Generation of sinc wave by a one-dimensional array for applications in ultrasonic imaging

• Published in: IEEE transactions on ultrasonics, ferroelectrics, and frequency control Vol. 43; no. 2; pp. 285 - 295
• Main Authors: JEONG, M. K, SONG, T. K, PARK, S. B, RA, J. B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.03.1996; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Subjects: Acoustics; Apertures; Biomedical imaging; Biomedical transducers; Diffraction; Exact sciences and technology; Focusing; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Partial differential equations; Phased arrays; Physics; Transduction; acoustical devices for the generation and reproduction of sound; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonic transducer arrays; Ultrasonic transducers; Wave equation; Lateral lobe; Ultrasonic imaging; Localized mode; Medical imagery; Two dimensional model; Numerical method; Acoustic antenna; Acoustic beam; Acoustic image; Ultrasonic transducer; Transducer network
• ISSN: 0885-3010; 1525-8955
• DOI: 10.1109/58.485955

A new solution to the 2-D scalar wave equation is presented which describes an ultrasonic beam maintaining the lateral field response expressed by the sinc function over a finite depth of field. This new beam is realizable with a linear array transducer, and less subject to diffraction spreading than conventional focused beams, physically, it is a superposition of plane waves having the same wavelength, but traveling at different angles. It is shown by numerical simulation that the beam can provide more uniform lateral beamwidth and smoother on-axis field magnitude over a greater depth of field than the rectangular transducers and Gaussian apodized transmitters which have been used to increase the limited depth of field of conventional focused beams. Compared with currently developed limited diffraction beams which must be generated by 2-D array transducers, the beam has a wider lateral beamwidth but with lower sidelobe levels. In ultrasonic medical imaging, the beam enables one to obtain a line focus using a 1-D array transducer and to eliminate the diffraction correction required in some applications such as tissue characterization.