A 220 kHz Air-Coupled Spiral Ultrasonic Phased Array Using Waveguides

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Contributors

Abstract

The freedom of air-coupled phased array design is restricted due to the size constraints of off-the-shelf transducers. Waveguides can be a solution, because they allow to design the element aperture as well as the array aperture independently of transducer sizes. Recent work (Rutsch et al. 2021) has demonstrated the feasibility of air-coupled waveguides at frequencies around 40 kHz for phased arrays. This work explores the use of waveguides at a higher frequency of 220 kHz with commercially available piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers for creating air-coupled phased arrays, since higher frequency allows higher resolution. We employ tapered, cylindrical 3D-printed waveguides of equal lengths in an arc shape, with each 220 kHz transducer individually controllable for 3D beam steering. A spiral arrangement of the transducers is chosen for its lower maximum side lobe level and independence of the λ/2 criterion. The point spread function of the resulting phased array is characterized in an anechoic chamber. Results confirm the feasibility of the waveguided phased array at 220 kHz, with a -3 dB main lobe width of 9° and a maximum side lobe level of -10 dB. Therefore the waveguide approach is feasible even at higher frequencies such as 220 kHz for selecting the aperture independent of the transducer.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationIEEE Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control Joint Symposium, UFFC-JS 2024 - Proceedings
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Number of pages4
ISBN (electronic)979-8-3503-7190-1
Publication statusPublished - 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

Publication series

SeriesIEEE International Symposium on Applications of Ferroelectrics (ISAF)
ISSN1099-4734

Conference

Title2024 IEEE Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control Joint Symposium
Abbreviated titleUFFC-JS 2024
Duration22 - 26 September 2024
Website
LocationTaipei Nangang Exhibition Center & Online
CityTaipei
CountryTaiwan, Province of China

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-0803-8818/work/187080217

Keywords

Keywords

  • air-coupled waveguides, phase calibration, Phased arrays, ultrasonic transducers