A High Spatial Resolution Digital System for Ultrasonic Imaging.
Abstract
In recent years, the authors have investigated some of the fundamental theoretical physical limitations imposed on ultrasonic array performance. This has led to the extensive study of energy trapping as one means of enhancing the spatial confinement of element radiation in the array. In this report, we describe a system designed to explore the quality of the images produced by practical trapped energy mode, hybrid trapped energy mode, and other types of arrays. The system implements a 256 channel parallel set of A/D and D/A converters for attachment to an arbitrary array. All 256 channels operate simultaneously at a maximum sampling frequency of 10 MHz. Hence, the total throughput of signal samples reaches 2.5 billion samples per second in a burst mode. The multiple-ported DRAM memory has 1x10 to the 6th power bytes of local high speed storage. Since all of the input and output signals are in digital form, a wide variety of image processing techniques can be employed. For example, from a single pulse, it is possible to reconstruct the two-dimensional hologram of the ultrasonic imaging using fast digital hardware. The images can also be prepared by pulse-echo techniques using the same system. Transmission from one portion of the array and monitoring the signal in another portion simultaneously to detect interelement coupling is possible. In this way, all of the key array parameters can be controlled and calibrated. Because of the D/A capability of the system, various signals can be transmitted from each array element, thereby permitting focusing and design of optimum probing signals.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA166741
Entities
People
- C. J. Hidalgo
- J. F. Mcdonald
- K. C. Laprade
- K. S. Goekjian
- P. K. Das
Organizations
- United States Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center