High data rate acoustic communications with nonideal channels

Tabak, Gizem

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/117575 Copy

Description

Title

High data rate acoustic communications with nonideal channels

Author(s)

Tabak, Gizem

Issue Date

2022-12-02

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Singer, Andrew C

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Singer, Andrew C

Committee Member(s)

• Hanumolu, Pavan Kumar
• Oelze, Michael L
• Smaragdis, Paris

Department of Study

Electrical & Computer Eng

Discipline

Electrical & Computer Engr

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• wireless communications
• ultrasonic communications
• nonlinear acoustics
• channel equalization
• wireless through-tissue communications
• wireless through-air communications

Abstract

Radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves provide valuable connectivity in wireless communication applications such as radio, television, and wireless internet. However, their attenuation in lossy media (e.g., water, biological tissues) and regulations due to safety and interference concerns limit their use in various applications. In such scenarios, acoustic waves can be an alternative method to transmit information wirelessly. Methods borrowed from RF communications often result in unsatisfactory performance in acoustic communication systems because wave propagation dynamics and channel characteristics are vastly different. In this thesis, we present alternative ways to overcome nonideal behaviors of acoustic communication media and devices to achieve higher performance than possible through standard communication techniques for ideal linear channels. In the first part of this thesis, we focus on ultrasonic communication through soft tissues for biomedical applications. We first present an ultrasonic through-body communication system capable of video streaming through biological tissues and animal subjects. We then examine the effects of acoustic nonlinearity on communication signals and develop a receiver that can compensate for the distortion introduced by the nonlinear through-tissue channel. In the second part of this thesis, we focus on through-air acoustic communication between personal computers using near-ultrasonic audio frequencies. We first develop a software-defined near-ultrasonic modem that uses the built-in laptop microphones and speakers to transmit short messages quickly, locally, and inaudibly. We then focus on the effect of audio system nonlinearities on the communication performance and present a neural-network-based receiver for a nonlinear near-ultrasonic communication system.

Graduation Semester

2022-12

Type of Resource

Thesis

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2022 Gizem Tabak

Owning Collections