Pulse Echo Instrumentation

Question 0

Converts electrical into acoustic energy during transmission, converts returning acoustic into electrical energy during reception.

Answer 0

Transducer

Question 1

Communicates with all of the individual components of the ultrasound system. Organizes and times their functions, so as to operate as a single integrated system.

Answer 1

Master synchronizer

Question 2

The component that controls the electrical signals sent to the active elements for sound pulse generation. Determines the pulse repetition period, PRF, and pulse amplitude. Creates the firing pattern for phased array systems. Also called the beam former.

Answer 2

Pulser

Question 3

Electronics associated with processing the electronic signal produced by the transducer during reception and producing a picture on a display device.

Answer 3

Receiver

Question 4

The device associated with the presentation of processed data for interpretation. Examples: monitor, audio speakers, a paper record.

Answer 4

Display

Question 5

Any number of devices and media that are used to permanently archive the ultrasound data.

Answer 5

Storage

Question 6

Ratio of the meaningful portion of the data to the inaccurate portion of the data which degrades the quality of our information

Answer 6

Signal-to-noise ratio

Question 7

How do you improve signal-to-noise ratio?

Answer 7

Increasing transducer output improves signal to noise ratio.

Question 8

Name in order the functions of the receiver.

Answer 8

Amplification, compensation, compression, demodulation, rejection. (Hint: alphabetical order)

Question 9

Increases the strength of all electrical signals in the receiver prior to further processing.

Answer 9

Amplification

Question 10

What happens to the signal-to-noise ratio when the amplification levels change?

Answer 10

The signal-to-noise ratio is unchanged when amplification levels change because the signal and noise are changed equally.

Question 11

Used to create image of uniform brightness from top to bottom.

Answer 11

Compensation

Question 12

Reducing the total range of signals, from the smallest to largest. Keeps signals within the operating range of the systems electronics in the grayscale within the range of what the human eye can see. Allows us to see all gray shades.

Answer 12

Compression

Question 13

Changes the signals form to one more suitable for display

Answer 13

Demodulation

Question 14

Turning all of the negative voltages into positive ones

Answer 14

Rectification

Question 15

Putting an envelope around the bumps to even them out

Answer 15

Smoothing, or enveloping

Question 16

Eliminates low-level noise in our images

Answer 16

Rejection, also known as reject, suppression, threshold, dynamic range