An Integrated Circuit Image Reconstruction Processor

Abstract

The reconstruction of an ultrasonic image is an ambitious undertaking because it is a complicated process if the reconstructed image is to be any good. To do it using integrated circuits would therefore be expected to require a large complicated integrated circuit. Nevertheless, there seems to be a principle in integrated circuits that, as time goes on, individual transistors get smaller, but circuits become more intricate. With this constant improvement in mind, the idea that the reconstruction of ultrasonic images can be done almost entirely in special integrated circuits seems practical. We have been attempting to develop a general method of image reconstruction that exploits the advantages that integrated processing can have. These advantages include small size, the ability to reproduce elaborate interconnection patterns easily, and improvement in frequency response and reduction in noise pickup, due to decreased stray capacitance. Integrated amplifiers and processors would make it possible to build a low cost imaging system that is contained almost entirely in the transducer probe.