US4271490A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ultrasonic detection system
Assignee: Furuno Electric Co Ltd
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Filing: 1978-12-12
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Granted: 1981-06-02
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Expires: 1998-12-12
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic detection system having an array of ultrasonic transducers that are uniformly closely disposed relative to each other such that the active surfaces for transmission or reception are maintained on a straight or curved line. The transducers form radiation or reception beams in a specific direction. Beam orientation is accomplished by selecting a group of transducers from the array and/or respectively applying appropriate phase-shifts to the signals to be fed to each of the transducers or to the signals produced from each of the transducers. Shields are maintained between two adjacent transducers for suppression of sidelobes.
Inventors
- 👤 Kiyomi Minohara
- 👤 Akira Sugiyama
- 👤 Hiroshi Nakai
- 👤 Masajiro Iida
- 👤 Hideharu Morimatsu
- 👤 Yuzo Kobayashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:27
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/52; G01S7/52017; G01S7/52046; G01S7/52047; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/8909; G01S15/8915; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S367/00; Y10S367/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
In an ultrasonic detection system having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers uniformly closely disposed such that their active surfaces are maintained fixed relative to each other for forming beams in specific directions by selecting a group of ultrasonic transducers and respectively applying appropriate phase-shifts to the signals to be fed to each of the ultrasonic transducers, the improvement comprising a magnetic or electrically conductive shield between any two adjacent transducers for suppressing sidelobes in said beam pattern.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
In an ultrasonic detection system having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers uniformly closely disposed such that their active surfaces are maintained fixed relative to each other for forming beams in specific directions by selecting a group of ultrasonic transducers and respectively applying appropriate phase-shifts to the signals to be fed to each of the ultrasonic transducers, the improvement comprising a magnetic or electrically conductive shield between any two adjacent transducers for suppressing sidelobes in said beam pattern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
An ultrasonic detection system as defined in claim 1, wherein a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are closely and uniformly disposed along the circumference of a circle or an arc in such a way that their active surfaces are maintained touching the inside of the circumference thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 2, wherein said active surfaces are used for transmission and reception of a radiation signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
An ultrasonic detection system as defined in claim 1, wherein a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are closely and uniformly disposed along the periphery of at least a portion of a cylinder in such a way that their active surfaces are maintained touching on the inside of the periphery thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 4, wherein said active surfaces are used for transmission and reception of a radiation signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
An ultrasonic detection system as defined in claim 1, wherein a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are closely and uniformly disposed and output terminals of each of a group of ultrasonic transducers of said plurality of ultrasonic transducers coupled to corresponding input terminals of phase adjusting means for applying an appropriate time delay to the signals produced from said each ultrasonic transducer whereby a reception beam is formed in a specific direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
An ultrasonic detection system as defined in claim 1, wherein a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are closely and uniformly disposed and input terminals of each of a group of ultrasonic transducers of said plurality of ultrasonic transducers coupled to corresponding output terminals of phase adjusting means for applying an appropriate time delay to the signals to be fed to said each ultrasonic transducer whereby a transmission beam is formed in a specific direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
An ultrasonic detection system as defined in claim 1, wherein a plurality of ultrasonic transducer units are closely and uniformly disposed to form a cylindrical transducer array, and output terminals of each of a group of ultrasonic transducer units of said plurality of ultrasonic transducer units coupled to corresponding input terminals of phase adjusting means for applying an appropriate time delay to the signals produced from said each ultrasonic transducer unit whereby a reception beam is formed in a specific direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
An ultrasonic detection system as defined in claim 8 further comprising an ultrasonic transducer unit having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers closely, uniformly and longitudinally arranged in a straight line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
82 words
An ultrasonic detection system as defined in claim 1, wherein a plurality of ultrasonic transducer units are closely and uniformly disposed to form a cylindrical transducer array, and input terminals of each of a group of ultrasonic transducer units of said plurality of ultrasonic transducer units coupled to corresponding output terminals of phase adjusting means for applying an appropriate time delay to the signals to be fed to said each ultrasonic transducer whereby a transmission beam is formed in a specific direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
An ultrasonic detection system as defined in claim 10 further comprising an ultrasonic transducer unit having a plurality of ultrasonic transducers closely, uniformly and longitudinally arranged in a straight line.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
An ultrasonic detection system as defined in claim 1, wherein a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are closely and uniformly disposed on a straight line at uniform spacing intervals, the output terminals of each of said plurality of ultrasonic transducers coupled to corresponding input terminals of phase shifting means for applying an appropriate phase-shift to the signals produced from said each ultrasonic transducer whereby the signals from each of the transducers are successively uniformly phase-shifted relative to the preceding signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
85 words
An ultrasonic detection system as defined in claim 1, wherein a plurality of ultrasonic transducers are closely and uniformly disposed on a straight line at a uniform spacing interval, the input terminals of each of said plurality of ultrasonic transducers coupled to corresponding output terminals of phase-shifting means for applying an appropriate phase-shift to signals to be fed to each of said ultrasonic transducers whereby the signals to be fed to each of the ultrasonic transducers are uniformly successively phase-shifted relative to the preceding signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
An ultrasonic detection system as defined in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13, wherein magnetostrictive ultrasonic transducers are employed as said ultrasonic transducers and said shields are maintained between two adjacent magnetostrictive ultrasonic transducers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
An ultrasonic detection system as defined in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13, wherein electrostrictive ultrasonic transducers are employed and conducting shields are maintained between two adjacent electrostrictive ultrasonic transducers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
An ultrasonic detection system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said shields are materials in granular form.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
An ultrasonic detection system as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13, wherein said shields are placed on both sides of and above and below said transducers thereby surrounding each said transducer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-06-01 | 1984-12-01 | 1985-06-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-06-01 | 1988-12-01 | 1989-06-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-06-01 | 1992-12-01 | 1993-06-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |