| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
|---|
| 20090025480 | System and Method for Optical Sensing of Surface Motions - There is provided an optical perturbation sensing system, including a probing beam incident on a medium, a sensing beam redirected from the medium and incident on a surface area of a photodetector, an array of photodetector elements, and a constructive combiner for constructively combining detected signals from the elements, to form a stronger detected signal. A method for detection of perturbations in a medium is also provided. The invention avoids the need for detection of the phase or the frequency variations of the scattered signal as used in the more complex hitherto-proposed approaches. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090084186 | SENSOR ARRANGEMENT - A sensor arrangement for detecting objects, includes an ultrasonic sensor and an optical sensor integrated into the ultrasonic sensor. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090090187 | LASER ULTRASONIC PROPERTY MEASUREMENT APPARATUS - A mode of the present invention includes a transmitter ( | 04-09-2009 |
| 20100018316 | NSMS flight laser detector cooling system - A system includes a liquid cooling medium, a cooling plate having opposite first and second sides and at least one internal passage in which the liquid cooling medium flows, first and second lasers located adjacent to one another and positioned relative to the first side of the cooling plate, and a first Peltier device operably connected between the first side of the cooling plate and the first and second lasers for transferring thermal energy to the liquid cooling medium in the cooling plate. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100043561 | ULTRASONIC PROBE AND METHOD FOR THE OPTICAL DETECTION OF ULTRASONIC WAVES - An ultrasonic probe for optical detection of ultrasonic waves includes a membrane integrated into the probe for contact with a body, the membrane being excited to vibration by reflected ultrasonic waves, leading to a change in optical path length of a beam of light directed at the membrane, which change is determined interferometrically. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100139405 | Fiber Optics Sound Detector - An optical sound detection system including: a laser source to generate a laser beam; an optical fiber; an optical sensor aligned to detect a detected portion of a diffraction pattern formed by the laser light emitted from the output coupling port of the optical fiber; and a signal processor to process the signal produced by the optical sensor. The optical fiber includes: a core that includes a photoelastically active material; an input coupling port optically coupled to the laser source to couple the laser beam into the core of the optical fiber; and an output coupling port from which the laser light is emitted after propagating through the core. The optical sensor is adapted to produce a signal corresponding to the detected portion of the diffraction pattern. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100139406 | Micromechanical chemical sensors with multiple chemoselective resonant elements and frequency division multiplexed readout - Micro-opto-mechanical chemical sensors and methods for simultaneously detecting and discriminating between a variety of vapor-phase analytes. One embodiment of the sensor is a photonic microharp chemical sensor with an array of closely spaced microbridges, each differing slightly in length and coated with a different sorbent polymer. The microbridges can be excited photothermally, and the microbridges can be optically interrogated using microcavity interferometry. Other actuation methods include piezoelectric, piezoresistive, electrothermal, and magnetic. Other read-out techniques include using a lever arm and other interferometric techniques. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100162819 | ACOUSTIC MEASUREMENT DEVICE AND ACOUSTIC MEASUREMENT METHOD - In a schlieren optical system, a laser beam is passed through the jet flow and the ambient around the jet flow, and a high speed sampling is performed using a high speed photo sensor while displacing measurement points. The value obtained by sampling represents a result of the optical path caused curved by a density gradient generated in an arc-shape from the center of the jet flow. The value is subjected to a high speed discrete Fourier transform and decomposed into frequency components which constitute the noise. Thereafter, Abel inversion is performed on data belonging to a particular frequency to obtain a density gradient in the radial direction from the center of the jet flow. The obtained density gradient is visualized in a graph display, so that the position of the sound source and the state of the jet flow can be accurately grasped. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100175479 | Method to produce 3-D optical gyroscope my MEMS technology - A gyroscope sensor includes a gyro disk. A first light source is configured to provide a first light beam adjacent to a first edge of the gyro disk. A first light receiver is configured to receive the first light beam for sensing a vibration at a first direction of the gyro disk. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100199773 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NOISE REDUCTION IN ULTRASOUND DETECTION - Method and apparatus for noise reduction in ultrasound detection with the steps of: an optical interferometer having a reference arm and a signal arm that includes a polarization-maintaining probing fiber having a reflective coating at a distal end, a way to couple the probing fiber to ultrasound, a way to generate two output beams from the interferometer, a device to modulate the polarization state of the light in the probing fiber, and a detection mechanism responsive to the ultrasonic signals at the distal tip of the probing fiber. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100206083 | LASER DEFLECTION VIBRATION TEST OF DOOR MIRROR - Disclosed herein is a method for measuring the vibration of a mirror in a vehicle. The method includes attaching a source of electromagnetic radiation to the vehicle, attaching a detector of electromagnetic radiation to the vehicle, positioning the source so that radiation emitted thereby strikes the mirror and reflects therefrom to strike the detector, driving the vehicle while emitting radiation from the source, recording the positions on the detector where the radiation strikes, and determining a vibration index based on the spatial distribution of the positions on the detector where the radiation strikes, | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100218610 | MICROSCOPIC ACOUSTIC RADIATION DETECTING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A micro-acoustic radiation detecting apparatus and method are provided herein. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100229650 | APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCTION AND INTEGRATION OF COMPACT ILLUMINATION SCHEMES - Apparatus, systems and methods are provided for production and integration of compact illumination schemes. More particularly, disclosed embodiments relate to apparatus/systems and methods for production of highly compact illumination schemes, whereby photoacoustic waves are induced in a target sample. Additionally, the disclosed apparatus/systems and methods are effective to produce compact and portable integrated transducer-illumination arrays. Apparatus disclosed generally include at least one lighting source and a beamsplitting assembly. Systems disclosed generally include one or more apparatus for the production of compact lighting schemes, an ultrasonic transducer assembly and means for coupling the one or more apparatus and US transducer assembly with a target sample. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100281985 | Optical fiber vibration sensor - An optical fiber vibration sensor includes a light source, an optical receiver, an optical dividing/coupling part, a signal processing unit, and a fiber loop part made of an optical fiber. A part of an optical fiber composing the fiber loop part is installed outside a housing of a main body of the optical fiber vibration sensor and another part of the optical fiber composing the fiber loop part is installed outside the housing as a vibration detecting optical fiber. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20110041615 | EARTHQUAKE DETECTION AND ALARMING APPARATUS - In one aspect, the present invention is directed to an earthquake detection and alarming apparatus, comprising: a transparent object ( | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110113888 | DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE RELATIVE ALIGNMENT OF TWO ARTICLES, METHOD FOR DETERMINING A QUALITY CHARACTERISTIC AND VIBRATION MEASUREMENT DEVICE AND METHOD - An alignment device with one or two optoelectronic transmitting and/or receiving units and an evaluation unit. At least one optoelectronic transmitting and/or receiving unit contains an inclinometer. Furthermore, the transmitting and/or receiving unit is connected to a vibration sensor which can be the inclinometer. Both the result of the alignment process and also the result of the vibration measurement are communicated to the user as an easily understandable characteristic on a display of the evaluation unit. For vibration measurement at a non-rotating part of a machine, an accelerometer/inclinometer sensor may be used for measuring acceleration forces resulting from machine vibrations to be measured and for measuring gravity and an electronic evaluation unit determining the orientation of the sensor with regard to gravity from a stationary component of the sensor output and determining sensor orientation from evaluation of non-stationary components of sensor output. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20110162457 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MEASURING TURBINE BLADE VIBRATORY RESPONSE - Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems and methods for measuring turbine blade vibratory responses. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for measuring a vibratory response of a plurality of turbine blades. The method can include mounting an optical probe comprising at least one probe tip optical surface, wherein the at least one probe tip optical surface is substantially parallel to within about +15 or about −15 degrees with respect to a trailing edge surface of at least one of the plurality of turbine blades, directing light towards a trailing edge surface of at least one of the plurality of turbine blades, receiving reflected light from the at least one of the plurality of turbine blades, and determining relative position of the at least one of the plurality of blades based at least in part on the reflected light. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110167916 | OPTICAL FIBER TYPE VIBRATION METER - An optical fiber type vibration meter including a light source, an incident side optical fiber guiding light from the light source, a vibration probe to which a guided light is made incident, an optical receiver photoelectric-converting light modulated by a vibration of a weight and a movable coil arranged in the vibration probe to output the light as an electrical signal, a processor processing the electrical signal to output a state of the vibration as an output voltage value, a velocity pickup converting a velocity of the weight and the movable coil arising from the vibration of the weight and the movable coil into an electrical current, a solenoidal coil generating a magnetic field by the electrical current, and a magnetic field sensor attenuating an amount of light guided to the vibration probe according to an intensity of the magnetic field. | 07-14-2011 |
| 20110185815 | DETECTION OF DEPOSITS IN FLOWLINES | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110203378 | INTEGRATED OPTICAL AND ACOUSTIC TRANSDUCER DEVICE - An integrated transducer device includes an optical transducer and an acoustic transducer integrally joined with the optical transducer. The acoustic transducer includes a membrane responsive to acoustic signals, the membrane being aligned with the optical transducer such that optical signals emitted or received by the optical transducer pass through the membrane. A propagation direction of the acoustic signals emitted or received by the acoustic transducer is collinear with a propagation direction of the optical signals emitted or received by the optical transducer. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20120017687 | Remote Sensing - A plurality of sensors output information into a distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) system via acousto-mechanical signals. The sensors are coupled to the optic fibre at the centre of the DAS system indirectly, the acousto-mechanical signal being transmitted via an intermediary body, such as the ground or a conduit. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120060615 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPTICAL SENSING - The present invention provides novel apparatus and methods for fast quantitative measurement of perturbation of optical fields transmitted, reflected and/or scattered along a length of an optical fibre. The present invention can be used for point sensors as well as distributed sensors or the combination of both. In particular this technique can be applied to distributed sensors while extending dramatically the speed and sensitivity to allow the detection of acoustic perturbations anywhere along a length of an optical fibre while achieving fine spatial resolution. The present invention offers unique advantages in a broad range of acoustic sensing and imaging applications. Typical uses are for monitoring oil and gas wells such as for distributed flow metering and/or imaging, seismic imaging, monitoring long cables and pipelines, imaging within large vessel as well as for security applications. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120137781 | Fibre Optic Acoustic Sensing - This invention relates to the fibre optic distributed acoustic sensing to detect P and S waves in a solid medium. Distributed acoustic sensing can be achieved using an unmodified fibre optic by launching optical pulses into the fibre and detecting radiation which is Rayleigh backscattered there from. By analysing the returns in analysis bins, acoustic disturbances can be detected in a plurality of discrete longitudinal sections of the fibre. The present invention extends such fibre distributed acoustic sensing to detection of S and P waves. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20120152024 | DISTRIBUTED ACOUSTIC SENSING (DAS)-BASED FLOWMETER - Methods and apparatus for sensing fluid flow within a conduit using a Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) system. The DAS system may lower production costs and may offer some technical advantages over fiber Bragg grating (FBG)-based flowmeters such as auxiliary measurement of strain from the wellhead down to the flowmeter. The DAS system may also simplify multiplexing multiple flowmeters on a single fiber. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120167693 | ACOUSTIC WAVE MEASURING APPARATUS, ACOUSTIC WAVE IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ACOUSTIC WAVE MEASURING APPARATUS - An acoustic wave measuring apparatus includes a light source for radiating a light having a wavelength component in wavelength areas, light filters arranged in a light path from the light source to a subject and each to shut off or transmit the light in one of the wavelength areas, a detector for detecting an acoustic wave generated by the radiation, a controller for generating conditions having different combinations of the wavelength components contained in the light, and a signal processor for calculating an optical absorption coefficient of the subject for the light in each wavelength area based on a pressure of the acoustic wave detected under each of the conditions and a strength of the radiated light for each wavelength area under conditions. | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120174677 | OPTICAL METHOD AND DEVICE FOR A SPATIALLY RESOLVED MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL PARAMETERS, IN PARTICULAR MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS BY MEANS OF GLASS FIBERS - The invention relates to a device for a spatially-resolved measurement of mechanical parameters, in particular mechanical vibrations, comprising at least one optical fiber ( | 07-12-2012 |
| 20120186352 | METHOD AND KIT FOR STAND-OFF DETECTION OF EXPLOSIVES - A kit for detecting the presence of an explosive includes a pulsed focused energy source located at a target distance away from a substrate, the energy having a magnitude sufficient to release the internal energy of an explosive if present on the substrate and thereby generate an acoustic wave. The kit also includes a detector adapted to detect the acoustic wave at a detection distance away from the substrate. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20120198938 | RIG FOR MEASURING BLADED COMPONENT MISTUNING - A rig for studying a component has a component support for mounting the component. A speaker applies sound energy to airfoils in the component. A vibrometer studies the effect of the applied sound on the airfoils. At least two of the vibrometer, the component support, and the speaker are rotatable relative to each other. In a separate feature, a vibrometer for studying the effect of sound energy on airfoils in a component is provided with a vision system. The vision system is operable to identify the exact location at which the laser is studying the effect on the airfoil. Methods are also disclosed. | 08-09-2012 |
| 20120204651 | VIBRATION SENSOR - A sensor includes a housing adapted to be secured to a component within a system to be monitored by the sensor, an optical fiber, and a membrane spring assembly. The optical fiber includes a sensing portion containing a fiber Bragg grating that is able to undergo expansion and contraction resulting from movement of the optical fiber at a second location relative to a first location. The membrane spring assembly includes a membrane disc, wherein movement of a central portion thereof causes corresponding displacement of the optical fiber at the second location to cause expansion and contraction of the sensing portion of the optical fiber containing the fiber Bragg grating, which expansion and contraction effects a change in a light wavelength reflected by the fiber Bragg grating. The light wavelength reflected by the fiber Bragg grating can be used to measure movement of the central portion of the membrane disc. | 08-16-2012 |
| 20120210796 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SPECTROSCOPICALLY DETECTING MOLECULES - A method and a device for spectroscopic detection of molecules, containing a resonance body, an apparatus for identifying a vibration of the resonance body and at least one laser light source, the laser light of which interacts with the molecules to be detected and which is designed to emit light pulses with a duration of less than 200 fs, the device also containing apparatus for pulse shaping the light pulses emitted by the laser light source by modulating the amplitude and/or the phase, to generate sequentially different pulse shapes of the light pulses. | 08-23-2012 |
| 20120222487 | OPTIC FIBRES AND FIBRE OPTIC SENSING - Fibre optic cables with improved performance for use in distributed sensing, for instance in distributed acoustic sensors, are disclosed. In one embodiment a fibre optic cable ( | 09-06-2012 |
| 20120227504 | FIBER OPTIC ACOUSTIC SENSOR ARRAYS AND SYSTEMS, AND METHODS OF FABRICATING THE SAME - A fiber optic acoustic sensor system. The fiber optic acoustic sensor system includes an optical source, and a fiber optic acoustic sensor array configured to receive an optical signal from the optical source. The fiber optic acoustic sensor array includes a core, a first polymer layer disposed on the core, an optical fiber wound around the first polymer layer, and a second polymer layer disposed on the first polymer layer such that the optical fiber is between the first polymer layer and the second polymer layer. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120255361 | SELF CLEANING OPTICAL PROBE - An optical probe comprising an elongate hollow body having an internal chamber for receiving an optical sensor and/or an light emission device, such as one or more optical fibres, an optical window being provided at a first end of the hollow body, said optical window defining a wall of said internal chamber for transmitting light therethrough, and an ultrasonic transducer provided at a second end of the elongate body opposite said first end for cleaning said optical window via ultrasonic vibrations, wherein said ultrasonic transducer is provided with an entry aperture extending through the ultrasonic transducer, through which entry aperture optical fibres, cables or wires may pass to enter said internal chamber. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20120255362 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENHANCING THE SPATIAL RESOLUTION OF A FIBER OPTICAL DISTRIBUTED ACOUSTIC SENSING ASSEMBLY - The spatial resolution of a fiber optical Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) assembly is enhanced by:
| 10-11-2012 |
| 20120266680 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LOCATING A LASER VIBROMETER DURING NON-CONTACT SCANNING - A method and system are provided for inspecting a surface of an object with an optical scanner and a laser vibrometer. The method includes the steps of: (a) mapping at least a portion of the object surface using the optical scanner; (b) projecting a beam of light from the laser vibrometer onto the object surface at a measurement point; (c) locating the measurement point relative to the object surface using the optical scanner; and (d) measuring a position of the object surface using the laser vibrometer to determine, for example, a deflection of the object surface. | 10-25-2012 |
| 20120297883 | Pulse Labeling for High-Bandwidth Fiber-Optic Distributed Acoustic Sensing with Reduced Cross-Talk - The present invention relates to distributed acoustic sensing using fiber-optic system. More particularly, the present invention describes use of frequency pulse labeling techniques and wavelength pulse labeling techniques for providing high bandwidth acoustic sensing in applications such as infrastructure monitoring. In one embodiment, a segmented sensing fiber is used with corresponding circulators in an architecture that controls the interrogation of each segment of the fiber. In another embodiment, a single continuous length of sensing fiber is used, but a plurality of pulse sequences with different wavelengths are used to interrogate. In both configurations, heterodyne beat frequency components are rejected by a processing scheme, resulting in a simple direct measurement of baseband phase information. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20120318066 | PHOTOACOUSTIC MEASURING APPARATUS - The present invention employs a photoacoustic measuring apparatus including: a laser light source; a forming unit for forming a second light beam by dividing or deforming a laser light beam; an optical member for guiding the second light beam to the surface of a subject; a probe for obtaining a photoacoustic wave generated when the subject is irradiated with the second light beam; and a buffering member that contacts the surface of the subject and transmits light, wherein the optical member overlaps areas of the second light beam having a small light intensity on the surface of the subject, the probe and the optical member are positioned on an identical side of the buffering member relative to the subject, and the optical member refracts the second light beam such that the second light beam enters the subject through the buffering member while avoiding the probe. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20120325006 | MEASURING APPARATUS - A measuring apparatus includes: laser sources; and a control unit for outputting an excitation start signal that instructs the laser light sources to start excitation, and outputting an oscillation start signal to instruct the laser light sources to start oscillation after a predetermined time has elapsed from the output of the excitation start signal, so as to generate pulsed light from the laser light sources. The laser sources include a first laser source and a second laser source of which preparation time from the start of the excitation to the generation of the pulsed light is longer than that of the first laser source. The control unit sets timing to output the excitation start signal to the first laser source to follow timing to output the excitation start signal to the second laser source according to a difference of the preparation time between the first and second laser sources. | 12-27-2012 |
| 20130000409 | GYROSCOPE SENSORS - A gyroscope sensor includes a gyro disk. A first light source is configured to provide a first light beam. A first light receiver is configured to receive the first light beam for sensing a vibration at a first direction of the gyro disk. A second light source is configured to provide a second light beam substantially parallel with the first light beam. A second light receiver is configured to receive the second light beam for sensing a vibration in a second direction of the gyro disk. The second direction is different from the first direction. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130025374 | Sweep-Free Stimulated Brillouin Scattering-Based Fiber Optical Sensing - Methods and systems used to perform sweep-free stimulated Brillouin scattering-based fiber optical sensing are described. In one aspect, a method includes interrogating different parts of a Brillouin gain spectrum using multiple optical tones in an optical fiber. The interrogating includes sending at least two pump tones into the optical fiber from one end of the optical fiber, such that a frequency spacing between the pump tones is larger than a width of the Brillouin gain spectrum. The interrogating also includes sending at least two probe tones into the optical fiber from another end of the optical fiber, such that a frequency spacing between the probe tones is different from the frequency spacing between the pump tones. The method further includes generating a sensing output based on the interrogating. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130025375 | FIBER OPTIC PIPELINE MONITORING SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME - An optical detection system for monitoring a pipeline. The optical detection system includes a host node in the vicinity of or remote from, a pipeline to be monitored. The optical detection system includes (a) an optical source for generating optical signals, and (b) an optical receiver. The optical detection system also includes a plurality of fiber optic sensors local to the pipeline for converting at least one of vibrational and acoustical energy to optical intensity information, each of the fiber optic sensors having: (1) at least one length of optical fiber configured to sense at least one of vibrational and acoustical energy; (2) a reflector at an end of the at least one length of optical fiber; and (3) a field node for receiving optical signals from the host node, the field node transmitting optical signals along the at least one length of optical fiber, receiving optical signals back from the at least one length of optical fiber, and transmitting optical signals to the optical receiver of the host node. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20130031982 | PHOTOACOUSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - Provided is a photoacoustic apparatus capable of recognizing light quantity unevenness, which occurs on a surface of an analyte, and decreasing image unevenness resulted from the light quantity unevenness. | 02-07-2013 |
| 20130081472 | Long Distance Optical Fiber Sensing System and Method - A long-distance fiber optic monitoring system having a sensing unit and an analyzer that is remotely located from the sensing unit is provided. The sensing unit comprises a source of optical energy for injecting optical energy into the fiber optical cable and an optical detector configured to detect an optical return signal from the optical fiber. The detected optical return signal is associated with an acoustic signal impinging on the optical fiber. The analyzer receives a signal from the remote sensing unit via the optical fiber that is representative of the optical return signal, and determines a location of a disturbance based at least on the received signal. The representative signal can be transmitted from the remote sensing unit to the analyzer as an optical signal or via a metallic wired included with the optical fiber. | 04-04-2013 |
| 20130112001 | ACOUSTIC WAVE DETECTOR AND ACOUSTIC WAVE MEASUREMENT APPARATUS - An acoustic wave detector includes: a transducer; and a light reflecting member which is positioned between the transducer and a subject surface that is irradiated with the light, and which reflects scattered light on the subject surface. The light reflecting member includes a first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface positioned closer to the transducer than the first reflecting surface, and a distance between the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface is an odd multiple of a half wavelength of a predetermined wavelength included in an acoustic wave generated from the light reflecting member by the scattered light. | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130118262 | Constituent Concentration Measuring Apparatus and Constituent Concentration Measuring Apparatus Controlling Method - An object of the present invention is to provide a noninvasive constituent concentration measuring apparatus and constituent concentration measuring apparatus controlling method, in which accurate measurement can be performed by superimposing two photoacoustic signals having the same frequency and reverse phases to nullify the effect from the other constituent occupying large part of the object to be measured. The constituent concentration measuring apparatus according to the invention includes light generating means for generating two light beams having different wavelengths, modulation means for electrically intensity-modulating each of the two light beams having different wavelengths using signals having the same frequency and reverse phases, light outgoing means for outputting the two intensity-modulated light beams having different wavelengths toward a test subject, and acoustic wave detection means for detecting an acoustic wave generated in the test subject by the outputted light. | 05-16-2013 |
| 20130139600 | Gunfire Detection - An apparatus and method for detecting gunfire is provided which uses distributed acoustic sensing to provide the gunfire detection. The method comprises interrogating an optical fibre with electromagnetic radiation to provide a distributed acoustic sensor comprising a plurality of sensing portions of the optical fibre, and analysing a measurement signal from said sensing portions to detect gunfire events. A gunfire event will typically be relatively intense but of short duration and affect multiple sensing channels. The method may detect a characteristic | 06-06-2013 |
| 20130152692 | MEASURING APPARATUS AND MEASURING METHOD FOR METALLIC MICROSTRUCTURES OR MATERIAL PROPERTIES - A pulse laser oscillator ( | 06-20-2013 |
| 20130160557 | ACOUSTIC WAVE ACQUIRING APPARATUS - Provided is a technique capable of changing resolution or an imaging area during imaging, in an acoustic wave acquiring apparatus using a Fabry-Perot probe. An acoustic wave acquiring apparatus includes a measurement light source emitting measurement light, a probe having a Fabry-Perot interferometer including a first mirror, upon the side of which the measurement light is incident, and a second mirror, upon the side of which an elastic wave from an object is incident, an optical system changing a beam diameter of the measurement light, a controller controlling change in the beam diameter performed by the optical system, a photosensor measuring a light intensity of the measurement light reflected on the Fabry-Perot interferometer, and a processor acquiring intensity of the elastic wave on the basis of change in the light intensity measured by the photosensor due to incidence of the elastic wave. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130160558 | PHOTOACOUSTIC IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A photoacoustic imaging apparatus is used that comprises a light source capable of irradiating light onto an object from a plurality of directions, a detector that detects acoustic waves generated by the object irradiated with light, a calculator that calculates object information from detected acoustic waves, and a generator that generates image data from the object information. The calculator calculates a plurality of object information pieces corresponding to irradiation in respective directions on the basis of acoustic waves at a time of irradiation of light at dissimilar timings from the plurality of directions. The generator selects, for each region and according to a predetermined criterion, image data of increased contrast in a case where a plurality of image data items on the object are generated on the basis of the plurality of object information pieces, and generates image data by combining the image data selected in each region. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130160559 | PHOTOACOUSTIC WAVE MEASURING APPARATUS - A photoacoustic wave measuring apparatus, having: a probe including a plurality of devices which detect an acoustic wave generated by irradiating light onto an object; and a signal processor which acquires information about the object on the basis of an acoustic wave received by the devices, wherein the light is irradiated onto the object from the probe side; the probe includes: bright-field devices having a view angle covering a bright-field illumination area, which is an area where the light is irradiated, on the probe-side surface of the object; and dark-field devices having a field of view which does not cover the bright-field illumination area; and the signal processor uses an acoustic wave received by the dark-field devices when acquiring information about the object on the basis of a acoustic wave received before a predetermined time period is elapsed since the irradiation of light onto the object. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130167648 | OBJECT INFORMATION ACQUIRING APPARATUS - An object information acquiring apparatus has: a holding unit which holds an object; a probe which receives an acoustic wave generated in the object via the holding unit and converts the acoustic wave to an electrical signal; a force measuring unit which measures a force applied to the object when the object is held by the holding unit; a sound speed acquiring unit which determines a sound speed in the object by using the force measured by the measuring unit and a contact area between the object and the holding unit; and a generating unit which generates object information data from the information about the sound speed determined by the sound speed acquiring unit and the electrical signal. | 07-04-2013 |
| 20130199299 | QUANTIFICATION OF OPTICAL ABSORPTION COEFFICIENTS USING ACOUSTIC SPECTRA IN PHOTOACOUSTIC TOMOGRAPHY - Accurately quantifying optical absorption coefficient using acoustic spectra of photoacoustic signals. Optical absorption is closely associated with many physiological parameters, such as the concentration and oxygen saturation of hemoglobin, and it can be used to quantify the concentrations of non-fluorescent molecules. A sample is illuminated by, for example, a pulsed laser and following the absorption of optical energy, a photoacoustic pressure is generated via thermo-elastic expansion. The acoustic waves then propagate and are detected by a transducer. The optical absorption coefficient of the sample is quantified from spectra of the measured photoacoustic signals. Factors, such as system bandwidth and acoustic attenuation, may affect the quantification but are canceled by dividing the acoustic spectra measured at multiple optical wavelengths. | 08-08-2013 |
| 20130199300 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING OBJECT INFORMATION AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An object information obtaining apparatus includes a signal processing unit configured to obtain weighted optical characteristic information about an object on the basis of feature information about the object obtained by elastography measurement or B-mode image measurement using an elastic wave signal acquired by transmission and reception of elastic waves to and from the object. | 08-08-2013 |
| 20130233084 | METHOD AND APPARATUS OF DETECTING AN OBJECT - A portable non-contact sensor system including a laser generator subsystem, a laser detector subsystem, an an analysis subsystem. The laser generator subsystem is configured to project a plurality of laser pulses at a surface of an object that is to be characterized. The laser detector subsystem is configured to receive return laser pulses from the object. The analysis subsystem is configured to analyze the received return pulses and characterize the object. | 09-12-2013 |
| 20130255388 | PROBE AND OBJECT INFORMATION ACQUISITION APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A probe is provided that can suppress the warp of an optical reflection member on a receiving surface and stably receive photoacoustic waves. The probe includes: an element having at least one cell in which a vibration film containing one electrode out of two electrodes that are provided so as to interpose a space therebetween is supported in a manner allowed to vibrate owing to the acoustic wave; an optical reflection layer 108 that is provided closer to the object than the element is; a support layer 104 supporting the optical reflection layer 108; and a warp suppressing layer 106 that is provided on at least one of the both surfaces of the support layer 104. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130255389 | PROBE AND OBJECT INFORMATION ACQUISITION APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A probe is provided in which penetration of an acoustic medium into a support layer of an optical reflection member through a pinhole or a scratch on an optical reflection layer is suppressed, occurrence of a solvent crack is suppressed, and noise due to photoacoustic waves that occurs on a receiving surface can be suppressed. The probe includes an element having at least one cell in which a vibration film containing one electrode out of two electrodes that are provided so as to interpose a space therebetween is vibratably supported. The probe further includes a support layer disposed on the vibration film, and an optical reflection layer disposed on the support layer. A protection layer against an acoustic medium is formed on the optical reflection layer. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130263669 | PROBE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF, AND OBJECT INFORMATION ACQUISITION APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A probe is provided where a problem of reduction in a reflective performance of an optical reflection layer due to the surface roughness of a support layer of an optical reflection member provided on an element for reflecting irradiation light onto an object or scattered light thereof is solved. The probe includes an element including cells. The probe further includes: an optical reflection layer | 10-10-2013 |
| 20130276542 | LIGHT OUTPUT CALIBRATION IN AN OPTOACOUSTIC SYSTEM - An optoacoustic system includes first and second light sources capable of generating pulse of light at first and second wavelengths, first and second electrically controlled optical attenuators, first and second light sync detectors, and a combiner. A power meter that is calibrated to determine power at the first and second predominant wavelength measures power at the first wavelength after the first light sync is detected and measures power at the second wavelength after the second light sync is detected. The system includes a calibration mode wherein it electrically attenuates the first optical attenuator when the power measured by the power meter at the first wavelength after the first light sync is detected is above a first level, and electrically attenuated the second optical attenuator when the power measured by the power meter at the second wavelength after the second light sync is detected is above a second level. | 10-24-2013 |
| 20130291642 | Fibre Optic Distributed Sensing - This application describes methods and apparatus for fibre optic distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) where microstructured fibre ( | 11-07-2013 |
| 20130291643 | DETECTING THE DIRECTION OF ACOUSTIC SIGNALS WITH A FIBER OPTICAL DISTRIBUTED ACOUSTIC SENSING (DAS) ASSEMBLY - A directionally sensitive Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) fiber optical assembly comprises adjacent lengths of optical fiber (A,B) with different directional acoustic sensitivities, which are used to detect the direction (a) of acoustic signals relative to the lengths of optical fiber (A, B). | 11-07-2013 |
| 20130319122 | LASER-BASED EDGE DETECTION - A system to detect an edge of an object includes an optical instrument configured to direct a laser beam toward the object, configured to receive a reflection of the laser beam based on whether the laser beam impacts the object, and configured to generate an intensity output indicative of an intensity of the reflection, a positioning system configured to position the object in a location relative to the optical instrument, the positioning system including a position sensor to provide a position output indicative of the location, and a processor configured to determine a position of the edge of the object based on the intensity output and the position output. | 12-05-2013 |
| 20130319123 | Photoacoustic Probe - A photoacoustic transducer, such as a photoacoustic probe includes an optical fiber, diaphragm, at the optical fiber, whereby the optical fiber and diaphragm define a cavity, and an energy absorption film at the optical fiber, whereby an activating laser directed through the optical fiber can excite the energy absorption film to thereby generate an acoustic wave that, upon reflection upon a remote surface, can deflect the diaphragm and modify reflection of a detecting laser also directed through the optical fiber. A method of detecting an acoustic wave includes directing an activating laser through an optical fiber to an energy absorption film at the optical fiber, directing a detecting laser through the optical fiber and cavity to the diaphragm at the optical fiber, and measuring an interference pattern generated at least in part by reflection of the detecting laser from a surface of the diaphragm. | 12-05-2013 |
| 20130333476 | METHOD OF MEASURING ACOUSTIC DISTRIBUTION AND DISTRIBUTED ACOUSTIC SENSOR - Optical pulses are output from a light source to an optical fiber at one selected emission wavelength, a reflection light reflected at a fiber Bragg grating at the optical fiber is received at an optical receiver and is converted to a reflection signal by an optical to electrical conversion, a fiber Bragg grating which reflects the reflection light is identified by the signal processing unit when an intensity of the reflection signal obtained by the optical receiver is over a predetermined threshold value, and a measurement step that calculates acoustic frequencies at the fiber Bragg grating based on a temporal change of the intensity of the reflection signal at the fiber Bragg grating is repeated more than two times while changing an emission wavelength of the light source. The acoustic frequency at each fiber Bragg grating is calculated to determine an acoustic distribution along a longitudinal direction of the fiber. | 12-19-2013 |
| 20130333477 | MEASURING SYSTEM - A measuring system for measuring a physical quantity related to one of an electromagnetic wave and a magnetic field includes a vibration-type actuator, a waveform generating unit configured to generate a driving waveform signal of the vibration-type actuator, an optical transmitter unit configured to receive the driving waveform signal and convert the driving waveform signal into an optical signal, an optical receiver unit configured to receive the optical signal and convert the optical signal into an alternating-current voltage signal, and a drive circuit configured to receive the alternating-current voltage signal and apply the alternating-current voltage signal to the vibration-type actuator. The waveform generating unit and the optical transmitter unit are disposed outside a magnetic shield room. The optical receiver unit, the drive circuit, and the vibration-type actuator are disposed inside the magnetic shield room, and the optical signal is transmitted between the optical transmitter unit and the optical receiver unit. | 12-19-2013 |
| 20140041456 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE OPTICAL NON-CONTACT OSCILLATION MEASUREMENT OF AN OSCILLATING OBJECT - A device for the optical non-contact vibration measurement of an vibrating object, including a laser Doppler vibrometer that has a laser ( | 02-13-2014 |
| 20140069196 | DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE RELATIVE ALIGNMENT OF TWO ARTICLES, METHOD FOR DETERMINING A QUALITY CHARACTERISTIC AND VIBRATION MEASUREMENT DEVICE AND METHOD - An alignment device with one or two optoelectronic transmitting and/or receiving units and an evaluation unit. At least one optoelectronic transmitting and/or receiving unit contains an inclinometer. Furthermore, the transmitting and/or receiving unit is connected to a vibration sensor which can be the inclinometer. Both the result of the alignment process and also the result of the vibration measurement are communicated to the user as an easily understandable characteristic on a display of the evaluation unit. For vibration measurement at a non-rotating part of a machine, an accelerometer/inclinometer sensor may be used for measuring acceleration forces resulting from machine vibrations to be measured and for measuring gravity and an electronic evaluation unit determining the orientation of the sensor with regard to gravity from a stationary component of the sensor output and determining sensor orientation from evaluation of non-stationary components of sensor output. | 03-13-2014 |
| 20140076055 | ACOUSTIC WAVE RECEIVING APPARATUS - Use of an acoustic wave receiving apparatus which includes: a resonator including a first mirror on which measurement light is incident, a second mirror which is arranged to face the first mirror and on which acoustic waves from an object are incident, an acoustic wave reception layer interposed between the first mirror and the second mirror, and a compensation layer; and a detector for detecting a variation in an optical path length between the first mirror and the second mirror that occurs in response to deformation of the acoustic wave reception layer caused by incidence of the acoustic waves, wherein the variation in the optical path length due to a film thickness distribution of the acoustic wave reception layer is compensated by refraction in the compensation layer. | 03-20-2014 |
| 20140090474 | Long Distance Optical Fiber Sensing System and Method - A long-distance fiber optic monitoring system having a sensing unit and an analyzer that is remotely located from the sensing unit is provided. The sensing unit comprises a source of optical energy for injecting optical energy into the fiber optical cable and an optical detector configured to detect an optical return signal from the optical fiber. The detected optical return signal is associated with an acoustic signal impinging on the optical fiber. The analyzer receives a signal from the remote sensing unit via the optical fiber that is representative of the optical return signal, and determines a location of a disturbance based at least on the received signal. The representative signal can be transmitted from the remote sensing unit to the analyzer as an optical signal or via a metallic wired included with the optical fiber. | 04-03-2014 |
| 20140102204 | PROBE, OBJECT INFORMATION ACQUISITION APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE PROBE - A probe configured to receive an acoustic wave from an object including an element having a cell structure, in which a vibration membrane having one of a pair of electrodes formed with a gap arranged therebetween is supported so that the vibration membrane can be vibrated by the acoustic wave; a light reflection layer provided at a position near the object with respect to the element and configured to reflect light; and a support layer provided between the element and the light reflection layer and configured to support the light reflection layer. | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140109678 | LASER APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - Provided is a laser apparatus including a cavity having an output mirror and a reflective mirror, a laser medium and an excitation lamp disposed inside the cavity, a wavelength selector allowing selection of a wavelength for laser light pulses to be emitted from among a plurality of wavelengths, and a controller controlling emission timing of the excitation lamp, emission energy of the excitation lamp that is determined depending on at which wavelength, of the plurality of wavelengths, the pulses are to be emitted, and emission of the pulses. The controller continuously emits a pulse train formed of a plurality of pulses including pulses of at least two wavelengths. | 04-24-2014 |
| 20140123762 | LASER APPARATUS AND PHOTOACOUSTIC APPARATUS USING LASER APPARATUS - A laser apparatus comprises a cavity having an output unit, and a branch unit arranged between the output unit and first and second reflection unit, an optical path in the cavity including a common part and separate parts, respectively; a laser medium and a wavelength filter disposed in the common part; a pump unit configured to pumping the laser medium; and first and second shielding units respectively disposed in the first and second separate parts, the transmittance of the wavelength filter is varied based on the wavelength and polarization of incident light, the branch unit splits a light beam into the first polarized light and the second polarized light, and one of the first and second shielding units being opened and the other closed to select one of the wavelengths of light to be emitted. | 05-08-2014 |
| 20140130601 | RF-PHOTONIC SYSTEM FOR ACOUSTIC AND/OR VIBRATIONAL SENSING USING OPTICAL FIBER AND METHOD THEREOF - A method and system comprising:
| 05-15-2014 |
| 20140182383 | OBJECT INFORMATION OBTAINING DEVICE, DISPLAY METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An object information obtaining device includes a light source which emits light, an acoustic wave detecting unit which detects a photoacoustic wave generated by irradiation of an object with the light, and outputs an electric signal in response to detection of the photoacoustic wave, and a processing unit configured to perform two or more types of processing to photoacoustic signal data based on the electric signal to obtain object information corresponding to each of the two or more types of processing, and to display on a display unit the object information corresponding to at least one processing selected by a user out of the two or more types of processing. | 07-03-2014 |
| 20140182384 | Object Information Acquisition Apparatus, Display Method, and Non-Transitory Computer-Readable Storage Medium - An object information acquisition apparatus disclosed in the present specification includes a light source, an acoustic wave detection unit, and a processing unit. The light source is configured to emit light. The acoustic wave detection unit is configured to detect a photoacoustic wave generated by irradiation of an object with the light and to output a detection signal. The processing unit is configured to be able to acquire two or more types of object information on the basis of the detection signal and configured to cause a display unit to display at least one type of object information selected by a user from among the two or more types of object information. | 07-03-2014 |
| 20140182385 | PHOTOACOUSTIC PROBE AND PHOTOACOUSTIC DEVICE HAVING THE SAME - A photoacoustic probe and photoacoustic device implementing the photoacoustic probe may reduce an artifact caused by an ultrasonic wave generated in the photoacoustic probe without mounting a separate device. The photoacoustic probe and photoacoustic device implementing the photoacoustic probe may reduce an artifact by changing a configuration or a structure provided in the photoacoustic probe. The photoacoustic probe may receive a photoacoustic signal generated from an inner material of an object absorbing light of a predetermined wavelength and may include a piezoelectric module to convert the photoacoustic signal into an electric signal, and an object contact unit disposed on the front surface of the piezoelectric module, the object contact unit contacting the object and not absorbing the light of a predetermined wavelength. | 07-03-2014 |
| 20140196544 | OBJECT INFORMATION ACQUIRING APPARATUS - An object information acquiring apparatus disclosed by this specification includes a detector configured to detect a photoacoustic wave generated from an object on which light is irradiated from a light source, a generator configured to generate, using the photoacoustic wave, an image indicating characteristic information in a photographing region in the object, an acquirer configured to acquire information concerning quantitativity of a measurement value of the photoacoustic wave in the photographing region, and an extractor configured to extract a region having quantitativity in the image on the basis of the information concerning quantitativity. | 07-17-2014 |
| 20140208855 | Distributed Acoustic Sensing with Multimode Fiber - A method and system for distributed acoustic sensing using multimode optical fibers. | 07-31-2014 |
| 20140230558 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING A SURFACE - A method of cleaning a surface includes the steps of directing a laser beam to the surface at a predetermined location and capturing for the predetermined location a) data relating to an acoustic response induced by interaction of the laser with the surface, b) data relating to the optical reflectivity of the surface at the predetermined location, and c) data relating to the spectrographic response of a plume generated by interaction of the laser with the surface. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140260640 | Interleaved Acousto-Optical Device Scanning For Suppression Of Optical Crosstalk - A method of scanning a sample includes simultaneously forming a plurality of co-linear scans. Each scan is formed by a sweep of a spot by an acousto-optical device (AOD). The co-linear scans are separated by a predetermined spacing. A first plurality of swaths are formed by repeating the simultaneous forming of the plurality of co-linear scans in a direction perpendicular to the co-linear scans. The first plurality of swaths have an inter-swath spacing that is the same as the predetermined spacing. A second plurality of swaths can be formed adjacent to the first plurality of swaths. Forming the second plurality of swaths can be performed in an opposite direction to that of the first plurality of swaths or in a same direction. An inspection system can implement this method by including a diffractive optical element (DOE) path after a magnification changer. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140290372 | FIBER OPTIC DIRECTIONAL ACOUSTIC SENSOR - A fiber optic acoustic sensor and a method of using same. The sensor includes a light emitting diode and a fiber optic probe having a transmitting multimode optical fiber and at least one receiving multimode optical fiber. The transmitting multimode optical fiber and the receiving multimode optical fiber are substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the probe. The fiber optic probe communicates with the light emitting diode. The sensor further includes a cantilever, which includes a cantilever rod. The cantilever rod includes a proximal end with an edge reflector located thereon. The edge reflector is spaced apart from the fiber probe and oriented to face said fiber probe. The edge reflector is able to move in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fiber optic probe. The sensor further includes a light intensity detector communicating with the fiber optic probe. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140345388 | DETECTING BROADSIDE ACOUSTIC SIGNALS WITH A FIBER OPTICAL DISTRUBUTED ACOUSTIC SENSING (DAS) ASSEMBLY - A distributed fiber optic acoustic sensing system comprises an elongate body having an outer surface, an optical fiber disposed on the outer surface at a first predetermined wrap angle, and light transmitting and receiving means optically connected to the fiber for. The elongate body may include at least one substantially flat face, and/or a layer of swellable elastomer surrounding the body, and/or an outer elastomeric tube surrounding the elastomer layer. There may be at least one sensor pad disposed in the outer layer, the sensor pad comprising a stiffener and at least one longitudinal fiber affixed thereto or embedded therein. There may be a body of protective material surrounding the tube, which may have an outer surface that includes at least one substantially flat face and at least one sensor pad disposed in the body. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140352442 | Vibration Detection System Based on Biconical Tapered Fiber and the Method thereof - A vibration detection system comprises a light source, a biconical tapered fiber comprising a biconical fiber taper and a detector is disclosed. The emission light emitted by the light source is directed to the biconical tapered fiber in one side. A detector is coupled to the other end of the biconical tapered fiber to measure the intensity of the light passing through. When the biconical tapered fiber is exposed to an external vibration, the biconical fiber taper deforms and modulates the light intensity accordingly. The received signal is then fed to the microcomputer to determine the amplitude and frequency of the external vibration. A method of vibration detection is also disclosed. | 12-04-2014 |
| 20140352443 | PIPE WALL THICKNESS MEASUREMENT - A method of measuring a wall thickness of a pipe can include optically detecting vibration of the pipe, and computing the wall thickness of the pipe, the computing being based at least partially on the optically detected vibration. Another method of measuring a wall thickness of a pipe can include optically detecting temperature of the pipe, and computing the wall thickness of the pipe, the computing being based at least partially on the optically detected temperature. Another method of measuring a wall thickness of a pipe can include optically detecting vibration and temperature of the pipe, and computing the wall thickness of the pipe, the computing being based at least partially on the optically detected vibration and temperature. | 12-04-2014 |
| 20150007661 | ACOUSTIC ISOLATION CHAMBER - An acoustic isolation chamber. The chamber comprises a housing defining a volume. A first region of the volume is configured to receive a photoacoustic sensor head. A second region of the volume is configured to receive the UUT. A sound proofing means encompassing at least a portion of the volume. | 01-08-2015 |
| 20150013465 | Monitoring Transport Network Infrastructure - This application relates to conditions monitoring of structures forming part of a transport network, e.g. structural health monitoring of structures, especially tunnels. The method involves performing distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) on at least one optical fibre ( | 01-15-2015 |
| 20150033866 | Optical Sensor - An optical sensor is proposed. The optical sensor comprises a first substrate, a second substrate, a membrane, and an optical gate. The first substrate has a concave structure having a first optical micro-reflection surface and a second optical micro-reflection surface formed thereon. The second substrate has a second concave structure having a third optical micro-reflection surface and a fourth optical micro-reflection surface formed thereon. The optical gate is disposed on the membrane within the first concave structure. The membrane is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. | 02-05-2015 |
| 20150053016 | Free-Space Optically Accessed Acoustically Modulated Retro-Reflector Arrays - Systems and techniques are provided for transmitting a light towards a plurality of acousto-optic retro reflectors, arranged as an array, that are configured to physically react to an acoustic signal. The physical reaction modulates the transmitted light which is reflected back towards a light detector and analyzed. The analysis may include detecting an acoustic signal source location and/or reconstructing the acoustic signal. A light scanner may be configured to transmit the light towards the plurality of acousto-optic retro reflectors in a predetermined, continuance, or dynamically determined sequence. | 02-26-2015 |
| 20150059481 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A PROPERTY OF AN OBJECT, AND A VALVE | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150075287 | LIGHT OUTPUT CALIBRATION IN AN OPTOACOUSTIC SYSTEM - An optoacoustic system includes first and second light sources capable of generating pulse of light at first and second wavelengths, optical output control, first and second light sync detectors, and a combiner. A power meter that is calibrated to determine power at the first and second predominant wavelength measures power at the first wavelength after the first light sync is detected and measures power at the second wavelength after the second light sync is detected. The system includes a calibration mode wherein it reduces optical output of the first light source when the power measured by the power meter at the first wavelength after the first light sync is detected is above a first level, and reduces optical output of the second light source when the power measured by the power meter at the second wavelength after the second light sync is detected is above a second level. | 03-19-2015 |
| 20150075288 | PHOTOACOUSTIC WAVE MEASUREMENT DEVICE - A photoacoustic wave measurement device includes a pulsed-light outputter, an arrangement member and a photoacoustic wave detector. The pulsed-light outputter outputs a pulsed light. The arrangement member is disposed between a pulsed-light output end of the pulsed-light outputter and a measurement object, the arrangement member being adapted to allow the pulsed light to pass therethrough. The photoacoustic wave detector receives a photoacoustic wave generated by the measurement object by the pulsed light and converts the photoacoustic wave into an electric signal. The photoacoustic wave detector is farther from the measurement object than the pulsed-light output end. The arrangement member has such a sufficient thickness that noise to be detected by the photoacoustic wave detector after a start time of detection of the photoacoustic wave starts to be detected after an end time of the detection of the photoacoustic wave. | 03-19-2015 |
| 20150082891 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING THE VIBRATION OF A STRUCTURE - A system and method for measuring the vibration of a structure of interest are disclosed. The disclosure provides an acoustic isolation structure to substantially reduce response to acoustic energy generated by external physical stimuli. The acoustic isolation structure is formed by placing a housing, such as an outer conduit, around an inner conduit, forming a gap between the housing and the inner conduit. The gap is then configured to serve as an acoustic isolation layer by either filling the gap with an acoustic isolation material or by substantially evacuating the gap and sealing the ends thereof. | 03-26-2015 |
| 20150114127 | DISTRIBUTED ACOUSTIC SENSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS EMPLOYING UNDER-FILLED MULTI-MODE OPTICAL FIBER - An illustrative distributed acoustic sensing system includes a multi-mode optical fiber cable for distributed sensing and a distributed acoustic sensing interrogator coupled to the multi-mode optical fiber cable via a single mode optical fiber. The interrogator derives distributed acoustic measurements from Rayleigh backscattering light that is initiated with a substantially under-filled launch configuration that is designed to excite only the lowest-order modes of the multi-mode optical fiber. Mode conversion within the multi-mode optical fiber is anticipated to be negligible. For elastic scattering (i.e., Rayleigh scattering), it is further anticipated that the scattered light will be primarily returned in the incident propagation mode, thereby escaping the extraordinarily large coupling loss that would otherwise be expected from coupling a single-mode optical fiber to a multi-mode optical fiber for distributed sensing. Experiments with graded index multi-mode optical fiber have yielded positive results. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150122036 | PHOTOACOUSTIC WAVE MEASUREMENT DEVICE - A photoacoustic wave measurement device according to the present invention includes: an optical fiber that outputs pulsed light; an external spacer that is disposed between a pulsed-light output end of the optical fiber and a measurement object, and which is adapted to allow the pulsed light to pass therethrough; a piezoelectric element that receives a photoacoustic wave generated by the pulsed light from the measurement object and converts the photoacoustic wave into an electric signal; and a spacer that is disposed between the external spacer and the piezoelectric element, and which is adapted to allow the photoacoustic wave to pass therethrough. The piezoelectric element is farther from the measurement object than the pulsed-light output end. A part of the optical fiber is disposed within the spacer. | 05-07-2015 |
| 20150135841 | CAPACITIVE TRANSDUCER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - Provided are a capacitive transducer that can make a sealing film thickness necessary to seal a gap smaller and can enhance performance such as a wider bandwidth, and a method of manufacturing the capacitive transducer. The capacitive transducer including cells each including a vibration film including a second electrode that is provided with a gap from a first electrode can be manufactured in the following manufacturing method. A convex part is formed on the first electrode, a sacrifice layer having a thickness larger than the thickness of the convex part is formed on the first electrode and the convex part, and a membrane is formed on the sacrifice layer. Further, an etching hole is formed in the membrane at a position above the convex part, the sacrifice layer is etched through the etching hole, and the etching hole is sealed by a sealing layer. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20150143913 | MULTI-MODAL SENSING FOR VEHICLE - Apparatuses and methods for detecting hidden or modified objects in a vehicle are disclosed. Embodiments include detection of vehicle irregularities, such as irregularities in the acoustical response of a vehicle tire as the tire rolls over a surface, irregularities in the orientation of the vehicle body, the response of a vehicle component (such as an axle, wheel, tire, etc.) to the vehicle moving over a surface, and the response of a vehicle component to vehicle generated vibrations. In alternate embodiments subsystems detecting different irregularities communicate with one another. | 05-28-2015 |
| 20150300874 | Pipeline Integrity Monitoring Using Fiber Optics - In some examples of monitoring pipeline integrity using fiber optics, a first set of values that represent an attenuation of a light signal transmitted through an optical fiber positioned adjacent a pipeline to carry fluids and a second set of values that represent a dispersion of the light signal transmitted through the optical fiber are received. An attenuation profile of the light signal and a dispersion profile of the light signal through the optical fiber are generated based on the first and second sets of values, respectively. Using the profiles, a light-based profile signature describing an environment surrounding the optical fiber is generated, and compared with a baseline light-based profile signature describing an environment surrounding the optical fiber under a normal operating condition. A notification describing an operation of the pipeline is provided in response to the comparing. | 10-22-2015 |
| 20150308887 | Method of Vibration Measurement and Interferometer - Method and system for measuring vibration in two or three directions in objects ( | 10-29-2015 |
| 20150323379 | Optical Inertial Sensing Module - An optical inertial sensing module is proposed. The optical inertial sensing module includes a substrate, having a concave structure, and a through hole structure. The concave structure is formed on the top surface and has a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface, and the through hole structure passes through from the top surface to the bottom surface of the substrate. A light emitting device is disposed within the through hole structure of the substrate. A light-guiding structure is configured in the concave structure and located between the first reflection surface and the second reflection surface. At least one photo detector is disposed on the top surface of the substrate, and a mother board is used for the substrate configured thereon. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150355015 | Fibre Optic Cable for Acoustic/Seismic Sensing - This application relates to fibre optic cable structures that are suitable for distributed acoustic sensing, and which may usefully be used for seismic monitoring/detection. The cable structures provide good sensitivity may further exhibit a directional sensitivity and thus can be used to discriminate between stimuli acting on the cable in different directions. One such fibre optic cable comprises a core structure ( | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150369651 | ACOUSTIC WAVE ACQUIRING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - An acoustic wave acquiring apparatus is used that includes: an array light source including a plurality of elements emitting measurement light; a controller controlling the wavelength of the measurement light, for each of or the plurality of elements; a Fabry-Perot interferometer including a first mirror upon which the measurement light is incident and a second mirror upon which an acoustic wave from a subject is incident; an optical sensor measuring a light quantity of reflected light by the first and the second mirror; and a processor acquiring an intensity of the acoustic wave on the basis of a change of the light quantity of the reflected light, which is a distance between the first mirror and the second mirror, occurring due to the incidence of the acoustic wave. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20150369652 | OBJECT INFORMATION ACQUIRING APPARATUS - Provided is an object information acquiring apparatus including: detecting elements converting an acoustic wave propagated from an object to an electric signal, a processing unit acquiring characteristic information of the object using the electric signal, a supporting unit supporting the detecting elements, an input unit receiving information concerning three-dimensional region of interest, a display controlling unit displaying a predetermined three-dimensional shape representing, a scanning region setting unit setting a scanning region, and a scanning unit moving the supporting unit, wherein the display controlling unit changes the size of the region of interest stepwise by using a feature value peculiar to the apparatus as a unit based on the inputted information, and displays the changed region of interest. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20160003669 | OPTICAL FIBER VIBRATION SENSOR AND METHOD OF MEASURING VIBRATION USING THE SAME - An optical fiber vibration sensor includes a polarization-diversity loop based interference unit having a polarization-maintaining fiber configured to generate an interference spectrum, a polarizing beam splitter connected to the polarization-maintaining fiber and configured to split light incident from a narrowband light source into two polarized beams, and a polarization controller connected to the polarization-maintaining fiber or the polarizing beam splitter and configured to control the two polarized beams split through the polarizing beam splitter, and an optical fiber vibration test unit combined to the polarization-maintaining fiber so as to apply an external vibration to the polarization-maintaining fiber, wherein light output intensity of the polarization-diversity loop based interference unit is converted to an electrical signal by a light detector, and the vibration applied to the polarization-maintaining fiber may be measured through the optical fiber vibration test unit. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160003782 | SYSTEM FOR PREDICTION AND PREVENTION OF ELECTRIC TRANSFORMER FAILURES - The present application relates to systems for detection of partial discharges in a power transformer. In embodiments, the systems utilize fiber optic acoustic sensors to monitor the pressure waves associated with partial discharges and localize the discharges using appropriate measurement and analysis software. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160011152 | Nondestructive Inspection Using Acousto-Optics | 01-14-2016 |
| 20160061650 | Probe for an Optoacoustic Imaging Device - A probe for an optoacoustic imaging device has an irradiator and a detector. The irradiator includes a light-emitting semiconductor element light source that irradiates a tested object with light. The detector detects an optoacoustic wave generated in the tested object as a result. The irradiator is removably fitted to the detector. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160076932 | DISTRIBUTED ACOUSTIC SENSING TO OPTIMIZE COIL TUBING MILLING PERFORMANCE - A method of utilizing fiber-optic cables either previously installed in adjacent wells or currently installed as part of the drilling or milling process to sense vibrations or acoustic signatures within an adjacent or the currently drilled wellbore. The vibrations or acoustic signatures may then be used to determine the location, including the depth, of a tool run into the well on coil tubing. In addition to determining the location of any tools run into the well on coil tubing, a determination of the operating condition of the tools may also be made based upon the vibrations or acoustic signatures of the tools received via the fiber-optic cables. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160138965 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETECTING INFRASOUND - A method and an apparatus for detecting infrasound that determines the direction and position of an infrasound source. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160161327 | Fiber Optic Communications with Subsea Sensors - The present techniques are directed to systems and methods for monitoring parameter data from sensors, for example, in a subsea environment. In one method, an electrical signal including data from the subsea unit is converted into an acoustic signal. The acoustic signal is directed through the water column towards a fiber optic cable. The acoustic signal is detected by changes in a light signal carried in the fiber optic cable, and the changes in the light signal are decoded to obtain a data stream representing the parameter data. | 06-09-2016 |
| 20160169712 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPTICAL SENSING | 06-16-2016 |
| 20160169768 | Distributed Optical Fibre Sensor | 06-16-2016 |
| 20160190762 | SOLID-STATE LASER DEVICE AND PHOTOACOUSTIC MEASUREMENT DEVICE - Disclosed are a solid-state laser device having an advantage of achieving simplification of a configuration and reduction in size, and a photoacoustic measurement device. In a solid-state laser device which accommodates a solid-state laser medium and an excitation light source having a rod-shaped portion, the excitation light source is provided to be pulled out of a laser chamber. An optical element which bends light is provided at a position separated from the rod-shaped portion such that at least a part of the optical element and at least a part of the rod-shaped portion are at the same position in the longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped portion. One resonator mirror is disposed at a position where bent light is incident. Optical components between the optical element and the resonator mirror are provided at positions separated from a path along which the excitation light source is pulled out. | 06-30-2016 |
| 20160202121 | MICROSCOPE WITH AN ACOUSTO-OPTICAL DEVICE | 07-14-2016 |
| 20160377476 | DETECTING BROADSIDE ACOUSTIC SIGNALS WITH A FIBER OPTICAL DISTRIBUTED ACOUSTIC SENSING (DAS) ASSEMBLY - A distributed fiber optic acoustic sensing system comprises an elongate body having an outer surface, an optical fiber disposed on the outer surface at a first predetermined wrap angle, and light transmitting and receiving means optically connected to the fiber for. The elongate body may include at least one substantially flat face, and/or a layer of swellable elastomer surrounding the body, and/or an outer elastomeric tube surrounding the elastomer layer. There may be at least one sensor pad disposed in the outer layer, the sensor pad comprising a stiffener and at least one longitudinal fiber affixed thereto or embedded therein. There may be a body of protective material surrounding the tube, which may have an outer surface that includes at least one substantially flat face and at least one sensor pad disposed in the body. | 12-29-2016 |
| 20220136871 | OPTICAL FIBER SENSING SYSTEM - An optical fiber sensing system according to the present disclosure includes a sensing optical fiber ( | 05-05-2022 |
