METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THE FRAME RATE AND RESOLUTION OF A PHASED-ARRAY IMAGING SYSTEM

Scan conversion or data interpolation is performed on the signal generated by acoustic transducers in an acoustic imaging system before the signal is processed by detecting and limiting it. This processing uses signal phase information, which is normally lost during the image reconstruction process, to increase image resolution. A nonlinear interpolation scheme is used during the scan conversion process used to convert the data generated by acoustic transducers into data suitable for visual display in order to more accurately generate interpolated data points. A nonlinear angular spacing between acoustic lines is used to increase the image frame rate can be increased without decreasing image resolution. The frame rate of the acoustic imaging system can also be increased by interpolating the signals generated by the transducers before they are provided to beamforming circuits.