Ultrasonic area-array sensor with area-image merging

1. A method of creating an area-image of a biological object using an ultrasonic area-array sensor comprising:

detecting the presence of a biological object;

collecting a first area-image of the biological object using the area-array sensor, the collected first area-image having perimeter pixels;

collecting a second area-image of the biological object using the area-array sensor, the collected second area-image having perimeter pixels;

identifying outer perimeter pixels of the collected area-images;

discarding at least some of the identified outer perimeter pixels in order to produce a set of collected area-images having modified collected area-images; and then

combining the modified collected area-images of the set to form an extended image using an image merging algorithm.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the extended image depicts an area of a surface of the biological object that is larger than the size of the area-array sensor.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

collecting subsequent area-images until the biological object is no longer detected;

discarding at least some outer perimeter pixels from each of the subsequent collected area-images to produce additional modified collected area-images; and

including the additional modified collected area-images in the set.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

collecting subsequent area-images until a predetermined number of collected area-images of the biological object have been collected;

discarding at least some outer perimeter pixels from each of the subsequent collected area-images to produce additional modified collected area-images; and

including the additional modified collected area-images in the set.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

collecting subsequent area-images until a predetermined amount of time has elapsed after collecting the first area-image;

discarding at least some outer perimeter pixels from each of the subsequent collected area-images to produce additional modified collected area-images; and

including the additional modified collected area-images in the set.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

collecting subsequent area-images prior to combining modified collected area-images of the set;

discarding at least some outer perimeter pixels from each of the subsequent collected area-images to produce additional modified collected area-images; and

including the additional modified collected area-images in the set.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising permitting the biological object to be moved across the area-array sensor between collecting two of the area-images.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein identifying outer perimeter pixels includes identifying pixels depicting a leading edge of the biological object, and discarding at least some of the identified outer perimeter pixels includes discarding pixels depicting a leading edge of the biological object.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein identifying outer perimeter pixels includes identifying pixels depicting a trailing edge of the biological object, and discarding at least some of the identified outer perimeter pixels includes discarding pixels depicting a trailing edge of the biological object.

10. A biological object scanning device comprising:

an ultrasonic area-array sensor;

a processor, in communication with the area-array sensor, the processor configured to:

(a) instruct the collection of area-images of a biological object using the area-array sensor, the collected area-images having perimeter pixels,

(b) identify outer perimeter pixels of the collected area-images;

(c) discard at least some of the identified outer perimeter pixels in order to produce a set of collected area-images having modified collected area-images; and then

(d) instruct combining the modified collected area-images in the set to form an extended image using an image merging algorithm;

a data storage device in communication with the processor to store collected area-images, or modified collected area images, or both.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to compare the extended image to a reference image.

12. The device of claim 10 , wherein the extended image depicts an area of a surface of the biological object that is larger than the size of the area-array sensor.

13. The device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to stop instructing collecting area-images when the biological object is no longer detected.

14. The device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to stop instructing collecting area-images when a specified number of collected area-images have been collected.

15. The device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to stop instructing collecting area-images when a predetermined amount of time has elapsed after collecting a first area-image.

16. The device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to collect the area-images prior to combining the modified collected area-images into the extended image.

17. The device of claim 10 , wherein the area-array sensor is configured to permit the biological object to be moved across the area-array sensor.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured to identify outer perimeter pixels by identifying pixels depicting a leading edge of the biological object, and the processor is configured to discard outer perimeter pixels by discarding pixels depicting a leading edge of the biological object.

19. The device of claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured to identify outer perimeter pixels by identifying pixels depicting a trailing edge of the biological object, and the processor is configured to discard outer perimeter pixels by discarding pixels depicting a trailing edge of the biological object.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the outer perimeter pixels include pixels from a penultimate perimeter.

21. The method of claim 10 , wherein the outer perimeter pixels include pixels from a penultimate perimeter.