Having Plural Sonic Type Transmitters Or Receivers Tranducers Patents (Class 73/628)
  • Patent number: 12327426
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, devices, apparatuses, and systems for an under-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. A display device may include a platen, a display underlying the platen, and an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor underlying the display, where the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor is configured to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves via an acoustic path through the platen and the display. A light-blocking layer and/or an electrical shielding layer may be provided between the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and the display, where the light-blocking layer and/or the electrical shielding layer are in the acoustic path. A mechanical stress isolation layer may be provided between the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and the display, where the mechanical stress isolation layer is in the acoustic path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Hrishikesh Vijaykumar Panchawagh, Ila Ravindra Badge, Yipeng Lu, Kostadin Dimitrov Djordjev, Suryaprakash Ganti, Chin-Jen Tseng, Nicholas Ian Buchan, Tsongming Kao, Leonard Eugene Fennell, Firas Sammoura, Jessica Liu Strohmann, David William Burns
  • Patent number: 12313595
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for pipeline condition assessment using phased array ultrasonic transducers are disclosed. A sensing module for assessing pipeline condition comprises a body; and one or more phased array ultrasonic transducers (PAUTs) assembled on the surface of the body, each PAUT configured to emit multi-channel ultrasonic waves for scanning a pipe wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: Pure Technologies U.S. Inc.
    Inventors: Angie Wu, Hongwei Zhang, Leo Liu, Jeffrey Chak-Fai Kwan
  • Patent number: 12295783
    Abstract: Sold-state intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging devices, systems, and methods are provided. Some embodiments of the present disclosure are particularly directed to compact and efficient circuit architectures and electrical interfaces for an ultrasound transducer array used in a solid-state IVUS system. In one embodiment, an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) device includes: a flexible elongate member; an ultrasound scanner assembly disposed at a distal portion of the flexible elongate member, the ultrasound scanner assembly including an ultrasound transducer array; an interface coupler disposed at a proximal portion of the flexible elongate member; and a cable disposed within and extending along a length of the flexible elongate member between the ultrasound scanner assembly and the interface coupler. The cable includes four conductors electrically coupling the ultrasound scanner assembly and the interface coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: PHILIPS IMAGE GUIDED THERAPY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Paul Douglas Corl
  • Patent number: 12228398
    Abstract: A non-contact angular motion measuring device includes a mirror configured to move or rotate about a pivot axis. The device also includes a curved target, circularly symmetric around an axis normal to the mirror. The device further includes at least one pair of sensors configured to emit fields towards the curved target rather than the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Price, Felix T. Sasso
  • Patent number: 12109684
    Abstract: A controller according to the present disclosure includes a whole-slip detecting unit (210) that detects, based on pressure information sent from a plurality of regions having different slipping characteristics when an object in contact with the plurality of regions is slipping, a state of a whole slip in which the object is slipping on each of the plurality of regions. An occurrence timing of the whole slip is different for each of the plurality of regions, and thus a state of a partial slip in which a part of the object is slipping is able to be detected, so that it is possible to detect a slip of the object with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoko Nagakari, Tetsuya Narita, Kazuhito Wakana, Kazuo Hongo, Wataru Kokubo, Yoshinao Sodeyama
  • Patent number: 12053325
    Abstract: Among the various aspects described herein is the provision of systems and methods of cross-ray ultrasound tomography. In some embodiments, a cross-ray ultrasound tomography system utilizes an ultrasonic emitter configured to emit one or more ultrasonic waves and an ultrasonic detector array configured to generate one or more radio frequency signals in response to detecting ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic emitter and the ultrasonic detector array are configured such that the one or more ultrasonic waves are emitted by the ultrasonic emitter at an angle to a focal plane of the ultrasonic detector array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Lihong Wang, Shuai Na
  • Patent number: 12007362
    Abstract: A method for reconstructing the crack profiles based on the composite-mode total focusing method (CTFM), including: selecting the parameters for phased array ultrasonic testing; acquiring the A-scan signal matrix; establishing the coordinate system and grid division of the region of interest (ROI); determining the wave modes; solving the positions of the refracted points; reconstructing the image by CTFM; and realizing the quantification, positioning, and orientation of cracks. The A-scan signal matrix including 21 views is acquired. Based on Fermat's principle, the refracted points at the interface between wedge and sample for the 21 views are calculated, to obtain the corresponding amplitude for each view in the ROI. For each reconstruction point, the strongest response is selected from the 21 views. The profiles of the cracks with different orientation angles are reconstructed by CTFM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Dalian University of Technology
    Inventors: Shijie Jin, Li Lin, Chenfei Liu, Zhongbing Luo
  • Patent number: 11986356
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide ultrasound systems and devices that provide for reduction of reverberation artifacts in ultrasound images by automatically changing imaging settings such as PRI or transmit/receive configuration based on detected amounts of reverberation in ultrasound images. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes a processor circuit in communication with an ultrasound probe. The processor circuit obtains a plurality of ultrasound images obtained using a plurality of different PRIs and/or pulse sequences, calculates an amount of reverberation artifacts in each of the plurality of ultrasound images, selects a pulse repetition interval and/or pulse sequence based on the amounts of reverberation artifacts in each of the plurality of ultrasound images, and controls the ultrasound transducer to obtain a reduced-reverberation ultrasound image using the selected pulse repetition interval or pulse sequence. The reduced-reverberation ultrasound image is then output to a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Paul Sheeran, Charles Tremblay-Darveau, Thanasis Loupas, Allison Arden Daniels
  • Patent number: 11920412
    Abstract: A device and method used for inspecting and measuring coiled tubing, production tubing or drill pipe as it enters the well. Defects such as internal and external wall loss, cracking and deformation can be detected and quantified. The axial motion of the tubing can be measured allowing for depth measurements that are more accurate and reliable than what can be obtained using an encoder wheel system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: DarkVision Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Graham Manders
  • Patent number: 11872075
    Abstract: System (10) for determining a position of an interventional device (11) respective an image plane (12) defined by an ultrasound imaging probe (13). The position is determined based on ultrasound signals transmitted between the ultrasound imaging probe (13) and an ultrasound transducer (15) attached to the interventional device (11). An image reconstruction unit (IRU) provides a reconstructed ultrasound image (RUI). A position determination unit (PDU) computes a position (LAPTOFSmax, ?IPA) of the ultrasound transducer (15) respective the image plane (12). The position determination unit (PDU) indicates the computed position (LAPTOFSmax, ?IPA) in the reconstructed ultrasound image (RUI). The position determination unit (PDU) suppresses the indication of the computed position (LAPTOFSmax, ?IPA) under specified conditions relating to the computed position (LAPTOFSmax, ?IPA) and the ultrasound signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Mischa Megens, Hendrik Roelof Stapert, Mustafa Hakan Gokgurler, Stefan Van De Pas, Jeroen Kortsmit, Franciscus Hendrikus Van Heesch, Harm Jan Willem Belt, Ameet Kumar Jain, Kunal Vaidya, Francois Guy Gerard Marie Vignon
  • Patent number: 11844652
    Abstract: A method of operating an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes: acquiring a plurality of frequency band images respectively having different frequency bands based on an ultrasound signal corresponding to an object; determining weights respectively for the plurality of frequency band images based on brightness levels of regions including the object in each of the plurality of frequency band images; synthesizing the plurality of frequency band images based on the weights for the plurality of frequency band images; and displaying a synthetic ultrasound image of the object, generated as a result of the synthesizing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG MEDISON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sungchan Park, Jaehyun Kwon, Jungho Kim
  • Patent number: 11692930
    Abstract: A vibrometer may measure acoustic responses in portions of a structure along a scan path to acoustic excitation of the structure. A ranging device may measure distances to the portions of the structure along the scan path. A three-dimensional point cloud may be generated based on the acoustic responses in the portions of the structure and the distances to the portions of the structure. The three-dimensional point cloud may include points representing geometry of the portions of the structure. The points may be associated with the acoustic responses in corresponding portions of the structure. One or more properties of the structure may be determined based on an analysis of the three-dimensional point cloud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Triad National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Brian Flynn, Peter Hans Fickenwirth, Matthew James Adams
  • Patent number: 11668684
    Abstract: Methods and systems for solving inverse problems arising in systems described by a physics-based forward propagation model use a Bayesian approach to model the uncertainty in the realization of model parameters. A Generative Adversarial Network (“GAN”) architecture along with heuristics and statistical learning is used. This results in a more reliable point estimate of the desired model parameters. In some embodiments, the disclosed methodology may be applied to automatic inversion of physics-based modeling of pipelines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Landmark Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Srinivasan Jagnnathan, Oluwatosin Ogundare, Srinath Madasu, Keshava Rangarajan
  • Patent number: 11660066
    Abstract: Some implementations of the disclosure are directed to an ultrasound measurement device including: multiple ultrasound sensors to capture tomographical information of a physiological structure, each ultrasound sensor comprising a transducer having a respective resonant frequency, where each transducer has a frequency response that partially overlaps with a frequency response of another transducer; and a processing device to control and process measurements made by the ultrasound sensors. The device may be incorporated in an adhesive substrate configured to be adhered to a patient's skin in alignment with an artery of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Alaina Ann Brinley Rajagopal, Aditya Rajagopal
  • Patent number: 11523798
    Abstract: A method and ultrasound imaging system for detecting a coherent reflector includes acquiring ultrasound channel data from a volume with a probe, calculating a transform function from the ultrasound channel data, identifying a first angle of a projection of the coherent reflector in a plane parallel to the 2D aperture based on the transform function, detecting a line-shaped echo pattern in the ultrasound channel data, and determining a second angle of the coherent reflector with respect to the 2D aperture based on the position of the line-shaped echo pattern. The method and system includes determining a position and orientation of the coherent reflector based on the first angle and the second angle, enhancing a representation of the coherent reflector in an image generated based on the ultrasound channel data, and displaying the image on a display device after enhancing the representation of the coherent reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raja Sekhar Bandaru, Anders Sornes, Eigil Samset, Jan D'Hooge
  • Patent number: 11493464
    Abstract: A method for determining an electrical property of interest of material(s) in a target region confined by a boundary surface comprises receiving measured values of a measurable electrical quantity; providing simulated values of the measurable electrical quantity for an initial approximation of the electrical property conditions; determining an objective function comprising observation difference between the measured and the simulated values as well a prior model, and determining an adjusted approximation; and providing, on the basis of the adjusted approximation, an estimation of the electrical property of interest. Simulated statistics of a position deviation in the observations is provided, caused by a difference of an effective position of the measurement probe from a predetermined reference position; and by providing the observation model to define the observations of the measurable electrical quantity to correspond to measurements made with the measurement probe in the reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: ROCSOLE LTD
    Inventor: Arto Voutilainen
  • Patent number: 11378477
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring normal and shear stress at a surface. The apparatus includes a substrate; and a plurality of sensing units on the substrate. Each sensing unit includes a mechanical transducer having a receiving surface and a sensing surface; and a plurality of normal force sensors between the sensing surface and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: KENT STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Mykhailo Pevnyi, Tianyi Guo, Fred Minkowski, Vincent Hetherington, Hiroshi Yokoyama, Peter Palffy-Muhoray
  • Patent number: 10760988
    Abstract: A bolt axial force measurement apparatus of the present invention includes an echo detection section and an axial force calculation section. The echo detection section sets a head echo gate for the head echo and sets a bottom echo gate for the bottom echo, and executes tracking for a plurality of ultrasonic pulses emitted during tightening of the bolt so that the head echo gate and bottom echo gate are shifted independently to include the predetermined positions at the same position in the head echo gate and bottom echo gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., RYODEN SHONAN ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshitsugu Sakakibara, Kazuhiro Tsuzaki, Toshiaki Ohashi, Tsukasa Ishida
  • Patent number: 10551296
    Abstract: This application discloses integrated probes and probe systems, which can be attached to the robotic arms of a remotely operated vehicle to perform both cathodic protection (CP) voltage measurements and ultrasonic testing (UT) thickness measurements at an underwater surface. In some embodiments, the integrated probe system couples an inner and outer gimbal together such that one or more electrically conductive legs pass from the outer gimbal through the inner gimbal. These legs are arranged about an ultrasonic sensor which extends from the front surface of the inner gimbal. When the integrated probe contacts the underwater surface, both the ultrasonic sensor and at least one leg contact the surface, thereby providing substantially simultaneous CP and UT measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Fadl Abdellatif, Hamad Al-Saiari, Ali Outa, Ayman Amer, Sahejad Patel, Ameen Obedan, Hassane Trigui
  • Patent number: 10537303
    Abstract: A method and ultrasound imaging system for detecting a coherent reflector comprises acquiring ultrasound channel data from a volume with a probe including a 2D aperture, calculating a MRT from the ultrasound channel data, identifying a first angle of a projection of the coherent reflector in a plane parallel to the 2D aperture based on the MRT, detecting a line-shaped echo pattern in the ultrasound channel data, determining a second angle of the coherent reflector with respect to the 2D aperture, determining a position and an orientation of the coherent reflector based on the first angle and the second angle, enhancing a representation of the coherent reflector in an image generated based on the ultrasound channel data, and displaying the image on a display device after enhancing the representation of the coherent reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raja Sekhar Bandaru, Anders Sornes, Eigil Samset, Jan D'Hooge
  • Patent number: 10528148
    Abstract: A respective sensing region of at least one radar unit is oriented into a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and a control device is configured to sense a position of a body part of a person and/or a movement of the body part in the passenger compartment on the basis of the reflection respectively received by the at least one radar unit, thus providing non-contact detection of the body part of the person in the motor vehicle. As viewed from the passenger compartment, the at least one radar unit can be arranged behind a display surface of a display device or alongside the display surface of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Mueller, Michael Schlittenbauer
  • Patent number: 10515620
    Abstract: Exposure to ultrasound energy emitted by remote object detection systems on vehicles is reduced for vehicle occupants. An automotive vehicle has a passenger cabin and a remote sensing system including ultrasonic transceivers mounted for sensing external objects. An ultrasonic microphone is disposed to sense an ultrasonic wave entering the passenger cabin at greater than 30 kHz. An antinoise processor calculates an antinoise signal adapted to at least partially cancel the ultrasonic wave at a predetermined location in the cabin. An amplifier is coupled to the processor for amplifying the antinoise signal by a predetermined gain. An ultrasonic speaker is coupled to the amplifier to project the antinoise signal into the predetermined location to attenuate the ultrasonic wave at the predetermined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond C. Siciak, Kathryn Hamilton, Mahrdad Damsaz, Vivekananda Krishnamurthy
  • Patent number: 10488238
    Abstract: An ultrasonic flow meter including a meter housing, a flow tube with an inner flow channel for a fluid to be measured, and ultrasound reflectors, the meter housing has two transducer recesses, an ultrasound transducer positioned in the first transducer recess, and a second ultrasound transducer positioned in the second transducer recess. The transducer recesses each has slanted bottom walls, with the ultrasound transducers abutted against the slanted bottom walls of the recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Apator Miitors ApS
    Inventor: Jens Drachmann
  • Patent number: 10461124
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a CMOS substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. A plurality of ultrasonic transducers is provided having a transmit/receive surface. A contact surface is piezoelectrically associated with the plurality of ultrasonic transducers and is formed on the first surface of the CMOS substrate. The plurality of ultrasonic transducers is disposed on the second surface of the CMOS substrate, with the transmit/receive side attached to the second surface thereof such that the CMOS substrate is between the plurality of ultrasonic transducers and the platen. An image sensing system is also provided, together with a method for ultrasonic sensing in the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: InvenSense, Inc.
    Inventors: Renata Melamud Berger, Julius Ming-Lin Tsai, Stephen Lloyd
  • Patent number: 10101193
    Abstract: A fluid level sensor may include a first sound transducer, a second sound transducer, a reference element, a first deflection element, and a control unit. The reference element may be disposed at a predetermined distance from the second sound transducer and arranged in a fluid space of the fluid container. The first deflection element may be arranged in the fluid space to deflect the second sound signals by a first predetermined angle toward the fluid surface. The control unit may establish a speed of sound within a fluid in the fluid space based at least in part on the second sound signals and establish the level of the fluid surface over a base portion of the fluid container based at least in part on the first sound signals, the second sound signals, and the speed of sound within the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Karl-Friedrich Pfeiffer, Claus Webber, Henning Grotevent, Wighard Jaeger
  • Patent number: 9964525
    Abstract: A monitoring system comprising ultrasound sensors to monitor the structure of a composite material part during production is automatically calibrated using reference sensors mounted on reference blocks and placed in the production environment of the part. The automatic calibration comprises actuating a reference sensor to transmit an ultrasonic wave and measuring the amplitude of a reference echo constituted by the transmitted ultrasonic wave after it has passed through the reference block. The measured amplitude is compared to a set point value and the gain is applied to the reference sensor to obtain an amplitude value of the reference echo substantially equal to the set point value. The gain applied to the reference sensor is applied to the ultrasound sensors of the same type as the reference sensor. The operation is performed for each reference sensor, and successively for all of the stages of production of the part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Airbus SAS
    Inventors: Stéphane Auffray, Hubert Voillaume
  • Patent number: 9796124
    Abstract: The invention relates to novel processes for determining the quality of an uncrosslinked rubber mixture by means of ultrasound and to an apparatus suitable for this purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: LANXESS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Schroeder, Lars Wawrzinski, Ludwig Graeff
  • Patent number: 9696228
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a sensor for simultaneously measuring both normal and shear forces applied to the sensor, and further a statically responsive sensor for measuring shear forces. The present invention further includes a method of designing an object or a device using these sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Great Lakes Neurotechnologies Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew D. Tarler
  • Patent number: 9606227
    Abstract: A spatial position x? of each ultrasonic transducer is accurately obtained for each probe in consideration of each edge transducer gap, and a delay time T(x?(n)) and a weighting coefficient W(x?(n)) are calculated on the basis of the position of each ultrasonic transducer. A control unit executes ultrasonic transmission/reception by using the calculated delay times and weighting coefficients to realize a suitable acoustic field with high deflection angle accuracy, small sidelobes, and the like as compared with the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuro Baba, Takuya Sasaki, Satoru Tezuka, Yasuo Miyajima
  • Patent number: 9536430
    Abstract: A method for notifying a user of the status of a parking space. The method comprises transmitting a pulse from a transceiver assigned to a parking space and for each pulse receiving by transceiver a corresponding echo created by said pulse being reflecting back from a object occupying said parking space. The method further comprises measuring corresponding echo time by a processing unit. The method further comprises comparing said corresponding echo time to a predefined range of echo times by a processing unit to determine occupancy of said parking space. The method further comprises using said occupancy of parking space to determine the parking space status by a processing unit, together with information on time of day and parking space permission. The method further comprises notifying a user of said parking space status by visual indication from at least one light emitting diode array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Inventor: Moises Jaime Rodrich
  • Patent number: 9448150
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a fluid's kinematic viscosity from ultrasonic energy that has passed through the fluid of unknown viscosity along an acoustic path of known length. A computer of the apparatus determines a characteristic frequency of a received electrical signal associated with the ultrasonic energy and measures the fluid's velocity of sound. The kinematic viscosity of the fluid is determined by the computer on a continuous basis based on the characteristic frequency and the sound velocity. A method for determining a fluid's kinematic viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Herbert A. Estrada, Donald R. Augenstein, Bobbie W. Griffith, Calvin R. Hastings
  • Patent number: 9138202
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic transmission/reception unit which generates echo signals associated with scan planes by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to and from an object via the ultrasonic probe, an image data generating unit which generate tomogram data respectively corresponding to the scan planes based on the echo signals, a contour line extraction processing unit which extracts contour lines of a specific region from the plurality of tomograms, a contour line processing unit which generates curves respectively corresponding to the extracted contour lines, and a surface image generating unit which generates one-dimensional brightness trains on the curves from the tomograms and generates a surface image expressing the surface unevenness of the specific region with brightness changes by arraying the brightness trains in accordance with the positions of the corresponding scan planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Naohisa Kamiyama
  • Patent number: 9116098
    Abstract: An ultrasonic detection method and system are disclosed. The ultrasonic detection method includes providing an ultrasonic detection system having a first ultrasonic device arrangement and a second ultrasonic device arrangement, positioning the ultrasonic detection system in a peripheral offset position with respect to an object to be measured, and transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic beam between the first ultrasonic device arrangement and the second ultrasonic device arrangement, thereby obtaining ultrasonic detection information about the object. Additionally or alternatively, the transmitting and receiving of the ultrasonic detection method obtains data on a volume greater than that which is capable of being analyzed by a single probe arrangement. The ultrasonic detection system includes the first ultrasonic device arrangement and the second ultrasonic device arrangement positioned in a peripheral offset position with respect to an object to be measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas James Batzinger
  • Patent number: 9038470
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting a composite structure. A response sound signal to a sound signal sent into the composite structure at a location on the composite structure is detected. An attenuation is identified in the response sound signal detected in response to the sound signal sent into the composite structure at the location on the composite structure. An indication of whether additional evaluation of the location is needed based on a comparison of the attenuation in the response sound signal to a baseline attenuation value for porosity for the location on the composite structure is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Roger W. Engelbart, Christopher M. Vaccaro, Scott E. Black, Nancy Wood
  • Publication number: 20150114124
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus, method and system for inspecting structures, and more particularly for evaluating the condition of a structure. The disclosed nondestructive inspection testing method and apparatus enables an operator to assess the condition of a structure, such as a composite laminate part and determining the location and depth of anomalies. The method includes generating a subsurface longitudinal ultrasonic wave signal at a high incidence angle into a structure being evaluated and collecting at least one of any front, back or side reflected wave data. The method may include processing the reflected wave data to determine the condition of the structure, including any anomalies that may have been detected and their location, size and shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Kollgaard, William J. Tapia
  • Patent number: 9017262
    Abstract: Methods and systems for connection to a transducer in ultrasound probes are provided. One connection arrangement includes a connector having a transducer connection portion configured to couple to a transducer of an ultrasound probe and a scan head connection portion configured to extend from a scan head of the ultrasound probe containing the transducer. The transducer connection portion and the scan head connection portion being a single element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Reinhold Bruestle, Wolfgang Dieter Knoll, Christian Heinrich, Christian Holl
  • Patent number: 8991258
    Abstract: An inspection arrangement and an associated method for inspecting an elongate object. The arrangement includes a housing providing an interior space. The housing has an entrance and exit that are aligned. The arrangement includes a plurality of ultrasonic sensor arrays disposed to direct ultrasonic sensory pluses. Each sensor array has a plurality of ultrasonic sensors with each ultrasonic sensor positioned to direct a respective ultrasonic sensory pulse in a respective direction. The arrangement includes a fluid delivery device that delivers a coupling fluid into the interior space. The coupling fluid transmits the ultrasonic sensory pluses to the elongate object. The arrangement includes a plurality of redirecting elements associated with the plurality of ultrasonic sensor arrays. Each redirecting element is positioned such that ultrasonic sensory pluses from the respective ultrasonic sensor array proceed through the respective redirecting element and are redirected along a different direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephan Falter, Kurt Guenter Fuchs, Dieter Lingenberg, Cord Heinrich Asche
  • Publication number: 20150053014
    Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a tubular workpiece may include a probe assembly and a rotation mechanism. The probe assembly may include a transducer array positionable adjacent to an inner surface of the tubular workpiece. The probe assembly may generate transmitted sound waves and may receive reflected sound waves. The rotation mechanism may rotate the probe assembly relative to the tubular workpiece in a manner such that the transducer array passes over the inner surface in a circumferential direction during transmission of the transmitted sound waves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Barry A. Fetzer, Navpreet S. Grewal, Peter Kuk-kyung Hwang, William R. Schell, Kate Brown Boudreau
  • Patent number: 8960006
    Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection apparatus includes: an ultrasonic probe apparatus including an ultrasonic transducer; a drive element selecting section that selects a required piezoelectric vibrator of the ultrasonic transducer; a signal detecting circuit that detects an electric signal dependent on a reflected echo of an ultrasonic wave emitted from the selected piezoelectric vibrator; a signal processing section that produces data on an internal image of the inspection object based on the detected reflected echo; a second display unit that combines multiple pieces of image data acquired from the signal processing section and displays an integrated visualization data result; and an second input unit that is used to perform an operation command such as a command input to start or terminate an inspection or an a command to set inspection condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hideo Isobe, Takahiro Ikeda, Ryoichi Arai
  • Patent number: 8960005
    Abstract: Frequency-steerable acoustic transducers (FSATs) that allow directional generation or sensing of waves propagating in two-dimensional domains. Directionality is the result of the spatial filtering effect produced by the characteristic shape of the sensing surface. A wavenumber spiral FSAT (WS-FSAT) maps the direction of wave sensing in the [0°, 180°] range to a specific frequency component in the spectrum of the received signal. The use of a wavenumber spiral FSAT operating in sensing mode can be used for the localization of broadband acoustic events. One configuration includes a broadband source generating guided elastic waves in an isotropic plate. The WS-FSAT records the plate response and defines the source location through a time-frequency analysis of the received signal. The frequency selective response of the WS-FSAT directly maps the dominant component of the received signal to the direction of arrival of the incoming wave, thus greatly facilitating the source localization procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Massimo Ruzzene, Matteo Senesi, Buli Xu
  • Publication number: 20150013463
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting a test object. A sound signal is sent from a first portion of a curved transducer array through the test object in a direction towards a second portion of the curved transducer array. The curved transducer array has a shape that is configured to cover a non-planar surface of the test object. A response signal in response to the sound signal is received at the second portion of the curved transducer array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Gary Ernest Georgeson, William Joseph Tapia, Justin D. Serrill
  • Patent number: 8931344
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for inspecting a flaws in tubular disclosed herein include but are not limited to inspection stations comprising one or more chutes adapted to receive a tubular, an inspection assembly adapted to ultrasonically inspect a tubular in the one or more chutes, and one or more rotators for apply directional forces on the tubular to advance and rotate the tubular in the one or more chutes. The inspection assembly is adapted to ultrasonically inspect tubulars while the tubulars are under a rotational force in the chute. The inspection assembly may be further adapted to identify the end of a tubular in a first chute and index the position of the inspection assembly over a second chute to inspect a tubular loaded in the second chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventor: Richard J. Girndt
  • Patent number: 8925386
    Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus having an ultrasonic probe configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave, a transmitter for configured to supply a signal to the ultrasonic probe and forming an ultrasonic beam, a receiver configured to receive a reception signal obtained by transmitting the ultrasonic beam to an object, a signal processor configured to form an ultrasonic image on the basis of the reception signal, a display unit configured to display the ultrasonic image, and a control unit configured to control the transmitter, the receiver, the signal processor and the display unit, comprising a setting unit configured to set an operation mode of the transmitter to a low power consumption operation mode or a high spatial resolution operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Oshiki
  • Patent number: 8904872
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting non-linear operation of a measuring device comprising an array of transducers and at least one receiver channel portion. The method comprises receiving measured signals through transducers of the array, processing the measured signals from the transducers through the receiver channel portion, combining the processed measured signals to produce a combined measurement signal, and detecting non-linearity of the combined measurement signal and non-linear operation of the measuring device by detecting saturation of the receiver channel portion. In one embodiment, the receiver channel portion comprises an analog-to-digital converter, a threshold is assigned to a digital output of the analog-to-digital converter, and saturation of the receiver channel portion is detected when the digital output of the analog-to-digital converter oversteps the assigned threshold. In one application of the invention, the measuring device is a non-destructive testing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus NDT
    Inventors: Pierre Langlois, Michael Drummy
  • Publication number: 20140355381
    Abstract: Techniques, systems, and devices are described for implementing for implementing computation devices and artificial neurons based on nanoelectromechanical (NEMS) systems. In one aspect, a nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) based computing element includes: a substrate; two electrodes configured as a first beam structure and a second beam structure positioned in close proximity with each other without contact, wherein the first beam structure is fixed to the substrate and the second beam structure is attached to the substrate while being free to bend under electrostatic force. The first beam structure is kept at a constant voltage while the other voltage varies based on an input signal applied to the NEMS based computing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: CORNELL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Amit Lal, Serhan Ardanuc, Jason T. Hoople, Justin C. Kuo
  • Patent number: 8899113
    Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a tubular workpiece may include a probe assembly and a rotation mechanism. The probe assembly may include a transducer array positionable adjacent to an inner surface of the tubular workpiece. The probe assembly may generate transmitted sound waves and may receive reflected sound waves. The rotation mechanism may rotate the probe assembly relative to the tubular workpiece in a manner such that the transducer array passes over the inner surface in a circumferential direction during transmission of the transmitted sound waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Barry A. Fetzer, Navpreet S. Grewal, Peter Kuk-kyung Hwang, William R. Schell, Kate Brown Boudreau
  • Publication number: 20140338456
    Abstract: Ultrasonic detection methods are disclosed. The method includes providing an ultrasonic detection system having a transmitting phased array device and a receiving phased array device. A phased array wave is transmitted through a revolutionary body from the transmitting phased array device to the receiving phased array device, thereby obtaining ultrasonic detection information about the revolutionary body. In another embodiment, the method includes positioning the transmitting phased array device and the receiving phased array device on a periphery of a turbine rotor, transmitting a phased array wave into the turbine rotor, the phased array wave not reflecting off of a reflecting feature, adjusting the positioning of the transmitting phased array devices on the periphery of the turbine rotor, and transmitting the phased array wave into the turbine rotor, the phased array wave reflecting off of a reflecting feature. The reflected phased array wave is received by the receiving phased array device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Charles FREDA, Francis Alexander Reed
  • Publication number: 20140305219
    Abstract: An array of ultrasonic transducers in a conical formation emits pulses of ultrasonic simultaneously so that an anomaly of any orientation in a test object can be detected efficiently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicants: V & M Deutschland GmbH, General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephan Falter, Stefan Georg Nitsche
  • Publication number: 20140260630
    Abstract: An inspection fixture is provided that includes a fixture, a lens, an ultrasonic phase array, a mirror and a liquid supply connector. The fixture body includes an inner chamber and an opening to the inner chamber. The lens defines a portion of the inner chamber. The ultrasonic phase array generates ultrasonic signals and is positioned to send the ultrasonic signals through the lens. The mirror is received within the inner chamber and is positioned at 45° in relation to the lens to reflect the ultrasonic signals from the lens, out the opening, to an inspection area of a body to be inspected and to reflect returned ultrasonic signals from the inspection area to the lens. The liquid supply connector is in fluid communication with the inner chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Clint D. Thomson, Jeremy D. Palmer, Robert N. Andersen, Kenneth B. Riding
  • Patent number: 8826740
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-destructively inspecting a composite structure with an ultrasonic system including an ultrasonic probe includes positioning the composite structure in a tank-less environment, and scanning the composite structure with the ultrasonic system to measure ultrasonic sound waves reflected by the composite structure to the single ultrasonic probe. A physical characteristic of the composite structure is determined based at least in part on the measured ultrasonic sound waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert William Bergman