Multi-frame matrix capture common file format
Full Matrix Capture (FMC) is the acquisition of time-domain signals (A-scans) from every combination of transmit-receive elements in an ultrasonic array. FMC allows data acquisition to be decoupled from imaging and data analysis. Researchers, equipment manufacturers and industrial end-users have been involved in an ongoing project at the University of Bristol to increase the uptake of FMC through the creation of a common, instrument-agnostic and open file format for raw FMC data.
In this project a number of existing file formats were considered, as was the development of a completely new file format. It was decided that a specification within the established HDF5 file format offered the best balance between functionality, ease of adoption and development time. The resulting specification has become known as the Multi-frame Full Matrix Capture (MFMC) file format. It defines the format for FMC data storage and the minimum additional information that must be included in the file. Importantly, it allows additional frames of FMC data can be appended to existing datasets (the file size is limited only by the operating system), for example as an array is scanned over a component or structure. The MFMC format is general and can also be used for most other array data acquisition modalities as well as FMC (e.g. half matrix capture, plane wave imaging, virtual source imaging).
Please contact Paul Wilcox for further details.