超声换能器对线性调频信号脉冲压缩性能的影响分析*

该文研究了不同编码带宽下超声换能器对编码信号脉冲压缩后信噪比与轴向分辨率的影响关系。将脉冲压缩后的时域峰值转化为频域积分的形式，得到考虑换能器影响的脉冲压缩信噪比公式。以线性调频信号为例，仿真与实验结果表明，编码激励相对于方波激励的信噪比增益随编码带宽的减小而增大，因为受换能器带宽限制，编码激励的轴向分辨率随编码带宽的增大先减小后趋于稳定。该研究为编码激励方法更有效地应用于超声检测的背景中提供了参考。     

水下应用的电容式微机械超声换能器阵列设计

为提高用于水下成像的电容式微机械超声换能器的指向性,文中用ANSYS力电耦合分析法设计了工作频率为400 k Hz的收发一体传感器的结构参数并完成了实验验证。同时研究了阵列设计方法,分析了电容式微机械超声换能器阵列各参数对指向性的影响,完成了从微小敏感单元到阵列的设计,实现了阵列指向性的优化设计。该阵列为16阵元的线阵,阵元间距为1.925 mm,阵元宽度为1.82 mm。进行了水下指向性测试,实验表明该线阵的-3 dB主瓣宽度为5?,最大旁瓣级为-13.5 dB,对称性好。该设计是实现较远距离的探测,提高成像分辨率的前提。     

Chirp编码的鲁棒医学超声内窥合成孔径方法

提出一种Chirp编码的鲁棒医学超声内窥合成孔径方法(CRSA),以减小人体组织声速误差对成像结果的影响。采用具有大多普勒容限与时间带宽积的Chirp码代替传统的Barker码激励超声换能器;再根据Chirp编码信号的特征,分别在纵向与横向完成超声回波的脉冲压缩。经FieldⅡ仿真实验以及超声成像实验结果验证,和Barker码比较,CRSA方法得到的实验结果,其横向分辨率由1.8 mm提高到1.4 mm;并且在6%的声速误差下,主瓣平均展宽和信噪比衰减分别由0.99 mm和3.8 dB降为0.04 mm和0.2 dB。实验结果表明,CRSA方法可有效抑制声速误差对分辨率与信噪比的影响,鲁棒性更强。      

衰减匹配的超声Barker码激励方法

为增加超声穿透高声衰减介质的能力,提出了一种衰减匹配的超声Barker码激励方法。基于换能器高斯响应与材料非频散线性衰减的假设,得到了Barker码激励的信号模型,求解旁瓣抑制滤波后脉冲压缩的信噪比表达式可知,该方法仅需要根据材料衰减特性与轴向分辨率的要求,分别调整Barker码的中心频率与时长,便可以获得更高的信噪比。取衰减系数为1.4 Np/(MHz·cm)、厚度为5 cm的橡胶为试样进行验证。当与方波激励方法的轴向分辨率相近时,衰减匹配的Barker码激励方法比传统Barker码激励方法的信噪比增益提高接近5 dB;当牺牲一定轴向分辨率时,信噪比增益提高接近11 dB。结果表明,衰减匹配的Barker码激励方法可以降低依频率衰减对脉冲压缩的影响,有效提高衰减回波的信噪比。      

多通道超声相控阵驱动控制系统设计

低强度经颅聚焦超声是一种利用脉冲聚焦超声调控脑神经元的治疗技术。为抑制人颅骨的非均质性和个体结构差异影响,须对多阵元相控阵聚焦换能器的各阵元进行参数调控实现经颅精准定位聚焦,各阵元参数调控需通过相位控制和驱动电路系统来实现。该文设计并搭建了一种基于直接数字式频率合成技术的多通道相位、幅值独立可调的相控驱动系统。实测结果表明,可实现正弦波和方波高精度相控输出,输出信号电压峰峰值在0~37.5 V可调,相位分辨率为0.1°,延时误差小于1 ns,可满足多阵元相控阵聚焦换能器驱动及其所需相位分辨率的需要。     

基于FPGA的高强度聚焦超声相位控制系统设计*

多阵元相控阵换能器具有焦距可调和可实现经颅聚焦等优势,近来受到众多研究者的关注,其相位控制系统是决定多阵元相控换能器能否应用于临床的关键技术之一。在输出信号稳定的同时提高高强度聚焦超声相位控制系统精度是设计过程中的重点与难点。本文基于现场可编程门阵列设计了一种高强度聚焦超声相位控制系统。实测结果表明,多通道延时分辨率为1 ns,延时误差小于1 ns,可满足多阵元高强度聚焦超声治疗相控聚焦换能器延时精度的需要。     

消频散阵不变量距离估计方法

针对传统阵不变量方法在低信噪比和远距离测距性能差的问题,提出了消频散阵不变量测距方法。该方法首先对垂直阵接收信号进行消频散波束形成,消除频散影响,压缩脉冲宽度,提高简正波到达时间分辨率;然后,对得到的角度-时间谱采用反卷积处理提高简正波俯仰角度分辨率。通过消频散和反卷积处理,减小了简正波相对到达时间和俯仰角在角度-时间谱图中的聚焦范围,有利于准确的提取阵不变量和估计目标声源的距离。计算机仿真证明了该方法在低信噪比条件下的鲁棒性;2009年崂山湾实验数据处理结果表明:相比于传统阵不变量测距方法,该方法距离估计误差减小2.5%。      

宽带参量阵技术在近海探测中的研究

文章针对非线性声学宽带参量阵技术应用于近海海底剖面绘制及掩埋物探测进行了分析研究。对于宽带参量阵声呐产生的差频信号利用Berktay包络解调理论和KZK(Khokhlov-Zabolotskaya-Kuznetsov)方程,对其进行了理论分析,水池实验研究和时域数值模拟,并结合声呐方程计算,说明该技术用于近海探测的可行性。本文同时结合脉冲压缩技术对产生的宽带差频信号做匹配处理,用于提高设备的垂直分辨率。最后在海试实验中,利用文中设计的参量阵声呐,分别使用宽带差频信号和单频差频信号对浅海海底沉积层和海底掩埋管线进行探测,取得了清晰的剖面图和掩埋物探测结果,验证了宽带参量阵技术在海底探测中的有效性和实用性。      

浅海大孔径水平阵列频移补偿定位方法

浅海波导中简正波干涉使得声场水平相关随距离出现振荡,利用声信号水平距离-频率干涉规律推导了不同阵元接收信号间的频移补偿关系式,结合大孔径阵列阵元空间分布离散度高的特点提出适用于声源频谱缓变信号的定位方法。利用频移补偿量随声源位置的变化,将两两阵元组合输出的模糊度平面叠加实现水平二维平面定位。仿真结果表明方法定位性能良好,对环境参数失配宽容性好。频移补偿后的线性相位关系有效提高了接收信号间的相关性,进而提升大孔径阵列的处理增益。阵列的孔径优势提高了空间分辨能力,模糊度平面峰值-背景比高。海试数据验证表明, 10～80 km测距结果平均相对偏差为5.68%,二维平面内定位结果平均距离偏差为0.78 km。     

非消声水池中低频换能器测量的空间域处理方法

提出了一种在非消声水池中低频换能器测量的空间域处理方法。该方法是在发射和接收换能器保持相对位置不变的情况下,通过多次无规则变换其在有限水域中的位置,让同频反射声的干扰贡献随机和无规则化,最终将上述所有位置接收的信号同步叠加而将同频反射声干扰消除,从而提取出了所需的直达波波形信号,克服了传统的脉冲测量技术受同频反射声干扰无法提取直达信号的问题。在5 m×7 m×6 m非消声水池,测量换能器样品,测量频率范围是400~2500 Hz,测量得到的结果与湖上测试结果相比,两者基本一致。该方法的实现,大大的提高了非消声水池的低频换能器测试能力,有效测量频率下限比一般脉冲测试方法降低一个数量级。      

微纳相控线阵超声换能器参数的理论分析*

微纳相控线阵超声换能器参数(阵元数目、阵元宽度及阵元间距)直接影响其横向声场分布,而其横向声场分布是能否实现高成像分辨率、大探测深度的决定性因素,也是制备换能器的主要依据。该文利用数值模拟研究微纳相控线阵超声换能器阵元参数对其横向声场中主瓣强度、-3 dB主瓣宽度、第一级旁瓣及栅瓣的影响。结果表明,主瓣强度随着阵元数目增加而增大,随阵元间距减小而增大,随着阵元宽度的增大呈现先增大后减小的趋势;-3 dB主瓣宽度随着阵元数目和阵元间距的增大而减小,随着阵元宽度的减小而减小;此外,减小阵元数目、减小阵元间距或增大阵元宽度均可以抑制旁瓣;栅瓣在阵元间距满足一定条件时可以完全消除。通过这些研究为微纳相控线阵超声换能器的优化设计与制备提供理论参考。     

Parameter optimization of pulse compression in ultrasound imaging systems with coded excitation

A linear array imaging system with coded excitation is considered, where the proposed excitation/compression scheme maximizes the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and minimizes sidelobes at the output of the compression filter. A pulse with linear frequency modulation (LFM) is used for coded excitation. The excitation/compression scheme is based on the fast digital mismatched filtering. The parameter optimization of the excitation/compression scheme includes (i) choice of an optimal filtering function for the mismatched filtering; (ii) choice of an optimal window function for tapering of the chirp amplitude; (iii) optimization of a chirp-to-transducer bandwidth ratio; (iv) choice of an appropriate n-bit quantizer. The simulation results show that the excitation/compression scheme can be implemented as a Dolph–Chebyshev filter including amplitude tapering of the chirp with a Lanczos window. An example of such an optimized system is given where the chirp bandwidth is chosen to be 2.5 times the transducer bandwidth and equals 6 MHz: The sidelobes are suppressed to −80 dB, for a central frequency of 4 MHz, and to −94 dB, for a central frequency of 8 MHz. The corresponding improvement of the SNR is 18 and 21 dB, respectively, when compared to a conventional short pulse imaging system. Simulation of B-mode images demonstrates the advantage of coded excitation systems of detecting regions with low contrast.     

Lorentz force electrical impedance tomography using pulse compression technique

Lorentz force electrical impedance tomography(LFEIT) combines ultrasound stimulation and electromagnetic field detection with the goal of creating a high contrast and high resolution hybrid imaging modality. In this study, pulse compression working together with a linearly frequency modulated ultrasound pulse was investigated in LFEIT. Experiments were done on agar phantoms having the same level of electrical conductivity as soft biological tissues. The results showed that:(i) LFEIT using pulse compression could detect the location of the electrical conductivity variations precisely;(ii)LFEIT using pulse compression could get the same performance of detecting electrical conductivity variations as the traditional LFEIT using high voltage narrow pulse but reduce the peak stimulating power to the transducer by 25.5 dB;(iii)axial resolution of 1 mm could be obtained using modulation frequency bandwidth 2 MHz.     

A new beamforming technique for ultrasonic imaging systems

We propose a simple, versatile and inexpensive beamforming method that performs the aperture windowing of an ultrasonic transducer array in the transmit mode, without modifying the driver voltage, but simply controlling the length of the electric pulse driving the array elements. A conversion formula has been determined that permits us to compute, for a desired emitted pulse amplitude, the corresponding driving pulse length to be applied. Any shading function can be implemented over any type of transducer array, using very low-cost hardware. Computer simulations and experimental measurements, with a 3.8 MHz convex array, confirm the effectiveness of this approach in enhancing the contrast resolution, since the off-axis intensity in the radiated beam pattern is largely reduced.     

矩形辐射器压电多频超声换能器的研究

研究了一种具有多个共振频率的矩形辐射器夹心式超声换能器,换能器由圆柱形后盖板、压电陶瓷晶堆及矩形六面体辐射器前盖板组合而成。利用表观弹性法和一维近似理论给出了多频换能器横向及纵向理论共振频率方程。对一种特殊情况下的此类换能器进行了有限元及实验分析,给出了各自的频率输入导纳曲线。对理论和实验结果进行分析后表明,此类矩形辐射器夹心式超声换能器可以在不同的振动模态上工作,具有多个共振频率.     

Linear frequency modulation photoacoustic radar: optimal bandwidth and signal-to-noise ratio for frequency-domain imaging of turbid media

The development of the pulse compression photoacoustic (PA) radar using linear frequency modulation (LFM) demonstrated experimentally that spectral matching of the signal to the ultrasonic transducer bandwidth does not necessarily produce the best PA signal-to-noise ratio, and it was shown that the optical and acoustic properties of the absorber will modify the optimal bandwidth. The effects of these factors are investigated in frequency-domain (FD) PA imaging by employing one-dimensional and axisymmetric models of the PA effect, and a Krimholtz-Leedom-Matthaei model for the employed transducers. LFM chirps with various bandwidths were utilized and transducer sensitivity was measured to ensure the accuracy of the model. The theory was compared with experimental results and it was shown that the PA effect can act as a low-pass filter in the signal generation. Furthermore, with the PA radar, the low-frequency behavior of two-dimensional wave generation can appear as a false peak in the cross correlation signal trace. These effects are important in optimizing controllable features of the FD-PA method to improve image quality.     

多层介质中超声相控阵声场仿真*

由于良好的声束偏转与聚焦特性,超声相控阵已经广泛应用于多层固体介质的缺陷检测。当超声束经过多层介质时,由于反射、透射以及模式转换的存在,多种声束存在于这种结构中,使得声场分析变得复杂。为了提高多层介质检测的准确性,有必要对超声声场的分布规律进行深入地了解。该文结合高斯声束等效点源模型以及射线追踪法,给出了相控阵声源在多层固体介质中激发声场的仿真方法,并且模拟计算了一维线型相控阵在楔块-铝-黄铜-钢四层固体介质中的辐射声场。通过对不同延时法则的计算,实现了声波在这种复杂介质中的偏转与聚焦,进而研究了不同焦点处聚焦声场的分布。结果表明:相控阵方法能使聚焦点处的声场幅值增大,能量集中,提高了检测分辨率;不同聚焦点处声场聚焦效果不同,实际检测时应根据检测区域结构及位置特点,合理放置相控阵换能器。与瑞利积分法的比较表明,该文的仿真方法适用于多层介质相控阵声场的计算。     

Compression and amplification of an ultrasonic pulse reflected from a one-dimensional layered structure

Compression of ultrasonic pulses reflected from layered structures is studied. A short pulse is emitted into water towards a structure consisting of solid plates backed with an air layer. Due to multiple reflections in the structure, the signal is elongated. The reflected signal is received by the same transducer and digitized. After that, the wave is reversed in time and emitted towards the layered structure for the second time; then, the reflected signal is received. Due to the invariance of the processes under the time reversal, the pulse is compressed by the structure: the reflected signal becomes shorter and acquires the waveform of the initial pulse. The possibility of an efficient compression of signals is demonstrated experimentally. Numerical simulations show that the use of more complex structures can considerably increase the compression ratio and produce short signals of a much higher amplitude than that emitted by the transducer. An efficient compression algorithm is proposed.