Transducer characterization by sound field measurements

Area of Science:

• Acoustics
• Materials Science
• Engineering

Background:

• Accurate characterization of ultrasonic transducers is crucial for optimizing their performance in various applications.
• Existing methods for transducer characterization, such as point reflector and hydrophone measurements, have limitations in detail and ease of implementation.
• Understanding transducer element size and fabrication details is key to identifying and correcting performance-limiting asymmetries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, easy-to-implement method for ultrasonic transducer characterization.
• To demonstrate the utility of sound field measurements for determining acoustically relevant element size and fabrication details.
• To analyze transducer focusing characteristics and identify fabrication inaccuracies and asymmetries.

Main Methods:

• Utilized sound field measurements for transducer characterization.
• Employed a single point reflector method for measuring the element size of a planar annular array.
• Investigated transducer performance across a frequency range of 3-50 MHz, including focusing characteristics in a scattering medium.

Main Results:

• The proposed method effectively measures the acoustically relevant element size of ultrasonic transducers.
• Sound field analysis successfully visualized inaccuracies and asymmetries in transducer fabrication.
• Characterization of a spherically curved array and a single-element transducer with an acoustic lens provided insights into focusing capabilities.

Conclusions:

• The novel sound field measurement technique offers a practical approach to ultrasonic transducer characterization.
• This method aids in the precise determination of element dimensions and the identification of fabrication-related anomalies.
• The findings contribute to improved ultrasonic transducer design and quality control.