US3744302A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spatially coherent sonic wave object inspection device
Assignee: Raytheon Co
•
Filing: 1966-08-25
•
Granted: 1973-07-10
•
Expires: 1986-08-25
Abstract
Abstract A system for inspecting the surface and internal threedimensional aspects of a solid object by directing a beam of spatially coherent sonic wave energy so that a portion of the wave energy which penetrates the object is reflected from interfaces between density discontinuities therein and is directed toward a recording plane as an object beam. Another portion of the beam of spatially coherent sonic wave energy is reflected directly from a reflecting surface and directed to the recording plane as a reference beam. The object beam and the reference beam form an interference fringe pattern at the recording plane which is recorded on a transparency. Thereafter, three dimensional images of the object can be reconstructed by directing a laser beam through the transparency and looking through the transparency.
Inventors
- 👤 Meara T O
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:49
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/04; G01N29/06; G01N29/0654; G01N29/0663; A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/42; A61B8/4272; A61B8/4281; G01H; G01H3/00; G01H3/10; G01H3/12; G01H3/125; G03; G03H; G03H3/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A system for inspecting objects immersed within a homogeneous liquid medium having a mechanical impedance closely related to that of the object, comprising: means for generating a beam of spatially coherent sonic or ultrasonic wave energy, a portion of tHe beam being directed to the object; reflector means adapted to directly receive and directly reflect a portion of the beam of spatially coherent sonic or ultrasonic wave energy as a reference beam; and recorder means adapted to receive and record the spatially coherent sonic or ultrasonic wave energy reflected from said reflector means and to receive and record spatially coherent sonic or ultrasonic wave energy reflected from matter within the object in the form of an interference fringe pattern.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
119 words
A system for inspecting objects immersed within a homogeneous liquid medium having a mechanical impedance closely related to that of the object, comprising: means for generating a beam of spatially coherent sonic or ultrasonic wave energy, a portion of tHe beam being directed to the object; reflector means adapted to directly receive and directly reflect a portion of the beam of spatially coherent sonic or ultrasonic wave energy as a reference beam; and recorder means adapted to receive and record the spatially coherent sonic or ultrasonic wave energy reflected from said reflector means and to receive and record spatially coherent sonic or ultrasonic wave energy reflected from matter within the object in the form of an interference fringe pattern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 1 in which said recording means includes means for recording the interference fringe pattern on a transparency.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination of claim 2 further including means for generating a beam of spatially coherent light, said means being operable to direct the spatially coherent light through said transparency for reconstructing an image of the object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 1 in which said recorder means is adapted to receive and record spatially coherent sonic or ultrasonic wave energy from the interface between density discontinuities of the object.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
259 words
A system for inspecting an object comprising: tank means forming a hollow chamber and having chamber walls of acoustically nonreflecting material; a homogeneous liquid medium contained within said tank chamber and surrounding the body said liquid having a mechanical impedance that is closely related to the mechanical impedance of the object; a reflecting member mounted within said tank and immersed within said liquid, said reflecting member having a planar reflecting surface; transducer means for generating a beam of spatially coherent sonic or ultrasonic wave energy being mounted within said tank and being operable to direct one portion of the beam to the object and another portion of the beam to said reflective surface; a recorder means including a cathode ray tube having a planar sound responsive face member of piezo-electric material which is mounted within said tank for receiving the spatially coherent sonic or ultrasonic wave energy reflected from said reflector means and from the interface between matter density discontinuities within the object as an interference fringe pattern, said cathode ray tube being operable to electrically scan said face member for generating a video signal corresponding to the interference fringe pattern impinging thereat; a means for converting said video signal to a video display; a photographic means for recording the video display of the interference fringe pattern on a transparency; and laser means for generating a beam of spatially coherent light, said laser means being operable to direct the spatially coherent light through said transparency for reconstructing a three-dimensional image of the exterior and interior aspects of the object.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
259 words
A system for inspecting an object comprising: tank means forming a hollow chamber and having chamber walls of acoustically nonreflecting material; a homogeneous liquid medium contained within said tank chamber and surrounding the body said liquid having a mechanical impedance that is closely related to the mechanical impedance of the object; a reflecting member mounted within said tank and immersed within said liquid, said reflecting member having a planar reflecting surface; transducer means for generating a beam of spatially coherent sonic or ultrasonic wave energy being mounted within said tank and being operable to direct one portion of the beam to the object and another portion of the beam to said reflective surface; a recorder means including a cathode ray tube having a planar sound responsive face member of piezo-electric material which is mounted within said tank for receiving the spatially coherent sonic or ultrasonic wave energy reflected from said reflector means and from the interface between matter density discontinuities within the object as an interference fringe pattern, said cathode ray tube being operable to electrically scan said face member for generating a video signal corresponding to the interference fringe pattern impinging thereat; a means for converting said video signal to a video display; a photographic means for recording the video display of the interference fringe pattern on a transparency; and laser means for generating a beam of spatially coherent light, said laser means being operable to direct the spatially coherent light through said transparency for reconstructing a three-dimensional image of the exterior and interior aspects of the object.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-09 | 1977-01-08 | 1977-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-09 | 1981-01-08 | 1981-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-09 | 1985-01-08 | 1985-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |