Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080202243 | Methods and Device for Ultrasonic Range Sensing - A system and method for sensing proximity of an object includes a signal generator, which generates a plurality of signals. A transducer is in communication with the signal generator to receive the plurality of signals from the signal generator. The transducer is capable of transforming a plurality of signals from the signal generator into a plurality of ultrasonic waves. The plurality of ultrasonic waves includes a first ultrasonic wave and a second ultrasonic wave, wherein the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave are formed out of phase. The plurality of ultrasonic waves are directed toward and reflected by the object. The transducer receives the plurality of ultrasonic waves reflected by the object, which become a plurality of received ultrasonic waves. An analog to digital converter is in communication with the transducer. The received plurality of ultrasonic waves reflected by the object is communicated to the analog to digital converter by the transducer. | 08-28-2008 |
20080229833 | Ultrasonic Diagnostic Apparatus - Encoded transmission and reception which reduces time side lobe are realized while suppressing increase of circuit scale. Transmission signals corresponding to a composite modulation code sequence composed from two or more modulation code sequences are outputted as transmission signals. A reception means demodulates reception signals stepwise by two or more demodulators. The demodulator can be thereby divided into two or more stages, and therefore with a circuit scale corresponding to the sum of the operation circuit numbers of two or more demodulators, time side lobe reduction effect can be obtained at a level equivalent to that obtainable with a circuit scale corresponding to the product of the operation circuit numbers of two or more demodulators. | 09-25-2008 |
20080229834 | Method And Apparatus For Inspecting A Workpiece With Angularly Offset Ultrasonic Signals - A method and apparatus are provided to identify unacceptable levels of porosity, microcracking or defects attributable to thermal damage. Ultrasonic signals are introduced into the workpiece, such as by means of an ultrasonic transmitter. The ultrasonic signals propagate along a predefined axis of propagation oriented at an offset angle relative to a predefined reference direction oriented normal to the workpiece. Backscattered signals are received, such as by an ultrasonic receiver, from the workpiece. A measure representative of the cumulative energy of the backscattered signals received over a predefined time interval is then determined, such as integration performed by a processing element. An anomalous response may then be detected based upon the measure representative of the cumulative energy of the backscattered signals. This anomalous response may be representative of at least a predefined amount of porosity, microcracking or thermal damage. | 09-25-2008 |
20080250860 | Method and Device for Determining Defects in a Turbine Blade - The invention relates to a method and a measuring and evaluation device for determining defects in a turbine blade and to a fixing device for fixing a probe to a turbine blade surface. | 10-16-2008 |
20080257050 | Ultrasonic sensor - An ultrasonic sensor for sending and receiving an ultrasonic wave, the ultrasonic sensor includes: an ultrasonic transducer; and a Peltier element having a thermoelectric element, a first electrode, a first substrate and a second substrate. The thermoelectric element is coupled with the first electrode. The thermoelectric element and the first electrode are disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The ultrasonic transducer is disposed on the first substrate. The ultrasonic transducer sends and receives the ultrasonic wave in accordance with a vibration of the ultrasonic transducer. | 10-23-2008 |
20080307888 | ULTRASONIC SENSOR - An ultrasonic sensor includes an ultrasonic detector for detecting an ultrasonic wave, an acoustic matching member joined to the ultrasonic detector, a housing in which the ultrasonic detector and the acoustic matching member are accommodated, a vibration isolator located between the acoustic matching member and an inner side wall of the housing to damp an unwanted vibration from outside, and a cushion member located between the ultrasonic detector and an inner bottom wall of the housing to absorb external force applied to the ultrasonic sensor The cushion member is not in contact with the acoustic matching member. | 12-18-2008 |
20090013788 | INPUT APPARATUS AND INPUT METHOD - Disclosed is an input apparatus including a coplanar line formed on the surface of a substrate so as to pass through the vicinity of a position at which a user performs an operation, terminating resistor placed at one end of the coplanar line and a microcomputer module at the other end. The microcomputer module has a signal transmitter for outputting a signal to the coplanar line. When the user operates a key, the impedance of the coplanar line changes and a reflected wave is produced. A signal detector in the microcomputer module detects the reflected wave and outputs received-signal strength information, which indicates the strength of the signal included in the reflected wave, to a computing unit. Based upon the received-signal strength information and strength of the signal that has been output by the signal transmitter, the computing unit in the microcomputer module discriminates the key that has been operated and specifies the entered instruction. | 01-15-2009 |
20090049918 | COMPOSITION FOR ACOUSTIC DAMPING - In one embodiment of the invention, a composition for a damping wedge in an ultrasonic probe having a wedge body is disclosed, the composition comprising: a viscoelastic material having a ratio of the imaginary part to the real part of the modulus of elasticity of at least about 5% and an acoustic impedance less than that of the wedge body; a filament-shaped filler in an effective amount to provide good dispersability in the viscoelastic material and to substantially match the acoustic impedance of the damping wedge to the wedge body; and a viscosity enhancer in an effective amount to increase the viscosity of the composition to maintain a homogenous distribution of the filament-shaped filler by preventing the filament-shaped filler from settling. | 02-26-2009 |
20090107242 | ULTRASONIC INSPECTION APPARATUS - An ultrasonic inspection apparatus includes a container containing de-ionized water, at least one limiting member, a loading member, and a cover member. The at least one limiting member, the loading member, and the cover member are disposed in the de-ionized water and between the transmitting transducer and the receiving transducer. The limiting member is supported on the limiting member for loading the integrated circuits to be inspected. The cover member is detachably disposed on the loading member for holding the integrated circuits by a gravitational force of the cover member acting on the loading member. | 04-30-2009 |
20090114025 | Thickness measuring device for vessel steel plate - The invention is objected to enable the provision of an vessel steel plate measuring device capable of measuring the thickness of vessel steel plate, even in the case of a vessel having a vessel mirror part formed by a spherical or conical curved surface such as a reactor (reaction vessel) and various kinds of obstructions at a vessel barrel. The structure of the device is characterized in that a supporting point member | 05-07-2009 |
20090126495 | Ultrasonic Spectroscopic Method for Chemical Mechanical Planarization - A method of characterizing the surface of a CMP pad by directing an ultrasound pulse at the surface from an ultrasound transducer that is not in contact with the surface and observing the frequency spectrum of the reflected pulse which is indicative of properties of the surface. | 05-21-2009 |
20090235750 | Capacitive Ultrasonic Sensors and Display Devices Using the Same - A capacitive ultrasonic device is capable of detecting an object and providing information regarding an orientation of the object. The capacitive ultrasonic device includes a power source configured to generate a voltage signal, an array of sensor elements, each of the sensor elements being configured to generate an ultrasonic wave during a first period of the voltage signal and detect whether a wave is reflected from the object during a second period of the voltage signal when the voltage signal is applied thereto, and a control unit configured to activate a first portion of the array of sensor elements through the power source, and activate a second portion of the array of sensor elements when at least one of the first portion of the sensor elements detects a wave reflected from the object. | 09-24-2009 |
20090241674 | ROTARY MACHINE - The present invention aims to obtain a rotary machine having a function to stably measure an amount of wear of a sliding surface in a sliding bearing with a high degree of accuracy. The present invention provides a rotary machine including: a shaft rotated by torque transmitted from a driving source; a bearing for supporting the shaft; an oil film portion formed between the shaft and the bearing; an ultrasound sensor to propagate an ultrasound pulse toward the sliding surface or the reference step surface provided opposite to the ultrasound sensor installation surface and to receive the ultrasound pulse reflected by the oil film portion; and a diagnostic unit to drive the ultrasound sensor to compare a prestored intensity of the ultrasound pulse in the oil film portion and an intensity of the ultrasound pulse reflected by the oil film portion. | 10-01-2009 |
20090249878 | Ultrasonic Sensor - For an ultrasonic sensor at least one sensitivity parameter or sensitivity characteristics curve may be adjusted as a function of the air humidity and/or temperature in such a way that a predefined range or a range section may be reliably reached. Such a sensor makes it possible to reliably detect curbs, and to locate parking spaces, including curb detection under varying weather conditions. | 10-08-2009 |
20090260442 | Drum Inspecting Apparatus - Inspecting a loss in section such as corrosion, rust and abrasion due to physical factor generated in an inside face of a drum securely and rapidly with a simple structure and specifying a generation position thereof. | 10-22-2009 |
20090277271 | Micromechanical Sensor, Sensor Array and Method - The present invention relates to a micromechanical sensor for analyzing liquid samples and an array of such sensors. The invention also concerns a method for sensing liquid samples and the use of longitudinal bulk acoustic waves for analyzing liquid phase samples micromechanically. The sensor comprises a body and a planar wave guide portion spaced from the body. At least one electro-mechanical transducer element are used for excitation of longitudinal bulk acoustic waves to the wave guide portion in response to electrical actuation and for converting acoustic waves into electrical signals. The wave guide portion is provided with a sample-receiving zone onto which the sample can be introduced. By means of the invention, the sensitivity of micromechanical liquid sensors can be improved. | 11-12-2009 |
20090301203 | Tool, Sensor, and Device for a Wall Non-Distructive Control - The invention relates to a tool for non-destructive inspection of a three-dimensional wall, the tool including a plurality of juxtaposed non-destructive inspection sensors. The sensors are mounted on a support for moving the set of sensors in common relative to the wall. The support is deformable for each of the sensors so that the sensors are movable relative to one another. Also provided are a constraint element for constraining the application face of each sensor to press individually against the wall and a sliding element for causing the application face of each sensor to slide against the wall. | 12-10-2009 |
20090301204 | Methods For Imaging Displacement Of A Target Body - The invention is directed toward a new method for estimating and imaging the spatial and temporal mechanical behavior of materials in responses to a mechanical stimulus. This method is designed to work in inherently noisy applications, such as the imaging of the time-dependent mechanical behavior of biological tissues in vivo and using a preferred hand-held configuration of scanning. | 12-10-2009 |
20090320600 | FLAW DETECTION TESTING METHOD - There is provided a flaw detection testing method applied to a slot dovetail portion of a turbine generator rotor shaft. The flaw detection testing method includes an angle determining step of determining a slot angle of the slot dovetail portion using a variable-angle ultrasonic probe, a flaw detection performing step of, on the basis of a determination result in the angle determining step, using an angle ultrasonic probe or a phased array probe to perform flaw detection to detect a flaw in the slot dovetail portion, and a flaw depth measuring step of, when the flaw is detected in the flaw detection performing step, using an angle ultrasonic probe to measure a depth of the flaw from a surface of the slot dovetail portion. | 12-31-2009 |
20100024557 | Ultrasonic device for detecting direction to object - A ultrasonic device detecting a direction to an object includes: a transmitting element of a ultrasonic wave; first and second receiving elements; a diffraction wave phase detector; an initial phase memory for an initial phase of a diffraction wave; a sound speed detector; a phase correction amount calculator calculating a phase shift caused by a sound speed change and calculating a phase correction amount based on the phase of the diffraction wave, the initial phase and the phase shift; a phase correction element correcting a phase of the reflection wave based on the phase correction amount; and a direction detector for detecting the direction to the object based on a difference between corrected phases of the reflection wave received by the first and second receiving elements, a distance between the first and second receiving elements, and a wavelength of the transmission ultrasonic wave corresponding to a sound speed. | 02-04-2010 |
20100058871 | ULTRASONIC INSPECTION APPARATUS - An ultrasonic inspection apparatus is provided in which the size of the apparatus can be made compact by using laser light, the degradation and deformation of the inspected object is prevented, and a broad range of inspections can be carried out. An ultrasonic inspection apparatus ( | 03-11-2010 |
20100071471 | OBSTACLE DETECTION SYSTEM - An obstacle detection apparatus for detecting an obstacle in its surroundings is disclosed. The system includes: an ultrasonic sensor for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic wave; an obstacle detection section for performing an obstacle detection operation to determine whether the obstacle actually exists, wherein the obstacle detection section determines that the obstacle actually exists when a first voltage level associated with the ultrasonic wave received in the obstacle detection operation exceeds a determination threshold; a noise monitoring section configured to perform a noise monitoring operation to determine a noise level, wherein, the noise monitoring section recognizes a second voltage level associated with the ultrasonic wave received in the noise monitoring operation as the noise level; and a determination threshold setting section configured to set the determination threshold based on the second voltage level. | 03-25-2010 |
20100107768 | DEVICE FOR DETECTING A FLAW IN A COMPONENT - The invention relates to a device for detecting a flaw in a fibre-reinforced component, in particular delamination in a bearing region of a hole, by means of at least one probe, wherein an ultrasound field is emittable and detectable by means of the at least one probe. The ultrasound field is coupled according to the invention to the component at an angle of incidence α of greater than 0° from a normal of an upper side of a component. The oblique radiation enables a higher degree of resolution to be achieved when detecting delamination in the bearing region of holes. Further variants of the device operate using at least one linear probe received in a self-positioning holder. The rotating linear probe is composed of a plurality of individual vibrator elements which are arranged at regular intervals behind one another. | 05-06-2010 |
20100147081 | EXTENDED OVERFLOW INDICATION FOR HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE ULTRASONIC FAULT DETECTION SYSTEMS - A method and apparatus for effecting ultrasonic flaw detection of an object processes an echo signal received from the object being tested in at least three signal channels, wherein the echo signal is scaled to different degrees along each channel to increase and extend the dynamic range of an associated A/D converter system, in a manner which dispenses with the need for using numerous analog high pass and low pass filters and a variable gain amplifier. This reduces complexity and avoids performance limitations. The digital to analog converters sample the differently scaled input signal and a selection circuit selects the output of the digital output obtained from that analog to digital converter which has the highest gain, but which has not overflowed. The digital outputs are seamlessly merged to produce an output that can be displayed as a scan display which shows the location of faults. | 06-17-2010 |
20100170343 | ULTRASONIC SENSOR AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A SEPARATION OF AN OBJECT FROM AN ULTRASONIC SENSOR - The invention relates to a method for determining a separation, spacing or distance of an object from an ultrasonic sensor, in which ultrasonic pulses are emitted by a transducing or sensing element and in which ultrasonic pulses reflected by the object are detected by the same transducing element. According to the invention, the method is characterized in that there is a spectral analysis of the signal detected by the transducing element, that the multiple echo frequency attributed to multiple echoes of the ultrasonic pulses is determined in the spectrum of the detection signal and that on the basis of the multiple echo frequency the separation of the object from the ultrasonic sensor is determined. The invention also relates to an ultrasonic sensor for determining the separation of an object. | 07-08-2010 |
20100180685 | OBJECT DETECTION APPARATUS - The transmission of a detection wave and the reception of a reflected wave are periodically repeated every transmission period. One received signal is compared with another received signal at a similar corresponding comparison periods in different transmission periods of a receiving time of the reflected wave. Switching between the comparison periods is performed each time the transmission period is updated. A waveform of a received signal in a block A | 07-22-2010 |
20100199768 | LASER-BASED MAINTENANCE APPARATUS - A laser maintenance apparatus including a laser system which includes an optical system for emitting, in a first irradiation condition, a generation laser beam for generating an ultrasonic wave in a portion of an object on which maintenance is to be performed, and including a laser source configured to generate and detect a detection laser beam which interacts with the ultrasonic wave generated by the laser light beam in the first condition. The laser maintenance apparatus also includes a light transmitting device for transmitting laser light emitted from the laser system, a laser irradiation device for irradiating laser light transmitted by the light transmitting device to the object portion, and a transporting/scanning mechanism for transporting the light transmitting device and the laser irradiation device to a portion near the object portion, and scanning over an arbitrary range at the object portion. | 08-12-2010 |
20100199769 | LASER-BASED MAINTENANCE APPARATUS - A laser maintenance apparatus including a laser system which includes an optical system for emitting, in a first irradiation condition, a generation laser beam for generating an ultrasonic wave in a portion of an object on which maintenance is to be performed, and including a laser source configured to generate and detect a detection laser beam which interacts with the ultrasonic wave generated by the laser light beam in the first condition. The laser maintenance apparatus also includes a light transmitting device for transmitting laser light emitted from the laser system, a laser irradiation device for irradiating laser light transmitted by the light transmitting device to the object portion, and a transporting/scanning mechanism for transporting the light transmitting device and the laser irradiation device to a portion near the object portion, and scanning over an arbitrary range at the object portion. | 08-12-2010 |
20100206082 | ULTRASONIC DETECTION DEVICE, ULTRASONIC DETECTION METHOD, AND ATOMIC POWER PLANT NONDESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION METHOD - Provided are an ultrasonic inspection device, an ultrasonic inspection method, and an atomic power plant nondestructive inspection method that are capable of efficiently generating ultrasonic waves having a sufficient intensity and that are capable of carrying out preferable inspection in a wide range. Provided is an ultrasonic inspection device including a laser device that emits output-adjusted laser light and a volumetric inspection ultrasonic-wave transmitting unit having a transmitting diaphragm that generates ultrasonic waves upon being irradiated with the laser light emitted by the laser device, inspection being carried out by radiating the ultrasonic waves generated by the transmitting diaphragm of the volumetric inspection ultrasonic-wave transmitting unit on a structural member, wherein the transmitting diaphragm is formed of titanium. | 08-19-2010 |
20100269593 | PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A BODY PROVIDED WITH A SLOT AS A TEST CRACK - A process for producing a reference body ( | 10-28-2010 |
20100275692 | APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING MATERIAL THICKNESS - An apparatus and system for measuring material thickness of a test object. In one embodiment, the apparatus can include a measurement probe that can have a plurality of transducer elements that can include transmitter elements and receiver elements arranged, respectively, in on a first side and a second side of a gap. The first side and the second side can form a scan area with at least one active group that can have at least one transmitter element and at least one receiver element, which can be separated from the transmitter element in a spaced relationship. | 11-04-2010 |
20100281983 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR POSITION DETERMINATION - An apparatus for determining a distance includes a converter element that generates n acoustic surface wave, a surface that feeds over at least part of the acoustic surface wave to a surface having a reflection point, and a processor that determines a distance between the apparatus and the reflection point from the propagation time of the acoustic surface wave. The converter element registers the acoustic surface wave reflected at the reflection point. | 11-11-2010 |
20100307251 | Detailfunction Based Measurement - Methods and apparatuses for finding, extracting and for providing of echoes with detail functions are described. In particular, an echo extraction method for extracting an echo from an echo function is described. The method comprises receiving the echo function and decomposing the echo function in at least one detail function. The at least one detail function comprises a plurality of first coefficients. Each of the at least one detail functions represents a different degree of detail of the echo function. The degree of detail relates to a form of a base function. Furthermore, the method comprises eliminating at least one of the plurality of first coefficients and applying a reconstruction regulation or scheme, which depends on the form of the base function, for generating a smoothed echo function. Thereafter, at least one echo is determined from the smoothed echo function. | 12-09-2010 |
20110005322 | Pulse Period Jitter for Artifact Detection or Reduction in Ultrasound Imaging - Depth ambiguity artifact is addressed. The pulse repetition interval is periodically varied. This jitter in the interval causes variance in the artifact while maintaining actual tissue or signal. The variation of the artifact may be visually detected or automatically detected and reduced, such as by removal. By removing the information associated with the variation of the artifact, the constant or maintained information may be presented with fewer artifacts. The variation may result in greater blurring of the artifact thereby reducing the artifact. | 01-13-2011 |
20110048134 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - The invention provides an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including a signal generating part for generating a chirp wave; a compression processing part for performing a compression process on the chirp wave and outputting a chirp compression signal; and a probe for generating a SH wave based on the chirp compression signal and propagating the SH wave in the test object. | 03-03-2011 |
20110132092 | HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE NDT/NDI INSPECTION DEVICE WITH SELECTIVE NOISE AVERAGING - An apparatus for performing ultrasonic inspection of an object, during one measurement on the object, triggers a sequence of excitations of the probe system and receives a sequence of substantially identical echo signals reflected from the object, and further scales each echo signal to different degrees to increase and extend the dynamic range of the echo signals. An A/D converter is then used to digitize the scaled signal sequentially in a manner which dispenses the need for using numerous A/D converters and the associated filters. The digitized signal samples are then combined to produce a single digital output in a manner that is not over-flowed and with desirable resolution. A sequence of successive acquisitions of the scaled signal with the highest sensitivity are averaged to reduce system noise. | 06-09-2011 |
20110138920 | Contact-free pipe wall thickness measurement device and pipe wall thickness measurement - In order to make available a contact-free pipe wall thickness measurement device having a simple design, having at least two laser ultrasound measurement heads, it is possible to dispose at least two ultrasound measurement heads on a common pivot frame in the contact-free pipe wall thickness measurement device, which frame can pivot about a pivot axis. | 06-16-2011 |
20110209548 | ASSESSING METAL STACK INTEGRITY IN SOPHISTICATED SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES BY MECHANICALLY STRESSING DIE CONTACTS - The metallization system of complex semiconductor devices may be evaluated in terms of mechanical integrity on the basis of a measurement system and measurement procedures in which individual contact elements, such as metal pillars or solder bumps, are mechanically stimulated, while the response of the metallization system, for instance in the form of directly measured forces, is determined in order to quantitatively evaluate mechanical status of the metallization system. In this manner, the complex material systems and the mutual interactions thereof may be efficiently assessed. | 09-01-2011 |
20110239768 | PULSE-ECHO METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE DAMPING BLOCK GEOMETRY - The invention relates to a nondestructive ultrasonic test method in which at least one ultrasonic pulse is emitted into a workpiece under test by means of at least one ultrasonic transmitter ( | 10-06-2011 |
20110265570 | ULTRASOUND PROBE DIAGNOSING APPARATUS, ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, AND ULTRASOUND PROBE DIAGNOSING METHOD - An ultrasound probe diagnosing apparatus which diagnoses an ultrasound probe having an array of a plurality of ultrasound transducing elements on the basis of how the ultrasound probe receives reflected ultrasound waves from a test object placed to face the ultrasound probe, includes a part which detects a posture of the ultrasound probe with respect to the test object by comparing reflected ultrasound signals received by at least some of the plurality of ultrasound transducing elements, and a presenting part which presents information based on the detected posture. | 11-03-2011 |
20110265571 | ULTRASOUND PROBE DIAGNOSING APPARATUS, ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, AND ULTRASOUND PROBE DIAGNOSING METHOD - An ultrasound probe diagnosing apparatus which diagnoses an ultrasound probe having an array of a plurality of ultrasound transducing elements on the basis of how the ultrasound probe receives reflected ultrasound waves from a test object placed to face the ultrasound probe, includes a part which detects a posture of the ultrasound probe with respect to the test object by comparing reflected ultrasound signals received by at least some of the plurality of ultrasound transducing elements, and a presenting part which presents information based on the detected posture. | 11-03-2011 |
20110271762 | ULTRASOUND PROBE DIAGNOSING APPARATUS, ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, AND ULTRASOUND PROBE DIAGNOSING METHOD - An ultrasound probe diagnosing apparatus which diagnoses an ultrasound probe having an array of a plurality of ultrasound transducing elements on the basis of how the ultrasound probe receives reflected ultrasound waves from a test object placed to face the ultrasound probe, includes a part which detects a posture of the ultrasound probe with respect to the test object by comparing reflected ultrasound signals received by at least some of the plurality of ultrasound transducing elements, and a presenting part which presents information based on the detected posture. | 11-10-2011 |
20110271763 | ULTRASOUND PROBE DIAGNOSING APPARATUS, ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, AND ULTRASOUND PROBE DIAGNOSING METHOD - An ultrasound probe diagnosing apparatus which diagnoses an ultrasound probe having an array of a plurality of ultrasound transducing elements on the basis of how the ultrasound probe receives reflected ultrasound waves from a test object placed to face the ultrasound probe, includes a part which detects a posture of the ultrasound probe with respect to the test object by comparing reflected ultrasound signals received by at least some of the plurality of ultrasound transducing elements, and a presenting part which presents information based on the detected posture. | 11-10-2011 |
20110277549 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING USING ULTRASONIC PHASED ARRAY - The present invention is related generally to the field of non-destructive materials testing using ultrasonic devices, more particularly, ultrasonic devices in a phased array and includes a wedge for conducting pitch-catch ultrasonic phase array testing of materials wherein the wedge includes a liquid column and is manufactured with specific angles so as to control the angle at which the ultrasonic waves pass into the wedge and then are refracted when passing from the liquid in the liquid column into the material being analyzed, thus providing a wider range of analysis via sweeping the beams from the wedge than was possible with known wedges. | 11-17-2011 |
20120167689 | ULTRASONIC SENSOR - An ultrasonic sensor is provided at a bumper | 07-05-2012 |
20120174672 | ULTRASONIC SENSOR, TACTILE SENSOR, GRASPING APPARATUS, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An ultrasonic sensor includes: a substrate; an ultrasonic transducer disposed on the substrate, and configured and arranged to transmit ultrasonic waves that propagate as plane waves in a direction orthogonal to a surface of the substrate; an acoustic refracting part contacting the ultrasonic transducer, and configured and arranged to refract the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer; an elastically deformable elastic portion contacting the acoustic refracting part; and an ultrasonic reflecting member disposed within the elastic portion, and configured and arranged to reflect the ultrasonic waves. The acoustic refracting part is configured and arranged to refract, toward the ultrasonic reflecting member, the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer. | 07-12-2012 |
20120227501 | HANDHELD PROBE FOR TUBE INSPECTION USING APR - Exemplary embodiments of a handheld probe (HHP) of an Acoustic pulse reflectometry (APR) system are disclosed. Embodiments of the HHP can comprise a loudspeaker and microphone that are vibration isolated from each other and from the tube under test. In some embodiments the microphone can be isolated from the housing of the HHP. In other embodiments the housing of the HHP can be isolated from the loudspeaker. In another embodiment the housing of the probe can be isolated from the tube under test. Yet, some embodiments combine all of this isolation options. In such embodiment the loudspeaker is isolated from the housing, the housing is isolated from the tube under test, and the microphone is isolated from the housing, and so on. Isolation can be achieved by using materials that absorb vibration, material such as but not limited to rubber, foam, silicone, etc. | 09-13-2012 |
20130014587 | ULTRASONIC FLAW DETECTOR AND ULTRASONIC FLAW DETECTING METHODAANM YAMAMOTO; SetsuAACI Yokohama-ShiAACO JPAAGP YAMAMOTO; Setsu Yokohama-Shi JPAANM Miura; TakahiroAACI Yokohama-ShiAACO JPAAGP Miura; Takahiro Yokohama-Shi JPAANM Semboshi; JunAACI Yokohama-ShiAACO JPAAGP Semboshi; Jun Yokohama-Shi JPAANM Ochiai; MakotoAACI Yokohama-ShiAACO JPAAGP Ochiai; Makoto Yokohama-Shi JPAANM Nagai; SatoshiAACI Kawasaki-ShiAACO JPAAGP Nagai; Satoshi Kawasaki-Shi JPAANM Watanabe; KazumiAACI Yokohama-ShiAACO JPAAGP Watanabe; Kazumi Yokohama-Shi JPAANM Mitsuhashi; TadahiroAACI Yokohama-ShiAACO JPAAGP Mitsuhashi; Tadahiro Yokohama-Shi JPAANM Adachi; HiroyukiAACI Machida-ShiAACO JPAAGP Adachi; Hiroyuki Machida-Shi JPAANM Yamamoto; SatoshiAACI Kawaguchi-ShiAACO JPAAGP Yamamoto; Satoshi Kawaguchi-Shi JPAANM Takabayashi; JunichiAACI Yokohama-ShiAACO JPAAGP Takabayashi; Junichi Yokohama-Shi JPAANM Otsuka; MasaruAACI Ota-KuAACO JPAAGP Otsuka; Masaru Ota-Ku JP - An ultrasonic flaw detector including an ultrasonic probe for emitting an ultrasonic wave on an object to be inspected and receiving a reflected ultrasonic wave from the object, a drive element control unit for controlling a plurality of ultrasonic elements to emit an ultrasonic wave on the ultrasonic probe and to control a reflected ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic probe, and a calculation unit for obtaining, by using a refraction angle of the ultrasonic wave at a time of the ultrasonic wave entering the object, an incident position of the ultrasonic wave on a surface of the object, and a surface shape of a surface of the object at the incident position, the incident angle of the ultrasonic wave entering the incident position, and obtaining a plurality of ultrasonic elements to be driven, based on the incident position and the incident angle. | 01-17-2013 |
20130036821 | WIRELESS SURFACE ACOUSTIC WAVE CORROSION SENSOR AND INTERROGATION SYSTEM FOR CONCRETE STRUCTURES - A SAW sensor disposed in or on a material. The sensor comprises an antenna having a sacrificial link in at least one antenna element, wherein the sacrificial link is exposed to degrading elements within or on a surface of the material, a SAW transducer responsive to an interrogation signal for generating an incident acoustic wave, a reflector responsive to the incident SAW for creating a reflected SAW, the reflected SAW received by the transducer, the transducer for creating a response signal responsive to the reflected SAW, and the response signal transmitted from the antenna, characteristics of the response signal dependent on a condition of the sacrificial link. | 02-14-2013 |
20130055817 | Operation-Position Detector and Application Thereof - An operation-position detector having a tube that allows an ultrasonic signal to propagate therethrough. The tube has a plurality of holes capable of being selectively closed or opened by an operation and is provided with an ultrasonic transmitter-receiver arranged at a first end thereof. A signal processor drives the ultrasonic transmitter-receiver and causes an ultrasonic signal to propagate through the inside of the tube, receives a reflection signal corresponding to a closed or open state of each of the holes, and detects the state of each hole on the basis of the reflection signal, thereby detecting the operation position of an operation conducted by an operator. | 03-07-2013 |
20130104659 | Method for Non-Destructive Testing | 05-02-2013 |
20130167646 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING USING ULTRASONIC PHASED ARRAY - The present invention is related generally to the field of non-destructive materials testing using ultrasonic devices, more particularly, ultrasonic devices in a phased array and includes a wedge for conducting pitch-catch ultrasonic phase array testing of materials wherein the wedge includes a liquid column and is manufactured with specific angles so as to control the angle at which the ultrasonic waves pass into the wedge and then are refracted when passing from the liquid in the liquid column into the material being analyzed, thus providing a wider range of analysis via sweeping the beams from the wedge than was possible with known wedges. | 07-04-2013 |
20130174662 | WIRELESS MEASUREMENT DEVICE USING SURFACE ACOUSTIC WAVE (SAW)-BASED MICRO SENSOR AND METHOD OF USING THE SAW-BASED MICRO SENSOR - A wireless measurement device includes a sound acoustic wave (SAW)-based micro sensor converting a wirelessly received pulse signal into an SAW and generating a plurality of pulse signals by reflecting the SAW, and wirelessly transmitting the plurality of pulse signals to measure a variance of an environmental element; and a reader generating and wirelessly transmitting a pulse signal to the SAW-based micro sensor to measure variances in environmental elements. | 07-11-2013 |
20130192374 | RETROREFLECTOR FOR ULTRASONIC INSPECTION - A system for ultrasonic inspection of a structure includes a transducer located at a first surface of the structure to transmit an ultrasonic signal from the transducer through the first surface to a second surface of the structure located substantially opposite the first surface. A plurality of retroreflector elements are located at the second surface to reflect the ultrasonic signal back toward the transducer. A method of ultrasonic inspection of a structure includes transmitting an ultrasonic signal from a transducer located at a first surface of the structure toward a second surface of the structure located substantially opposite the first surface. The ultrasonic signal is reflected back toward the transducer via a plurality of retroreflector elements disposed at the second surface. | 08-01-2013 |
20130255385 | X-RAY BACKSCATTER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING DISCREPANCIES IN ITEMS - A method for detecting discrepancies in an item is provided. The method comprises: directing energy waves at the item along at least one dimension, wherein a portion of the energy waves are reflected back from the item; detecting reflected energy waves from the item along at least one dimension and recording the intensity of the detected reflected energy waves, and forming a one-dimensional image of the item from the detected reflected energy waves. | 10-03-2013 |
20130291641 | INTERNAL STRINGER INSPECTION SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATED STRUCTURES - An inspection apparatus and method for inspecting an interior surface of a hollow composite part. The inspection apparatus may have a first plug, a second plug, and a trolley positioned between the first and second plugs. The first and second plugs may form a leak-proof seal against the interior surface of the hollow composite part. The trolley may support at least one inspection probe for testing the interior surface of the composite part. A method of inspecting the composite part may include the steps of inserting the inspection apparatus into the hollow composite part, pushing or pulling the inspection apparatus with an elongated actuation element to a desired area to be inspected within the composite part, then filling a space between first and second plugs with a liquid. Finally, the method may include a step of inspecting the interior surface of the hollow composite part with the inspection probe. | 11-07-2013 |
20130298683 | APPARATUS FOR DETECTING INHOMOGENEITIES - An apparatus for detecting inhomogeneities in panels ( | 11-14-2013 |
20130298684 | Method for Detecting Damage to a Hollow Shaft - A method for detecting damage to a hollow shaft having no radially encircling notches, openings, or channels by:
| 11-14-2013 |
20130319119 | DEVICE FOR DETERMINING AN EXTENSION LENGTH OF AN EXTENDABLE MACHINE PART - A device for determining an extension length of an extendable machine part includes a first ultrasound sensor and a controller, the controller determining the extension length on the basis of an ultrasound signal received by the first ultrasound sensor. The first ultrasound sensor includes a first ultrasound converter and a second ultrasound converter which are arranged such that they are offset along the measuring direction. | 12-05-2013 |
20140033821 | NONINVASIVE MEASURING DEVICE AND NONINVASIVE MEASURING METHOD FOR PROBING AN INTERFACE - The present disclosure provides solutions to probing an interface. With a noninvasive measuring device provided in one embodiment of the disclosure, an acoustic wave whose frequency is higher than approximately 300 GHz is generated to propagate in a buffering film. With measuring the reflection from the interface of an object to be measured interfacing with the buffering film, it is possible in one embodiment of the disclosure that at least one physical property of the interface may be analyzed, preferably with approximately 0.3 nm resolution. | 02-06-2014 |
20140109677 | ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD - A method and apparatus for determining a thickness of an object using ultrasonic signals are disclosed. The method includes the steps of transmitting ultrasonic signals toward the object, digitizing a reflected echo sequence of the ultrasonic signals, including interpolating the echo sequence, and processing the echo sequence by detecting maximum amplitude peaks in the echo sequence and determining the object thickness based on a time duration between the maximum amplitude peaks. | 04-24-2014 |
20140150556 | Measurement and Imaging of Scatterers with Memory of Scatterer Parameters Using at Least Two-Frequency Elastic Wave Pulse Complexes - Measurement or imaging of elastic wave nonlinear scatterers with a memory of scattering parameters comprises selecting LF pulses having characteristics to change the scattering parameters of nonlinear scatterers. A transmit time relation is selected so that the incident HF pulse propagates sufficiently close to the LF pulse that the effect of the incident LF pulse on its scatterer parameters is observed by the HF pulse. At least two elastic wave pulse complexes comprising a high frequency (HF) pulse and a selected low frequency (LF) pulse are transmitted towards the region. Received HF signals are combined to form nonlinear HF signals representing the scatterers with memory, with suppression of received HF signals from other scatterers. At least one of the received HF signals may be corrected by time delay correction and/or speckle correction with a speckle correction filter, determined by movement of the scattering object. Systems are also disclosed. | 06-05-2014 |
20140157902 | ULTRASONIC SENSOR DEVICE - An ultrasonic sensor device includes a substrate, a piezoelectric vibrator, and a Q-factor adjuster. The piezoelectric vibrator includes a pair of detection electrodes that face each other in a thickness direction of the substrate and a piezoelectric body interposed between the electrodes. The piezoelectric vibrator provides a membrane structure which is formed on a surface of the substrate and has rigidity lower than that of a remaining portion of the substrate. An ultrasonic wave is transmitted by the piezoelectric vibrator, and its reflected wave is received by the same piezoelectric vibrator. The Q-factor adjuster adjusts a Q-factor of the piezoelectric vibrator so that the Q-factor can be larger during a transmission period where the piezoelectric vibrator transmits the ultrasonic wave than during a reception period where the piezoelectric vibrator receives the ultrasonic wave. | 06-12-2014 |
20140238138 | ULTRASOUND PROBE SYSTEM - An ultrasound probe system includes a main body portion, an ultrasound observation portion transmitting ultrasound in a side surface direction of the main body portion and receiving a reflected wave, a distal-end portion provided such that a proximal-end face, on a proximal-end side is adjacent to a distal-end in an axial direction of the main body portion, a sheath portion housing the main body portion inside to be capable of advancing and retracting in the axial direction, a distal-end face arranged at a distal-end of the sheath portion and facing the proximal-end face, a specimen collecting portion provided on the proximal-end face and/or the distal-end face, the specimen collecting portion being formed at an acute angle to separate a specimen from a subject, and an edge portion arranged on the proximal-end face or the distal-end face to cross the entire circumference of the specimen collecting portion to cut the specimen. | 08-28-2014 |
20140245835 | SOLID CONTENTS VERIFICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Solid contents verification systems and methods are provided. The system includes a contents sensor unit, a container-carrying unit and a control unit. The contents sensor unit has at least one contents sensor configured to send and receive sonic pulses to determine a state of contents in a container. The contents sensor unit is configured to send a signal communicating a state of the contents in a container. The container-carrying unit is configured to hold a container in substantial alignment with the contents sensors to expose the contents to the sonic pulses. The control unit is operatively connected to the contents sensor unit. The control unit is configured to receive the signal communicating the state of the contents and to compare the state of the contents with a desired state of the contents. | 09-04-2014 |
20140245836 | OBJECT INFORMATION ACQUIRING APPARATUS - Disclosed is an apparatus that transmits an elastic wave to an object and receives a reflected wave, this apparatus including: a transmitting and receiving unit having elements for converting an elastic wave to an electric signal, and being arranged at least in one direction; an element controlling unit that inputs an electric signal to the element and causes the element to transmit an elastic wave; and a detecting unit that detects a reflected wave to be received by the element, wherein the electric signal to be inputted to the element is an encoded pulse signal encoded among the elements, and the detecting unit decodes the reflected wave and executes at different time points aperture synthesis processing of synthesizing the decoded reflected wave with respect to the intersections of two axes at different time points. | 09-04-2014 |
20140260629 | SELF-PROPELLED, REDUCED-WATER, INTERNAL NON-DESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION APPARATUS - An inspection apparatus and method for inspecting an inner surface of a hollow composite part. The inspection apparatus may have a support frame, at least one transducer attached to the support frame, an ultrasound gel pad attached to an outer surface of the transducer, and a sponge attached to the support frame. The transducer may send and receive ultrasound waves and the sponge may be positioned to leave a trail of water when moved along the inner surface of the hollow composite part, such that the water rests between the ultrasound gel pad and the inner surface once the inspection apparatus reaches a location to be inspected. The ultrasound waves may thus be transmitted through the ultrasound gel pad and then through the water before bouncing off of the inner surface of the hollow composite part. The ultrasound waves bounced off of the inner surface may be detected by the transducer and analyzed to determine if there is a defect in the composite part. | 09-18-2014 |
20140311246 | TREAD THICKNESS MEASURING METHOD - A method for measuring the tread thickness from the radially outermost belt surface within a tire to the tread surface accurately by ultrasonic measurement whatever the type of belt material is. The method includes the steps of measuring a profile of the tread surface, identifying the bottom positions of circumferentially extending grooves from the profile measured, estimating the depths from the groove bottoms to the belt surface from the identified groove bottoms and pre-created tire design data, predicting thicknesses by calculating predicted thicknesses from the tread surface to the belt surface from the relationship between the thicknesses from the identified groove bottoms to the tread surface in the profile and the estimated depths from the groove bottoms to the belt surface, and setting amplification factors for received reflected waves according to a reflection factor-thickness data map prepared beforehand in correspondence to the predicated thicknesses. | 10-23-2014 |
20140318253 | OBJECT INFORMATION ACQUIRING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - Adopted is an object information acquiring apparatus that includes: a probe including multiple conversion elements that transmit acoustic waves to an object, and convert the reflected waves into time-series received signals; and a processor that performs frequency domain interferometry, through application of adaptive signal processing, by using the multiple received signals output from the multiple conversion elements and a reference signal, and obtains acoustic properties of multiple positions. The probe is configured such that, when a direction in which the multiple conversion elements are arranged is a first direction and a second direction, end portions in the second direction have a lower transmission sound pressure of the acoustic waves than a midportion in the second direction. | 10-30-2014 |
20140318254 | CAPACITIVE TRANSDUCER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME - A side lobe in a capacitive transducer is reduced. Provided is a capacitive transducer including an element including a plurality of cells supported such that a vibrating membrane including one of a pair of electrodes formed with an gap inbetween is capable of vibration, wherein a distance between cells in an end portion of the element is greater than a distance between cells in a middle portion of the element. | 10-30-2014 |
20140318255 | CAPACITIVE TRANSDUCER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME - Provided is a capacitive transducer including an element including a plurality of cells supported such that a vibrating membrane including one of a pair of electrodes formed with an gap inbetween is capable of vibration, wherein a distance between a pair of electrodes of a cell in an end portion of the element is greater than a distance between a pair of electrodes of a cell in a middle portion of the element. | 10-30-2014 |
20140318256 | ACOUSTIC SENSOR FOR MEASURING A LINEAR MOVEMENT - An acoustic sensor for measuring the linear movement of an internal structure of a nuclear reactor using sound waves, including: an electro-acoustic transducer capable of emitting sound waves; and a waveguide capable of guiding the sound waves emitted by the transducer toward a measurement area of the internal structure, wherein the waveguide is capable of guiding the reflected wave and the waveguide is secured to the measurement area and arranged so as to be capable of extending or retracting in accordance with the movement of the internal structure of the nuclear reactor. | 10-30-2014 |
20140338454 | APPARATUS FOR AND A METHOD OF IMPROVED TIMING CONTROL FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING AND INSPECTION - A pulse generation circuit and method includes using digital signals to trigger a first and second varying analog signals and detecting when they reach one or more reference levels. In response to the first and second varying analog signals reaching one or more reference levels, a first and a second digital control signals are produced and provided as input to a pulser producing a voltage excitation pulse having a width and timing defined by the first and second digital control signals. | 11-20-2014 |
20140338455 | ULTRASOUND PROBE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME - An ultrasound probe comprises: a backing material; a plurality of inorganic piezoelectric elements arranged on a top surface of the backing material; a first acoustic matching layer separated into a plurality of pieces disposed on the plurality of inorganic piezoelectric elements; and a second acoustic matching layer separated into a plurality of pieces disposed on the first acoustic matching layer, wherein the second acoustic matching layer comprises an upper organic layer constituting a plurality of organic piezoelectric elements, and a lower organic layer for performing, together with the upper organic layer, acoustic matching for the plurality of inorganic piezoelectric elements. | 11-20-2014 |
20140373631 | ACOUSTIC PROBING TECHNIQUE FOR THE DETERMINATION OF INTERIOR PIPE COATING WEAR OR SCALE BUILD-UP AND LINER WEAR - Apparatus is provided comprising a signal processor that receives signaling containing information about an acoustic signal swept and sensed over a frequency range in relation to a pipe; and determines information about the structure of the pipe based at least partly on two or more sub-frequency ranges that form part of the frequency range in the signaling received. The signal processor also receives the acoustic signal being transmitted to the pipe and corresponding signaling in the two or more sub-frequency ranges containing information about reflections of the acoustic signal back from the pipe; and determines information about the structure of the pipe based at least partly on a coherent mixing of the acoustic signal and the corresponding signaling in the two or more sub-frequency ranges using a coherent acoustic tomography technique. Alternatively, the signal processor also receives associated signaling in the two or more sub-frequency ranges containing information about associated resonance in a liner of a wall of the pipe and determines information about the liner of the wall of the pipe, based at least partly on the two or more sub-frequency ranges. | 12-25-2014 |
20150096381 | ULTRASONIC PROBE FOR EXAMINING AN OBJECT WITH ULTRASOUND ANDCORRESPONDING EXAMINATION METHOD - An ultrasonic probe for examining an object with ultrasound and a corresponding examination method are provided. The probe includes a plurality of emitter elements able to emit ultrasonic waves for emitting a focused ultrasonic beam into the object through an active area of a surface of the object, and a profilometer for determining the profile of the surface of the object and for controlling the emission of the ultrasonic beam depending on the determined profile. The profilometer includes an image-taking apparatus for taking at least one digital image of the active area and an image processing module able to determine the profile of the active area by analyzing the optical blurring of the or at least one image. | 04-09-2015 |
20150114123 | APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL - A gripper unit for handling a vessel for receiving biological material is proposed, inter alia. The vessel has a lid which can assume an open position and a closed position. The gripper unit comprises a gripper for gripping and releasing the vessel, and a lid holder, for holding a lid in a defined position in relation to the vessel. The defined position is an open position of the lid. | 04-30-2015 |
20150128710 | Methods And Devices For Long Term Structural Health Monitoring Of Pipelines And Vessels - A system and method for non-destructive monitoring a component including a guided wave sensor positioned around a surface of the component, wherein the component has a perimeter. A first spring mounting clamp positioned around the component perimeter and a second spring mounting clamp positioned around the component perimeter, wherein the first and second mounting clamps are positioned a distance of 0.1 inches to 5.0 inches on either side of the guided wave sensor. A plurality of elongated springs is attached at a first end to the first spring mounting clamp and attached at a second end to the second spring mounting clamp. The central portion applying a pressure of at least 10 psi to the guided wave sensor. | 05-14-2015 |
20150316509 | METHOD FOR MEASURING THICKNESS OF BOILER WATER TUBE - An inspection hole is formed on a side surface of a boiler water tube in a longitudinal direction, a base side of a guide pipe is connected to the inspection hole, and usually, a closing member is attached to the guide pipe. In a case where the thickness of the boiler water tube is measured, the closing member is released from the guide pipe, an ultrasonic probe is inserted into the boiler water tube from a tip side of the guide pipe, and the ultrasonic probe is moved in the boiler water tube. | 11-05-2015 |
20160069841 | NOVEL SEGMENTED STRIP DESIGN FOR A MAGNETOSTRICTION SENSOR (MsS) USING AMORPHOUS MATERIAL FOR LONG RANGE INSPECTION OF DEFECTS AND BENDS IN PIPES AT HIGH TEMPERATURES - The invention relates to a continuous monitoring system which will monitor the pipes without the need of shutting down of the plants. The major issues in designing such a system using magnetostriction as per prior art is the loss of magnetization of the permanent magnets used to provide the magnetic bias and also the disbonding of interfaced adhesives with which the magnetostrictive ribbons are bonded at high temperatures. The invention identifies a novel sensor which can be taken up to high temperatures without any loss of signal strength, this is achieved by generating guided waves using a special amorphous magnetostrictive ribbons. L (0, 2) mode waves are generated using these ribbons to monitor pipes working at high temperatures as per the invention. | 03-10-2016 |
20160077055 | SUBSURFACE SENSING USING GUIDED SURFACE WAVE MODES ON LOSSY MEDIA - Disclosed are various systems and methods for remote surface sensing using guided surface wave modes on lossy media. One system, among others, comprises a guided surface waveguide probe configured to launch a guided surface wave along a surface of a lossy conducting medium, and a receiver configured to receive backscatter reflected by a remotely located subsurface object illuminated by the guided surface wave. One method, among others, includes launching a guided surface wave along a surface of a lossy conducting medium by exciting a charge terminal of a guided surface waveguide probe, and receiving backscatter reflected by a remotely located subsurface object illuminated by the guided surface wave. | 03-17-2016 |
20160202052 | ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENT | 07-14-2016 |
20170234836 | DEVICE FOR INSPECTING JUNCTION-TYPE OUTER JOINT MEMBER OF CONSTANT VELOCITY UNIVERSAL JOINT | 08-17-2017 |