Correlation-based aberration correction in the presence of inoperable elements

Estimation of phase aberrations using correlation processing between neighboring elements in a phased array is explored in the presence of inoperable elements. Using a CORDIC-based implementation of a complex baseband correlator, inactive elements can be identified simultaneous with correlation processing. Following detection of inoperable elements, a simple rerouting of the adaptive beam former is used to eliminate these elements from correlation analysis. Experimental results on a 3.33-MHz, 64-element array system with four contiguous, inactive elements demonstrate the robustness of the simple rerouting method for accurate phase aberration estimation.<
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