Acoustical direction finding with time-modulated arrays

Time-Modulated Linear Arrays (TMLAs) offer useful efficiency savings over conventional phased arrays when applied in parameter estimation applications. The present paper considers the application of TMLAs to acoustic systems and proposes an algorithm for efficiently deriving the arrival angle of a signal. The proposed technique is applied in the frequency domain, where the signal and harmonic content is captured. Using a weighted average method on harmonic amplitudes and their respective main beam angles, it is possible to determine an estimate for the signal’s direction of arrival. The method is demonstrated and evaluated using results from both numerical and practical implementations and performance data is provided. The use of Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) sensors allows time-modulation techniques to be applied at ultrasonic frequencies. Theoretical predictions for an array of five isotropic elements with half-wavelength spacing and 1000 data samples suggest an accuracy of ±1∘ within an angular range of approximately ±50∘ . In experiments of a 40 kHz five-element microphone array, a Direction of Arrival (DoA) estimation within ±2.5∘ of the target signal is readily achieved inside a ±45∘ range using a single switched input stage and a simple hardware setup

Two-dimensional direction-of-arrival estimation with time-modulated arrays

Two-dimensional direction-of-arrival estimation with time-modulated array

Extraction of anthropological data with ultrasound

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University.Human body scanners used to extract anthropological data have a significant drawback, the subject is required to undress or wear tight fitting clothing. This thesis demonstrates an ultrasonic based alternative to the current optical systems, that can potentially operate on a fully clothed subject. To validate the concept several experiments were performed to determine the acoustic properties of multiple garments. The results indicated that such an approach was possible. Beamforming is introduced as a method by which the ultrasonic scanning area can be increased, the concept is thoroughly studied and a clear theoretical analysis is performed. Additionally, Matlab has been used to demonstrate graphically, the results of such analysis, providing an invaluable tool during the simulation, experimental and results stages of the thesis. To evaluate beamfoming as a composite part of ultrasonic body imaging, a hardware solution was necessary. During the concept phase, both FPGA and digital signal processors were evaluated to determine their suitability for the role. An FPGA approach was finally chosen, which allows highly parallel operation, essential to the high acquisition speeds required by some beamforming methodologies. In addition, analogue circuitry was also designed to provide an interface with the ultrasonic transducers, which, included variable gain amplifiers, charge amplifiers and signal conditioning. Finally, a digital acquisition card was used to transfer data between the FPGA and a desktop computer, on which, the sampled data was processed and displayed in a coherent graphical manner. The beamforming results clearly demonstrate that imaging multiple layers in air, with ultrasound, is a viable technique for anthroplogical data collection. Furthermore, a wavelet based method of improving the axial resolution is also proposed and demonstrated

Software for ultrasound image generation and acoustic beamform

Orientador: Eduardo Tavares CostaDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Elétrica e de ComputaçãoResumo: O diagnóstico médico por ultra-som vem sendo amplamente difundido, tornando se referência em muitos exames clínicos. Por meio das imagens por ultra-som é possível representar a anatomia de tecidos e órgãos de forma não-invasiva, em "tempo real" e sem a utilização de radiação ionizante. A construção de equipamentos de geração de imagens por ultra-som exige um conjunto confiável de circuitos e componentes eletrônicos, de forma a excitar os transdutores ultra-sônicos e também receber os sinais refletidos de forma rápida e robusta. Entretanto, há também a necessidade da utilização de softwares capazes de processar os sinais ultra-sônicos e gerar as imagens de maneira eficiente. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo primário o desenvolvimento de um software código aberto para formação de imagens por ultra-som, empregando técnicas de formação de imagem por ultra-som em "tempo real". O feixe acústico produzido pelos transdutores matriciais do tipo array pode ser defletido e/ou focalizado pela ativação eletrônica dos elementos do transdutor. Dessa forma, como objetivo secundário, foram desenvolvidos circuitos digitais que geram os estímulos com as seqüências de ativação dos elementos transdutores, para que o feixe acústico seja defletido ou focalizado em uma dada distância ou ângulo a partir da face do transdutor matricial. Os circuitos digitais foram criados utilizando FPGA's. O software de geração de imagens bidimensionais por ultra-som, batizado de ImageB, foi desenvolvido em linguagem C++ com Qt Toolkit 4, com estrutura modular, pode ser estendido por meio de plug-ins além de ser multiplataforma e de licença livre. Além dos algoritmos clássicos para conversão do sinal de RF para imagem em escala de cinza, o software incorpora também as técnicas de abertura e focalização sintética (SAFT e SF). O software e o hardware desenvolvidos nesse trabalho foram testados com um transdutor matricial linear de doze elementos, com freqüência central de ressonância de 1MHz. Foi possível observar que os circuitos foram capazes de defletir e focalizar o feixe acústico e o software ImageB foi capaz de gerar imagens dinâmicas de uma estrutura conhecida (phantom de laboratório), trabalhando de forma paralela e integrada com o hardware desenvolvidoAbstract: The ultrasound medical diagnosis has been widely used, becoming a reference in many clinical procedures. Ultrasound imaging makes it possible to represent the anatomy of organs and tissues in a non-invasive, real time way and without using ionizing radiation. The construction of ultrasound imaging systems requires a set of reliable circuits and electronic components, for exciting the ultrasonic transducers and receiving the reflected signals in a fast and robust way. However, one has to use software capable to efficiently process the received ultrasound signals and generate images. This work, as primary objective, aimed at the development of an open-source software for ultrasound image formation, employing techniques for real time ultrasound image formation. The acoustic beam produced by array transducers can be steered and/or focused by electronic activation of the elements of the transducer. As secondary objectives, digital circuits were developed to generate the sequence of activation of the transducer elements in order to steer and focus the acoustic beam electronically over the region of interest at a given distance or angle from the face of the transducer array. These digital circuits were created using FPGA's. The software to generate two-dimensional ultrasound images, ImageB, was developed in C++ with Qt Toolkit 4, has been designed in a modular form, can be extended via plug-ins and is multiplatform and freeware. Besides the traditional algorithms for conversion of the RF signal to grayscale image, the software also incorporates the techniques of aperture and synthetic focus (SAFT and SF). The hardware and software developed in this work were tested using a 1 MHz 12-element array transducer. It was possible to notice that the circuits were capable to steer and focus the acoustic beam and the software ImageB was capable to generate dynamic ultrasound images of a known structure (laboratory phantom), working with the developed hardware in an integrated and parallel wayMestradoEngenharia BiomedicaMestre em Engenharia Elétric

A low-cost ultrasonic 3D measurement device for calibration of Cartesian and non-Cartesian machines

The major obstacles to the widespread adoption of 3D measurement systems are accuracy, speed of process and the cost. At present, high accuracy for measuring 3D position has been achieved, and there have been real advances in reducing measurement time, but the cost of such systems remains high. A high-accuracy and high-resolution ultrasonic distance measurement system has been achieved in this project by creating multi-frequency continuous wave frequency modulation (MFCWFM) system. The low-cost system measures dynamic distance (displacements of an ultrasound transmitter) and fixed distance (distances between receivers). The instantaneous distance between the transmitter and each receiver can be precisely determined. New geometric algorithms for transmitter 3D position and receiver positing have also been developed in the current research to improve the measurement system‟s practicability. These algorithms allow the ultrasound receivers to be arbitrarily placed and located by self-calibration following a simple procedure. After the development and testing of the new 3D measurement system, further studies have also been carried out on the system, considering the two major external disturbances: air temperature drifting and ultrasound echo interference. Novel methods have been successfully developed and tested to minimize measurement errors and evaluation of speed of sound. All the enabling research described in the thesis means that it is now possible to build and implement a measurement system at reasonable cost for industrial exploitation. This will have the necessary performance to provide ultrasonic 3D position measurements in real time for monitoring position.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Ultrasonic air-coupled capacitive arrays

A model is developed which is capable of predicting the pressure field of a rectangular source, as measured by a finite-sized receiver. This novel method treats the problem in a new way, which allows an integration to be performed over the area of the receiver. Previously it has only been possible to model two circular transducers coaxially aligned. The model is used to identify a receiver, which can be used to measure the highly focussed pressure field from a phased array, with only a negligible effect due to the receiver size. Productions from the model are compared to experimental data, and show a good correlation. A parabolic mirror used to focus the field from a circular device in air has been studied, and a model developed to predict the pressure field produced by this device. This is done by an approximation of the mirror surface to a grid of finely spaced points. The model correlates well with measured results. In addition, an image of a defect in a solid sample was produced. Arrays are then used to image solid samples in air. This is done using three techniques. The first is a combined phased source and receiver, which is shown to locate a wire accurately and to measure a step in the surface of a sample. A 2-D array is shown to image a defect in a composite plate, and the potential for a fast through-transmission air-coupled system is indicated. In addition, two post-processing techniques are used on data recorded using an array receiver, to locate an object in air. Of these two techniques, ellipse crossing is shown to have better results for large signal to noise ratios, and SAFT for lower ratios. The combination of theoretical modelling and experimental observations has indicated that the transducers and arrays constructed for use in air are well-understood, and that their characteristics can be predicted