A study on THD+N optimization methods for broadband underwater acoustic transmission systems

Minyoung Park; Byoungkweon Kim; Hyoung-Gyun Woo; Jaehoon Jeong

doi:10.7776/ASK.2025.44.6.590

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2025 Vol.44, Issue 6 Preview Page Next Page

Research Article

A study on THD+N optimization methods for broadband underwater acoustic transmission systems 광대역 수중 음향 송신 시스템에서 THD+N 최적화 방안에 대한 연구

30 November 2025. pp. 590-599

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Abstract

With the growing demand for real-time monitoring of marine environments, the importance of Marine Sensor Networks (MSNs) has increased significantly, highlighting the need for a reliable underwater communication system. This study proposes a broadband underwater acoustic transmission system capable of transmitting in the 2 kHz to 20 kHz range by repurposing conventional Sound Navigation and Ranging (SONAR) technology—traditionally used for distance measurement—as an acoustic communication medium. The system consists of an Field Programable Gate Array (FPGA)-based digital signal generator, a Class-D power amplifier using SiC MOSFETs, an impedance matching network, and an acoustic transducer. To minimize Total Harmonic Distortion Plus Noise (THD+N), which significantly affects underwater communication quality, precise impedance modeling of the transducer was conducted and the system was simulated using PSpice. Based on this analysis, LC and notch filters were designed and implemented to suppress harmonic boosting in specific frequency bands. Finally, the application of the filter effectively attenuated high-frequency noise in the 40 kHz – 70 kHz and 100 kHz – 400 kHz bands by 5 dB to as much as 10 dB, thereby improving the sinusoidal characteristics of the output waveform. Applying the power amplifier proposed in this study to underwater communication systems is expected to greatly enhance the quality and reliability of underwater communications.

Keywords

Sound navigation and ranging

Underwater communication

THD+N

Impedance modeling

최근 해양 환경의 실시간 모니터링 수요가 증가함에 따라 해양 센서 네트워크(Marine Sensor Network, MSN)의 중요성이 부각되고 있으며, 이를 위한 신뢰성 높은 수중 통신 시스템의 필요성이 대두되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 기존의 거리 측정 중심 기술인 소나(Sound Navigation and Ranging, SONAR)를 수중 음향 통신의 전송 매체로 활용하기 위해, 2 kHz부터 20 kHz까지 광대역 송신이 가능한 수중 음향 송신 시스템을 설계하였다. 제안된 시스템은 Field Programable Gate Array(FPGA) 기반 디지털 신호 생성기, SiC MOSFET 기반의 Class-D 파워 앰프, 임피던스 정합을 위한 매칭 네트워크, 그리고 트랜스듀서로 구성된다. 특히 수중 통신 품질에 직접적인 영향을 미치는 총 고조파 왜곡 및 잡음(Total Harmonic Distortion Plus Noise, THD+N)을 최소화하기 위해, 트랜스듀서의 임피던스를 정밀하게 모델링하고 PSpice 기반의 시스템 시뮬레이션을 수행하였다. 또한, 고조파 부스팅 현상이 집중되는 주파수 영역을 분석하여 이를 억제하기 위한 LC 및 노치 필터를 설계·적용하였다. 최종적으로, 필터 적용 결과 40 kHz ~ 70 kHz 및 100 kHz ~ 400 kHz 대역에서의 고주파 노이즈를 5 dB에서 최대 10 dB까지 효과적으로 감쇠시킬 수 있었으며, 이를 통해 출력 파형의 정현파 특성이 향상됨을 확인 할 수 있었다. 본 연구에서 제안한 전력증폭기를 수중 통신 시스템에 적용할 경우, 통신 품질과 신뢰성이 크게 향상될 것으로 기대된다.

키워드

소나시스템

수중통신

총 고조파 왜곡 및 잡음

임피던스 모델링

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Information

Publisher :The Acoustical Society of Korea
Publisher(Ko) :한국음향학회
Journal Title :The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
Journal Title(Ko) :한국음향학회지
Volume : 44
No :6
Pages :590-599
Received Date : 2025-06-16
Revised Date : 2025-08-08
Accepted Date : 2025-10-20
DOI :https://doi.org/10.7776/ASK.2025.44.6.590

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of KoreaISSN:1225-4428(Print) 2287-3775(Online)한국음향학회

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