Which transducer configuration is characterized by electronic steering without moving the transducer (time delays among elements)?

Which transducer configuration is characterized by electronic steering without moving the transducer (time delays among elements)?

• A. Curved array
• B. Linear array
• C. Phased array
• D. Mechanical steering

Answer: (C)

Electronic steering without moving the transducer relies on applying different time delays to each element so the emitted waves combine to form a beam in a desired direction. This way, the beam can be steered and focused electronically by adjusting these delays, without physically tilting or translating the probe. That capability is the defining feature of the phased array. The curved and linear arrays describe how the elements are arranged physically, which affects image shape and focusing, but they don’t by themselves grant electronic steering. Mechanical steering, on the other hand, requires moving parts to change the beam direction. So the configuration that uses time delays among elements to steer the beam is the phased array.

Electronic steering without moving the transducer relies on applying different time delays to each element so the emitted waves combine to form a beam in a desired direction. This way, the beam can be steered and focused electronically by adjusting these delays, without physically tilting or translating the probe. That capability is the defining feature of the phased array. The curved and linear arrays describe how the elements are arranged physically, which affects image shape and focusing, but they don’t by themselves grant electronic steering. Mechanical steering, on the other hand, requires moving parts to change the beam direction. So the configuration that uses time delays among elements to steer the beam is the phased array.