Effects of size and arrangement of virtual transducer on photoacoustic tomography

In this paper, we investigate the effects of the relative size and arrangement of a virtual transducer on the image quality in limited-view photoacoustic tomography. A virtual transducer refers to the acoustic scatterers used to reflect photoacoustic waves and improve the images reconstructed from incomplete PA signal. Size and spatial arrangement determine the performance of the virtual transducer. In this study, the scatterers utilized as virtual transducers are arranged in different manners, such as on a straight line or on an arc line. We find that virtual transducers with a big distributing angle can provide more significant image improvement than with a small distributing angle, which is similar to the true transducers. We also change the size of virtual transducer and study its influence on image quality. It is found that the bigger scatterers provide better images than the smaller ones. Especially, when the size of scatterers is reduced to the wavelength of photoacoustic wave, the image quality observably decreases, owing to the strong diffraction effect. Thus, it is suggested that the size of the acoustical scatterers should be much larger than the photoacoustic wavelength. The simulations are conducted, and the results could be helpful for the application and further study of virtual transducer theory in limited-view photoacoustic tomography.     

振动声成像系统分辨率研究

本文从振动声成像的基本原理出发，通过引入点扩展函数PSF和定义轴向响应函数ARF，研究了由凹球面聚焦换能器分割而成的一种典型共焦换能器参数对振动声成像系统侧向分辨率和轴向分辨率的影响。计算研究表明：增大凹球面换能器的口径、减小几何焦距和提高中心频率均可以提高系统的侧向分辨率和轴向分辨率；但改变凹球面换能器的分割比例对两种分辨率影响不尽相同。综合考虑超声换能器激励、聚焦性能以及产生的辐射力效果等因素，则换能器应按等辐射面积原则分割为宜。文中还分析了介质的声衰减系数对实际轴向分辨率的影响。     

Application of spatially and temporally apodized non-confocal acoustic transmission microscopy to imaging of directly bonded wafers

Application of a line-shaped point spread function (PSF) to imaging of void defects in directly bonded wafers is considered. Two non-confocally adjusted spherical transducers are employed to implement an acoustic microscope operating in transmission with a time dependent point spread function, whose shape is optimized by both temporal apodization of the received signal and spatial apodization of the transducer aperture. Strong imaging artifacts resulting from the generation and detection of edge waves are eliminated in this way. It is shown by several examples that only a broadband system can be utilized in order to obtain a line-shaped PSF suitable for imaging.     

Focused, phased-array plane piston and spherically-shaped concave piston transducers: comparison for the same aperture and focal point

It has sometimes been assumed that the phased-array plane piston transducer and the spherically-shaped concave piston transducer are equivalent structures when both have the same aperture and focal point. This assumption has not been previously examined, nor has an expression for the on-axis impulse response of the focused, phased-array plane piston transducer been derived. It is shown in this paper how such an expression can be obtained. Comparisons of the impulse response for both structures show similarities, as well as some differences that could be significant as the observation point approaches the focal point. Comparisons are also performed for wide-band pulses close to the focus as well as for sinusoidal excitation. A physical explanation for the cause of the impulse response discrepancy is shown to be due to the nature of the piston focusing delay and its effect on the Rayleigh integral.     

带斜楔相控声束偏转聚焦延时特性研究

带斜楔的相控阵超声检测广泛应用于低碳钢薄壁工件焊缝的检测,研究带斜楔的相控阵超声偏转聚焦检测延时法则和对应的声场将使检测可靠性进一步提高。本文利用费马原理探究了相控阵超声探头辐射声波至楔块中,在楔块-工件平面界面发生模式转换入射到工件中的横波聚焦时各阵元延时的计算方法,数值求解指定焦点时各阵元的延时,并利用计算得到的延时进行声场仿真和实验测量,发现声波能很好的聚焦在目标点,仿真和实验结果吻合。     

大张角共焦换能器对振动声成像的影响*

振动声成像是超声成像的一种重要形式,它可以得到包含共焦区组织的弹性信息和声衰减信息的信号,将接收到的信号用于成像即可获得反映组织特性的图像。该文对大张角共焦换能器作用下振动声成像中声辐射力和切变位移进行了理论计算和数值模拟,并通过改变张角变化及频率大小研究其对声辐射力和切变位移的影响。这项工作为大张角共焦换能器在振动声成像中的应用提供了理论支持。     

Velocity magnitude estimation with linear arrays using Doppler bandwidth

The dependence of pulsed wave Doppler bandwidth on parameters typical of linear transducer arrays used in commercial Duplex and color flow mapping systems is investigated experimentally. For a single flow line it is observed that this bandwidth generally depends not only on the scatterer velocity and the beam-to-flow angle, but also on the flow line range and orientation. This is due to the fact that in Duplex and color flow systems the transducer is differently focused in the scan and elevation planes and its aperture and focal lengths are often made to vary, depending on the distance of the flow line from the transducer. It is however experimentally demonstrated that, at points where the ultrasound beamwidths in the scan and elevation planes are both comparable to the sample volume length, the Doppler bandwidth is independent of the beam-to-flow angle. It is also shown that this invariance can be extended to other ranges by appropriately modifying the array aperture. Finally, as an application of this independence, the flow-line velocity magnitude in these beam regions is estimated with better than 5% uncertainty through a simple bandwidth measurement.     

自聚焦换能器的声场研究

高强度聚焦超声（HIFU）治疗局部肿瘤是一项无创伤的新技术,有着很好的应用前景,因此对其声场的研究是有实际的价值的。对声场的研究不仅有利于换能器的设计,提高治疗的效果;而且有助声场测量方案的设计,提高对治疗超声剂量的安全保证。本文采用时域有限差分法研究了自聚焦换能器的声场,分别对简谐波,脉冲波进行了研究。比较清楚地看出在焦区的声场可以认为是平面波,这对光纤端面法声场测量提供了有力的支持。     

Pulse signal detection in a focal area of a convergent wave front

Diffraction effects, taking place during nonlinear transformations in inhomogeneous acoustic fields, are experimentally investigated. The case of a convergent spherical wave front propagating in a uniform nonlinear medium, detection of an acoustic field in a focus, and receiving of the detected signal in the region of the initial wave front aperture are considered. A spherical piezoceramic transducer is used in the experiments as a focusing device. Broad-angle “nonlinear scattering” signals have been recorded at the experimental facility where a pulsed mode of focused transducer operation in water is implemented. The dependence of the amplitude of the signal, detected in the focal area, and its shape on the scattering direction, as well as on the distance between the focus and the receiving point, are studied.     

基于NI ELVIS的超声换能器参数测量系统设计

为了满足超声换能器快速筛选的要求,在对超声换能器参数导纳圆法测量原理进行分析的基础上,利用NI ELVIS平台搭建了一种结构简单的超声换能器参数测量系统。采用点频法实现高精度、快速的导纳测量,采用最小二乘法拟合得到导纳圆,进而完成超声换能器诸参数的计算。基于LabVIEW软件平台编写了相应的软件系统。针对40 kHz超声换能器的测试表明,所设计的超声换能器参数测量系统精度高、处理速度快,且结构简单、便于使用。     

Sound field prediction of ultrasonic lithotripsy in water with spheroidal beam equations

With converged shock wave,extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy(ESWL)has become a preferable way to crush human calculi because of its advantages of efficiency and non-intrusion.Nonlinear spheroidal beam equations(SBE)are employed to illustrate the acoustic wave propagation for transducers with a wide aperture angle.To predict the acoustic field distribution precisely,boundary conditions are obtained for the SBE model of the monochromatic wave when the source is located on the focus of an ESWL transducer.Numerical results of the monochromatic wave propagation in water are analyzed and the influences of half-angle,fundamental frequency,and initial pressure are investigated.According to our results,with optimization of these factors,the pressure focal gain of ESWL can be enhanced and the effectiveness of treatment can be improved.     

Temporal and spatial apodization in defocused acoustic transmission microscopy

Two non-confocally adjusted spherical transducers are employed to implement an acoustic microscope operating in transmission with an approximately line-shaped point spread function (PSF). Such a PSF is of advantage in acoustic transmission line tomography and spatially resolved velocity measurements in solids. The foci of the transducers are viewed as diffraction-limited point transducers and appropriate time-selective signal acquisition is designed to restrict the ultrasound wave paths to the line connecting them. It is found that for typical commercially available transducers the largest contribution to the detected signal is not due to the direct ultrasound wave but due to the edge waves emanating from the rim of the focusing transducer. This poses constraints on achieving a line-shaped PSF in defocused acoustic transmission microscopy. It is shown that, due to the strong contribution from edge waves, it is impossible to achieve a line-shaped PSF in the case of application of a long exciting toneburst. The influence of the exciting pulse length, as well as the position of the time gate on the obtainable PSF is investigated.     

Narrow band laser-generated surface acoustic waves using a formed source in the ablative regime

A narrow band laser-generated acoustic signal was created using a 4-element lenticular array. This arrangement of the array produces an acoustical signal with frequency content that is compatible with the response of a noncontact and remote broadband receiver, such as a capacitive air-coupled transducer. To support the experimental observations, a simplified concept is presented to explain the effect of a line array source on the frequency content of a surface acoustic wave. The analytical model solution for the wave front shape is derived from the point load solution of Lamb's problem that represents the displacement of a surface acoustic wave generated by an ablative line array. The distribution function, which was used for the model to represent the laser light energy, was tailored to depict the actual energy distribution that illuminates the lenticular array. Filtering functions are applied to the resultant surface displacement function to retain frequencies similar to those detected by the broadband 50 kHz-2.25 MHz receiver. The theoretical model showed good agreement with experimental results.     

Optimal ultrasonic array focusing in attenuative media

This paper presents a parametric study on the efficiency of ultrasound focusing in an attenuative medium, using phased arrays. Specifically, an analytical model of ultrasound wave focusing in a homogeneous, isotropic and attenuative fluid with point sources is presented. Calculations based on the model have shown that in an attenuative medium, an optimum frequency exists for the best focusing performance for a particular size of aperture and focal distance. The effect of different f numbers on the focusing performance in the attenuative medium is further investigated. The information obtained from the analytical model provides insights into the design and installation of a phased transducer array for energy efficient wave focusing.     

孔径平均对自由空间光通信误码率的影响

研究了接收端孔径平均效应对自由空间光通信误码率的影响。对数辐射方差是反映接收孔径上某一点闪烁起伏的参量。如果自由空间光通信的误码率仅仅是和对数辐射方差有关,那么得到的就是点接收器的结果。对数辐射的协方差是与接收平面上某两点间距离有关的闪烁起伏参量。孔径平均效应意味着要将误码率和对数辐射的协方差联系起来。文中共考虑了两种模型:球面波和平面波,并假设接收孔径直径等于第一菲涅耳区尺度。分析的结果显示,孔径平均后的误码率有明显的减小。     

起偏器对反射式光纤电流互感器的影响分析

为了单独研究起偏器,假设其余器件均为理想器件;以琼斯矩阵作为数学工具,建立了各器件的矩阵表达式,并推导了起偏器不完备影响下的干涉结果表达式。理论分析了起偏器的消光比和其尾纤熔接角度对系统的影响,并做了仿真。结果表明:对于闭环处理的系统来说,选择合适参数的起偏器并做好尾纤的熔接工艺,可减小起偏器的不完备对系统造成的影响。这对光路误差的分析和结构的改进有一定的理论意义。     

Higher mode sound transmission from a point source through a rectangular aperture

This paper considers the higher-order scattered and transmitted wave fields that result when an acoustic wave from a point source impinges at an arbitrary angle on a rectangular aperture in a rigid, thick wall. In this analysis, it is assumed that free field conditions exist on both sides of the aperture. Although the full scattered and transmitted pressure fields contain both modal sum and modal coupling effects, the modal coupling effects of the higher-order modes are ignored such that an approximate analytical solution to the uncoupled analysis can be utilized. Experiments have been undertaken to measure the sound pressure levels in the transmitted field that result when sound from a point source impinges on the opposite side of a rectangular aperture. Measurements were made with the source located at the required position to drive a particular in-aperture higher-order mode. The source was also located at positions that did not directly excite any in-aperture higher-order mode at a cut-on frequency. These results indicate that the approximate analysis developed here gives accurate solutions whether or not any mode of the aperture is driven at cut-on. Thus, the method can be used for any relative location of a source from a rectangular aperture of any dimensions.     

The transducer vibratory profile effects on the detection of the transient ultrasonic field scattered by a rigid point reflector

In this study a generalized approach, based on the impulse response technique, is developed to evaluate the transient ultrasonic field scattered by a rigid point reflector and detected by a planar circular transducer characterized by a non-uniform vibratory profile. For this purpose, several analytical functions are used to represent the non-uniform vibration amplitude of the transducer. All these functions have maximum amplitude at the transducer’s center and decrease monotonically away from axis. The amplitude variation of these functions has a direct effect on the shape of the average pressure detected by the transducer. Some numerical results are presented to illustrate the effects of a non-uniformly vibrating source on the detected transient pressure. The results show the relative importance of the edge wave modifications in the case of source having non-uniform vibration amplitude distribution.     

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。     

Synthetic aperture imaging using sources with finite aperture: deconvolution of the spatial impulse response

A method for ultrasonic synthetic aperture imaging using finite-sized transducers is introduced that is based on a compact, linear, discrete model of the ultrasonic measurement system developed using matrix formalism. Using this model a time-domain algorithm for deconvolution of the transducer's spatial impulse responses (SIRs) is developed that is based on a minimum mean square error (MMSE) criterion. The algorithm takes the form of a spatiotemporal filter that compensates for the SIRs associated with a finite-sized transducer at every point of the processed image. A major advantage of the proposed method is that it can be used for any transducer, provided that its associated SIRs are known. This is in contrast to the synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT), which treats the transducer as a point source. The performance of the method is evaluated with simulations and experiments, performed in water using a linear phased array. The results obtained using the proposed method are compared to those obtained with a classical time-domain SAFT algorithm. For a finite aperture source, it is clearly shown that the resolution obtained using the proposed method is superior to that obtained using the SAFT algorithm.