Power on self test (POST) and extended self test (EST) for...

Details Power on self test (POST) and extended self test (EST) for... Power on self test (POST) and extended self test (EST) for...

2001-07-31

2004-01-13

Hoff, Marc S. (Department: 2857)

Data processing: measuring, calibrating, or testing

Testing system

Of circuit

C702S113000, C702S108000, C600S437000, C073S596000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06678626

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power on self test (POST) and an extended self test (EST) for an ultrasonic imaging system, to determine with high confidence in a relatively short time period (for example, less than three seconds) that the ultrasonic imaging system is functioning correctly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ultrasonic imaging systems are widely used to produce an image of inside a person's body.
FIG. 1
is a diagram illustrating the general concept of an ultrasonic imaging system. Referring now to
FIG. 1
, an ultrasonic imaging system
18
typically includes electronics
20
and a transducer
22
. Electronics
20
produces control signals for transducer
22
. In accordance with the control signals, transducer
22
transmits ultrasonic energy
24
into tissue
26
, such as that, for example, in a human body. Ultrasonic energy
24
causes tissue
26
to generate a signal
28
which is received by transducer
22
. Electronics
20
then forms an image in accordance with the received signal
28
.
Conventional ultrasonic imaging systems typically employ embedded resident self-diagnostic tests to ensure proper operation. However, conventionally, diagnostic tests are not implemented in an expeditious manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an ultrasonic imaging system including a power on self test (POST) which is initiated, performed and completed within three seconds of power ON.
The present invention also provides an ultrasonic imaging system having a POST including (a) a verification test copying run-time code from a first on-board memory to a second on-board memory and verifying that the copied run-time code has been copied correctly, (b) a register test testing registers included in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for performing ultrasonic scanning, (c) a controller test testing operation of a controller which generates a real-time clock and controls input/output operations during ultrasonic scanning, (d) a receive digital signal path test testing a receive digital signal path of the ultrasonic imaging system, and (e) a basic front end test.
Moreover, the present invention provides an ultrasonic imaging system including a power on self test (POST) and an extended self test (EST). The POST is initiated, performed and completed within three seconds of power ON. The POST includes at least one of the group consisting of a verification test, a register test, a controller test, a receive digital signal path test and a basic front end test. The EST is performed at the discretion of an operator after completion of the POST. The EST includes at least one of the group consisting of a transmit test, a transducer element test, a front end voltage test and a receive test.
Advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.


REFERENCES:
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patent: 4819154 (1989-04-01), Stiffler et al.
patent: 4941143 (1990-07-01), Twitty et al.
patent: 5265613 (1993-11-01), Feldman et al.
patent: 5524624 (1996-06-01), Tepper et al.
patent: 5817024 (1998-10-01), Ogle et al.
patent: 6417857 (2002-07-01), Finger et al.
patent: 6450958 (2002-09-01), Linkhart et al.
patent: 6585644 (2003-07-01), Lebel et al.
patent: 2002/0129654 (2002-09-01), Hongerholt
patent: 06154211 (1994-06-01), None
patent: 08238243 (1996-09-01), None

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