New generation of high voltage integrated devices for ultrasound: 16 Channels pulser 5 levels with integrated transmit beamformer and 64 independent HV switches

More integration in the transmission chain for an ultrasound system moves the study of new possible solutions to reduce the area and simply the system. A sixteen channels 5 levels high-voltage transmitter device and a 64 high-voltage switches device for ultrasound medical imaging system are reported. The pulser device takes advantage of 16 analog channels able to provide +/-100V driven by 2 independent half bridges, providing up to ±2A peak output current. The power is conveniently managed by a digital control logic that implement beam forming functions, diagnostic checks with interrupt output signal and sixteen static RAM memory blocks, used to store one or more waveforms for each output channel, with a data compression methodology in case waveforms stored are repetitive. The new approach moves several functionalities and memory capability from the external system inside the pulser device (a simple microcontroller can be used instead FPGA as external controller). Since pulsing functions are not real time controlled, but configured before starting operations, number of control input signals is strongly reduced, compared to traditional ultrasound transmitter. The multiplexer device is composed by 64 independent high voltage switches that allows 32 deviators into a single chip solution.