SONO-PR 200
Pulser-Receiver for Ultrasonic Testing
With an extremely wide frequency range of up to 200 MHz, the SONO-PR 200 ultrasonic pulser-receiver covers various Ultrasonic Testing applications. It can be used on a wide range of materials for wall thickness measurements to immersion technology and squirter applications, as well as acoustic microscopy. The possibility of remote control via serial interface, various trigger options as well as digital inputs and outputs make the SONO-PR 200 ideal for integration into automated testing facilities. This pulser-receiver reliably replaces the 5900PR.
Ultrasonic Probes
SONO-AMP Pre-amplifier optionally available
By adding the SONO-AMP pre-amplifier, a gain of max. 74 dB can be achieved. In combination with the SONO-AMP, the system achieves an extremely low inherent noise of < 1 nV/√Hz. Tests can also be realized under challenging conditions.
Applications
Versatile Testing Options: Spike and Combi Variant
The SONO-PR 200 is available in two variants, depending on the testing requirements: Spike or Combi.
Spike variant
The Spike variant has a powerful broadband spike pulser. The minimum rise time of less than 1 ns allows optimal excitation of high frequency ultrasonic probes. The Spike version is ideally suited for applications that require a very high bandwidth.
Combi variant
The Combi variant is an extended variant of the SONO-PR 200. It provides a powerful combination of the spike and square wave pulser. The square wave pulser offers an additional advantage in the low frequency range from 500 kHz to 8 MHz, which allows this version to cover both low and high ultrasonic frequencies.
Advantages at a glance
Numerous high-pass and low-pass filters
High-pass and low-pass filters enable specific adjustment to the application in order to achieve a max. signal-to-noise ratio.
Very high frequency
The SONO-PR 200’s receiver offers a large bandwidth of 100 kHz to 200 MHz, allowing the device to cover a significant amount of important stand-alone or integrated applications.
Powerful spike pulser
The minimal rise times of < 1 ns enable optimum excitation of high-frequency transducers. Furthermore, the variety of adjustable energy levels enables the widest range of designs of utrasonic transducers to be actuated.
Extremely low noise
The device offers exceptionally low noise and in addition allows the user to choose high and low pass filters to achieve a maximum signal-to-noise ratio.
Digital inputs and outputs
The SONO-PR 200 is designed to be integrated easily. It has a simple digital menu and multiple I/Os.
Remote control via serial interface
Optional: fixed gain can be achieved
SONO-AMP pre-amplifier
By adding the SONO-AMP pre-amplifier, a gain of max. 74 dB can be achieved. In combination with the SONO-AMP, the system achieves an extremely low inherent noise of < 1 nV/√Hz. Thanks to a low noise level and high bandwidth, tests can also be realized under challenging conditions.
Spike Pulser
high bandwidth, low rising time
The Spike Pulser is installed in both the Spike version and the Combi version. It operates with a high bandwidth and offers direct control over transmission energy, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.
How is the pulse width determined? Why are there no values for the pulse width in the datasheet?
It is not possible to control the pulse width or the amplitude of the spike pulser directly; these can only be varied indirectly by adjusting the energy level. Furthermore, the true pulse width is determined by the electrical impedance of the transducer; a high impedance leads to a longer pulse width, a low impedance to a shorter pulse width. It is therefore not possible to provide the typical pulse width for a particular energy level, as this will always depend on the transducer you connect. In fact, the pulse width of the spike pulser is not important; the important factor is the rise time.
What does a short rise time mean?
The rise time should be as short as possible, as this leads to the highest possible transmission bandwidth. A high transmission bandwidth means that a single impulse from the spike pulser contains a wide spectrum of frequencies, which means that the pulse width no longer needs to be matched to the specific transducer frequency. In the case of our SONO-PR, the rise time is <1ns, which corresponds to a very high bandwidth; the pulse width is therefore not important.
Square Wave Pulser
low bandwidth, pulse width controllable
The Square Wave Pulser is exclusively installed in the combi version and transmits with a low bandwidth. It can be configured as either a positive, negative or bipolar pulser.
What is the difference between the Square Wave Pulser and the Spike Pulser?
Unlike the spike pulser, the pulse width in the square wave pulser can be directly controlled; however, precision is crucial, as it must be accurately aligned with the transducer frequency to prevent distorted impulses. The requirement for precise frequency matching means that the square wave pulser is best suited for low-frequency transducers (≤8MHz).
Compared to the spike pulser, the square wave pulser can achieve higher transmission energies. However, it's important to note that the energy can only be indirectly controlled by varying the amplitude and pulse width. In this way the square wave pulser is the opposite of the spike pulser: with the spike pulser we can control energy directly but not the amplitude and pulse width, while with the square wave pulser we can control amplitude and pulse width directly but not the energy.
SONO-PR 200 Spike variant
Spike pulser
| Fixed voltage |
| Energy steps |
| Pulser rising time (below 1ns) |
| Damping steps (8) |
| PRF (10 Hz to 200 MHz) |
| Spike bandwidth 200 MHz |
SONO-PR 200 Combi variant
Spike pulser
| Fixed voltage |
| Energy steps |
| Pulser rising time (below 1ns) |
| Damping steps (8) |
| PRF (10 Hz to 20 kHz) |
| Spike bandwidth 200 MHz |
Additional Square wave pulser
| Variable voltage 10 to 200 V |
| Pulser polarity (unipolar +, -, bipolar) |
| Selectable square wave width |
| Square wave frequency (500 kHZ to 8 MHz) |
| Bursts (1 to 10) |
| Damping steps (2) |
| PRF (10 Hz to 20 KHz) |
