Current technology used to diagnose hearing disorders is limited. This is mostly due to the fact that the auditory structures are very small and not easily accessible with existing imaging technologies. The objective of this dissertation was to investigate the potential of high-frequency ultrasound as a tool for exploring the anatomy of the auditory system. Three studies were conducted in order to demonstrate the feasibility of high-frequency ultrasound as a diagnostic technology for hearing disorders. In the first study, an in-house developed 50 MHz annular array-based ultrasound system was used to provide ex-vivo images of auditory structures in cadaveric temporal bones. It was shown that the spatial resolution was sufficient to visualize a high level of detail of the ossicular bones of the middle ear as well as intra-cochlear structures of the inner ear. In the second study, a 50 MHz 1.26? pitch phased array ultrasound transducer was designed for imaging intra-cochlear structures through the round window membrane. As this element pitch results in large grating lobe artifacts, novel transmit beamforming techniques were developed to suppress grating lobes resulting from this large-pitch array. Theoretical techniques using the impulse-response simulation method and experimental verification using high-frequency linear array ultrasound system (Vevo 2100, VisualSonics, Canada) showed that these techniques were able to suppress grating lobe levels up to 40 dB. In the third study, a needle mounted 45 MHz single-element ultrasound probe was fabricated in order to measure the vibrations of intra-cochlear structures on human cadavers. Basilar membrane velocimetry measurements were successfully performed using pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasound in the frequency range between 100 Hz-2 KHz. The measured velocity of the basilar membrane and the round window membrane showed that the middle ear resonance frequency near 1 KHz was present over multiple temporal bones. This is the first work that has explored the human auditory system with high resolution ultrasonic visualization and Doppler velocimetry.

Submitted by Marlucy Farias Medeiros (marlucy.farias@unipampa.edu.br) on 2018-05-11T18:52:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Daniel_Lemes - 2018.pdf: 18189235 bytes, checksum: 1ee5df4451f15272b5fcd3e07ef614e8 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Dayse Pestana (dayse.pestana@unipampa.edu.br) on 2018-05-14T12:00:34Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Daniel_Lemes - 2018.pdf: 18189235 bytes, checksum: 1ee5df4451f15272b5fcd3e07ef614e8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-14T12:00:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Daniel_Lemes - 2018.pdf: 18189235 bytes, checksum: 1ee5df4451f15272b5fcd3e07ef614e8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-04-05 / The main goal of this work was to develop a MATLAB-based co de capable of finding the optimum values for amplitudes, phases and spacings of a non-uniformly spaced linear antenna array for a specified purpose. This tool allowed investigating the influence of the relative spacings between the elements of an antenna array in its radiation pattern. Two optimization methods were implemented: PSO (Particle swarm optimization), which is an evolutionary heuristic based on the social interaction and movement of swarms, and Taguchi’s method, which is based on orthogonal arrays to reduce the number of experiments needed to find the optimum value of a given variable. Different optimization goals were investigated, so that a comparison between these techniques has been done. The developed co de was applied to solve two practical problems. In the first one, a dual-band antenna array for base stations of mobile communication systems was modeled and its amplitudes, phases and spacings were optimized. By doing so, it was possible to mitigate the granting lobes that app eared in the pattern in the higher band, because the relative spacings between the elements could not be smaller than λ0. The pattern of this array was also shaped following a squared cosecant contour, in order to illuminate a pico-cell with uniform power. The results of the optimizations in both bands were validated using the commercial software Ansys HFSS and a study about the influence of the mutual coupling in the pattern was done. The second practical problem was to design an antenna array with beamshaping. By using the proposed code, it was possible to reduce the number of array elements from seven to four comparing to an uniformly spaced array. The optimization was split into two parts in order to mitigate the influence of the mutual coupling. A passive feeder for the optimized array was designed and a prototype was manufactured. The results were validated using HFSS and by measurements. The complete development of the array and of the feeder are detailed in this work. Finally, the design of a transmitter for adaptive beamshaping is described. The architecture nis capable to change the phase and power level of the signal, hence allowing to deliver the weights optimized by the proposed code to the antenna array. A modular concept was chosen in order to increase the flexibility of the transmitter. The device translates the input frequency from 500 MHz to 7 GHz, in order to deliver the weights to the antenna array. Eight transmitters were assembled and they were coupled to the antenna array in order to test their functionality. The patterns were measured in an anechoic chamber. All measured results of the transmitter are presented. / O principal objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver uma ferramenta computacional em MATLAB capaz de otimizar as fases, as amplitudes e os espaçamentos de uma rede de antenas, a fim de satisfazer um determinado objetivo. De posse dessa ferramenta, foi possível analisar a influência do espaçamento relativo entre os elementos de uma rede no diagrama da mesma. Dois métodos de otimização foram implementados: PSO (Particle Swarm Opmitization), baseado na interação social e no movimento de um enxame, e o método de Taguchi, que utiliza matrizes ortogonais para diminuir o número de testes necessários para otimizar uma variável. Diferentes cenários foram analisados de forma a permitir uma comparação entre os dois métodos. O código desenvolvido foi aplicado a dois problemas práticos. No primeiro deles, uma rede de antenas dupla-faixa para emprego em estações rádio base de sistemas de comunicações móveis foi modelada e suas amplitudes, fases e espaçamentos foram otimizados. Como na banda mais alta o espaçamento entre os elementos não podia ser menor que λ0., fez-se necessário otimizar os espaçamentos para controle dos grating lobes. O diagrama dessa rede foi também conformado seguindo um contorno em cossecante ao quadrado, para iluminar uma certa região com potência uniforme. Os resultados de todas as otimizações em ambas bandas foram validados usando o software Ansys HFSS e um estudo sobre a influência do acoplamento mútuo foi feito. O segundo caso consistiu na otimização de uma rede de antenas com conformação de feixe. Foi possível diminuir o número de elementos de sete para quatro em comparação a uma rede com elementos uniformemente espaçados. A otimização foi dividida em duas partes para compensar o efeito do acoplamento mútuo. Para a rede otimizada, um sistema alimentador passivo foi desenvolvido e um protótipo foi fabricado. Os resultados foram validados com simulações no software comercial Ansys HFSS e, também, por medições. Todo o projeto da rede e do alimentador é detalhado neste trabalho. Finalmente, o desenvolvimento de um circuito transmissor para beamshaping adaptativo ´e detalhado. Tal sistema é composto por um defasador e um amplificador de ganho variável, com os quais é possível inserir as amplitudes e fases, otimizadas pelo código proposto, em uma rede de antenas. Desenvolveu-se um transmissor modular, a fim de aumentar a flexibilidade do sistema. A frequência de entrada do transmissor é de 500 MHz, que é transladada para 7 GHz antes de ser entregue à rede de antenas. Foram fabricados oito transmissores, os quais foram acoplados a uma rede de antenas para testar suas funcionalidades. Os diagramas de irradiação foram medidos em câmera anecóica. Todo o desenvolvimento e medições de cada componente do transmissor são também mostrados neste trabalho.

L’imagerie échographique en trois dimensions (3D) est une modalité d’imagerie médicale en plein développement. En plus de ses nombreux avantages (faible cout, absence de rayonnement ionisant, portabilité) elle permet de représenter les structures anatomiques dansleur forme réelle qui est toujours 3D. Les sondes à balayage mécaniques, relativement lentes, tendent à être remplacées par des sondes bidimensionnelles ou matricielles qui sont unprolongement dans les deux directions, latérale et azimutale, de la sonde classique 1D. Cetagencement 2D permet un dépointage du faisceau ultrasonore et donc un balayage 3D del’espace. Habituellement, les éléments piézoélectriques d’une sonde 2D sont alignés sur unegrille et régulièrement espacés d’une distance (en anglais le « pitch ») soumise à la loi del’échantillonnage spatial (distance inter-élément inférieure à la demi-longueur d’onde) pour limiter l’impact des lobes de réseau. Cette contrainte physique conduit à une multitude d’éléments de petite taille. L’équivalent en 2D d’une sonde 1D de 128 éléments contient128x128=16 384 éléments. La connexion d’un nombre d’éléments aussi élevé constitue unvéritable défi technique puisque le nombre de canaux dans un échographe actuel n’excède querarement les 256. Les solutions proposées pour contrôler ce type de sonde mettent en oeuvredu multiplexage ou des techniques de réduction du nombre d’éléments, généralement baséessur une sélection aléatoire de ces éléments (« sparse array »). Ces méthodes souffrent dufaible rapport signal à bruit du à la perte d’énergie qui leur est inhérente. Pour limiter cespertes de performances, l’optimisation reste la solution la plus adaptée. La première contribution de cette thèse est une extension du « sparse array » combinéeavec une méthode d’optimisation basée sur l’algorithme de recuit simulé. Cette optimisation permet de réduire le nombre nécessaire d’éléments à connecter en fonction des caractéristiques attendues du faisceau ultrasonore et de limiter la perte d’énergie comparée à la sonde complète de base. La deuxième contribution est une approche complètement nouvelle consistant à adopter un positionnement hors grille des éléments de la sonde matricielle permettant de supprimer les lobes de réseau et de s’affranchir de la condition d’échantillonnage spatial. Cette nouvelles tratégie permet d’utiliser des éléments de taille plus grande conduisant ainsi à un nombre d’éléments nécessaires beaucoup plus faible pour une même surface de sonde. La surface active de la sonde est maximisée, ce qui se traduit par une énergie plus importante et donc unemeilleure sensibilité. Elle permet également de balayer un angle de vue plus important, leslobes de réseau étant très faibles par rapport au lobe principal. Le choix aléatoire de la position des éléments et de leur apodization (ou pondération) reste optimisé par le recuit simulé.Les méthodes proposées sont systématiquement comparées avec la sonde complète dansle cadre de simulations numériques dans des conditions réalistes. Ces simulations démontrent un réel potentiel pour l’imagerie 3D des techniques développées. Une sonde 2D de 8x24=192 éléments a été construite par Vermon (Vermon SA, ToursFrance) pour tester les méthodes de sélection des éléments développées dans un cadreexpérimental. La comparaison entre les simulations et les résultats expérimentaux permettentde valider les méthodes proposées et de prouver leur faisabilité. / 3D Ultrasound imaging is a fast-growing medical imaging modality. In addition to its numerous advantages (low cost, non-ionizing beam, portability) it allows to represent the anatomical structures in their natural form that is always three-dimensional. The relativelyslow mechanical scanning probes tend to be replaced by two-dimensional matrix arrays that are an extension in both lateral and elevation directions of the conventional 1D probe. This2D positioning of the elements allows the ultrasonic beam steering in the whole space. Usually, the piezoelectric elements of a 2D array probe are aligned on a regular grid and spaced out of a distance (the pitch) subject to the space sampling law (inter-element distancemust be shorter than a mid-wavelength) to limit the impact of grating lobes. This physical constraint leads to a multitude of small elements. The equivalent in 2D of a 1D probe of 128elements contains 128x128 = 16,384 elements. Connecting such a high number of elements is a real technical challenge as the number of channels in current ultrasound scanners rarely exceeds 256. The proposed solutions to control this type of probe implement multiplexing or elements number reduction techniques, generally using random selection approaches (« spars earray »). These methods suffer from low signal to noise ratio due to the energy loss linked to the small number of active elements. In order to limit the loss of performance, optimization remains the best solution. The first contribution of this thesis is an extension of the « sparse array » technique combined with an optimization method based on the simulated annealing algorithm. The proposed optimization reduces the required active element number according to the expected characteristics of the ultrasound beam and permits limiting the energy loss compared to the initial dense array probe.The second contribution is a completely new approach adopting a non-grid positioningof the elements to remove the grating lobes and to overstep the spatial sampling constraint. This new strategy allows the use of larger elements leading to a small number of necessaryelements for the same probe surface. The active surface of the array is maximized, whichresults in a greater output energy and thus a higher sensitivity. It also allows a greater scansector as the grating lobes are very small relative to the main lobe. The random choice of the position of the elements and their apodization (or weighting coefficient) is optimized by the simulated annealing.The proposed methods are systematically compared to the dense array by performing simulations under realistic conditions. These simulations show a real potential of the developed techniques for 3D imaging.A 2D probe of 8x24 = 192 elements was manufactured by Vermon (Vermon SA, Tours,France) to test the proposed methods in an experimental setting. The comparison between simulation and experimental results validate the proposed methods and prove their feasibility. / L'ecografia 3D è una modalità di imaging medicale in rapida crescita. Oltre ai vantaggiin termini di prezzo basso, fascio non ionizzante, portabilità, essa permette di rappresentare le strutture anatomiche nella loro forma naturale, che è sempre tridimensionale. Le sonde ascansione meccanica, relativamente lente, tendono ad essere sostituite da quelle bidimensionali che sono una estensione in entrambe le direzioni laterale ed azimutale dellasonda convenzionale 1D. Questo posizionamento 2D degli elementi permette l'orientamentodel fascio ultrasonico in tutto lo spazio. Solitamente, gli elementi piezoelettrici di una sondamatriciale 2D sono allineati su una griglia regolare e separati da una distanza (detta “pitch”) sottoposta alla legge del campionamento spaziale (la distanza inter-elemento deve esseremeno della metà della lunghezza d'onda) per limitare l'impatto dei lobi di rete. Questo vincolo fisico porta ad una moltitudine di piccoli elementi. L'equivalente di una sonda 1D di128 elementi contiene 128x128 = 16.384 elementi in 2D. Il collegamento di un così grandenumero di elementi è una vera sfida tecnica, considerando che il numero di canali negliecografi attuali supera raramente 256. Le soluzioni proposte per controllare questo tipo disonda implementano le tecniche di multiplazione o la riduzione del numero di elementi, utilizzando un metodo di selezione casuale (« sparse array »). Questi metodi soffrono di unbasso rapporto segnale-rumore dovuto alla perdita di energia. Per limitare la perdita di prestazioni, l’ottimizzazione rimane la soluzione migliore. Il primo contributo di questa tesi è un’estensione del metodo dello « sparse array » combinato con un metodo di ottimizzazione basato sull'algoritmo del simulated annealing. Questa ottimizzazione riduce il numero degli elementi attivi richiesto secondo le caratteristiche attese del fascio di ultrasuoni e permette di limitare la perdita di energia.Il secondo contributo è un approccio completamente nuovo, che propone di adottare un posizionamento fuori-griglia degli elementi per rimuovere i lobi secondari e per scavalcare il vincolo del campionamento spaziale. Questa nuova strategia permette l'uso di elementi piùgrandi, riducendo così il numero di elementi necessari per la stessa superficie della sonda. La superficie attiva della sonda è massimizzata, questo si traduce in una maggiore energia equindi una maggiore sensibilità. Questo permette inoltre la scansione di un più grande settore,in quanto i lobi secondari sono molto piccoli rispetto al lobo principale. La scelta casualedella posizione degli elementi e la loro apodizzazione viene ottimizzata dal simulate dannealing. I metodi proposti sono stati sistematicamente confrontati con la sonda completaeseguendo simulazioni in condizioni realistiche. Le simulazioni mostrano un reale potenzialedelle tecniche sviluppate per l'imaging 3D.Una sonda 2D di 8x24 = 192 elementi è stata fabbricata da Vermon (Vermon SA, ToursFrance) per testare i metodi proposti in un ambiente sperimentale. Il confronto tra lesimulazioni e i risultati sperimentali ha permesso di convalidare i metodi proposti edimostrare la loro fattibilità.

Ce mémoire est consacré à l’étude et au développement d’un nouveau système antennaire agile en rayonnement appelé MARPEM (Matrice Agile Rayonnante à Pixels Elaborés en Métamatériaux). Ce système est formé d’une matrice planaire formée par un agencement jointif de pixels électromagnétiques. Le concept du pixel est inspiré de l’antenne à Bande Interdite Electromagnétique et entouré par une enceinte murale. Ces pixels sont alimentés par des circuits de formation de faisceaux.Des études théoriques approfondies ont montré des performances électromagnétiques de MARPEM concernant le faible couplage mutuel, les forts pointages électroniques et l’élimination de lobes de réseau. Trois prototypes ont été étudiés et réalisés afin de valider expérimentalement les performances de MARPEM et de répondre aux exigences de différentes applications. / This PhD thesis is dedicated to the study and the development of a novel agile antenna system called ‘Agile Radiating Matrix with Metamaterials Pixels’. This system is formed by a planar matrix which is composed by an association of jointed electromagnetic pixels. The pixel design is inspired from the electromagnetic band gap antenna and it is surrounded by metallic walls. These pixels are fed by means of several beam forming networks.The intensive theoretical study made on the matrix antenna, showed several electromagnetic performances concerning the low mutual coupling, the great beam steering for high scanning angles and the elimination of grating lobes. Three manufactured prototypes are presented in order to experimentally validate the matrix performances and to respond to some application requirements.

Divers radars sont développés pour des besoins d’aide à la conduite automobile de sécurité mais aussi de confort. Ils ont pour but de détecter la présence d’obstacles routiers afin d’éviter d’éventuelles collisions. La demande actuelle en termes de capteurs radars pour l’automobile connaît une croissance importante et les technologies employées doivent garantir de bonnes performances dans un environnement dégradé par les signaux interférents des autres utilisateurs. Dans cette thèse, nous nous intéressons au développement d’un système radar performant en tout lieu et en particulier dans un contexte multi-utilisateurs. A ce propos, nous proposons de nouvelles formes d’ondes qui se basent sur la combinaison des codes fréquentiels de Costas et d’autres techniques de compression d’impulsion en exploitant les signaux de Costas modifiés. La conception adoptée permet, grâce à la diversité introduite, de synthétiser un nombre important de formes d’ondes. Nous avons, ensuite, exploité deux approches d’estimation des paramètres des cibles. La première, plutôt classique, se base sur le traitement Doppler dans un train d’impulsions cohérent. La deuxième, récente dans le domaine automobile, se base sur la technique dite de « Compressed Sensing ». Une adaptation de ces algorithmes pour les signaux proposés a été discutée dans des environnements bruités et multi-cibles. L’ensemble de ces travaux contribue à explorer de nouvelles formes d’ondes, autres que celles utilisées dans les radars actuels et à proposer un traitement innovant en réception, adapté aux radars en général et à l’automobile en particulier. / Several driver assistance radars are developed for security and comfort requirements. Their goal is among others to detect the presence of obstacles for collision avoidance. The current demand in terms of automotive radar sensors experience a significant growth and the technologies being employed must ensure good performances especially in an environment degraded by interfering signals of other users. In this thesis, we are interested in developing a radar system which is effective in all situations especially in a multi-user context. For this purpose, we propose novel radar waveforms based on the combination of frequency hopping Costas codes and other pulse compression techniques, using modified Costas signals. The design approach allows to synthesize a significant number of waveforms, thanks to the high diversity introduced. Afterwards, we have exploited two estimation of target parameters approaches. The first one, quite classic, is based on Doppler processing in a coherent pulse train. The second one, recent in the automotive field , is based on the Compressed sensing techniques. An adaptation of these algorithms to proposed signals is discussed in noisy and multi-target environments. All these works contribute in one hand to explore novel radar waveforms, complement to those currently used in automotive radars and in another hand to propose an innovative processing at the receiver level, suited to radar applications in general and automotive ones in particular.