Abstract: Methods for improving the availability of information derived from signals received from an object irradiated with coherent pulses of any form of radiation that exhibits a wave nature are disclosed. A method for reducing speckle derives separate component noncoherent signals from the received signals, and combines these separate noncoherent signals to form improved composite noncoherent signals. Weighting and processing of component signals can be applied as a function of time, frequency, and signal amplitude to optimize speckle reduction in all or a critical part of the signal by compensating for the range and frequency dependence of attenuation and the frequency dependence of scattering phenomena. In a method for enhancing resolution, separate component coherent signals are derived from the received signals, weighted and processed, and combined to form improved composite coherent signals; then noncoherent signals are derived from the improved composite coherent signals.

Abstract: Methods for enhancement of data obtained from scanning objects such as body tissue with ultrasonic wideband pulses to detect characteristics of the tissue and to identify the tissue. The methods include performing spectral analysis on selected time portions of signals obtained from ultrasonic scanning to derive spectral data which is representative of the received signal characteristics for spatial samples of a particular region of interest in the body. The characteristic values are selected to correlate with significant characteristics of the material. A display of the selected body region is generated, with the display characteristic for each of the spatial samples being selected in accordance with the derived spectral characteristic values. Examples of the spectral characteristic values include spectral amplitude, spectral slope, and spectral amplitude uncertainty.

Abstract: Methods for improving the availability of information derived from signals received from an object irradiated with coherent pulses of any form of radiation that exhibits a wave nature are disclosed. A method for reducing speckle derives separate component noncoherent signals from the received signals, and combines these separate noncoherent signals to form improved composite noncoherent signals. Weighting and processing of component signals can be applied as a function of time, frequency, and signal amplitude to optimize speckle reduction in all or a critical part of the signal by compensating for the range and frequency dependence of attenuation and the frequency dependence of scattering phenomena. In a method for enhancing resolution, separate component coherent signals are derived from the received signals, weighted and processed, and combined to form improved composite coherent signals; then noncoherent signals are derived from the improved composite coherent signals.