Polynomial-based optical true-time delay devices with microelectromechanical mirror arrays

We previously reported optical true-time delay devices, based on the White cell, to support phased-array radars. In particular, we demonstrated a quadratic device, in which the number of delays obtainable was proportional to the square of the number of times the light beam bounced in the cell. Here we consider the possibilities when a microelectromechanical (MEM) tip/tilt mirror array with multiple stable states is used. We present and compare designs for quadratic, quartic, and octic cells using MEM mirror arrays with two, three, and five micro-mirror tilt angles. An octic cell with a three-state MEM can produce 6,339 different delays in just 17 bounces.     

Ultrasonic phased arrays for nondestructive testing

Although ultrasonic phased arrays are potentially ideally suited to many applications in NDT, their use in practice is limited by the complexity of array probe manufacture and the bulk and cost of the associated electronic control instrumentation. In this article a number of probe designs are discussed, with particular emphasis being placed on those having a simpler construction. The requirements of the electronic systems for both transmission and reception of array signals are reviewed. A compact, low-cost, phased-array instrument which compromises between array probe scanning speed and the rate of data acquisition is also described.     

Photorefractive processing for large adaptive phased arrays

An adaptive null-steering phased-array optical processor that utilizes a photorefractive crystal to time integrate the adaptive weights and null out correlated jammers is described. This is a beam-steering processor in which the temporal waveform of the desired signal is known but the look direction is not. The processor computes the angle(s) of arrival of the desired signal and steers the array to look in that direction while rotating the nulls of the antenna pattern toward any narrow-band jammers that may be present. We have experimentally demonstrated a simplified version of this adaptive phased-array-radar processor that nulls out the narrow-band jammers by using feedback-correlation detection. In this processor it is assumed that we know a priori only that the signal is broadband and the jammers are narrow band. These are examples of a class of optical processors that use the angular selectivity of volume holograms to form the nulls and look directions in an adaptive phased-array-radar pattern and thereby to harness the computational abilities of three-dimensional parallelism in the volume of photorefractive crystals. The development of this processing in volume holographic system has led to a new algorithm for phased-array-radar processing that uses fewer tapped-delay lines than does the classic time-domain beam former. The optical implementation of the new algorithm has the further advantage of utilization of a single photorefractive crystal to implement as many as a million adaptive weights, allowing the radar system to scale to large size with no increase in processing hardware.     

Intracavitary ultrasound phased arrays for noninvasive prostatesurgery

The feasibility of using intracavitary ultrasound phased arrays for thermal surgery of the prostate was investigated. A simulation study was performed which demonstrated the ability of phased arrays to generate necrosed tissue volumes over anatomically appropriate ranges (2-6 cm deep and >6 cm axially) and investigated the effects of varying frequency, sonication time, maximum temperature, and blood perfusion on the necrosed tissue volume. An advantage that phased arrays have over geometrically focused transducers is that they are able to electronically scan a single focus over a specified range very quickly. This study demonstrated that the necrosed tissue volume may be increased by more than a factor of 100 by using electronic scanning. Scan parameters that were investigated included foci spacing, scan width, perfusion, maximum temperature, and unequal weighting of the foci. An optimization was performed to select the foci weighting parameters such that a uniform thermal dose was achieved at the focal depth, providing a more uniformly heated target volume. Finally, the ability of linear ultrasound phased arrays to create necrosed tissue lesions was demonstrated experimentally in fresh beef liver using a single stationary focus and single focus scans generated by an aperiodic 0.83-MHz 57-element linear ultrasound phased array     

General synthesis method for linear phased antenna array

An efficient phase-only control method is presented to synthesise directive lobe and multilobe patterns, and create adaptive nulls in interference direction. The proposed method is based on iterative minimisation of a function that incorporates constraints imposed in each direction with respect to excitation phases. To verify the performances of the proposed technique, an eight-element array has been realised and tested for various types of beam configurations.     

Synthetic phased arrays for intraluminal imaging of coronaryarteries

A 64-element, high efficiency, ceramic piezoelectric array transducer operating at 20 MHz has been constructed for ultrasonic intraluminal imaging. The array is mounted on the surface of a 1.2 mm diameter catheter appropriate for coronary artery applications. Integrated into the catheter tip is a custom analog chip set permitting complete data capture from the array. That is, on each firing any combination of array elements can be selected independently as transmitter or receiver. Using data acquired in this way, a complete phased array aperture (i.e., independent transmit and receive apertures) can be synthesized. Reconstruction hardware based on a custom application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) has been designed and built to produce real-time images. Beam forming coefficients are derived using an optimal filtering approach accounting for the circular geometry of the array. Simulated and measured beam patterns for this system are compared. In addition, images of coronary anatomy acquired with the real-time system are displayed demonstrating the marked image quality improvement compared to previous synthetic aperture intraluminal systems     

Treatment planning for hyperthermia with ultrasound phased arrays

Treatment planning for ultrasound phased arrays suggests a strategy for hyperthermia therapy which satisfies therapeutic conditions at the target and spares other sensitive anatomical structures. To predict both desirable and harmful interactions between ultrasound and important structures such as the tumor, bones, and air pockets, a hyperthermia treatment planning system has been developed for ultrasound phased arrays. This collection of treatment planning routines consists of geometric and thermal optimization procedures specific to ultrasound phased arrays, where geometric treatment planning, combined with thermal treatment planning and three-dimensional visualization, provides essential information for the optimization of individual patient treatments. A patient image data set for cancer of the prostate, a difficult target situated in the midst of multiple pelvic bone obstructions, illustrates the geometric treatment planning algorithm and other tools for treatment analysis. The results indicate that the analysis of complex three-dimensional relationships between the applicator, anatomical structures, and incident fields provides an important means of predicting treatment limiting conditions, thereby allowing the hyperthermia applicator to electronically adapt to individual patients and specific sites     

Field-of-view limitations of phased telescope arrays

The optical performance of imaging phased telescope arrays is degraded by various design, manufacturing, and operational errors. Perhaps the most basic and fundamental of these error sources are the residual aberrations of the optical design chosen for the individual telescopes. We show that third-order field curvature and distortion, which are rather benign aberrations in a conventional telescope, result in relative phase and tilt errors between the individual telescopes making up the array. The field-dependent image degradation caused by these relative phase and tilt errors is then predicted for different subaperture configurations and telescope design parameters. For phased arrays made up of simple two-mirror telescopes, distortion limits the field of view to less than 5 arcmin for small subapertures (D < 0.5 m), and field curvature limits the field of view to less than 1 arcmin for subaperture diameters greater than 2 m. Quantitative parametric results yielding tolerances for residual field curvature as the phased array is scaled up in size are presented graphically. If a 0.5-deg field of view is desired for telescope diameters greater than 2 m, complex telescope configurations are necessary to satisfy the rather tight tolerances on both field curvature and distortion.     

Simulations of astronomical imaging phased arrays

We describe a theoretical procedure for analyzing astronomical phased arrays with overlapping beams and apply the procedure to simulate a simple example. We demonstrate the effect of overlapping beams on the number of degrees of freedom of the array and on the ability of the array to recover a source. We show that the best images are obtained using overlapping beams, contrary to common practice, and show how the dynamic range of a phased array directly affects the image quality.     

An approach to expansion of the scanning sector of active phased antenna arrays with linear-frequency-modulated wideband probe signal

The process of construction of the directional pattern of active phased antenna arrays with emission of wideband linear-frequency-modulated signals is analyzed. Factors responsible for the appearance of distortions in the directional pattern are established and an approach to elimination of these distortions is proposed.     

Ultrasonic phased arrays with variable geometric focusing for hyperthermia applications

An ultrasonic applicator, which utilizes both electronic and variable geometric focusing, for deep-localized hyperthermia is investigated. The applicator is based around a linear phased array that furnishes its electronic focusing capability. The output of the array radiates through a spherical liquid-lens that provides the applicator a variable geometric focusing capability as well. A lens of this type adds dynamic focusing to the elevation dimension of the linear phased array. By controlling the volume of liquid in the lens (and thus the radius of curvature of its membrane), dynamic control of the geometrical focus can be achieved. Comparisons of computer simulations and experimental measurements of the field intensity distribution of a small-scale prototype applicator are presented. Important design parameters, such as the choice of the liquid for the lens and the size and number of array elements, are examined.     

Feasibility of using ultrasound phased arrays for MRI monitorednoninvasive surgery

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the in vivo feasibility of using phased arrays for MRI guided ultrasound surgery. Two different array concepts were investigated: a spherically curved concentric ring array to move the focus along the central axis and a spherically curved 16 square element array to make the focus larger. Rabbit thigh muscles were exposed in vivo in a 1.5 T MRI scanner to evaluate the array performance. The results showed that both of the arrays performed as expected, and the focus could be moved and enlarged. In addition, adequate power could be delivered from the arrays to necrose in vivo muscle tissue in 10 s. This study was the first implementation of phased arrays for MRI guided ultrasound surgery. The results demonstrate that phased arrays have significant potential for noninvasive tissue coagulation     

一种相控阵雷达天线极化特征的外场测试方法

为了解决相控阵雷达天线极化特征的外场测量问题,研究了极化的幅相测量法和斜天线测试场的布局方法,设计了基于双通道接收技术的相控阵雷达天线极化特征的一种外场测试方法。给出了应用该种方法的测量装置、测量布局、测量内容、测量步骤,分析了测量误差。该种测试方法在相控阵雷达天线极化特征测试任务中得到成功应用,为某武器系统的研制提供了准确的测量数据和宝贵的研究资料。     

Sparse 2-D arrays for 3-D phased array imaging--design methods

One of the most promising techniques for limiting complexity for real-time 3-D ultrasound systems is to use sparse 2-D layouts. For a given number of channels, optimization of performance is desirable to ensure high quality volume images. To find optimal layouts, several approaches have been followed with varying success. The most promising designs proposed are Vernier arrays, but also these suffer from high peaks in the sidelobe region compared with a dense array. In this work, we propose new methods based on the principles of suppression of grating lobes to form symmetric and non-symmetric regular sparse periodic and radially periodic designs. The proposed methods extend the concept of sparse periodic layouts by exploiting either an increased number of symmetry axes or radial symmetry. We also introduce two new strategies to form designs with nonoverlapping elements. The performance of the new layouts range from the performance of Vernier arrays to almost that of dense arrays. Our designs have simplicity in construction, flexibility in the number of active elements, and the possibility of trade off sidelobe peaks against sidelobe energy.     

Sparse 2-d arrays for 3-D phased array imaging--experimental validation

To be able to describe more precisely the behavior of a real-time 3-D ultrasound system with either a dense array or various sparse designs, experimental data from a 2-D fully connected array prototype with 50/spl times/50 elements have been collected. The data have been processed off line to form synthetic aperture 3-D volume images. Simulated and experimental results are compared and show good correlation. The performance of the best sparse designs, all thinned to more than 50%, offer performances comparable to a dense array.     

Experimental demonstration of an optical phased array antenna for laser space communications

The feasibility of an optical phased array antenna applicable for spaceborne laser communications was experimentally demonstrated. Heterodyne optical phase-locked loops provide for a defined phase relationship between the collimated output beams of three single-mode fibers. In the far field the beams interfere with a measured efficiency of 99%. The main lobe of the interference pattern can be moved by phase shifting the subaperture output beams. The setup permitted agile beam steering within an angular range of 1 mr and a response time of 0.7 ms. We propose an operational optical phased array antenna fed by seven lasers, featuring high transmit power and redundance.     

Investigation of hybrid elliptical antenna arrays

Novel types of antenna arrays constructed from combination of linear and elliptical antenna arrays are presented. These types are called elliptical, concentric elliptical, elliptical cylindrical and elliptical coaxial cylindrical arrays where only the array factors are considered. The effect of the element factor can be considered separately and combined to the array factor. The expression for the array factor of elliptical array has been obtained. Then, array factors of other three types are derived by the combination of linear and elliptical array properties. Their directivities and sidelobe levels are simulated in various current distributions. The effect of ellipse eccentricity, element spacing and number of elements are calculated and compared with those parameters.     

次声相控阵列的聚焦特性研究

研究了提高非致命次声武器聚束能力和声强增益的方法。利用抛物面本身的自聚焦性能优化设计了一种新型的抛物面不等间距阵列。基于声场理论,计算出阵列声压分布;采用伪逆矩阵算法,数值仿真了与抛物面阵列中心轴垂直截面上以及中心轴上不同位置的声压分布。研究结果表明,不等间距抛物面相控阵列相对于传统平面阵列而言,声强分布的半峰宽度减小了16.7%,并且声强增益提高了48.6%,是较为理想的组合声源。通过仿真模拟论证了抛物面阵列的优越性,进而为次声武器的设计及研究提供了理论基础。     

Beam shaping with limited amplitude weight values for satellite active phased array antenna

针对星载DBF有源相控阵天线发射波束赋形的实际需要,提出了一种基于有限幅度加权的波束赋形方案。采用双重编码遗传算法实现了该方案。分别采用有限位长度的二进制编码和实数编码对阵列加权矢量的幅度和相位进行编码,使得阵列加权矢量的幅度仅在几个离散的台阶上变化,限制了阵列加权矢量幅度的动态范围,该方案在方向图旁瓣和功率放大器的效率之间取得了折衷,更适合于实际应用。与复数编码遗传算法相比,在保持最优解的精确度的同时,由于幅度维上搜索空间的减小,加快了算法的收敛速度。为了进一步提高算法收敛速度和避免算法“早熟” ,提出了一种基于”物种多样性“选择保留策略,并对算法采用了自适应交叉和变异概率,使算法更有把握得到全局最优或准最优解。     

Co-polarised and cross-polarised antenna arrays for breast, cancer detection

The detection capabilities of two novel co-polarised and cross-polarised antenna arrays consisting of two slot antennas have been studied and compared for the purpose of ultra-wideband breast cancer detection. For both arrays, the measured antenna return loss is below -10 dB from 3.1 to 10 GHz. The measured coupling between the two elements is below - 20 dB for the co-polarised and - 25 dB for the cross-polarised formation. It is shown through simulations and measurements that the cross-polarised array improves the signal-to-clutter ratio for tumours close to a planar chest wall.