SonoSite S Series - Page 8

4 Chapter 2: System Overview
Figure 2.1 SonoSite High-Resolution Ultrasound System (S Series) Block Diagram
TheTransducerelementsconvertthepulservoltagetoacousticenergyduringthetransmitportionofthe
ultrasoundacquisitioncycle.Theelementsconverttheacousticechotovoltageinthereceiveportionofthe
acquisition.Thevoltagedevelopedonthetransducerelementsissensedbytheacquisitionsubsystem.The
systemtransducers
have64to192elements.
TheAcquisitionSubsystemconsistsofthebeamformerandinterfacetothetransducer.Thebeamformer
controlsthetimingofthetransmitpulsestofocustheacousticbeam.Thebeamformeramplifiesthe
low‐levelreceivedechoesandcontrolsthereceivefocusing.Thesystembeamformertransmitsonupto
128
elementsandreceiveson64elements.
TheProcessingSubsystemincludescapabilitiesforinterfacingwiththebeamformerandperforminghigh
speedprocessing.Theprocessingsubsystemdemodulates,filters,detects,andcompressesthesignal
suppliedbythebeamformerintodisplayinformation.
TheDisplay Subsystemconvertsthedetectedultrasounddataintopictureelements(pixels).
Thesoftware
userinterface graphicsarecombinedwiththeultrasoundinformationandconvertedtoavideostream.The
externalvideoportsupportsNTSCandPALformat.
TheControlSubsystemconsistsofthecentralprocessingunit,programandvideomemory,permanent
imagestorageandretrievalmemory,externalcommunicationinterfaceports,andconnection
totheuser
interfacekeys.Thecontrolsoftwareincludestheacousticpowerandintensitysoftwaresubsystem,power
groupmonitors,andabeamformermonitor.Thissoftwareguaranteesalevelofpatientsafetybyensuring
thesystemisoperatingwithinacousticpowerandintensitylimits.
TheUserInterfaceSubsystemrepresentsthesoftwareinterface
andformfactor.Thesoftwareinterfaceis
theinteractionbetweentheuserandthescreenlayoutcomponents.Theformfactoristhetypeofphysical
buttons,location,andgroupingofthebuttonsandthedevicesize,shape,andweight.Dedicatedcontrols
areforhighusageactivitiesandgroupedaccordingto
theuserworkflow.
AQ
Bus
RF
Bus
Acquisition
subsystem
Processing
subsystem
Transducer
Display
subsystem
Control Bus
Control
subsystem
User
interface
Battery
pack
assembly
Pulser voltage
Video
External video to
monitor, printer
Power
subsystem
Power
adapter
External power
IrDA
Serial Bus
Logic power
Display power