CN107080556B

CN107080556B - Ultrasonic image detection method and system

Info

Publication number: CN107080556B
Application number: CN201710289691.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 张堂振; 曾玮中; 林峰舟; 叶宗鑫
Original assignee: Qisda Suzhou Co Ltd; Qisda Corp
Current assignee: Qisda Suzhou Co Ltd; Qisda Corp
Priority date: 2017-04-27
Filing date: 2017-04-27
Publication date: 2020-05-08
Anticipated expiration: 2037-04-27
Also published as: CN107080556A

Abstract

The invention provides an ultrasonic image detection method and system, the method includes transmitting a plurality of first plane waves simultaneously; receiving at least one first reflected wave of the first plane waves reflected by the object; simultaneously transmitting a plurality of second plane waves according to at least one first reflected wave; receiving at least one second reflected wave of the second plane waves reflected by the object; and determining the angle or position of the object by utilizing a plurality of decision plane waves according to the at least one second reflected wave. The two adjacent first plane waves clamp a first angle, the two adjacent second plane waves clamp a second angle, and the first angle is larger than the second angle. Therefore, the processing time for detecting the object is reduced.

Description

Ultrasonic image detection method and system

Technical Field

The present invention discloses an ultrasonic image detection method and system, and more particularly, to an ultrasonic image detection method and system with high-speed detection function.

Background

With the development of medical technology, the detection technology of ultrasonic waves is becoming more mature. Generally, the ultrasound detection method uses a probe that emits ultrasound signals to emit ultrasound signals to the skin below. In addition, the probe of ultrasonic signal can also use the reflected ultrasonic signal to judge the shape and position of the object invisible to naked eyes under the skin for various medical purposes.

The conventional ultrasonic probe transmits ultrasonic signals in a manner that a plurality of piezoelectric devices sequentially transmit ultrasonic signals, and the ultrasonic signals at each angle correspond to the direction of one scanning line. Moreover, the ultrasonic probe can perform image recognition and object detection according to the ultrasonic signal and the reflected signal thereof corresponding to the direction of the scanning line. However, the conventional detection mechanism of the ultrasonic probe needs to use a detection mode with multiple angles to identify the position and angle of the object. Furthermore, the ultrasonic probe sends the ultrasonic signal to the object and receives the ultrasonic signal reflected by the object for a time (2 r/c). Wherein r is the ultrasonic signal detection depth and c is the sound velocity. Therefore, in the conventional ultrasonic probe, when considering M detection angles and N scanning lines, a total time of M × N × (2r/c) is required, and when M and N become large, the processing time taken to detect an object becomes very remarkable.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention provides an ultrasonic image detection method and system, which can reduce the processing time for detecting an object. To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an ultrasonic image detection method, comprising:

simultaneously emitting a plurality of first plane waves with different included angles with a surface, wherein two adjacent first plane waves form a first angle;

receiving at least one first reflected wave of the plurality of first plane waves reflected by the object;

simultaneously emitting a plurality of second plane waves with different included angles with the surface according to the at least one first reflected wave, wherein two adjacent second plane waves form a second angle;

receiving at least one second reflected wave of the plurality of second plane waves reflected by the object; and

determining the angle or position of the object according to the at least one second reflected wave and the plurality of decision plane waves;

wherein the first angle is greater than the second angle.

Preferably, the method further comprises:

transmitting the optimal plane wave to the object according to the detection results of the decision plane waves;

wherein the optimal plane wave advances in a direction perpendicular to the object.

Preferably, two adjacent decision plane waves of the decision plane waves have a third angle, and the third angle is smaller than the second angle.

Preferably, the method further comprises:

caching a reflection angle corresponding to each second reflection wave of the at least one second reflection wave;

generating a plurality of sets of decision plane waves, wherein the decision plane waves of each set comprise a plurality of decision plane waves; and

comparing the reflection angle corresponding to each second reflection wave with a plurality of decision angles corresponding to the plurality of groups of decision plane waves, and selecting a group of optimal decision plane waves from the plurality of groups of decision plane waves to accord with the angle or the position of the object.

Preferably, the method comprises:

generating a first detection angle corresponding to the object after receiving the at least one first reflected wave corresponding to the plurality of first plane waves; and

generating a second detection angle corresponding to the object after receiving the at least one second reflected wave corresponding to the plurality of second plane waves;

wherein the error value of the second detection angle is smaller than the error value of the first detection angle.

Preferably, each of the plurality of first plane waves is generated by a plurality of piezoelectric devices, the plurality of piezoelectric devices are driven by a first set of signals, and the delay time of the first set of signals is different.

Preferably, the first set of signals is generated by a signal generating device, and the time difference between the first set of signals driving two adjacent piezoelectric devices in the plurality of piezoelectric devices is the same, so that each first plane wave is synthesized by the plurality of piezoelectric devices.

Preferably, each of the second plane waves is generated by a plurality of piezoelectric devices, the piezoelectric devices are driven by a second set of signals, and the delay time of the second set of signals is different.

Preferably, the second set of signals is generated by a signal generating device, and the time difference between two adjacent piezoelectric devices of the plurality of piezoelectric devices driven by the second set of signals is the same, so as to synthesize each second plane wave by the plurality of piezoelectric devices.

Preferably, each decision plane wave of the plurality of decision plane waves corresponds to a set of signals with different delay times for driving the plurality of piezoelectric devices.

To achieve the above object, the present invention further provides an ultrasonic image detection system, comprising: the buffer device is used for storing a plurality of decision plane waves; a plurality of transceivers coupled to the buffer device; and a processor coupled to the buffer device and the plurality of transceivers; the transceivers simultaneously transmit a plurality of first plane waves with different included angles with a surface, wherein two adjacent first plane waves form a first angle, and the transceivers receive at least one first reflected wave reflected by the object; the processor controls the transceivers to simultaneously transmit a plurality of second plane waves with different included angles with the surface according to the at least one first reflected wave, wherein two adjacent second plane waves form a second angle; the transceivers receive at least one second reflected wave of the second plane waves reflected by the object; the processor determines the angle or position of the object according to the at least one second reflected wave and the plurality of decision plane waves, wherein the first angle is larger than the second angle.

Compared with the prior art, the ultrasonic image detection method and the ultrasonic image detection system can simultaneously emit the first plane waves which are relatively dispersed so as to estimate the rough object angle, adjust the angle of the second plane waves which are emitted next time according to the rough object angle which is detected last time, so that the distribution of the second plane waves is relatively concentrated, and further detect the optimal angle by utilizing a plurality of decision plane waves according to the second reflected waves reflected by the second plane waves which are relatively concentrated. Finally, the ultrasonic probe simultaneously emits a plurality of optimal plane waves with optimal angles to enhance the image of the object. Therefore, the ultrasonic image detection method and system of the present invention requires shorter processing time, and allows the user to see clear and accurate ultrasonic images in a short time.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an ultrasonic detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an architecture diagram of a transceiver in the ultrasound probe of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of synthesizing a first plane wave in the ultrasonic probe of fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of the ultrasonic probe of fig. 1 emitting a plurality of first plane waves.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the ultrasonic probe of fig. 1 emitting a plurality of second plane waves.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a plurality of decision plane waves and their included angles stored in the ultrasonic probe of fig. 1.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an optimal angle generated by a plurality of decision plane waves and their included angles according to a second reflected wave in the ultrasonic probe shown in FIG. 1.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of the ultrasonic probe shown in fig. 1, which emits an optimal plane wave to an object according to an optimal angle.

Fig. 9 is a flowchart of an ultrasonic image detection method according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

In order to further understand the objects, structures, features and functions of the present invention, the following embodiments are described in detail.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an ultrasonic detection system 100 according to the present invention. The ultrasonic detection system 100 includes an ultrasonic probe 10 for contacting a surface 11. The surface 11 may be any plane, such as a skin surface. The ultrasound detection system 100 can detect the position and angle of an object invisible to the naked eye under the surface 11 by using the ultrasound probe 10, for example, the ultrasound probe 10 can be used to detect the position and angle of a long or needle-shaped object under the skin. The ultrasonic probe 10 includes a plurality of transceivers TS1 to TSN, a buffer device 12, and a processor 13. Each of the plurality of transceivers TS1 through TSN may be coupled to cache device 12. Cache memory device 12 may be coupled to processor 13. Each transceiver may transmit plane waves in different directions simultaneously. For example, transceiver TS1 may transmit a plane wave in direction S1. Transceiver TS2 may transmit a plane wave in direction S2. Transceiver TS3 may transmit a plane wave in direction S3. The transceiver TSN may transmit a plane wave in the direction SN. N is a positive integer. The cache device 12 may be any type of data storage device, such as a memory. The processor 13 can be any device with signal processing function, such as a CPU, a microprocessor, a programmable logic unit, or the like. In the ultrasonic detection system 100, the processor 13 may be disposed in the ultrasonic probe 10, but the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the processor 13 may be a processing device in an ultrasonic machine, and the ultrasonic probe 10 may be wired or wirelessly connected to the ultrasonic machine, so that the processing device in the ultrasonic machine can analyze and process the signal detected by the ultrasonic probe 10. In this embodiment, the ultrasonic probe 10 emits plane waves at different angles at the same time. In other words, a plurality of plane waves having different angles with respect to the surface 11 will be simultaneously emitted from the ultrasonic probe 10. Therefore, the ultrasonic probe 10 can simultaneously detect different angles in the space under the surface 11, so that it has the function of rapidly capturing the angle or position of the object. The structure of the transceiver of the ultrasonic probe 10, the principle of transmitting plane waves at a specific angle, and the method of detecting an object will be described in detail below.

Fig. 2 is an architecture diagram of the transceiver TSN in the ultrasonic probe 10. In this description, the transceivers TS1 to TSN in the ultrasonic probe 10 may be transceivers with the same structure, and for the sake of simplifying the description, fig. 2 only illustrates the structure of the transceiver TSN as a representative. The transceiver TSN includes the signal generating device 14 and the piezoelectric devices ELE1 through ELEM, where M may be a positive integer greater than 2. The signal generating device 14 may be connected to the processor 13. Therefore, the processor 13 can control the signal generating device 14 to generate different voltages to drive the piezoelectric devices ELE1 to ELEM. For example, in FIG. 2, the signal generating device 14 may generate a first set of signals including a voltage signal SE1, a voltage signal SE2, voltage signals SE3, …, and a voltage signal SEM. The piezoelectric devices ELE 1-ELEM may be driven by a first set of signals to generate a plurality of waves WAV 1-WAVM. For example, piezoelectric device ELE1 may be driven by voltage signal SE1 to generate wave WAV1, piezoelectric device ELE2 may be driven by voltage signal SE2 to generate wave WAV2, piezoelectric device ELE3 may be driven by voltage signal SE3 to generate wave WAV3, and piezoelectric device ELEM may be driven by voltage signal SEM to generate wave WAVM. Moreover, the delay time from the voltage signal SE1 to the voltage signal SEM is different in the first set of signals. For the embodiment of FIG. 2, SE2 has a delay time compared to SE1, SE3 has a delay time compared to SE2, and so on. Since the delay time from SE1 to SEM is different, the driving time from ELE1 to ELEM is also different. In FIG. 2, piezoelectric device ELE1 would first generate wave WAV1, then piezoelectric device ELE2 would generate wave WAV2, then piezoelectric device ELE2 would generate wave WAV3, and so on. Since the generation times of the Wave WAV1 to Wave WAVM are different, the positions of the Wave fronts (Wave Front) of the Wave WAV1 to Wave WAVM are also different. The tangents to the wave fronts of these wave WAV1 to wave WAVM may be combined into a first plane wave BFW.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the ultrasonic probe 10 synthesizing the first plane wave BFW. As mentioned before, due to the different wavefront positions of the waves WAV1 to WAVM, tangents to the wavefronts of these waves WAV1 to WAVM may synthesize the first plane wave BFW. Also, since the first plane wave BFW of the present invention is linear, the time difference between the wave WAV1 to the wave WAVM is the same. For example, in fig. 3, the time difference between the tangential time point of the wavefront of the wave WAV1 and the tangential time point of the wavefront of the wave WAV2 is D1. The time difference between the tangential time point of the wavefront of the wave WAV2 and the tangential time point of the wavefront of the wave WAV3 is D2. D1 equals D2. Since the time difference between the WAV1 and the WAVM is the same, the time difference between the SE1 and SEM driving the piezoelectric devices ELE1 and ELEM of two adjacent piezoelectric devices is also the same in FIG. 2. In other words, the delay time of the voltage signal SE2 compared to the voltage signal SE1 is the same as the delay time of the voltage signal SE3 compared to the voltage signal SE 2. Thus, the waves WAV1 to WAVM generated by the piezoelectric devices ELE1 to ELEM synthesize the first plane wave BFW which is linear. Furthermore, the delay time from the voltage signal SE1 to the voltage signal SEM is changed to control the angle between the synthesized first plane wave BFW and the surface 11.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of the ultrasonic probe 10 emitting a plurality of first plane waves BFW 1-BFWN. A method of how the ultrasonic probe 10 quickly detects the object Obj will be described below. First, the ultrasonic probe 10 emits a plurality of first plane waves BFW1 to BFWN having different angles with the surface 11, wherein two adjacent first plane waves include a first angle. For example, of the first plane waves BFW1 to BFWN simultaneously emitted by the ultrasonic probe 10, the angle between the first plane wave BFW1 and the surface 11 is θ 1 (hereinafter, referred to as an angle θ 1). The first plane wave BFW2 has an angle θ 2 (hereinafter, angle θ 2) with the BFW 1. The first plane wave BFW3 makes an angle θ 3 (hereinafter, angle θ 3) with BFW2, and so on. In fig. 4, the object Obj may be an elongated or needle-like object, making an angle with the surface 11. After the ultrasonic probe 10 emits the N first plane waves BFW1 to BFWN, part of the first plane waves will be reflected by the object Obj to generate at least one first reflected wave. After the transceivers TS1 through TSN of the ultrasonic probe 10 receive at least one first reflection, the processor 13 generates a first detection angle corresponding to the object Obj. However, the first detected angle is only a rough estimated angle, because only a small portion of the first plane wave is reflected by the object Obj, and therefore the error value of the angle estimation is large. To further increase the accuracy of the angle estimation, the ultrasonic probe 10 may perform the following steps.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the ultrasonic probe 10 emitting a plurality of second plane waves BFW1 'to BFWN'. As described above, after the ultrasonic probe 10 obtains the first detection angle with a larger error value, a plurality of second plane waves BFW1 'to BFWN' with different included angles with the surface 11 can be emitted simultaneously, wherein two adjacent second plane waves form a second angle. For example, of the second plane waves BFW1 ' to BFWN ' simultaneously emitted by the ultrasonic probe 10, the angle between the second plane wave BFW1 ' and the surface 11 is θ 1 ' (hereinafter, the angle is θ 1 '). The second plane wave BFW2 'has an angle θ 2' (hereinafter, angle θ 2 ') with the BFW 1'. The second plane wave BFW3 'is at an angle θ 3' (hereinafter, angle θ 3 ') to BFW 2', and so on. After the ultrasonic probe 10 emits N second plane waves BFW1 'to BFWN', a portion of the second plane waves will be reflected by the object Obj to generate at least one second reflected wave. After the transceivers TS1 through TSN of the ultrasonic probe 10 receive at least one second reflection, the processor 13 generates a second detection angle corresponding to the object Obj. It should be noted that the angle between two adjacent first plane wave clamps is larger than the angle between two adjacent second plane wave clamps. In other words, the second plane waves BFW1 'to BFWN' emitted by the ultrasonic probe 10 are more compact than the first plane waves BFW1 to BFWN. For example, in numerical terms, angle θ 2 of FIG. 4 is greater than angle θ 2 of FIG. 5, angle θ 3 of FIG. 4 is greater than angle θ 3' of FIG. 5, and so on. Therefore, the error value of the second detection angle is smaller than that of the first detection angle, because the ultrasonic probe 10 emits the second planar waves BFW1 'to BFWN' which are relatively close, and thus the number of the second planar waves reflected by the object Obj is increased, which results in that the ultrasonic probe 10 determines the position or angle of the object Obj more accurately. The generation manner of the second plane waves BFW1 'to BFWN' is similar to the generation manner of the first plane waves BFW1 to BFWN described in fig. 2 and 3, and therefore, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. A method of how the ultrasonic probe 10 determines the position or angle of the object Obj using the second plane wave reflected by the object Obj will be described below.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a plurality of decision plane waves P1 to PQ stored in the ultrasonic probe 10 and their included angles. As described above, the ultrasonic probe 10 emits N second plane waves BFW1 'to BFWN', and a part of the second plane waves are reflected by the object Obj to form at least one second reflected wave. The transceivers TS1 through TSN of the ultrasonic probe 10 receive the at least one second reflected wave, and then convert the at least one second reflected wave into an electrical signal. The processor 13 may further process the electrical signal corresponding to the at least one second reflected wave and analyze a reflection angle of the at least one second reflected wave. The processor 13 may also store the electrical signal corresponding to the at least one second reflected wave and the reflection angle thereof in the buffer device 12 for calculating the optimal angle corresponding to the object Obj. Here, the processor 13 may use a Signal decision boundary Algorithm (Signal decision boundary Algorithm) to obtain the optimal angle corresponding to the object Obj. For example, the processor 13 may store a number of angles of the decision plane wave P1 to PQ. Decision plane waves P1 through PQ are schematically shown in fig. 6, where Q may be a positive integer greater than 2. The decision plane wave P1 is at an angle P θ 1 (hereinafter referred to as angle P θ 1) with respect to the surface 11. The decision plane wave P2 is at an angle P θ 2 (hereinafter referred to as angle P θ 2) with respect to P1. The decision plane wave P3 makes an angle P θ 3 (hereinafter referred to as angle P θ 3) with P2, and so on. It should be understood that the above-mentioned included angle P θ 1, included angle P θ 2, included angle P θ 3 … and the corresponding decision plane wave number can be stored in the processor 13 by way of electromagnetic data. In other words, the decision plane waves P1 to PQ are not plane waves physically transmitted by the transceiver, but are stored in the processor 13 in the form of virtualized digital electromagnetic data for determining the optimal angle of the object Obj based on at least one second reflected wave. The number of decision plane waves P1 through PQ of the present invention may be greater than the number of second plane waves BFW1 'through BFWN', in other words, Q may be greater than N. That is, the third angle (e.g., the included angle P θ 1, the included angle P θ 2, and the included angle P θ 3) between two adjacent decision plane waves P1-PQ may be smaller than the second angle between two adjacent decision plane waves. In other words, the decision plane waves P1 to PQ may be arranged more closely than the second plane waves BFW1 'to BFWN' to accurately determine the optimum angle of the object Obj according to the signal of at least one second reflected wave. A method how to determine the optimal angle of the object Obj based on the at least one second reflected wave is described below.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an optimal angle generated by a plurality of decision plane waves P1 to PQ and their included angles according to at least one second reflected wave RWAV in the ultrasonic probe 10. As mentioned above, after the second plane waves BFW1 'to BFWN' are emitted from the ultrasonic probe 10, some of the second plane waves are reflected by the object Obj to form at least one second reflected wave. For simplicity of description, fig. 7 uses at least one second reflected wave RWAV to represent the direction in which the second plane wave is reflected by the object Obj. As shown in fig. 7, at least one second reflected wave RWAV is received by the ultrasonic probe 10. Then, the ultrasonic probe 10 buffers the reflection angle of at least one second reflection wave RWAV and groups the decision plane waves P1-PQ stored in the processor 13 to generate a plurality of groups of decision plane waves. For example, the decision plane waves of the first set may be P1, P4, P7 …. The decision plane waves of the second set may be P2, P5, P8 …. The decision plane waves of the third set may be P3, P6, P9 …. Then, the processor 13 may compare the reflection angle corresponding to the at least one second reflection wave RWAV with a plurality of decision angles corresponding to the plurality of sets of decision plane waves, so as to select a set of optimal decision plane waves from the plurality of sets of decision plane waves to conform to the angle or position of the object Obj. For example, the processor 13 may compare the angles of the decision plane waves P1, P4, P7 … of the first set with the reflection angles corresponding to at least one second reflection wave RWAV. Then, the angles of the decision plane waves P1, P4 and P7 … of the second group are compared with the reflection angle corresponding to at least one second reflection wave RWAV. Then, the angles of the decision plane waves P3, P6 and P9 … of the third group are compared with the reflection angle corresponding to the second reflection wave RWAV. In the present embodiment, in the decision plane wave of the first group, the angle of the decision plane wave P1 is close to the reflection angle corresponding to the at least one second reflected wave RWAV. Therefore, the processor 13 determines that the optimal angle of the corresponding object Obj is the angle P θ 1 between the decision plane wave P1 and the surface 11. In other words, the processor 13 finally determines the optimal angle of the object Obj as the included angle P θ 1 according to the second reflected wave RWAV. In the preferred embodiment, if the number of decision plane waves used by the processor 13 is large (Q is large), this indicates that the decision plane waves are very densely arranged. The accuracy of the processor 13 in concluding the determination of the optimum angle of the object Obj is further improved. Theoretically, the optimal angle of the object Obj is the angle of the normal vector of the object Obj. Then, the angle at which the object Obj enters the surface 11 can be calculated from the optimum angle. For example, when the optimal angle is the included angle P θ 1, the angle of the object Obj incident on the surface 11 approaches (900-P θ 1). In addition, in a physical sense, the optimal angle represents the angle of the normal vector of the object Obj, so when the plane wave is emitted at the optimal angle, if the object Obj is within the detection range of the plane wave, the object Obj will reflect the plane wave in an approximately vertical direction and hardly have a refraction offset phenomenon.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the ultrasonic probe 10 emitting the optimal plane waves OptFW 1 to OptFWFN to the object Obj according to the optimal angle. As mentioned above, the ultrasonic probe 10 finally determines the optimal angle according to at least one second reflected wave. Then, the ultrasonic probe 10 emits the optimal plane waves OptFW 1 to OptFWFN to the object Obj according to the optimal angle. For example, in the present embodiment, the optimum angle is the included angle P θ 1. Therefore, the ultrasonic probe 10 simultaneously emits the optimum plane waves OptFW 1 to OptFWN. And the optimum plane waves OptFW 1 to OptFWFN form an angle P theta 1 with the surface 11. Since all the optimal plane waves OptBFW1 to optbffn proceed substantially perpendicularly to the object Obj, the optimal plane waves in the reflection range of the object Obj are reflected in a direction close to the perpendicular to form a plurality of optimal reflected waves. After receiving the plurality of optimal reflected waves, the ultrasonic probe 10 may enhance the image of the object Obj based on the optimal reflected waves. Finally, the ultrasonic probe 10 can not only quickly identify the position or angle of the object Obj, but also enhance the image of the object Obj, so that the user can see a clear and accurate ultrasonic image in a short time.

Compared with the conventional ultrasonic image detection method, the ultrasonic image detection method of the invention has the function of quickly judging the position or the angle of the object Obj, so that the image can be quickly formed. The principle is detailed below. In the conventional ultrasonic image detection method, the imaging or image enhancement requires M × N × (2r/c) time, where r is the detection depth of the ultrasonic signal, c is the speed of sound, M is the number of detection angles, and N is the number of scanning lines. When M and N become large, the time spent will be very surprising. In the present invention, the ultrasonic probe 10 simultaneously emits a plurality of first plane waves and receives at least one first reflected wave. The time taken in this step is at most (2 r/c). Then, the ultrasonic probe 10 simultaneously emits a plurality of second plane waves and receives at least one second reflected wave. The time taken in this step is at most (2 r/c). Then, according to the optimal angle, the ultrasonic probe 10 simultaneously emits a plurality of optimal plane waves and receives a plurality of optimal reflected waves. The time taken in this step is at most (2 r/c). Therefore, since the time taken by the ultrasonic image detection method of the present invention is at most 3 × (2r/c), compared with the conventional ultrasonic image detection method requiring M × N × (2r/c) time, the method has the effect of greatly reducing the processing time, and this effect will not greatly reduce the Frame Rate of the ultrasonic image.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an ultrasonic image detection method. The ultrasonic image detection method includes steps S901 to S906. However, any reasonable variation or modification of the steps is within the scope of the disclosure. Steps S901 to S906 are described as follows.

Step S901: simultaneously emitting a plurality of first plane waves BFW1 to BFWN having different included angles with the surface 11;

step S902: receiving at least one first reflected wave of the first plane waves BFW1 to BFWN reflected by the object Obj;

step S903: simultaneously emitting a plurality of second plane waves BFW1 'to BFWN' having different angles with the surface 11 according to the at least one first reflected wave;

step S904: receiving at least one second reflected wave RWAV of the second plane waves BFW1 'to BFWN' reflected by the object Obj;

step S905: determining an angle or position of the object Obj using the plurality of decision plane waves P1 through PQ according to the at least one second reflected wave RWAV;

step S906: based on the detection results of the decision plane waves P1 to PQ, optimal plane waves OptBFW1 to optbffn are transmitted to the object Obj, and the process returns to step S903.

The detailed descriptions of steps S901 to S906 are already described above, and therefore will not be described herein again. It should be understood that the object Obj described above may be an object whose angle or position changes over time. Therefore, steps S903 to S906 may constitute a loop to continuously detect the object moving with time by the ultrasonic probe 10. In addition, in the present invention, since the ultrasonic probe 10 can adjust the angle of the plane wave emitted next time with reference to the angle detected last time, it is possible to achieve more accurate angle detection and simultaneously emit a plurality of optimal plane waves at optimal angles to enhance the image of the object.

In summary, the present invention provides an ultrasonic image detection method, which has the effect of greatly reducing the processing time of the object image. The ultrasonic probe simultaneously emits a first plane wave which is relatively dispersed so as to estimate a rough object angle. The ultrasonic probe adjusts the angle of the second plane wave emitted next time according to the rough object angle detected in the previous time, so that the distribution of the second plane wave is concentrated. Furthermore, the ultrasonic probe further detects the optimal angle by using a plurality of decision plane waves according to the second reflected wave reflected by the more concentrated second plane wave. Finally, the ultrasonic probe simultaneously emits a plurality of optimal plane waves with optimal angles to enhance the image of the object. Therefore, compared with the conventional ultrasonic image detection method which requires a linearly long processing time (M × N × (2r/c)), the ultrasonic image detection method of the present invention requires a processing time of only a fixed short time (3 × (2 r/c)). Therefore, the ultrasonic image detection method of the invention can make the user see clear and accurate ultrasonic images in a short time.

The present invention has been described in relation to the above embodiments, which are only exemplary of the implementation of the present invention. It should be noted that the disclosed embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention. Rather, it is intended that all such modifications and variations be included within the spirit and scope of this invention.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic image detection method, comprising:

wherein the first angle is greater than the second angle;

wherein, the method also comprises: caching a reflection angle corresponding to each second reflection wave of the at least one second reflection wave;

generating a plurality of sets of decision plane waves, wherein each set of decision plane waves comprises a plurality of the decision plane waves; and

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

3. The method of claim 1, wherein two adjacent decision plane waves of the plurality of decision plane waves include a third angle, and the third angle is smaller than the second angle.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising:

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of first plane waves is generated by a plurality of piezoelectric devices driven with a first set of signals having different delay times.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first set of signals is generated by a signal generating device, and the first set of signals drives two adjacent piezoelectric devices of the plurality of piezoelectric devices with the same time difference, so as to synthesize each first plane wave by the plurality of piezoelectric devices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the second plane waves is generated by a plurality of piezoelectric devices driven by a second set of signals with different delay times.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second set of signals is generated by a signal generating device, and the second set of signals drives two adjacent piezoelectric devices of the plurality of piezoelectric devices with the same time difference, so as to synthesize each second plane wave by the plurality of piezoelectric devices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each decision plane wave of the plurality of decision plane waves corresponds to a set of signals of different delay times used to drive a plurality of piezoelectric devices.

10. An ultrasonic image detection system, comprising:

the buffer device is used for storing a plurality of decision plane waves;

a plurality of transceivers coupled to the buffer device; and

a processor coupled to the buffer device and the plurality of transceivers;

the transceivers simultaneously transmit a plurality of first plane waves with different included angles with a surface, wherein two adjacent first plane waves form a first angle, and the transceivers receive at least one first reflected wave reflected by the object; the processor controls the transceivers to simultaneously transmit a plurality of second plane waves with different included angles with the surface according to the at least one first reflected wave, wherein two adjacent second plane waves form a second angle; the transceivers receive at least one second reflected wave of the second plane waves reflected by the object; the processor determines the angle or position of the object according to the at least one second reflected wave and the plurality of decision plane waves, wherein the first angle is larger than the second angle;

the buffer device buffers the reflection angle corresponding to each second reflection wave of the at least one second reflection wave; generating a plurality of sets of decision plane waves by the processor, wherein each set of decision plane waves comprises a plurality of the decision plane waves; the processor compares the reflection angle corresponding to each second reflection wave with a plurality of decision angles corresponding to the plurality of groups of decision plane waves, and selects a group of optimal decision plane waves from the plurality of groups of decision plane waves to accord with the angle or the position of the object.