Acoustic Image Conversion Patents (Class 367/7)
  • Publication number: 20150103623
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of processing seismic signals comprising: receiving a set of seismic signals, applying a wavelet transformation to the set of signals and generating transformed signals across a plurality of scales. Then for each scale determining coherence information indicative of the transformed signals and generating a comparison matrix comparing the transformed signals, then outputting seismic attribute information based on combined coherence information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Adam Gersztenkorn
  • Publication number: 20150103624
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer programs for monitoring a drilling operation in a subterranean formation include receiving, from a first sensor array, one or more seismic signals caused, at least in part, by the drilling operation in the subterranean formation; receiving, from the first sensor array, one or more electromagnetic signals generated by an electro seismic or seismoelectric conversion of the one or more seismic signals caused, at least in part, by the drilling operation in the subterranean formation; and determining a property of one or more of the drillstring and the subterranean formation based, at least in part, on the seismic signals and the corresponding electromagnetic signals received from the first sensor array. The first sensor array is arranged to monitor the drilling operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Arthur Thompson, Alan Katz, Robert England, Todd W. Benson, Mark Griffin
  • Publication number: 20150092515
    Abstract: Techniques to improve resolution in an ultrasound system are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus is a portable ultrasound probe having transducer elements and supporting electronics within the probe. The beam is shaped to split the resolution to sub-pixel accuracy. Super resolution sample technique based on interpolation can be used to further increase resolution. In one embodiment the ultrasound system supports ½ crystal physical resolution and ¼ crystal digital resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Harish P. HIRIYANNAIAH
  • Publication number: 20150092514
    Abstract: An ultrasonic device includes a base in which a base layer of a vibrating film is formed in every opening that is disposed in an array; an interconnect layer, which is a conductor, formed on the base layer; an insulating film that is formed on the interconnect layer, and forms a laminated structure with respect to the base layer; a plurality of piezoelectric elements that are separated from the interconnect layer by the insulating film, the piezoelectric elements each including a first electrode and a second electrode that sandwich a piezoelectric film on the insulating film; and a through conductor that passes through the insulating film, and connects at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode to the conductor constituting the interconnect layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Kanechika KIYOSE, Hiroshi MATSUDA, Daisuke NAKANISHI
  • Publication number: 20150085603
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the far field signature of a source in wide azimuth surveys are disclosed. The method includes determining a position of a first sensor and a source. The first sensor is attached to a first vessel and the source is attached to a second vessel. The method further includes calculating a reflected incidence angle between the first sensor and the source, determining a position for a second sensor based on a direct incidence angle between the second sensor and the source approximating the direct incidence angle. The method also includes determining a far field signature for the source based on the direct incidence angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Anne Vesin, Karine Desrues
  • Publication number: 20150078122
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a computer-implemented method for tracking one or more targets on a sonar image. The method may include displaying the sonar image on a computer screen, receiving a command to track the one or more targets on the sonar image, storing the locations of the one or more targets relative to a vessel and displaying a symbol around a respective one of the one or more targets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: ROBERT LANGFORD-WOOD
  • Publication number: 20150078124
    Abstract: One embodiment relates to a technological process for identifying a potential subsurface structure below a body of water. Three-dimensional seismic sensor data that includes at least two measured components is obtained. Up-going and down-going wavefields comprising multiples wavefields are constructed from the three-dimensional seismic sensor data by applying wavefield separation. The up-going and down-going wavefields are extrapolated to a reflector surface below a water bottom. An imaging condition is applied at the reflector surface to generate images that include information from the multiples wavefields. Angle gathers are constructed, where each angle gather is constructed by gathering the images generated using the multiples wavefields for a range of illumination angles. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Shaoping LU, Norman Daniel WHITMORE, JR., Alejandro Antonio Valenciano MAVILIO, Nizar CHEMINGUI, Andrew LONG, Grunde RØNHOLT
  • Publication number: 20150078123
    Abstract: A synthetic underwater visualization system (SUVS) comprising a real-time graphics software engine, a sophisticated underwater environmental sensor, a fixed-base database, and a retrieval system designed to accept and assimilate into a common database bathymetric and environmental information acquired from around the world by components of other deployed SUVS sensing systems. SUVS is capable of sensing, modeling, and realistically displaying underwater environments in real-time, and will foster widespread utilization in the areas of homeland security, commercial and recreational maritime navigation, bathymetric data collection, and environmental analysis. The technology will also be readily adaptable and highly desirable in non-marine applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: APPAREO SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Barry D. Batcheller, Jeffrey L. Johnson, Derek B. Aslakson
  • Publication number: 20150071029
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to high frequency piezoelectric crystal composites, devices, and method for manufacturing the same. In adaptive embodiments an improved imaging device, particularly a medical imaging device or a distance imaging device, for high frequency (>20 MHz) applications involving an imaging transducer assembly is coupled to a signal imagery processor. Additionally, the proposed invention presents a system for photolithography based micro-machined piezoelectric crystal composites and their uses resulting in improved performance parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Pengdi Han, Jian Tian, Kevin Meneou, Brandon Stone
  • Publication number: 20150071030
    Abstract: An ultrasonic measurement apparatus that is able to prevent a decrease in the effects of adaptive beamforming, in the case where some element cannot correctly receive signals. The ultrasonic measurement apparatus has a reception processing unit that receives, via an ultrasonic element array having a plurality of channels, an ultrasonic echo relating to an ultrasonic wave transmitted toward an object, as a reception signal for each channel, an error detection unit that performs error detection for each channel, a signal processing unit that performs weighted addition of a reception signal for each normal channel other than an error channel for which an error was detected, with a weight that depends on the reception signal for the normal channel, and an image generation unit that generates an image based on a signal obtained from the weighted addition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventor: Masaki HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20150063058
    Abstract: Provided are an ultrasonic measurement apparatus, an ultrasonic imaging apparatus and an ultrasonic measurement method that achieve an increase in processing speed together with an increase in resolution and are user friendly. An image is generated by adding together, with a weight having a fixed value, reception signals obtained by ultrasonic echoes being received by an ultrasonic element array, and an area of interest is set within the area in which the generated image is to be displayed. When an area of interest is acquired, the reception signals received by the ultrasonic element array are added together with weights that depend on the reception signals, with respect to data forming the basis of the image to be displayed in the area of interest, and image generation is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Ryoki WATANABE, Masaki HAYASHI, Kazuyuki KANO, Kenji MURAKAMI
  • Publication number: 20150063060
    Abstract: A method for pre-determining an underwater objects GPS position using a rotatable scan sonar unit linked to a boat, magnetic compass and GPS receiver. This system determines the underwater objects GPS position using the objects distance, compass heading and a GPS receiver/sonar on a boat. This system will provide real time longitude and latitude positions of underwater objects seen with sonar at a distance from a boat, and will allow for precise autopilot navigation or fixed position fishing. The system can also be used to correct for GPS errors when using previously stored waypoints positions of an object. The computer determines an objects underwater GPS position using a sonar transducer and mounted on a 360 degree movable mechanism such as a trolling motor unit, or phased array of transducers and a compass to provide heading information and formulates the objects position based on the distance and heading of the object in relation to the boats current GPS position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Louis DePasqua
  • Publication number: 20150063057
    Abstract: An ultrasonic wave of a predetermined wavelength is transmitted toward an object from channels that are constituted by ultrasonic transducer elements, and reception waves of ultrasonic echoes relating to the transmitted ultrasonic wave are acquired from the channels. When information showing a normal mode or a low power consumption mode shows the normal mode, a first number of reception signals are added together with a weight that is computed in advance, and image generation is performed based on the reception signal obtained from the adding, and when the information shows the low power consumption mode, a second number of reception signals that is less than the first number is added together with a weight that depends on each reception signal, and image generation is performed based on the reception signal obtained from the adding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Masaki HAYASHI, Kazuyuki KANO
  • Publication number: 20150063059
    Abstract: A method for pre-determining an underwater objects GPS position using a rotatable scan sonar unit linked to a boat, magnetic compass and GPS receiver. This system determines the underwater objects GPS position using the objects distance, compass heading and a GPS receiver/sonar on a boat. This system will provide real time longitude and latitude positions of underwater objects seen with sonar at a distance from a boat, and will allow for precise autopilot navigation or fixed position fishing. The system can also be used to correct for GPS errors when using previously stored waypoints positions of an object. The computer determines an objects underwater GPS position using a sonar transducer and mounted on a 360 degree movable mechanism such as a trolling motor unit, or phased array of transducers and a compass to provide heading information and formulates the objects position based on the distance and heading of the object in relation to the boats current GPS position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Louis DePasqua
  • Publication number: 20150049578
    Abstract: Systems and methods for ultrasound beamforming are provided. One method includes obtaining ultrasound data using receive line spacing that changes as a function of depth, determining a number of transmit events to combine at each of a plurality of points for use in combining the obtained ultrasound data, and aligning the ultrasound data with time delays computed from a probe geometry used to obtain the ultrasound data. The method also includes combining the aligned ultrasound data to generate an ultrasound image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ralph Thomas Hoctor, Daniel John Buckton, Srinivasan Jagannathan, Martin Paul Mienkina, Jing Jin
  • Publication number: 20150049579
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Eskil Skoglund, Arnt-Børre Salberg
  • Publication number: 20150049577
    Abstract: An ultrasound image system has a plurality of channels. At least one of the plurality of channels has a capacitive T/R switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Benedict C.K. Choy, Ching Chu, Andy Tu
  • Publication number: 20150047903
    Abstract: A method of determining a search expression describing a feature of interest in a set of data points distributed throughout a geological object is provided. Each data point contains a value for a geological attribute at that point. The search expression has a plurality of entries. The method including the steps of: (i) displaying the geological object using display codings corresponding to value subranges for the geological attribute such that all data points which have values for the geological attribute falling within a given value subrange are displayed with the same coding; (ii) selecting a plurality of data points of the feature of interest; and (iii) allocating value characters to entries of the search expression, the value characters corresponding to the value subranges for the geological attribute of the selected data points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Westerngeco LLC
    Inventors: Oddgeir Gramstad, Jan Øystein Haavig Bakke
  • Publication number: 20150049580
    Abstract: An apparatus for imaging structural features below the surface of an object, comprising: an analysis unit configured to gather information about structural features located at different depths below the surface of the object by transmitting one or more sound pulses at the object and detecting reflections of those sound pulses from the object; and an image generation unit configured to generate: a first image in dependence on a first subset of the detected reflections, the first image representing an overview in which one or more of the structural features may be obscured by another of the structural features; and a second image in dependence on a second subset of the detected reflections, the second image representing a slice through the first image whereby the obscured structural features can be uncovered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Eskil Skoglund, Arnt-Børre Salberg
  • Publication number: 20150049582
    Abstract: An ultrasonic signal processing method includes: measuring a sound velocity in a subject according to transmission/reception data acquired in ultrasonic transmission of M times (M is an integer equal to or greater than 1 and less than N) along different transmission focus lines among ultrasonic transmission of N times (N is an integer equal to or greater than 2) along multiple transmission focus lines in a case where ultrasonic transmission is sequentially performed at least one time on each of multiple transmission focus lines to create an ultrasonic image for one frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yukiya MIYACHI
  • Publication number: 20150049581
    Abstract: An object information acquisition apparatus includes: a plurality of acoustic wave detecting elements configured to detect an photoacoustic wave generated when an object is irradiated with light and output time-series detection signals; a member disposed outside the object; and a signal processing unit configured to acquire optical property information inside the object by performing image reconstruction through iterative reconstruction method in accordance with the time-series detection signals and an operand for which a response of the photoacoustic wave deriving from the member has been considered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Fukutani
  • Patent number: 8952936
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and device for position detection. For detection of a touch position, a segment of surface acoustic wave (SAW) is provided multiple times to be propagated on a SAW touch panel, and the multiple SAW segments are received by the SAW touch panel. In addition, during or after reception, partial output electrical signals are provided based on different portions of each received SAW segment to construct a complete output electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Egalax—Empia Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Shang-Tai Yeh, Teng-Wei Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20150036461
    Abstract: Computing device and method for processing seismic traces to produce an image of a subsurface area. The method includes receiving a series of seismic traces related to the subsurface area and recorded by one or more seismic receivers, wherein the one or more seismic sources are originally generated by a source; applying a phase encoding function to the series of seismic traces, at least a portion of said seismic traces comprise signals reflected by geological interfaces of the subsurface area; applying a 3 dimensional (3D) harmonic-source reverse time migration of the series of seismic traces encoded with the phase encoding function; computing a forward wavefield by solving a first wave equation; computing a backward wavefield by solving a second wave equation; and cross-correlating the forward wavefield with the backward wavefield to generate an image of the subsurface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Robert SOUBARAS, Yu ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20150036460
    Abstract: An example method for displaying sonic logging data associated with a formation surrounding a borehole can include acquiring sonic data at a plurality of depths using an acoustic array located in the borehole and transforming the acquired sonic data from a time-space domain to a frequency-wave number domain at a limited number of discrete frequencies. The method can also include estimating slowness values at the limited number of discrete frequencies from the transformed sonic data, interpolating the estimated slowness values to obtain a projection of one or more slowness-frequency dispersions of the acquired sonic data and displaying the projection of the slowness-frequency dispersions. The projection of the slowness-frequency dispersions can include a plurality of color bands corresponding to each of the limited number of discrete frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Toshihiro Kinoshita, Hiroaki Yamamoto, Takeshi Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20150029820
    Abstract: The present invention provides visualization of a seismic wavefield as measured by various multi-component sensors, including, but not limited to, pressure, 3-component vector spatial pressure gradients, 3-component linear motion, and 3-component rotational motion. The visualization of the present invention employs combinations of dynamic displacement; dynamic rotation; dynamic dilation and compression; and dynamic color and transparency variations to display various measurements of a seismic wavefield. The visualization of the present invention may be applied to various seismic data sets, including, but not limited to, pre-stack data sets; post-migration data volumes; micro-seismic passive or active source monitoring; and vertical seismic profiles. The method has a wide range of application in seismic surveys in oil and gas exploration and production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Robert H. Brune
  • Publication number: 20150029818
    Abstract: An ultrasonic measuring apparatus includes an ultrasonic transducer device having a substrate and an ultrasonic transducer element array that has a first channel group and a second channel group that are arranged on the substrate, a first integrated circuit apparatus that is mounted on the substrate, at one edge portion of the ultrasonic transducer element array in a first direction, such that a long-side direction coincides with a second direction that intersects the first direction, and performs at least one of signal transmission to the first channel group and signal reception from the first channel group, and a second integrated circuit apparatus that is mounted on the substrate, at the other edge portion of the ultrasonic transducer element array in the first direction, such that the long-side direction coincides with the second direction, and performs at least one of signal transmission to the second channel group and signal reception from the second channel group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Kogo ENDO
  • Publication number: 20150029819
    Abstract: A sensor can include a plurality of imaging components configured to perform (1) subsurface imaging by acoustical excitation and optical detection, and (2) interferometric surface topographic measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Araz Yacoubian
  • Publication number: 20150029821
    Abstract: An ultrasonic observation apparatus includes: a first conversion unit that converts an ultrasonic signal as a time domain signal reflected from a specimen into a frequency domain signal; a regression analysis unit that calculates a regression expression for the frequency domain signal; an attenuation correction coefficient calculation unit that calculates an attenuation correction coefficient which is obtained by dividing a difference between first-order coefficients in the regression expressions at two points having different reception depths by a difference between the reception depths at the two points; an attenuation correction processing unit that performs attenuation correction processing on the frequency domain signal based on the attenuation correction coefficient; a second conversion unit that converts the frequency domain signal after the attenuation correction processing, into a second time domain signal; and an image data generation unit that generates ultrasonic image data based on the second tim
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventor: Hironaka MIYAKI
  • Patent number: 8942058
    Abstract: Provided is a display data obtaining apparatus capable of, in photoacoustic tomography, reducing a fluctuation in sensitivity which depends on location for image reconstruction even in a limited measurement condition in which a photoacoustic wave generated in the entire subject cannot be obtained in a sufficient range. The display data obtaining apparatus includes: an acoustic wave detecting unit for detecting an acoustic wave generated from a subject irradiated with pulsed light to obtain a signal; a first data deriving unit for deriving first data exhibiting an optical characteristic distribution of the subject based on the obtained signal obtained by the acoustic wave detecting unit; a memory for storing spatial sensitivity distribution data specific to the display data obtaining apparatus; and a second data deriving unit for deriving second data exhibiting the optical characteristic distribution of the subject using the first data and the spatial sensitivity distribution data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Fukutani
  • Publication number: 20150023135
    Abstract: The invention discloses a split row-column addressing method for three-dimensional ultrasound imaging, and the method comprises: for an N×N planar array, obtain the pulse-echo response distribution from fully connected two-dimensional planar array, parameters thereof comprising beam widths A? and B? at ?6 dB and ?20 dB respectively, average side lobe C?, highest side lobe D? and main side-lobe energy ratio E?; set counter K=2, split two-dimensional planar array into K regions in channel direction, determine array elements amount and connect array elements in each region; calculate the time delay according to distance between the coordinates of each region and the focus point within a scanning range of the two-dimensional planar array, and analyze the two-dimensional planar array by ultrasonic sound field simulation algorithm according to the time delay of each region. The invention can solve the prior art of low resolution, and the problem that transmitted and received beam cannot be deflected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Ming YUCHI, Mingyue DING, Yanping JIA, Liushuai LV
  • Publication number: 20150023136
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasound imaging method for imaging a part (1), characterised by the implementation of the following steps: selecting a first sub-region ({tilde over (Z)}) of the part from a first image (IA(Z)) of a region (Z) of the part (1), determining, for each point of the first selected sub-region ({tilde over (Z)}), the times of flight (TijA({tilde over (Z)})) corresponding to the paths according to a first reconstruction mode (A) going through the point from a transmitter i to a receiver j for a set of M*N transmitter-receiver couples of an ultrasound signal; determining a second sub-region of the part, a point (P) of the region belonging to the second sub-region when a time of flight (TijB(P)) of the path according to a second reconstruction mode (B) going through the point (P) from a transmitter i to a receiver j of said set of M*N transmitter-receiver couples coincides with a time of flight (TA({tilde over (Z)})) of a path according to the first reconstruction mode from a transmitt
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENE ALT
    Inventors: Philippe BREDIF, Ekaterina IAKOVLEVA, Sylvain CHATILLON
  • Publication number: 20150016215
    Abstract: An image processing module includes an input unit, a weight operator, and a synthesizer. The input unit is configured to receive a plurality of input signals of a plurality of channels. The weight operator is configured to calculate at least one weight to be applied to each channel based on at least one converted signal. The at least one converted signal is acquired by converting at least one input signal among the plurality of input signals of each channel, or by converting a synthesized input signal of the plurality of input signals of each channel. The synthesizer is configured to synthesize the plurality of input signals of the plurality of channels using the weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicants: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Industry Academic Cooperation Foundation, Hallym University
    Inventors: Kyu Hong KIM, Sung Chan PARK, Su Hyun PARK, Joo Young KANG, Jung Ho KIM, Moo Ho BAE
  • Patent number: 8934318
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a fish finding sonar system. Specifically, this invention relates to a sonar device pairing with a remote computing device to provide information to an angler about what is under the surface of the water. Embodiments of the present invention include a sonar device and a remote computing device configured to allow the sonar device to wirelessly communicate with the remote computing device and the remote computing device to connect to a database to register and receive information about real-time fishing hotspots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: ReelSonar, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Lebedev, Tim Etchells
  • Publication number: 20150009778
    Abstract: An electromechanical transducer includes a plurality of cells arranged on a substrate, each cell having a first electrode and a second electrode disposed opposite to the first electrode with a gap interposed between them. A plurality of elements, each including at least two cells with their first electrodes or second electrodes electrically connected to each other, are arranged in the transducer. Vibration film structures that includes respective vibration films disposed above the substrate with a gap between them are arranged in the intervals which are devoid of elements separating the plurality of elements. With this structure, the non-uniformity of the radiation impedances of the plurality of elements due to the intervals separating the regions where the elements are respectively arranged can be reduced and hence the influence of the intervals separating the elements on the transmission/reception characteristics can also be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Atsushi Kandori, Takahiro Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20150003193
    Abstract: Apparatus, computer instructions and method for controlling an energy output of a source array to be used in a seismic survey for illuminating a subsurface. The method includes generating a model (?) based on up-going (U) and down-going (D) components of seismic waves generated by source elements that form the source array; calculating the amplitudes and phases of each source element based on the model (?); and driving the source array based on the calculated amplitudes and phases for the source elements so that a ghost generated by the source array is reduced at emission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: CGG SERVICES SA
    Inventors: Cecile BERRON, Julien MEUNIER
  • Publication number: 20140362658
    Abstract: Computing device, computer instructions and method for de-ghosting seismic data related to a subsurface. The method may include receiving input seismic data recorded by seismic receivers that located at different depths (zr), generating migration data (du) and mirror migration data (dd) from the input seismic data, deriving a ghost free model (m) based on simultaneously using the migration data (du) and mirror migration data (dd), generating primary (p) and ghost (g) datasets based on the ghost free model (m), simultaneously adaptively subtracting the primary (p) and ghost (g) datasets from the migration data (du) to provide adapted primary (p?1 and p?2) and adapted residual (r?1 and r?2) datasets, and generating a final image (f) of the subsurface based on the adapted primary (p?1 and p?2) and the adapted residual (r?1 and r?2) datasets. In certain embodiments, the input seismic data d includes both hydrophone data and particle motion data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: CGG Services SA
    Inventor: Gordon Poole
  • Patent number: 8905931
    Abstract: Generally, a photoacoustic signal has a wavelength longer than a general ultrasonic signal. That is, it does not matter even if at the time of acquisition of the photoacoustic signal, an element pitch of a probe is several times as large as at the time of acquisition of the ultrasonic signal. Thus, at the time of acquisition of the photoacoustic signal, a plurality of neighboring elements in a receiving element array are collectively considered as one element, and a phasing process is performed. As a result, the same effect as a plurality of phasing addition circuits are disposed in parallel is obtained, and not only a phasing addition process of the photoacoustic signal but also image reconstruction can be performed in real time at a high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Baba, Kenichi Nagae
  • Publication number: 20140355375
    Abstract: Various examples are provided for generalized internal multiple imaging (GIMI). In one example, among others, a method includes generating a higher order internal multiple image using a background Green's function and rendering the higher order internal multiple image for presentation. In another example, a system includes a computing device and a generalized internal multiple imaging (GIMI) application executable in the computing device. The GIMI application includes logic that generates a higher order internal multiple image using a background Green's function and logic that renders the higher order internal multiple image for display on a display device. In another example, a non-transitory computer readable medium has a program executable by processing circuitry that generates a higher order internal multiple image using a background Green's function and renders the higher order internal multiple image for display on a display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Mohammad Akbar Hosain Zuberi, Tariq Alkhalifah
  • Publication number: 20140355378
    Abstract: A single-element ultrasonic sensor includes a single transducer element and transmits an ultrasonic wave on the basis of a pulse wave. An ultrasonic array sensor includes a plurality of transducer elements and receives an ultrasonic reflected wave. A pulsar supplies the pulse wave to the single element ultrasonic sensor. A receiver receives electric signals from the transducer elements included in the ultrasonic array sensor. An amplification and conversion unit amplifies the electric signals received from the transducer elements included in the ultrasonic array sensor, converts the electric signals into digital signals, and arranges the digital signals in a serial order so as to generate a serial digital signal. An image generator generates an image on the basis of the serial digital signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyuki KONO, Kouichi KUROSAWA, So KITAZAWA, Yuji MATSUI
  • Publication number: 20140355376
    Abstract: A display device has a visual display capable of providing an image and an ultrasonic sensor array attached to a backside component of the visual display. The ultrasonic sensor array may be an ultrasonic area array sensor. For example, the backside component may be a backlight, an optical waveguide, or a display TFT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: John K. Schneider, Jack C. Kitchens, Stephen M. Gojevic, Timothy A. Dickinson, Samir K. Gupta, Kostadin D. Djordjev, David William Burns, Leonard E. Fennell, Suryaprakash Ganti
  • Publication number: 20140355377
    Abstract: Techniques to improve resolution in an ultrasound system are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus is a portable ultrasound probe having transducer elements and supporting electronics within the probe. The beam is shaped to split the resolution to sub-pixel accuracy. Super resolution sample technique based on interpolation can be used to further increase resolution. In one embodiment the ultrasound system supports ½ crystal physical resolution and ¼ crystal digital resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventor: Harish P. HIRIYANNAIAH
  • Publication number: 20140355374
    Abstract: A portal ultrasound imaging apparatus having an adjustable hinge assembly, which includes a key having a narrower end and an end wider in the circumferential direction of the hinge assembly. The key is movable in a slot in an axial direction of the hinge assembly to a locked position, where the side surfaces of the key presses against the walls of the slot to eliminate circumferential gaps between the key and the slot. When at the locked position in the slot, the key can be pushed towards the opposite of the axial direction to an unlocked position where an angular lock of the hinge assembly is released, allowing the hinge assembly to be adjusted to a desired angular coupling. The key can then be pushed in the axial direction back to the locked position in the slot to prevent change in the coupling angle of the hinge assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Minjin Huang, Feng Zhou
  • Publication number: 20140347955
    Abstract: A transmit circuit outputs test pulses to a probe including a transducer to generate an image of a test object. A composite signal including the test pulses and a reflected signal is output by the transducer. A receive circuit receives the composite signal including the test pulses and the reflected signal and includes a filter circuit that filters the test pulses from the composite signal and passes the reflected signal. An impedance of the filter circuit is equal to substantially zero when the reflected signal is within a predetermined frequency range. A clipper circuit limits a magnitude of an output of the filter circuit. An amplifier amplifies the output of the filter circuit and that outputs an amplified voltage. A processing module generates a signal for displaying the image of the test object based on the amplified voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Luigi Franchini, Roberto Alini, Filippo Cevini
  • Publication number: 20140347954
    Abstract: The ultrasound imaging system comprises an ultrasound probe (3) and computer (20) for controlling the ultrasound probe and for visualizing an image. The system comprises a processing device located between the probe and the computer that comprises a processing unit (15) to operate an imaging method and switch unit (13) for routing the input and output data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: SUPER SONIC IMAGINE
    Inventors: Francois Maurice, Nicolas Felix
  • Patent number: 8879352
    Abstract: Devices are disclosed for obtaining data of a sample, particularly data capable of being processed to produce an image of a region of the sample. An exemplary device includes a light-beam source, an acoustic-wave source, an optical element, and an acoustic detector. The optical element is transmissive to a light beam produced by the light-beam source and reflective to acoustic waves produced by the acoustic-wave source. The optical element is situated to direct the transmitted light beam and reflected acoustic wave simultaneously along an optical axis to be incident at a situs in or on a sample to cause the sample to produce acoustic echoes from the incident acoustic waves while also producing photoacoustic waves from the incident light beam photoacoustically interacting with the situs. The acoustic detector is placed to receive and detect the acoustic echoes and the photoacoustic waves from the situs. The acoustic detector can comprise one or more hydrophones exploiting the acousto-electric effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: The Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona
    Inventors: Russell S. Witte, Leonardo Gabriel Montilla, Ragnar Olafsson, Charles M. Ingram, Zhaohui Wang, Robert A. Norwood, Charles Greenlee
  • Publication number: 20140321235
    Abstract: Techniques for navigating a high temperature low visibility environment are supported. A system may employ appropriate sonar signals to determine and display the location or distance to remote structures that may be obscured in the high temperature low visibility environment. Firefighters, military personnel, and other individuals that must navigate through obscured, high temperature environments may interact with suitable devices, such as a handheld device, to access and display the approximate location or distance of the remote structures or pathways. These devices may facilitate effective navigation of high temperature low visibility environments, thereby minimizing the risk of traumatic or fatal bodily injuries posed by the dangerous conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Ofodike A. Ezekoye, Mustafa Z. Abbasi, Preston Wilson
  • Publication number: 20140307521
    Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus in comprising a transformer, a first power source and a second power source, an ultrasound transducer, a processor, and a driving part. The transformer comprises a primary winding and a secondary winding. The first power source and the second power source are connected to the primary winding. The ultrasound transducer is driven by the voltage induced to the secondary winding, and transmits ultrasound waves to a subject, and receives reflected waves reflected by the subject to output the received signal. The processor implements processing on the received signal to generate ultrasound wave images. The driving part drives to change the voltage among a first level voltage based on the first power source, a second level voltage based on the second power source, and a third level voltage between the first level voltage and the second level voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Wataru Kameishi, Hiroyuki Shibanuma, Shuta Fujiwara, Satoshi Kamiyama, Takayuki Shiina, Masaaki Ishitsuka, Tomohiro Fujita
  • Publication number: 20140307522
    Abstract: The present technique relates to an image processing device, an image processing method, and a program allowing a grasp of an ultrasonic image with an intuitive and simplified manipulation. A probe generates an ultrasonic wave and receives a reflective wave reflected at an object. A detection unit detects one or more physical quantities of the probe. A display unit displays a tomographic image showing a cross-section of a predetermined position of the object, out of the ultrasonic image of the object generated based on the reflective wave received by the probe. A sensor information acquisition unit acquires a detection result by a sensor unit as sensor information. In a tomographic image generation unit, regarding the sensor information as a parameter, a reference tomographic image is transformed according to a change of the parameter, whereby the tomographic image to be displayed on the display unit is generated. A display control unit controls the display unit to display the generated tomographic image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Kashima, Tatsumi Sakaguchi, Takeshi Miyai, Hiroshi Kajihata
  • Patent number: 8861305
    Abstract: The present invention provides an acoustic wave acquiring apparatus including: a probe configured to receive an acoustic wave from an object through an object holding unit that holds the object; an acoustic matching material holding unit configured to form a space, which holds an acoustic matching material, between the object holding unit and the probe; a scanning unit configured to allow the probe to scan in a first direction on the surface of the object holding unit, and in a second direction crossing the first direction; and a supplying unit configured to supply the acoustic matching material to the space by using a predetermined supply-amount pattern, wherein the supplying unit uses different supply-amount patterns in the case where the probe scans in the first direction and in the case where the probe scans in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takaaki Nakabayashi
  • Publication number: 20140301158
    Abstract: There is a method for generating a final image of a subsurface of the earth. The method includes receiving measured seismic data d of the subsurface; selecting an objective function E that is function of a reflectivity r of the subsurface; and calculating, in a processor, the reflectivity r based on the measured seismic data d, the objective function E, simulated data {tilde over (d)}, a modeling operator M from a reverse time demigration (RTDM) process and an imaging operator MT from a reverse time migration (RTM) process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: CGG SERVICES SA
    Inventors: Yu ZHANG, Lian DUAN, Yi XIE