A new algorithm for spatial impulse response of rectangular planar transducers

Previous solutions for spatial impulse responses of rectangular planar transducers require either approximations or complex geometrical considerations. This paper describes a new, simplified and exact solution using only trigonometric functions and simple set operations. This solution, which can be numerically implemented with a straightforward algorithm, is an exact implementation of the Rayleigh integral without any far field or paraxial approximation. Additionally, a nonlinear relationship was also established for spatial impulse responses from two field points which share the same projection point on the transducer surface plane. By incorporating this relationship in the algorithm, the computational efficiency of spatial impulse responses and continuous fields is improved about 20-folds and 14-folds, respectively. This algorithm has practical applications in designing l-D linear/phased arrays, 1.5-D arrays and 2-D arrays, as demonstrated through numerical simulations with array transducers. Experiments were also conducted to verify the new solution and results show that the algorithm is both accurate and efficient. The application of this method may include development of ultrasound imaging system for hard and soft tissue nondestructive assessment.     

A fast implementation for computing spatial impulse response of ultrasonic transducers

The spatial impulse response(SIR) method is often used as the 'gold standard5 in simulation of transient acoustic wave fields due to its high accuracy in the linear domain.However, a high sampling frequency is often required in order to achieve the high accuracy. As a result, a large amount of data has to be processed. In this paper a fast approach for computing spatial impulse response is proposed to reduce the computation burden. The proposed approach is developed by employing the relationship of SIRs at observed points and SIRs of the projection points on the transducer surface. Two critical parameters used in the proposed approach, the calculation sampling frequency and the interpolation sampling frequency, are then analyzed.Results show that for a 2.25 MHz rectangular transducer with the size of 5 mmxlO mm,a calculation sampling frequency of 1000 MHz and an interpolation sampling frequency of500 MHz can achieve superior performance while improving the computation efficiency 18 times than the direct solving.     

一种精确计算换能器空间脉冲响应的快速方法

空间脉冲响应被认为是最有效的瞬态声场计算方法,针对空间脉冲响应直接计算时需要很高的采样频率,导致数据量大、计算效率差的问题,推导了空间点与其在换能器平面的投影点脉冲响应之间的关系,提出了一种计算脉冲响应的快速算法,探讨了计算采样频率和插值采样频率对计算精度和计算效率的影响,研究发现,采用1000 MHz采样频率能够保证精度要求,采用500 MHz作为插值时的采样频率是较优的选择。该方法与直接求解相比,可提高计算效率18倍。     

Fluorescence method for determining laser parameters

This paper describes a method for determining some important laser parameters from the fluorescence changes of an excited media induced by a resonant laser pulse. The parameters measured include stimulated emission cross-section, metastable level population and spectral relaxation rate. Results are reported for Nd³⁺ in silicate and phosphite glasses and in solution in POCl₃ and SeOCl₂.     

A novel method for estimating the focal size of two confocal high-intensity focused ultrasound transducers

Estimating the focal size and position of a high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducer remains a challenge since traditional methods, such as hydrophone scanning or schlieren imaging, cannot tolerate high pressures, are directional, or provide low resolution. The difficulties increase when dealing with the complex beam pattern of a multielement HIFU transducer array, e.g., two transducers facing each other. In the present study we show a novel approach to the visualization of the HIFU focus by using shockwave-generated bubbles and a diagnostic B-mode scanner. Bubbles were generated and pushed by shock waves toward the HIFU beam, and were trapped in its pressure valleys. These trapped bubbles moved along the pressure valleys and thereby delineated the shape and size of the HIFU beam. The main and sidelobes of 1.1- and 3.5 MHz HIFU beams were clearly visible, and could be measured with a millimeter resolution. The combined foci could also be visualized by observing the generation of sustained inertial cavitation and enhanced scattering. The results of this study further demonstrate the possibility of reducing the inertial cavitation threshold by the local introduction of shock wave-generated bubbles, which might be useful when bubble generation and cavitation-related bioeffects are intended within a small region in vivo.     

A new method for removing impulse noise based on noise space characteristic

This paper proposes a new method for eliminating impulse noise. Based on the space characteristic of object and noise, three kinds of basic noise patterns are introduced to describe noise and detect noise candidates. Correspondingly, noise removal operators are presented to remove the impulse noise. Extensive experiment results have shown that the proposed method is better than some of the state-of-the-art methods.     

A comparison of two methods for determining ultrasonic intensity for medical transducers

The spatial and temporal average intensity (ISATA) is determined for four diagnostic ultrasound transducers by two methods: (a) direct measurements (beam profiling) with a miniature hydrophone, as described in the AIUM-NEMA standard, and (b) estimating from measurements of total power and assumptions about beam size. The latter method is frequently used by diagnostic ultrasound manufacturers when reporting output levels to users and regulatory agencies. However, due to the conventions for defining beam area, this method actually overestimates the spatial average intensity. For the four transducers tested, the estimated ISATA exceeds the measured ISATA by several hundred percent. The spatial peak, temporal average intensity (ISPTA) was also measured for the four transducers and is less than the estimated ISATA in every case.     

Fast image method for impulse response calculations of box-shaped rooms

The image method has been used for calculating the impulse response of box-shaped rooms for over 25 years. While this method is functional, it can be inefficient because many of the commonly used mathematical operations are either redundant or unnecessary. This paper addresses these two inefficiencies by proposing both the use of look-up tables to prevent redundant calculations, and the use of a sorting method to allow the prevention of unnecessary calculations. Either technique, by itself, results in a large reduction in computation time. The greatest time reductions, however, can be achieved when both techniques are used together.     

A simple semi-empirical procedure for determining the parameters in the MO LCAO method

A simple method is described for evaluating the exchange and Coulomb integrals with account for the change in the properties of the atoms on entry into a molecule. Generalizations of Slater's rule permit the calculation of the ionization potentials of atoms in a molecule which make the main contribution to the Coulomb integrals. Analytical expressions are given for the Coulomb integrals in the -function approximation.I am indebted to N. A. Prilezhaeva and V. I. Danilova for their continuous interest in the work.     

A two-dimensional diffraction pattern sampling system for determining the optimum parameters of a matched spatial filter

The synthesis of a matched spatial filter based on holographic methods requires that the spatial frequency band in which the holographic fringe pattern with the best modulation is formed be tuned to the appropriate weighting at the Fourier transform plane of the spatial frequencies of the input object to be studied. For this purpose both the spectral intensity distribution of an input object at the Fourier transform plane and the intensity distribution of a reference beam at that plane must be accurately known beforehand. A two-dimensional diffraction pattern sampling system has been constructed which enables the Fourier spectral intensity distribution of the input object and the reference beam intensity distribution to be faithfully recorded. A preliminary experimental study shows the usefulness of this system.     

Complementary interference method for determining optical parameters of liquid crystals

ABSTRACT

Wedge cells of small apex angle, filled with liquid crystals, were used to determining optical characteristics as functions of temperature for three liquid crystalline mixtures recently produced and a reference nematic. The interference fringes appearing in polarised monochromatic light (of sodium yellow line) normally incident on the cell were exploited to measure the ordinary and extraordinary refractive indices in the reflection mode and birefringence in the transmission mode. The measurements were repeated using Abbe's refractometer for 6CHBT as the reference to verifying the precision. Additionally the order parameter was computed from birefringence as a function of temperature. The results confirm the usefulness of the method and provide the properties of two nematic liquid crystals of small and large birefringence and one smectic liquid crystal of medium birefringence, recently produced. The experimental systems served also to investigating phase transition between the liquid crystals and the isotropic liquid at near-clearing temperature.     

A multiple focused probe approach for high intensity focused ultrasound based surgery

To produce deep-seated surgical lesions using ultrasound requires high power and intensity levels at the target sites. Conventionally, large transducers are used which require big apertures and so are generally suitable only for extra-corporeal access. Such transducers also result in strong off-focus maxima, where the resulting hot spots can destroy normal tissue whilst deep-seated large tissue volumes are being ablated. This paper describes a new approach in which it is proposed that multiple probes are used simultaneously, each at a relatively low power, to result in an overlapping focused region of high temperature without strong off-focus hot spots. Robotic techniques could be used to move the individual probes in coordination to sweep out the desired region of tissue ablation. Simulation and planning are the key to quality prediction for high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). Simplified two-dimensional and three-dimensional models of HIFU probes have been developed to study the characteristics of various multi-probe configurations. Preliminary simulation results show that the multi-probe system can be arranged successfully to minimise off-focus hot spots. Experimental results are presented which validate the modality and confirm this positive finding. Further prediction studies and planning will be necessary to achieve the most appropriate desired treatment, by varying the pulse duration and spacing.     

A modal test method using sound pressure transducers based on vibro-acoustic reciprocity

A modal test method that uses sound pressure transducers at fixed locations and an impact hammer roving over a test structure is developed in this work. Since sound pressure transducers are used, the current method deals with a coupled structural–acoustic system. Based on the vibro-acoustic reciprocity, the method is equivalent to one, where acoustic excitations at fixed locations are given and the resulting acceleration of the test structure is measured. The current method can eliminate mass loading due to use of accelerometers, which can destroy existence of repeated or close natural frequencies of a symmetric structure. It can also avoid effects of a nodal line of a mode and an inactive area of a local mode, and measure all the out-of-plane modes within a frequency range of interest, including global and local ones. The coupling between the structure and the acoustic field in a structural–acoustic system introduces asymmetry in the model formulation. An equivalent state space formulation is used for a damped structural–acoustic system and the associated eigenvalue problem is derived. The biorthonormality relations between the left and right eigenvectors and the relations between the structural and acoustic components in the left and right eigenvectors are proved. The frequency response functions associated with the current method are derived and their physical meanings are explained. The guidelines for using the current method, including the types of structures that are suitable for the method, the positions of the sound pressure transducers, and the orientation of the test structure relative to the transducers, are provided. Modal tests were carried out on an automotive disk brake using the traditional and current methods, where multiple accelerometers and microphones were used to measure its dynamic responses induced by impacts, respectively. The differences between the measured natural frequencies using the current method and those from the finite element model of the disk brake are less than 3 percent for the first 18 elastic modes, and the modal assurance criterion values of the associated mode shapes are all above 90 percent. The current method was also used to measure the natural frequencies, damping ratios, and mode shapes of a light circuit board.     

A novel method for adjusting CCD camera in geometrical calibration based on a two-dimensional turntable

In order to ensure the accuracy of the collimator viewing angles in geometrical calibration of the CCD camera, a novel method for adjusting CCD camera with wide field of view based on a two-dimensional turntable was presented. The method involves two steps: the first is to adjust collimator parallel to a rotation axis of turntable by estimating a fixed point image of collimator on the CCD when the camera is orientated around this rotation axis; the second step is to adjust the camera axis parallel collimator by estimating the symmetry of point images when the camera is orientated around another rotation axis of turntable. As an example, the adjustment accuracy of the wide field of view radiometer developed by us is analyzed and discussed in the article.     

A hybrid MLS technique for room impulse response estimation

The measurement of room impulse response (RIR) when there are high background noise levels frequently means one must deal with very low signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). If such is the case, the measurement might yield unreliable results, even when synchronous averaging techniques are used. Furthermore, if there are non-linearities in the apparatus or system time variances, the final SNR can be severely degraded. The test signals used in RIR measurement are often disturbed by non-stationary ambient noise components. A novel approach based on the energy analysis of ambient noise - both in the time and in frequency - was considered. A modified maximum length sequence (MLS) measurement technique, referred to herein as the hybrid MLS technique, was developed for use in room acoustics. The technique consists of reducing the noise energy of the captured sequences before applying the averaging technique in order to improve the overall SNRs and frequency response accuracy. Experiments were conducted under real conditions with different types of underlying ambient noises. Results are shown and discussed. Advantages and disadvantages of the hybrid MLS technique over standard MLS technique are evaluated and discussed. Our findings show that the new technique leads to a significant increase in the overall SNR.     

A simple geometrical method for classifying relaxation polarization processes

We present a simple geometrical method for classifying the relaxation polarization processes developing under conditions of substantial through electroconductivity. Qualitative classification criteria are supported by quantitative consideration. Results correspond to those earlier obtained in stricter ways. The method is easily extended to Debye relaxation polarization processes.     

A finite-element model of the aperture method for determining the effective radiating area of physiotherapy treatment heads

This paper describes a theoretical study of the way in which a circular aperture placed in front of a plane-piston modifies the ultrasonic field it generates. Specifically, the radiated acoustic power transmitted by the aperture and the radiation force experienced by an absorbing target placed in the transmitted beam, are evaluated at a distance from the exit-side of the aperture. The calculations used a finite element (FE) method, in conjunction with a surface Helmholtz integral formulation to solve the fluid/structure interaction problem. The PAFEC (Program for Automatic Finite Element Computation) vibroacoustics software was used for the FE calculations and the implementation of the surface Helmholtz integral formulation method. Acoustic pressures and particle velocities were computed at required points, whilst accounting for the presence of the aperture in the medium, together with its dynamic properties when subjected to an incident sound field. This enabled the calculation of the radiation force on the absorber and its variation with the applied aperture diameter was investigated. As part of the validation process for the new FE aperture model, the ratio of radiation force to radiated acoustic power obtained using the FE method in the unapertured case, through the use of the Rayleigh integral, yielded good agreement with results obtained through an analytical solution. The study has been carried out to provide a better understanding of the factors affecting the measurement uncertainty for the aperture method of determining the effective radiating area (A(ER)) of physiotherapy ultrasound treatment heads.     

A new method for determining birefringence dispersion

A method is proposed for the determination of birefringence in thin transparent anisotropic films. The modifications produced by the thin anisotropic films in the channeled spectra of an anisotropic crystal are used. The channeled spectra were recorded on a spectrophotometer provided with a device developed by us.