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EP0019210A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Acoustic spherical lens and method of manufacturing the same

Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1980-05-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2000-05-07
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Abstract

Abstract An acoustic spherical lens wherein a hemispherical hold (64) is formed from a bubble which appears owing to the expansion of residual gases in a lens material (61) employing silica, and the hemispherical hole (64) is used as a lens sur. face.

Inventors

  • 👤 Isao Ishikawa
  • 👤 Hiroshi Kanda
  • 👤 Toshio Kondo

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 10:09
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/30; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/42; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49805; Y10T29/4981

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 65 words
In an acoustic spherical lens constructed of a predetermined lens material (61) which is provided with a piezoelectric transducer (10) on one end face (66) thereof and which has a lens surface (64) on the other end face opposite to the one end face (66), characterized in that said lens surface (64) is a hemispherical hole formed by a gaseous expansion in said-lens material (61).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 65 words
In an acoustic spherical lens constructed of a predetermined lens material (61) which is provided with a piezoelectric transducer (10) on one end face (66) thereof and which has a lens surface (64) on the other end face opposite to the one end face (66), characterized in that said lens surface (64) is a hemispherical hole formed by a gaseous expansion in said-lens material (61).
Claim 3
Independent Claim 156 words
A method of manufacturing an acoustic spherical lens characterized by the steps of (a) stacking a first member (61; 81; 92; 101) made of a predetermined lens material and a second member (62; 82; 91; 100) made of a metal or glass onto each other, (b) heating the stacked structure to a temperature near a melting point of said first member (61; 81; 92; 101) so as to form a bubble (64; 83; 93; 102) in a contact interface between said first member (61; 81; 92; 101) and said second member (62; 82; 91; 100), (c) polishing said stacked structure from the second member (62; 82; 91; 100) side up to the vicinity of an equatorial plane of said bubble (64; 83; 93; 102), and (d) machining said first member (61; 81; 92; 101) into a predetermined lens shape, a hemispherical hole formed by said bubble (64; 83; 93; 102) being used as a lens surface.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 156 words
A method of manufacturing an acoustic spherical lens characterized by the steps of (a) stacking a first member (61; 81; 92; 101) made of a predetermined lens material and a second member (62; 82; 91; 100) made of a metal or glass onto each other, (b) heating the stacked structure to a temperature near a melting point of said first member (61; 81; 92; 101) so as to form a bubble (64; 83; 93; 102) in a contact interface between said first member (61; 81; 92; 101) and said second member (62; 82; 91; 100), (c) polishing said stacked structure from the second member (62; 82; 91; 100) side up to the vicinity of an equatorial plane of said bubble (64; 83; 93; 102), and (d) machining said first member (61; 81; 92; 101) into a predetermined lens shape, a hemispherical hole formed by said bubble (64; 83; 93; 102) being used as a lens surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 2, characterized in that, prior to step (a), the second member (62; 91) is provided with cavities (65; 95) at its surface which is to face the first member (61; 92).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 3, characterized in that the cavities (65; 95) are filled with a gas adsorbing material prior to step (a).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method of claim 2, characterized in that the second member (100) is provided with orifices (110) prior to step (a), and that gas at a controlled pressure is blown through said orifices (110) during steo (b).
Claim 8
Independent Claim 115 words
A method of manufacturing an acoustic spherical lens characterized by the steps of (a) applying a predetermined organic substance (130) onto a first member (120) which has a hemispherical hole (121), (b) heating said organic substance (130) at a predetermined temperature, (c) heating said organic substance (130) in a vacuum at a temperature higher than said predetermined temperature, (d) stacking the resultant organic substance (130) and a second member (140) made of a predetermined lens material onto each other, (e) heating said second member (140) up to a temperature near a melting point thereof, and (f) machining said second member (140) into a predetermined lens shape, said hemispherical hole being used as a lens surface.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 115 words
A method of manufacturing an acoustic spherical lens characterized by the steps of (a) applying a predetermined organic substance (130) onto a first member (120) which has a hemispherical hole (121), (b) heating said organic substance (130) at a predetermined temperature, (c) heating said organic substance (130) in a vacuum at a temperature higher than said predetermined temperature, (d) stacking the resultant organic substance (130) and a second member (140) made of a predetermined lens material onto each other, (e) heating said second member (140) up to a temperature near a melting point thereof, and (f) machining said second member (140) into a predetermined lens shape, said hemispherical hole being used as a lens surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of claim 6, characterized in that the hemispherical hole (121) of step (a) is prepared in accordance with the method of any claims of 2 to 5.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 67 words
The method of claim 6, characterized in that the hemispherical hole (121) of step (a) is prepared by (g) placing a sphere (280) on the bottom of a vessel (200), (h) fusing lens material (210) in the vessel (200) at a temperature below the melting point of the sphere (280), (i) solidifying the lens material (210), and (j) removing the sphere (280) from the lens material (210).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of claim 8, characterized in that the sphere (280) is placed on a ditch provided in said vessel bottom.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 39 words
The method of claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the sphere is obtained by bombarding metal (240) with an electron beam (250) to strike out and fuse a small bulk (270) of the metal which solidifies during fall.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 89 words
A method of manufacturing an acoustic spherical lens characterized by the steps of (a) forming a female mold (302) from a pattern (300) for the lens as has a hemispherical hole (301) formed by a bubble, (b) pouring a predetermined organic substance into said female mold (302), (c) heating said female mold (302) at a predetermined temperature, and (d) heating said organic substance in a vacuum at a temperature higher than said predetermined temperature until it turns into glassy carbon, said hemispherical hole being used as a lens surface.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 89 words
A method of manufacturing an acoustic spherical lens characterized by the steps of (a) forming a female mold (302) from a pattern (300) for the lens as has a hemispherical hole (301) formed by a bubble, (b) pouring a predetermined organic substance into said female mold (302), (c) heating said female mold (302) at a predetermined temperature, and (d) heating said organic substance in a vacuum at a temperature higher than said predetermined temperature until it turns into glassy carbon, said hemispherical hole being used as a lens surface.

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