Acoustic power calibration of high-intensity focused ultrasound transducers using a radiation force technique

To address the challenges associated with measuring the ultrasonic power from high-intensity focused ultrasound transducers via radiation force, a technique based on pulsed measurements was developed and analyzed. Two focused ultrasound transducers were characterized in terms of an effective duty factor, which was then used to calculate the power during the pulse at high applied power levels. Two absorbing target designs were used, and both gave comparable results and displayed no damage and minimal temperature rise if placed near the transducer and away from the focus. The method yielded reproducible results up to the maximum pulse power generated of approximately 230 W, thus allowing the radiated power to be calibrated in terms of the peak-to-peak voltage applied to the transducer.     

An improvement in the range resolution of ultrasonic pulse echo systems by deconvolution

Ultrasonic pulse echo systems are often limited in range resolution by the bandwidth of the piezoelectric transducer. Significant improvements in the range resolution of such systems can be obtained by minimizing the effects of the transducer's dynamic response on the overall pulse echo process. An approach to minimize the effects of the transducer is developed from linear system and impulse response techniques. In essence, the pulse echo voltage of interest is deconvolved with a pulse echo reference voltage which is obtained from an air/water interface in the nearfield of the transducer . A computer study of the pulse echo process and the deconvolution process is presented to illustrate the nature of the improvement in range resolution for several cases of interest. Finally, experimental results are presented to illustrate the improvement using commercially available transducers.     

Time and frequency parameters of bottlenose dolphin whistles as predictors of surface behavior in the Mississippi Sound

In this study, an algorithm previously developed for estimating the total ultrasonic attenuation along the propagation path from the surface of the transducer to a region of interest (ROI) in tissue, was modified to make it more practical for use in clinical settings. Specifically, the algorithm was re-derived for when a tissue mimicking phantom rather than a planar reflector is used to obtain the reference power spectrum. The reference power spectrum is needed to compensate for the transfer function of the transmitted pulse, the transfer function of transducer, and the diffraction effects that result from focusing/beam forming. The modified algorithm was tested on simulated radio frequency (RF) echo lines obtained from two samples that have different scatterer sizes and different attenuation coefficient slopes, one of which was used as a reference. The mean and standard deviation of the percent errors in the attenuation coefficient estimates (ACEs) were less than 5% and 10%, respectively, for ROIs that contain more than 10 pulse lengths and more than 25 independent echo lines. The proposed algorithm was also tested on two tissue mimicking phantoms that have attenuation coefficient slopes of 0.7 dB/cm-MHz and 0.5 dB/cm-MHz respectively, the latter being the reference phantom. When a single element spherically focused source was used, the mean and standard deviation of the percent errors in the ACEs were less than 5% and 10% respectively for windows that contain more than 10 pulse lengths and more than 17 independent echo lines. When a clinical array transducer was used, the mean and standard deviation of the percent errors in the ACEs were less than 5% and 25%, respectively, for windows that contain more than 12 pulse lengths and more than 45 independent echo lines.     

Study for imaging of inside bone using FM-chirp pulse compression system

We measured the attenuation of ultrasound in animal bone in vitro, and determined successfully the correct dynamic range for the detection of echo signals from inside the bone. It was possible to display a B-mode image of a 6-mm thick porcine rib bone using a high frequency (5 MHz) transducer. However, it was difficult to obtain the image of a large bone (20-mm thick femur). This paper describes a possibility of the improvement for the detection of echoes from inside the bone using the FM-chirp pulse. An ultrasonic wave generator that generates the FM-chirp pulse for a frequency range of 100 KHz to 5 MHz was fabricated. And the pulse was transmitted from a transducer and received by a hydrophone in the water. The received waveform and the frequency spectrum were displayed on an oscilloscope. We measured the amplitude spectrum of the received waves before and after inserting a sample bone between the transducer and the hydrophone. In the experiment, three types of focused transducers (0.5, 1 and 2.25 MHz) and three kinds of sample bones (spine, femur and rib of a pig) were used. From the results of the measurement, we could find the useful information for imaging of inside the bone.     

PVDF梳状换能器接收非线性兰姆波的实验研究*

该文基于PVDF压电薄膜对梳状换能器进行设计制作,并将该换能器应用于接收非线性兰姆波信号实验研究。首先通过输出矢量和方法分析PVDF梳状换能器的工作特性,然后将设计制作的PVDF梳状换能器应用于铝板中非线性兰姆波信号的接收,并与传统压电陶瓷换能器经斜劈接收的非线性兰姆波信号进行比较分析。实验结果表明,两种换能器所接收到的信号幅值随传播距离的变化趋势相近,线性增长的积累效应表征结果相似,且PVDF梳状换能器可以对基波和二次谐波信号同时响应。除此之外,PVDF梳状换能器用于接收非线性兰姆波信号更加稳定。因此,PVDF梳状换能器有望应用于复杂构件的在线检测与监测研究。     

Minimum radiation force target size for power measurements in focused ultrasonic fields with circular symmetry

The time-averaged ultrasonic power emitted by medical ultrasonic equipment is mostly measured using a radiation force balance, and the question of the necessary target size is of practical importance. The question is answered here by calculations based on a Rayleigh integral algorithm for fields from circular, focusing transducers. This case occurs particularly in the field of high-intensity therapeutic ultrasound. The calculation yields the necessary size of an absorbing target so that the radiation force is 98% of that exerted on an absorber of infinite lateral size, and this as a function of the transducer-to-target distance, of the transducer radius in comparison with the wavelength and of the focus (half-)angle. Several distributions of the transducer vibration amplitude are considered. The Rayleigh integral strictly applies only to planar transducers, but among the amplitude distributions there is also one that allows the simulation of the spherically curved transducer type often found in practice.     

K-space Prony’s method for generating the basis functions of multi-Gaussian beam models

The expansion coefficients of a multi-Gaussian ultrasonic beam model are obtained by a new approach that applies Prony´s method in a K-space domain. This method allows the fitting of the Gaussian beam directly at the face of the transducer with very high computational efficiency. It is demonstrated that the K-space Prony’s method can be used to accurately model the transducer field of planar and focused piston transducers, as well as probes that do not act as pistons. The choice of parameters appearing in the method and their influence on performance are discussed.     

Detection limits for single small flaws and groups of flaws when using focussed ultrasonic transducers

The performance of ultrasonic imaging systems, using line-focussed transducers, was evaluated theoretically by employing a simple technique based on convolution. The analysis considered the response of single reflectors, which are mainly voids, and also multiple reflectors located both on a single plane and on multiple planes, which represent a porous layer or bond-line. The limits of detection for each of the above cases, in the presence of different levels of acoustic noise in the object under test were also calculated. The results presented are expressed as a function of a dimensionless flaw size, incorporating the ultrasonic frequency and beam F-number. The results can be used to identify the best match between ultrasonic equipment and a specific imaging problem. They can also serve to guide decisions regarding the most suitable detection method for use with the chosen equipment. If the inspection is properly designed, surprisingly small flaws could be reliably detected — even in objects where significant levels of incoherent acoustic noise are found. The method and results presented in this paper for line-focussed transducers fit qualitatively the case of spherically focussed transducers. The method is highly versatile and it can be extended to cover a range of problems, outside the scope of this paper, including, quantitatively, that of the spherically focussed transducer by employing a formulation which uses more computer time and memory.     

一种非均匀厚度压电复合材料片宽带换能器的实验研究

本文利用１－３压电复合材料作为换能元件，通过特殊工艺制备成一面是平面，一面是球面的非均匀厚度压电振子，这种压电晶片加上激励电压后，不同厚度处以不同的共振频率振动，从而使压电晶片的振动频带加宽，本文介绍了这种压电晶片的机电特性，以及用这种压电晶片制成的宽带聚焦超声换能器的脉冲回波特性，此外，文中还对这种换能器与均匀厚度压电晶片换能器的脉冲回波特性进行了比较。     

Measurement of the absorption coefficient for acoustical coating samples using multi-channel inverse filter

A method of measuring the absorption coefficient for acoustical coating samples by use of the multi-channel inverse filter based on the least square method was proposed.First,the responses of the circuit channels and the underwater acoustical channels are estimated,the retransmitted inverse signals for the multiple transducers can be estimated using the least square method,and the cost function constructed by the multi-channel inverse filtering theory can be solved.Then,by retransmitting the inv...     

A spiral wave front beacon for underwater navigation: transducer prototypes and testing

Transducers for acoustic beacons which can produce outgoing signals with wave fronts whose horizontal cross sections are circular or spiral are studied experimentally. A remote hydrophone is used to determine its aspect relative to the transducers by comparing the phase of the circular signal to the phase of the spiral signal. The transducers for a "physical-spiral" beacon are made by forming a strip of 1-3 piezocomposite transducer material around either a circular or spiral backing. A "phased-spiral" beacon is made from an array of transducer elements which can be driven either in phase or staggered out of phase so as to produce signals with either a circular or spiral wave front. Measurements are made to study outgoing signals and their usefulness in determining aspect angle. Vertical beam width is also examined and phase corrections applied when the hydrophone is out of the horizontal plane of the beacon. While numerical simulations indicate that the discontinuity in the physical-spiral beacon introduces errors into the measured phase, damping observed at the ends of the piezocomposite material is a more significant source of error. This damping is also reflected in laser Doppler vibrometer measurements of the transducer's surface velocity.     

声学覆盖层吸声系数的多通道逆滤波测量

提出了一种利用最小二乘求逆计算的声学覆盖层吸声系数多通道逆滤波测量方法.该方法通过估计电路信道及水声信道的信道响应,利用最小二乘实现多通道逆滤波算法,通过多路逆信号的同步发射在声学覆盖层处实现高分辨率主瓣、低旁瓣和时域窄脉宽的入射波聚焦,从而提高声学覆盖层低频吸声系数的测量精度。仿真验证了该方法在混响抑制和空时聚焦中的效果.在压力水罐中进行了频率为0.8~5 kHz条件下的钢板试样反射系数和透射系数的测量实验,通过与理论计算值对比,验证了该测量方法的有效性。论文提出的方法适用于非自由场环境下声学覆盖层吸声系数的测量,尤其适用于低频条件下吸声系数的测量。     

Correction for transducer influence on sound velocity measurements by the pulse echo method

The accuracy of sound velocity measurements calculated by the pulse echo method is influenced markedly by the transducer used. This influence is the result of multiple internal reflections within the transducer and is dependent both on transducer thickness and the impedance mismatch between transducer and sample. Corrections for this effect have been computed for a wide range of sample acoustic impedances and the results were confirmed by experiment. These corrections improve sound velocity measurements, particularly on low impedance materials.     

Estimation of frequency characteristics of the Tonpilz piezoelectric transducer with a bending piezoelectric disk

A Tonpilz piezoelectric transducer which has a bending piezoelectric disk on the radiation surface for widening the frequency band to improve sonar detection performance in shallow water has been proposed. Variance of transmitting voltage response of this transducer depend on the phase difference between signals which applies to the ring-stack and the bending-disk piezoelectric resonators. Thus, an estimation of an optimal phase difference, which can be applied for obtaining the maximum value of transmitting voltage response, is important factor to assemble sonar array with sonar transducers. In this paper, we applied three methods to estimate transmitting voltage response at an arbitrary phase difference from a few measurements, and the estimation errors of those methods affected by internal impedances of power sources and/or noise are investigated to select the best method. The effectiveness of the best method was verified by water-pool experiments.     

脉冲激光测距回波信号时间选通处理技术

为了降低高重频脉冲激光测距回波信号的误识别率,提高测距性能,对高重频脉冲激光测距回波信号调理技术进行深入研究。采用FPGA作为主控芯片,产生激光调制脉冲,并根据被测距离3.33 μs～33.33 μs时间选通方波信号,驱动开关芯片产生与量程关联的时间波门,有效滤除脉冲回波中的干扰脉冲,该方法改进了常规脉冲激光测距信号处理系统的自动增益控制环节。测试实验结果表明:在脉冲回波信号60 dB的动态范围内,可有效滤除回波信号中引入的干扰脉冲,极大地降低了干扰脉冲误识别造成粗大误差的可能性。该方法可推广应用于脉冲激光测距信号处理系统,使系统测距精度提高12.6%。     

Electronic circuit for high frequency and broad-band ultrasonic pulse-echo operation

A new concept in broad-band ultrasonic flaw detectors is presented, based on a principle which uses only a single fast voltage drop instead of a pulse-like excitation as the driving voltage. This enables unipolar pressure pulses to be generated with acoustically well-matched transducers. The basic electronic circuit essentially consists of Power-MOS-FETs with a fast switching time. With the circuit as described below and a borad-band PVDF transducer, a pulse duration of ultrasonic signals in water shorter than 50 ns is obtained.     

Pulse mode of operation of a spherical piezoceramic transducer filled with liquid and having a correcting electric circuit

By means of a computational method, the possibility of radiating a short acoustic pulse by a transducer in the form of a piezoceramic sphere internally filled with liquid is investigated. An electric inductive-resistive circuit is connected to the electric input of the transducer. Solution is obtained based on scheme-analogs theory for piezoceramic transducers, and spectral Fourier transform theory. The values of parameters of the system, providing minimal durations of radiated signals, are determined. Computation was carried out for different values of relative thicknesses of the transducer wall. The estimates of durations and amplitudes of the acoustic signals radiated into the external medium are obtained.     

Properties study of LiNbO3 lateral field excited device working on thickness extension mode

This paper investigates the properties of thickness extension mode excited by lateral electric field on LiNbO3 by using the extended Christoffel-Bechmann method. It finds that the lateral field excitation coupling factor for amode (quasi-extensional mode) reaches its maximum value of 28% on X-cut LiNbO3. The characteristics of a lateral field excitation device made of X-cut LiNbO3 have been investigated and the lateral field excitation device is used for the design of a high frequency ultrasonic transducer. The time and frequency domain pulse/echo response of the LiNbO3 lateral field excitation ultrasonic transducer is analysed with the modified Krimholtz-Leedom-Matthae model and tested using traditional pulse/echo method. A LiNbO3 lateral field excitation ultrasonic transducer with the centre frequency of 33.44 MHz and the -6 dB bandwidth of 33.8% is acquired, which is in good agreement with the results of the Krimholtz-Leedom-Matthae model. Further analysis suggests that the LiNbO3 lateral field excitation device has great potential in the design of broadband high frequency ultrasonic transducers.     

Miniature piezoelectric conical transducer: fabrication, evaluation and application

This paper reports a new type miniature-conical transducer for acoustic emission measurements. The transducer follows the basic idea and structure of a conventional NBS conical transducer, but is much compact in size and easier to use. The improvements are made possible by introducing an excimer laser micromachining method for fabricating smaller PZT conical elements, which play a key role in the transducer. Conical PZT elements with contact size less then 300 microm are laser-machined and the miniature-conical transducers are constructed. Standard quantitative acoustic emission testing is performed on a plate using the fabricated transducers and good results are observed. The transducers can be very useful in many applications involving quantitative measurements of transient elastic waves.     

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。