A Spectral Analysis Technique in Ultrasound Transducer Characterization

This paper briefly outlines a spectral analysis procedure for qualitative characterization of ultrasound transducers and presents applications of the procedure for the assessment of acoustic parameters. The parameters include the transmitting and receiving frequency response, directivity pattern and effective aperture of different shape piezoelectric tranceivers. The advantages and fundamental limitations of the spectral analysis technique are discussed in terms of frequency range, signal to noise ratio and dynamic range. Experimental data are presented which show that the technique is extremely useful in transducer performance evaluation as a continuous function of frequency. Future applications of the technique, including complex, i.e. both amplitude and phase, characterization of ultrasound piezoelectric transducers, are also pointed out.