Abstract: A dynamically configurable ultrasound transducer element and related circuits and methods. The transducer may comprise an array of capacitive transducer elements, a row decoder coupled to said array of capacitive transducer elements, a column decoder coupled to said array of capacitive transducer elements, a bias voltage source coupled to said row decoder, and a driving signal source coupled to said column decoder. Preferably, a master clock also is provided to allow for a synchronization of signals between the row decoder and column decoder.

Abstract: A sputtering target (24) under test is irradiated with an ultrasonic pulse (20). The ultrasonic pulse (20) has a wavelength in the sputtering target (24) in the range of the average grain size for the target (24) under test. Backscattering echoes (28) are produced by the interaction of the pulse (20) with grain boundaries in the target (24) under test. The backscattering echoes (28) are detected and a representative electrical signal is generated. The number of occurrences of the backscattering echoes (28) having amplitudes within predetermined ranges are determined. A histogram of the number of occurrences versus amplitude is plotted. The histogram for the target (24) under test is compared with reference histograms for sputtering targets having known crystallographic orientations to determine the texture of the target (24) under test.

Abstract: A three-axis vibration acceleration pickup with the handle of a vibration-generating tool such as, an angle grinder or the like, feeds detected vibrations along the three axes to an A/D converter 19. A microcomputer processes the digitized data to feed a display portion. Each time continuous operation of the tool is interrupted, an 8-hour equivalent acceleration value is obtained based on the detected vibration acceleration signal. The result is added to previous acceleration values so as to accumulatively add up the total value in one day. Each time continuous operation is interrupted, a frequency load vibration acceleration value is obtained, and an 8-hour equivalent acceleration value is obtained based on this. A residual surplus time is obtained and displayed by using the 8-hour equivalent acceleration value.

Abstract: A system for online monitoring the condition of a thermal barrier coating on the vanes and/or blades of a combustion turbine, or other forms of component deterioration affecting the acoustic properties of the vanes and/or blades. The system begins with a signal generator for transmitting a signal to an acoustic transmitter, and then to an acoustic waveguide secured within the turbine, adjacent to a vane. Acoustic waves passing through the vane's coating will have a certain magnitude and velocity when passing through an intact coating, which will change as the coating deteriorates. Additional variation of the acoustic wave will occur due to pressure pulses from passing blades, with the magnitude of the pressure pulses increasing as the blade's coating deteriorates. The acoustic waves are then received by a second acoustic waveguide.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the speed of sound in a gas. An acoustic transmitter is arranged to apply an acoustic signal to the interior of a resonator and an acoustic receiver is arranged to detect the amplitude of the acoustic signal in the interior of the resonator. A control means determines the speed of sound of gas within the resonator from the frequency of a detected non-radial resonant mode.

Abstract: A multi-jawed chuck adapter (100) is secured substantially coaxially within a pilot hole (20) of a wheel and tire assembly (10) to facilitate mounting of the wheel and tire assembly (10) upon the spindle shaft (12) of a vehicle wheel balancer, eliminating sources of error introduced into balancing operations by improper mounting of the wheel and tire assembly thereon.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining stress levels of membrane masks that may be used in membrane-based lithographic techniques is presented. A piezoelectric plate (30) is used to induce vibrations into the membrane mask (35), where the frequency and amplitude of the vibrations induced in the membrane layer (50) are optically sensed. By comparing the stimulus applied to the piezoelectric plate (30) with the response sensed optically in a gain phase analyzer (80), a frequency graph (110) associated with the membrane layer (50) is constructed such that resonant frequencies are easily determined. These resonant frequencies can then be used to calculate the stress associated with the membrane layer (50).

Abstract: A method for visualizing and indicating characteristics of vibration measurement data for a rotating or vibrating object. Specific components are removed from the measurement data or are minimized therein. After removing or minimizing the specific component, the measurement data is indicated in a Campbell diagram.

Abstract: The Noise Suppressor II provides procedures and add-on units, which are attached to standard analog or digital ultrasonic flaw detector instruments for either suppressing noise spikes that clutter the flaw detector screens, or other undesired signals, or enhancing weak, barely detectable signals. The add-on units may do both simultaneously as well. Each unit includes an adjustable filter so that a user may tune the filter bandwidth to a specific range within the overall transducer band that coincides with the signal to be either suppressed or enhanced.

Abstract: A liquid detection device attached on a liquid container for detecting a liquid consumption status of the liquid contained in the liquid container, the liquid detection device including a vibrating section symmetrical about a center thereof, and at least one electrode electrically connecting with said vibrating section.

Abstract: An ultrasonic detection method and apparatus are suited for real-time collection of three-dimensional ultrasonic data.

Abstract: An integrated semiconductor MEMS detector device includes a piezo-resistive detector located at a fixed end of a cantilever, a bi-layer resonance actuator including two thin layer materials having different thermal expansion coefficients, wherein one of the actuator layers serves as a heating element and the other serves as insulating layer between the heating element layer and the cantilever, and a sensing element located at the free end of the cantilever, which serves, dependent on the particular application, as a gravitational mass, an absorber of energy, a gas- or vapor-adsorber, etc. Registration of the resonance frequency of the free end of the cantilever is performed both before and after an interaction (e.g., exposure to energy, materials/mass changes due to chemical reactions or/and physical interactions, etc.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for measuring stresses in specimens (e.g., reticles and reticle blanks used in charged-particle-beam microlithography) that include a membrane. The disclosed apparatus and methods provide such measurements at a higher throughput than obtainable using conventional apparatus and methods. A representative stress-measuring apparatus includes a vibration-applying device that remotely (over a distance) applies a desired vibration to the membrane of the specimen. Meanwhile, a laser light source irradiates the vibrating membrane with laser light. A light receiver receives light reflected from the membrane. Electrical signals from the light receiver are processed to convert the output from the light receiver into a respective vibration spectrum. The vibration spectrum is analyzed against standard data to ascertain a strength characteristic of the membrane.

Abstract: A semiconductor physical quantity sensor from which a stable sensor output can be obtained even when the usage environment changes. A silicon thin film is disposed on an insulating film on a supporting substrate, and a bridge structure having a weight part and moving electrodes and cantilever structures having fixed electrodes are formed as separate sections from this silicon thin film. The moving electrodes provided on the weight part and the cantilevered fixed electrodes are disposed facing each other. Slits are formed at root portions of the cantilevered fixed electrodes at the fixed ends thereof, and the width W1 of the root portions is thereby made narrower than the width W2 of the fixed electrodes proper. As a result, the transmission of warp of the supporting substrate to the cantilevered fixed electrodes is suppressed.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an inspection jig having a sample mounting fixture for mounting a sample, a vibrator for applying a vibration to the sample, and a sound collector for collecting vibration sound when the vibration is applied to the sample, and a sound detector for frequency analysis of the vibration sound collected by the sound collector. The sample is pinched and fixed by a contact surface of the sound collector and a fixing part with a contact area similar to the contact surface when the sample is mounted in the sample mounting fixture. The sample mounting fixture is mounted on a shaft of an inspection jig fixed in a bearing.

Abstract: A capacitive semiconductor acceleration sensor capable of efficiently performing a self-diagnostic procedure without having to provide any separate electrodes for self-diagnosis purposes. The acceleration sensor includes a beam portion that is deformable upon application of acceleration thereto in a direction at right angles to the elongate direction thereof to thereby exhibit a spring function. The sensor also includes a movable electrode and fixed electrodes which are integrally formed with the beam portion. The sensor is operable to detect the acceleration while applying between the movable electrode and fixed electrodes a periodically changeable signal to derive an output voltage variable in potential with a differential capacitance change of capacitors between the both electrodes.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for diagnosing deterioration of an article having at least a covering layer made from an organic polymer material. The method comprises (i) forming a data group for deterioration diagnosis comprising deterioration diagnostic characteristic values and corresponding ultrasonic wave propagation characteristic values for samples having different material specifications, (ii) propagating an ultrasonic wave through the covering layer of the article to measure an ultrasonic wave propagation characteristic of the covering layer, and (iii) determining a corresponding deterioration diagnostic characteristic from the data group for the ultrasonic wave propagation characteristic of the covering layer.

Abstract: An ultrasonic testing method uses surface waves to prevent false detection of primary cracks, to lower the level of structural noises from grain boundaries, and to improve the detectability in the ultrasonic testing by surface wave testing of hot rolling rolls. A surface wave probe 10 capable of transmitting and receiving a surface wave is provided with a piezoelectric element 10A, a resin wedge 10C disposed on the front surface of the piezoelectric element 10A and a damping block 10B disposed on the back surface. The surface wave probe 10 is driven to produce a short pulse having a pulse length being at most 2.5 times the wavelength of the surface wave to be produced. A coupling liquid medium is supplied to the probe 10 in accordance with the peripheral speed of the roll to be tested. Depending on the height of the reflected waves measured, the grinding allowance of the roll is determined, and the roll is ground according to the thus-determined grinding allowance.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting blockage of a porous medium of an air filter utilized to filter air within a forced air stream contained within an enclosure. The air filter extends in a direction transverse to a direction of the forced air stream. The detection is accomplished with an opening in the porous medium of a greater dimension than provided by the porous medium. The opening is defined by the porous medium of the air filter and extends through the porous medium through which airflow from the forced air stream passes. A flexible member is provided which is positioned within the air flow from the forced air stream which passes through the opening and received by the flexible member causing the flexible member to vibrate and emit an audible sound in response to the air flow.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for detecting faults in and/or measuring the wall thickness of continuously moving strips, sections or tubes of plastics, using ultrasonic signals. To this end a number of ultrasonic heads (A, B, C, D) with transmitters and receivers are disposed distributed over the width of the strip or section or the periphery of the tube. The signal, emitted by a transmitter of an ultrasonic measuring head (3) and reflected without scatter, is received by the receiver of said ultrasonic measuring head (3), while the scattered signals reflected on the tube, section or the like are received by the receivers of its adjacent ultrasonic measuring heads (A, B). The inclusion of the scattered and reflected signals in the measurement appreciably increases the measured area per measurement in comparison with using exclusively the signal directly reflected without scatter.