Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026
08:21
Wideband Optical Detector of Ultrasound for Medical Imaging Applications
Published on: May 11, 2014
Short-range ultrasonic digital communications in air
Chuan Li1, David A Hutchins, Roger J Green
1School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK. chuan.li@warwick.ac.uk
Summary
This study demonstrates digital communication using ultrasound in air. Binary phase shift keying (BPSK) achieved a low bit error rate, showing promise for ultrasonic data transmission.
Area of Science:
- Acoustics
- Digital Communications
- Signal Processing
Background:
- Traditional communication methods face limitations in certain environments.
- Ultrasound offers a potential alternative for wireless data transmission.
- Capacitive transducers provide a viable means for generating and detecting ultrasonic signals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the feasibility of digital signal communication using ultrasound in air.
- To evaluate the performance of different digital modulation techniques for ultrasonic transmission.
- To compare numerical simulations with experimental results for ultrasonic data transfer.
Main Methods:
- Utilized capacitive transducers with sufficient bandwidth for signal transmission.
- Implemented and simulated three digital communication methods: on-off keying (OOK), binary frequency-shift keying (BFSK), and binary phase shift keying (BPSK).
- Experimentally validated simulation results for ultrasonic signal transmission across an air gap.
Main Results:
- Successfully transmitted digitally coded signals using ultrasound in air.
- BPSK modulation demonstrated the lowest bit error rate among the tested methods.
- Numerical simulations closely matched experimental findings for all tested modulation schemes.
Conclusions:
- Ultrasound in air is a viable medium for digital communication.
- Binary phase shift keying (BPSK) is an effective modulation technique for reliable ultrasonic data transmission.
- The study validates the use of capacitive transducers and simulation for developing ultrasonic communication systems.
Related Concept Videos
01:06Echo
The human ear cannot distinguish between two sources of sound if they happen to reach within a specific time interval, typically 0.1 seconds apart. More than this, and they are perceived as separate sources.
Imagine the sound is reflected back to the ears. Assuming that the source is very close to the human, the difference between hearing the two sounds—the emitted sound and the reflected sound—may be more than the minimum time for perceiving distinct sounds. If this is the case, then the...
Imagine the sound is reflected back to the ears. Assuming that the source is very close to the human, the difference between hearing the two sounds—the emitted sound and the reflected sound—may be more than the minimum time for perceiving distinct sounds. If this is the case, then the...
01:30Electronic Distance Measuring Instruments
Electronic Distance Measuring Instruments (EDMs) are essential tools in modern surveying, offering precise distance measurements by emitting electromagnetic signals and calculating the time required for these signals to travel to a target and return. Two primary types of signals are used in EDMs — light waves and microwaves — each suited to specific environmental and distance requirements. Light-wave-based EDMs utilize either infrared or laser light, providing high accuracy over short distances...
01:17Ultrasonography
Ultrasonography is an imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to visualize the body's internal structures. It is a non-invasive and safe procedure that does not involve the use of ionizing radiation, making it widely used in various medical fields. Ultrasonography is used to study heart function, blood flow in the neck or extremities, certain conditions such as gallbladder disease, and fetal growth and development.
During an ultrasonography procedure, a handheld device called a...
During an ultrasonography procedure, a handheld device called a...