| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 073606000 | Imaging of discontinuity with stationary sonic transmitter | 31 |
| 20080276709 | Method for Generation Mechanical Waves by Generation of Interfacial Acoustic Radiation Force - The present invention relates to a method for generating mechanical waves within a viscoelastic medium ( | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080314153 | HAND-HELD FLAW DETECTOR IMAGING APPARATUS - The present invention relates to a flaw detector imaging apparatus for detecting and visualizing a flaw in a target material to be investigated, comprising an ultrasonic phase-array probe comprising an array of ultrasonic transducers and a flaw detector. The flaw detector includes at least one trigger channel to trigger ultrasonic emitting transducers of the array at respective time delays to produce an ultrasonic beam propagating through the target material, and a single receiver channel to receive echo signals produced by ultrasonic receiving transducers of the array in response to ultrasonic wave echoes reflected from a flaw in the target material. The single receiver channel comprises a delay circuit imparting to the received echo signals the respective time delays as used in the triggering of the ultrasonic emitting transducers and a combiner of the delayed echo signals. A processor is responsive to the echo signals produced by the ultrasonic receiving transducers, received by the single receiver channel and time delayed by the delay circuit to produce an image of the flaw from which the ultrasonic wave echoes are reflected. A display connected to the ultrasonic processor displays the image of the flaw. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090000382 | NON-CONTACT ACOUSTO-THERMAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING INCIPIENT DAMAGE IN MATERIALS - A non-contact acousto-thermal method and apparatus are provided for detection of incipient damage in materials. The apparatus utilizes an ultrasonic horn which receives an acoustic wave generated by an ultrasonic transducer energized by an RF pulse. The ultrasonic horn is placed at a distance from the sample to be tested with sufficient gap so that when excited, the face of the ultrasonic horn does not come into contact with the sample. An IR camera is placed at a distance from the opposite side of the sample. The acoustic wave is amplified by the ultrasonic horn, and the interaction between the sample and the acoustic wave produces changes in the temperature of the sample in the region of interaction during acoustic excitation such that the temperature of the material rapidly increases. The temperature-time profile is captured by the IR camera and may be analyzed by a data acquisition unit. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090078047 | Non-invasive multi-function sensor system - An integrated multi-function sensor system has a head having a slot to accept a tube of a deformable material and a plurality of sensor elements mounted in the walls of the head slot to confront a tube in the slot, each sensor element being for affecting sensing of a condition relating to a liquid in the tube. An integrated electronic circuit including a microprocessor operates to determine the various conditions of a liquid flowing in the tube sensed by the sensor elements, which conditions include detection of air bubbles and/or particles by ultrasonic sensing elements, detection of an occlusion in the liquid flow by sensing the deformation of the tube wall by a force sensing element, determining the temperature of the liquid by an infrared temperature sensing element, and determining the color of the liquid by optical elements. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090095086 | SCANNING ACOUSTIC MICROSCOPE WITH PROFILOMETER FUNCTION - A scanning acoustic microscope, comprising an ultrasonic transducer, a motor assembly on which the ultrasonic transducer is mounted, a controller that is electrically connected to the transducer and the motor assembly, the controller being adapted to cause the rotor and transducer to be moved along a path in a predetermined sequence of movements with respect to a sample; and wherein the controller is adapted to cause the ultrasonic transducer to emit one or more pulses of acoustic energy and to generate profile measurements of the sample by processing signals from the transducer that are representative of pulses of acoustic energy that are reflected by the sample. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090282922 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING A SYSTEM - A method for monitoring a system, in which a plurality of acoustic images are recorded and compared at defined intervals of time over a period of time extending several weeks. A large system can be monitored reliably and with little complexity if the acoustic images each contain a plurality of acoustic image areas which are arranged in a spatially different manner, and, between respective recordings of the image areas of an acoustic image, an acoustic sensor is aligned with an image area, which is to be recorded, of a next image area by being moved. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090293621 | ULTRASONIC INSPECTION EQUIPMENT AND ULTRASONIC INSPECTION METHOD - Ultrasonic inspection equipment facilitates alignment of display positions of three-dimensional ultrasonic inspection data and three-dimensional shape data, and quickly discriminates between a defect echo and an inner-wall echo. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20100251822 | ULTRASONIC INSPECTION DEVICE AND ULTRASONIC INSPECTION METHOD - An ultrasonic transducer is provided with a distance measuring ultrasonic sensor for detecting a distance between the ultrasonic transducer and a surface of an inspection object and an inclination of the ultrasonic transducer with respect to the surface of the inspection object, to control the distance and the inclination of the ultrasonic transducer with respect to the inspection object based on information detected by the distance measuring ultrasonic sensor, and at least part of ultrasonic wave transmission/reception by the distance measuring ultrasonic sensor is performed during execution of aperture synthesis processing during which transmission/reception by the ultrasonic transducer is not performed. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100251823 | ACOUSTIC TRANSDUCER AND IMAGE GENERATION APPARATUS - An acoustic transducer has a first transducer which transmits an acoustic primary wave having two frequency components, and a second transducer which, in order to receive a reflected wave of an acoustic secondary wave generated with propagation of the acoustic primary wave, is disposed so that a region for receiving the reflected wave is superimposed on the first transducer as seen along the direction of transmission of the acoustic primary wave. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20110016977 | Scan Patterns for Electronically Positioned Apertures on an Array - A plane or volume is scanned with ultrasound. Electronic movement of apertures is used during the scanning. Scanning with the apertures is interleaved. The apertures move along the array in opposite directions, preventing or limiting large temporal discontinuity. For example, two apertures begin at similar angles on a two-dimensional array. Planar scans are performed for each aperture location. The apertures are counter rotated (i.e., one clockwise and the other counter clockwise). | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110167913 | IMAGING DEVICES FOR MEASURING THE STRUCTURE OF A SURFACE - Imaging devices for measuring a structure of a surface and methods of use are provided. In certain embodiments, an imaging device includes at least one nano-mechanical resonator pair. The pair includes a reference resonator having a reference resonant frequency, and a sense resonator having a first sense resonant frequency. The device is configured to expose the sense resonator to the surface such that the sense resonator has a second sense resonant frequency. The device is also configured to measure the structure of the surface based on a difference between the second sense resonant frequency and the reference resonant frequency. In certain embodiments, an imaging device for measuring the structure of a surface includes an array of sense nano-electromechanical resonators. In certain embodiments, the array of single nano-electromechanical resonators is advantageously arranged in a staggered configuration. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20120125109 | SCANNING ACOUSTIC MICROSCOPE WITH AN INVERTED TRANSDUCER AND BUBBLER FUNCTIONALITY - A scanning acoustic microscope includes a transducer mounted in a cup below a particular elevation and a coupling fluid source disposed below the particular elevation and which is adapted to introduce coupling fluid into the cup. A controller is operable to control the transducer and the coupling fluid source during testing such that ultrasonic energy can be directed upwardly through coupling fluid disposed between and contacting the transducer and a first surface of a part to be inspected. The part is disposed at the particular elevation and a second surface of the part is not contacted by coupling fluid during testing | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120125110 | Acoustic Micro Imaging Device with a Scan While Loading Feature - A scanning acoustic microscope comprises a structure including a loading portion and a scanning portion, a transducer disposed in the scanning portion and operable to develop ultrasonic energy, and a controller. A driver is responsive to the controller and is capable of moving the transducer along a scan path with respect to a first plurality of parts disposed in the scanning portion as a second plurality of parts are being loaded into the loading portion. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120137778 | ULTRASONIC INSPECTION EQUIPMENT AND ULTRASONIC INSPECTION METHOD - Ultrasonic inspection equipment facilitates alignment of display positions of three-dimensional ultrasonic inspection data and three-dimensional shape data, and quickly discriminates between a defect echo and an inner-wall echo. A computer | 06-07-2012 |
| 20120204648 | MULTI-FOCUS OPTICAL-RESOLUTION PHOTOACOUSTIC MICROSCOPY WITH ULTRASONIC ARRAY DETECTION - A probe for use with an imaging system, including a scanning device configured to receive a first light beam from a light source, a beam-divider configured to split the first light beam into a plurality of second light beams, and a focusing device configured to focus each of the second light beams on respective locations in an object of interest. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20120210795 | TWO-DIMENSIONAL VIRTUAL ARRAY PROBE FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASONIC IMAGING - Provided is a 2-dimensional virtual array probe for 3-dimensional ultrasonic imaging. The probe includes: an ultrasonic transducer; a metallic probe body including an ultrasonic wave emission surface in which a plurality of wave-guides are arranged in 2-dimensional array and a ⅛ sphere-shaped recess for irregularly reflecting ultrasonic wave emitted from the ultrasonic transducer in an inside thereof; a piezoelectric sheet arranged on the ultrasonic wave emission surface to make contact with an object to be inspected and configured to pass the ultrasonic waves emitted from the probe toward the object to be inspected and output a signal by detecting the ultrasonic waves reflected from the object to be detected; and a control unit configured to control the ultrasonic transducer so that the plurality of wave-guides sequentially generate ultrasonic wave. | 08-23-2012 |
| 20130031980 | Ultrasonic Probe, Production Method Therefor, and Ultrasonic Diagnostic Apparatus - Disclosed is an ultrasonic probe wherein the warpage of a CMUT due to thermal stress produced at the joint between a backing layer and the CMUT is minimized, thereby improving the durability of the bond between the CMUT and the backing layer. To accomplish this the ultrasonic probe is provided with: a CMUT ( | 02-07-2013 |
| 20130031981 | IMAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS USING SHEAR WAVES - An imaging method using shear waves for observing a viscoelastic medium, comprising: | 02-07-2013 |
| 20130042688 | PHOTOACOUSTIC IMAGING APPARATUS - A photoacoustic imaging apparatus for detecting a photoacoustic image of a detected object is provided. The photoacoustic imaging apparatus includes a laser probe and a transparent ultrasonic sensor. The laser probe is configured to emit a laser beam. The transparent ultrasonic sensor is disposed over the laser probe. The laser beam emitted from the laser probe passes through the transparent ultrasonic sensor to be transmitted to the detected object. | 02-21-2013 |
| 20130104658 | ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER DRIVING CIRUIT AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS | 05-02-2013 |
| 20140007688 | ACOUSTO-OPTIC IMAGING SYSTEM, AND ACOUSTO-OPTIC IMAGING APPARATUS - An acousto-optic imaging system includes: an ultrasonic wave source for irradiating an imaged object with an ultrasonic wave; an acoustic lens for converting a scattered wave of the ultrasonic wave to a plane wave; a light-transmitting acoustic medium provided in an area on an opposite side of the imaged object with respect to the acoustic lens; a light source for outputting a monochromatic light plane wave; an image-forming lens arranged so as to condense diffraction light of the monochromatic light plane wave which is produced in the light-transmitting acoustic medium; an image-receiving section for obtaining an optical image formed by the image-forming lens; and a distortion compensation section for correcting a distortion of the optical image or a distortion. | 01-09-2014 |
| 20140157901 | COMBINED ULTRASOUND AND PHOTOACOUSTIC IMAGING OF METAL OBJECTS - Methods of combined ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging are provided. In some embodiments, the methods may be used to determine the location or positioning of a metal object in a sample. In other embodiments, the methods may be used to determine the composition of a sample surrounding a metal object. Other methods are also provided. | 06-12-2014 |
| 20140196543 | Scanning Acoustic Microscope with an Inverted Transducer and Bubbler Functionality - A scanning acoustic microscope includes a transducer mounted in a cup below a particular elevation capable of producing ultrasonic energy and a coupling fluid source disposed below the particular elevation, which is configured to introduce coupling fluid into the cup. Ultrasonic energy is directed upwardly through coupling fluid disposed between and contacting the transducer and a first surface of a part to be inspected. The part is disposed at the particular elevation such that a second surface of the part is not contacted by coupling fluid during testing. | 07-17-2014 |
| 20140208853 | ULTRASONIC DEVICE, ULTRASONIC PROBE, ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, AND ULTRASONIC IMAGING APPARATUS - Provided is an ultrasonic device including: an ultrasonic element array substrate having a plurality of ultrasonic elements that each include a piezoelectric body; an acoustic lens secured via an acoustic matching layer to a surface, formed with the ultrasonic elements, of the ultrasonic element array substrate; and a support member secured to a surface, opposite to the surface formed with the ultrasonic elements, of the ultrasonic element array substrate, wherein the support member is formed to have a larger area, in plan view in the thickness direction of the ultrasonic element array substrate, and a higher bending stiffness than the ultrasonic element array substrate, and the acoustic lens is formed to have a lower bending stiffness than the ultrasonic element array substrate. The above-described ultrasonic device further includes an acoustic matching layer filled between the ultrasonic element array substrate and the acoustic lens. | 07-31-2014 |
| 20150053010 | ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER DRIVING CIRCUIT AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS - An ultrasonic transducer driving circuit configured to supply an output current and/or an output voltage to an output line for driving an ultrasonic transducer is provided. The ultrasonic transducer driving circuit includes a first current discharge circuit configured to allow a current arising from electric charges accumulated in the ultrasonic transducer to flow from the output line to ground when the output line is at a positive voltage, and a second current discharge circuit configured to allow the current arising from the electric charges accumulated in the ultrasonic transducer to flow from ground to the output line when the output line is at a negative voltage. The first current discharge circuit and the second current discharge circuit are controlled based on the output current and/or the output voltage. | 02-26-2015 |
| 20150053011 | ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER DRIVING CIRCUIT AND ULTRASONIC IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS - An ultrasonic transducer driving circuit configured to supply an output current and/or an output voltage to an output line for driving an ultrasonic transducer is provided. The ultrasonic transducer driving circuit includes a first current discharge circuit configured to allow a current arising from electric charges accumulated in the ultrasonic transducer to flow from the output line to ground when the output line is at a positive voltage, and a second current discharge circuit configured to allow the current arising from the electric charges accumulated in the ultrasonic transducer to flow from ground to the output line when the output line is at a negative voltage. The first current discharge circuit and the second current discharge circuit are controlled based on the output current and/or the output voltage. | 02-26-2015 |
| 20160003777 | RECORDING DEVICE AND RECORDING METHOD - The invention relates to a recording device comprising an excitation module ( | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160061715 | Photoacoustic Imager - This photoacoustic imager is configured to decide the width of a pulse on the basis of a detection sound wave frequency band of a detection portion and to decide the number of pulses in one cycle on the basis of the bandwidth of a detection sound wave frequency of the detection portion. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160109393 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING TRUNCATED-CORRELATION PHOTOTHERMAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY - Photothermal imaging systems and methods are disclosed that employ truncated-correlation photothermal coherence tomography (TC-PCT). According to the example methods disclosed herein, photothermal radiation is detected with an infrared camera while exciting a sample with the chirped delivery of incident laser pulses (where the pulses have a fixed width), and time-dependent photothermal signal data is obtained from the infrared camera and processed using a time-evolving filtering method employing cross-correlation truncation. The cross-correlation truncation method results in pulse-compression-linewidth-limited depth-resolved images with axial and lateral resolution well beyond the well-known thermal-diffusion-length-limited, depth-integrated nature of conventional thermographic and thermophotonic modalities. As a consequence, an axially resolved layer-by-layer photothermal image sequence can be obtained, capable of reconstructing three-dimensional visualizations (tomograms) of photothermal features in wide classes of materials. Additional embodiments are disclosed in which the aforementioned systems and methods are adapted to photo-acoustic and acousto-thermal imaging. | 04-21-2016 |
| 20160120412 | PHANTOM - This invention provides a phantom whose light propagation characteristics and acoustic propagation characteristics are similar to those of human tissues and which allows detection of an absorber also with an ultrasonic wave diagnostic apparatus and allows adjustment of the oxygen saturation. | 05-05-2016 |
| 20160153939 | CAPACITIVE MICROMACHINED ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER AND TEST OBJECT INFORMATION ACQUIRING APPARATUS INCLUDING CAPACITIVE MICROMACHINED ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER | 06-02-2016 |
