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Description  |
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This invention relates to the measurement of ultrasonic waves and, more
particularly, to a technique capable of visually displaying the
two-dimensional spatial distribution of the intensity of ultrasonic wave
energy passing through a predetermined area.
The use of ultrasonics for the non-destructive testing of various types of
three-dimensional objects, to discern the boundaries of regions therein
having different propagation characteristics, is known in the art.
Recently, such ultrasonic techniques have been employed in medical
research for investigating pathological abnormalities, such as cancer, in
tissue. In some cases, the tissue is a specimen obtained by a biopsy while
in other cases the tissue is within the internal organs of a living
person. (For an example of an ultrasonic wave-energy imaging technique
that may be employed for imaging internal organs of a living person, see
the copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 406,218, entitled
"Wave-Energy Imaging Technique", filed by Vilkomerson on Oct. 15, 1973 and
assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.)
To properly design sophisticated instruments for the visualization of
acoustic images there must first be the means to measure the
characteristics of those elements that make up the instrument. The
scattering characteristics of diffusers, the focussing properties of
lenses, the angular spectrum of transducers are a few examples of the
criteria that must be known in detail to properly design such a machine.
The problems of measurement are compounded because the data must be
collected over a two-dimensional aperture. The use of a single scanned
transducer to make the measurements is laborious at best and ineffective
in the main.
Ultrasonic cameras having the capability of two-dimensional imaging have
been proposed. An example is the Sokolov tube, U.S. Pat. No. 2,164,125.
Another is disclosed in the aforesaid Vilkomerson U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 406,218. Although the two-dimensional ultrasonic imaging
technique described in this patent application is particularly suitable
for use as a diagnostic tool for imaging even the deeper internal organs
of a human patient, due to its extremely high sensitivity, the technique
disclosed therein is specialized and may not be practical in measuring the
various characteristics of the elements making up an instrument for the
visualization of the acoustic images. In general, all previous techniques
having the capability of two dimensional ultrasonic imaging and
visualization have failings in one or more areas. For example, some have
narrow operating frequency ranges because they are based on resonance
phenomenon, while others have limited angular response since they involve
transmission of a wave through an interface.
The important parameters of an ultrasonic camera include: sensitivity,
accuracy, angular response, resolution, dynamic range, and frequency
range. The present invention relates to a device that allows the
quantative and qualitative visualization of two-dimensional acoustic
fields with the intensities as little as 5 nanowatts/cm.sup.2. While this
sensitivity is insufficient to permit imaging of the deep internal organs
of a living human being, its sensitivity is still sufficiently high to
permit the ultrasonic two-dimensional imaging of not-so-deep living tissue
(hand, breast, etc.) and also biopsy tissue specimens, as well as being
capable of measuring the aforesaid characteristics of elements that make
up a sophisticated instrument for the visualization of acoustic images. In
addition, the device of the present invention has the added advantage of
being accurate to better than one db (as compared with the calibrated
transducer) over an angular range of up to at least 50.degree.. Further,
it is linear over a range of intensities from as little as 5
nanowatts/cm.sup.2 up to several watts/cm.sup.2 and over a frequency range
of at least 0.5 to 10 MHz (i.e. about 0.3-6 mm. acoustic wavelength in
water).
Briefly, the present invention comprises an interferometer illuminated by a
substantially coherent monochromatic light beam, preferably derived from a
laser. The interferometer incorporates a beam spliter, a rigid mirror and
a flexible mirror. The flexible mirror is illuminated with a light
component from the beam splitter which is two-dimensionally deflected in
accordance with applied deflection control signals. The flexible mirror
may be a thin (6 micron) metalized plastic film or pellicle of relatively
large area (e.g. 15 cm., i.e., several inches in diameter) which is
located within a fluid medium through which the ultrasonic wave
propagates. This flexible pellide mirror, which is located in the path of
the ultrasonic wave, is so thin that it is essentially transparent to the
ultrasonic wave, even for frequencies at least as high as 10 MHz, and for
angles of incidence from 0.degree. to beyond 50.degree.. (Being
transparent means that absorption or reflection of acoustic energy by the
pellicle is negligible so that the pellicle motion, or displacment, is
nearly equal to the displacement amplitude of the ultrasonic wave passing
through it.) Thus, the spatial distribution of the displacement amplitude
from point to point over the area of the surface of the flexible pellicle
mirror is an analog of the spatial distribution of the ultrasonic wave
energy itsself over the area covered by the pellicle.
The length of the optical path to the rigid mirror, which forms the
reference mirror of the interferometer, is wiggled through a certain
excursion at a predetermined frequency by such means as a vibrator or an
electro-optic crystal. A peak photodetector detects the interference
pattern produced by the light component reflected from the wiggling rigid
reference mirror and the deflected light component reflected from the
flexible pellicle mirror to derive a video signal. The video signal is
used to intensity modulate the electron beam of a cathode-ray-tube
(C.R.T.) display, which is two-dimensionally deflected in synchronism with
the two-dimensional deflection of the light beam component illuminating
the flexible pellicle mirror.
It has been found that an interferometer employing a wiggler provides a
sensitive, stable and accurate means for displacement measurement. For
instance, although the displacement amplitude of a 1.5 MHz acoustic wave
of 5 nanowatts/cm.sup.2 power density is less than 1 picometer (i.e. less
than 1 percent of the nominal diameter, i.e. 1A, of a single atom), the
system can still detect such a small displacement amplitude in a stable
manner over an extended period of time. This is true despite the fact that
random drift, due to such uncontrollable factors as air currents, thermal
expansion and contraction of optical elements, etc., as well as variations
from optical flatness in optical elements, introduce amplitude
disturbances which may be many times larger than the displacement
amplitudes to be measured.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will
become more apparent from the following detailed description taken
together with the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system incorporating the principles of the
present invention;
FIGS. 1a and 1b, respectively, illustrate first and second respective
embodiments of the optical path length wiggling means of FIG. 1;
FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an embodiment of the focus and deflection
optics of the system shown in FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c show respective examples of the acoustic wave
derivation and propagation means shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the peak photodetector in video signal
translating means of the system shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 shows a modification of the arrangement shown in FIG. 4 for use with
pulsed ultrasonic wave energy, and
FIG. 6 shows a modified structural arrangement of the pellicle.
Referring now to the system shown in FIG. 1, there is shown laser 100,
which may be a He-Ne gas laser, by way of example. Laser 100 emits
coherent monochromatic light beam 102, at a predetermined wavelength, such
as 6328A. Light beam 102 is split into mutually coherent first light
component 104 and second light component 106 by beam splitter 108.
First light component 104 is reflected from rigid reference mirror 110,
which is oriented normal to first light component 104, and returned to
beam splitter 108. A portion of reflected first light component 104 passes
through beam splitter 108 and travels over path 112 to the light sensing
element of peak photodetector and video signal translating means 114.
(This light sensing element may be a photodiode.)
The optical path length (the path length measured in wavelengths of the
laser light) traveled by first light component 104 in making a round trip
between beam splitter 108 and rigid reference mirror 110 does not remain
constant, but is continuously varied at a predetermined frequency, which
is much lower than the ultrasonic wave frequency, by an amount which, at
the very least, is more than one-half the wavelength of the laser light
being employed. (Thus, if the laser is a He-Ne laser operating at a
wavelength of 6328A, the round trip change in optical path length should
be about 3200A or more.) Optical path length wiggling means 116, shown
associated with rigid reference mirror 110, provides the continuous
variation in the optical path length between beam splitter 108 and rigid
reference mirror 110. In practice, optical path length wiggling means 116
may take the form of a mechanical vibrator, such as piezoelectric vibrator
116a shown in FIG. 1a, or, alternatively, it may take the form of
electro-optic crystal modulator 116b shown in FIG. 1b. Electro-optic
crystal modulator 116b changes the optical path length by vibrating the
index of refraction of the electro-optic crystal, such as KDP,
incorporated therein. In any case, the peak-to-peak amplitude vibration of
either rigid reference mirror 110 itself or the optical path length in
wavelengths between beam splitter 108 and rigid reference mirror 110 need
be only more than one-quarter of a wavelength of the laser light for the
variation in the round trip optical path length between beam splitter 108
and rigid reference mirror 110 to exceed the required one-half wavelength
of the laser light.
Second light component 106, after passing through deflection optics 118
(discussed below in connection with FIG. 2) is reflected from insonified
flexible pellicle mirror 120 (incorporated in acoustic wave derivation and
propagation means 122, discussed below in connection with FIGS. 3a, 3b and
3c) and returned through deflection optics 118 to beam splitter 108. Beam
splitter 108 directs a portion of reflected second light component 106
incident thereon along path 112 to the light sensing element of peak
photodetector and video signal translating means 114.
Thus, the total laser light directed along path 112 and incident on the
light sensing element of peak photodetector and video signal translating
means 114 is composed of a portion of first light component 104 reflected
from wiggled rigid reference mirror 110 and a portion of second light
component 106 reflected from insonified flexible pellicle mirror 120.
These two light components, traveling together over path 112 and incident
on the light sensing element of peak photodetector and video signal
translating means 114, interfere with each other. Therefore, as is known
in interferometry, the instantaneous amplitude of light sensed by the
sensing element of peak photodetector and video translating means 114 at
any instant of time depends on the phase difference (difference in optical
path lengths) at that instant of time between the wave energy of the two
incident light components. This phase difference varies in time as a
function of both the wiggling displacement of rigid reference mirror 110
and the amount of acoustic vibration of the spot of insonified flexible
pellicle mirror 120 then being illuminated by second light component 106.
Further, this phase difference is subject to relatively slow random drift
in the respective optical path lengths of the first and second light
components, due to such uncontrollable factors as air currents, thermal
expansion and contraction of optical elements, etc.
In any case, for reasons discussed in detail below, peak photodetector and
video signal translating means 114 derives a voltage having a magnitude
which is substantially proportional to the peak amplitude of the
relatively high ultrasonic wave frequency modulation of the two
interfering light components being sensed. (The d.c. component, as well as
the relatively low random drift and wiggler frequency modulation of the
two interfering light components are filtered out.) The magnitude of this
peak amplitude voltage may be measured by peak voltage indicator 124,
which may comprise an amplitude-calibrated oscilloscope, digital
voltmeter, and/or other similar voltage measuring equipment. In addition,
this detected peak voltage may be processed in a manner to be described
below to provide a video signal which may be utilized to intensity
modulate the electron beam of cathode ray tube display 126.
Cathode ray tube display 126 receives horizontal and vertical deflection
control signals from horizontal and voltage deflection control signal
generator 128. These horizontal and vertical deflection control signals
are also applied to deflection optics 118 to control the position of the
spot on insonified flexible pellicle mirror 120 at which second light
component 106 is incident. Generator 128 may, alternatively, provide
different types of horizontal and vertical control signals. By way of
example, generator 128 may be operated to provide corresponding repetitive
raster scans of both the entire surface of insonified flexible pellicle
mirror 120 and the screen of cathode ray tube display 126. Typical raster
scan frame rates, by way of example, would be from one fourth to 2 frames
per second with each frame comprising 128 scan lines. Other alternative
ways of operating generator 128 are (1) to provide a raster-scan of only a
selected portion of the surface of insonified flexible pellicle mirror 128
or (2) to manually adjust the magnitudes of the horizontal and vertical
control signals to continuously illuminate only a selected spot on the
surface of insonified flexible pellicle mirror 120, while at the same time
directing the video-signal intensity-modulated electron beam of cathode
ray tube display 126 to a corresponding spot on the screen thereof.
Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an embodiment of deflection optics
118. Lens 202 is illuminated by second light component beam 106, which, as
it arrives from beam splitter 108, normally has a substantially plane
wavefront and a diameter of approximately one millimeter. Lens 202 focuses
light component beam 106 at a point on the pivot axis of the mirror of
vertical galvanometer 204 (which is angularly displaced in the vertical
plane in accordance with the polarity and magnitude of the vertical
deflection control signal applied to the coil thereof). The vertically
deflected light reflected by the mirror of vertical galvanometer 204 is
passed through telescope 206, which focuses this light at a point on the
pivot axis of the mirror of horizontal galvanometer 208 (which is
angularly displaced in the horizontal plane in accordance with the
polarity and magnitude of the horizontal deflection control signal applied
to the coil thereof). Therefore, the angular orientation of the deflected
light reflected from the mirror of horizontal galvanometer 208 at any time
is determined by the respective angular displacements of the mirrors of
vertical galvanometer 204 and horizontal galvanometer 208 at that time.
Collimating lens 210, which is illuminated by the deflected light beam
from horizontal galvanometer 208, has its principal plane oriented
substantially parallel to the plane of flexible pellicle mirror 120 and
has an aperture which is normally at least as large as the surface area of
flexible pellicle mirror 120. Therefore, collimated reflected second light
beam component 106, emerging from collimating lens 210, illuminates any
spot of flexible pellicle mirror 120 to which it is directed at normal
incidence, regardless of the deflected position of the spot-illuminating
light. This normal incidence ensures that the light reflected from
flexible pellicle mirror 120 travels back to beam splitter 108 over the
same path traveled by the spot-illuminating light beam (i.e., through lens
210, horizontal galvanometer 208, telescope 206, vertical galvanometer 204
and lens 202).
In practice, if the flexible pellicle mirror is perfectly smooth so that it
specularly reflects, achieving the required parallel orientation between
the principal plane of collimating lens 210 and the surface of flexible
pellicle mirror 120 requires precise adjustment. The tolerance of this
adjustment may be somewhat relaxed by making the surface of flexible
pellicle mirror 120 slightly rough, so that it diffusely reflects to some
extent. However, in this case, the light sensitivity of the system is
somewhat reduced.
Usually, telescope 206 is composed of two lenses having substantially the
same focal length. This results in the spot diameter of the light
illuminating flexible pellicle mirror 120 being substantially the same as
the diameter of second light beam component 106 arriving from beam
splitter 108, (e.g. one millimeter). However, if desired, the relative
focal length of the two lenses of telescope 206 may be varied to increase
or decrease the diameter of the light spot on flexible pellicle mirror
120.
Illustrative examples of three different typical forms of acoustic wave
derivation and propagation means 122 are shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c
respectively. FIG. 3a shows the simplest case, where the radiation pattern
of an ultrasonic transducer is to be ascertained. In this case, transducer
under test 300a is placed in enclosure 302, which is filled with an
ultrasonic wave propagating liquid 304, such as water. Transducer under
test 300a is energized by wave energy at a suitable ultrasonic frequency
between 0.5-10 MHz from ultrasonic generator 306. Also immersed in liquid
304 is insonified pellicle 120, which forms the flexible mirror of the
interferometer of FIG. 1.
As mentioned earlier, insonified pellicle mirror 120 may comprise a thin (6
micron) metalized plastic film of several inches in diameter. Besides
being capable of reflecting the laser light incident thereon, each point
of the pellicle vibrates at the frequency of the ultrasonic wave
propagated in liquid 304 with a peak displacement amplitude which is
determined by the intensity of the ultrasonic wave at that point.
Therefore, the spatial distribution pattern of the peak amplitudes of
vibration of insonified pellicle mirror 120 over its entire surface area
is a measure of the ultrasonic radiation pattern of transducer under test
300a over this area.
FIG. 3b is directed to a somewhat more complex arrangement, where
transducer 300b is a calibrated transducer, whose radiation
characteristics are already known, and an acoustic element under test 308,
such as a diffuser, acoustic lens arrangement, or any other acoustic
element or elements which modify the radiation pattern of transducer 300b
are immersed in liquid 304 between transducer 300b and insonified pellicle
120. In this case, the spatial distribution of the ultrasonic field over
the area of insonified pellicle 120 is a measure of the modifying effect
of the acoustic element under test 308.
An even more complex arrangement is shown in FIG. 3c. In this case, the
ultrasonic wave energy emitted by transducer 300c, after being condensed
by acoustic condensing optics 310, is used to insonify a specimen under
test 312, which may be a tissue sample obtained by biopsy. In general,
specimen under test 312 will have different ultrasonic wave energy
attenuating characteristics at different points over its cross section.
Therefore, the spatial distribution of the ultrasonic wave energy
transmitted through specimen under test 312 constitutes an ultrasonic wave
pattern which defines the ultrasonic characteristics of the insonified
specimen under test 312. Acoustic imaging optics 314 projects a real image
of this pattern on insonified pellicle 120 as a spatial distribution of
peak amplitudes of ultrasonic vibration over the surface area of
insonified pellicle 120.
Depending upon the mode of operation of the system shown in FIG. 1, the
specific structure of peak photodetector and video signal translating
means 114 may vary in certain respects. However, as shown in FIG. 4, peak
photodetector and video signal translating means 114 normally includes
photodiode light detector 400, high pass filter 402, peak detector 404 and
video amplifier 406. The photodiode of light detector 400 senses the
interfering light components directed thereto over path 112 and incident
thereon.
The output from photodiode light detector 400 comprises a d.c. component, a
relatively low frequency component and a relatively high frequency
component. The relatively low frequency component includes the wiggler
frequency itself, which varies in phase in accordance with random drift
(i.e., the light-detected wiggler frequency is frequency modulated by the
random drift). The low frequency component also includes raster scan
frequencies, which are appreciably lower than the wiggler frequency. The
high frequency component includes the ultrasonic wave frequency, which is
amplitude modulated at the wiggler frequency and at the raster scan
frequencies.
The output from photodiode light detector 400 is applied to high pass
filter 402, which filters out the d.c. component and the low frequency
component, but passes the high frequency component. The high frequency
component from high pass filter 402 is then applied as an input to peak
detector 404. Peak detector 404 includes an integrating circuit responsive
to the detected peak amplitude of the applied ultrasonic wave, as is
conventional. This integrating circuit may comprise a sample and hold
circuit which is operated at a periodic rate sufficient to permit the
detected peak voltage to follow the relatively slow changes in the peak
amplitude envelope due to the scanning of the spot of light over the
surface of insonified pellicle mirror 120.
As further shown in FIG. 4, the output from peak detector 404, which is
proportional to the peak displacement amplitude of the insonified pellicle
at the spot then being illuminated, is applied both as an input to peak
voltage indicator 124 and as an input to video amplifier 406. The output
from video amplifier 406 comprises the video signal which is applied as
the electron-beam intensity modulating signal to cathode ray tube display
126, as shown in FIG. 1.
The operation of the system of the present invention, as so far described,
will now be discussed. Although the system is capable of operating over at
least a range of ultrasonic frequencies from 0.5-10 MHz, for illustrative
purposes in describing the operations of the system, it will be assumed
that the ultrasonic wave energy has a typical frequency of about 1.5 MHz.
As is known in the art of interferometry, a phase displacement of one
interfering wave with respect to the other interfering wave produces a
change in resultant amplitude and intensity which is a function of both
the amount of such phase displacement and the initial phase relationship
between the two interfering waves. More specifically, since light waves
have a sinusoidal waveform, a given incremental phase displacement of one
interfering wave with respect to the other produces a maximum change in
the resultant amplitude and intensity when the two interfering waves are
initially 90.degree. out of phase with each other and produces a minimum
change in amplitude and intensity when the two interfering waves are
initially either in phase with each other or 180.degree. out of phase with
each other, because a sinusoidal wave has its maximum slope when it
crosses the zero axis and a zero slope at its positive and negative peaks.
Furthermore, because of the shape of a sinusoidal waveform, the linearity
of this change in resultant amplitude with respect to phase displacement
of the two interfering waves is highest when the two interfering waves are
initially 90.degree. out of phase with each other and is lowest when the
two interfering waves are initially in phase with each other or
180.degree. out of phase with each other.
A single wavelength of light (400-700 nanometers) is ordinarily considered
an extremely short distance. However, the present invention is concerned
with accurately measuring a minimum displacement smaller than 1 picometer,
(less than 10.sup..sup.-5 times as small as a wavelength of light) up to a
maximum displacement of only about 12,500 picometers (about 1/40 of a
wavelength of light). In order to accurately measure such a small
quantity, it is essential that the measurement be made under stable
interferometric conditions at which both the sensitivity and linearity of
the measurements is high, i.e. where the two interfering waves are
initially at least nearly 90.degree. out of phase relative to each other.
However, various types of uncontrollable factors, such as air current,
thermal expansion and contraction of optic elements, etc., which create
random drift in the respective lengths of the optical paths traveled by
the two interfering waves, make it impossible to stably maintain the
initial phase of the two interfering signals at near the desired
90.degree. out-of-phase relationship. It is the optical path length
wiggling of rigid reference mirror 110 over greater than one-half light
wavelength, together with peak detection of the resultant amplitude of the
high frequency component of the interfering waves which, in accordance
with the principles of the present invention, makes it possible to solve
this problem and actually achieve stable accurate measurements of the very
small distance displacements of the insonified pellicle.
As mentioned earlier, the round trip optical pathlength to rigid reference
mirror 110 is wiggled by an amount which, at the least, is more than
one-half wavelength of the laser light. This wiggling ensures that at
least once during each wiggling half-cycle the phase of one interfering
wave will be exactly 90.degree. out of phase with respect to the other
interfering wave. The predetermined frequency of optical path length
wiggling should be much smaller than the frequency of the ultrasonic wave
being measured, but still be sufficiently high with respect to any
scanning frequency of insonified flexible pellicle mirror 120 so that at
least one-half cycle of optical path wiggling occurs in the scanning
through a distance equal to the spot diameter of second light component
106 over insonified flexible pellicle mirror 120.
In the assumed case, the ultrasonic wave frequency is 1.5 MHz. A typical
light spot diameter is about one millimeter the length of a scan line on
insonified flexible pellicle mirror 120 is normally several inches, the
maximum scanning rate is normally 128 lines per frame and 2 frames per
second. With these values, an optical path length wiggling frequency of
about 25 kHz operates satisfactorily. It is to be noted that this 25 kHz
optical path length wiggling frequency is very much smaller than the 1.5
MHz ultrasonic wave frequency, but is still sufficient to permit each
successive spot in a scan to be sampled at least once during each wiggling
half-cycle (with the sampling taking place when one interfering wave is
90.degree. out of phase with the other interfering wave).
Due to the much higher frequency of the ultrasonic wave energy with respect
to the wiggler frequency, a multitude of ultrasonic cycles taking place
during each wiggle cycle. Although the peak detector of means 114 is
operative throughout each wiggle cycle, it is plain that the highest
detected peak amplitude occurs at that point (or points), where one
interfering wave is exactly 90.degree. out of phase with the other
inferfering wave. The linearity is also greatest at this point. Therefore,
the output of the peak detector, which manifests only the highest peak, is
proportional to the displacement amplitude of the spot on insonified
flexible pellicle mirror 120 which is then being illuminated by focused
second light component 106.
As discussed above, in connection with FIG. 4, the peak amplitude output of
the peak detector responds to the scanning of insonified flexible pellicle
mirror 120 by the deflected second light component 106 to provide at least
one sample during the time (e.g. 50 microseconds) it takes to scan through
each successive light spot area diameter. In this manner, the output of
the peak detector constitutes a video signal which continuously manifests
the displacement amplitude of the ultrasonic wave at each successively
scanned spot of insonified flexible pellicle mirror 120.
This video signal after passing through video signal translating means,
such as a video amplifier, is employed to intensity modulate electron beam
of cathode ray tube display 126. At the same time, the electron beam is
deflected in correspondence with the deflection of focused light component
106 incident on insonified flexible pellicle mirror 120. This results in
CRT display 126 displaying a visual image pattern which corresponds to the
ultrasonic wave pattern insonifying flexible pellicle mirror 120.
In addition, the output from peak photodetector of means 114 may be applied
directly to peak voltage indicator 124 to obtain a measure which
corresponds to the absolute peak amplitude of vibration of any spot on
insonified flexible pellicle mirror 120.
It is important that the operation of optical path length wiggling means
116 not introduce any significant power at higher harmonics of the
fundamental wiggling frequency in the vicinity of the ultrasonic wave
frequency, since the presence of these higher harmonics would distort the
high frequency component of the interference pattern measured by the peak
photodetector of means 114.
One mode of actual operation of the system shown in FIG. 1 makes use of a
pulsed ultrasonic wave source. The reason for this is that there is a
tendency for insonified flexible pellicle mirror 120 to pick up unwanted
reverberations, (i.e., echo patterns), due to reflection off the walls of
the liquid filled enclosure. This problem may be obviated, in a manner
similar to that employed in "range-gated" radar, by employing a relatively
short duty cycle pulsed ultrasonic generator 500, shown in FIG. 5, to
provide ultrasonic wave energy to the ultrasonic transducer in the liquid
filled enclosure. At the same time, a gated peak detector means 502 is
employed in peak photodetector and video signal translating means 114, to
render gated peak detector means 502 enabled only in the presence of a
gating signal applied as an input thereto from pulsed ultrasonic generator
500. Pulsed ultrasonic generator 500 applies an enabling gating pulse to
gated peak detector means 502 at a predetermined time delay after the
occurrence of each pulse of ultrasonic generator 500 which is just
sufficient for the ultrasonic wave energy to travel from the transducer
through the liquid of the liquid filled enclosure to the insonified
pellicle shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c. The width of this gating pulse is
at the most only slightly greater than the width of the pulse of
ultrasonic wave energy, so that gated peak detector means 502 will be
operative during the entire time that pellicle 120 is being insonified by
the primary radiation pattern but not at other times. Therefore gated peak
detector means 502 is disabled by the time that pellicle 120 is insonified
by any reverberation patterns of ultrasonic wave energy.
It may be desirable to make the pellicle insensitive to low frequency
acoustic noise waves, which have a tendency to build up in liquid 304.
There is shown in FIG. 6 a pellicle assembly 600, which may be employed in
the arrangements of FIGS. 3a, 3b, and 3c. Pellicle assembly 600 does not
respond to low-frequency acoustic noise waves. In particular, pellicle
assembly 600 consists, for example, of an annular frame 602, covered in
front by pellicle 120 itself, and covered in back by backing plate 603.
This defines an interior central volume 604 in pellicle assembly 600 which
is filled with water. Pellicle assembly 600 increases the effective
stiffness of pellicle 120, so that it is insensitive to the low frequency
vibrations of acoustic noise waves which build up due to "slop" of liquid
304 in enclosure 302.
Reference is made to the following appendix which sets forth mathematical
formula supporting the principles of the present invention described
herein. This appendix is incorporated as part of the complete
specification.
APPENDIX
1. Formula for intensity of acoustic wave
I.sub.s = 1/2 Z.omega..sub.s.sup.2 .DELTA..sup.2 (1)
where I.sub.s is intensity of acoustic wave, Z is the acoustic impedance of
the propagating medium .omega..sub.s =2.pi.f.sub.s, f.sub.s is the
acoustic frequency, and .DELTA. is the peak displacement amplitude.
2. Formula for instantaneous displacement of vibrating spot on pellicle,
assuming no reflection and full transmission
d = .DELTA. cos .omega..sub.s t (2)
where d is the instantaneous displacement, and t is time.
3. Formula for interfering pellicle wave component
##EQU1##
where a.sub.p is the complex amplitude of the interfering light wave
component reflected from pellicle, A.sub.p is the absolute amplitude
thereof, .phi..sub.p is an arbitrary constant phase related to optical
path length between pellicle and beam splitter, .lambda. is the wavelength
of the light, and the first "2" factor arises from the fact that the
relative phase shift due to acoustic vibration of pellicle is doubled on
reflection.
4. Formula for interfering reference wave component
a.sub.r = A.sub.r e.sup.j.sup..phi. r (4)
where a.sub.r is the complex amplitude of the interfering light wave
component reflected from reference mirror, A.sub.r is the absolute
amplitude thereof; .phi..sub.r is an arbitrary constant phase related to
optical path length between reference mirror and beam splitter.
5. Total light intensity measured by photodiode
##EQU2##
where I.sub.L is the total light intensity, .vertline.A.sub.r
.vertline..sup.2 = I.sub.Lr, I.sub.Lr is the intensity of the reference
mirror interfering light component, .vertline.A.sub.p .vertline..sup.2 =
I.sub.Lp, I.sub.Lp is the intensity of the pellicle interfering light
component.
6. In the case where (.phi..sub.p -.phi..sub.r) = .+-.90.degree., formula
5(b) becomes
##EQU3##
7. In the case where the acoustic intensity I.sub.s is less than serveral
watts/cm.sup.2, which is always true, .DELTA.<<.lambda., and formula 6(b)
becomes
##EQU4##
8. When the photodiode is followed by a high pass filter which blocks d.c.
and low frequency components, as it normally is, the resultant output
signal applied as an input to a peak detector becomes proportional to
##EQU5##
where I.sub.Lh is the high frequency component (third term) of formula
(7).
9. In the case of optical path wiggling, under the conditions that
2.phi..sub.w >.lambda./2 and .DELTA.<<.lambda., formula (5b) reduces to
##EQU6##
where .phi..sub.w is half the peak-to-peak phase excursion of interfering
reference wave due to optical path wiggling, .phi..sub.o =(.phi..sub.p
-.phi..sub.r), W.sub..omega.= 2.pi.f.sub.w, f.sub.w is the wiggling
frequency.
10. The second term of formula (9), consisting of the ultrasonic wave
frequency amplitude modulated by the wiggling frequency, is the high
frequency component which is peak detected. The excursion of phase angle
.phi..sub.o+.phi..sub.w cos (W.sub..omega.t) is
##EQU7##
When instanta | | |
