Abstract

Increasing number of ultrasonic applications reflect the power lying in this method. As broader is the range of areas involved in ultrasonic measurement, as more essential becomes the question of universal equipment/concept for generating and acquiring the ultrasonic data. Final user or researcher usually do not care about the principles used and leaves it for acquisition equipment manufacturers. This situation is very clearly reflected in ultrasound related publications - the publications related to "pure" ultrasonic applications overhelm the applications related to hardware. Such situation might be explained by "company secrets" concept partially. Activities of our center cover the ultrasonic systems hardware and software design. Ideas and problems met here we would like to share in this publication.

Because of arising number of components with digital parameters control, ultrasonic systems receive large impulse for further development and parameters improvement with simultaneous size and price reduction. Ultrasonic active investigation systems are offering some advantages over conventional acquisition systems if proper care is taken during the design process. Jitter of conventional systems can be eliminated completely in ultrasonic systems, equivalent time sampling and system synchronization are more feasible. Digital TVG and gain implementation together with automated calibration allow for dynamic range of system improvement and flexible signal gating. Despite A/D conversion sampling rate can be chosen slightly lower than required limit, care must be taken for possible artifacts. Transducer parameters control is available when using generator pulse width adjustment. Preamplifier input clamping and generator and transducer matching into excitation channel still remain the problem to be solved properly.