Session: P2H

(2) signal preprocessing path; (3) signal post-processing path. In this paper, a new transducer to system interface is developed to suppress the noise from the transducer and its interface to system. Several features unique to the transducer to system interface that could help suppress the noise from the transducer and its interface to the system (1) differential input is adopted in the front end amplifiers; (2) a GORE IMAGINr probe cable is recruited in the interface. With differential input configuration, the cable impedance matches the system receiving impedance of 120 ohms; (3) a transformer between the cable and system front end is deployed to couple the signal; (4) there are MUX boards in the interface to switch between transducer elements; (5) the common signal reference ground is the transducer ground; (6) T/R switches are actual switches instead of diodes. (7) The lower dielectric constant of the cable makes the effective length of the cable shorter. Within the transducer and its interface to system, the potential noise sources are (1) the thermal noise from the transducer, cable and MUX; (2) crosstalk among channels; (3) common mode noise. To maximize the SNR of the transducer and its interface to system, the transducer is tuned to match the impedance of the system, the results of different tuning schemes for a 3.5MHz curved linear array are presented in this paper. The sensitivity, bandwidth can be both improved via tuning. A theoretical model is constructed to model the crosstalk among the adjacent channels, experiments have been conducted to validate the model, the effect of the length of the cable is also studied in this paper. Finally, the differential input configuration of the front end amplifier greatly suppresses common mode noise when the two input lines are balanced. The noise level of the transducer and its interface to system is quantitatively studied in this paper.