Abstract: A scanning system for imaging structural features below the surface of an object, the scanning system comprising: a transducer module configured to transmit ultrasound signals towards an object and to receive ultrasound signals reflected from the object whereby data pertaining to an internal structure of the object can be obtained; and an analysis module coupled to the transducer module and configured to analyse received ultrasound signals to identify a feature in the received ultrasound signals; in which the transducer module is configured to transmit further ultrasound signals at a time delay t after the ultrasound signals, where the time delay t is determined in dependence on the identified feature.

Abstract: A scanning system for imaging structural features below the surface of an object, the scanning system comprising: a transducer module configured to transmit ultrasound signals towards an object and to receive ultrasound signals reflected from the object whereby data pertaining to an internal structure of the object can be obtained, the transducer module being configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals for each of a first frame and a subsequent second frame in an ultrasound scan comprising the first and second frames; an image generation module configured to generate image data representative of the object based on the received ultrasound signals; and a communication module for communicating with a remote device, the communication module being configured to send, to the remote device: a set of received ultrasound signals based on ultrasound signals received during the first frame of the scan, and image data generated based on ultrasound signals received during the second frame of the scan.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus for enabling a remotely-located expert to monitor an inspection by a non-expert, the apparatus comprising an inspection device capable of being operated by the non-expert, which is configured to generate inspection data indicative of a condition of a test object, and a communication unit configured to: divide the inspection data into first and second data; transfer the first data for being presented to the remotely-located expert at a first time, to facilitate substantially real-time monitoring of the inspection by the expert; and transfer the second data for being presented to the remotely-located expert at a second time, which is later than the first time, to facilitate non-real time monitoring of the inspection by the expert.

Abstract: A scanning system for imaging structural features below the surface of an object, the scanning system comprising a transducer module configured to transmit ultrasound signals towards an object and to receive ultrasound signals reflected from the object whereby data pertaining to an internal structure of the object can be obtained; an analysis module coupled to the transducer module and configured to analyse received ultrasound signals to identify a feature in the received ultrasound signals; and a gating module configured to gate received ultrasound signals in dependence on the identified feature.

Abstract: A coupling shoe for attachment to a transducer module to couple ultrasound transmitted by the transducer module into a target object, the coupling shoe comprising a transducer engaging portion; a couplant chamber arranged to hold couplant; and a flexible membrane at least partially defining a probe surface for facing the target object through which couplant from the couplant chamber can seep for coupling ultrasound transmitted by the transducer module into the target object.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus for enabling a remotely-located expert to monitor an inspection by a non-expert, the apparatus comprising an inspection device capable of being operated by the non-expert, which is configured to generate inspection data indicative of a condition of a test object, and a communication unit configured to: divide the inspection data into first and second data; transfer the first data for being presented to the remotely-located expert at a first time, to facilitate substantially real-time monitoring of the inspection by the expert; and transfer the second data for being presented to the remotely-located expert at a second time, which is later than the first time, to facilitate non-real time monitoring of the inspection by the expert.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus for imaging an object, comprising an ultrasound transducer comprising a transmitter configured to transmit ultrasound signals in a first direction towards an object and a receiver configured to receive reflected ultrasound signals from an object; and a backing block for absorbing ultrasound signals, located adjacent the transducer along a second direction opposite to the first direction; the backing block comprising an inner surface facing the transducer, the inner surface comprising a non-planar feature configured to increase the absorption of ultrasound signals by the backing block.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus for enabling a remotely-located expert to monitor an inspection by a non-expert, the apparatus comprising an inspection device capable of being operated by the non-expert, which is configured to generate inspection data indicative of a condition of a test object, and a communication unit configured to: divide the inspection data into first and second data; transfer the first data for being presented to the remotely-located expert at a first time, to facilitate substantially real-time monitoring of the inspection by the expert; and transfer the second data for being presented to the remotely-located expert at a second time, which is later than the first time, to facilitate non-real time monitoring of the inspection by the expert.

Abstract: A scanning system for imaging an object, the scanning system comprising: a scanning apparatus configured to transmit ultrasound signals towards an object and to receive ultrasound signals reflected from an object whereby data pertaining to an internal structure of an object can be obtained; a location sensor for sensing a location of the scanning apparatus; and an instruction unit arranged to provide instructions to a user of the scanning system in dependence on the sensed location.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus for imaging an object, the scanning apparatus comprising: a transmitter for transmitting ultrasound signals towards an object, a receiver for receiving ultrasound signals from an object, and a support, the transmitter and the receiver being coupled to the support; the scanning apparatus being capable of being operated with the support in a non-planar configuration thereby to scan a non-planar surface of an object.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus for imaging an object, the scanning apparatus comprising: an ultrasound transducer comprising a transmitter structure configured to transmit ultrasound signals in a first direction towards an object and a receiver structure configured to receive reflected ultrasound signals from an object; in which the transmitter structure comprises a first transmitting element and a second transmitting element, the first and second transmitting elements being spatially offset in the first direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for imaging structural features below the surface of an object, the apparatus comprising: a transmitter unit configured to transmit a sound pulse at the object; a receiver unit configured to receive reflections of sound pulses transmitted by the transmitter unit from the object; a signal processing unit configured to: analyse one or more signals received by the receiver unit from the object; recognise, in the one or more signals, a reflection that was caused by a first structural feature and a reflection that was caused by a second structural feature that is located, in the object, at least partly behind the first structural feature; and associate each recognised reflection with a relative depth in the object at which the reflection occurred; and an image generation unit configured to generate an image that includes a representation of the first and second structural features in dependence on the recognised reflections and their relative depths.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus for enabling a remotely-located expert to monitor an inspection by a non-expert, the apparatus comprising an inspection device capable of being operated by the non-expert, which is configured to generate inspection data indicative of a condition of a test object, and a communication unit configured to: divide the inspection data into first and second data; transfer the first data for being presented to the remotely-located expert at a first time, to facilitate substantially real-time monitoring of the inspection by the expert; and transfer the second data for being presented to the remotely-located expert at a second time, which is later than the first time, to facilitate non-real time monitoring of the inspection by the expert.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus for enabling a remotely-located expert to monitor an inspection by a non-expert, the apparatus comprising an inspection device capable of being operated by the non-expert, which is configured to generate inspection data indicative of a condition of a test object, and a communication unit configured to: divide the inspection data into first and second data; transfer the first data for being presented to the remotely-located expert at a first time, to facilitate substantially real-time monitoring of the inspection by the expert; and transfer the second data for being presented to the remotely-located expert at a second time, which is later than the first time, to facilitate non-real time monitoring of the inspection by the expert.

Abstract: A sensing apparatus comprising an ultrasound transceiver for transmitting ultrasound signals into a sample and receiving a resultant ultrasound reflection signal from the sample, a detector for processing signals received by the transceiver by comparing the received signal against a reference signal to generate a response signal, the response signal comprising values as a function of time that represent the strength of the match between the received signal and the reference signal at the respective time; and a driver capable of generating a plurality of pre-defined pulse templates.

Abstract: An apparatus for imaging structural features below the surface of an object, the apparatus comprising: a transmitter unit configured to transmit a sound pulse at the object; a receiver unit configured to receive reflections of sound pulses transmitted by the transmitter unit from the object; a signal processing unit configured to: analyse one or more signals received by the receiver unit from the object; recognise, in the one or more signals, a reflection that was caused by a first structural feature and a reflection that was caused by a second structural feature that is located, in the object, at least partly behind the first structural feature; and associate each recognised reflection with a relative depth in the object at which the reflection occurred; and an image generation unit configured to generate an image that includes a representation of the first and second structural features in dependence on the recognised reflections and their relative depths.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus comprising a receiver circuit and a transmitter circuit, both circuits being flexible such that they are capable of conforming to the surface contours of an object as a surface of the apparatus is pressed against it and an adaptive backing positioned behind the transmitter and receiver circuits in the scanning apparatus and configured to, as the scanning apparatus is pressed against the object, conform to the flexible circuits.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus for enabling a remotely-located expert to monitor an inspection by a non-expert, the apparatus comprising an inspection device capable of being operated by the non-expert, which is configured to generate inspection data indicative of a condition of a test object, and a communication unit configured to: divide the inspection data into first and second data; transfer the first data for being presented to the remotely-located expert at a first time, to facilitate substantially real-time monitoring of the inspection by the expert; and transfer the second data for being presented to the remotely-located expert at a second time, which is later than the first time, to facilitate non-real time monitoring of the inspection by the expert.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and method for reading matrix codes comprising an ultrasound transducer 20 which comprises transmitter and receiver electrodes, a receiver unit 24 connected to the receiver electrodes for processing the signals received by the receiver electrodes, and a transmitter module 21 connected to the transmitter electrodes, the transmitter module transferring an electronic signal to the transducer, where the signal shape is selected between a number of signal shapes according to the characteristics of the matrix code to be read.

Abstract: A sensing apparatus comprising an ultrasound transceiver for transmitting ultrasound signals into a sample and receiving a resultant ultrasound reflection signal from the sample, a detector for processing signals received by the transceiver by comparing the received signal against a reference signal to generate a response signal, the response signal comprising values as a function of time that represent the strength of the match between the received signal and the reference signal at the respective time; and a driver capable of generating a plurality of pre-defined pulse templates.