Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a system for monitoring a fire based on a detection of sound field variation. The system for monitoring a fire based on a detection of sound field variation includes: a sound generator outputting a sound wave within a defined space according to input voltage; a sound receiver receiving the sound wave within the defined space and obtaining a sound pressure from the received sound wave; and a fire monitor using a sound transfer function representing a ratio of the sound pressure obtained by the sound receiver to input voltage of the sound generator in a preparation mode to calculate reference sound pressure information, using the sound transfer function in a monitoring mode to calculate current sound pressure information, and comparing the reference sound pressure information with the current sound pressure information to determine whether a fire occurs.

Abstract: A method and system for determination of the trajectory, miss distance, and velocity of a projectile using an antenna array. The present invention also includes a method and system for extracting signal vectors of simultaneously spectrally competitive component fields from resolvable transmitters; a method and system for relaying simultaneous and spectrally competitive signals from a set of transmitters on a common channel and simultaneously rebroadcasting such signals over another channel to resolvable receivers generally as a composite field; and a method and system for increasing the spectral efficiency of a cellular phone system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for transmitting incursion alerts to a plurality of in-flight aircraft in accordance with preconfigured pilot preferences. The apparatus comprises a data store module containing data sets against which the pilot preferences are evaluated during flight, including weather, airspace and flight restrictions, ground delay programs, and air traffic information. The apparatus further includes a flight path module containing route and position information for each aircraft. An incursion alert processing module evaluates the flight path, data store, and pilot preferences and generates incursion alerts which are transmitted to each aircraft during flight, either directly or via ground based dispatchers or flight operations personnel.

Abstract: An embodiment is a method and apparatus for coherent ultrasonic imaging. A receiver array has a plurality of receiver elements on a substrate to detect in-phase and quadrature components of a received signal corresponding to a transmit signal. Each of the receiver elements includes a receiver transducer and a thin-film transistor (TFT) receiver circuit. The TFT receiver circuit includes a quadrature detector having a mixer to mix a received signal with a reference signal in a composite bias signal that is distributed across the plurality of receiver elements. A transmitter is acoustically coupled to the plurality of receiver elements to generate the transmit signal through an imaging medium.

Abstract: An acoustic/ultrasonic detection system can detect, for example, an object concealed under the clothing of a subject. The system includes a signal generator configured to output an electrical signal. An acoustic/ultrasonic transducer can be configured to convert the electrical signal into an acoustic/ultrasonic signal, transmit the acoustic/ultrasonic signal, receive a reflected acoustic/ultrasonic signal from an object in the target area and convert the reflected acoustic/ultrasonic signal into a received electrical signal. The transducer is at least one of an air-coupled transducer and an electro-magnetic acoustic transducer.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a plurality of vibration elements (1) that transmit and receive an ultrasonic beam; a plurality of transmission circuits (2) that are connected to the respective vibration elements and output a transmission driving signal to be used for driving the vibration elements; and a transmission power source (3) that supplies electric power to the transmission circuits.

Abstract: A long-range sonar assembly for detecting objects approximately 2.5-9.5 meters from a robotic device. The assembly includes a printed circuit board including a local controller operably connected to a processing device and configured to receive instructions from the processing device, a transmit potentiometer operably connected to the local controller and configured to produce a first transmit frequency, and a receive potentiometer operably connected to the local controller and configured to produce a first receive sensitivity; a transducer operably connected to the receive potentiometer; and a flared bell configured to house the transducer and the printed circuit board, the flared bell comprising at least a first enclosure for receiving a sub-assembly comprising the printed circuit board and the transducer.

Abstract: A short-range sonar assembly. The assembly includes a local controller operably connected to a processing device and configured to receive instructions from the processing device, a first transducer operably connected to the local controller, a second transducer operably connected to the local controller; and a flared bell configured to house the local controller, first transducer, and second transducer. The flared bell includes a first enclosure configured to receive and house the first transducer and a second enclosure configured to receive and house the second transducer. The first transducer is configured to transmit one or more pulses and the second transducer is configured to receive echoed pulses.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating at least one ultrasonic sensor (4, 6) of a driver assistance system (2) in a motor vehicle (1), wherein an output sound signal (SA) of the ultrasonic sensor (4, 6) is modulated in accordance with a type of modulation and by means of this modulation, a specific codeword is impressed on the output sound signal (SA). For at least two mutually different functionalities (8 to 12) of the driver assistance system (2), different types of modulation are in each case used for the modulation of the output sound signal (SA) and/or in each case different lengths of the codeword.

Abstract: A scanning acoustic microscope includes a signal processor and one or more signal paths. In operation, each signal path couples an ultrasonic transducer to the signal processor that processes signals received from the signal paths to produce an ultrasonic scan image. Each signal path has a response characteristic that includes a response characteristic of the ultrasonic transducer. In order to compensate for variations between the signal paths or variations between different transducers in the same signal path, at least one of the signal paths includes a signal path equalizer. The equalizer may be responsive to a set of equalization coefficients. The coefficients are selected such that the response characteristic of the signal path including the equalizer more closely matches a reference characteristic response. The equalizer may operate on a transmitted or received signal or be used to generate an ultrasonic pulse.

Abstract: The invention as disclosed is a non-contact method and apparatus for continuously monitoring a physiological event in a human or animal, such as blood pressure, which involves utilizing a laser-based interferometer system in combination with a laser tracking system and a signal processor to produce a waveform that is representative of a continuous physiological event such as blood pressure or respiration in a subject.

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.

Abstract: A parking area detection system and method is disclosed which uses mesh space analysis to virtually divide a space to be detected in a mesh shape having a lattice structure and sequentially excludes a lattice region in which an obstacle is not recognized based on a recognition signal by the ultrasonic sensor. Thus the parking area detection system is able to prevent information distortion from occurring in a space recognition process.

Abstract: A method for controlling ultrasonic transducers of an ultrasonic probe for inspecting an object includes: iterated at least twice, receiving from the transducers new measurement signals; measuring echoes due to reflections of ultrasonic waves on the object, the ultrasonic waves having emission delays with respect to one another, the emission delays having been determined from initial emission delays and all complementary emission delays determined previously; determining new complementary emission delays from the new measurement signals; controlling the transducers so they emit ultrasonic waves to the object, the ultrasonic waves having emission delays with respect to one another, the emission delays having been determined from the initial emission delays and all the complementary emission delays determined previously.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to integrated sonic sensors having a transmitter, a receiver and driver electronics integrated in a single, functional package. In one embodiment, a piezoelectric signal transmitter, a silicon microphone receiver and a controller/amplifier chip are concomitantly integrated in a semiconductor housing. The semiconductor housing, in embodiments, is functional in that at least a portion of the housing can comprise the piezoelectric element of the transmitter, with an inlet aperture opposite the silicon microphone receiver.

Abstract: A method of operating an ultrasound imaging system having an array of transducer elements. The method comprises transmitting a plurality of ultrasound signals, each transmission using a different sub-aperture of the array, receiving a plurality of reflected ultrasound signals by a receive array corresponding to each sub-aperture transmission, calculating a coherency factor corresponding to the proportion of coherent energy in the received signals from each sub-aperture transmission and weighting the received output by the calculated coherency factor, and synthesizing all weighted outputs under all different sub-aperture transmissions.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging method transmits ultrasound into a medium from a source and receives and samples signals resulting from interaction of the ultrasound with the medium for each of a plurality of sources. The sampled signals are stored. Criteria are applied to select subsets of the stored sampled signals. In some embodiments the criteria relate to locations of a source and/or receiving element corresponding to a sampled signal. Images are generated from the subsets.

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.

Abstract: Pulsed wave (PW) Doppler has the same emitted and reflected pulse frequency because it emits the next ultrasound pulse after receiving the previously reflected one. But, the forward blood flow will interact with the emitted ultrasound pulse and shorten its time of flight (TOF), which creates a positive TOF shift between the calculated TOF and detected TOF. If the velocity of forward flow is too fast and causes the TOF shift more than half of the calculated TOF, the reflected ultrasound pulses are considered as from the previously emitted pulses with longer TOF, which will show negative TOF shift and be misinterpreted as aliasing. This aliasing TOF shift can be completely rectified to its correct registration no matter how fast the forward flow velocity will be. So, the advantages of TOF shift theory can better quantitatively explain the spectral characteristics of PW Doppler, and more accurately calculate the flow velocity.

Abstract: A device for employing sonic transmissions is utilized to determine fluid level in a well or a container. The device may be utilized while the well is operating. It is known that wells replenish fluid at different rates even in the same formation or well field. Increased well production at minimum pumping cost is achieved for a given well. The device generates a sonic event through the use of a compressed fluid that is obtained from within a well. A fluid level measurement system is obtained in a well in which gas is produced under vacuum.

Abstract: A waterproof or water-resistant membrane cover for the acoustic transducer array of a sodar system. The membrane is placed over each transducer of the array. The membrane may be spaced from the array, with a structure such as a frame used to hold the membrane in place relative to the array.

Abstract: A device, system, method, and machine readable medium for configurable ultrasound Doppler measurements from a mobile device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the device includes an oscillator capable of generating an ultrasound frequency sound wave. The device also includes an ultrasound emission module capable of emitting a first ultrasound wave at a first frequency and at a first power level and a second ultrasound wave at a second frequency and at a second power level. The device also an ultrasound receiver and amplifier module capable of receiving and amplifying ultrasound emission waves. The device also includes processing logic capable of receiving the first and second ultrasound waves and displaying those waves on a display device.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for recognizing a parking area are disclosed. The parking area recognizing apparatus includes: a signal transmitter transmitting a signal using a sensor; an echo signal receiver receiving an echo signal for the signal; a multiple signal generator generating a multiple echo signal using the echo signal based on first and second preset thresholds; and a parking area recognizer recognizing a parking area by calculating a round trip time and a duration time for the multiple echo signal and selecting an available echo signal based on at least one of the round trip time and the duration time. Accordingly, a precision in recognition of a parking area is enhanced by reducing a measurement error by processing an echo signal received after it is reflected on an object with a multiple echo signal in recognition of the parking area using a sensor such as an ultrasonic sensor or a radar sensor.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of sonar processing includes identifying, with a processor, a detection having a detection probability value, the detection in a selected beam, wherein the detection is associated with a detection range cell having detection range cell data. The method also includes comparing, with the processor, the detection range cell data with range cell data from a corresponding range cell from at least one overlapping beam overlapping the selected beam. The method also includes updating, with the processor, the detection probability value based upon the comparing. A sonar system uses the above-described method. A computer readable storage medium has instructions thereon to achieve the above-described method.

Abstract: A device for conducting ultrasonic inspections comprises a base. In addition, the device comprises a probe housing pivotally coupled to the base with a suspension system. Further, the device comprises an ultrasonic probe disposed within the probe housing and configured to transmit ultrasonic signals. The suspension system is configured to permit the probe housing to pivot relative to the base to transmit ultrasonic signals in a plurality of directions.

Abstract: A beamforming method according to the present invention is a method of processing echo signals of a target region which are obtained from a probe including a plurality of receiving elements arrayed on a predetermined line. The beamforming method includes the following steps (S1 to S3). At S1, seed beams are formed from echo signals received by at least two receiving elements from among the plurality of receiving elements. At S2, a main beam and sub beams are formed by synthesizing at least one of the seed beams. At S3, a narrow beam for the target region is formed by multiplying the sub beams by respective predetermined coefficients and subtracting the multiplied sub beams from the main beam.

Abstract: A winding state evaluation method of a tape film includes a step of determining the attenuation rate of ultrasonic wave for the tape film (2) by sending an ultrasonic wave to the tape film (2) in parallel with the direction of the axis of rotation of a core (1) and receiving its reflected wave or transmitted wave, and a step of evaluating the winding state of the tape film (2) from the distribution state of the attenuation rate in the tape film (2). The method can judge the winding state of the tape film objectively by presenting its numerical representation concretely without relying upon sensual evaluation.

Abstract: A transceiver for an ultrasonic imaging device includes a transmit circuit and a receive circuit. The 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. The receive circuit receives the composite signal including the test pulses and the reflected signal and includes a filter circuit. The filter circuit 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.

Abstract: A hand held ultrasonic instrument is provided in a portable unit which performs both B mode and Doppler imaging. The instrument includes a transducer array mounted in a hand-held enclosure, with an integrated circuit transceiver connected to the elements of the array for the reception of echo signals. A digital signal processing circuit performs both B mode and Doppler signal processing such as filtering, detection and Doppler estimation, as well as advanced functions such as assembly of multiple zone focused scanlines, synthetic aperture formation, depth dependent filtering, speckle reduction, flash suppression, and frame averaging.

Abstract: A target tracking system which tracks targets using a plurality of virtual particles includes a detector which detects the targets based on a signal wave from the targets and outputs a detected results as a detected target positions, a fluctuation distribution unit which generates fluctuations arising from at least disturbances and measurement errors, and an estimation unit which sets virtual particles based on the fluctuations and estimates a true target positions based on the detected target positions.

Abstract: A method for determining an ultrasonic detecting cycle is provided. Firstly, an initial detecting cycle T is set. Then, a first sensing wave is generated. Then, a first time-of-flight value is calculated corresponding to the first sensing wave. After the first sensing wave has been generated for the initial detecting cycle T, a second sensing wave is generated. Then, a second time-of-flight value is calculated corresponding to the second sensing wave. Afterwards, the second time-of-flight value is compared with the first time-of-flight value. If a difference between the second time-of-flight value and the first time-of-flight value is smaller than a threshold value, the initial detecting cycle T is determined as the ultrasonic detecting cycle.

Abstract: A towed array sonar system 10 with a towed array 14, a deployment device 32 for respectively deploying and retrieving the towed array 14 into and from a body of water, a signal processing device 28 for processing the signals of the towed array 14 and at least one control console 30 for controlling the towed array sonar system 10. In order to create a mobile sonar system that can be deployed independently of a ship, the towed array 14, the deployment device 32, the signal processing device 28 and the control console 30 are installed in a container 12 that can be transported independently of a ship. The invention furthermore pertains to a method for carrying out a sonar mission using such a towed array sonar system 10.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a data compression apparatus for compressing Doppler data including a plurality of types of measurement data obtained by ultrasound measurement, the apparatus including: a first compression unit configured to compress first measurement data according to a first compression parameter to thereby generate first compressed data; a second compression unit configured to compress second measurement data according to a second compression parameter different from the first compression parameter to thereby generate second compressed data; and a combining unit configured to combine the first compressed data and the second compressed data.

Abstract: A housing for a phased array monostatic sodar system with a transducer array that emits and receives multiple generally conical main beams of sound along different primary axes. The housing includes one or more upwardly-directed sidewalls that define a volume between them that is open to the atmosphere at the top, to emit and receive the beams, and an upper lip at the top of at least one wall, defining a curved perimeter at the top of at least some of the volume that closely conforms to the shape of at least one main beam at the location of the lip.

Abstract: A transducer array comprises an elongate support with first and second channels. The first channel has a bottom and a pair of opposed side walls extending from the bottom thereof. The second channel also has a bottom and a pair of opposed side walls extending from the bottom thereof. There is a first transducer element disposed in the first channel and a spacer disposed between the first transducer element and the bottom of the first channel. There is a second transducer element disposed in the second channel and a spacer disposed between the second transducer element and the bottom of the second channel.

Abstract: A Transmit/Receive Array combination with high resolving power wherein the Signal Dependent Noise contributors to Image Quality, as determined by the Peak Sidelobe Ratio (PSLR) and the Integrated Sidelobe Ratio (ISLR) are controlled largely independently of the Main Lobe Width. The receiving array is comprised of a number of discrete elements, nominally at half wavelength spacing. The Receive Array is weighted to aid in the control of PSLR and ISLR. The Transmit Array is comprised of a sparse array of discrete elements (more than two). The Transmit Array is longer than the receive array. The transmit array may be weighted to aid in the control of PSLR and ISLR.

Abstract: An embodiment of an apparatus includes a transducer array and a controller that is operable to cause the transducer array to generate a signal having a frequency, and to direct the signal toward an object having a resonant frequency that is approximately equal to the frequency of the signal. For example, an embodiment of a mine-hunting-and-neutralizing apparatus may generate an acoustic wave with a transducer array, and may disable or destroy a mine by directing the wave toward the mine. The apparatus generates the acoustic wave having a frequency that is approximately equal to the natural frequency of a component of the mine such that the wave causes the component to resonate in a manner that is sufficient to disable the mine from detonating, or that is sufficient to cause the mine to detonate.

Abstract: System using on- or in-body communication technologies such as body-sound communication (BSC) or body-coupled communication (BCC) to obtain information on the body composition of a patient (e.g. water content/hydration level on bone density/joint status). The system, in a preferred embodiment, comprises a transmitter, receiver and processor connected to the receiver. The transmitter is arranged to transmit a signal through a medium (the body of the patient), the signal comprising a plurality of different frequency components and transmission technologies. The receiver is arranged to receive the signal following propagation through the said medium. The processor is arranged to generate, at a first time, one or more transfer functions from the received signal, each transfer function defining values for a predetermined signal parameter at different frequencies.

Abstract: A method for identifying a warhead in an aircraft launch tube includes providing a pattern of grooves on the surface of a warhead, with the pattern of grooves being associated with an identification code identifying the warhead or a characteristic of it, providing the warhead in an aircraft launch tube, providing a piezoelectric transducer on the launch tube, emitting an ultrasonic wave from the piezoelectric transducer to the pattern of grooves, where the wave encounters the pattern of grooves at an angle of less than 90° so that waves striking the interior of a groove are reflected back to the transducer as echo waves, while waves not striking the interior of a groove are reflected away from the transducer, and reading the pattern of returning echo waves to determine the identification code indicated by the pattern of grooves on the warhead.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the location of a mobile robot within a data storage library and to a library including such systems and utilizing such methods.

Abstract: A measurement instrument comprises a sensor circuit comprising a drive circuit for transmitting a pulse signal at a target of interest and a receive circuit receiving reflected echoes of the pulse signal and developing an analog signal representative of the reflected echoes. An analog processing circuit is operatively coupled to the sensor circuit for receiving the analog signal and comprising a gate for selectively transferring the analog signal to a comparator that compares the gated analog signal to a select threshold level to develop a data signal representative of location of the target of interest. A programmed digital processing circuit is operatively coupled to the sensor circuit and the analog processing circuit and comprises a measurement module to control the drive circuit and evaluate the data signal to determine material location.

Abstract: A monostatic sodar system includes an array of essentially identical acoustic transducers. Each transducer includes a cone transducer element which generates and receives sound and a horn which guides the sound to and from the cone to a circular or hexagonal active region from which sound is emitted during a sound emission and into which sound is received during a reception of emitted sound that has been reflected by the atmosphere. Each transducer defines a generally hexagonal perimeter shape and occupying a generally hexagonal area of the array. The system includes a signal generator that generates signals that are used to drive the transducers, a phase and switching control, a receiver that receives signals from the transducers, a processor, an open-top enclosure, and a sound reflector within the enclosure.

Abstract: Provided is an ultrasonic detection device including: a capacitive electromechanical transducer including a cell that includes a first electrode and a second electrode disposed so as to oppose with a space; a voltage source for developing a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode; and an electric circuit for converting a current, which is caused by a change in electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode due to vibration of the second electrode, into a voltage, in which the capacitive electromechanical transducer provides an output current with a high-pass characteristic having a first cutoff frequency with respect to a frequency, the electric circuit provides an output with a low-pass characteristic having a second cutoff frequency with respect to the frequency, and the second cutoff frequency is smaller than the first cutoff frequency.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting and locating underwater obstacles in the path of a ship or boat. The apparatus includes a pulsed wide-angle sonar projector (100) controlled by a digital signal processor (400) that emits sound pulses at frequencies of 30 kHz and less that can penetrate sediment-laden water hundreds of meters or more ahead of the ship or boat. The projector generates echoes from submerged objects. A vector sound-intensity probe (200) receives the echoes and transmits them to the digital signal processor. The digital signal processor determines the location of submerged obstacles ahead of the ship or boat from the echoes received by the probe. This information is displayed on an output device (500). The sonar projector and vector sound-intensity probe are contained separately in streamlined housings aimed in the forward direction under the bow of the ship or boat. The processor, output device and other electronics are located on board the ship or boat.

Abstract: An embodiment is a method and apparatus for ultrasonic contact imaging. A thin-film transistor (TFT) array is deposited on a substrate. A receiver having a plurality of receiver elements is deposited on the TFT array to receive a received signal. A transmitter adjacent to the receiver generates a transmit signal at an ultrasonic frequency. The transmit signal is reflected from a surface to produce a reflected signal. The received signal is a superposition of the transmit signal and the reflected signal as result of interference. The received signal is representative of differences in acoustic impedances across the surface.

Abstract: An ultrasound probe connected to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus configured to transmit an ultrasound beam to a target object is provided. The ultrasound probe includes a switching unit including N/2 channels, each channel configured to switch between a first pole and a second pole, wherein N is a natural number, N/2 first transducer elements connected to the first pole and placed in two-dimensions, wherein a placement is defined in an x-axis direction and a y-axis direction, and N/2 second transducer elements connected to the second pole and placed in two-dimensions, wherein the placement is defined in the x-axis and y-axis directions, wherein a placement of a channel number of the first transducer elements and a placement of a channel number of the second transducer elements differ in the x-axis and y-axis directions.

Abstract: Embodiments for filtering clutter signal from Doppler signal in an ultrasound system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a Doppler signal acquiring unit may transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to acquire Doppler signal. A signal processing unit performs filtering upon the Doppler signal by using a first clutter filter having a first cutoff frequency and compute an input signal power to filtered input signal power rate (IFR) for the Doppler signal. The signal processing unit is further configured to be responsive to the IFR to modulate the Doppler signal and perform filtering upon the modulated Doppler signal by using the first clutter filter or to perform filtering the Doppler signal by using a second clutter filter having a second cutoff frequency.

Abstract: A process measurement instrument with target rejection comprises a sensor circuit. The sensor circuit comprises a drive circuit for transmitting a pulse signal at a target of interest and a receive circuit receiving reflected echoes of the pulse signal and developing an analog receive signal representative of the reflected echoes. An analog processing circuit receives the analog receive signal and comprises a summer subtracting an analog target rejection signal from the analog receive signal to develop a corrected receive signal. A programmed digital processing circuit is operatively coupled to the analog processing circuit and comprises a memory storing target rejection signal value data representing false target reflections and developing the analog target rejection signal for transfer to the analog processing circuit.

Abstract: There is described a method for determining a Doppler centroid in a synthetic aperture imaging system, comprising: receiving raw data representative of electromagnetic signals reflected by a target area; selecting, among the raw data, at least two sets of sub-area data each representative of electromagnetic signals reflected by a corresponding sub-area of the target area, the sub-areas being substantially aligned along an azimuth axis of the target area and having a substantially identical surface area; for each one of the sets of sub-area data, generating an image corresponding to the corresponding sub-area; and measuring a mean intensity of the image; and estimating the Doppler centroid from a skew of an intensity function representing the mean intensity as a function of a look number for the corresponding sub-area.

Abstract: Methods for tracking the identity of die after singulation from a wafer. The product chips and die include a pattern of features formed in a metallization level of a back-end-of-line (BEOL) wiring structure. The features in the pattern contain information relating to the die, such as a unique identifier that includes a wafer identification used to fabricate the die and a product chip location for the die on a wafer. The features may be imaged with the assistance of a beam of electromagnetic radiation that penetrates into a packaged die and is altered by the presence of the features in a way that promotes imaging.