Reducing crosstalk in array structures by controlling the excitation voltage of individual elements: a feasibility...

Area of Science:

• Piezoelectric Transducer Technology
• Ultrasonic Imaging Systems
• Finite Element Modeling

Background:

• Crosstalk between individual elements in piezoelectric transducer arrays degrades imaging performance.
• Minimizing crosstalk is crucial for achieving high-resolution ultrasonic imaging.
• Existing methods often struggle with fabrication defects and continuous wave generation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a procedure for active crosstalk cancellation in piezoelectric transducer arrays.
• To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in reducing crosstalk.
• To explore the applicability of this technique in ultrasonic imaging systems.

Main Methods:

• Development of a two-dimensional finite element model to predict optimal excitation voltages.
• Fabrication and testing of linear phased array prototypes using PZT 27 ceramic.
• Application of model-predicted voltages to active cancellation of crosstalk.
• Experimental validation at approximately 450 kHz for feasibility assessment.

Main Results:

• Experimental results confirmed the validity of the active crosstalk cancellation approach.
• A significant reduction in crosstalk, approximately 6-10 dB, was achieved.
• The method proved effective even in the presence of fabrication defects.

Conclusions:

• Active crosstalk cancellation is a viable technique for improving piezoelectric transducer array performance.
• The proposed method offers a novel solution for continuous wave transducer arrays.
• Implementation in ultrasonic imaging systems can enhance signal quality and imaging resolution.