The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 01, 2008
Filed:
Oct. 29, 2004
Christopher Robert Hazard, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Robert Gideon Wodnicki, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Rayette Ann Fisher, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Kai E. Thomenius, Clifton Park, NY (US);
Lowell Scott Smith, Niskayuna, NY (US);
David Martin Mills, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Christopher Robert Hazard, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Robert Gideon Wodnicki, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Rayette Ann Fisher, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Kai E. Thomenius, Clifton Park, NY (US);
Lowell Scott Smith, Niskayuna, NY (US);
David Martin Mills, Niskayuna, NY (US);
General Electric Company, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Abstract
The reconfigurable ultrasound array disclosed herein is one that allows groups of subelements to be connected together dynamically so that the shape of the resulting element can be made to match the shape of the wave front. This can lead to improved performance and/or reduced channel count. Reconfigurability can be achieved using a switching network. A methodology and an algorithm are disclosed that allows the performance of this switching network to be improved by properly choosing the configuration of the switching network.