Ultrasonic dynamic focusing using an analog FIFO and asynchronoussampling

A dynamic focusing method which employs an analog FIFO (AFIFO) for signal sampling and storage is proposed. The delay control on the ultrasound pulse echo at each array element for focusing delay compensation is achieved by the nonuniform sampling process, as suggested previously in a full digital beamforming system called Pipelined Sampled-Delay Focusing (PSDF). In the new focusing method, an analog sampling device, AFIFO, is used to sample and store values of the pulse echo as it arrives from each imaging point at each array element. Due to the first-in first-out operation of each AFIFO, all the samples for each imaging point along the axis of the beam are arranged at the same output position required on each channel and will be output simultaneously by a uniform output clock. Except for the nonuniform sampling control, all processing in the new dynamic beamforming method is carried out exactly the same as in conventional analog imaging systems. The advantages of the new system are that the sampling rate and hardware complexity for dynamic focusing can be greatly reduced by employing nonuniform sampling and analog signal processing. The performance and validity of the new method are verified experimentally     

Digital Frequency Multiplier for Spectrum Measurement of Periodic Signals

Frequency multipliers find applications in the Fourier and Walsh spectrum measurements of periodic signals. Earlier digital frequency multipliers use two counters: 1) An upcounter which is partitioned into a fractional counter of kbits in cascade with an integral counter. This determines the period of the input signal by the number of clock pulses that are accumulated in a period of the signal. 2) A downcounter which is next fed from the same clock, and which is periodically preset to the contents of the integral counter whenever the downcounter reaches zero. In this process an error is introduced in the output frequency because the fractional counter contents are ignored in the frequency multiplication phase. To minimize this error, a high clock frequency is required so that the fractional count is small compared with the integral count. The maximum output pulse frequency is limited by the speed of the counters used. A new method is described which also uses the contents of the fractional counter. The clock frequency is reduced substantially and the maximum output pulse frequency is limited by the settling time of a D/A converter: If the settling time is 200 ns, the maximum output frequency is ten times that of earlier methods.     

New approach for the design of an optical square pulse generator

What is believed to be a new approach for the design and analysis of a reconfigurable optical square pulse generator using the concept of temporal optical integration and the digital signal processing method is presented. The reconfigurable square pulse generator is synthesized using compact active semiconductor-based waveguide technology, and it consists simply of the cascade of a tunable microring resonator (or a tunable all-pole filter) and a tunable asymmetrical Mach-Zehnder interferometer (or a tunable all-zero filter). The reconfigurable generator can convert an input picosecond pulse (i.e., soliton or Gaussian pulse) into an optical square pulse. The pulse width of the generated square pulse can be adjusted by controlling the time delay of a variable delay element in the tunable all-zero filter. The reconfigurable generator can convert an input picosecond pulse train into return-to-zero (RZ) and non-return-to-zero (NRZ) signals with square pulse shapes. The repetition rates of the generated RZ and NRZ signals can be varied by adjusting the bit period of the input picosecond pulse train, the input pulse width, and the time delay of the variable delay element. The effect of the deviation of the parameter values on the generator performance is also studied.     

同步信标在水下机动小目标轨迹测量中的高精度时延估计方法

研究了使用窄脉宽、短周期、高频率的单频同步信标信号在水下机动小目标轨迹测量中的高精度时延估计方法。利用MATLAB进行了不同信噪比下时延估计效果的仿真,得出时延估计精度在不同信噪比下的误差曲线;结果表明,信噪比在20dB以上时,利用包络检波器进行时延估计,其精度优于10μs;而利用自适应相位估计来补偿粗测时延,可以得到优于0.1μs的测时精度。     

A programmable self-adaptive digital frequency multiplier

Existing self-adaptive frequency multipliers work well if the master clock frequency is an integral multiple of the input signal frequency; otherwise they lose an output pulse after a certain interval of time. The frequency of this missing pulse could be as high as half of the input frequency. Since existing self-adaptive frequency multipliers are not programmable, the multiplication factor can not be changed without doing some major changes in the hardware. The reason for missing an output pulse is explained, and design and implementation of a programmable self-adaptive digital frequency multiplier, that does not have this missing pulse problem are presented. The errors associated with the multiplier are discussed     

A computer-controlled eight-channel pulse generator

An eight-channel pulse generator able to generate signal transitions synchronized to an internal 10-MHz clock or an external clock is described. The time intervals between transitions can be programmed arbitrarily with a time resolution of one clock period. The generator is realized as a PC add-in board.     

声光延迟效应用于消除微弱背景光噪声

本文提出一种基于声光延迟效应消除脉冲光信号中微弱背景光噪声的方法,利用两个串联的声光调制器组成的光学开关有效地抑制了与信号光同频率的背景光,信号背景改善比达13 dB.其中,第一个声光调制器的作用是利用其对脉冲光的非线性光学延迟效应实现信号光与背景光在时序上的分离.第二个声光调制器将时域上已经和脉冲信号光分开的背景光消...     

Tailoring the time delay of optical pulse/sequence employing cascaded SOA and band-pass filter

Abstract

A tunable time delay for a 100-ps pulse is achieved via a SOA cascaded band-pass filter, which can be tailored by tuning the filter or changing the SOA injection current. For a single pulse, when the pulse propagates through the cascaded system, a delay of 99.6 ps and an advance of 42.6 ps can be achieved by altering the SOA injection current at two different wavelengths located in the red band and blue band of the filter, respectively. The corresponding tunable delay range is 165 ps, and the maximum delay-bandwidth product (DBP) is 1.65. For an optical sequence, to our knowledge, it is the first time that the time delay is tailored over 145.6 ps corresponding to a DBP of 1.46 by tuning the wavelength from 1556.075 to 1556.955 nm, and 45.2 ps (95.6 ps) advance (delay) by tuning the injection current from 100 to 500 mA at 1556.155 nm (1556.955 nm). The dependence of the time delay on the injection current and filtering configuration has been discussed based on plenty of experiments data. Based on SOA’s fast switching, this device can be used for signal synchronization and bit-by-bit signal processing in a communication system.     

Simple Time and Frequency Dissemination Method Using Optical Fiber Network

This paper describes a simple and cost-effective method of frequency dissemination. In current digital communication networks, node clocks are hierarchically synchronized to the atomic master clock through fiber links. This synchronized network is used as an intermediate link for remote calibration services like the global positioning system common-view method. A prototype reference signal generator has been developed for recovering the communication clock signal and synthesizing a 10-MHz signal from it. The generator output frequency at the client site can be traced to coordinated universal time (UTC) National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ) with some uncertainty, depending on the stability of the node clocks and the distance from the master clock. The stability performance of the generated reference signal has been tested at Okinawa-the farthest prefecture from Tokyo, where the master clock is located (baseline distance of 1500 km). The primary rate (1.544 MHz) for telecommunication services was chosen for the 10-MHz signal generation in the experiment. A sinusoidal phase fluctuation within a one-day period is dominantly observed. This fluctuation is mainly caused by fiber expansion and contraction due to normal daily temperature changes. It degrades the stability (Allan deviation) to the level of 5 X 10^-13 (t = 40 000 s, which is almost half a day). However, the major part of the phase fluctuation can be canceled by averaging a full day's data. In this case, the Allan deviation becomes 1 X 10^-13, which is obtained at Okinawa over ten consecutive days of measurement. The worst average frequency offset relative to UTC (NMIJ) (one-day averaging) is -6.3 X 10^-13. The results indicate that this method promises to be suitable for most applications, providing an uncertainty of less than 1 X 10^-12 at an averaging time of one day.     

Multiple target detection using split spectrum processing and groupdelay moving entropy

The split spectrum processing technique obtains a frequency-diverse ensemble of narrow-band signals through a filterbank then recombines them nonlinearly to improve target visibility. Although split spectrum processing is an effective method for suppressing grain noise in ultrasonic nondestructive testing, its application was mainly limited to the detection of single targets or multiple targets having similar spectral characteristics. In this paper, the group delay moving entropy technique is introduced primarily to enhance the performance of split spectrum processing in detecting multiple targets which exhibit different spectral characteristics (i.e., variations in target signal center frequency and bandwidth). This is likely to occur in complex, dispersive, and nonhomogeneous media such as composites, layered, and clad materials, etc. The analysis shows that the group delay moving entropy method can be used effectively to select the optimal frequency region for split spectrum processing when detecting such targets. Based on an iterative procedure that combines group delay moving entropy and split spectrum processing, multiple targets can be identified one at a time, and subsequently eliminated by using time domain windows. The removal of the dominant target improves the detection of the remaining weaker targets. Simulation results are presented which demonstrate the feasibility of the multistep split spectrum processing technique for detecting multiple targets in such materials     

Ultrasound array transmitter architecture with high timing resolution using embedded phase-locked loops

Coarse time quantization of delay profiles within ultrasound array systems can produce undesirable side lobes in the radiated beam profile. The severity of these side lobes is dependent upon the magnitude of phase quantization error--the deviation from ideal delay profiles to the achievable quantized case. This paper describes a method to improve interchannel delay accuracy without increasing system clock frequency by utilizing embedded phase-locked loop (PLL) components within commercial field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Precise delays are achieved by shifting the relative phases of embedded PLL output clocks in 208-ps steps. The described architecture can achieve the necessary interelement timing resolution required for driving ultrasound arrays up to 50 MHz. The applicability of the proposed method at higher frequencies is demonstrated by extrapolating experimental results obtained using a 5-MHz array transducer. Results indicate an increase in transmit dynamic range (TDR) when using accurate delay profiles generated by the embedded-PLL method described, as opposed to using delay profiles quantized to the system clock.     

高精度数字检相电路设计

文章提出一种高精度数字检相电路 ,适合应用于相位法激光测距等要求精密测相的场合 .该电路采用脉冲填充法和单片机相结合 ,采取具体措施解决了零点漂移、幅值变化、频率变化等原因引起的测相误差 ,获得了高的相位测量精度和稳定性 ,文中给出了测试方法和测试结果     

Measuring metastability and its effect on communication signalprocessing systems

New digital communication receivers often oversample an intermediate frequency (IF) or baseband signal at a very high rate (16 to 32 times the IF frequency or bit rate) as a means to demodulate the encoded data and synchronize the recovered clock. Unfortunately, an asynchronous data source can result in metastable errors and its effect on communications system performance has not been analyzed before now. Fortunately, our results demonstrate the vitality of 1-bit quantized IF high-speed digital signal processing. We review a practical measurement technique using a digital sampling oscilloscope that can be easily applied to today's digital signal processing systems. This method is used to collect data on a high-speed digital gate array technology used for a digital communication receiver, and the statistics of packet error rate are calculated. The analysis shows the substantial robustness of fast gate array logic and the importance of selecting the right technology. The technique and analysis presented can be applied to other digital systems     

自由空间量子密钥分发中的信号同步解决方案

针对目前自由空间量子密钥分发（QKD）中的信号同步这一难点问题，提出一种采用外置光信号来解决信号同步问题的方案——光同步方案。在发送端利用声光调制器将外置激光器的连续激光分割成周期光脉冲序列，并作为同步光信号发送给接收端。接收端采用光电倍增管接收同步光脉冲信号，生成一个与发送端严格同步的信号，以此作为接收端的时基标准来进行单光子计数。采用高频的内部时钟信号来“监视”接收到的同步信号，从而提高计数准确性。该方案具有长距离性、无线性、低复杂度等特点，已成功应用于一个基于B92协议的自由空间QKD系统中。     

基于数字锁相环的科氏质量流量计信号处理方法

针对科里奥利质量流量计信号处理中存在的问题 ,即信号频率在小范围内变化和信号易受谐波干扰 ,采用基于数字锁相环的方法处理科氏质量流量计的信息 ,跟踪信号频率的变化 ,计算相位差。对美国专利提出的方法进行了改进 ,做了仿真。仿真结果表明 ,在有谐波干扰的情况下 ,数字锁相环方法可以准确地跟踪信号频率的变化和计算相位差。本文还对计算误差进行了分析     

Capacity upgrade in short-reach optical fibre networks: simultaneous 4-PAM 20 Gbps data and polarization-modulated PPS clock signal using a single VCSEL carrier

In this work, a four-level pulse amplitude modulation (4-PAM) format with a polarization-modulated pulse per second (PPS) clock signal using a single vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) carrier is for the first time experimentally demonstrated. We propose uncomplex alternative technique for increasing capacity and flexibility in short-reach optical communication links through multi-signal modulation onto a single VCSEL carrier. A 20 Gbps 4-PAM data signal is directly modulated onto a single mode 10 GHz bandwidth VCSEL carrier at 1310 nm, therefore, doubling the network bit rate. Carrier spectral efficiency is further maximized by exploiting the inherent orthogonal polarization switching of the VCSEL carrier with changing bias in transmission of a PPS clock signal. We, therefore, simultaneously transmit a 20 Gbps 4-PAM data signal and a polarization-based PPS clock signal using a single VCSEL carrier. It is the first time a signal VCSEL carrier is reported to simultaneously transmit a directly modulated 20 Gbps 4-PAM data signal and a polarization-based PPS clock signal. We further demonstrate on the design of a software-defined digital signal processing (DSP)-assisted receiver as an alternative to costly receiver hardware. Experimental results show that a 3.21 km fibre transmission with simultaneous 20 Gbps 4-PAM data signal and polarization-based PPS clock signal introduced a penalty of 3.76 dB. The contribution of polarization-based PPS clock signal to this penalty was found out to be 0.41 dB. Simultaneous distribution of data and timing clock signals over shared network infrastructure significantly increases the aggregated data rate at different optical network units (ONUs), without costly investment.     

Implementation of digital signal processing techniques in thedesign of thermal pulse flowmeters

Various digital signal processing methods, which could be applicable to the design of a microcomputer-based thermal pulse flowmeter, are examined. Two excitation methods are investigated: a single thermal pulse, and a pseudorandom binary sequence signal (PRBS). The signal recovered downstream is processed by two alternative numerical algorithms to recover the time of flight (i.e. by peak detection of the signal itself and the peak of the differentiated signal). The recovered thermal pulse and the time of flight are then used to test the validity of two models: a diffusion-advection model and a simple time-delay model. The delay model is found to be compatible with the data, especially when the peak of the output signal derivative is used as a marker for determining the time of flight. The single-pulse injection method is found, in general, to be superior to the PRBS cross-correlation technique, except for the ability of the latter to provide early indication of flow-rate variations     

基于FPGA延迟线插入法的半导体激光测距

为了提高系统的集成度,同时兼顾精度,介绍用FPGA延迟线插入法采实现较高精度的脉冲激光测时、测距的原理和技术途径.FPGA延迟线插入法是在直接计数法的基础上,采用FPGA内部延时单元将时间间隔转化为数字量,经高速锁存器锁存后得到代表延时信息的温度计编码值来实现高分辨率的时间测量.提出了一种实用的高速时钟下(400 MHz)延迟线延时信息的锁存方法,并设计了FPGA时间数字转换电路及其延迟单元时间测量电路.测试结果表明,FPGA延迟线插入法可以将单点时间分辨率提高到80 ps,多次测量可达40 ps,对应距离分辨率为毫米级.将其应用于脉冲激光测距系统,进行了测距实验研究,给出了实验数据和测量误差分析,最终得到±10 cm的测距精度.     

水声脉冲信号检测的新方法

水声脉冲信号是由一个运动平台上的发射器发射的。信号的调制方式、载频、幅度、脉宽以及周期均为未知。该文介绍了一种水声脉冲信号检测的新方法。水声脉冲信号接收机输出的短时谱重心是不断起伏的。起伏在高信噪比时会变得很小,而在低信噪比(或无信号)时会变得很大。由于,起伏的绝对偏差移动平均可用来度量起伏的大小,因此,它可以被用来检测水声脉冲信号。还介绍了新检测方法的原理、算法以及仿真结果。在海洋噪声、运动载体的辐射噪声以及小的多途干扰背景中,该方法能可靠地检测水声脉冲信号,并能同时对信号的一些参数作出估计。     

An improved method of MCXO

To improve the MCXO performance and simplify its structure, a new MCXO design method has been developed. Through deleting pulses of clock signal of a microcomputer and shifting its phase, the frequency-temperature stability of MCXO can be made satisfactory, and the DDS chip, which is often used in high performance MCXO, can be eliminated. Several different MCXOs have been made with this method and different performance specifications can be obtained. According to the simplicity, in a wide temperature range from -40 to +80 degrees C, the frequency-temperature stability of the MCXOs can be from +/-3x10(-8) to +/-2x10(-7).