Infographics / Ultrasound Physics

Array transducer focusing and beam steering

Two panels each show a row of array elements with a bar above each element representing its firing delay, and the resulting wavefront below. Left panel: a symmetric curved delay profile (edges shortest delay, centre longest) makes edge elements fire first and the centre last, so the emitted wavefront converges to a focal point at depth. Right panel: a progressive linear delay ramp across the elements tilts the wavefront, steering the beam at angle theta to the transducer face. The same delays applied on receive give dynamic receive focusing.

Electronic focusing and steering of an ultrasound array by element firing delays Two panels each show a row of array elements with a bar above each element representing its firing delay, and the resulting wavefront below. Left panel: a symmetric curved delay profile (edges shortest delay, centre longest) makes edge elements fire first and the centre last, so the emitted wavefront converges to a focal point at depth. Right panel: a progressive linear delay ramp across the elements tilts the wavefront, steering the beam at angle theta to the transducer face. The same delays applied on receive give dynamic receive focusing. Electronic focusing and steering in a transducer array focusing — curved delays firing delay elements wavefront focal point (depth d) edges fire first, centre last steeper curve → shallower focus steering — progressive delays firing delay beam axis (normal) θ steered beam wavefront one side fires first, other last steeper ramp → larger angle θ the same time delays applied on receive give dynamic receive focusing
Practise Ultrasound PhysicsDownload SVG

More in Ultrasound Physics

Practice the Physics paper

FRCRX is a Part 1 Physics question bank: true/false items with explanations, timed mocks and topic analytics.

Start question practiceSee plans