UMX / Ultrasound systems

Ultrasound development platform.

A modular ultrasound system under development, combining acquisition electronics, FPGA data handling, and embedded Linux on NXP i.MX8M Plus.

Independent project · In development

From acquisition to application.

UMX is being developed as a configurable platform for ultrasound acquisition, processing, and visualisation. The design supports work on custom transmit/receive sequences and imaging methods, with separate acquisition and processing modules.

Current work covers the system architecture, initial UTR schematics, and a custom Linux image built for the i.MX8M Plus reference board.

Scope: Electronics, FPGA, and embedded Linux
Front end: UTR · 32-channel transmit/receive module
Processor: NXP i.MX8M Plus
Linux platform: Yocto Project · Custom image and application layer

System architecture

Acquisition
and processing.

The architecture assigns transmit and receive functions to UTR, acquisition timing and data transfer to an FPGA, and application processing to i.MX8M Plus. PCIe connects the FPGA and processor.

The modular design separates the ultrasound channel hardware from the processing platform, allowing each part to be developed and integrated in stages.

Architecture overview · System integration in development

AcquisitionUTR front end32-channel transmit / receive module

Acquired data & control

Data handlingFPGATiming, acquisition & data transfer

PCIe

Application processingNXP i.MX8M PlusCustom Yocto Linux · Application software

UTR acquisition electronics

Architecture and initial schematics

UTR is the 32-channel ultrasound transmit/receive daughterboard within UMX. Initial schematic work covers the transmit and receive paths, power, clocking, and interfaces to the main platform.

The board is at the initial design stage. Schematic review, PCB layout, manufacture, and prototype testing are the next hardware steps.

Custom embedded Linux

Yocto image built for the reference board

A custom Yocto image has been built for the NXP FRDM i.MX8M Plus development board. It provides the software base for application development and hardware integration within UMX.

The build uses NXP board support with a Docker build environment, a project-specific application layer, and an image recipe that defines the required software.

Python runtime and application packaging.
Remote access, package management, and GPIO diagnostic tools.
Documented image deployment, serial-console access, and board bring-up procedures.

System integration

Planned development

The system architecture defines an FPGA-to-processor PCIe link for acquired data and control. The wider programme includes signal processing, visualisation, and host interfaces over USB and Ethernet.