Liquid Or Deformable Surface Holography Patents (Class 367/10)
  • Patent number: 11047979
    Abstract: A transducer array for an ultrasound imaging system includes a substrate and a single array comprising individual sub-sets of transducer elements disposed on the substrate, wherein the individual sub-sets are physically separate from each other and spatially arranged contiguous to each other. An apparatus includes a transducer array with a substrate and a single array comprising individual sub-sets of transducer elements disposed on the substrate, wherein the individual sub-sets are not in physical contact with each other and are serially arranged with respect to each other. The apparatus further includes transmit circuitry that conveys an excitation pulse to the transducer array, receive circuitry that receives a signal indicative of an ultrasound echo from the transducer array, and a beamformer that processes the received signal, generating ultrasound image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Sound Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Beers, Kristine Gamble
  • Patent number: 7259897
    Abstract: An acoustical holographic imaging method and apparatus for introducing a reference wave into a hologram surface such that the reference wave does not interfere with an object placed adjacent to or in close proximity to the hologram surface. More particularly, the ultrasonic holographic imaging system may use a reference wave introduced on the side of a thin (3 element) detector that acts as a wave guide; to introduce the reference wave to a liquid-to-gas interface or alternatively, from the topside of the detecting surface through a liquid-to-liquid interface. The system eliminates the acoustic lens system, thereby reducing the size and cost of the system. Further, an object may be placed at the detecting surface, increasing the depth of field of the resultant image and reducing the energy needed from the object source. The system may additionally utilize multiple reference sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Holographic Engineering LLC
    Inventors: George F. Garlick, Todd F. Garlick
  • Patent number: 6847584
    Abstract: A method, system and underwater camera for acoustic imaging of objects in water or other liquids includes an acoustic source for generating an acoustic wavefront for reflecting from a target object as a reflected wavefront. The reflected acoustic wavefront deforms a screen on an acoustic side and correspondingly deforms the opposing optical side of the screen. An optical processing system is optically coupled to the optical side of the screen and converts the deformations on the optical side of the screen into an optical intensity image of the target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC
    Inventors: Vance A. Deason, Kenneth L. Telschow
  • Patent number: 6831874
    Abstract: There is disclosed an improved ultrasonic hologram or other ultrasonic imaging process that accurately forms phase and amplitude information of the hologram in a manner that renders the unit relatively insensitive to environment vibrations, and provides long maintenance free functioning lifetime. Specifically, there is disclosed an improved ultrasonic hologram detector component that forms an ultrasonic hologram on the surface of a detection deformable detector material, resulting from the deformation of the surface. The surface deformation is due to the reflection of an ultrasound (ultrasonic) energy profile of the combination of an “object wave” that passes through an object and that of a “reference wave” that is directed to the surface at an off axis angle from the “object wave”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Imaging Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: George F. Garlick, Jerod O. Shelby
  • Patent number: 6353576
    Abstract: There is disclosed an improved ultrasonic hologram or other ultrasonic imaging process that accurately forms phase and amplitude information of the hologram in a manner that renders the unit relatively insensitive to environment vibrations, and provides long maintenance free functioning lifetime. Specifically, there is disclosed an improved ultrasonic hologram detector component that forms an ultrasonic hologram on the surface of a detection fluid, resulting from the deformation of the surface. The surface deformation is due to the reflection of an ultrasound (ultrasonic) energy profile of the combination of an “object wave” that passes through an object and that of a “reference wave” that is directed to the surface at an off axis angle from the “object wave”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Diagnostics Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: George F. Garlick, Jerod O. Shelby
  • Patent number: 5329817
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 4 showing an offset and tilted object transducer 50 being rotated about a system axis 51 to sequentially insonify the object from various acute incident angles .theta. to the system axis to provide images of the out-of-focus structures at spaced locations at the hologram detection surface 18 at different spaced times. If the pulse rate of the object transducer is greater than the fusion of the eye, the eye is able to average two or more images into a single perceived image. Likewise, video equipment that receives images at a rate greater than 30 Hertz will average two or more images and display the image at a rate of approximately 30 Hertz. Additionally, external video processing may be utilized to electronically average two or more images electronically to obtain an averaged image at any time constant desired by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Advanced Imaging Systems
    Inventors: George F. Garlick, Glen C. Dunham
  • Patent number: 5179455
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the optical reconstruction assembly 50 in which the assembly 50 includes an assembly housing 52 that is a unitary unit for supporting a spatial filter 72 and a light source 74 in a single plane at the optical length "L" from a collimating lens 86. A liquid container 88 is mounted to the assembly housing 52 containing the holographic liquid 90. The light source 74 and the spatial filter 72 are spaced a fixed distance "A" which is less than the optical diameter "D" of the collimating lens 86.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: Advanced Imaging Systems
    Inventor: George F. Garlick
  • Patent number: 4905202
    Abstract: A detection panel for acoustic holography with real time image reconstruction includes, a flat cell containing a mixture of nematic and cholesteric liquid crystals whose composition provides a refractive index which varies as a function of acoustic pressure. The cell has at least one acoustic window and at least one optical window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1990
    Assignee: Richard L. Scully
    Inventor: Jean J. A. Robillard