Question

In phased array testing, BEAM STEERING is:

A) the ability to control the direction of the ultrasound beam
B) the focusing of the sound wave to a small area
C) the mechanical movement of the probe
D) the width of the sound beam
E) the uniformity of the sound wave

Answer 1

Beam steering in phased array testing is the ability to control the direction of the ultrasound beam through electronic adjustments of the phase of signals from the array elements.

Step-by-step explanation:

In phased array testing, beam steering refers to A) the ability to control the direction of the ultrasound beam. This technique involves having multiple ultrasound sources within the probe's head. These sources are phased—meaning their timing is adjusted to interfere constructively—at different angles to steer the beam in a controlled manner across the area of interest. By manipulating the phase of the signals from each element in the array,

the beam can be steered electronically without moving the probe, thus differentiating it from mechanical scanning where the probe itself is physically moved. This capability is essential in applications such as medical imaging, where a computer uses the echoes returned at different positions and depths to construct an image that reveals the internal structure of an object, such as a human body.