Patents by Inventor Bertram A. Auld

Bertram A. Auld has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6170336
    Abstract: An electromagnetic acoustic transducer for inducing and sensing vibrations in a cylindrical object and methods of using an electromagnetic acoustic transducer to determine resonant frequencies and physical properties of cylindrical objects. The electromagnetic acoustic transducers produce specific modes of vibration in cylindrical objects including axial shear vibrations, torsional vibrations, radial vibrations and plane strain vibrations. The methods of determining physical properties of a cylindrical objects include comparing sensed resonant frequencies of the cylindrical object to known relationships between resonant frequency and the physical properties of interest. The methods can be used to determine the temperature, dimensions, elastic constants, and damping coefficients of cylindrical objects, the magnitude of a load applied to a cylindrical object, or the texture or grain orientation of the material forming a cylindrical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventors: Ward L. Johnson, George A. Alers, Bertram A. Auld
  • Patent number: 6119522
    Abstract: An electromagnetic acoustic transducer for inducing and sensing vibrations n a cylindrical object and methods of using an electromagnetic acoustic transducer to determine resonant frequencies and physical properties of cylindrical objects. The electromagnetic acoustic transducers produce specific modes of vibration in cylindrical objects including axial shear vibrations. The electromagnetic acoustic transducers are used to determine the temperature, dimensions, elastic constants, and damping coefficients of cylindrical objects, the magnitude of a load applied to a cylindrical object, or the texture or grain orientation of the material forming a cylindrical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventors: Ward L. Johnson, George A. Alers, Bertram A. Auld
  • Patent number: 5895856
    Abstract: An electromagnetic acoustic transducer for inducing and sensing vibrations in a cylindrical object and methods of using an electromagnetic acoustic transducer to determine resonant frequencies and physical properties of cylindrical objects. The electromagnetic acoustic transducers produce specific modes of vibration in cylindrical objects including axial shear vibrations, torsional vibrations, radial vibrations and plane strain vibrations. The methods of determining physical properties of a cylindrical objects include comparing sensed resonant frequencies of the cylindrical object to known relationships between resonant frequency and the physical properties of interest. The methods can be used to determine the temperature, dimensions, elastic constants, and damping coefficients of cylindrical objects, the magnitude of a load applied to a cylindrical object, or the texture or grain orientation of the material forming a cylindrical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventors: Ward L. Johnson, George A. Alers, Bertram A. Auld
  • Patent number: 4364012
    Abstract: In ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) probe apparatus for detecting surface flaws in a metal surface, probe impedance changes resulting from flaws are distinguished from impedance changes resulting from probe lift-off from the metal surface. A constant magnitude dc magnetic field and a constant frequency and constant magnitude rf magnetic field are applied to the ferromagnetic crystal and the real and imaginary components of probe impedance are detected. The impedance changes due to flaws are at least partially orthogonal to the impedance changes due to lift-out, and by observing probe impedance on an oscilloscope the presence of a flow or the occurrence of lift-off are readily identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1982
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventor: Bertram A. Auld
  • Patent number: 4324140
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for electronically scanning a spherily focused beam in a c-scan mode using a spiral path rather than a traditional raster scan pattern. Essential to the technique is an electronically simulated rotating ultrasonic prism operating according to the general electrical input equation V.sub.IN =V.sub.o exp (i.omega..sub.o t+iA cos .OMEGA.t). The technique allows use of a single delay line with simple connections and no requirements of multiple mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Bertram A. Auld
  • Patent number: 4286216
    Abstract: A probe and method for detecting surface flaws in metals. The probe operates at microwave frequencies and uses a ferromagnetic resonator. The resonator experiences a frequency shift when brought into proximity with a metal because of the perturbations of the demagnetizing fields at the boundaries of the resonator. A crack in the metal additionally disturbs the field and causes additional perturbations of the frequency. The perturbations in frequency are detected to provide an indication of flaws in the surface of the metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Bertram A. Auld, Gary W. Elston
  • Patent number: 4150346
    Abstract: An acoustic periodic structure for slow wave propagation and filtering having a corrugated surface with traction-free boundaries which can support a horizontally polarized shear surface wave that travels much slower than the bulk shear wave velocity and that exhibits an upper cut-off frequency. Electrodes are located on the tops of the teeth forming the corrugated surface and alternate electrodes are excited out of phase, the distribution of the excitation voltage phases determining the particular mode of resonance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1979
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Bertram A. Auld