Echo Systems Patents (Class 367/87)
  • Patent number: 10197670
    Abstract: An ultrasonic measurement apparatus includes a transmission processing unit that performs processing for transmitting an ultrasonic wave at a given transmission angle, a reception processing unit that performs reception processing of an ultrasonic echo with respect to a transmitted ultrasonic wave, and a processing unit that performs processing with respect to a reception signal from the reception processing unit. The processing unit obtains a plurality of first resolution signals by synthesizing a plurality of the reception signals based on a first beamforming coefficient, and obtains a second beamforming coefficient for synthesizing a second resolution signal from the plurality of first resolution signals based on whether a signal processing target point belongs to a plane wave propagation region or belongs to a spherical wave propagation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Masuda
  • Patent number: 10175355
    Abstract: An object detection apparatus for detecting an object around a moving object carrying the apparatus by transmitting a probe wave and receiving reflections of the probe wave from the object via a plurality of ranging sensors attached to the moving object. In the apparatus, a position determiner determines whether or not a position of the object calculated by a position calculator based on the reflections received by a pair of adjacent ranging sensors, from one of which is the probe wave is transmitted, is out of an overlapping range of ranges of object detection for the respective adjacent ranging sensors. A position invalidator is configured to, based on the determination made by the position determiner, determine that the object position calculated by the position calculator is invalid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masumi Fukuman, Motonari Ohbayashi, Akihiro Kida
  • Patent number: 10048372
    Abstract: To evaluate the resolution of individual sonar images in field conditions without specific targets, a statistical sampling of the imagery is taken and analyzed. Large quantities of resolution measurements are made on point-objects identified in the imagery. The measurements are compared to improve fidelity and generate statistically significant results. The image is broken into segments for analysis to identify variation in resolution across the image. The mean value of point-target resolution per segment can be determined for the imagery. A segment with an insufficient number of measurements required to determine a statistically significant value for resolution is rejected. The image resolution can be determined as the mean or median value of the segment measurements for the entire image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: James L. Prater, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9975146
    Abstract: In some examples, a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) apparatus includes one or more CMUTs formed on a CMUT substrate to have an operational direction facing away from the CMUT substrate. A first layer of a first material is disposed over the one or more CMUTs for passing acoustic energy to or from the one or more CMUTs in the operational direction. The first layer may be a solid, liquid, gel, or colloid. Further, a second layer of a second material may be disposed over the first layer and may be a different material from the first material. In some cases, the second layer may be a solid with an inner surface having a curvature facing the first layer. Additionally, or alternatively, in some cases, the acoustic impedance of the first material and the second material may be between 1 and 2 MRayl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Kolo Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Li Chen, Yongli Huang
  • Patent number: 9869752
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for autonomous joint detection-classification of acoustic sources of interest. Localization and tracking from unmanned marine vehicles are also described. Based on receiving acoustic signals originating above or below the surface, a processor can process the acoustic signals to determine the target of interest associated with the acoustic signal. The methods and systems autonomously and jointly detect and classify a target of interest. A target track can be generated corresponding to the locations of the detected target of interest. A classifier can be used representing spectral characteristics of a target of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: OCEAN ACOUSTICAL SERVICES AND INSTRUMENTATION SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Vincent Premus, Philip Abbot, Charles Gedney, Richard Campbell, Mark Helfrick
  • Patent number: 9786048
    Abstract: A system and method of imaging tissue includes administering a contrast agent having charged gold nanoparticles in suspension into a vessel of the subject, such that the nanoparticles are carried into the tissue; and performing microwave imaging of the tissue after administering the contrast agent. In embodiments, the nanoparticles have a tissue-selective protein tag. In embodiments, images are taken prior to administering the contrast agent, and further images may be taken during an agent—washout period after imaging with contrast agent. The contrast agent is injectable, with the nanoparticles suspended as a colloid in a biocompatible, isotonic, carrier. In particular embodiments, the nanoparticles have median diameter of less than fifty nanometers, or less than five nanometers, and may have a tissue-selective protein tag. A microwave imaging system has injection apparatus with the gold-nanoparticle agent, and is configured to take, and difference, pre and post contrast images as well as washout images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
    Inventors: Paul M. Meaney, Neil Epstein, Keith D. Paulsen
  • Patent number: 9753053
    Abstract: A wind velocity sensor comprises a lower platform and an upper platform. Pillars are positioned or connected between the upper platform and the lower platform. Ultrasonic sensors are secured to corresponding ones of the pillars. A lower guard member extends outwardly from a reference ultrasonic sensor by a radial distance greater than a radial separation between any pair of the ultrasonic sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Christopher M. Masucci
  • Patent number: 9730673
    Abstract: A method for reconstructing geometry of an object surface via echographic probing, using an ultrasound probe including plural transducers, the method including: controlling the transducers to transmit towards the surface ultrasound waves having initial transmission delays between them; executing at least once a cycle of operations including receiving from the transducers intermediate measurement signals, correcting transmission delays of the transducers using intermediate measurement signals, and controlling the transducers to transmit towards the surface ultrasound waves having the corrected transmission delays; receiving from the transducers final measurement signals resulting from reflection of a wavefront received simultaneously on the surface; determining specular travel times between each transducer and the surface based on the final measurement signals and the corrected transmission delays; and perform geometric reconstitution of the surface based on the determined specular travel times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives
    Inventors: Sebastien Robert, Olivier Casula, Ekaterina Iakovleva
  • Patent number: 9690956
    Abstract: A system, method and device are provided for detecting the presence of, and/or obtain information about, a replaceable component for a host system. A host system has an ultrasonic transducer or transducer pair that detects the presence of, and/or obtains information about, a replaceable component for a host system through receipt or non-receipt of an ultrasonic signal. The replaceable component includes a key or other feature that either allows the transmission or reflection of a transmitted ultrasonic signal, or which does not allow the reception or reflection of the transmitted ultrasonic signal, depending on the host configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Piezotech LLC
    Inventors: Frans Lautzenhiser, James Dallas
  • Patent number: 9661195
    Abstract: An audio capture system for a sports camera includes at least one “enhanced” microphone and at least one “reference” microphone. The enhanced microphone includes a drainage enhancement feature to enable water to drain from the microphone more quickly than the reference microphone. A microphone selection controller selects between the microphones based on a microphone selection algorithm to enable high quality in conditions where the sports camera transitions in and out of water during activities such as surfing, water skiing, swimming, or other wet environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhinian Jing, Erich Tisch, Ke Li, Joyce Rosenbaum, Magnus Hansson
  • Patent number: 9620701
    Abstract: The present application relates to a pulse generator for energizing an ultrasonic transducer, a method of operating thereof and an ultrasonic distance sensing system comprising the pulse generator. The pulse generator is arranged to generate an excitation pulse sequence comprising a first number of pulses; to generate a cancellation pulse sequence comprising at least a fractional pulse, wherein the cancellation pulse sequence has a phase shift of about 180° in relation to the excitation pulse sequence; and to output at an output of the generator the excitation pulse sequence and the cancellation pulse sequence forming an energizing pulse sequence to the ultrasonic transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Josef Maria Joachim Kruecken, Andreas Laudenbach
  • Patent number: 9541645
    Abstract: A detecting device is provided. The detecting device detects target objects. The detecting device includes a transmitter configured to transmit transmission waves, a receiver configured to generate reception signals from reflection waves of the transmission waves, a target echo signal detecting module configured to detect target echo signals among the reception signals, a size calculating module configured to calculate a size of each the target objects based on the corresponding target echo signal, and a frequency index value distribution calculating module configured to calculate frequency index values for respective size ranges based on the calculated sizes, each frequency index value being an index of the number of the target objects. The frequency index value distribution calculating module has a first updating submodule configured to update the frequency index value for each size range every predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeharu Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9534738
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device, system and methods for tracking conductive composite pressurized gaseous storage tanks. The system including anchoring an RFID device in a non-conductive blind boss. Wherein the anchor material has a low dielectric and has minimal reflection if RF energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Quantum Fuel Systems LLC
    Inventors: Mark Leavitt, Mark Warner, David Rea, Ketan Patel, Yongkui Wen
  • Patent number: 9488475
    Abstract: A measuring method of touch sensitive area size of a SAW sensor module is provided. The SAW sensor module comprises a substrate configured for propagating SAW, a first transmitter and a first receiver corresponding to a first axis, a second transmitter and a second receiver corresponding to a second axis. The SAWs emitted by the first transmitter at least pass through a first initial distance xi, propagate through a second axis length y after reflected by a first SAW reflecting bar, and enter the first receiver after reflected by a second SAW reflecting bar. The SAWs emitted by the second transmitter at least pass through a second initial distance yi, propagate through a first axis length x after reflected by a third SAW reflecting bar, and enter the second receiver after reflected by a fourth SAW reflecting bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: EGALAX_EMPIA TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Shang-Tai Yeh, Teng-Wei Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9341712
    Abstract: System and method for estimating uncertainty by obtaining conditional probability densities of bathymetric uncertainty due to navigation error and bottom slope using a Monte Carlo technique, using the Monte Carlo results to train a Bayesian Network to provide the causal relationships of navigation error and bottom slope to bathymetric uncertainty, producing a histogram of bathymetric uncertainty from the Bayesian Network of the uncertainty for an area similar to the training set area, and estimating the uncertainty based on the histogram produced by the Bayesian Network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Paul A. Elmore, David H. Fabre, Raymond T. Sawyer, Rodney W. Ladner
  • Patent number: 9332966
    Abstract: Methods and systems for data communication in an ultrasound system are provided. One method includes acquiring ultrasound data using an ultrasound probe having a plurality of transducer elements, wherein the ultrasound data includes echo information acquired from the plurality of transducer elements and the ultrasound data is acquired using a plurality of transmit events of the ultrasound probe. The method also includes digitizing the acquired ultrasound data. The method further includes communicating a subset of the digitized ultrasound data for at least some of the plurality of transmit events, wherein the subsets of communicated digitized ultrasound data are different for the plurality transmit events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronen Tur, Alexander Sokulin
  • Patent number: 9268051
    Abstract: Provided are a system for acquiring chirp data for profiling the shallow sedimentary layers and a method for acquiring chirp data using the same, and more particularly, a system for acquiring chirp data which includes a new apparatus capable of recording chirp raw data and manufactures a high-resolution raw section preserving polarity and phase information using the recorded chirp raw data to enhance continuity and resolution of the sedimentary layers and a method for acquiring chirp data using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources
    Inventors: Young Jun Kim, Nam Hyung Koo, Snons Cheong, Jong Hwa Chun, Dong Keun Yoo
  • Patent number: 9255834
    Abstract: A system is provided in one embodiment for real-time detection of an object in a fluid without interfering with fluid flow. The system may include a sensor element coupled to a fluid passage, which can transmit energy substantially parallel to the flow direction of a fluid in the fluid passage and receive energy reflected from an incident object in the fluid. Reflected energy can also be analyzed as a function of object size and material such that an object can be classified or characterized through appropriate signal analysis. A method is provided in another embodiment for detecting an object in a fluid passage. The method may include transmitting ultrasonic energy through an interface membrane into the fluid and receiving ultrasonic energy reflected from the object. A pressure change in the reflected ultrasonic energy may be measured and converted to a signal for an output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey P. Nissen
  • Patent number: 9217791
    Abstract: A method includes, until the end of an operational scenario time window, iteratively repeating the steps of selecting a ping optimization method based upon a mission mode, remaining scenario time, total remaining ping energy, and an acoustic performance metric, generating a set of acoustic pings using an acoustic ping source network including more than one acoustic ping sources selected according to the ping optimization method, processing detections from the generated set of acoustic pings, and updating performance metric predictions associated with optimization decision variables for the operational scenario time window. The method may provide intelligent ping control decisions for multi-static active acoustic networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
    Inventor: Cherry Y. Wakayama
  • Patent number: 9213092
    Abstract: A system for detecting a change in position of at least one object within an at least partially enclosed space, the system including at least one transmitter repeatedly producing at least two mutually distinguishable standing waves in the at least partially enclosed space at mutually exclusive and mutually alternating times, at least one receiver receiving reflected energy of the at least two mutually distinguishable standing waves, the reflected energy from the at least two mutually distinguishable standing waves having mutually different amplitudes which have a difference therebetween, and a computerized processor receiving outputs from the at least one receiver and calculating changes in the difference between the mutually different amplitudes, which changes indicate the change in position of the at least one object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH
    Inventor: Boris Zhevelev
  • Patent number: 9141834
    Abstract: A system, method and device are provided for detecting the presence of, and/or obtain information about, a replaceable component for a host system. A host system has an ultrasonic transducer pair that detects the presence of, and/or obtains information about, a replaceable component for a host system through receipt or non-receipt of an ultrasonic signal. The replaceable component includes a key or other feature that either allows the transmission of a transmitted ultrasonic signal, or which does not allow the reception of the transmitted ultrasonic signal, depending on the host configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Piezotech LLC
    Inventors: Frans Lautzenhiser, James Dallas
  • Publication number: 20150141734
    Abstract: The method determines parameters to generate confocal ultrasound beams (B1,B2) inside a medium (4), and uses a device (1) comprising first and second ultrasound means (11,12) and first and second displacement members (13,14) for moving the ultrasound means (11,12). The parameters include signals s1,s2 to the ultrasound means (11,12), and the positions x1,x2 of the ultrasound means (11,12). The parameters are optimized for having a minimum amplitude a1,a2 of the signals s1,s2 and having an acoustic effect inside the medium (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Jean-Yves Chapelon, Cyril Lafon, Jean-Louis Mestas
  • Publication number: 20150138920
    Abstract: A system is provided that includes a gateway node and terminal node. The gateway node may be configured to produce a continuous acoustic wave for propagation through a fluid such as water, and detect an echo thereof. The terminal node may be configured to control a piezoelectric layer to switchably reflect or transmit the acoustic wave incident thereon to produce and modulate the echo with a data stream to thereby convey the data stream within the echo, which the sensor of the gateway node may detect. The terminal node may be further configured to capture and store energy produced by the piezoelectric layer while the piezoelectric layer is controlled to transmit the incident acoustic wave. And at least a portion of the terminal node may be powerable from the stored energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Nathan D. Hiller
  • Patent number: 9030914
    Abstract: A method for imaging formations below the bottom of a body of water includes imparting acoustic energy into the formations along a predetermined length swath at a selected geodetic position. Acoustic energy reflected from the formations is detected along a line parallel to the length of the swath. The selected geodetic position is moved a selected distance transverse to the length of the swath. The imparting acoustic energy, detecting acoustic energy and moving the geodetic position are repeated until a selected distance transverse to the length of the swath is traversed. The detected acoustic energy from all the selected geodetic positions is coherently stacked. The detected acoustic energy is beam steered to each of a plurality of depths and positions along the length of the swath to generate an image for each such depth and position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: PanGeo Subsea, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacques Y. Guigné, Nicholas G. Pace, Adam Gogacz, Gary Dinn
  • Publication number: 20150103627
    Abstract: A method and a system for evaluating a content of a bin, the method may include: transmitting at a first point in time and by a first acoustic transceiver array, a first acoustic pulse; receiving by a second acoustic transceiver array an echo of the first acoustic pulse; and processing the echo of the first acoustic pulse to assist in a provision of a first estimate related to the content; wherein the second acoustic transceiver array differs from the first transceiver array; wherein a distance between the first and second acoustic transceiver array is at least ten times a distance between transducers of the second acoustic transceiver array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Avishai Bartov, Yossi Zlotnick
  • Publication number: 20150103628
    Abstract: A method and a system for evaluating a content of a bin, the method may include (a) transmit multiple acoustic pulses by multiple acoustic transceiver arrays towards different areas of an upper surface of the content when the acoustic transceivers are positioned at different locations; wherein the multiple acoustic transceiver arrays are connected to a device that is moved according to a movement pattern between the different locations; receive by the multiple acoustic transceiver arrays multiple echoes of the multiple acoustic pulses; process by the multiple acoustic transceiver arrays the multiple echoes to provide multiple estimates of the different areas; associate with the multiple estimates of the different areas timing information indicative of a timing of the receiving of the multiple echoes to a computer; and obtain by an acoustic based location device, location information readings related to locations of the device at multiple points of time
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Avishai Bartov, Yossi Zlotnick
  • Publication number: 20150098304
    Abstract: Devices and methods for aiding a large area search for submerged objects such as aircraft. A searcher transmits interrogation signals to be received by a device at the target object. The interrogation signals have a long range relative to that of returned signals. The target device responds with a ping signal modified to be more easily found by means of information contained in the interrogation signal. The information may be inherent in the nature of the received signal or data encoded and embedded by the searching device. The target device may use a microprocessor to do complex operations using the information from the interrogation signal and other information. Detection of a weak ping is facilitated by such means as being beamed in the direction of the interrogation, arriving at a predictable time, or having parameters adapted to values requested by the searcher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas Danaher Harvey
  • Publication number: 20150098305
    Abstract: A photoacoustic apparatus disclosed in the present specification includes: an acoustic wave transmission unit configured to transmit a transmission acoustic wave to a specific area; a control unit configured to control a transmission waveform of the transmission acoustic wave transmitted from the acoustic wave transmission unit; a light source configured to generate light emitted to an area including the specific area when the acoustic wave reaches the specific area; an acoustic wave reception unit configured to receive the acoustic wave and to output a time-series received signal; and a signal processing unit configured to acquire optical property information based on the time-series received signal, wherein the control unit controls the transmission waveform in such a manner that amplitude of a photoacoustic wave generated in the specific area is reduced by the transmission acoustic wave transmitted from the acoustic wave transmission unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Hiroshi Abe
  • Patent number: 9000902
    Abstract: A driver assistance system and method for operating a driver assistance system, the driver assistance system provides a plurality of distance sensors, in particular ultrasonic sensors, which are spatially distributed and communicate with each other with the aid of a data bus. The sensors have an identical design and may be initialized by themselves using a method without a control unit and may synchronize the distance detection among themselves. The overall result of a measurement of the sensors is supplied to an output unit and displayed to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Eckel, Juergen Hoetzel
  • Publication number: 20150092518
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing noise of an ultrasonic system to improve robustness against noise by removing external noise from a reception signal reflected from an object are provided. The method includes transmitting, by a sensor, a transmission signal to a medium and receiving a reception signal reflected from the medium. A controller is configured to remove noise from a frequency range recognized as a normal signal from the reception signal and calculate a correlation between the transmission signal and a signal in the frequency range recognized as the normal signal in the reception signal. In addition, the controller is configured to determine whether the signal in the frequency range recognized as the normal signal is the normal signal or noise based on the calculated correlation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Dong Won Kim, Jeong Hoon Kim
  • Publication number: 20150078129
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Eskil Skoglund, Arnt-Børre Salberg, Tore Baarstad
  • Publication number: 20150072738
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a haptic sensation is disclosed. An acoustic transducer at a first cellular communication device is used to determine a gesture of a user object with respect to a first cellular communication device. The gesture is generally performed in a three-dimensional space of the first cellular communication device. A haptic signal is created that corresponds to the determined gesture and is sent from the first cellular communication device to a second cellular communication device. An actuator at the second cellular communication device is actuated according to the haptic signal to produce a haptic sensation at the second cellular communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventor: Peter Mankowski
  • Patent number: 8976056
    Abstract: Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) collect and transmit information about ice floe thickness; this is combined with SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR images from satellites to identify and track dangerously thick regions of ice. The overlayed data is presented graphically to allow tracking of the thick ice regions over time. This information is used to alert drilling platforms in icy ocean conditions of pending ice floe dangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Rolf Christer Broman, Dominique P. Berta, Khalid A. Soofi, Peter G. Noble
  • 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: 20150049586
    Abstract: This technology relates to a signal processing device, a signal processing method, a recording medium, and a program capable of enabling appropriate beam forming with a simple configuration even when a positional relationship between a plurality of transducers included in a probe of an ultrasonic diagnostic device is not fixed. A reception BF unit calculates a phase difference indicating a relative positional shift between a plurality of transducers based on a difference between each phase difference of a signal of a reflective wave in each of a plurality of transducers of an ultrasonic wave transmitted from a transducer being a transmission target out of a plurality of transducers, relative positions of which are not fixed, and each known phase difference of the signal of the reflective wave in a plurality of transducers in a case in which an arrangement of a plurality of transducers is a reference arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsumi Sakaguchi
  • Publication number: 20150049587
    Abstract: A method and apparatus provide simultaneous bi-directional communications through a barrier using a pair of piezoelectric transducers. Outside-to-inside transmission of differentially encoded binary data is only sampled at the inside when a known repeated bit in a Barker sequence is transmitted in the other direction. Differentially encoded data is translated based on the absolute value of differences between each signal envelope sample and the previous signal envelope sample. Inside-to-outside data is transmitted by varying an electrical load on the inside transducer to vary the proportion of a continuous wave signal it reflects. The reflected portion of the continuous wave changes the electrical impedance of the outside transducer and this change is measured and interpreted as binary data. Two frequency selection algorithms select minimally sufficient and then optimal frequencies for power and data transmission by a frequency stepping process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Tristan J. Lawry, Gary J. Saulnier, Kyle R. Wilt, Jonathan D. Ashdown, Henry A. Scarton, Andrew Gavens
  • Publication number: 20150016222
    Abstract: An electrostatic capacitance transducer includes: multiple elements each having a cell including a first electrode, and a vibrating film including a second electrode, formed across a gap from the first electrode; a first flexible printed circuit having multiple first lines; and a second flexible printed circuit having multiple second lines. Part of the multiple elements are grouped into a first element group, each one thereof being electrically connected to a different one of the first lines. Part of the multiple elements other than the first element group are grouped into a second element group, each one thereof being electrically connected to a different one of the second lines. The intervals between adjacent lines in at least part of the plurality of first and second lines are wider at an opposite side from a connection side where the lines have been connected to the multiple elements, than at the connection side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Atsushi Kandori
  • Publication number: 20150016221
    Abstract: A transducer includes a plurality of elements each including at least one cell structured in such a way that a diaphragm including one of a first electrode and a second electrode disposed facing each other via a space is vibratably supported, bias wiring for supplying a bias voltage to the first electrode to provide a potential difference between the first and the second electrodes, and for electrically connecting the first electrodes of the elements to each other, and signal wiring lines each connected to a different one of the elements. The bias wiring includes a plurality of branch wiring lines to each of which the first electrodes of a part of the elements are connected, a plurality of first common wiring lines for connecting the branch wiring lines to each other, and a second common wiring line for connecting the first common wiring lines to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Eiji Takeuchi, Takahiro Akiyama, Kazutoshi Torashima
  • Publication number: 20150016223
    Abstract: A method of operation of an ultrasonic sensor array includes receiving a receiver bias voltage at a receiver bias electrode of the ultrasonic sensor array to bias piezoelectric sensor elements of the ultrasonic sensor array. The method further includes receiving a transmitter control signal at the ultrasonic sensor array to cause an ultrasonic transmitter of the ultrasonic sensor array to generate an ultrasonic wave. The method further includes generating data samples based on a reflection of the ultrasonic wave. The receiver bias voltage and the transmitter control signal are received from an integrated circuit that is coupled to the ultrasonic sensor array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Timothy Dickinson, Lennart Karl-Axel Mathe, Scott McCarthy, Kostadin Dimitrov Djordjev, Louis Dominic Oliveira, Qubo Zhou
  • Patent number: 8920326
    Abstract: A mixer circuit includes three square wave mixers and a combiner. A first square wave mixer in the circuit multiplies an input signal with a first square wave. A second square wave mixer and a third square wave mixer in the circuit each multiplies the input signal with a second square wave and a third square wave respectively. The second and third square waves have a same frequency as the first square wave, but phases that respectively lead and lag the phase of the first square wave by a first value. The combiner adds the outputs of the mixers. A low-pass filter external to the mixer circuit filters the sum generated by the combiner to generate a filtered output. In an embodiment, the first value equals forty five degrees, and the filtered output is rendered free of products generated by third and fifth harmonics of the first square wave square.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Vajeed Nimran P A, Shabbir Amjhera Wala, Shagun Dusad, Sandeep Oswal, Visvesvaraya Appala Pentakota
  • Patent number: 8917576
    Abstract: Utilizing a sonar system to determine if a structural member of an underwater support structure that is supposed to be filled with air is instead flooded with water. The determination that a supposedly air filled structural member is instead flooded with water provides an indication that the structural member is cracked or damaged, making it easier to find damaged members and effect suitable repair. The sonar system is located a distance from the structural member so that it is spaced from the structural member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Harry J. Lichter, Joseph M. Cuschieri
  • Patent number: 8915852
    Abstract: A method for characterizing ultrasound scatterers in a medium comprises receiving ultrasound data representing a region of interest comprising a plurality of scatterers in a medium, the plurality of scatterers including aggregates of the scatterers. The ultrasound data is modeled data using an effective medium theory combined with the structure factor model, the structure factor model defining the spatial organization and concentration of the aggregates. The modeled ultrasound data is compared to theoretical data obtained with the effective medium theory combined with the structure factor model. From the comparison, dimensional data of the aggregates of the scatterers and the volume concentration of scatterers in the medium is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignees: Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Emilie Franceschini, Guy Cloutier
  • Publication number: 20140355381
    Abstract: Techniques, systems, and devices are described for implementing for implementing computation devices and artificial neurons based on nanoelectromechanical (NEMS) systems. In one aspect, a nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) based computing element includes: a substrate; two electrodes configured as a first beam structure and a second beam structure positioned in close proximity with each other without contact, wherein the first beam structure is fixed to the substrate and the second beam structure is attached to the substrate while being free to bend under electrostatic force. The first beam structure is kept at a constant voltage while the other voltage varies based on an input signal applied to the NEMS based computing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: CORNELL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Amit Lal, Serhan Ardanuc, Jason T. Hoople, Justin C. Kuo
  • Publication number: 20140355382
    Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor is provided with a mount that is fixed to an inside-face of the bumper, and a sensor body that is coupled to the mount so as to be exposed outside the bumper through an exposure hole that is provided in the bumper. Compared with a case where an ultrasonic sensor is fixed to a bumper by sandwiching the bumper from inside and outside of the bumper, appearance can be improved, since protrusion outward from the bumper is eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Tsuji, Yasushi Nagano, Naoya Azuma
  • Patent number: 8894580
    Abstract: An inspection system includes a plurality of acoustic beamformers, where each of the plurality of acoustic beamformers including a plurality of acoustic transmitter elements. The system also includes at least one controller configured for causing each of the plurality of acoustic beamformers to generate an acoustic beam directed to a point in a volume of interest during a first time. Based on a reflected wave intensity detected at a plurality of acoustic receiver elements, an image of the volume of interest can be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Roger Kisner, Hector J. Santos-Villalobos
  • Publication number: 20140334263
    Abstract: A mobile ultrasonic diagnostic device comprising: a battery; an adapter connection detection unit that detects the connection status of an AC adapter that supplies power to each constituent element of the device; and a processing determination unit (determination unit) that determines the processing for each constituent element on the basis of the connection status of the AC adapter. Each constituent element (a processing unit and constituent elements other than the processing unit) are processed on the basis of the processing determined by the processing determination unit (determination unit), and, as a result, the device can be safely used even if there is a possibility that power cannot be supplied from the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI ALOKA MEDICAL, LTD.
    Inventors: Masa Yamamoto, Keigo Ninomiya
  • Patent number: 8883124
    Abstract: Fullerenes, when irradiated with electromagnetic radiation, generate acoustic waves. A photoacoustic tomography method using a material comprising fullerenes is disclosed that includes irradiating the material with a radiation beam such as a laser. The resultant photoacoustic effect produced by the material is detected by at least one detector. A photoacoustic tomography system using a material comprising fullerenes is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Vijay Krishna, Brij M. Moudgil, Benjamin L. Koopman, Stephen Grobmyer, Iwakuma Nobutaka, Qiang Wang, Qizhi Zhang, Huabei Jiang, Parvesh Sharma, Amit Kumar Singh
  • Publication number: 20140328141
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for a variable-depth sonar. A null in the frequency response between a first and second operating frequency band is identified. A center operating frequency for each of the first and the second operating band is adjusted based on the ambient pressure. Furthermore, the velocity state of a vehicle may be calculated using periodic velocity updates. At least one transducer transmits a first signal in a first direction, and a Doppler sensor receives an echo of the first signal. The vehicle is turned in a second direction, and the at least one transducer transmits a second signal in the second direction. Using the first and the second velocity measurement, a vehicle velocity state is calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: HADAL, INC.
    Inventor: Richard J. Rikoski
  • Patent number: 8879359
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Inventor: Louis DePasqua
  • Publication number: 20140321242
    Abstract: A sonar transducer network for observing a seabed includes a controller. A first transducer assembly includes a first acoustic transducer to convert a first ping to a first electrical signal; and a first transducer processor to receive a first electrical signal from the first acoustic transducer to generate the first transducer data. At least one second transducer assembly is spaced apart from the first transducer assembly. The second transducer assembly includes a second acoustic transducer to convert a second ping to a second electrical signal. The second transducer processor receives the second electrical signal from the second acoustical transducer to generate second transducer data. A network bus communicates first transducer data and second transducer data with the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Timothy W. Acker, Assad E.K. Ebrahim, James J. Dawson