformer and any ultrasound system incorporating it may realize a rigorous level of ADC performance at desirable output rates, and a lower cost. Preferably, the invention construction realizes a level of performance by which CW Doppler may be digitized in the same manner as very wide-band pulsed-wave signals.

US Patent:

6987474, Jan 17, 2006

Filed:

Oct 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/973235

Inventors:

Steven R. Freeman - Ann Arbor MI, US
Matthew O'Donnell - Ann Arbor MI, US
Thomas E. Linnenbrink - Monument CO, US
Marc A. Morin - Woodland Park CO, US
Marshall K. Quick - Colorado Springs CO, US
Charles S. Desilets - Edmonds WA, US

Assignee:

Q-Dot, Inc. - Colorado Springs CO

International Classification:

H03M 3/00

US Classification:

341143, 341172, 341144

Abstract:

A method and apparatus are provided for reducing distortion in a dynamically delayed digital sample stream of an imaging system. The method includes the steps of delta-sigma modulating an input analog signal of the imaging system at a frequency above the Nyquist frequency of the input analog signal to generate a digital sample stream and changing a length of the sample stream to delay a portion of the sample stream while maintaining synchronism between a delta-sigma modulator and a demodulator of the system.

US Patent:

7859941, Dec 28, 2010

Filed:

Aug 18, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/569050

Inventors:

Steven Freeman - Seattle WA, US
Bernard Savord - Andover MA, US
Andrew Robinson - Bellevue WA, US
Shon Schmidt - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. - Eindhoven

International Classification:

G01S 7/52
G01S 7/524
G01S 7/521
G10K 11/34
A61B 8/00

US Classification:

367 11

Abstract:

Apodization control techniques for a microbeamformer including a plurality of microbeamformer channels each including a transducer, a microbeamformer transmitter for driving the transducer, a microbeamformer receiver for receiving signals from the transducer and usually a delay element for delaying the received transducer signals. To improve the generation of waveforms by the transducers, the voltage provided to the microbeamformer transmitters is adjusted and/or the current provided by the microbeamformer transmitters is adjusted. The microbeamformer channels can also be grouped together into patches and/or clusters with the patches and clusters being provided with a common voltage source or current.

US Patent:

8161817, Apr 24, 2012

Filed:

Feb 20, 2007

Appl. No.:

12/280723

Inventors:

Andrew Robinson - Bellevue WA, US
Steven Freeman - Seattle WA, US
Bernard Savord - Andover MA, US

Assignee:

Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V - Eindhoven

International Classification:

G01N 29/22
A61B 8/14

US Classification:

73626, 600447

Abstract:

An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system has a two dimensional array arranged in multiple patches of multiple transducer elements. Each patch of transducer elements is coupled to a group of microbeamformer delay lines having outputs coupled to a channel of a system beamformer, which beamforms the partially summed beams of each patch into a final beamformed signal. The outputs from multiple patches which are not simultaneously used in the active receive aperture are coupled to a common beamformer channel, enabling the number of patches of the array to exceed the number of channels of the system beamformer without the use of multiplexers.

US Patent:

20050131299, Jun 16, 2005

Filed:

Dec 7, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/006374

Inventors:

Brent Robinson - Kirkland WA, US
Steven Freeman - Seattle WA, US

International Classification:

A61B008/06

US Classification:

600447000

Abstract:

Each transducer element of a transducer array in an ultrasound imaging system has two substantially identical analog delay circuits, the first of which is supplied with the echo signal received by the transducer element, the second of which is supplied with an inverted version of the echo signal received by the transducer element. After both signals have traversed their respective analog delay paths, one of them is inverted and then both of them are combined in order to substantially suppress the effects of localized common mode signals. Preferably, the first and second analog delay circuits are constructed to be substantially identical.

US Patent:

20140058270, Feb 27, 2014

Filed:

May 11, 2012

Appl. No.:

14/113384

Inventors:

Richard Edward Davidsen - Andover MA, US
Steven Russell Freeman - Seattle WA, US
Bernard Joseph Savord - Andover MA, US

Assignee:

KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V. - EINDHOVEN

International Classification:

A61B 8/00

US Classification:

600472, 600459

Abstract:

A matrix array ultrasound probe passively dissipates heat developed by the matrix array transducer and beamformer ASIC away from the distal end of the probe. The heat developed in the transducer stack is coupled to a metallic frame inside the handle of probe. A metallic heatspreader is thermally coupled to the probe frame to convey heat away from the frame. The heatspreader surrounds the inside of the probe handle and has an outer surface which is thermally coupled to the inner surface of the probe housing. Heat is thereby coupled evenly from the heatspreader into the housing without the development of hotspots in the housing which could be uncomfortable to the hand of the sonographer.