Abstract: An L-mode guided wave sensor 10 for inspecting an inspection target by using an L-mode guided wave. The L-mode guided wave sensor 10 is provided with a vibrator 3 which is attached to an inspection target 1, and a coil 5 which is wound around the vibrator 3 and to which an AC voltage is applied. The vibrator 3 is made of a ferromagnetic material.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the position of a movable separation element which is arranged within an accumulator as a separator between a gas space and a fluid space, wherein the determination apparatus comprises at least one pressure sensor for the detection of pressure data, at least one ultrasonic sensor for the detection of ultrasonic data and at least one calculation unit for the evaluation of the data with the aid of which determination apparatus the position of the separation element can be determined.

Abstract: A sonic speed measurement device in which reliability is enhanced while the amount of calculation is minimized is provided. A propagation path postulation component postulates the sonic speed through bone, and calculates propagation paths up until ultrasonic waves transmitted from a wave transmitter are received by oscillators. A postulated propagation time calculator calculates the propagation time it takes for the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the wave transmitter to be received by the oscillators, based on the propagation paths. A Fourier transform component subjects I signals and Q signals of signals outputted by the oscillators to Fourier transform to generate Fourier transform data. A phase shifter shifts the phase of the Fourier transform data for the oscillators in a frequency region according to the propagation time. A sonic speed derivation component determines the validity of the postulated sonic speed based on the Fourier transform data shifted by the phase shifter.

Abstract: The aim of the present invention is to provide a waveguide capable of transmitting shear waves in a desired pattern to a bulk-type medium, a vibrator, and a method of transmitting shear waves by using the vibrator. To this end, the present invention provides a waveguide including a vibrating portion that is vibrated by a vibrating unit, a transmitting portion that transmits shear waves generated by the vibrating unit to a bulk-type medium and is thicker than the vibrating portion, and a connecting portion that contacts both the vibrating portion and the transmitting portion and has a thickness varying from a portion contacting the vibrating portion to a portion contacting the transmitting portion. Also, the present invention provides a vibrator using the waveguide and a method of transmitting shear waves by using the vibrator.

Abstract: An audit system and method audits operation of an optimizer system in a mill, for example auditing operation of a cant optimizer which optimizes sawing patterns. The audit system may be completely independent of the optimizer. For example, the audit system may acquire information (e.g., optically) indicative of a geometry of boards downstream from a piece of equipment such as a gangsaw. The audit system may computationally reconstruct a cant from which the boards were sawn, determine an outside dimension indicative of wane, and simulate alternative sawing patterns, determining a theoretical amount of recovery that would have resulted from each and comparing such to actual recovery from the log or cant. Alternative sawing patterns may take into account various wane rules and comparison may take into account current demand and/or prices for dimensional lumber.

Abstract: A scanning acoustic tomograph has a water tank which accommodates water, a sample stand which is disposed in the water tank and on which a subject is placed, a first ultrasonic transducer which irradiates ultrasonic waves toward the subject, and a second ultrasonic transducer which receives the ultrasonic waves transmitted through the subject, the first and second ultrasonic transducers are disposed opposed to each other in a vertical direction, and a hydrophilic film is formed on a lower surface side of the sample stand.

Abstract: Provided is a parking assistance device that can obtain information regarding the height from a parking road surface of an object without acquiring height information of an object in advance. The parking assistance device includes: an emission unit configured to emit ultrasonic waves in at least an outward lateral direction of a vehicle; a reception unit configured to receive reflection waves from an object reflecting the emitted ultrasonic waves; and an object determination unit configured to receive the reflection waves from an object existing on a far side of a target parking region as the vehicle enters the target parking region, and determine a feature relating to the height of the object based on a change in a detection state of the object, which was specified based on the obtained reflection wave data.

Abstract: The systems, apparatus, and methods disclosed herein provide access to systems located within a closed structure, such that the systems are traditionally difficult for humans to access. Exemplary structures include an engine compartment, airplane wing, or fuselage. This access allows a system located within the structure to be electrically coupled with an electrical I/O device located outside the structure. Access to a system located within the closed structure is provided by way of a hole.

Abstract: Transducer assemblies and associated methods are provided for facilitating alignment of ultrasonic transducers with respect to pipes onto which the transducers are installed. The transducer assembly can include a transducer housing having a track on along which the transducers can be slidingly engaged. The transducer assembly can include attachment structures having alignment features used to align the transducers parallel to the axial centerline of the pipe while ensuring that the reception/emission sides of the transducers are oriented normal to the outer surface of the pipe. In some embodiments a transducer assembly alignment system can be used to align two transducer assemblies on circumferentially opposite sides of a pipe.

Abstract: Acoustic flow rate meter for the noninvasive determination of the flow or the flow rate in electrically conductive objects through which media flow, in particular pipes or pipelines, having an excitation transducer for generating at least one ultrasonic wave in the object, which is coupled into the medium as a longitudinal wave on an inner side of the object oriented toward the medium, and having a receiving transducer for the detection of an ultrasonic signal in the object, wherein the ultrasonic signal at least partially results due to the longitudinal wave, wherein the excitation transducer is implemented as a high-frequency induction coil, while omitting an acoustic coupling of the excitation transducer with the surface of the object, to generate a varying magnetic field in a surface-proximal region of the object, which is metallic in particular, and the ultrasonic wave is generated by interaction of the varying magnetic field with a static or quasi-static magnetic field in this region.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a wave generator, plurality of transducers and processing device. The wave generator may be configured to simultaneously generate a plurality of acoustic waves that propagate through a laminate along a plurality of in-plane directions. The transducers may be spaced apart from one another and positionable at one or more known distances from the wave generator along respective in-plane directions. The transducers may be configured to detect acoustic waves propagating through the laminate along the respective in-plane directions. The processing device may be coupled to the transducers and configured to simultaneously calculate a plurality of elastic constants of the laminate as a function of velocities of the acoustic waves detected by the transducers. And the processing device may be configured to calculate the velocities as a function of the known distance(s) and arrival times of the acoustic waves at the transducers.

Abstract: Acoustic absorption or attenuation of ultrasound is measured. To estimate acoustic absorption or attenuation, the displacement of tissue caused by stress at different frequencies is measured. The absorption or attenuation is calculated from the displacements. The incorporation of different frequencies provides another variable for solving for attenuation or absorption despite unknown tissue stiffness.

Abstract: A mounting insert is provided for in situ placement of the tomographic arrays and associated processing electronics. The processing electronics convert sensed flow condition data into serial digital data to minimize both the number of external feedthroughs and also the bandwidth required for transmission. The processing electronics also sends the full measured waveforms from each of the transceivers in the tomographic arrays.

Abstract: A system for detecting anatomical gestures based on the interpretation of radio signal transmissions. A user may place wireless devices on his/her head and wrist(s) that communicate through short-range radio signals. The wireless devices may collect information regarding signal exchanges which may be analyzed by a computing device to determine positional information about the user's hands. The computing device may compile the positional information into sequences and evaluate the sequences against predefined patterns of movement data. The computing device may interpret recognized movements as computer input commands. In an embodiment, multiple wireless devices may be placed on the user's wrists to enable multi-touch input commands. In an embodiment, data from motion sensors, such as accelerometers and gyroscopes, may be combined with movement data based on radio signal information.

Abstract: A system and method for modeling seismic data using time preserving tomography including storing an initial set of parameter values representing an initial seismic data model. The initial seismic model may correspond to at least two or more ray pairs. Each ray pair may have a traveltime. An altered model may be generated by altering two or more parameter values in the initial set of parameter values for each of two or more ray pairs in the initial model. Altering one parameter value without altering the remaining of the two or more parameter values may correspond to a change in the traveltime of each of the ray pairs, while altering the two or more parameter values in combination typically corresponds to no net change in the traveltime of each of the ray pairs.

Abstract: A system and method for environmental testing and evaluation of non-destructive inspection (NDI) sensors is provided. The system has a structure having a plurality of NDI sensors to be tested. The system further has an environmental chamber containing heating elements and cooling elements for heating and cooling the NDI sensors when the structure is secured to the environmental chamber. The system further has an impact testing assembly positioned over the structure for impacting the structure. The system further has a data acquisition computer subsystem coupled to the environmental chamber and coupled to the NDI sensors. The data acquisition computer subsystem controls and monitors the heating and cooling elements, and collects and processes temperature and impact data acquired by the NDI sensors.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for determining an available parking space. The apparatus includes: an ROI setter setting an ROI for a parking space based on an entrance region of a searched parking space when searching for the corresponding parking space for parking a vehicle; a sensed value processor extracting sensed values measured in the set ROI from sensed values measured by an ultrasonic wave sensor and projecting the extracted sensed values upon an end of the corresponding parking space; a weight applier identifying a shape of the parking space and an output direction of the ultrasonic wave sensor and applying a weight to the projected sensed values according to the shape of the parking space and the output direction of the ultrasonic wave sensor; and a space occupancy determiner determining whether the corresponding parking space is occupied based on the applied weight to the projected sensed values.

Abstract: The system of one embodiment for imaging tissue includes ultrasound emitters configured to surround and emit acoustic waveforms toward the tissue, ultrasound receivers configured to surround and receive acoustic waveforms scattered by the tissue, and a processor configured for determining an observed differential time-of-flight (ToF) dataset and generating an acoustic speed rendering of the tissue based on the observed differential ToF dataset.

Abstract: The various embodiments provide systems, devices, and methods which include an acoustic tag configured to transmit an acoustic signal through a contact medium that may be received by an acoustic modem, with the acoustic signal configured to transmit information. By modulating sound traveling through an acoustic connection between the fluid container and a pump, meter or valve, information such as an identifier of the fluid or container may be transmitted without risk of confusion with other fluid containers in the vicinity. In a medical embodiment, IV fluid and the IV drip tube provide a fluid and plastic acoustic connection to an IV pumping or metering device and an IV bag through which sound may be transmitted. The transmission of identification information through this physical connection may insure that the pumping or metering device only communicates with the IV bag coupled to the pump. Acoustic tags may be active or passive.

Abstract: A method of categorizing defects in a media item is described. The method comprises the steps of: receiving an ultrasonic image of the media item, where the ultrasonic image comprises a plurality of points, each point having a thickness value corresponding to a normal value, a thin value, or a thick value; identifying one or more blobs comprising contiguous points each having a thickness value corresponding to a thin value; for each identified blob, comparing a size of the blob with a damage criterion; ignoring the blob if the blob size does not meet the damage criterion; and for each identified blob having a size meeting the damage criterion, categorizing the identified blob using the thickness values and locations.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a structure is disclosed. The method generally comprises selecting a search region of a dispersion curve of the structure corresponding to one or more inspection parameters. The search region comprises at least one guided wave mode activation point not located on the dispersion curve. The method further comprises activating, using an inspection system comprising at least one transducer, a plurality of activation points located within the search region of the dispersion curve and identifying an optimal activation point for the one or more inspection parameters. The optimal activation point comprises at least one of the plurality of activation points producing an optimal response for the one or more inspection parameters.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a twin trawl being towed by a vessel, the twin trawl comprising two trawl bags, two trawl doors and a clump, comprises at least one sensor arrangement for measuring distance between the doors and between one door and the clump, and a processing unit for computing geometric indicators based on the measured values. By means of the transmission of acoustic signals, the distances between the doors and the doors and the clump can be calculated and compared, and thus provide geometric indicators.

Abstract: A sonic speed measurement device in which reliability is enhanced while the amount of calculation is minimized is provided. A propagation path postulation component postulates the sonic speed through bone, and calculates propagation paths up until ultrasonic waves transmitted from a wave transmitter are received by oscillators. A postulated propagation time calculator calculates the propagation time it takes for the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the wave transmitter to be received by the oscillators, based on the propagation paths. A Fourier transform component subjects I signals and Q signals of signals outputted by the oscillators to Fourier transform to generate Fourier transform data. A phase shifter shifts the phase of the Fourier transform data for the oscillators in a frequency region according to the propagation time. A sonic speed derivation component determines the validity of the postulated sonic speed based on the Fourier transform data shifted by the phase shifter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting the arrival time of a transit vehicle at a transit stop of a transit route is presented. The arrival time is predicted using historical location information of a plurality of vehicles that have previously traveled the route, location information of several of the most recent vehicles that have arrived at the stop, and current location information of a particular vehicle currently traveling the route. Values such as average arrival times and arrival time errors or variances are determined from the historical and recent location data. These values are used with the current location information to predict the arrival time of the particular vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining the speed of a signal species, such as an acoustic signal, in a multilayered medium is described. The multilayer medium, generally, has a first and second layer (e.g. oil and water), whereby first and second signals are transmitted across particular distances in the medium such that a second distance differs from a first distance, and whereby the time of flight of each signal can be used in order to determine the speed of the signals species in one or both of the first and second layer. In other words, in some cases, the speed of sound can be determined in oil and/or water, or the like.

Abstract: A device for acoustic measuring in a medium in a borehole such as velocity of sound in the medium or velocity of the medium, includes at least a first acoustic array situated in a first, slanted sidewall of a measuring area and operating to emit a series of acoustic waveforms across a measuring area. In one form, the device includes a second acoustic array situated in a second, slanted sidewall of the measuring area and operating to receive an acoustic signal resulting from the emitted series of acoustic waveforms or to receive said acoustic signal and emit a second series of acoustic waveforms.

Abstract: A jig includes a wafer including an accommodation groove configured to accommodate a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (cMUT) when flip chip bonding is performed, and a separation groove formed in a bottom surface of the accommodation groove, the separation groove having a bottom surface that is spaced apart from thin films of the cMUT that face the bottom surface of the separation groove when the cMUT is seated on portions of the bottom surface of the accommodation groove.

Abstract: A method includes: transmitting, via a signal generator, an electrical driving signal, the electrical driving signal having a mean square error; transmitting, via a wave generating component, a Lamb wave, the Lamb wave having many different modes; estimating, via an estimating component, a propagation parameter associated with the Lamb wave; and estimating, via an estimating component, a thickness of a material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining mechanical parameters of a cementitious system, on the basis of time, and on the basis of the fineness of the cementitious system, pressure and/or temperature, representative of the in situ conditions found in wellbores. The initial composition of the cementitious system, the fineness ? thereof and the speed of the compression waves on the basis of time Vp(t) are the only input data of the method.

Abstract: A device for determining properties of a medium has a hollow body which accommodates the medium and a housing which circumferentially surrounds the hollow body. At least one portion of a wall of the hollow body is formed as waveguide for acoustic surface waves, which forms an interface to the medium. There is provided at least one transmitter for exciting acoustic waves in the waveguide and at least one receiver for receiving acoustic waves from the waveguide, which are arranged at a distance from each other, wherein the transmitter and the receiver are in direct contact with an outer surface of the waveguide and wherein the distance between transmitter and receiver is chosen such that acoustic waves excited by the transmitter can at least partly propagate on paths extending through the medium. There is provided at least one contact carrier on which the transmitter and/or the receiver are arranged. Between the waveguide and the contact carrier a continuous air gap is formed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic measurement system that even without additional means for temperature measurement, compensates for a change in a sound speed of an ultrasonic wave in a section whose thickness is to be measured, and assesses a wall thinning state of this section by highly accurate measurement of the thickness. An ultrasonic transducer 101 includes a piezoelectric element 108. A high-temperature MI cable 102 contains strands 110A, 110B connected to the ultrasonic transducer 101, and further includes a metallic sheath 112. A temperature sensor is contained in the high-temperature MI cable 102, and includes a thermocouple section 114 to which the strands 110A, 110B are connected at one end of each strand. An ultrasonic transmitter/receiver 117 makes the ultrasonic transducer to transmit ultrasonic waves and to receive the waves reflected from the object whose thickness is to be measured.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for monitoring rub detection in a machine are provided. An electrical signal may be provided for transmission to and into a component of the machine. A capacitance associated with the electrical signal in the component may be monitored. Based at least in part upon a determined change in the monitored capacitance, a potential rub condition for the component of the machine.

Abstract: A method measuring elastic properties using ultrasound of a part made of a material having a curved surface, includes: emission of bundles of ultrasound waves in a direction of a point of impact on the part's surface to generate waves within the part; knowing a thickness d of the part at the point of impact in a first direction D1 and a thickness d2 in a second direction forming an angle determined with respect to the first direction, taking a first measurement t1 of time taken by the longitudinal waves transmitted to travel d1 from the point of impact, and taking a second measurement t2 of the time taken by the transverse waves to travel d2 from the point of impact; and determining the Young's modulus and/or Poisson's ratio of the material based on the longitudinal velocity VL=d1/t1 and transverse velocity VT=d2/t.

Abstract: An airborne ultrasonic sensor is obtained in which a sensor body and a housing have an integrated structure, and which can reduce spurious waves which propagate through the housing to arrive at the sensor body. The sensor is provided with the sensor body that radiates ultrasonic waves into air and at the same time receives reflected waves from a reflection source which exists in the air, a transmission and reception device that drives the sensor body and at the same time obtains a distance to the reflection source or a propagation speed of sound based on the reflected waves, and the housing that has the sensor body fixedly secured thereto with an integrated structure. The housing has groove portions which are different in acoustic impedance from their surroundings. The groove portions are arranged obliquely regarding either one of a horizontal direction or a vertical direction of the sensor body.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ultrasonically evaluating one or more microstructural material properties of a structural specimen are disclosed. An example system comprises an ultrasonic sensor unit including a plurality of ultrasonic transducers that generate ultrasonic backscatter within the specimen, and an evaluation module that performs an autocorrelation function on the ultrasonic backscatter data. An autocorrelation algorithm is configured to execute a single scattering response (SSR) model that computes second order grain statistics of the structural specimen.

Abstract: Apparatus for non-invasive measuring of the sound velocity of a fluid flowing in a tubing having a small internal diameter for the fluid passage as compared to the tubing wall thickness and having points of two different and known transverse length with a sensor mounted at each point and a delay line adjacent to the tubing at each point. Each sensor is connected to a circuit that provides ultrasonic energy signals that are transmitted through the tubing walls, the flowing fluid and the delay line to be reflected back to the sensor from which the round trip transit time of the signals is measured and the sound velocity calculated from the two measured round trip transit times and the differential between the known transverse lengths.

Abstract: Described herein is the use of ultrasound pulses at different frequencies to track the dispersion properties of intracranial tissues which may have been altered due to traumatic or other neurological brain injury. Dispersive ultrasound does not provide imaging, but it can provide data of significant diagnostic value by using decision support systems that can be trained as a medical diagnostic system for traumatic brain injuries applications to detect specific patterns of dispersion that are associated with specific intracranial injuries.

Abstract: The structural integrity of a safe-life aircraft component on an aircraft is measured and assessed by a processing unit. The component includes a load-bearing metal element that is free from cracks. In the method, acoustic emissions generated in the metal element are converted into electronic signals. The acoustic emissions converted include relevant acoustic emissions resulting from changes in the structure of the element that make the element more susceptible to the formation of cracks. The electronic signals are set to a processing unit. The processing unit processes over time the signals in conjunction with stored reference data that allows a measure of the structural integrity to be made. Information providing a measure of the structural integrity of the aircraft component is outputted. Thus, deterioration of the structure of the component can be detected and monitored before a crack occurs.

Abstract: The invention relates to very precisely measuring changes in thickness of pipe walls to determine corrosion rate prior to any significant corrosion loss. The thickness is determined by ultrasonic testing where many measurements of the wall thickness are taken at the same spot by a fixed sensor and errors associated with noise and temperature changes are substantially eliminated. A highly sensitive receiver converts each reflected pulse to waves that are averaged with other pulse measurements. The resulting average wave is analyzed so that each waveform is analyzed to identify the extrema and inflection points of each reflected pulse. The resulting analysis provides a far more accurate determination of the time between reflected pulses. As a result, a far more accurate picture of corrosion at the location of the wall of the pipe can be determined within weeks with a high degree of confidence.

Abstract: An ultrasonic wave propagation time measurement system comprises: a transmitting section that transmits an electromagnetic wave signal indicating transmission timing and an ultrasonic wave signal, and a receiving section that detects the transmitted electromagnetic wave signal and the ultrasonic wave signal and calculates an ultrasonic wave propagation time based on reception times of the electromagnetic wave signal and the ultrasonic wave signal; and an initial mode setting mechanism that constitutes an optimum ultrasonic wave transmission/reception system by selecting the set values of one or more setting parameters is provided in a controlling unit that controls the transmission of the signals in the transmitting section and in a data processing unit that controls the detection and calculation in receiving section.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor assembly for testing a pipe includes a first and second transducer rings attached to the pipe and spaced apart along a length of the pipe. The first transducer ring includes a plurality of transmitters for transmitting a wave, such as a non-dispersive guided wave. The first transducer ring transmits the wave along the pipe. The second transducer ring includes a plurality of receivers for receiving the wave. A relative position of the first transducer ring with respect to a circumferential position of the second transducer ring is determined based on characteristics of the wave received by the second transducer ring. A method of positioning the ultrasonic sensor assembly on the pipe is also provided.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes: a substrate; an ultrasonic transducer disposed on the substrate, and configured and arranged to transmit ultrasonic waves that propagate as plane waves in a direction orthogonal to a surface of the substrate; an acoustic refracting part contacting the ultrasonic transducer, and configured and arranged to refract the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer; an elastically deformable elastic portion contacting the acoustic refracting part; and an ultrasonic reflecting member disposed within the elastic portion, and configured and arranged to reflect the ultrasonic waves. The acoustic refracting part is configured and arranged to refract, toward the ultrasonic reflecting member, the ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nondestructive ultrasonic test method in which at least one ultrasonic pulse is emitted into a workpiece under test by at least one ultrasonic transmitter (3), the ultrasonic pulse is reflected on boundary surfaces within the workpiece, the reflected ultrasound is received by at least one ultrasonic receiver (2), and the associated signals are evaluated, the ultrasound penetrating a damping block (4) that is arranged between the workpiece and the transmitter or receiver.

Abstract: The present invention relates to system for measuring pressure and temperature based on change in the characteristic properties of a medium for ultrasound under the effect of pressure and temperature. The invention is based on two waveguides where geometry is adapted to the medium's characteristic properties for ultrasound such that only planar pressure waves are generated in the waveguides. The first of the waveguides is arranged for measuring temperature due to thermal expansion of the medium, where the medium is pressure-compensated by means of an internal compensator to prevent thermal pressure accumulation, and where measuring temperature is based on the medium's specific known characteristic data for ultrasound under the effect of temperature under constant pressure.

Abstract: Solid contents verification systems and methods are provided. The system includes a contents sensor unit, a container-carrying unit and a control unit. The contents sensor unit has at least one contents sensor configured to send and receive sonic pulses to determine a state of contents in a container. The contents sensor unit is configured to send a signal communicating a state of the contents in a container. The container-carrying unit is configured to hold a container in substantial alignment with the contents sensors to expose the contents to the sonic pulses. The control unit is operatively connected to the contents sensor unit. The control unit is configured to receive the signal communicating the state of the contents and to compare the state of the contents with a desired state of the contents.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nondestructive ultrasonic test method in which at least one ultrasonic pulse is emitted into a workpiece under test by means of at least one ultrasonic transmitter (3), the ultrasonic pulse is reflected on boundary surfaces within the workpiece, the reflected ultrasound is received by at least one ultrasonic receiver (2), and the associated signals are evaluated, the ultrasound penetrating a damping block (4) that is arranged between the workpiece and the transmitter or receiver.

Abstract: An ultrasonic measuring method includes: (A) receiving a coded spread spectrum ultrasonic signal in at least two receivers, and generating at least two received signals; (B) performing an quadrature detection on the received signals using the carrier frequency, and producing I and Q components of the received signals; (C) performing phase difference processing on the I and Q components with a coding period synchronized with that of the carrier frequency, and obtaining I? and Q? components from which a phase shift caused by a Doppler shift has been canceled; (D) despreading the I? and Q? components signals using different codes at time intervals synchronized with the carrier frequency, and obtaining despread I? and Q? components; (E) computing the amplitude and phase information based on the I? and Q? components; and (F) calculating the propagation distance and/or orientation of the ultrasonic wave based on the amplitude and phase information.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining the sound velocity of a liquid in a specimen having two walls between which the liquid is contained with one of the walls being deformable has a sensor including a transducer for transmitting ultrasonic energy signals between the specimen walls and apparatus for deforming the specimen wall by a known distance from a first to a second position relatively spaced from the transducer and an electronic circuit including a microprocessor for measuring first and second transit times of the signals through the liquid between the specimen walls for each of the specimen deformable wall first and second positions, and for calculating the sound velocity of the liquid based upon the known distance and the two measured transit times. Where blood is the liquid values of parameters such as glucose and hematocrit are obtained based on algorithms pre-programmed in the microprocessor.

Abstract: Load control systems and methods for shafts are provided. The load control system includes a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a plurality of ultrasonic probes mounted to the shaft, each of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors configured to produce an ultrasonic wave on the shaft. The sensor assembly further includes a plurality of receivers mounted to the shaft, each of the plurality of receivers configured to sense the ultrasonic wave produced by one of the plurality of ultrasonic probes. The load control system further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor assembly and configured to measure a travel time of the ultrasonic wave produced by each of the plurality of ultrasonic probes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an inconsistency in an object. Signals sent on a plurality of paths in the object are received at a plurality of transducer units associated with the object. Time delays are identified for a number of modes in the signals received at the plurality of transducer units. A determination is made as to whether a time delay in the time delays for the number of modes in the signals has a difference from a number of other time delays for the number of modes that is greater than a desired amount.