Elliptical-Tukey chirp signal for high-resolution, air-coupled ultrasonic imaging

A new signal processing method, which uses a modified chirp signal for air-coupled ultrasonic imaging, is described. A combination of the elliptical and Tukey window functions has been shown to give a better performance than the Hanning windowing used in most pulse-compression algorithms for air-coupled applications. The elliptical-Tukey chirp signal provides an improvement in both the resolution of images and signal-to-noise ratios. In addition, this type of signal also reduces the level of signal voltages required to drive the source transducer while maintaining the performance of the system. This approach, thus, may have wide interest in all forms of wide bandwidth ultrasonic imaging.     

Cellular polypropylene polymer foam as air-coupled ultrasonic transducer materials

Cellular polypropylene polymer foams, also known as ferroelectrets, are compelling candidates for air-coupled ultrasonic transducer materials because of their excellent acoustic impedance match to air and because they have a piezoelectric d(33) coefficient superior to that of PVDF. This study investigates the performance of ferroelectret transducers in the generation and reception of ultrasonic waves in air. As previous studies have noted, the piezoelectric coupling coefficients of these foams depend on the number, size, and distribution of charged voids in the microstructure. The present work studies the influence of these parameters both theoretically and experimentally. First, a three-dimensional model is employed to explain the variation of piezoelectric coupling coefficients, elastic stiffness, and dielectric permittivity as a function of void fraction based on void-scale physics and void geometry. Laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) measurements of the effective d(33) coefficient of a specially fabricated prototype transmitting transducer are then shown which clearly indicate that the charged voids in the ferroelectret material are randomly distributed in the plane of the foam. The frequency-dependent dynamic d(33) coefficient is then reported from 50 to 500 kHz for different excitation voltages and shown to be largely insensitive to drive voltage. Lastly, two ferroelectret transducers are operated in transmit-receive mode and the received signal is shown to accurately represent the corresponding signal generated by the transmitting transducer as measured using LDV.     

Wooden panel paintings investigation: an air-coupled ultrasonic imaging approach

In this paper, a method for the study of wooden panel paintings using air-coupled acoustical imaging is presented. In order to evaluate the advantages of the technique, several samples were made to mimic panel paintings along with their typical defects. These specimens were tested by means of both single-sided and through-transmission techniques using planar transducers. Image data were processed by means of a two-dimensional (2-D)-fast Fourier transform-based algorithm to increase the S/N ratio and 2-D representations (C-scans) were generated. The simulated defects were imaged using both configurations. Investigations were undertaken on four antique paintings from a private collection. The results presented and discussed in this investigation confirm both the robustness and the effectiveness of the technique in detecting defects such as delaminations and cracks in wooden panel paintings.     

High-resolution ultrasonic imaging using two-dimensional homomorphic filtering

A new method for two-dimensional deconvolution of medical ultrasonic images is presented. The spatial resolution of the deconvolved images is much higher compared to the common images of the fundamental and second harmonic. The deconvolution also results in a more distinct speckle pattern. Unlike the most published deconvolution algorithms for ultrasonic images, the presented technique can be implemented using currently available hardware in real-time imaging, with a rate up to 50 frames per second. This makes it attractive for application in the current ultrasound scanners. The algorithm is based on two-dimensional homomorphic deconvolution with simplified assumptions about the point spread function. Broadband radio frequency image data are deconvolved instead of common fundamental harmonic data. Thus, information of both the first and second harmonics is used. The method was validated on image data recorded from a tissue-mimicking phantom and on clinical image data.     

铁电驻极体空气耦合声换能器的研制

基于多孔聚丙烯铁电驻极体薄膜系统研制了平面型和球型聚焦空气耦合超声波换能器。平面型换能器孔径为20mm,两个球型聚焦换能器的孔径和焦距分别为20mm和35mm、30mm和40mm。使用激光干涉仪测得了三个换能器作为发射器工作时的带宽和谐振频率,并且将在脉冲回波模式下测得的换能器作为接收机工作时的响应与激光干涉仪测试结果进行比较。最后选择孔径为20mm的球型聚焦换能器,在脉冲回波模式下对不同直径孔的聚乙烯阶梯楔进行扫描成像。     

High-resolution ultrasonic imaging using fast two-dimensional homomorphic filtering.

A new method for two-dimensional deconvolution of medical ultrasonic images is presented. The spatial resolution of the deconvolved images is much higher compared to the common images of the fundamental and second harmonic. The deconvolution also results in a more distinct speckle pattern. Unlike the most published deconvolution algorithms for ultrasonic images, the presented technique can be implemented using currently available hardware in real-time imaging, with a rate up to 50 frames per second. This makes it attractive for application in the current ultrasound scanners. The algorithm is based on two-dimensional homomorphic deconvolution with simplified assumptions about the point spread function. Broadband radio frequency image data are deconvolved instead of common fundamental harmonic data. Thus, information of both the first and second harmonics is used. The method was validated on image data recorded from a tissue-mimicking phantom and on clinical image data.     

Noise analysis in air-coupled PVDF ultrasonic sensors

In this paper we analyze the noise generated in a piezo-polymer based sensor for low frequency ultrasound in air. The sensor includes two curved PVDF transducers for medium and short range applications. A lumped RLC equivalent circuit was derived from the measurement of the transducer's electrical admittance, in air, by taking into account both mechanical and dielectric losses, which we suppose are the major sources of noise in similar devices. The electrical model was used to study and optimize the noise performance of a 61 kHz transducer and to simulate the electrical behavior of the complete transmitter-receiver system. The validity of the overall electrical model with low noise was confirmed after verifying, with Pspice, agreement of the practical and theoretical results.     

Chromatic aberration of an air-coupled ultrasonic Fresnel zone-plate

A micromachined Fresnel zone-plate has been used to focus ultrasonic waves in air over a range of frequencies (450 to 900 kHz). The zone-plate was mounted upon a planar micromachined air-coupled capacitance transducer, which was capable of generating toneburst ultrasonic waves in air over a wide frequency bandwidth (<100 kHz to 2 MHz). A second air-coupled capacitance detector (apertured to 200 mum) was scanned in the field of the zone-plate source in order to image the generated ultrasonic field at various frequencies of operation. It was found that the ~680 mum spot size of the experimental zone-plate did not vary appreciably with changing frequency, whereas the focal length increased markedly with increasing frequency (from ~5 mm at 450 kHz up to ~15 mm at 900 kHz). These findings are shown to be in excellent agreement with previously reported theoretical predictions by the authors.     

High-power high-resolution pulser for air-coupled ultrasonic NDE applications

This paper describes the design and development of a high-power high-resolution pulser designed especially for air-coupled ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation applications requiring high material penetration capability. The pulser can deliver up to 800 V in a spike excitation type pulse to appropriate low/medium frequency transducers. Moreover, the pulser operates in three different modes: single pulse, double pulse (pulse cancellation technique), and external reference signal, where the last two operating modes are intended to enhance the axial resolution of ultrasonic inspections. Experimental results show that the received pulse duration can be significantly reduced, and reduction factors of 2 or 3 in the pulse duration can be easily achieved.     

New type of matching layer for air-coupled ultrasonic transducers

This paper presents a new concept in the design of an impedance matching structure for air coupled ultrasonic transducers. A reflective layer structure is inserted between the transducer and propagation medium with a small air space. Adjusting the air space and the reflectivity of the inserted structure causes the transducer impedance to match with the impedance of the propagation medium. Two such structures were investigated as a reflector: a polymer thin film and a thick plate with many holes. Wave impedance theory was applied to these reflecting structures, and the impedance of a thin film layer at the incident surface was calculated using boundary conditions. Impedance of holed plate is calculated in a similar fashion. It was found that the calculated impedance of these structures approximately matched the impedance of the PZT air transducer (40 KHz). The acoustic pressure output was maximized by adjusting the position of the matching structure. A theoretical gain of up to 10 dB in the acoustic pressure was predicted under ideal circumstances, and the experimental observations showed a gain of 9.5 dB in the acoustic pressure for a 12 μm polyethylene film placed at a distance of ~0.1 mm from the transducer's surface. The increase was 9.8 dB for a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film and 9.7 dB for a 1.5 mm printed circuit board with many holes at a distance of ~25 μm from the transducer's surface     

A parallel-architecture parametric equalizer for air-coupled capacitive ultrasonic transducers

Parametric equalization is rarely applied to ultrasonic transducer systems, for which it could be used on either the transmitter or the receiver to achieve a desired response. An optimized equalizer with both bump and cut capabilities would be advantageous for ultrasonic systems in applications in which variations in the transducer performance or the properties of the propagating medium produce a less-than-desirable signal. Compensation for non-ideal transducer response could be achieved using equalization on a device-by-device basis. Additionally, calibration of ultrasonic systems in the field could be obtained by offline optimization of equalization coefficients. In this work, a parametric equalizer for ultrasonic applications has been developed using multiple bi-quadratic filter elements arranged in a novel parallel arrangement to increase the flexibility of the equalization. The equalizer was implemented on a programmable system-on-chip (PSOC) using a small number of parallel 4th-order infinite impulse response switchedcapacitor band-pass filters. Because of the interdependency of the required coefficients for the switched capacitors, particle swarm optimization (PSO) was used to determine the optimum values. The response of a through-transmission system using air-coupled capacitive ultrasonic transducers was then equalized to idealized Hamming function or brick-wall frequencydomain responses. In each case, there was excellent agreement between the equalized signals and the theoretical model, and the fidelity of the time-domain response was maintained. The bandwidth and center frequency response of the system were significantly improved. It was also shown that the equalizer could be used on either the transmitter or the receiver, and the system could compensate for the effects of transmitterreceiver misalignment.     

A swept frequency multiplication technique for air-coupled ultrasonic NDE

A new technique has been investigated for improving the signals that can be obtained in air-coupled nondestruction evaluation (NDE). This relies on the wide bandwidth available from polymer-filmed capacitive transducers. The technique relies on a swept-frequency "chirp" signal, which is transmitted from a transducer in air. The new technique differs from existing time-domain correlation techniques, such as pulse compression, in that a single multiplication process is performed in the time domain to give a difference frequency signal. This then can be isolated easily in the frequency domain. It will be demonstrated that this new swept frequency multiplication (SFM) approach gives the potential for rapid air-coupled imaging.     

C/SiC复合材料空气耦合超声检测数值模拟

针对高孔隙率C/SiC复合材料空气耦合超声检测,引入考虑孔隙形貌的随机孔隙模型开展数值模拟研究。结合力学和声学性能测试计算材料弹性刚度矩阵,借助组织分析建立考虑孔隙微观形貌、孔隙率分别为5%、10%、15%的随机孔隙有限元模型,研究了空气耦合超声透射法检测过程中超声波传播特征及典型缺陷的响应规律。结果表明:材料纵波声速约2830 m/s,横观各向同性五个独立弹性常数分别为158.149、88.589、34.141、15.288和13.793 GPa。孔隙呈长条状,随孔隙率增加,超声衰减逐渐增大;孔隙尺寸与波长的比值约在0.05~0.22范围,主要为瑞利散射机制。高孔隙率、复杂孔隙形貌显著影响超声波的传播过程,导致个别条件下声场指向性发生偏转,影响缺陷检测。当分层缺陷长度由0增加到25 mm时,接收信号幅值衰减增大,与无分层模型相比最大衰减增加33.9 dB。随着复合材料层板厚度的增加,超声衰减进一步增强,声场也将产生一定偏转,主要体现孔隙和分层的共同作用。计算结果与实验吻合较好,为高孔隙率C/SiC复合材料的高质量无损检测提供支撑。      

High-resolution inversion of ultrasonic traces

An algorithm for estimating the acoustic reflection coefficient profile from ultrasonic traces obtained during inspection of layered materials is described. Given the measured trace and the incident wavelet, the inversion proceeds by means of a layer stripping approach combined with high-resolution deconvolution. The inversion algorithm is stable to noise and is suitable for use with bandlimited data. It is particularly suitable for use with materials that exhibit a few large discontinuities in impedance and in which multiple reflections in the data are evident. The performance of the algorithm is illustrated in tests with synthetic and real data. An implementation of the algorithm on a TMS 320C30 signal processing board allowed the inversion of an entire set of 256 traces, each of 256 elements, in 15 s.     

The application of time-frequency analysis to the air-coupled ultrasonic testing of concrete

Air-coupled ultrasound has been used for the nondestructive evaluation of concrete, using broad bandwidth electrostatic transducers and chirp excitation. This paper investigates the benefits of using time-frequency analysis in such situations, for both waveform retrieval and imaging in the presence of low signal levels. The use of the short-term Fourier transform, the Wavelet transform, and the Wigner-Ville distribution all are considered, in which accurate tracking of the ultrasonic chirp signals is demonstrated. The Hough transform then is applied as a filter. An image of a steel reinforcement bar in concrete has been produced to illustrate this approach.     

High-resolution imaging ellipsometer

We report on a novel imaging ellipsometer using a high-numerical-aperture (NA) objective lens capable of measuring a two-dimensional ellipsometric signal with high resolution. Two-dimensional ellipsometric imaging is made possible by spatial filtering at the pupil plane of the objective. A Richards-Wolf vectorial diffraction model and geometrical optics model are developed to simulate the system. The thickness profile of patterned polymethyl methacrylate is measured for calibration purposes. Our instrument has a sensitivity of 5 A and provides spatial resolution of approximately 0.5 microm with 632.8-nm illumination. Its capability of measuring refractive-index variations with high spatial resolution is also demonstrated.     

Characterization and assessment of an integrated matching layer for air-coupled ultrasonic applications

A novel ultrasonic matching layer for improving coupling between piezoelectric transducers and an air load is presented and the results of a theoretical and experimental program of work are provided. A combination of a porous material that has very low acoustic impedance with a low-density rubber material forms the basis of the approach. These matching layers were first analyzed experimentally using scanning electron and optical microscopy to determine the microscopic structure. Air-coupled resonance measurements were then performed to reveal the acoustic parameters of the individual layers that were identified within this multilayered structure. These data were then incorporated into a conventional linear model, and this has been verified and used to study performance and produce designs. Close correlation between experiment and theory is demonstrated. The most efficient designs have been implemented in a pitch/catch air-coupled system, and an improvement in received signal amplitude of 30 dB was achieved when compared with the unmatched case.     

Polyurea thin film ultrasonic transducers for nondestructive testing and medical imaging

Ultrasonic transducers using polyurea piezoelectric thin film are studied in this paper. Aromatic polyurea thin films, prepared by vapor deposition polymerization, have useful characteristics for use as an ultrasonic transducer. This paper presents the fabrication and experimental evaluation of ultrasonic transducers formed using polyurea films. First, the vapor deposition polymerization process using two monomers is briefly reviewed, and the temperature conditions for higher piezoelectric constants are explored. Second, in order to test the fundamental characteristics of this material as a high-frequency, ultrasonic transducer, a polyurea film of 2.5 microm thickness was deposited on a silicon substrate. In the pulse/echo experiment results, a resonant frequency of about 100 MHz was observed. Third, we fabricated a concave point focus transducer and a cylindrical line focus transducer. To examine the performances of the focus transducers, two-dimensional images of a coin and V(z) curve measurements for an aluminum surface were demonstrated.     

A nondestructive integrity test for membrane filters based on air-coupled ultrasonic spectroscopy

This work describes the application of an ultrasonic air-coupled characterization technique to membrane filters. Coefficient of transmission of sound at normal incidence through each membrane in the frequency range 0.55 MHz-2.4 MHz was measured. For all cases, at least one thickness resonance was observed. From these measurements density, velocity, and attenuation of ultrasonic longitudinal waves are calculated and compared to available filtration data such as water flux measurements and bubble point data, both provided by manufacturers. Results show that velocity of ultrasonic waves in membrane filters depends on the membrane grade and can be correlated to filtration properties; attenuation per wavelength is independent of membrane grade but sensitive to moisture content. Advantages of this technique over other conventional membrane tests are pointed out.     

Non-contact imaging for surface-opening cracks in concrete with air-coupled sensors

Rapid and accurate non-destructive evaluation (NDE) techniques are needed to assess the in-place condition of concrete structures. However the time and effort required to perform NDE tests using conventional surface-mounted contact sensors hinder rapid evaluation of large full-scale structures. The suitability of surface waves and non-contact sensing techniques to detect the presence of concrete defects is examined here. First, the ability to detect leaky surface waves in concrete with air-coupled sensors is demonstrated. Surface waves in a concrete slab specimen are generated by an electrically-controlled impact source. Next, the data and signal processing needed to improve leaky surface wave data, with respect to eventual application to velocity and attenuation images, are demonstrated. Finally velocity and wave attenuation data collected from a concrete slab specimen that exhibits surface cracking are presented. Test results show that the proposed energy ratio (attenuation) criterion is more sensitive to existence of cracks than the velocity criterion.