Device and method for supplying power to an ultrasound transducer
View Patent ↗A device for supplying an ultrasonic transducer including a power interface configured to provide an analog power signal, called supply signal, to the ultrasonic transducer, and further including a delta-sigma modulator configured to produce a delta-sigma modulator of a sinusoidal signal, called drive signal, and provide a digital signal, called control signal, to control said power interface. Also an ultrasonic device powered by such a supply device, an ultrasonic head including such ultrasonic devices and an ultrasonic system including such an ultrasonic head.
1. A device for supplying an ultrasonic transducer comprising a power interface configured to provide an analog power signal, called supply signal, to said ultrasonic transducer; wherein said device further comprises a delta-sigma modulator configured to produce a delta-sigma modulation of a sinusoidal signal, called drive signal, and provide a digital signal, called control signal, to control said power interface.
2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the delta-sigma modulator comprises a single-bit output quantizer such that the control signal is modulated over one bit.
3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the delta-sigma modulator comprises a multi-bit output quantizer such that the control signal is modulated over several bits.
4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the drive signal is a digital sinusoidal signal, said device further comprising a digital generator configured to:
receive as input data any combination of at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of:
a frequency of said drive signal,
an amplitude of said drive signal, and
a phase of said drive signal; and
generate said drive signal from said at least one parameter.
5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said device further comprises a digital control interface providing at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of:
a frequency of said drive signal,
an amplitude of said drive signal, and
a phase of said drive signal.
6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said device is integrated, partly or entirely, into at least one digital component.
7. An ultrasonic device comprising:
at least one ultrasonic transducer, and
a supply device, according to claim 1 , for supplying said at least one ultrasonic transducer.
8. An ultrasonic head comprising several ultrasonic devices according to claim 7 , in parallel.
9. An ultrasonic system, comprising:
an ultrasonic head according to claim 8 , and
at least one digital control device for the ultrasonic devices of said ultrasonic head.
10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein said ultrasonic system is a medical imaging, or therapy, system.
11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein said ultrasonic system is a medical imaging system.
12. A method for supplying an ultrasonic transducer with an analog power signal, called supply signal, said method comprising the following steps:
delta-sigma modulation of a sinusoidal signal, called drive signal, to provide a signal, called control signal; and
controlling a power interface with said delta-sigma modulated control signal, to provide said supply signal.