UT - Phased Arrays - Phased Arrays generalities

Phased array probes are designed by placing side by side several independent piezoelectric transducers. The delays applied to each element master the characteristics of the transmitted beam (in terms of deflection and focusing). The group of delays applied to the elements is called a delay law.

There are several phased array probes patterns. The choice is made according to the desired applications. Thus, with a linear array, it is possible to deflect a beam in the probe incidence plane while a matrix array allows a deflection in a volume.

 

By setting properly the delay law, it is possible to define one or more focusing points or an angular scanning. The application accessible through this link illustrates this principle.

 

Several depths focusing

The several depth focusing algorithm provides a delay law allowing to focus successively at different points along the axis defined with the angle chosen by the user.

 

Several depths focusing panel

 

Sectorial scanning

The angular scanning can deflect the acoustic beam over an angular sector selected by the user who specifies the two extreme angles and the angular pitch.

 

Sectorial scanning panel

 

Direction and depth focusing

As the angular scanning described above, the direction and depth focusing algorithm can deflect the acoustic beam over an angular sector but it also focuses the beam at a given depth.

 

Direction and depth focusing panel