Understanding Ultrasonic Sensors Design

This course provides detailed guidelines and procedures for the conceptualisation, development and deployment of ultrasonic sensors. The content of this course differs from any other as unique tips and tricks are provided by the experienced tutor (over 15 years of experience) for the selection of components and successful assembly of your ultrasonic sensor.

The case study of ultrasonic reflectance sensor is analysed in details, however the course content is applicable to the development of any sensor. The course does not require previous knowledge of ultrasonics and it is direct to Msc students, PhD students, researchers and engineers dealing with ultrasonic sensors related projects. While the course is designed for beginners, the steps and tips provided are going to be useful also to an experienced audience.

The course covers the following topics:

- Free introduction to the course and to the tutor expertise

- Lecture 1: fundamental of ultrasonics. The unique feature of this introduction to ultrasound is that the main parameters of ultrasound are exposed in relation to their importance in the design of ultrasonic sensors.

-Lecture 2: components of ultrasonic sensors. An ultrasonic probe is taken apart and its fundamental components are described and analysed in details. Particular emphasis is put in the description of piezoelectric transducers main properties and on how to select the ideal transducers for your application.

-Lecture 3: ultrasonic sensors assembly. Procedures and tips are provided for the successful assembly of the components outlined in Lecture 2. This lecture aims to provide a mindset and a step checklist to follow when conceptualising and assembling an ultrasonic transducer. While reflectance sensors are analysed here, similar steps are applicable for any kind of ultrasonic sensors.

-Lecture 4: ultrasonic sensor deployment and examples. This lecture provides a description of the ultrasonic measurement chain components, and guidelines for understanding if the sensor has been assembled correctly. Furthermore, an introduction to the post-processing of signals and data analysis is provided together with guidelines to measure reflection coefficient and apply the time of flight measurement methodology. Finally 3 practical examples are provided concerning ultrasonic reflectance measurement and the development from scratch of an ultrasonic sensor.