title: Practical spread spectrum pulse compression for ultrasonic tissue imaging.
abstract: Spread spectrum pulse compression is a signal processing algorithm that enhances critical system performance parameters such as signal-to-noise ratio, peak power requirements, minimum detectable signal, and total dynamic range. For this research, a digital, real-time, Barker coded, bi-phase modulator was designed and constructed, as well as a simple ultrasonic test tank containing both synthetic targets and excised goat's liver. Upon reception and demodulation of the spread spectrum ultrasonic echo, cross-correlation with a sidelobe suppression filter was performed. Due to limitations such as narrow bandwidth, and very short minimum ranges, a practical ultrasonic pulse compression system must be restricted to short code lengths. For 13 bit Barker code compression, the expected increase in signal-to-noise ratio of 11 dB was realized; at the same time greater than 30 dB of instantaneous dynamic range was maintained.
authors.affiliation: Technol. Services Corp., Silver Spring, MD.
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Fox