Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of recording an acoustic hologram of an object which comprises: irradiating said object with acoustic waves of a predetermined frequency to develop a field of acoustic vibrations in a predetermined surface plane; scanning said surface plane with a collimated light beam; measuring variations in a reflection component of light from said surface plane to develop an output signal having frequency variations which correspond with acoustic intensity variatiOns in said surface plane; heterodyning said output signal with a reference signal having a frequency bearing a predetermined relationship to said predetermined acoustic-wave frequency to generate an image signal; and converting said image signal to a visual image display to generate an acoustic hologram of said object.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of recording an acoustic hologram of an object which comprises: irradiating said object with acoustic waves of a predetermined frequency to develop a field of acoustic vibrations in a predetermined surface plane; scanning said surface plane with a collimated light beam; measuring variations in a reflection component of light from said surface plane to develop an output signal having frequency variations which correspond with acoustic intensity variatiOns in said surface plane; heterodyning said output signal with a reference signal having a frequency bearing a predetermined relationship to said predetermined acoustic-wave frequency to generate an image signal; and converting said image signal to a visual image display to generate an acoustic hologram of said object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
147 words
Apparatus for recording an acoustic hologram of an object comprising: an acoustic imaging system comprising a reflective surface and an electromechanical transducer for irradiating said surface with acoustic waves of a predetermined frequency and with acoustic wave fronts inclined with respect to said surface at a predetermined acute angle to develop a field of surface-wave perturbations on said surface; means including a flying spot laser scanner for scanning said surface with a collimated light beam; an optical detecting system responsive to variations in a reflection component of light from said surface for developing an output signal having frequency variations which correspond with intensity variations of said surface-wave perturbations; means for heterodyning said output signal with a reference signal of said predetermined acoustic-wave frequency to develop an image signal; and means converting said image signal to a visual image display to generate an acoustic hologram of said object.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
147 words
Apparatus for recording an acoustic hologram of an object comprising: an acoustic imaging system comprising a reflective surface and an electromechanical transducer for irradiating said surface with acoustic waves of a predetermined frequency and with acoustic wave fronts inclined with respect to said surface at a predetermined acute angle to develop a field of surface-wave perturbations on said surface; means including a flying spot laser scanner for scanning said surface with a collimated light beam; an optical detecting system responsive to variations in a reflection component of light from said surface for developing an output signal having frequency variations which correspond with intensity variations of said surface-wave perturbations; means for heterodyning said output signal with a reference signal of said predetermined acoustic-wave frequency to develop an image signal; and means converting said image signal to a visual image display to generate an acoustic hologram of said object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, in which said collimated light beam is focused to a diffraction-limited spot size at said surface smaller than one-half wavelength of the surface-wave perturbations caused by said acoustic waves.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, in which said acoustic imaging system includes a receptacle in the path of said acoustic waves for receiving and orienting said object in a direction inclined at an acute angle with respect to the wave fronts of said acoustic waves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
112 words
An acoustic imaging device comprising: a solid block having a predetermined reflective surface and composed of a material having a predetermined acoustic impedance; means including an electromechanical transducer for projecting sound waves through said block to said surface at an acute angle with respect thereto to produce surface wave perturbations on said surface; and means for modifying said surface wave perturbations in accordance with a characteristic of an object to be examined comprising a slot in said block intercepting the path of said acoustic waves for receiving and orienting said object at an acute angle with respect to their wave fronts said slot being filled with a liquid acoustic wave transmissive medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
112 words
An acoustic imaging device comprising: a solid block having a predetermined reflective surface and composed of a material having a predetermined acoustic impedance; means including an electromechanical transducer for projecting sound waves through said block to said surface at an acute angle with respect thereto to produce surface wave perturbations on said surface; and means for modifying said surface wave perturbations in accordance with a characteristic of an object to be examined comprising a slot in said block intercepting the path of said acoustic waves for receiving and orienting said object at an acute angle with respect to their wave fronts said slot being filled with a liquid acoustic wave transmissive medium.