Smart generator for ultrasonic applications

Coutard Frdric Schweitzer Patrick Tisserand Etienne

L.I.E.N. Universit Henri Poincar L.I.E.N. Universit Henri Poincar L.I.E.N. Universit Henri Poincar
BP 239 Vandoeuvre BP 239 Vandoeuvre BP 239 Vandoeuvre
FRANCE FRANCE FRANCE
frederic.coutard@lien.uhp-nancy.fr patrick.schweitzer@lien.uhp-nancy.fr etienne.tisserand@lien.uhp-nancy.fr

Abstract This paper presents the first results for the design of
an optimized generator for an ultrasonic transducer. This
emitter/receptor works within the frequency range of 1 to 10
MHz. The generator output impedance equals 50 and the
generator itself delivers burst wave signals at a controlled
fundamental frequency. The generator structure, with a
negative feedback, guarantees that the optimal excitation
frequency is detected. The control unit utilizes the
characteristics of the transducer impedance. Optimization is
carried out by an automatic search of the parallel resonance
frequency for which the impedance of the transducer is
maximum. We evaluate the impedance module from the
envelope of the signal present at the transducer input. The
criterion to be maximized is the level of the envelope in
established mode. The detection of the optimal frequency is
based on the iterative algorithm of the gradient in which the
frequential step is functional to the criterion differential. The
results, carried out initially on a electric model of a transducer,
give a settling time of one millisecond for a frequential
resolution of 3 KHz around the optimal frequency.

I. INTRODUCTION

The excitation frequency and electric impedance of an
ultrasonic transducer are both sensitive parameters for an
applications performance. In this paper we are interested in
the optimal choice for the ultrasonic generator frequency. In
ultrasonic imaging, the frequencies range from 1 MHz for
bone imagery to approximately 10 MHz for the exploration
of the bronchi. The frequency band is even larger in
industrial applications. The optimal excitation frequency of a
piezoelectric transducer changes under the influence of a
variety of parameters including:
- changes in the acoustic characteristics of the
propagation medium.
- the temperature of the ceramic.
- ageing characteristics (the piezoelectric material is
worn away by time and use).
The piezoelectrics characteristics change with time
because of these phenomena.

Excitation of the transducer is made in impulse mode or by
burst signal. Although the impulse mode is used in those
applications requiring a good resolution of the depth of
analysis, the electromechanical energy transfer is not
optimized. In burst mode, the transduction transfer is well
below the mechanical resonance frequency. A sufficient
number of periods are also required to reach the established
mode. A voltage of about 100 volts or more is required for
the impulse signal to be effective and it is therefore not
compatible for the design of autonomous systems or in
certain applications sensitive to high potentials.
Of particular interest to us is the design of a burst
generator which ensures automatic feedback with frequency
in order to compensate the problems of drift and tolerance
and in order to optimize the energy transfer.
In the second part of this paper we will present the general
principle of our controlled generator as well as the principle
of the search for the optimal frequency.
The third part is devoted to the description of the envelope
detecting block and to the maximization of its level.
In the last section we will show how several tests have
enabled us to validate the optimal frequency control method.

II. METHOD PRINCIPLE

A. Feedback scheme

The general principle of a feedback ultrasonic generator is
given in Figure 1. The burst signal is characterized by a
frequency f
e
and a repetition period T
r
.

The signal amplitude is measured on the transducer in
charge. It constitutes the efficiency criterion of our system.
The parameter fe is automatically adjusted from this
criterion.


Frequency
Control Module
Burst Generator E/R Ultrasonic
Transducer
(f
e
)
50


Fig. 1. Principle of a feedback ultrasonic generator

The output generator impedance of this stage is 50 ohms.
The problem is reduced to one requiring an automatic
recognition frequencies characteristic of the transducer
impedance around mechanical resonance.
A second transducer for measuring the ultrasound signal
has not been used because we want to optimize the energy
transfer of a single transducer and not the full
emitter/receptor chain.
The emitted ultrasound signal level by a transducer in
burst mode is very low outside the frequency band and
cannot be used. This constraint does not allow us to use the
backscattered echo as feedback.
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B. Transducer impedance

The optimal operating frequency f
e
is located between the
serial resonance frequency (f
s
) and the parallel resonance
frequency (f
p
) of the transducer (Figure 2) [1]. In practice f
e
is
very close to f
p
[2]. It then becomes a question of finding the
maximum signal amplitude applied to the transducer during
established mode.


frequency f
p
f
s

Z

Fig. 2. Piezoelectric transducer impedance

For example, Figures 3 and 4 show two signals which were
obtained, one for frequency f
p
and the other for an ordinary
frequency (poor efficiency).


- 2

- 1

0

1

0 10 25
Time (s)
Voltage (V)

Fig. 3. Optimal excitation signal


- 2
- 1

0
1
2
0 10 25
Time (s)
Voltage (V)

Fig. 4. Excitation signal at not adapted frequency

III. BLOCK DIAGRAM

Our objective has been to develop a burst generator in a
working range of the frequency band 1 MHz to 10 MHz.
Each burst is composed of 100 periods situated in the
established mode.

The principle of optimal frequency detection is as follows:
- In order to minimize the number of iterations, we
approached the optimal frequency by a dichotomic
method, starting with an important frequential
step.
- A search for the precise value of the frequency is
then made using a fine frequential step. The
general diagram is given in Figure 5.


Ultrasonic
Transducer
Amplitude
Detector
Maximum
Extraction
Burst
Generator
Control
Unity
Frequency
Parameter


Fig. 5. Feedback chain

We chose to use a numerical detector of the envelope as a
criterion for our application. The detection of the maximum
value in established mode constitutes our characteristic
parameter and the excitation frequency is controlled from
this data.

IV. BLOCK DESCRIPTION

A. Electrical model of an ultrasonic transducer

We used an electric model valid around the frequency of
resonance and for a given propagation medium (Figure 6) in
order to evaluate the behavior of the transducer. [3]

R
0
C
0
L
1
R
1
R
1
C
1
V
I

Fig. 6. Electrical model

The capacity C
0
corresponds to the capacity with constant
deformation of the dielectric medium between the two
electrodes. R
0
models the dielectric losses relative to C
0

which are high and which can be removed, except in the case
of a broad band transducer. C
1
is inversely proportional to the
Young modulus of piezoelectric material. L
1
is proportional
to the moving mass of ceramic. R'
1
represents the losses
equivalent to the mechanical energy radiated by the material
(none when there is no charge). R''
1
models the energy losses
generated by the viscosity of piezoelectric material.

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B. Envelope detection

The first step consists in digitizing the signal at the
transducer output at a sampling rate of 50 MHz. The detector
structure presents two channels of symmetrical treatment
which look for the local maximum on N periods of the input
signal (Figure 7).


Electric
Response
MUX
Local max
Detector 1
ADC
Reset 1
Reset 2
Clock
Local max
Detector 2
E
n
v
e
l
o
p
e


Fig. 7. Amplitude Detector

These two channels work alternatively:
- When channel 1 gets the local maximum detection
on N periods, the result of channel 2 is fixed at the
value obtained during the preceding step. This
result is then sent to the multiplexer.
- The second channel is then initialized and the local
maximum calculation on the N periods which
follow begins.

C. Envelope detection

The diagram below (Figure 8) shows the form of the signal
at the detector output:


Established Mode
T
sample


Fig. 8. Shape of the envelope signal

In established mode, we calculate the average level L of
the values of our envelope and store it in a buffer.

D. Frequency control

Level L is a function of the excitation frequency. In a
preliminary study we tested a polynomial model to estimate
the f
p
and f
s
frequency values. This method does not seem to
be appropriate since the impedance is very selective. An
iterative algorithm derived from the gradient method is used
in order to search its maximal value.
We chose an empiric algorithm to adjust the variable
frequency step called
k
VarStep
to validate the entire study:
k k k
K f f + =
1
with
k k
VarStep K + =
if f<f
p
and
k k
VarStep K =
if f>f
p


We chose the frequential step
max min
f VarStep f
k
< <
:
if f<f
s
we have
1
. 2

=
k k
VarStep VarStep

if f>f
s
and

0
2 1
>
k k
L L
then
1
. 2

=
k k
VarStep VarStep

0
2 1
<
k k
L L
then
8
1
=
k
k
VarStep
VarStep


We are currently working on an algorithm method using a
fuzzy model, electrical model identification, dichotomy
methods and so on [4].

V. RESULTS

A. Ultrasonic transducer

The circular transducer used in our tests (type P1-88) was
manufactured by the Saint Gobain Quartz company (diameter
= 50 mm and thickness 0.91 mm). The theoretical
frequencies are f
s
=2.2 MHz and f
p
=2.47 MHz.
The component values of the model are C
0
=16nF,
L
1
=1.33mH, C
1
=3.86nF, R
1
=232m, R
1
=0, R
0
=225.

B. Validation from the model

The burst frequency is fixed at the beginning at 2.3 MHz.
In order to reach the optimal resonance frequency of the
ceramic, two different minimum frequential steps fmin were
used.
The optimal excitation frequency is the value at the end of
the curve on Figures 9 and 10 (establishment).

0 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004
2.3
.
10
6
2.4
.
10
6
2.5
.
10
6
2.6
.
10
6
time (s)
f
r
e
q
u
e
n
c
y

(
H
z
)

Fig. 9. Changes in the generator frequency for fmin = 1 kHz

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0 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004
2.3
.
10
6
2.35
.
10
6
2.4
.
10
6
2.45
.
10
6
2.5
.
10
6
2.55
.
10
6
time (s)
f
r
e
q
u
e
n
c
y

(
H
z
)

Fig. 10. Changes in the generator frequency for fmin = 10 kHz

The time constant for adaptation is shorter for the high
frequential step (1.5 ms for 10 kHz step versus 2.75 for 1
kHz step) but set against that, the fluctuation stability is
worse (3 kHz for 1 kHz step compared to 30 kHz for 10 kHz
step).

C. Validation from a real transducer

Figure 11 shows the results obtained from the signals
recorded at the transducer via a GPIB connection.

0 2
.
10
4
4
.
10
4
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
time (s)
e
n
v
e
l
o
p
e

d
e
t
e
c
t
o
r

(
V
)

Fig. 11. Changes in the envelope detector with time.

After a time of 0.4 ms, the optimal frequency is established
at 2.35 MHz.


VI. CONCLUSION

Our method of optimal frequency excitation is based on
the study of envelope maximization during the established
rate. The first tests of frequency control are positive. A low
frequential step improves detection stability but increases its
duration.
The next step in this work will be to test the immunity
with the signal noise. We will extend the theoretical results
with electroacoustic models [5] so that the maximum noise
[6] can be tested.
Additionally, we will try to optimize the algorithms for
implementation in an FPGA device. Furthermore, we plan to
improve the control performances whilst taking into account
and optimizing other parameters such as the signal form, the
burst repetition rate as well as the generator output
impedance.


VII. REFERENCES

[1] D. A. Berlincourt, D. R. Curran and H. Jaffe, Physical
acoustics : principles and methods ; volume 1A, New-
York : Academic Press, 1964, Chap. 3, p. 243-244.

[2] Daniel ROYER, Eugne DIEULESAINT, Ondes
lastiques dans les solides, Tome 2, Masson, 1999,
Chap. 6, p. 17-18.

[3] ANSI/IEEE Std. 176-1987, IEEE Standard on
Piezoelectricity.

[4] E. Walter, L. Pronzato, Identification de modles
paramtriques, Paris; Milan; Barcelone : Masson, 1994,
Chap. 4.

[5] A. Puttmer; P. Hauptmann; R. Lucklum; O. Krause; B.
Henning; "SPICE Model for Lossy Piezoceramic
Transducers", IEEE Trans. Ultrason. Ferroelectr. Freq.
Control, vol. 44, No. 1, January 1997, pp. 60-66.

[6] F. Coutard, E. Tisserand and P. Schweitzer, " The
Temperature Influence on the Piezoelectric Transducer
Noise, Measurements and Modeling." in Proceedings of
the 2005 IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium, vol. 3, pp. 1652-
1655.
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