压电MEMS超声换能器研究进展

MEMS(micro-electromechanical systems)超声换能器(MEMS ultrasonic transducer,简称MUT)是采用微电子和微机械加工技术制作的新型超声换能器。与传统超声换能器相比,MUT具有体积小、重量轻、成本低、功耗低、可靠性高、频率控制灵活、频带宽、灵敏度高以及易于与电路集成和实现智能化等特点。是超声换能器的重要的研究方向之一。MUT的研究主要包括压电MUT(piezoelectric MUT,简称PMUT)和电容MUT(capacitiveMUT,简称CMUT)两个方面。本文概述了PMUT研究的发展进程和研究成果,展望了PMUT的研究和应用前景。     

硅油介质中矩形电容式微机械超声换能器发射与接收声场特性研究

与传统压电式超声换能器相比,基于微机电系统微加工技术制备的电容式微机械超声换能器(CMUT)具有频带宽、灵敏度高、一致性好、易于集成等优势,在医学超声成像中具有广阔的应用前景。该文针对研制的矩形CMUT器件,开展硅油介质中CMUT发射、接收声场特性的理论分析及实验验证研究。首先,针对CMUT阵元结构特征和工作原理,根据指向性函数理论和Bridge乘积原理,建立了矩形CMUT阵元指向性函数分析模型。此基础上,分析微元数目以及谐振频率对CMUT指向性的影响规律。最后,针对7 mm×7 mm二维矩形CMUT在硅油介质中的发射和接收特性进行了实验验证,测试表明发射指向性曲线与仿真理论曲线基本吻合;此外,CMUT接收与发射指向性的测试表明,收发指向性具有一致性,从而验证了声场的互易性。该文的研究对CMUT器件的封装设计以及基于CMUT阵列的乳腺超声CT成像系统的研制具有重要参考价值。     

空气耦合电容式微超声换能器设计

建立了空气耦合电容式微超声换能器(CMUT)的理论方法,分析CMUT各个结构参数对其性能参数的影响。根据理论分析结果结合无损检测应用背景设计了一个由16个阵元构成的CMUT阵列,并采用SOI晶圆键合工艺制作。该阵列每个阵元包含16个圆形CMUT敏感单元,敏感单元的半径400μm,中心频率230 kHz。建立CMUT发射和接收瞬态仿真模型分别得到CMUT发射声压和接收灵敏度与激励电压的关系,并通过实验测试验证该仿真模型的准确性。最后通过实验对CMUT与商用压电空耦超声换能器的性能进行对比,实验结果表明CMUT的发射声压和接收灵敏度与商用换能器达到相同数量级,并且能够成功激发和接收铝合金板中A_0模态Lamb波。     

面向CMUT声发射特性的驱动电路优化设计

根据电容式微机械超声换能器(CMUT)的工作原理,设计了用于驱动CMUT发射超声波的电路.通过适当的串行匹配,消除了脉冲激励信号的过冲现象.在此基础上进一步探究了脉冲激励参数对CMUT声发射特性影响.结果表明,随着激励脉冲个数的增加,CMUT输出超声信号的有效带宽逐渐变窄,二次谐波逐渐增强;随着激励脉冲占空比的增加,C...     

面向电容式微机械超声换能器器件的32通道收发 电路设计与测试*

针对以电容式微机械超声换能器(CMUT)阵列为探头的超声成像系统,设计了一种兼具现场可编程门阵列(FPGA)控制、脉冲驱动以及微弱电流信号检测功能的电路。利用FPGA产生64路控制信号,控制脉冲信号的频率、脉冲个数、占空比等参数;脉冲电路在FPGA以及直流电压的控制下,产生32路脉冲信号;接收电路通过跨阻放大结构实现32路电流信号检测;32通道收发电路利用脉冲产生芯片内自带的T/R开关进行高压隔离。通过搭建测试平台,对收发电路功能及一致性进行测试,并连接CMUT进行自发自收测试。测试结果表明,32通道收发电路具有良好的一致性,电路可以实现基于CMUT阵列的32通道超声信号的发射,检测回波信号,并对CMUT器件的带宽进行测试。电路具有功能完善,结构稳定的优点,为基于CMUT阵列的超声成像系统的应用提供了硬件支持。     

电容式微超声波换能器的设计与电容值测试*

本文设计的微电容超声波换能器(CMUT)是由电容阵列组成的超声波传感器,主要是利用电容的改变来实现能量的转换。是基于硅硅键合技术的MEMS电容式超声传感器,制作的传感器误差小,并且工艺流程简单且能进行量产。在利用E4990A阻抗分析仪对传感器进行C—V测试分析而得出其电容的实际值与理论值的误差仅为1.6%。并且利用该仪器测试传感器电容在工作电压下随频率的变化,得出其在工作电压下,频率为400K的时候电容值为617.67PF,为对传感器进行理论计算提供了重要支撑,并且为后续转换电路的设计提供了数据支撑。     

应用于微电容超声换能器的信号处理电路设计*

针对微电容超声换能器的输出信号特征及检测要求,文中设计了换能器的微弱信号处理电路,包括基于跨阻的微弱电流信号检测和多重反馈带通滤波电路。通过搭建水下测试平台,对电路性能及功能进行实际测试,并进行水下测距实验。实验结果表明,该电路可对微电容超声换能器输出的400 k Hz信号进行检测放大与滤波;电路的线性度为0.18%,滤波电路中心频率为396 k Hz,带宽为55 k Hz。该电路可用于CMUT的接收信号处理并应用于超声测距及成像的前端信号处理。     

cMUT阵元的声学分析与环形扫描成像

电容式微机械超声换能器(cMUT)具有宽带宽、灵敏度高、机械阻抗低和与电子电路集成制造等优点.由于超声换能器声场设计的好坏决定了成像质量的优劣,为了明确阵元参数与辐射声场的关系,该文对不同的阵元参数进行了计算仿真.与压电陶瓷超声换能器的结构不同,cMUT阵元是由多个电容单元(cell)并联构成.因此分析了cell的半径...     

《超声换能器》一书出版

在材料的无损检测、医学诊断、地球物理勘探、电子通讯(如体波延迟线和脉压线)以及许多科学研究中,超声换能器是关键部件之一。为此,改善超声换能器的性能、研制新型的超声换能器是人们十分重视的课题。有关工程技术人员和科研人员迫切希望能找到一本既有超声换能器工作原理又能较全面地反映超声换能器当今水平的著作。值得高兴的是,东南大学无线电工程系袁易全同志在教学和科研工作之余,及时撰写了《超声换能器》一书,以满足我国广大读者的需要。     

直线微动马达箝位超声换能器(PGUT)研究

本文提出一种用于超声微动直线马达的环形三叠片压电箝位超声换能器(Position-Cripped Ultrasonic Transducer,简称:PGUT)。其原理是利用换能器的超声振动产生的表面效应,来实现直线微动马达的箝位或松位。本文给出了这种换能器的共振频率、有效机电耦合系数及实验结果。实验结果表明,PGUT 能迅速、平稳的执行箝位、松位动作,并且具有低工作电压驱动相似文献   

面向水下应用的电容式微机械超声换能器*

电容式微机械超声换能器具有宽频带和易于制造二维阵列等优势,已经成为一种重要的新型超声换能器。该文针对图像声呐系统对新型超声换能器的迫切需求,提出了一种电容式微机械超声换能器结构和参数,并利用硅微加工技术制备出了该换能器,最后对其主要性能参数进行了测试和分析。测试结果表明该换能器具有发射和接收超声波的功能,中心工作频率为1.965 MHz,6 dB相对带宽达到109.4%,在1 MHz、2 MHz和3 MHz频率时的接收灵敏度分别为-218.29 d B、-219.39 dB和-218.11 dB。该文研制的电容式微机械超声换能器显示出了优秀的宽频带特性,且工作频率和接收灵敏度性能均基本满足了高频图像声呐系统的需求。     

Air-coupled MUMPs capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers with resonant cavities

This work reports performance improvements of air-coupled capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) using resonant cavities. In order to perform this work, we have designed and manufactured a CMUT employing multi-user microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) processes (MUMPs). The transducer was designed using Helmholtz resonator principles. This was characterised by the dimensions of the cavity and several acoustic ports, which had the form of holes in the CMUT plate. The MUMPs process has the advantage of being low cost which allows the manufacture of economic prototypes. In this paper we show the effects of the resonant cavities and acoustic ports in CMUTs using laser Doppler vibrometry and acoustical measurements. We also use Finite Element (FE) simulations in order to support experimental measurements. The results show that it is possible to enhance the output pressure and bandwidth in air by tuning the resonance frequency of the plate (f_p) with that of the Helmholtz resonator (f_H). The experimental measurements show the plate resonance along with an additional resonance in the output pressure spectrum. This appears due to the effect of the new resonant cavities in the transducer. FE simulations show an increase of 11 dB in the output pressure with respect to that of a theoretical vacuum-sealed cavity MUMPs CMUT by properly tuning the transducer. The bandwidth has been also analyzed by calculating the mechanical Q factor of the tuned CMUT. This has been estimated as 4.5 compared with 7.75 for the vacuum-sealed cavity MUMPs CMUT.     

Measurement of elastic nonlinearity using remote laser ultrasonics and CHeap Optical Transducers and dual frequency surface acoustic waves

A nonlinear ultrasonic technique for evaluating material elastic nonlinearity has been developed. It measures the phase modulation of a high frequency (82MHz) surface acoustic wave interacting with a low frequency (1MHz) high amplitude stress inducing surface acoustic wave. A new breed of optical transducers has been developed and used for the generation and detection of the high frequency wave. The CHeap Optical Transducer (CHOT) is an ultrasonic transducer system, optically activated and read by a laser. We show that CHOTs offer advantages over alternative transducers. CHOTs and nonlinear ultrasonics have great potential for aerospace applications. Results measuring changes in ultrasonic velocity corresponding to different stress states of the sample are presented on fused silica and aluminium.     

Structural health monitoring using polymer-based capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs)

Transducers based on a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) design have been fabricated using a rapid prototyping technique. This results in a device that is constructed principally from polymers, in a process which is simple and inexpensive. The resultant devices can be attached to the surfaces of solids. Their peak sensitivity is in the 80–100 kHz range, making them ideal for applications such as acoustic emission and structural health monitoring. Good low frequency sensitivity leads to applications in vibration monitoring.     

Load characteristics of high power sandwich piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers

Based on the equivalent circuit theory, the load characteristics of high power piezoelectric ultrasonic sandwich transducers are studied. Two types of loads are studied. One is liquid load as in ultrasonic cleaning, and the other is solid load as in ultrasonic drilling and machining. The effect of load and structure of the transducer on the resonance frequency of the transducer is analyzed. It is shown that the effect of load on the resonance frequency of sandwich transducers with different structures is different. For liquid load as in ultrasonic cleaning, the effect of the load on the resonance frequency of the sandwich transducer with symmetrical structure is the largest. It is the smallest for the transducer with its displacement node in the back metal cylinder. For solid load as in ultrasonic drilling and machining, the effect of the load on the resonance frequency of the sandwich transducer with its displacement node in the front metal cylinder is the largest. It is also the smallest for the transducer with its displacement node in the back metal cylinder. On the other hand, for some applications, such as ultrasonic drilling, when the lateral dimension of the tool is much less than that of the transducer, its effect on the resonance frequency of the transducer is small. The conclusions are useful in designing vibrating systems for different ultrasonic applications.     

Piezoelectric effect in polyvinylidene fluoride at high frequencies

A strong piezoelectric effect in polyvinylidene fluoride was observed at frequencies as high as 500 MHz using polarized films as ultrasonic transducers. In contrast to the low frequency behaviour, the transducer efficiency showed a remarkable increase with decreasing temperature.     

Capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) with isolation posts

In this paper, an improved design of a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) is presented. The design improvement aims to address the reliability issues of a CMUT and to extend the device operation beyond the contact (collapse) voltage. The major design novelty is the isolation posts in the vacuum cavities of the CMUT cells instead of full-coverage insulation layers in conventional CMUTs. This eliminates the contact voltage drifting due to charging caused by the insulation layer, and enables repeatable CMUT operation in the post-contact regime. Ultrasonic tests of the CMUTs with isolation posts (PostCMUTs) in air (electrical input impedance and capacitance vs. bias voltage) and immersion (transmission and reception) indicate acoustic performance similar to that obtained from conventional CMUTs while no undesired side effects of this new design is observed.