Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
The method of exciting a free natural resonance comprising applying excitation at or near the frequency of said free natural resonance, allowing the amplitude of said free natural resonance to build under the influence of said excitation, terminating said excitation, feeding back the decaying natural resonant frequency of said decaying resonance as further excitation after the amplitude of said resonance has decayed to zero to cause a series of independent ringings of said resonance.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
74 words
The method of exciting a free natural resonance comprising applying excitation at or near the frequency of said free natural resonance, allowing the amplitude of said free natural resonance to build under the influence of said excitation, terminating said excitation, feeding back the decaying natural resonant frequency of said decaying resonance as further excitation after the amplitude of said resonance has decayed to zero to cause a series of independent ringings of said resonance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method defined in claim 1 and the further step of measuring the decaying free natural resonance frequency of said natural resonance during at least one of said ringings.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method defined in claim 2, wherein said excitation is ultrasonic.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
58 words
The method of ultrasonically testing an object comprising: A. picking up the decaying resonant vibratiOns of an object being tested; B. delaying the picked up vibrations over a period of time substantially equal to or greater than the vibrations''s decay period; and, C. feeding back said time delayed decaying resonant vibrations to the object under test as excitation.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
58 words
The method of ultrasonically testing an object comprising: A. picking up the decaying resonant vibratiOns of an object being tested; B. delaying the picked up vibrations over a period of time substantially equal to or greater than the vibrations''s decay period; and, C. feeding back said time delayed decaying resonant vibrations to the object under test as excitation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method defined in claim 4 and the additional steps of D. measuring the frequency of said decaying resonant vibrations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
109 words
Ultrasonic testing apparatus comprising: A. a pick up transducer for converting the resonance vibrations of an object under test into electrical oscillations and supplying the same as an output; B. an exciting transducer having an input and for converting electrical oscillations supplied to said input into resonance stimulating vibrations in the object under test; C. delay means; and, D. an electronic switch for connecting the output of said pickup transducer to the input of said exciting transducer in a feedback arrangement to feedback to said exciting transducer only the decaying resonant vibrations in the object under test after the object under test has ceased resonating from the previous excitations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
109 words
Ultrasonic testing apparatus comprising: A. a pick up transducer for converting the resonance vibrations of an object under test into electrical oscillations and supplying the same as an output; B. an exciting transducer having an input and for converting electrical oscillations supplied to said input into resonance stimulating vibrations in the object under test; C. delay means; and, D. an electronic switch for connecting the output of said pickup transducer to the input of said exciting transducer in a feedback arrangement to feedback to said exciting transducer only the decaying resonant vibrations in the object under test after the object under test has ceased resonating from the previous excitations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said delay means is a delay line in the feedback circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said delay line is a electrical delay line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said delay line is an ultrasonic delay line.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said transducers comprise a unitary by-directional ultrasonic transducer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said delay means is a recirculating memory in the feedback circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said transducers are ultrasonic sound transducers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said transducers comprise coils magnetically coupled to the object under test.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said delay means is an ultrasonic sound transmission path between at least one of said transducers and the object under test.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said delay means is a transmission medium in which said transducers and the object under test are immersed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 15; and: E. an ultrasonic pulse echo system for measuring the distance between said transducers and the object under test and for controlling said electronic switch.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said pulse echo system bounces a pulse continuously back and forth between said transducers and the object under test and controls said electronic switch according to the pulse echo repetition rate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said electronic switch comprises a counter responsive to said pulse echo system and the decaying resonant vibrations picked up by said pick up transducer to feed back only a predetermined portion of said decaying resonant vibrations.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 18, and: F. time interval measuring apparatus responsive to signals from said counter, and wherein said counter supplies a start pulse to said measuring apparatus and then counts a predetermined number of said decaying resonant vibrations and then produces a stop pulse.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method defined in claim 1 further defined in that said applying step comprises initially applying noise excitation having a broad frequency spectrum including that of the free natural resonance.