Sonic Wave Transmitter Or Receiver Transducer Patents (Class 73/632)
  • Patent number: 11976963
    Abstract: Disclosed is an acoustic sensor including: —a component having an input and an output, the component being able to conduct light waves in a plurality of propagation modes between the input and the output, the component converting an acoustic signal to be measured into a phase shift proportional to an intermodal interference between at least two propagation modes, and —a detector of a physical quantity dependent on the phase shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: HOASYS
    Inventor: Umberto Bortolozzo
  • Patent number: 11957434
    Abstract: An object information acquiring apparatus is used. This apparatus comprises: a light source configured to emit pulsed light of a plurality of wavelengths; a wavelength controller configured to switch the wavelength; a probe configured to receive an acoustic wave generated and propagated in an object subjected to the pulsed light emitted onto the object; a scan controller configured to move the probe within a predetermined scanning range; and an information processor configured to acquire information about the object by using a plurality of electric signals corresponding to the wavelengths of the pulsed light output from the probe at each reception position in the scanning area. The wavelength controller switches the wavelength of the pulsed light before the probe scans the entire scanning area while receiving at each reception position an acoustic wave corresponding to at least one of the wavelengths of the pulsed light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenichi Nagae
  • Patent number: 11946735
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method fir measuring a deviation angle of a fatigue microcrack based on nonlinear ultrasound, comprising: preliminarily positioning a fatigue microcrack to obtain a center of the microcrack; selecting a horizontal positive direction, and defining an orientation angle; drawing a positive circumference on a surface of a metal plate, and selecting a fixed interval angle; placing an excitation sensor and a receiving sensor on the drawn positive circumference according to the orientation angle; ultrasonically testing each group of ultrasonic sensing paths, and recording time domain waveform signals formed by each group of ultrasonic sensing paths; converting each group of time domain waveform signals into a corresponding frequency domain graph, extracting an ultrasonic fundamental wave signal amplitude and a second harmonic waveform amplitude, and calculating a relative nonlinear coefficient; drawing an orientation angle-relative nonlinear coefficient polar coordinate graph; and determining a deviat
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Southwest Jiaotong University
    Inventors: Guoqing Gou, Feifei Qiu, Bing Chen, Yuzi Hu, Zhongyin Zhu, Junjun Jin
  • Patent number: 11940418
    Abstract: A portable inspecting device includes PZT transducers and performs active sensing to measure the characteristics of bolted connections. The PZT transducers are mounted on opposing ends of spring-loaded rods and can be moved apart to accommodate a structure for testing. The springs cause the PZT transducers to push against opposing parts of the structure in a stable but temporary fashion. The device can be physically moved to inspect the status and health of multiple different bolted connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Gangbing Song, Jinwei Jiang, Siu Chun Michael Ho, Zheng Chen
  • Patent number: 11940419
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for ultrasonic inspection. The apparatus comprises, in certain examples, a base, a lower coupler block slidably coupled to the base such that the base is translationally movable relative to the lower coupler block, and a pair of wings rotatably coupled to the lower coupler block at a wing pivot point and pivotable between a first angle and a second angle. In certain examples, the apparatus also includes a sensor carriage located within the base and slidably coupled to the base such that the sensor carriage is translationally movable relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Kareem Shehab
  • Patent number: 11904357
    Abstract: A micromachined ultrasonic transducers with non-coplanar actuation and displacement comprising a plate with a protruding center mass, a substrate with a center depression configured to accept the center mass, a first electrode coupled to a non-horizontal edge surface of the center mass, and a second electrode coupled to a non-horizontal edge surface of the center depression. The plate may be coupled to the substrate at least along an outer perimeter area of the plate and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: GE Precision Healthcare LLC
    Inventors: Rupak Bardhan Roy, Frederic Lanteri, Edouard Da Cruz, Flavien Daloz, Jean Francois Gelly
  • Patent number: 11888509
    Abstract: An ultrasound system includes a transmit-receive switch. The transmit-receive switch includes a combined transmit-receive and return-to-zero (RTZ) path. The combined transmit-receive and RTZ path includes a transistor with a first current terminal, a second current terminal, and a control terminal. The second current terminal of the transistor is coupled to a ground node via a first switch and is coupled to a receive node via a second switch. The ultrasound system also includes a receiver front-end circuit coupled to the receive node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Aravind Miriyala, Ravikumar Pattipaka, Raja Sekhar Kanakamedala, Sandeep Kesrimal Oswal
  • Patent number: 11867665
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic probe includes a first member and a first vibrating element. The first member includes at least one selected from the group consisting of metal and ceramic. The first vibrating element includes a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer provided between the first electrode and the first member, and a second electrode provided between the piezoelectric layer and the first member and being in contact with the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kobayashi, Tomio Ono, Norihiko Tanaka, Tomonori Abe
  • Patent number: 11857775
    Abstract: A fluid flow system and a method for detecting air bubble and liquid are provided. The fluid flow system comprises a force sensor configured to monitor at least one of an air bubble or an occlusion in a flow tube. The fluid flow system comprises a controller to execute the method. The controller is configured to monitor an output signal of a force sensor of the fluid flow system, and the output signal comprises an Alternating Current (AC) component and a Direct Current (DC) component, and detect a change in the output signal to a new output signal based on a number of transitions to the new output signal, and a time duration of the new output signal. The controller compares the change in the output signal with one of a predefined number of transitions or a predefined time and determines a new threshold when the change in the output signal exceeds one of the predefined number of transitions or the predefined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Kuna V S R Kishore, Abhishek Joshi, Kumaran S Narasimhan, Kaligaselvi Lenin, Manjunatha Hm, Varun Thakurta, Sudheer Beligere Sreeramu
  • Patent number: 11835485
    Abstract: A stabilized ultrasonic probe includes a housing, at least one ultrasonic transducer, a flexible delay line, and a stabilizing element. The housing can be tubular and extend from a proximal to a distal end and define a cavity therein. The transducer can be positioned within the housing. The delay line can include recessed and tip portions. The recessed portion can be within the cavity and extend from the transducer(s) to the housing distal end. The tip portion can extend from the housing distal end to a distal terminal end of the delay line. The stabilizing element can be coupled to the housing distal end and extend distally from the housing distal end to a target facing surface. The stabilizing element can circumferentially surround at least part of the delay line tip portion. A stabilizing element modulus can be greater than or equal to a delay line modulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
    Inventors: Tobias Bruch, Thorsten Michalk
  • Patent number: 11774893
    Abstract: A measurement device includes: a resistance measurement unit that measures an electrical resistance of a measurement target; a first measurement unit, including a detector that detects information indicating a first physical property other than the electrical resistance of the measurement target, that measures the first physical property from a detection result from the detector; a second measurement unit, including a detector that detects information indicating a second physical property other than the electrical resistance and the first physical property of the measurement target, that measures the second physical property from a detection result from the detector, in which a length of time from a start of driving the detector until a start of actual measurement is longer in the second measurement unit than in the first measurement unit; and a control unit that performs first control causing the first measurement unit to execute a measurement operation of measuring the first physical property in parallel wi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp.
    Inventors: Kenta Ogata, Kouhei Yukawa
  • Patent number: 11740206
    Abstract: Detection, identification, and monitoring of various composite-damage types such as impact damage, delaminations, etc. using angle-beam coupled guided waves and methods and systems that permit excitation with angle-beam techniques of certain composite-material guided-wave modes that cannot be excited in isotropic metals with angle-beam methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Victor Giurgiutiu, Robin James, Hanfei Mei, Mohammad Faisal Haider
  • Patent number: 11733212
    Abstract: A method for quantitative analysis of a cavity at the top of a concrete-filled steel tube is disclosed. By substitution of the determined inner radius of the steel tube, the thickness of the steel tube wall and the propagation speed of ultrasonic waves in the steel tube and in the concrete, the propagation time of the ultrasonic wave between the top and the bottom of the concrete-filled steel tube enables calculation of the height of the cavity. The method can be used to quantify the cavity height at the top of the concrete-filled steel tube, with small relative errors and high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Guangxi University
    Inventors: Zheng Chen, Jielian Zheng, Zengxin Ye, Jiaping Liu, Jianjun Wang, Changjie Wu, Wen Xu, Weiwei Xie
  • Patent number: 11697135
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a transducer comprises a first piezoelectric stack comprising a piezoelectric material; a first layer in contact with the piezoelectric stack; and a base structure beneath the first layer. The first layer has a first displacement between a first portion of the base structure and the first layer, and the first displacement is configurable by a first bias voltage received by the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Mohammad Hadi Motieian Najar, Peter Smeys
  • Patent number: 11690596
    Abstract: Provided is an ultrasound system including an ultrasound probe and an image display device. The ultrasound probe includes: a transducer array, a transmitting and receiving unit that generates a sound ray signal on the basis of a reception signal from the transducer array; an image information data generation unit that generates image information data from the sound ray signal; and a probe-side wireless communication unit that transmits the image information data to the image display device. The image display device includes: an operating state acquisition unit that acquires an operating state of the image display device; and a display-device-side wireless communication unit that transmits the operating state to the ultrasound probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Karasawa
  • Patent number: 11680858
    Abstract: A device and a method for ultrasonic detecting a rotating member based on magnetic fluid coupling, wherein the device comprises an ultrasonic probe, magnetic field protection rings, magnetic fluid and a magnetic fluid protection cover. The ultrasonic probe is arranged above the rotating member that is horizontally placed. Front ends of a transmitting ultrasonic transducer and a receiving ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic probe are provided with the magnetic field protection rings for generating magnetic fields in the magnetic field protection rings. The protective cover is sleeved on a circumferential outer side of the rotating member where a detected position is located, and the front ends of the ultrasonic probe are arranged to penetrate through the magnetic fluid protective cover. A cavity formed between the magnetic fluid protective cover and the rotating member is filled with the magnetic fluid and the magnetic fluid is a liquid mixture solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventors: Chunguang Xu, Shuangyi Li, Yuren Lu, Peng Yin, Dezhi Li, Wenyuan Song
  • Patent number: 11660076
    Abstract: A switch circuit connected to a transducer, a reception circuit connected to the switch circuit, a first switch element connected to a reception terminal provided between the switch circuit and the reception circuit, a first resistance element connected to a control terminal of the switch circuit, a second resistance element provided inside the reception circuit, and a second switch element provided inside the reception circuit are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Healthcare Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Kajiyama, Kengo Imagawa, Yoshihiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11639916
    Abstract: A composite part (sandwich or monolithic), including a rigid outer surface, to which is integrated an electronic instrumentation circuit, the electronic instrumentation circuit including a piezoelectric transducer, connected to a coil, an electronic control circuit, connected to a coil positioned facing the coil. The coil is printed on an insulating layer, printed directly on the rigid outer surface, the coil is printed on an insulating layer, covering the coil and the transducer, conducting tracks are printed on an insulating layer printed on at least one portion of the coil to be connected to it, the electronic control circuit being attached to the rigid outer surface and being connected to the tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN
    Inventors: Sabri Janfaoui, Rafik Hadjria
  • Patent number: 11619353
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for monitoring a cylinder. The system includes a plurality of sensors connected to the cylinder and configured to detect deformation data associated with the cylinder. The system includes a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors. The controller is configured to determine a damage value based on the detected deformation data when the cylinder endures impact damage. The controller is configured to communicate a notification when the damage value exceeds an impact damage threshold. The system includes a filling controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors. The filling controller is configured to control a valve for filling the cylinder with a fluid. The filling controller is configured to detect damage to the cylinder above a specified threshold as the cylinder is filled with the fluid. The filling controller is configured to automatically perform a safety action when the damage to the cylinder is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventor: Brian Burks
  • Patent number: 11614427
    Abstract: Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure relate to devices, systems and methods of manufacture for an exemplary waveguide usable for acoustic signal transmission for non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of a specimen (e.g., a wooden specimen) as well as apparatuses usable therewith. An exemplary waveguide comprises a mating portion for interfacing with a transducer horn of an ultrasonic transducer. The mating portion comprises at least a contact well configured to enable a connection between the transducer horn and the waveguide. The waveguide further comprises a body portion that comprises an upper body portion, that has a flat-faced distal end that is usable to establish contact with a surface of the specimen, and a lower body portion that is attached to and extends outwardly from the upper body portion and is further attached to the mating portion. Other technical examples are further described in the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: VOLT HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventors: Yishi Lee, Wayne Hall
  • Patent number: 11609589
    Abstract: An actuator in a HVAC system includes a mechanical transducer, an input connection configured to receive a power supply line voltage, and a voltage divider circuit. The voltage divider circuit includes a first capacitor in series between the input connection and the mechanical transducer, a second capacitor in parallel with the first capacitor between the input connection and the mechanical transducer, and a first transistor operable to connect and disconnect the first capacitor and/or the second capacitor from the voltage divider circuit based on the power supply line voltage, thereby adjusting a capacitance between the input connection and the mechanical transducer. The voltage divider circuit is configured to receive the power supply line voltage from the input connection, use at least one of the first capacitor or the second capacitor to reduce the power supply line voltage to a reduced voltage, and provide the reduced voltage to the mechanical transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: Robert K. Alexander, Jeffry M. Papendorf, Stephanie P. Lynn
  • Patent number: 11560029
    Abstract: System (100) for checking the presence of thickness restrictions on at least one mechanical component (1), comprising at least one base (2) for fixing said mechanical component (1) coming from a production line (200) to a plurality of fixing points (L1, L2, L3), and measuring means (3) to measure the thickness of said mechanical component (1) next to at least one control point (P) of said mechanical component (1) to be checked, characterized in that said measuring means (3) comprise at least one mechanical robotic arm (30) adapted to be moved in the direction of said at least one control point (P), wherein said mechanical robotic arm comprises at least one ultrasonic probe (31) for the ultrasonic measurement of the thickness of said mechanical component (1) next to said at least one control point (P), said ultrasonic probe (31) being positionable in the proximity of said at least one control point (P) so that the ultrasonic wave emitted by said ultrasonic probe (31) travels along a direction (Q) substantially
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: TIBERINA SOLUTIONS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Ricky Massimiliano Rosi, Luigi Berri
  • Patent number: 11547387
    Abstract: An ultrasound probe in combination with at least an operating unit such as a tracking sensor or receiver and/or a keypad and/or a surgical tool support, wherein the probe and the at least one operating unit are each one provided with one of two parts of a releasable joint, the said two parts of the joint being releasably engageable one with the other by magnetic force and by mechanical coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Esaote S.p.A.
    Inventors: Leonardo Forzoni, Stefano De Beni, Fabrizio Spezia
  • Patent number: 11540718
    Abstract: An imaging steering apparatus includes sensors and an imaging processor configured for: acquiring, via multiple ones of the sensors and from a current position (322), and current orientation (324), an image of an object of interest; based on a model, segmenting the acquired image; and determining, based on a result of the segmenting, a target position (318), and target orientation (320), with the target position and/or target orientation differing correspondingly from the current position and/or current orientation. An electronic steering parameter effective toward improving the current field of view may be computed, and a user may be provided instructional feedback (144) in navigating an imaging probe toward the improving. A robot can be configured for, automatically and without need for user intervention, imparting force (142) to the probe to move it responsive to the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Irina Waechter-Stehle, Sabine Mollus, Christian Buerger, Emil George Radulescu, Sheng-Wen Huang, Juergen Weese
  • Patent number: 11536700
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a control method of a probe with ultrasonic phased array transducers in a hinge array, and belongs to the technical field of ultrasonic detecting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: HARBIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Bo Zhao, Jiaxin Li, Weijia Shi, Jiubin Tan
  • Patent number: 11506770
    Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system probe comprises an imaging transducer head and a reception circuit for processing received reflected ultrasound signals. The reception circuit comprises an analogue to digital sigma delta converter which comprises a closed loop which comprises a tunable band pass filter. This enables the analog to digital converter to process only the desired frequency band. The ADC conversion bandwidth and ENOB are in this way programmable giving a more efficient probe design, and also enabling analog to digital conversion early in the signal processing chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Sotir Filipov Ouzounov
  • Patent number: 11506779
    Abstract: An outside sensor unit includes an outside sensor, a main bracket, a support bracket, a rotation device, and a position adjustment device. The outside sensor detects the outside of a vehicle. The main bracket is attached to a vehicle body. The support bracket supports the outside sensor and is attached to the main bracket. The rotation device has a rotation axis line which is substantially parallel to a roll axis of the vehicle and connects the support bracket and the main bracket together rotatably around the rotation axis line. The position adjustment device is capable of adjusting the relative rotation position between the support bracket and the main bracket around the rotation axis line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Fujita, Takato Watanabe, Yoshitaka Katashima
  • Patent number: 11506488
    Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection system includes: an ultrasonic sensor including a piezoelectric element and a calibration piece interposed between the piezoelectric element and a subject; and a control device that computes a thickness of the subject, on the basis of a difference between an ultrasonic propagation time of one round trip in the calibration piece and the subject and an ultrasonic propagation time of one round trip in the calibration piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akinori Tamura, Naoyuki Kouno
  • Patent number: 11497436
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for performing real-time analysis of bone tissue during a surgical procedure are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving at least one measurement of at least one tissue sample from a hybrid multi-wavelength photoacoustic measurements (MWPM) component. The method can also include identifying one or more reference cases, from a plurality of reference cases, based on correlations between the at least one measurement and previous measurements in each of the plurality of reference cases. Once the reference cases are identified, the method can include determining at least one bone condition of the patient and sending the at least one determined bone condition to a computing device accessible by a surgeon. In some embodiments, the method also includes creating a three-dimensional (3D) map the tissue sample using the at least one measurement and sending the 3D map to the computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: IX Innovation LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Roh, Justin Esterberg, John Cronin, Seth Cronin, Michael John Baker
  • Patent number: 11434694
    Abstract: An embodiment of a method of detecting and correcting for spiraling in a downhole carrier includes: deploying the carrier in a borehole in an earth formation as part of a subterranean operation; acquiring time based data from at least one sensor disposed at the carrier; acquiring time and depth data, the time and depth data correlating time values with depths of the carrier; generating a depth based profile based on the time based data and the time and depth data; generating a frequency profile by transforming the depth based profile into the frequency domain; detecting a spiraling event based on an amplitude of the frequency profile; and taking corrective action based on detecting the spiraling event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Christian Herbig, Hanno Reckmann, Wojciech Emmerich, Oliver Hoehn, Christian Linke, Jens-Uwe Bruns, Andreas Hohl, Hatem Oueslati, Ingo Forstner
  • Patent number: 11306583
    Abstract: Systems and methods for transmitting power and information using acoustic energy produced by transducers are provided. The systems have particular application for powering and communication with electronics through drilling and pipe systems. Pairs of acoustic wedges holding transducers are provided for sending energy and information through a substrate which may be a steel pipe. Each wedge has an angled transducer which can be used to produce shear waves. The waves propagate through the substrate and are received by a second acoustic wedge. The shear waves, on reaching the second acoustic wedge, are converted back into electrical signals by a second transducer. Tangential shear waves, high, shallow wave transmission angles, and direct steel-steel bonding between wedges and substrates may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Henry A. Scarton, Gary J. Saulnier, Kyle R. Wilt, R. Benjamin Litman
  • Patent number: 11280765
    Abstract: A non-destructive testing system includes a probe positioning assembly, a matrix array ultrasonic probe arranged on the probe positioning assembly configured to position the matrix array ultrasonic probe adjacent to a mating axial surface of a wheel for ultrasonic communication with the wheel. The matrix array ultrasonic probe is configured to emit a validation ultrasonic signal directed towards a coupling validation section within the wheel, measure the emitted validation ultrasonic signal after reflection from the coupling validation section, emit a plurality of ultrasonic inspection signals directed towards at least one inspection section of the wheel, and measure each of the plurality of ultrasonic inspection signals reflected from a defect positioned within the inspection section of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Werner, Andreas Franzen, Frank Henrix
  • Patent number: 11238257
    Abstract: A fingerprint identification substrate, a fingerprint identification method and a display device are provided. The fingerprint identification substrate includes a base substrate, a transmitting part and a receiving part provided on the base substrate, and a fingerprint detector. At least a portion of the transmitting part and at least a portion of the receiving part may be provided in a single layer. The transmitting part is configured to generate an ultrasonic signal. The receiving part is configured to receive the ultrasonic signal reflected by a finger, convert the ultrasonic signal into an electric signal, and output the electric signal to the fingerprint detector. The fingerprint detector is configured to determine fingerprint information according to the electric signal output from the receiving part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yingming Liu, Xue Dong, Haisheng Wang, Chunwei Wu, Xiaoliang Ding, Rui Xu, Changfeng Li
  • Patent number: 11099042
    Abstract: A clamp-on type ultrasonic flowmeter which is detachably attached to an outer wall of cylindrical piping is provided. An ultrasonic signal is transmitted to the piping from one of the first and the second ultrasonic devices, a plate wave corresponding to the ultrasonic signal is generated, and an ultrasonic signal corresponding to the plate wave is received by the other ultrasonic device. A pipe wall thickness of the piping and a frequency of the ultrasonic signal are in a state in which a plate wave of a low order asymmetric mode is significantly excited in the piping. A flow rate is calculated corresponding to phase velocity characteristics of the low order asymmetric mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Matsui, Masaki Wada
  • Patent number: 11092572
    Abstract: The invention is a method for the nondestructive examination of a test specimen using ultrasound. Ultrasonic waves are coupled into the test specimen with ultrasonic transducers. Ultrasonic waves, which are reflected within the test specimen, are received by the ultrasonic transducers and converted into ultrasonic signals. The method determines an average noise level, to which all discrete signal information is subjected, determines volume elements assigned to each discrete signal information having a signal level with a signal-to-noise ratio R (which is referred to as an average noise level), of 6 dB?R, determines pairs of volumes separated by a distance A which is equal to or less than a wavelength of the ultrasonic waves coupled into the test specimen. Volumes are combined into a group and the discrete signal information is evaluated, based on at least one of polarization, frequency, wave type and wave mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: ACS SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Andrey Samokrutov, Roman Pinchuk, Andrey Bulavinov, Viktor Shevaldykin
  • Patent number: 11022502
    Abstract: This invention relates to a waveguide with distributed sensors that support traveling ultrasonic wave modes to provide quantitative local distributed sensing of the physical and chemical properties of the medium surrounding the sensor locations and/or the material properties of the waveguide. The plurality of sensors is operably associated with a plurality of wave modes for probing and identifying a plurality of properties simultaneously. The reflected waves are representative of local information about the surrounding media at that sensor location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Inventors: Krishnan Balasubramaniam, Suresh Periyannan
  • Patent number: 10948457
    Abstract: Ultrasonic transmitting elements in an electroacoustical transceiver transmit acoustic energy to an electroacoustical transponder, which includes ultrasonic receiving elements to convert the acoustic energy into electrical power for the purposes of powering one or more sensors that are electrically coupled to the electroacoustical transponder. The electroacoustical transponder transmits data collected by the sensor(s) back to the electroacoustical transceiver wirelessly, such as through impedance modulation or electromagnetic waves. A feedback control loop can be used to adjust system parameters so that the electroacoustical transponder operates at an impedance minimum. An implementation of the system can be used to collect data in a vehicle, such as the tire air pressure. Another implementation of the system can be used to collect data in remote locations, such as in pipes, enclosures, in wells, or in bodies of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: UltraPower Inc.
    Inventors: Inder Raj S. Makin, Harry Jabs, Leon J. Radziemski
  • Patent number: 10891458
    Abstract: An ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system of the present disclosure may be provided with an ultrasonic transmitter or ultrasonic transceiver having an electrode layer divided into a plurality of electrode segments. The ultrasonic fingerprint sensor system may detect an object over one or more electrode segments and provide a voltage burst to one or more selected electrode segments for localized generation of ultrasonic waves. The localized generation of ultrasonic waves may facilitate localized readout for imaging. In some implementations, the voltage burst may be provided in a single-ended drive scheme or differential drive scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Jae Hyeong Seo, Kostadin Dimitrov Djordjev, Hrishikesh Vijaykumar Panchawagh, Sameer Wadhwa, Nicholas Ian Buchan, Yipeng Lu
  • Patent number: 10863967
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a photoacoustic tomography (PAT) probe to direct light to various regions within the tissue of interest to improve image quality and remove cumbersome artifacts at their source. Particularly, a rotating PAT probe and method of using thereof to improve the photoacoustic penetration depth and signal to noise ratio in biological samples. Signal intensity at region of interest is increased by fine-tuning the fiber orientation with respect to the ultrasound transducer. Additional PA filter is used to prevent in vivo probe-skin artifacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Craig Jonathan Goergen, Gurneet Sangha, Evan Phillips, Nicholas James Hale
  • Patent number: 10791386
    Abstract: Embedded lighting, microphone, and speaker features for composite panels are described. An example composite panel includes a plurality of plies assembled in a stack-up, and a trace sheet with electrically conductive traces and a plurality of transducer discs positioned onto the electrically conductive traces at positions such that the electrically conductive traces form an electrical interconnection between selected ones of the electrically conductive traces and associated ones of the transducer discs. The trace sheet is included as an internal ply in the stack-up of the plurality of plies. The composite panel also includes a composite base upon which the stack-up of the plurality of plies is applied, and the plurality of plies are cured upon the composite base to integrate the trace sheet and the plurality of transducer discs into the composite base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James Schalla, Jeff Duce
  • Patent number: 10753200
    Abstract: Systems and methods for transmitting power and information using acoustic energy produced by transducers are provided. The systems have particular application for powering and communication with electronics through drilling and pipe systems. Pairs of acoustic wedges holding transducers are provided for sending energy and information through a substrate which may be a steel pipe. Each wedge has an angled transducer which can be used to produce shear waves. The waves propagate through the substrate and are received by a second acoustic wedge. The shear waves, on reaching the second acoustic wedge, are converted back into electrical signals by a second transducer. Tangential shear waves, high, shallow wave transmission angles, and direct steel-steel bonding between wedges and substrates may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Henry A. Scarton, Gary J. Saulnier, Kyle R. Wilt, R. Benjamin Litman
  • Patent number: 10657349
    Abstract: An ultrasonic module and a manufacturing method for ultrasonic module are provided. The ultrasonic module includes a substrate, a composite layer, and a covering layer. The substrate has an upper surface. The composite layer has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a recessed surface recessed toward the bottom surface. The bottom surface is on the upper surface of the substrate. One or more space is formed between the recessed surface and the upper surface. The composite layer has one or more first groove extending from the top surface toward the recessed surface. The first groove separates the composite layer into a circuit structure and an ultrasonic structure connected to the circuit structure. The covering layer is assembled on the top surface of the composite layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignees: J-METRICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., PEKING UNIVERSITY SHENZHEN GRADUATE SCHOOL
    Inventors: Yu-Feng Jin, Sheng-Lin Ma, Qian-Cheng Zhao, Huan Liu, Yi-Hsiang Chiu
  • Patent number: 10520370
    Abstract: This invention relates to a waveguide with distributed sensors that support travelling ultrasonic wave modes to provide quantitative local distributed sensing of the physical and chemical properties of the medium surrounding the sensor locations and/or the material properties of the waveguide. The plurality of sensor is operably associated with plurality wave mode for probing and identifying plurality of properties simultaneously. The reflected waves are representative of local information about the surrounding media at that sensor location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY MADRAS
    Inventors: Krishnan Balasubramaniam, Suresh Periyannan
  • Patent number: 10502716
    Abstract: A testing system for testing a work piece. The testing system may be non-destructive. An associated method. The method may include obtaining C-scan images and corresponding S-scan images. The C-scan images and the corresponding S-scan images are of the same portion of the work piece being tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: York Oberdoerfer, Weiwei Zhang
  • Patent number: 10445549
    Abstract: A fingerprint identification device includes a cover plate, a reinforcing plate, and a fingerprint identification module between the cover plate and the reinforcing plate. The fingerprint identification module is configured to transmit ultrasonic signals and receive reflected ultrasonic signals. An air gap is positioned between the fingerprint identification module and the reinforcing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignees: Interface Technology (ChengDu) Co., Ltd., INTERFACE OPTOELECTRONICS (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xiao-Bing Zheng
  • Patent number: 10429176
    Abstract: A pipeline inspection system includes a pipeline pig having a controller and a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements situated in an array. Each of the plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements emits an ultrasonic signal into a wall of a pipeline and receives echoes of the ultrasonic signal from the pipeline wall. The controller selects a first subset of the plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements from which to emit the ultrasonic signals into the wall of the pipeline as the pipeline pig passes through the pipeline, analyzes the echoes of the ultrasonic signals received by the plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements to detect a feature in the pipeline wall, and selects a second subset of the plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements to emit the ultrasonic signals into the wall of the pipeline as the pipeline pig passes through the pipeline when the feature is detected in the pipeline wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jochen Uwe Giese, Olaf Mueller
  • Patent number: 10317262
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus is provided for measuring characteristics of a wall of a structure and/or a medium in contact with the structure, wherein the sensor apparatus includes a transducer arrangement disposed at least partially around a planar or curved surface of a wall of the structure, or disposed over a region of a planar or curved surface of a wall of the structure. The sensor apparatus includes a transducer waveguide including at least one free distal end whereat one or more driver and/or receiver elements are mounted on one or more sides of the at least one free distal end. Moreover, the transducer arrangement is operable, when interrogating the structure to perform at least one of: switching between selected acoustic wave modes present in an acoustic wave propagation, steering an acoustic propagation direction of the acoustic wave propagation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: XSENS AS
    Inventors: Remi Andre Kippersund, Magne Kjetil Husebø, Per Lunde, Kjell-Eivind Frøysa, Peter Thomas, Kjetil Daae Lohne, Jon Hellevang
  • Patent number: 10241089
    Abstract: An ultrasonic probe, a method of operating the same, and a mounting device are provided. The ultrasonic probe includes a main body configured to transmit and receive ultrasound, a heat storage including a phase-change material configured to store heat being generated by the main body, and a display configured to display an amount of the stored heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hae-in Chung, Tae-kyung Kim, Su-kwang Lim
  • Patent number: 10234312
    Abstract: A method of forming an ultrasonic wave sensing module for a vehicle includes providing a housing having a first containing space and a second containing space separated from each other by a blocking wall, and providing an adapter at the blocking wall that includes a first connecting portion and a first connecting pin. An ultrasonic wave sensor is disposed in the first containing space and a circuit board is disposed in the second containing space. A second connecting pin of the ultrasonic wave sensor extends into the blocking wall and is coupled to the first connecting portion of the adapter at the blocking wall. A second connecting portion of the circuit board is coupled to the first connecting pin of the adapter. The ultrasonic wave sensor is electrically connected with the circuit board via the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS SOLUTIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Jingyuan Wei, Jiayu Lin
  • Patent number: 10190911
    Abstract: A targeting system for a spectrophotometer includes a plurality of fiber channels, including at least one measurement channel and at least one illumination channel. A slit assembly includes a translucent layer disposed adjacent the plurality of fiber channels, and reflective portion disposed adjacent the translucent layer. Each fiber channel includes a first end, the first end offset from the reflective portion of the slit assembly to allow light transfer from one fiber channel to an adjacent fiber channel. A light source is in optical communication with the at least one illumination channel. A sample plane is in optical communication with a second end of the measurement channel. The system is configured such that light is transmitted from the light source, through the at least one illumination channel, reflected off the slit assembly, transmitted through the measurement channel, and onto the sample plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: X-Rite, Inc.
    Inventors: Weston Harness, David Salyer