Abstract: A non-contact thermo-elastic property measurement and imaging system and method thereof are described. Acoustic energy is incident on a first surface of a specimen under test. The acoustic energy is converted partially into heat by the specimen, causing a slight increase in the temperature in a region of interaction. The temperature increase is imaged using a high sensitivity infrared camera. Presence of defects (surface and subsurface) in the material modifies the distribution of temperature. An image of temperature distribution can be used for nondestructive testing and evaluation of materials. The temperature change in the specimen caused by acoustic excitation is related to thermal and elastic properties of the material. A measurement of the change in the temperature as a function of the amplitude of incident excitation can be used for direct measurement of thermo-elastic property of the specimen.

Abstract: Encoded transmission and reception which reduces time side lobe are realized while suppressing increase of circuit scale. Transmission signals corresponding to a composite modulation code sequence composed from two or more modulation code sequences are outputted as transmission signals. A reception means demodulates reception signals stepwise by two or more demodulators. The demodulator can be thereby divided into two or more stages, and therefore with a circuit scale corresponding to the sum of the operation circuit numbers of two or more demodulators, time side lobe reduction effect can be obtained at a level equivalent to that obtainable with a circuit scale corresponding to the product of the operation circuit numbers of two or more demodulators.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for representing echo signals that are obtained with the aid of an ultrasonic test apparatus used for non-destructively testing a test piece. Said ultrasonic test apparatus comprises a probe, especially an angled probe, a monitor with a display device for representing the received echo signals in an cross-sectional image such that at least one front face and a back wall of the test piece can be recognized. A flaw is detected from different arrangements of the angular probe, represented, and an error signal is determined. The test images are stored and then represented in a superimposed manner in an evaluation image such that the first and the second error signal can be recognized.

Abstract: A method for examining the interior material of an object, such as a pipeline or a human body, from a surface of an object using ultrasound having a frequency of at least 100 KHz, wherein the ultrasound is supplied to the interior material of the object. The reflections and/or diffractions of the ultrasound from the interior material of the object are received using ultrasonic receivers which are acoustically coupled to the surface of the object at positions which are distributed in two dimensions of the surface of the object, at different points in time or not, wherein, with each of the feelers, a receiving signal is generated, wherein the receiving signals are processed in combination in order to determine, according to the principle of inverse wave field extrapolation, where in the interior material of the object reflections and/or diffractions occur.

Abstract: A method for conducting nondestructive internal inspection of a rotary drill bit used for drilling subterranean formations comprises communicating ultrasonic waves into a drill bit and detecting ultrasonic waves that are reflected by at least a portion of the drill bit. In some embodiments, the waves may be directed into the drill bit from within a longitudinal bore thereof. Reflected waves also may be detected from within the bore. The methods may be used to develop threshold acceptance criteria for classifying drill bits as acceptable or unacceptable to prevent catastrophic failures of drill bits during use. Systems and apparatuses are disclosed for conducting nondestructive ultrasonic inspection of a drill bit used for drilling subterranean formations. The systems and apparatuses may comprise an ultrasonic probe configured for insertion within an internal longitudinal bore of a drill bit. Drill bits are disclosed that are configured to facilitate nondestructive ultrasonic inspection thereof.

Abstract: Ultrasonic inspection equipment facilitates alignment of display positions of three-dimensional ultrasonic inspection data and three-dimensional shape data, and quickly discriminates between a defect echo and an inner-wall echo. A computer 102A has a position correction function of correcting a relative display position between three-dimensional shape data and three-dimensional ultrasonic inspection data. A display position of the three-dimensional ultrasonic inspection data or that of the three-dimensional shape data is moved by a norm of a mean vector along the mean vector that is calculated from a plurality of vectors defined by a plurality of points selected in the three-dimensional ultrasonic inspection data and by a plurality of points selected in the three-dimensional shape data. The three-dimensional shape data and the three-dimensional ultrasonic inspection data are displayed in such a manner as to be superimposed on each other on a three-dimensional display unit 103C.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a system, in which a plurality of acoustic images are recorded and compared at defined intervals of time over a period of time extending several weeks. A large system can be monitored reliably and with little complexity if the acoustic images each contain a plurality of acoustic image areas which are arranged in a spatially different manner, and, between respective recordings of the image areas of an acoustic image, an acoustic sensor is aligned with an image area, which is to be recorded, of a next image area by being moved.

Abstract: A flaw Z with a long probing length inside a probing target is allowed to be probed. The waves other than the probing target waves are removed or reduced, so that the individual difference in the sizing result due to the ability of the measuring personnel is eliminated to improve the precision of the probing. A transmission probe 31 and a receiving probe 32 for transmitting and receiving a wide band ultrasonic wave are included. Each time the positions of the probes 31 and 32 are moved, a received wave Gj(t) is obtained. From a spectrum Fj(f) corresponding to the received wave Gj(t), a narrowband spectrum FAj(f) is extracted. A component wave GAj(t) corresponding to the narrow band spectrum FAj(f) is obtained by inverse Fourier transformation. The component wave GAj(t) is provided for a comparative display using a predetermined sizing coefficient.

Abstract: A method of identifying a flaw in a part is provided that includes vibrating a part to induce heat. The heat originates in any flaws in the part. A thermal image is obtained using, for example, an infrared camera. A mathematical representation of the thermophysics, such as the heat conduction or thermal energy equations using the boundary element method or finite element method is used to identify a source and an intensity of the heat identified with the thermal image. Using the source and intensity of the heat, flaw characteristics for the part can be determined. The method is employed using an inspection system that includes a vibration device for vibrating the part. An imaging device, such as an infrared camera, measures temperature on the surface of the part. An assumption is made or additional measurements are taken to obtain values for surface flux or surface heat transfer coefficients. A processor communicates with the imaging device for receiving the surface temperature.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring thicknesses of materials of multilayered structure. This method includes transmitting one or more ultrasound signals including different frequencies into a multilayered structure consisting of two or more materials with one or more ultrasound transducers, measuring materials, acoustic properties for which are different at the frequencies in use, measuring ultrasound signals reflected from the front surface and back surface of the multilayered structure with one or more ultrasound transducer and determining thicknesses of the materials within multilayered structure from the reflected ultrasound signals.

Abstract: A scanning acoustic microscope, comprising an ultrasonic transducer, a motor assembly on which the ultrasonic transducer is mounted, a controller that is electrically connected to the transducer and the motor assembly, the controller being adapted to cause the rotor and transducer to be moved along a path in a predetermined sequence of movements with respect to a sample; and wherein the controller is adapted to cause the ultrasonic transducer to emit one or more pulses of acoustic energy and to generate profile measurements of the sample by processing signals from the transducer that are representative of pulses of acoustic energy that are reflected by the sample.

Abstract: An integrated multi-function sensor system has a head having a slot to accept a tube of a deformable material and a plurality of sensor elements mounted in the walls of the head slot to confront a tube in the slot, each sensor element being for affecting sensing of a condition relating to a liquid in the tube. An integrated electronic circuit including a microprocessor operates to determine the various conditions of a liquid flowing in the tube sensed by the sensor elements, which conditions include detection of air bubbles and/or particles by ultrasonic sensing elements, detection of an occlusion in the liquid flow by sensing the deformation of the tube wall by a force sensing element, determining the temperature of the liquid by an infrared temperature sensing element, and determining the color of the liquid by optical elements.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging device, comprising: a receiver, for receiving ultrasonic signals which carry information about human body; a processor, for analyzing and processing the received ultrasonic signals in order to get image and/or sound signals; a controller, for issuing at least one instruction; and a recorder, for recording the image and/or sound signals on recording medium in digital form in accordance with the instruction.

Abstract: A non-contact acousto-thermal method and apparatus are provided for detection of incipient damage in materials. The apparatus utilizes an ultrasonic horn which receives an acoustic wave generated by an ultrasonic transducer energized by an RF pulse. The ultrasonic horn is placed at a distance from the sample to be tested with sufficient gap so that when excited, the face of the ultrasonic horn does not come into contact with the sample. An IR camera is placed at a distance from the opposite side of the sample. The acoustic wave is amplified by the ultrasonic horn, and the interaction between the sample and the acoustic wave produces changes in the temperature of the sample in the region of interaction during acoustic excitation such that the temperature of the material rapidly increases. The temperature-time profile is captured by the IR camera and may be analyzed by a data acquisition unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flaw detector imaging apparatus for detecting and visualizing a flaw in a target material to be investigated, comprising an ultrasonic phase-array probe comprising an array of ultrasonic transducers and a flaw detector. The flaw detector includes at least one trigger channel to trigger ultrasonic emitting transducers of the array at respective time delays to produce an ultrasonic beam propagating through the target material, and a single receiver channel to receive echo signals produced by ultrasonic receiving transducers of the array in response to ultrasonic wave echoes reflected from a flaw in the target material. The single receiver channel comprises a delay circuit imparting to the received echo signals the respective time delays as used in the triggering of the ultrasonic emitting transducers and a combiner of the delayed echo signals.

Abstract: In the ultrasonic inspection method and equipment, a high-resolution and high-S/N-ratio inspection image can be speedily acquired with ease-of-operability. Inspection of the inside of the inspection target is performed by changing incident angle of the ultrasonic wave oscillated from the array-probe ultrasonic sensor. Then, while performing the inspection, the array-probe ultrasonic sensor is sequentially displaced from the position to the position via the position by using the displacement member. This displacement allows acquisition of inspection images on each position basis. Finally, the inspection images thus acquired are visualized as a processed image by adding or averaging the inspection images by shifting the images by displacement quantity of the array-probe ultrasonic sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for generating mechanical waves within a viscoelastic medium (11) comprising a step of generating an acoustic radiation force (15) within the viscoelastic medium (11) by application of acoustic waves focussed on an interface (13) delimiting two zones (11, 14) having distinct acoustic properties.

Abstract: By digitizing the UFM signal without using a lock-in amplifier, substantially all of the information initially contained in the UFM output signal may be maintained and may then be used for further data processing. Consequently, any type of model or evaluation algorithm may be used without being restricted to a very narrow bandwidth, as is the case in lock-in based techniques. The digitizing is performed on a real-time basis, wherein a complete UFM curve is digitized and stored for each scan position. In this way, quantitative meaningful values for specific surface-related characteristics with a nanometer resolution may be obtained.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging system (200). An exemplary system includes an array of transducer elements (50) arranged along a first plane (P1) for transmitting first signals and receiving reflected signals for image processing. Circuit structures (10, 20, 30, 40) each have a major surface (1a) positioned in a co-planar orientation with respect to a major surface of another of the circuit structures to provide a sequence of the structures (10, 20, 30, 40) in a stack-like formation. Electrical connections (34, 47) are formed between adjacent circuit structures in the sequence. A connector region (1b or 1b?) on each circuit structure includes a distal portion (1c or 1c?) extending away from the major surface (1a), with distal portions (1c, 1c?) of connector regions of adjacent structures spaced apart from one another. A first wiring pattern (41, 45, 46) extends from the major surface to the distal portion of the connector region.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging method and apparatus capable of obtaining image information at a high volume rate and improving resolution. The ultrasonic imaging apparatus has an ultrasonic transducer array including plural ultrasonic transducers for transmitting ultrasonic waves in accordance with drive signals and receiving ultrasonic waves to output detection signals; pulsers for supplying the drive signals; an ignition timing controller for controlling the pulsers to respectively transmit plural ultrasonic beams toward plural directions within a predetermined period so that adjacent two ultrasonic beams are separated by 20° or more from each other; receivers for processing the plural detection signals; and plural phase matching units, provided in correspondence with a number of the ultrasonic beams to be transmitted, for performing phase matching on the basis of the processed detection signals so that plural receiving focal points are formed for each of the transmitted plural ultrasonic beams.

Abstract: A non-contact thermo-elastic property measurement and imaging system and method thereof are described. Acoustic energy is incident on a first surface of a specimen under test. The acoustic energy is converted partially into heat by the specimen, causing a slight increase in the temperature in a region of interaction. The temperature increase is imaged using a high sensitivity infrared camera. Presence of defects (surface and subsurface) in the material modifies the distribution of temperature. An image of temperature distribution can be used for nondestructive testing and evaluation of materials. The temperature change in the specimen caused by acoustic excitation is related to thermal and elastic properties of the material. A measurement of the change in the temperature as a function of the amplitude of incident excitation can be used for direct measurement of thermo-elastic property of the specimen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for Scanning Acoustic Microscopy (SAM) for testing of a semiconductor device having a first surface and a second surface with bonding features secured to said first surface are provided. An impervious fixture comprising a dam or a tank retains acoustic transmission fluid in contact with the second surface. Acoustic transmission fluid is excluded from admission to the space surrounding the bonding features where an atmosphere of gas or a vacuum is provided by isolating the first surface from the acoustic transmission fluid either by providing a sealed chamber protecting the first surface or by providing a dam surrounding the second surface.

Abstract: In a method of inspecting a structure, a two-dimensional array of sensors is disposed onto a surface, ultrasonic pulses are sent into the surface, and echo signals are received. An image of damage within the structure is graphically displayed, a determination of whether the damage satisfies a predetermined criterion is made, and a mode of returning the structure to usage or service is selected. The predetermined criterion may define a length, a depth, and an area. A-scan, B-scan, and C-scan images of the damage may be displayed. Threshold images may be displayed wherein each pixel of a matrix of pixels is colored one of only two colors.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that performs high acoustic pressure and low acoustic pressure ultrasonic transmissions by switching at predetermined timing in the enhanced ultrasonography, and displays concurrently a replenishment image obtained through the low acoustic pressure transmission in real time like a moving picture, and a pre-flash image obtained through the low acoustic pressure transmission immediately before switching to the high acoustic pressure transmission like a still image to allow the operator to understand the structure at the level of capillaries. It is also possible to display a selected image obtained through the low acoustic pressure transmission at an arbitrary timing instead of the pre-flash image.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for the application of a two-dimensional ultrasonic phased array (100), formed of a plurality of transducers (102) arranged in a rectilinear pattern, for material and volumetric component testing. The two-dimensional array enables electronic adjustment of the focal properties and size of the aperture in both the azimuthal and elevational directions such that uniform and/or specified sound field characteristics can be obtained at any or all locations in the component being tested.

Abstract: Two groups of inclined lines, which are included in a spurious wave scattering means, are formed at opposite angles with respect to each other in the vicinity of an upper edge of a substrate. The angles of the inclined lines are such that they are close to perpendicular toward the central portion of the substrate, and gradually decrease toward the edges thereof. In a similar manner, two other groups inclined lines, which are also included in the spurious wave scattering means, are formed at opposite angles with respect to each other, with gradually changing angles. The spurious waves that reach these regions are diffuse by the inclined lines, so that they are not propagated to converters (sensors). Three rectangular spurious wave scattering means, formed by inclined lines, inclined at angles other than 45°, also function to diffuse and eliminate spurious waves that propagate along the front surface of the substrate.

Abstract: By measuring, for an ultra-low-expansion glass material, the frequency dependence of acoustic velocities and attenuation coefficients of bulk waves (longitudinal waves and shear waves), and the density, its fundamental acoustic properties are revealed, and a standard specimen for use in system calibration is prepared. By an absolute calibration method using the standard specimen, absolute values for both the LSAW and LSSCW velocities are obtained. Moreover, there are obtained relationships for the acoustic properties and the coefficient of thermal expansion to evaluate the coefficient of thermal expansion from the acoustic properties. In case there is a distribution of characteristics due to periodic striae, an accurate acoustic property distribution in the substrate can be ascertained and an evaluation performed, by selecting for the substrate a cutting angle with respect to the striae plane.

Abstract: An apparatus examines the internal structure of an object disposed substantially in a medium such as air. The apparatus has an acoustic transducer assembly that emits and receives acoustic signals and an acoustic coupler that acoustically couples the acoustic transducer assembly to the object. The acoustic coupler is adapted to essentially retain a body of fluid such as water between a section of the surface of the object and the acoustic transducer assembly for carrying acoustic signals between the acoustic transducer assembly and the object.

Abstract: An apparatus examines the internal structure of an object disposed substantially in a medium such as air, which essentially totally reflects acoustic signals in the 1-200 MHz frequency range. The apparatus has an acoustic transducer that emits and receives acoustic signals in the 1-200 MHz frequency range and an acoustic coupler that acoustically couples the acoustic transducer to the object. The acoustic coupler is adapted to essentially retain a body of fluid such as water between a section of the surface of the object and the acoustic transducer. The fluid carries acoustic signals in the 1-200 MHz frequency range between the acoustic transducer and the object.

Abstract: A method for sensing acoustic energy as the energy passes from a more dense to a less dense medium while compensating for energy level loses that may have occurred along the acoustic path of the acoustic energy. The method may be used to replace a multi-sensor system for detecting acoustic energy. The method includes permitting the acoustic energy to progress from a first transmitting medium to a second transmitting medium, the first transmitting medium being more dense than the second transmitting medium and the first medium being contiguous with the second medium along a predetermined interface; disposing an optical sensor in the second medium so that at least a portion of the acoustic energy imposes a modulation proportional to the frequency components of the acoustic energy on a sampling light emitted by the optical sensor; and detecting at least a portion of the sampling light having modulation in response to the portion of the acoustic energy.

Abstract: An apparatus examines the internal structure of an object disposed substantially in a medium such as air, which essentially totally reflects acoustic signals in the 1-200 MHz frequency range. The apparatus has an acoustic transducer that emits and receives acoustic signals in the 1-200 MHz frequency range and an acoustic coupler that acoustically couples the acoustic transducer to the object. The acoustic coupler is adapted to essentially retain a body of fluid such as water between a section of the surface of the object and the acoustic transducer for carrying acoustic signals in the 1-200 MHz frequency range between the acoustic transducer and the object.

Abstract: An apparatus examines the internal structure of an object disposed substantially in a medium such as air, which essentially totally reflects acoustic signals in the 1–200 MHz frequency range. The apparatus has an acoustic transducer that emits and receives acoustic signals in the 1–200 MHz frequency range and an acoustic coupler that acoustically couples the acoustic transducer to the object. The acoustic coupler is adapted to receive a fluid stream and emit a fluid stream that carries acoustic signals in the 1–200 MHz frequency range between the acoustic transducer and the object.

Abstract: An acoustic microscope is disclosed having an acoustic lens formed of fused metal and glass. A high speed analogue to digital converter and a pulse generator/receiver are also disclosed. Automated V(z) curve measurement produces quantitative elastic properties of the specimen. (C) and (B) scans are sliced and a simulated three-dimensional image is formed therefrom.

Abstract: In a nondestructive ultrasonic testing method for an implementation in a testing device, defects are installed in a testing area of a structural part by determining reflections on inhomogeneities in the a testing area of the structural part. A least one ultrasonic transmitter is provided for coupling ultrasonic excitations into the structural part and at least two ultrasonic receivers are installed for receiving structure responses to the excitations coupled into the structure. A number of testing points being are determined and for each testing point and each location of the ultrasonic receivers, expectancy range data are determined and stored for signal forms being implemented in the testing device. When an inhomogeneity is present in the respective testing point, excitations are reflected thereon and are measured by the respective ultrasonic receiver. The received reflection data are compared with the stored expectancy ranges to determine the location of a defect.

Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging apparatus capable of scanning an object at a high speed while obtaining necessary information. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves, an excitation timing controller for providing delays to aplurality of drive signals so as to scan the object by using the ultrasonic beam with a scanning line density, a phase matching calculating unit for processing electric signals obtained by receiving the ultrasonic echoes to obtain detection signals representing ultrasonic information along scanning lines respectively, a discontinuous region determining unit for determining continuity of a boundary of medium residing within the object on the basis of the plurality of detection signals, and a scan control unit for setting up a lower scanning line density and then a higher scanning line density for the excitation timing controller based on a determination result of the discontinuous region determining unit.

Abstract: A system for inspecting a refractory furnace having an outer shell and an inner refractory brick lining includes a stress wave generator for generating stress waves that propagate through the outer shell and the refractory brick lining. A stress wave sensor senses reflected stress waves returning to the outer shell. A processing unit in communication with the stress wave sensor processes output generated by the stress wave sensor to generate data representing the condition of the refractory brick lining. In this manner, the location and geometry of anomalies within the refractory brick lining can be determined without requiring the refractory furnace to be shut down.

Abstract: Material analysis apparatus and method, particularly of use in detecting barely visible impact damage but also of use to detect other material characteristics. The apparatus includes a function generator which provides a sinusoidal signal to an ultrasonic amplifier as well as to a PC. The PC is connected to an infrared camera. The sinusoidal signal is fed into the amplifier and causes two probes attached to the sample of material to emit ultrasonic energy at the modulated frequency. Ultrasonic energy from the two probes then enters the sample by means of mechanical coupling and an image of the resulting thermal radiation is captured by the infrared camera and transferred to the PC for further processing and analysis.

Abstract: A system and method for individually varying the orientation of scan lines in at least two dimensions in an ultrasound scan are disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention includes a system for generating a three-dimensional ultrasound volume scan, comprising a transducer probe having elements arranged in a plurality of dimensions and a system controller capable of generating a scan line apparently emanating from a location other than the geographic center of the transducer probe.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe suited for testing the integrity of sheet metal surfaces around fastener openings is provided with means to center the probe over such openings. Both a mechanical centering abroad and an electronic display assist the user in centering such probe. Once positioned within tolerance limits, phased array ultrasonic beams search for defects within the metal surfaces, allowing for residual offsets in the centering of the probe. Also described are test fixtures for calibrating the probe.

Abstract: The temperature distribution in water is measured by two thermocouples to obtain a temperature compensating parameter. Under measurement conditions where the temperature distribution in water varies, a measured V(z) curve is used to monitor a change in the wave number of a longitudinal wave in an ultrasonic wave propagation region in water to thereby detect variations in the water temperature and the longitudinal wave velocity with high accuracy.

Abstract: In a method of detecting discontinuities on elongated workpieces, in particular tubes and bars, using ultrasonic testing system, a test object is positioned in relationship to a test head of the testing system, with the test object and the test head being moveable to one another. Signals from the test head are transmitted to an evaluation unit, where they are digitized and evaluated. The digitized signals of a test shot of a length position X are compared with digitized signals of a test shot of a length position X+&Dgr;X, wherein &Dgr;X is a multiple of a shot distance, and the difference is evaluated.

Abstract: A method for acoustic imaging of a tubular shape, the tubular shape having an outer surface and an inner surface. The method includes directing an ultrasonic beam through a focusing lens. The focusing lens has a planar edge and a concave edge located on opposite sides of the focusing lens. The ultrasonic beam enters the focusing lens through the planar edge and exits from the concave edge such that the ultrasonic beam enters the outer surface of the tubular shape, passes to the inner surface and the beam is reflected at the inner surface, passes through the outer surface and through the focusing lens in the opposite direction. The ultrasonic beam that has passed through the focusing lens in the opposite direction is then converted into a video output that displays an image of the inner surface, the outer surface and an internal volume image of the tubular shape.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging method forms an image of an object using signals reflected from the object after transmitting an ultrasound pulse to the object. In the method, at a first step, a predetermined first spread spectrum signal is converted to the ultrasound signal at one or more transducers and the ultrasound signal is transmitted to the object. At a second step, pulse compression is performed on a reflected signal of the ultrasound signal reflected from the object to form a pulse compressed signal. And the pulse compressed signal is processed to produce a receive-focused signal and the image of the object from the receive-focused signal is generated.

Abstract: A plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements are arranged on the top surface of a probe, which is a concave spherical surface, so that ultrasonic beams transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer elements will intersect at a point coincident with the center of curvature of a curve delineated by the top surface. At this time, the acoustic lines conically propagate over a region beyond the point of intersection. Namely, the ultrasonic beams transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer elements pass through the point of intersection coincident with the center of curvature, and then conically and three-dimensionally propagate over the region beyond the point of intersection. Thus, acoustic lines are three-dimensionally transmitted to a wide region beyond an intercostal part of a physiological body or any other narrow space, and echoes returned from the region are received. Consequently, the wide region can be three-dimensionally monitored.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an ultrasound imaging system and method which make a harmonic image of a good SNR(signal-to-noise ratio) by effectively removing fundamental frequency components through a pulse-compressing using the weighted chirp signals. The ultrasound imaging system includes: a transducer array for converting weighted chirp signals to ultrasound signals, and transmitting the ultrasound signals to a target object; a receiver for receiving signals reflected from the target object; a pulse-compressor for selectively pulse-compressing fundamental frequency components or harmonic frequency components in the reflected signals; and a producer for producing receive-focused signals from the pulse-compressed signals. Therefore, the ultrasound imaging system can form ultrasound image using the fundamental frequency components, and can form ultrasound harmonic image using the harmonic frequency components according to 2fo-correlation method or 2fo-correlation(PI) method.

Abstract: An ultrasonic tomographic image is obtained by using the difference between intensities of two echoes from the same analyte by two ultrasonic beams emitted through a vibrator element group of a probe A and through some vibrator elements within this group, respectively.

Abstract: A method and system for nondestructively detecting and characterizing defects in articles, including assemblies that may include components formed of composite materials. The method entails vibrating an entire article/assembly to induce an oscillating strain in the article/assembly so that any flaws in the article/assembly are heated by localized friction, as would occur between opposing surface portions of a defect or an interface between components of the assembly. The article/assembly is then infrared imaged to detect any localized temperature rises associated with the localized friction at the defect or interface.

Abstract: A method for acoustic imaging by angle beam, which includes generating a sound wave, coupling the wave at an angle to a first surface of a test piece via a physically continuous path. The test piece also has a second surface. The angle being such that the wave progresses along a vectors at an angle to the first surface and the second surface and along the test piece via a plurality of sound reflections reflecting between the first surface and the second surface at points progressing away from the transducer location. The angle also being such that the sound reflections at the first surface produce energy at the first surface such that a first part of every reflection of the wave continues through the first surface in the form of wave through a media toward a CCD acoustic imaging camera, while a second part of the reflection continues along in the test piece.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an imaging system for harmonic imaging of an object in a medium. The system comprises a transducer formed of a single crystal of a piezoelectric material, a transmitter for transmitting waves into the medium, a receiver for receiving echoed waves from the medium, and a control system electrically connected to the transmitter and the receiver which is used control the operation of the transmitter and interpret signals received by the receiver. In a preferred embodiment, the single crystal of piezoelectric material comprises a PMN-PT material or a PZN-PT material. Through use of this material, −6 dB bandwidths of at least approximately 95% are obtainable.

Abstract: For use in acoustic micro imaging, a method (and implementing apparatus) is disclosed for creating a 4D virtual sample data memory. The method comprises employing a pulsed ultrasonic microscope probe to interrogate a sample at three-dimensionally varied locations in the sample. Data developed by the microscope probe includes for each location interrogated a digitized A-scan for that location. The developed data is stored in a data memory.