Abstract: An ultrasound probe including: a circuit substrate (23) having a recess in a first region on the lower surface side; a buffer layer (400) composed of an insulating material on a second region different from the first region of circuit substrate (23); and an element array layer (22) including a first piezoelectric element (100) for ultrasound transmission formed in the first region of the circuit substrate (23) without the buffer layer (400), and a second piezoelectric element (200) for ultrasound reception formed in the second region of the circuit substrate (23) on the buffer layer (400). The first piezoelectric element (100) vibrates in a flexural vibration mode on the circuit substrate (23), and the second piezoelectric element (200) vibrates in a thickness vibration mode on the circuit substrate (23).

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe coupling assembly (1) and an ultrasonic probe mechanism are disclosed. The ultrasonic probe coupling assembly (1) includes a probe sleeve (11) and a solid-state coupling member (12). The probe sleeve (11) is sleeved on an ultrasonic probe (2). The solid-state coupling member (12) is fixed in the probe sleeve (11). One side of the solid-state coupling member (12) is located in the probe sleeve (11) for fitting to the ultrasonic probe (2), and the other side is protruded from the probe sleeve (11) to be in contact with the skin. The ultrasonic probe mechanism includes the ultrasonic probe coupling assembly (1) and the ultrasonic probe (2).

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods and systems for detecting the health status of a bolt which fastens a rotor blade of a wind turbine. Values of the axial stress/strain of the bolt and motion and orientation data are acquired in different aerial orientations. Values of the prestress/strain and load-stress/strain are obtained using the values of the axial stress/strain and the motion and orientation data. Values of the prestress/strain and load-stress/strain are compared with the reference values. The health status of the bolt, rotor blade, and the wind turbine system is determined based on the comparison results. The method is noninvasive and doesn't affect the function and performance of the bolt and the turbine system.

Abstract: One embodiment of a fuel tank assembly includes a fuel sending unit having a float with a small thickness, which heretofore has been too thin to secure a stand-alone magnet thereon. The float may be manufactured in a complex shape or in a small size. In one embodiment the float may be manufactured of a material having magnetized particles interspersed throughout the float such that the float does not require a stand alone magnet secured thereon. The float may be manufactured of a material having a foaming agent added thereto so as to provide a finished product with air filled voids positioned throughout the float to increase the buoyancy of the finished float product.

Abstract: A system and method for authentication of objects, which includes directing a laser beam onto a surface of an object to induce a thermoelastic excitation in bulk material of the object without altering the surface of the object, wherein the laser beam is pulsed. A surface ultrasonic wave at the surface of the object caused by the thermoelastic excitation is detected using a detector. A detection signal is generated using the detected surface ultrasonic wave. Digital data is generated using the detection signal. Authenticity of the object is determined by comparing the digital data and reference data stored in a database.

Abstract: [PROBLEM] To provide a defect detection device capable of detecting not only a defect within a visible range but also a defect outside the visible range among the objects to be inspected.

Abstract: A portable pneumatic loading system for simulating the operation of a subway train is provided, comprising a control cabinet, an powered air station and an air cylinder, wherein a proportional directional valve is disposed between the control cabinet and the powered air station, a control cabinet is connected to the powered air station through an air inlet pipe, and the powered air station is connected to the air cylinder through a hose; a PLC, a switching power supply and a guide rail are arranged in the control cabinet, with the PLC and the switching power supply being connected through signal lines to a wiring terminal fixed on the guide rail; a frequency regulating knob, an emergency stop switch, a main start button, a power start button and a power indicator are embedded in five through holes formed on a door of the control cabinet, respectively; a signal line led out from the top of the control cabinet is connected to the proportional directional valve; and, the air cylinder is connected to the proporti

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for detecting one or more discontinuities of a structure may include a laser emitter configured to generate and direct an ultrasonic signal into a structure and a receiver comprising an optical microphone. The optical microphone may comprise an array of optical microphones configured in a complementary manner to the emitter.

Abstract: A gas sensor comprises a basic part and a sensing layer deposited on the basic part. The basic part includes a circuit board and at least one surface acoustic wave element disposed on the circuit board. The sensing layer is a nanocomposite film of reduced graphene oxide/tungsten oxide/polypyrrole deposited on the surface acoustic wave element. The sensing layer combines reduced graphene oxide, metal oxide, and conductive polymer, so that the sensing layer is able to perform sensing at room temperature, and can be more sensitive. The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a gas sensor, and a gas sensing system including the gas sensor.

Abstract: A microscale photoacoustic sensor uses the detection of ultrasound waves generated by a sample in response to incident light absorption to perform photoacoustic spectroscopy, imaging, and microscopy. The microscale photoacoustic sensor, including components to excite a sample and detect ultrasound waves, may be integrated onto a single chip. The microscale photoacoustic sensor may excite a sample using a metasurface collimator. The metasurface collimator includes an array of diffraction grooves to collimate an excitation beam uniformly out of the plane of the sensor to create a wide and homogeneous beam spot. The microscale photoacoustic sensor may detect ultrasound waves using an optical photoacoustic transducer. The optical photoacoustic transducer includes a resonator on a mechanical membrane to detect ultrasound waves with high sensitivity. The microscale photoacoustic sensor may be used in applications such as deep-tissue neural imaging or microfluidic biological screening.

Abstract: An acoustic bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) measurement system utilizing metamaterials and compressive sensing for measuring scattering acoustic profiles (e.g., over large angular regions, such as hemispherical scattering/emitting into two ? steradians or even spherical scattering/emitting over four ? steradians). The measurement system includes one or more acoustic waveguides having a curved receiving surface and made from an acoustic metamaterial configured to encode as a sound signal a frequency and directionality of a sound input received from a sample. Each acoustic waveguide includes an acoustic sensor for detecting the encoded sound signal from the metamaterial.

Abstract: A multi-frequency acoustic velocity measurement device for a core includes: a fixing device, for fixing a core and heating and pressurizing the core according to a preset condition; a transmitting end acoustic wave probe, connected to a first end of a control unit and one end of the fixing device, and configured to transmit an acoustic wave signal to the core; a receiving end acoustic wave probe, connected to a second end of the control unit and the other end of the fixing device, and configured to receive the acoustic wave signal transmitted by the transmitting end acoustic wave probe; and the control unit, for controlling the transmitting end acoustic wave probe to transmit acoustic wave signals of different frequencies, receiving the acoustic wave signal received by the receiving end acoustic wave probe, and determining an acoustic velocity of the core according to the acoustic wave signal.

Abstract: The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a transducer; a driving signal generation unit configured to generate a driving signal; and a transmission circuit configured to output a driving current corresponding to the driving signal, so as to drive the transducer, the transmission circuit includes: a transducer driving unit formed by a current mirror with a low voltage transistor and a high voltage transistor, the high voltage transistor being connected with the transducer, and a current source configured to supply an operation current corresponding to the driving signal to the low voltage transistor of the transducer driving unit, the driving signal generation unit includes: a transmission circuit driving unit replica that has a configuration same as that of the transducer driving unit, and a feedback control unit to detect a current flowing through a high voltage transistor of the transmission circuit driving unit replica, and to control the current to be constant.

Abstract: An optoacoustic sensor includes a liquid crystal (LC) cell formed between top and bottom plates of transparent material. A transverse grating formed across the LC cell that forms an optical transmission bandgap. A CL is aligned to form a spring-like, tunable Bragg grating that is naturally responsive to external agitations providing a spectral transition regime, or edge, in the optical transmission bandgap of the transverse grating that respond to broadband acoustic waves. The optoacoustic sensor includes a narrowband light source that is oriented to transmit light through the top plate, the LC cell, and the bottom plate. The optoacoustic sensor includes an optoacoustic spectrometer that is oriented below the bottom plate to receive the transmitted light and to record a time-domain modulation of transmission intensity at a selected one of a falling and rising edge of the transmission bandgap for detecting analog acoustic vibration.

Abstract: A fatigue test assessment method for assessing a suspension point of a cylinder block by means of a fatigue test includes: fixing a suspension point of a cylinder block test piece by using a power assembly installation approach; applying a load to the suspension point of the cylinder block test piece in a preset direction; and determining whether the suspension point of the cylinder block fails. The method can ascertain, by means of assessment during a stage of parts testing, whether the structural strength of a suspension point of a cylinder block meets user requirements, so as to predict and prevent breakage of and faults in the suspension point of the cylinder block, thereby enhancing overall test validity.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the present description relates to a system for non-invasively characterizing a heterogeneous medium using ultrasound, comprising at least one first array (10) of transducers configured to generate a series of incident ultrasound waves in a region of said heterogeneous medium and record the ultrasound waves which are backscattered by said region as a function of time, as well as a computing unit (42) which is coupled to said at least one first array of transducers and configured to: record an experimental reflection matrix defined between an emission basis at the input and the basis of the transducers at the output; determine, from said experimental reflection matrix, at least one first wideband reflection matrix defined in a focused base at the input and output; determine a first distortion matrix defined between said focused basis and an observation basis, said first distortion matrix resulting, directly or after a change of basis, from the term-by-term matrix product of said first wideba

Abstract: Provided are two-dimensional chromatography systems and methods for separating and/or analyzing complex mixtures of organic compounds. In particularly, a two-dimensional reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC)—supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) system is described including a trapping column at the interface which collects the analytes eluted from the first dimension chromatography while letting the RPLC mobile phase pass through. The peaks of interest from the RPLC dimension column are effectively focused as sharp concentration pulses on the trapping column, which is subsequently injected onto the second dimension SFC column. The system can be used for simultaneous achiral and chiral analysis of pharmaceutical compounds. The first dimension RPLC separation provides the achiral purity result, and the second dimension SFC separation provides the chiral purity result (enantiomeric excess).

Abstract: A signal sensing module includes a substrate, a sensing electrode, a piezoresistive material layer and a sensing circuit. The substrate has a surface. The sensing electrode is disposed on the substrate and is exposed from the surface. The piezoresistive material layer is formed on the surface and covers the sensing electrode. The piezoresistive material layer has a resistance value. The sensing circuit is disposed in the substrate and adapted to sense a change of resistance value when a pressure wave passes through the piezoresistive material layer.

Abstract: A device configured for low-energy ultrasonic 2D Fourier transform analysis, comprising: (i) a first layer comprising an array of piezoelectric pixels; (ii) a second layer comprising an array of piezoelectric pixels; (iii) a third layer, positioned between the first and second layers, comprising a bulk ultrasonic transmission medium; wherein the second layer of array of piezoelectric pixels is in the Fourier plane of an input signal of the first layer array of piezoelectric pixels.

Abstract: A monitoring system for monitoring one or more properties associated with a rotating shaft is provided. The system includes a first phonic wheel which is mounted coaxially to the shaft for rotation therewith, the first phonic wheel comprising a circumferential row of teeth. The system further includes a first sensor configured to detect the passage of the row of teeth of the first phonic wheel by generating a first alternating measurement signal. The system further includes a processor unit configured to determine the durations of successive first speed samples. Each first speed sample is a block of n successive cycles of the first alternating measurement signal, where n is an integer, and in which the beginning of each cycle is a zero-crossing point from the previous cycle and the end of each cycle is the corresponding zero-crossing point to the next cycle.