IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,231,097
Granted Patent B2
US 12,231,097 · App. 18/389,875 · Granted Feb 18, 2025

Trans-impedance amplifier for ultrasound device and related apparatus and methods

Inventors: Kailiang Chen (Branford, CT); Keith G. Fife (Palo Alto, CA); Nevada J. Sanchez (Guilford, CT); Andrew J. Casper (Clinton, CT); Tyler S. Ralston (Clinton, CT)
Assignee: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.
H03F3/16A61B5/6801A61B8/4444G01S7/52025H03F1/086H03F3/45183A61B8/5207H03F2200/408H03F2200/555H03F2203/45471H03F2203/45504H03F2203/45631H03F2203/45634H03F2203/45646H03F2203/45648H03F2203/45674H03F2203/45686H03F2203/45692H03F2203/45726
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,231,097
App. No.
18/389,875
Granted
Feb 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A variable current trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) for an ultrasound device is described. The TIA may be coupled to an ultrasonic transducer to amplify an output signal of the ultrasonic transducer representing an ultrasound signal received by the ultrasonic transducer. During acquisition of the ultrasound signal by the ultrasonic transducer, one or more current sources in the TIA may be varied.

Claims (30)

1. An ultrasound apparatus, comprising:

an ultrasound transducer;

a variable current trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) coupled to the ultrasound transducer and configured to receive and amplify an output signal from the ultrasound transducer, the variable current TIA having a first stage and a second stage, wherein the first stage is configured to receive the output signal from the ultrasound transducer and the second stage is configured to provide an output signal of the variable current TIA;

a first variable current source configured to vary a first current supplied to the first stage for adjusting a noise of the variable current TIA; and

a second variable current source configured to vary a second current supplied to the second stage for adjusting a linearity of the output signal of the variable current TIA.

2. The ultrasound apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the noise and the linearity of the variable current TIA are independently adjusted.

3. The ultrasound apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a controller configured to provide control signals to each of the first variable current source and the second variable current source to adjust the first current and the second current, respectively.

4. The ultrasound apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first variable current source includes a first plurality of current sources coupled in parallel.

5. The ultrasound apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the first variable current source includes a first plurality of switches each of which is coupled to a current source of the first plurality of current sources.

6. The ultrasound apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the second variable current source includes a second plurality of current sources coupled in parallel.

7. The ultrasound apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the second variable current source includes a second plurality of switches each of which is coupled to a current source of the second plurality of current sources.

8. The ultrasound apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising a controller configured to provide switching signals to each switch of the first plurality of switches and the second plurality of switches to adjust the first current and the second current, respectively.

9. The ultrasound apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a variable impedance circuit coupled to an output terminal of the variable current TIA and an input node of the second stage.

10. The ultrasound apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the variable impedance circuit includes a variable capacitor and a carriable resistor coupled in series.

11. The ultrasound apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the variable impedance circuit is configured to provide for stable operation of the variable current TIA when at least one of the first current or the second current is varied.

12. The ultrasound apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a variable feedback impedance circuit coupled to an output terminal of the variable current TIA and an input node of the first stage.

13. The ultrasound apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the variable feedback impedance circuit includes a variable capacitor and a carriable resistor coupled in parallel.

14. The ultrasound apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the variable feedback impedance circuit is configured to control gain of the variable current TIA.

15. A method, comprising:

acquiring an ultrasound signal with an ultrasound transducer during an acquisition period and outputting, from the ultrasound transducer, an analog electrical signal representing the ultrasound signal; and

amplifying the analog electrical signal with a variable current trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) having a first stage and a second stage, wherein the first stage is configured to receive the analog electrical signal from the ultrasound transducer and the second stage is configured to provide an output signal of the variable current TIA, wherein amplifying the analog electrical signal includes:

adjusting a noise of the variable current TIA by varying a first current supplied by a first variable current source to the first stage for; and

adjusting a linearity of the output signal of the variable current TIA by varying a second current supplied by a second variable current source to vary to the second stage.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the noise and the linearity of the variable current TIA are independently adjusted.

17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:

providing control signals to each of the first variable current source and the second variable current source to adjust the first current and the second current, respectively.

18. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:

controlling gain of the variable current TIA using a variable feedback impedance circuit coupled to an output terminal of the variable current TIA and an input node of the first stage.

19. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:

adjusting impedance of the variable current TIA using a variable feedback impedance circuit coupled to an output terminal of the variable current TIA and an input node of the first stage to provide for stable operation of the variable current TIA when at least one of the first current or the second current is varied.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2023
From: CHEN, KAILIANG; FIFE, KEITH G.; SANCHEZ, NEVADA J.; CASPER, ANDREW J.; RALSTON, TYLER S.
To: BUTTERFLY NETWORK, INC.
Reel/Frame 066090/0555 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 20, 2023
From: BUTTERFLY NETWORK, INC.
To: BFLY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 066090/0814 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17331538 · May 26, 2021
Continuation 16178117 · Nov 1, 2018
Continuation 14957395 · Dec 2, 2015
Related Publication 20240120891A1 · Apr 11, 2024
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