US3831434A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for image display of sound waves and utilizations thereof
Assignee: Vari-Light Corp
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Filing: 1972-03-23
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Granted: 1974-08-27
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Expires: 1992-03-23
Abstract
Abstract A device employing a piezo-optic cell having a thin layer of aligned liquid crystals which is illuminated by polarized light and viewed through a polarized analyzer to give a real-time visual image in color of the acoustic wave pattern incident thereon. The acoustic wave pattern is typically an acoustic image of an insonified object such that the resulting device is useful in non-destructive testing for industry and medicine. The acoustic wave pattern can also be the human voice (helpful in teaching speech to the deaf) and music (for pleasurable and informative visualization of the musical sound). By use of a reference acoustic wave this device may be utilized to obtain a holographic image.
Inventors
- 👤 P Greguss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:58
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01H; G01H9/00; G01H9/002; G03; G03H; G03H3/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A mechanical wave-optical converter imaging device for visualizing a mechanical wave pattern image, for example of an object, comprising a piezo-optic visual display cell, having a thin layer of aligned liquid crystals, means for polarized transillumination of said cell, a mechanical wave image generating source oriented to be incident on said cell, and analyzing means for observing the changes in birefringence occasioned by the action of the mechanical waves in a patterned image on the liquid crystal layer of the piezo-optic cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
A mechanical wave-optical converter imaging device for visualizing a mechanical wave pattern image, for example of an object, comprising a piezo-optic visual display cell, having a thin layer of aligned liquid crystals, means for polarized transillumination of said cell, a mechanical wave image generating source oriented to be incident on said cell, and analyzing means for observing the changes in birefringence occasioned by the action of the mechanical waves in a patterned image on the liquid crystal layer of the piezo-optic cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mechanical waves are acoustic waves and said liquid crystal layer has a thickness less than 0.010 inches.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising coupling means for effectively coupling said cell, object and source efficiently to transmit said mechanical waves therebetween, wherein said mechanical waves are acoustic waves, said source is an acoustic transducer oriented to impinge upon said object so as to cause a wave-form image thereof to be incident on said cell, and said liquid crystal layer has a thickness small enough to view said image.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mechanical wave generating source is an acoustic transducer positioned to trans-sonify the object to be incident on said cell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the mechanical wave generating source further comprises a sonic focusing means between said transducer and said cell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said liquid crystals are nematic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mechanical wave generating source is an acoustic transducer positioned to insonify said cell with acoustic waves reflected from said object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mechanical wave generating source is an acoustic transducer positioned to form a solid coupling to a face of said cell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device as claimed in claim 8 comprising a light source positioned to be incident on the viewing side of said cell through the polarized analyzing means, and a mirror on the opposing cell face which is in contact with said coupling means whereby the light source, analyzer and mirror combine to form said polarizing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mechanical wave generating source is an acoustic transducer positioned to form a solid coupling to an edge of said celL.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as claimed in claim 3 for creating visualized acoustic holograms comprising a means for generating and directing reference acoustic waves on said cell in coherence and overlap with said object acoustic waves.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said cell has a multiplicity of liquid crystal layers each having a thin transparent spacer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the thickness of said liquid crystal layer is governed by the following equation FH1/C less than or equal to K, wherein H1 is the thickness of the liquid crystal layer, C is the velocity of the acoustic wave in the crystal layer, F is the frequency and K is a constant for the given device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said liquid crystals are nematic.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of forming a real-time visual image of an acoustic wave pattern image of objects, comprising the steps of treating at least one interface surface formed of a layer of liquid crystals and of its surrounding environment with a lubricant to reduce the surface orientation of the environment on said liquid crystals, insonifying the objects to be viewed and directing the acoustic wave pattern image thus formed focused onto a layer of liquid crystals the thickness of which is small enough to assure clarity of the resulting visual image, transilluminating the layer with polarized light and viewing the thus illuminated layer with an analyzer.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of forming a real-time visual image of an acoustic wave pattern image of objects, comprising the steps of treating at least one interface surface formed of a layer of liquid crystals and of its surrounding environment with a lubricant to reduce the surface orientation of the environment on said liquid crystals, insonifying the objects to be viewed and directing the acoustic wave pattern image thus formed focused onto a layer of liquid crystals the thickness of which is small enough to assure clarity of the resulting visual image, transilluminating the layer with polarized light and viewing the thus illuminated layer with an analyzer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 for creating visualized acoustic holograms comprising generating and directing reference acoustic waves on said cell in coherence and overlap with said object acoustic waves.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 15 comprising using said method for acoustic radar by reflective insonification of said objects.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein said liquid crystals are nematic.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein said lubricant is lecithin and said liquid crystal layer is less than 0.010 inches thick.
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) | 1977-08-26 | 1978-02-25 | 1978-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-26 | 1982-02-25 | 1982-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-26 | 1986-02-25 | 1986-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |