Method to estimate planar flow from doppler velocity distribution in an observation plane

摘要

A method for estimating a flow in an observation plane from the Doppler velocity distribution in the observation plane. A Doppler flow function is found from the Doppler velocity distribution by linear integration. A flow rate passing through a path perpendicular to a beam direction is found from the Doppler velocity distribution, and a Doppler flow range function representing a variation of this flow rate in the beam direction is calculated. The Doppler flow range function is separated into a linear boundary flow range function which is a two-dimensional component and a planar boundary flow range function which is a three-dimensional component. The planar boundary flow range function is approximated by a stepwise quantized planar boundary flow range function which varies in unit flow rate, and sink points and source points (simple sources) are determined based on a step position of this quantized planar boundary flow range function. A simple source flow function representing a three-dimensional inflow/outflow to and from the observation plane is calculated from a distribution of simple sources. A smoothed simple source flow function is subtracted from the Doppler flow function so as to calculate a planar flow function. The planar flow function and simple source flow function are combined so as to estimate a planar flow based on a contour line of this combined function.