US3890829A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for acoustical imaging
Assignee: Zenith Electronics LLC
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Filing: 1973-04-11
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Granted: 1975-06-24
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Expires: 1993-04-11
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for acoustical examination of a specimen, in which the specimen is insonified with low-duty-cycle, highfrequency acoustical pulses, acoustical energy reflected from or transmitted through the specimen impinging upon an image plane. A transducer scans the image plane at a velocity coordinated to the arrival in the image plane of energy from points, successively insonified, in an object plane intersecting the specimen. The transducer generates an electrical signal representative of acoustic properties of that portion of the specimen coincident with the object plane; the object plane can be displaced by varying the timing of initiation of the transducer scan and can be angularly displaced by adjusting the scanning speed.
Inventors
- 👤 Adrianus Korpel
- 👤 Robert L Whitman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:57
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01H; G01H9/00; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/04; G01N29/06; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/8965; G01S15/8968
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
The method of acoustically inspecting a specimen in a sonic propagation medium comprising the following steps: pulse-insonifying the specimen with a series of periodically repetitive pulses of high-frequency acoustic energy propagated along a given insonification path so as to generate reflected acoustic waves in the sonic medium from points on the specimen lying in a predeterminable object plane, the direction of the insonification path being chosen such that the angle formed between the insonification path and the normal to the object plane is substantially greater than zero, and the duration of each acoustic pulse being very much shorter than the pulse repetition period; receiving the reflected waves at an image plane having a predetermined angular displacement other than normal from the insonification path; scanning the image plane with a transducer to intercept acoustic energy from the specimen and develop an electrical signal characteristic of the acoustic properties of the specimen along a desired object plane intersecting the specimen; and synchronizing the velocity and location of the scanning with energy arriving at successive points in the image plane from points successively insonified by an acoustic pulse in the object plane.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
189 words
The method of acoustically inspecting a specimen in a sonic propagation medium comprising the following steps: pulse-insonifying the specimen with a series of periodically repetitive pulses of high-frequency acoustic energy propagated along a given insonification path so as to generate reflected acoustic waves in the sonic medium from points on the specimen lying in a predeterminable object plane, the direction of the insonification path being chosen such that the angle formed between the insonification path and the normal to the object plane is substantially greater than zero, and the duration of each acoustic pulse being very much shorter than the pulse repetition period; receiving the reflected waves at an image plane having a predetermined angular displacement other than normal from the insonification path; scanning the image plane with a transducer to intercept acoustic energy from the specimen and develop an electrical signal characteristic of the acoustic properties of the specimen along a desired object plane intersecting the specimen; and synchronizing the velocity and location of the scanning with energy arriving at successive points in the image plane from points successively insonified by an acoustic pulse in the object plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The acoustic inspection method of claim 1, in which the transducer scanning velocity Vt corresponds to
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The acoustic inspection method of claim 1, in which the acoustical pulses impinge upon the specimen from the side of the specimen effectively facing the image plane, so that the energy intercepted by the output transducer is energy reflected from the specimen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The acoustical inspection method of claim 1, in which the acoustical pulses impinge upon the specimen from the side opposite that effectively facing the image plane, so that the energy intercepted by the output transducer is energy transmitted through the specimen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The acoustic inspection method of claim 1, in which the ratio of the scanning repetition period to the pulse duration period is of the order of about 9:1 or more.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
187 words
An acoustical camera comprising: pulse-insonification means for applying a series of periodically repetitive pulses of high-frequency acoustical energy to a specimen lying in an object plane, each pulse being propagated along a given insonification path to impinge upon the specimen, the duration of each acoustic pulse being very much shorter than the pulse repetition frequency and the direction of the insonification path being chosen such that the angle formed between the insonification path and the normal to the object plane is greater than zero; receiving means located at an image plane and acoustically coupled to the specimen for intercepting acoustic energy from the specimen impinging upon the image plane, said image plane having an angular displacement other than normal from the insonification path and scanning means for scanning the receiving means in synchronism with energy arriving at successive points in the image plane from points successively insonified by an acoustic pulse in the object plane, and for developing an electrical signal representative of the acoustic properties of the specimen along the object plane the scanning being effected at a velocity Vt determined in accordance with the relationship
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
187 words
An acoustical camera comprising: pulse-insonification means for applying a series of periodically repetitive pulses of high-frequency acoustical energy to a specimen lying in an object plane, each pulse being propagated along a given insonification path to impinge upon the specimen, the duration of each acoustic pulse being very much shorter than the pulse repetition frequency and the direction of the insonification path being chosen such that the angle formed between the insonification path and the normal to the object plane is greater than zero; receiving means located at an image plane and acoustically coupled to the specimen for intercepting acoustic energy from the specimen impinging upon the image plane, said image plane having an angular displacement other than normal from the insonification path and scanning means for scanning the receiving means in synchronism with energy arriving at successive points in the image plane from points successively insonified by an acoustic pulse in the object plane, and for developing an electrical signal representative of the acoustic properties of the specimen along the object plane the scanning being effected at a velocity Vt determined in accordance with the relationship
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
An acoustical camera according to claim 6, and further comprising means to adjust the scanning velocity Vt to vary the angle of inclination A between the image plane and the object plane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
An acoustical camera according to claim 6, and further comprising means to adjust the timing of the start of each scanning line to control the depth of the object plane in the specimen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-23 | 1978-12-23 | 1979-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-23 | 1982-12-23 | 1983-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-23 | 1986-12-23 | 1987-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |