NDLI: Linear array beamformation using virtual sub-wavelength receiving elements

Content Provider	IEEE Xplore Digital Library
Author	Shao-Yu Peng Meng-Lin Li
Copyright Year	2015
Description	Author affiliation: Dept. of Electr. Eng., Nat. Tsing Hua Univ., Hsinchu, Taiwan (Shao-Yu Peng; Meng-Lin Li)
Abstract	Generally, the grating-lobe artifacts can be avoided with array pitch smaller than one half of wavelength; however, due to cost or physical limitations, such a condition is hard to be satisfied in multi-dimension or high frequency array transducers. Besides grating lobes, side-lobe signals also affect imaging contrast and quality. To suppress the side-lobes, the window method such as Tukey window and Hamming window is widely used. To suppress grating lobes and side-lobes associated with linear arrays, we propose a novel linear array beamformation method based on a concept of virtual sub-wavelength receiving elements. Each array element is virtually divided into multiple sub-elements with sub-wavelength pitch. The signal detected by each virtual sub-element contributes to that of its physical element at different arrival time. Therefore, the signals of the virtual sub-elements from the same physical elements are approximated using the same signal received by their physical element. Delay-and-sum beamformation on receive is then done with the approximated signals and corresponding delays of the virtual sub-elements instead of using those of physical elements. Such a beamformation synthesizes a non-uniform sampled receive aperture with its mean effective array pitch smaller than one wavelength; thus the grating lobes can be suppressed. The sub-wavelength mean effective array pitch implies that better receiving delay estimation, because of smaller effective receive elements, can be achieved, which plays the role of side-lobe suppression. Wire phantom experiments using a research ultrasound engine were performed to verify our idea. Our method provided at least 5-dB suppression of the grating lobe and sidelobes, and rivaled the window method. Our method works for coherent plane wave compounding as well. Optimal sub-wavelength dividing of each physical element will also be presented.
Starting Page	1
Ending Page	3
File Size	575378
Page Count	3
File Format	PDF
e-ISBN	9781479981823
DOI	10.1109/ULTSYM.2015.0078
Language	English
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
Publisher Date	2015-10-21
Publisher Place	Taiwan
Access Restriction	Subscribed
Rights Holder	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
Subject Keyword	Gratings virtual sub-wavelength receiving element linear array beamformation plane wave imaging grating-lobe suppression sidelobe suppression
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article

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