Generation, Detection & Analysis of Optimally Coded Ultrasonic Waveforms

用于电子数据的传输、检测和识别的复杂编码方案广泛用于现代通信系统中。尽管近年来使用量增加，但超声波系统的巨大潜力实际上尚未开发。尽管机械波的产生、传播和检测具有限制，但这种情况是令人惊讶的，因为诸如蝙蝠和海豚的生物的自然世界提供了超声波编码波形的优点的非常清楚的证明，用于从成像到材料表征的应用。一个主要的缺点是缺乏合适的传感器设备，将工作在必要的频带鲁棒代码的实施。建议使用平台赠款，以便对新编码序列，换能器和组成材料的设计进行基础和广泛的研究，并结合电子系统和换能器设计的概念，以在极宽的带宽上最大限度地提高信噪比。该方法的核心将是创建新的换能器和阵列结构，允许最大限度地利用与专为特定应用定制的新颖宽带编码激励相关的丰富数据流。技术监测，从而优化处理编码序列的预期用途和传播环境，将调查与换能器和电子系统设计并行。将解决线性和非线性应用，包括气体，液体和固体介质中的成像，测距和数据通信，从而最大限度地提高该计划可能出现的任何新技术的潜在吸收。一个综合的方法，跨越数学分析，传感器设备，仪器和电子系统设计，对准特定的应用，提出了建立一个世界领先的卓越中心的总体战略，在编码超声，创建一系列新的研究和应用领域的基础，能够跨越未来15年。如果成功，该战略平台将使英国在一个技术领域处于国际前沿，这将对几乎所有超声应用产生重大影响。通过国际和国家合作方案，包括领导小组，将建立基础设施，以实现这一愿景，并通过年轻研究人员的适当职业发展，确保可持续性。

Sophisticated coding schemes for transmission, detection and recognition of electronic data are used extensively in modern communications systems. Despite increased usage over recent years, the vast potential for ultrasonic systems is virtually untapped. Although mechanical wave generation, propagation and detection has constraints, this situation is surprising, since the natural world of creatures such as bats and dolphins provides a very clear demonstration of the advantages of ultrasonic coded waveforms, for applications ranging from imaging through to materials characterisation. A major drawback is the lack of suitable transducer devices that will operate over the frequency band necessary for robust code implementation. It is proposed to use the Platform Grant to enable a fundamental and broad reaching investigation into the design of new coded sequences, transducers and constituent materials, allied with the concept of electronic system and transducer design to maximise signal to noise ratio over extremely wide bandwidths. Central to the approach will be the creation of new transducer and array structures allowing maximal exploitation of the rich data stream associated with novel, broadband coded excitations that are tailored for specific applications. Techniques for monitoring and hence optimising the processing coded sequences for the intended usage and propagation environment will be investigated in parallel with the transducer and electronic system design. Linear and non-linear applications covering imaging, ranging and data communication in gaseous, liquid and solid media will be addressed, thereby maximising potential uptake of any new technology that may emerge from the programme. An integrated approach, spanning mathematical analysis, transducer devices, instrumentation and electronics system design, aligned to the specific application, is proposed, with the overall strategy to establish a world leading centre of excellence in coded ultrasound, creating the foundation for a series of new areas of research and applications, capable of spanning the next 15 years. If successful, the strategic platform will place the UK at the international forefront in an area of technology that will impinge significantly on almost every application of ultrasound. Through a programme of international and national collaboration, involving leading groups, the infrastructure will be established to realise this vision and, through appropriate career development of younger researchers, will ensure sustainability.