An efficient feedback active noise control algorithm based on reduced-order linear predictive modeling of FMRI acoustic noise

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) acoustic noise exhibits an almost periodic nature (quasi-periodicity) due to the repetitive nature of currents in the gradient coils. Small changes occur in the waveform in consecutive periods due to the background noise and slow drifts in the electroacoustic transfer functions that map the gradient coil waveforms to the measured acoustic waveforms. The period depends on the number of slices per second, when echo planar imaging (EPI) sequencing is used. Linear predictability of fMRI acoustic noise has a direct effect on the performance of active noise control (ANC) systems targeted to cancel the acoustic noise. It is shown that by incorporating some samples from the previous period, very high linear prediction accuracy can be reached with a very low order predictor. This has direct implications on feedback ANC systems since their performance is governed by the predictability of the acoustic noise to be cancelled. The low complexity linear prediction of fMRI acoustic noise developed in this paper is used to derive an effective and low-cost feedback ANC system.     

Active Vibration Control of Gradient Coils to Reduce Acoustic Noise of MRI Systems

Lorentz-force-induced vibrations in MRI systems cause significant acoustic noise levels during scanning, the main acoustic noise source being the vibrating gradient coil. In this paper, a novel active vibration control technique is presented to reduce vibrations of the gradient coil, and hence, achieve a reduction of acoustic noise during scanning. The active vibration control technique uses seismic masses that are actuated by means of piezo actuators to create forces on the gradient coil counteracting its vibrations. Using four seismic mass actuators, a vibration reduction of 3-8 dB at resonance frequencies is achieved, giving an overall vibration reduction of 3 dB for a typical field gradient (FE)-echo planar imaging (EPI) gradient sequence, as substantiated by measurements. Using eight actuators, an overall vibration reduction of 5 dB is predicted for this sequence.     

Acoustic noise analysis in echo planar imaging: multicenter trialand comparison with other pulse sequences

The purpose of this study was to evaluate acoustic noise in echo planar imaging (EPI) at various magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) centers and to compare EPI acoustic noise with that in other fast pulse sequences. We measured A-weighted root-mean-square sound pressure levels and peak impulse sound pressure levels for EPI, under the same conditions, in eleven clinical super-conducting MRI systems. We also compared sound pressure levels for the EPI and six different pulse sequences and analyzed the acoustic noise spectra. Sound pressure levels during the use of the EPI differed greatly among institutions. Moreover, sound pressure levels of the EPI were not significantly different from those of other fast pulse sequences and were within permissible noise exposure levels. In comparison to other fast sequences, the EPI had significantly greater acoustic noise in the high-octave band frequency.     

Active cancellation system of acoustic noise in MR imaging

Introduces a new neural-network architecture for reducing the acoustic noise level in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging processes. The proposed neural network (NN) consists of two cascaded time-delay NNs (TDNNs). This NN is used as the predictor of a feedback active noise control (ANC) system for reducing acoustic noises. Experimental results with real MR noises show that the proposed system achieved an average noise power attenuation of 18.75 dB, which compares favorably with previous studies. Preliminary results also show that with the proposed ANC system installed, acoustic MR noises are greatly attenuated while verbal communication during MRI sessions Is not affected     

Characterizing Response to Elemental Unit of Acoustic Imaging Noise: An fMRI Study

Acoustic imaging noise produced during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies can hinder auditory fMRI research analysis by altering the properties of the acquired time-series data. Acoustic imaging noise can be especially confounding when estimating the time course of the hemodynamic response (HDR) in auditory event-related fMRI (fMRI) experiments. This study is motivated by the desire to establish a baseline function that can serve not only as a comparison to other quantities of acoustic imaging noise for determining how detrimental is one's experimental noise, but also as a foundation for a model that compensates for the response to acoustic imaging noise. Therefore, the amplitude and spatial extent of the HDR to the elemental unit of acoustic imaging noise (i.e., a single ping) associated with echoplanar acquisition were characterized and modeled. Results from this fMRI study at 1.5 T indicate that the group-averaged HDR in left and right auditory cortex to acoustic imaging noise (duration of 46 ms) has an estimated peak magnitude of 0.29% (right) to 0.48% (left) signal change from baseline, peaks between 3 and 5 s after stimulus presentation, and returns to baseline and remains within the noise range approximately 8 s after stimulus presentation.     

Modeling the electromagnetic response of hearing aids to digitalwireless phones

Interference produced in hearing aids by the pulsed RF signal from digital wireless phones has become an increasingly important issue to wireless phone manufacturers and service providers, hearing aid manufacturers and users, and government regulatory agencies. Development and validation of a comprehensive model of the interaction would greatly benefit the efforts to achieve mutual electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). In order to develop reliable accurate methods to measure hearing aid immunity, an exact mathematical relationship must be demonstrated between the interference generated in hearing aids using a dipole with a standardized test signal [the input referenced interference level (IRIL)] and that produced by actual wireless phones with various signal formats [the overall input referenced interference level (OIRIL)]. A set of theoretical conversion factors has been developed and applied to predict OIRIL interference from the standard IRIL, measured immunity value. A square-law relationship exists within the linear response region of the hearing aid such that each 1 dB increase in RF power (or field strength in decibels V/m) results in a 2 dB sound pressure level (SPL) increase in acoustic power (or sound pressure level). Hence, the IRIL for any given field strength is obtained by doubling (in decibels) the change in field strength and adding the result to the reference IRIL (in decibels SPL). Subtracting 7.60 dB [for time-division multiple access (TDMA)-50 Hz] or 10.68 dB [for TDMA-217 Hz or code-division multiple access (CDMA)] from the IRIL predicts the corresponding OIRIL. The lower and upper limits of the predicted OIRIL are constrained by the measured ambient sound level and the amplifier saturation, respectively. The model predictions are valid when comparable field strength gradients and distributions, separation distances and orientations are maintained between the hearing aid and the RF emitter     

基于SeeSV噪声定位技术的电机噪声测试

针对驱动电机某一运转工况的噪声声压级与电机噪声频率的测试问题,提出了一种运用声学照相机SeeSV与传声器相结合,并同时检测电机振动信号的测试方法。通过选取SeeSV的不同频段对噪声源进行定位识别,分离出驱动电机的噪声频段,运用传声器测定电机的噪声强度,并用振动信号对声压信号进行验证。测试结果表明,用SeeSV和传声器相结合的方法,可在复杂噪声中识别出驱动电机的噪声频率为2 66625 Hz,声压级为607 dB,对工程噪声的评价具有实践意义。     

EASE模拟遮阳板的降噪效果

加入用于计算室内声学参数的AURA模块后,EASE模拟室内声场更为便利.尝试用EASE4模拟一窗口遮阳板的降噪效果,考察遮阳板不同设置时室内声压级的变化情况,结果表明,安装遮阳板后,室内平均声压级小约2 dB,水平式遮阳板的降噪效果比垂直式大约3 dB;遮阳板做吸声处理时,室内平均声压级下降约5dB.     

压电三迭片式高阶声压梯度水听器研究

该文从数学上计算了不同阶声压梯度组合对空间声场的估计误差,分析了差分通道幅度和相位不一致性对有限差分近似误差的影响,研究了水听器自噪声及模数转换量化误差对高阶水听器工作频率下限的制约关系,提出了一种由4片压电三迭片构成的高阶声压梯度水听器,尺寸为?100 mm×50 mm,能够测量声场一阶声压梯度和二阶混合声压梯度。利用有限元法计算获得平面波自由声场中水听器各通道的输出电压。计算结果表明,二阶混合声压梯度通道的输出电压响应每倍频程升高12 dB,指向性与纵向四极子声源指向性一致。     

一种改进的水下光击穿声辐射计算方法

为了从理论上对光击穿辐射声波进行定量描述,在点源模型的基础上提出了一种改进的水下光击穿声辐射计算方法,利用波动方程和水下爆炸理论求解单点击穿的辐射声波,并推导了多点击穿的辐射声波。从理论上对多点击穿的声压波形、声源级、传播特性和指向性进行了定量计算,并通过实验数据对比进行了验证。结果表明,计算与实验结果是一致的,证明了该方法的正确性和有效性;当激光能量从0.1J增大至0.8J时,声源级从182.4dB增至188.2dB;当激光能量高于0.3J时,声源级变化很小;在垂直等离子柱体的方向上声波辐射最强,在等离子柱体方向辐射最弱,所有方向上声波强度均与距离的平方成反比。     

基于fluent的高速列车受电弓主被动整体降噪研究

针对高速列车气动噪声越来越大的问题,本文以高速列车某车型为参考建立1:1受电弓区域局部模型,基于宽频带噪声源模型、LES大涡模拟及FW-H声学模型,运用弓头仿生降噪和底部空腔主动射流降噪的整体降噪措施,采用数值模拟法研究高速列车受电弓区域的降噪效果。结果表明:受电弓弓头和底部空腔是气动噪声的主要来源;降噪后,主要噪声源的声功率级都有了较大降幅,其中弓头和空腔部位分别降低了15.28 d B和16.92 d B;中高楼层住宅处的降噪效果更佳,最大声压级降低位置在距地面18 m高处(距受电弓25 m远处),降低了4.94 d BA;远场声压级在低频区域降噪效果更为显著,特别是在800 Hz位置声压级降幅最大,降低了8.21 d BA。     

Acoustic events and "optophonic" cochlear responses induced by pulsed near-infrared laser

Optical stimulation of neural tissue within the cochlea was described as a possible alternative to electrical stimulation. Most optical stimulation was performed with pulsed lasers operating with near-infrared (NIR) light and in thermal confinement. Under these conditions, the coexistence of laser-induced optoacoustic stimulation of the cochlea ("optophony") has not been analyzed yet. This study demonstrates that pulsed 1850-nm laser light used for neural stimulation also results in sound pressure levels up to 62 dB peak-to-peak equivalent sound pressure level (SPL) in air. The sound field was confined to a small volume along the laser beam. In dry nitrogen, laser-induced acoustic events disappeared. Hydrophone measurements demonstrated pressure waves for laser fibers immersed in water. In hearing rats, laser-evoked signals were recorded from the cochlea without targeting neural tissue. The signals showed a two-domain response differing in amplitude and latency functions, as well as sensitivity to white-noise masking. The first component had characteristics of a cochlear microphonic potential, and the second component was characteristic for a compound action potential. The present data demonstrate that laser-evoked acoustic events can stimulate a hearing cochlea. Whenever optical stimulation is used, care must be taken to distinguish between such "optophony" and the true optoneural response.     

用于高空间分辨率头相关传输函数测量的声源

设计制作了外形为椭球形的小型扬声器系统（声源）。该声源的等效直径约0．047m,当声源距离不小于1．0m时能满足较高的声源空间分辨率;频率响应范围为400Hz～20kHz;额定功率下1．0m处的辐射声压级达到76dB;在声源辐射正向±30。的区域内基本满足无指向性,且其指向特性与刚球表面局部圆形脉动声源模型的理论计算值基本吻合。因此。该扬声器系统的各项参数和技术指标均适合于高空间分辨率头相关传输函数的测量。     

Removal of ballistocardiogram artifacts from simultaneously recorded EEG and fMRI data using independent component analysis

Simultaneous recording of electroencephalogram (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been studied to identify areas related to EEG events. EEG data recorded in the magnetic resonance (MR) scanner with MR imaging is suffered from two specific artifacts, imaging artifact, and ballistocardiogram (BCG). In this paper, we focus on BCG. In preceding studies, average subtraction was often used for this purpose. However, average subtraction requires an assumption that BCG waveforms are precisely periodic, which seems unrealistic because BCG is a biomedical artifact. We propose the application of independent component analysis (ICA) with a postprocessing of high-pass filtering for the removal of BCG. With this approach, it is not necessary to assume that the BCG waveform is periodic. Empirically, we show that our proposed method removes BCG artifacts as well as does the average subtraction method. Power spectral density analysis of the two approaches shows that, with ICA, distortion of recovered EEG data is also as small as that associated with the average subtraction approach. We also propose a hypothesis for how head movement causes BCGs and show why ICA can remove BCG artifacts arising from this source.     

Gradient Pore Structured Elastic Ceramic Nanofiber Aerogels with Cellulose Nanonets for Noise Absorption

The expeditious growth of modern transportation and industrialization has given rise to serious noise pollution, which has brought disaster to the world economy and human health. Most existing sound-absorber with single pore structures suffer from large weight and the incidence and dissipation of noise that are difficult to be enhanced simultaneously. Herein, gradient-structured elastic ceramic nanofiber aerogels with cellulose nano-nets are successfully structured through step-by-step directional freeze-casting technology, which has a gradient structure of “larger pore-middle pore-smaller pore” in the propagation direction of sound waves and dual nanofiber networks perpendicular to the direction of sound waves. The integration of gradient pore structures and dual nanofiber networks effectively improves the acoustic contact area of aerogels while increasing the acoustic incidence. The noise reduction coefficient of the obtained lightweight gradient aerogels (average density only 9 mg cm⁻³) reaches 0.58, and the low-frequency air compressor noise can be reduced by 23.1 dB. Besides, the silica sol with hydrophobic groups endows gradient aerogels with good mechanics (plastic deformation only 5.7% after 1000 compressions) and superhydrophobic properties (water contact angle of ≈150°). The successful construction of gradient-structured dual network nanofiber aerogels will offer new horizons for the upgrading of nextgen noise absorbers.     

Effectiveness of Earphone Shielding for Artifact Control in Auditory Evoked Potentials

Control of the electromagnetic artifact produced by earphones is a major problem in the acquisition of surface-recorded auditory evoked responses, especially short latency responses (0-10 ms). Several investigators have used magnetically shielded earphones to reduce the artifact. In this paper, a method for measuring shielding effectiveness is described, and results obtained with a TDH-39 earphone are presented. Two layers of shielding were found to provide 10-15 dB of shielding effectiveness; the resulting artifact is less than 0.1 ?V for acoustic stimuli below 120 dB sound pressure level (SPL). The shielding also affects the response of the transducer, especially at low frequencies. It is concluded that shielding is effective in controlling artifact for high-frequency transient stimuli. However, for low-frequency stimuli, for which the response begins while the stimulus is present, results obtained with shielded earphones should be interpreted with caution.     

A novel microphone preamplifier for use in hearing aids

A novel design for a microphone preamplifier for application in hearing aids is presented. The amplifier operates at a supply voltage of 1-1.3 V, the current drain is 70µA. The maximum sound level allowed is more than 105 dB SPL, with a typical noise level of 28 dB SPL. Instead of the usual voltage sensing, current sensing of the microphone is used. The amplifier consists of a fully balanced charge-to-current amplifier with no external components required. A semicustom version of the design has been integrated in a standard BIMOS process.     

聚焦超声换能器的仿真与性能分析

高频声透镜聚焦超声换能器在电子器件评估与检测、材料微观机械性能表征、生物医学成像、细胞操控等方面具有重要的应用。结构参数是影响其性能的主要因素之一。该文通过有限元法对基于声透镜结构的高频聚焦超声换能器进行仿真模拟,分析了声透镜的开孔角度对该类换能器聚焦区域声压模式、横向分辨率、-6 dB景深等关键性能参数的影响。仿真结果表明,换能器的焦距和横向分辨率与理论计算结果接近。随着声透镜开孔角度的增大,换能器的横向分辨力随之提高,焦点处声压级逐渐增大,-6 dB景深逐渐下降。这为声透镜聚焦超声换能器的优化设计提供了一定的技术基础。     

Elimination of acoustic sensitivity in nonlinear optical loopmirrors

Acoustic disturbance is known to give rise to bit error rate (BER) floor when using the nonlinear optical loop mirror as a switch. Here, the acoustically induced penalty is investigated and >30 dB improvement in the acceptable acoustic sound pressure (50 Hz-5 kHz) is achieved by rewinding the loop fiber symmetrically. Only 1.5 dB sensitivity penalty was observed at a sound pressure of 110 dBA when using a nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM) containing 3.9 km of dispersion shifted fiber     

基于声能流矢量补偿的水下目标高精度DOA估计

针对各向异性噪声对水下目标方位估计精度产生严重干扰的问题,文中提出了一种基于声能流矢量补偿的水下目标高精度DOA估计方法。该方法基于声压和质点振速联合信息处理技术,在有效降低各向同性噪声影响的同时得到各向异性噪声源分布模型,并根据各向异性噪声场声能流模型对各向异性噪声进行矢量补偿,进一步实现了对各向异性噪声的抑制,达到高精度估计的目的。通过数值仿真对该方法的性能进行了验证。仿真结果表明,在20 dB以下,文中方法精度均高于常规复声强器DOA估计,精度最高提高了21%。