General Electric Company

Edward D Nonnweiler

David Leo McDaniel

Jeffrey Alan Kautzer

David John Muzilla

David D Becker

Gregory R Bashford

Gerd Mewitz

Richard B Leavell

David C Yates

An ultrasound imaging system having an adaptive spatial filter the filter coefficients of which, for particular image parameter sample, are determined by counting the number of neighboring image parameter samples having zero or near-zero values. If the number of zero or near-zero values in a data window is greater than a predetermined threshold, the data in the window is passed, not filtered. This filter has two advantages over other spatial filters. First, image parameter data samples having only zero or near-zero neighboring values (i.e., isolated 'point noise') are not smeared. Second, boundaries such as the edge of color in a vessel (where the surrounding area is black, i.e., the color image parameter values are zero or near zero) are not smoothed as much as in conventional filters, preserving the sharpness of the edge.

Method and apparatus for adaptive filtering by counting acoustic sample

An medical imaging system includes a photodetector array which converts an X-ray image into a series of picture elements arranged in rows and columns of a two dimensional matrix. The picture elements are read from the array on a column by column basis. A spatial filter for the picture elements includes a first filter that applies one filter function to the pixels in each column of the image. The partially filtered pixels are stored in a first memory and then read therefrom row by row in a field interlaced order. The rows of picture elements are sent to a second filter that applies another filter function to each row. The fully filtered picture elements from the second filter either are stored or converted to a video signal for display.

Spatial filter for an image processing system

An exposure control module for an X-ray imaging system includes a timing and sequence controller communicating with external elements of the system on a parallel data bus. The timing and sequence controller employs a plurality of stored recipes for advancing the system through a selected mode of operation. Changes in certain of the external signals on the parallel data bus may be recognized by an interrupt handler to transfer the attention of the system. The amount of hardware required for recognition of a significant change is reduced by converting a sample of the bus data into a plurality of sets of parallel data, and storing each set in separate multiplexers. A further plurality of sets of data from a preceding sample are applied to a corresponding further set of multiplexers. The serial data in corresponding pairs of present-status and previous-status multiplexers is read out in parallel to a logic array. The logic array also receives mask signals effective to enable or inhibit selectively the recognition of positive-going and negative-going changes in the data from sample to sample. When an enabled change is detected, an interrupt is generated. The actual bus signal conditions are compared with desired bus signal conditions. Once coincidence between the actual and desired conditions is achieved, a recipe process is executed.

Hybrid interrupt handling for computer-controlled imaging system

A power status monitor for an electronic system includes a charge/discharge model of the system power supply. The charge/discharge model contains an estimate of the amount of time during which energy-storage devices in a system DC power supply are capable of maintaining system operation following loss of AC power. The power status monitor monitors the frequency and an amplitude of the voltage of the AC power source for signs indicating imminent failure of the AC power source. In the event that such signs are detected, the estimate in the charge/discharge model is decremented at a rate corresponding to the rate at which charge is consumed. A trip value, applied to the charge/discharge model, determines the time at which a signal is generated enabling an orderly shutdown of the system load. If acceptable AC power is resumed before the trip value is reached, the charge/discharge model increases its estimate of the time available at a rate corresponding to the charge accumulation in the DC power supply.

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Milwaukee, WI, United States of America

Edward D Nonnweiler