Patent US3964296A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3964296A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Integrated ultrasonic scanning apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-06-03
•
Granted: 1976-06-22
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Expires: 1995-06-03
Abstract
Abstract An integrated closed ultrasonic scanner having a sealed housing provided with an acoustically conductive liquid disposed therein. Means are provided within the housing to receive acoustical waves and convert the same to electrical signals. Non-contacting commutation means may be provided. These signals may be electrical signals which are converted to convenient data display format, such as a video output, may be in the form of a direct visual output as by light emitting diode arrays or other suitable means. The integrated scanner is adapted to be relatively lightweight such that a user may readily operate the instrument while holding it within one hand. In one embodiment an endless belt is provided within the housing and adapted for orbital movement therewithin. Piezoelectric transducers are secured to the exterior of the endless belt and drive means disposed within the housing are provided for establishing the desired orbital movement. Non-contacting commutation means energize the transducers and transfer reflected transducer signals toward the exterior of the sealed housing. A flexible fresnel deflecting lens is disposed between the endless belt and a mechanically compliant wall of the sealed housing. Means for reciprocating the fresnel lens in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of the orbiting transducers is provided. This results in a rapid mechanically reliable B-scan type of reading. The endless belt may be mounted upon a pair of rotatable pulleys which may serve as the armatures of electric motors disposed within the sealed housing. Internal signal handling means disposed within the housing may communicate with external signal processing means through electrical cable means. In another embodiment the sealed housing which contains an acoustically conductive liquid is provided with an endless belt mounted for orbital movement in a first direction and translational movement in a second direction. At least one transducer and one light emitting diode are secured to the exterior of the belt. Drive means disposed within the sealed housing drive the endless belt in the orbital first direction and translational second direction. Magnetic commutation means commutate acoustical signals received by the transducer, and additional commutation means energize the light emitting diode. Electrical cable means are operatively associated with the drive means and in communication with the exterior of the sealed housing. In another embodiment of the invention a sealed housing may have a subdivided interior or have two chambers within which an acoustically conductive liquid is disposed. A rotatable drum is disposed within the first chamber. At least two rows of transducers are disposed on the circumference of the drum generally aligned with the central axis thereof with the rows spaced circumferentially from each other. At least two rows of light emitting diodes are disposed on the circumference of the drum generally aligned with the central axis of the drum. Electric drive means are provided for rotating the drum. An array of sound pipes having a generally curved surface adjacent the drum and a generally flat surface at the other end or receiving end thereof is provided. A wall of the sealed housing is preferably flexible so as to permit more intimate contact between a test specimen and the sound pipe array either directly or through an acoustical coupling medium. Acoustical waves impinging upon the flat surface of the sound pipe array will be transmitted to the drum transducers through the curved surfaces. Another embodiment of the invention involves an integrated closed ultrasonic scanner having a sealed housing which may be provided with an internal division or two chambers and containing an acoustically conductive liquid. A rotatable drum is disposed within the sealed housing and the front wall of the drum is oriented generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of the drum and rotatable therewith. A linear array of receiving transducers is secured to the front wal. A rear wall of the drum is oriented generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of the drum and rotatable wtherewith. A linear array of light emitting diodes is secured to the rear wall. Electric drive means are provided for rotating the drum. Internal electronic means are disposed within the sealed housing and coordinate the energizing of the light emitting diodes responsive to acoustical signals received by the receiving transducers. External electronic means are disposed exteriorly of the housing and energize the electric drive means and cooperate with the internal electronic means.
Inventors
- 👤 Terrance Matzuk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:35
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/35; G10K11/352; A; A61; A61B; A61B8/00; A61B8/08; A61B8/0825; A61B8/42; A61B8/4209; A61B8/4218; A61B8/44; A61B8/4444; A61B8/4461; A61B8/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 144
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
An integrated closed ultrasonic scanner comprising a sealed housing having at least one mechanically compliant wall, an acoustically conductive liquid disposed within said sealed housing, an endless belt disposed within said housing and mounted for orbital movement therewithin, at least two piezoelectric transducers secured to said endless belt, drive means disposed within said sealed housing for driving said endless belt to establish orbital movement of said transducers, magnetic commutation means for energizing said transducers and transferring acoustical function electrical signals to the exterior of said sealed housing, electrical cable means operatively associated with said magnetic commutation means and said drive means and being in communication with the exterior of said sealed housing for cooperation with external signal processing means and an electrical energy source, a fresnel deflecting lens disposed between said endless belt and said mechanically compliant wall, and means for reciprocating said fresnel lens in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of travel of said orbiting transducers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
An integrated closed ultrasonic scanner comprising a sealed housing having at least one mechanically compliant wall, an acoustically conductive liquid disposed within said sealed housing, an endless belt disposed within said housing and mounted for orbital movement therewithin, at least two piezoelectric transducers secured to said endless belt, drive means disposed within said sealed housing for driving said endless belt to establish orbital movement of said transducers, magnetic commutation means for energizing said transducers and transferring acoustical function electrical signals to the exterior of said sealed housing, electrical cable means operatively associated with said magnetic commutation means and said drive means and being in communication with the exterior of said sealed housing for cooperation with external signal processing means and an electrical energy source, a fresnel deflecting lens disposed between said endless belt and said mechanically compliant wall, and means for reciprocating said fresnel lens in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of travel of said orbiting transducers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 1 including said drive means including a pair of rotatable pulleys disposed within said sealed housing, said endless belt secured over said pulleys for movement therewith, and said transducers disposed on the exterior of said endless belt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 2 including said endless belt being an elastic fabric woven belt which is positioned over said pulleys in elastic tension.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 2 including said magnetic commutation means including a commutation spring secured to said endless belt and connecting said transducers electrically in series.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
131 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 4 including said magnetic commutation means including a shaft upon which one of said pulleys rotates, a pair of side members and an upper member all of which are magnetically conductive and cooperate to define a closed magnetic loop, the length of said side members being greater than the radius of the pulley which rotates on said shaft, said magnetic commutation means including an electrical coil wound around said magnetic loop and a Faraday shield surrounding said coil, and said coil being in electrical communication with said cable means, whereby an electrical pulse within said electrical cable means will through inductive action of said coil excite magnetic pulses in said magnetic loop which in turn will induce currents in said commutation spring to energize said transducers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 1 including said sealed housing having a substantially rigid wall which is sealingly secured to said mechanically compliant wall, and said electrical cable means passing through said substantially rigid wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 6 including said substantially rigid wall and said mechanically compliant wall each composed, at least in part, of electrically insulative plastic resins.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 2 including said drive means including at least one electric motor disposed within said sealed housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 8 including said electric motor having stator laminations provided with field windings disposed on opposed sides of one said pulley, said pulley serving as the armature of said electric motor, and electrically conductive means connecting said field windings with said electrical cable means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 9 including said stator laminations having first pole pieces to provide the main magnetic field and second pole pieces provided with shorting bars to provide quadrature phase delayed magnetic fields.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 9 including two said electric motors disposed within said sealed housing, whereby said endless belt will be driven at both said pulleys.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 1 including said fresnel lens being flexible, said fresnel lens reciprocating means including a slotted plate member secured to and oriented generally perpendicular to said fresnel lens, pawl means adapted to be received within said slotted plate member, and gear means moving said pawl means responsive to rotation of one said pulley.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 12 including a said slotted plate member secured to said fresnel lens adjacent to each said pulley, each said plate having a pair of upwardly open slots, and said pawl means including a pawl element extending into each said upwardly open slot.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
80 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 13 including said gear means associated with a first said pulley including a pair of worm gears being generally axially concentric with said pulley and secured to opposed sides of said pulley for rotation therewith, a pair of second gears meshed with said worm gears having an axis of rotation oriented generally transversely with respect to the axis of said worm gears, and a said pawl element eccentrically secured to each of said second gears.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 14 including a pair of rotatably mounted wheels having eccentric pawl elements extending into the slots of the said plate member disposed closer to the second said pulley, and flexible shaft means connecting said second gears to said wheels, whereby rotation of said first pulley will effect responsive reciprocation of said fresnel lens.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 12 including means for emitting an electrical signal through said electrical cable means responsive to pulley rotation, whereby electrical operation of said scanner may be coordinated with reciprocation of said fresnel lens.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
77 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 16 including a highly reflective spot on one said pulley, a lamp disposed in position to shine on said reflective spot when said pulley is in a particular angular position, a photocell receiver disposed in position to receive the light from said lamp reflected by said spot, whereby a responsive reduction in photocell electrical resistance will be effected once for each pulley rotation, and said photocell electrically connected to said cable means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
74 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 1 including said drive means including a pair of rotatable pulleys upon which said endless belt is mounted serving as electric motor rotors and a pair of stators associated with each said rotor, one said stator of each said stator pair being an inner stator disposed between said pulleys and closely adjacent to the said pulley with which it is associated, and deformable linkage means connecting said inner stators.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
53 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 18 including said deformable linkage means including a first link secured to a first said inner stator and a second link secured to a second said inner stator, and at least one additional link interposed between said first and second links and being rotatably secured to adjacent links.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
60 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 19 including said first link rotatably secured to said first inner stator, said second link rotatably secured to said second inner stator, and compressibly resilient means interposed between at least two said rotatably connected links to maintain said linkage in a predetermined configuration in the absence of applied forces sufficient to compress said resilient means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 19 including each pair of said rotatably connected links having a pair of aligned openings into which a retainer pin is received.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 18 including bracket means securing each said stator to the adjacent said pulley.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
51 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 2 including said scanner having two said transducers, and said transducers being so positioned on said endless belt that the distances therebetween measured along the belt circumference will be generally equal regardless of whether the measurement is effected in a clockwise or in a counterclockwise direction.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 23 including a piezoelectric receiving transducer overlying said endless belt, an acoustically absorptive material overlying said piezoelectric receiving transducer, and electrically conductive means connecting said piezoelectric receiving transducer with said electrical cable means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 23 including switch means to permit the reflected acoustical wave received by a said belt mounted transducer to be transmitted electrically to said external signal processing means solely when said belt mounted transducer is in predetermined positions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 25 including said switch means including a reed switch mounted in close proximity to said endless belt and permanent magnets mounted on said endless belt for operating said reed switch.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 1 including said fresnel lens having means for deflecting acoustical beams to simulate B-scan rocking action.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 27 including said fresnel lens deflecting means including a lenticular vane structure facing said mechanically compliant wall.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 28 including said lenticular vanes having a replication distance less than the diameter of said belt mounted transducers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
86 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 1 including said external signal processing means including pulse generator means disposed exteriorly of said sealed housing for emitting periodic voltage pulses, and internal signal handling means disposed within said sealed housing and being in communication with said electrical cable means, whereby said internal signal handling means will be in communication with said external signal processing means through said cable means to permit the processing of acoustical function electrical signals emerging from said sealed housing by said external signal processing means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
61 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 30 including said external signal processing means including a pulse amplifier adapted to receive signals from said pulse generator and transmit-receive means, and said transmit-receive means adapted to receive pulses from said pulse amplifier and deliver such pulses to said cable means which in turn is adapted to deliver such pulses to said magnetic commutation means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 31 including said transmit-receive means adapted to receive acoustical function electrical signals from said magnetic commutation means through said cable means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
53 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 32 including said external signal processing means including logarithmic receiver means, cathode-ray tube visual display means and video amplifier means, said logarithmic receiver means operatively associated with said transmit-receive means, and said video amplifier means operatively associated with a variable intensity input of cathode-ray tube visual display means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
49 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 33 including said external signal processing means including Y-sweep generator means operatively associated with said pulse generator means for emitting a ramp-function output waveform which will pass through Y-wave modifying means and be delivered to Y-deflection coils of said cathode-ray tube visual display means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
90 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 34 including said internal signal handling means including switch means to permit the reflected acoustical beam received by a said belt mounted transducer to be transmitted electrically to said external signal processing means solely when said belt mounted transducer is in predetermined positions, and said external signal processing means including X-sweep generator means to receive said acoustical function electrical signal and emit a ramp-function waveform which will pass through X-wave modifying means and be delivered to X-deflection coils of said cathode-ray tube visual display means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
122 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 35 including said endless belt having two said transducers secured thereto in such position that when a first said transducer is facing downwardly toward the test subject, the second said transducer will be facing upwardly, a piezoelectric receiving transducer overlying said second transducer and emitting a voltage pulse responsive to receipt of an acoustical pulse from said second transducer, and said piezoelectric receiving transducer adapted to emit said voltage pulse after the leading edge of the master timing pulse from said pulse generator means has passed through said second transducer with the time interval between said master timing pulse and said voltage pulse being proportional to the distance between said second transducer and said piezoelectric receiving transducer.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 36 including said external signal processing means including means for processing said piezoelectric receiving transducer voltage pulse to establish a Y-offset adjustment signal responsive to changes in configuration of said endless belt.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
91 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 37 including said Y-wave modifying means including Y-modulator means receiving said Y-sweep generator ramp-function output, Y-mixer means and Y-deflection amplifier means, said Y-mixer means for combining said Y-offset adjustment signal with the Y-multiplier means output signal, and said Y-deflection amplifier means for receiving said Y-mixer means output, amplifying the same and introducing its output signal into Y-deflection output coils of said cathode-ray tube visual display means, whereby the Y-deflection line on said visual display means will be corrected for changes in contour of said endless belt.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
90 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 38 including said means for processing said piezoelectric receiving transducer voltage pulse including, in operative sequence, second logarithmic receiver means, second video amplifier means, threshold detector means, stop trigger means, integrator means and peak detector means, said threshold detector means being adapted to compare an amplified voltage pulse received from said second video amplifier means with a reference voltage, said integrator means being connected to said pulse generator means to receive signals therefrom, and said peak detector means output being received in said Y-mixer means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 39 including said X-wave modifying means including X-mixer means and X-deflection amplifier means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 40 including said external signal processing means including signal modifying means responsive to reciprocation of said fresnel lens for adjusting for changes in acoustical beam orientation through the test subject.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
102 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 41 including said signal modifying means receiving the output signal of said photocell means through said electrical cable means, and said signal modifying means including digital divide circuit means for emitting an output voltage pulse responsive to receipt of a predetermined number of photocell signals, ramp generator means for emitting a triangular waveform output responsive to receipt of said divide circuit voltage pulse, sine generator means receiving said triangular waveform and emitting a sine wave of voltage value and polarity proportional to fresnel lens position and third mixer means receiving the output of said sine wave generator.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
45 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 42 including said external signal processing means including means for computing a change factor resulting from changes in deflection caused by deformation of said endless belt, and said third mixer means receiving the output of said change factor computing means.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
60 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 43 including said external signal processing means including cosine generator means and second sine generator means, said cosine generator means for receiving an output signal from said third mixer means and operating said Y-modulator means, and said second sine generator means for receiving an output signal from said third mixer means and operating X-modulator means.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
134 words
An integrated closed ultrasonic scanner comprising a sealed scanner housing, an acoustically conductive liquid disposed within said sealed housing, an endless belt disposed within said housing mounted for orbital movement in one direction and translational movement in another direction, at least one transducer secured to said belt, at least one light emiting diode secured to said belt, drive means disposed within said sealed housing for driving said endless belt in said orbital direction and said translational direction, magnetic commutation means for commutating acoustical function electrical signals from said transducer and energizing said light emitting diode, and electrical cable means operatively associated with said drive means and said magnetic commutation means and being in communication with the exterior of said sealed housing for cooperation with external signal processing means and an electric power source means.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
134 words
An integrated closed ultrasonic scanner comprising a sealed scanner housing, an acoustically conductive liquid disposed within said sealed housing, an endless belt disposed within said housing mounted for orbital movement in one direction and translational movement in another direction, at least one transducer secured to said belt, at least one light emiting diode secured to said belt, drive means disposed within said sealed housing for driving said endless belt in said orbital direction and said translational direction, magnetic commutation means for commutating acoustical function electrical signals from said transducer and energizing said light emitting diode, and electrical cable means operatively associated with said drive means and said magnetic commutation means and being in communication with the exterior of said sealed housing for cooperation with external signal processing means and an electric power source means.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 45 comprising said drive means including a pair of rotatable pulleys disposed within said sealed housing, and said endless belt secured over said pulleys for rotation therewith.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 46 comprising said magnetic commutation means including a commutation spring secured to said endless belt and electrically connecting said transducer and said light emitting diode in series.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
186 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 47 including said magnetic commutation means including for each said rotatable pulley a shaft upon which said pulley rotates, a pair of side members in contact with said shaft and an outer member all of which are magnetically conductive and cooperate to define a closed magnetic loop, said magnetic commutation means including an electrical coil wound around each said magnetic loop, each said coil being in electrical communication with said electrical cable means, a first said magnetic loop and associated electrical coil for one said pulley operatively associated with other portions of said magnetic commutation means to commutate an acoustical function electrical signal from said transducer to said external signal processing means through said cable means, and a second said magnetic loop and associated electrical coil for the other said pulley operatively associated with other portions of said magnetic commutation means in order that an electrical pulse within said cable means will through inductive action of said coil excite magnetic pulses in said magnetic loop which in turn will induce currents in said commutation spring to energize said light emitting diode.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 48 including each said magnetic commutation means including a Faraday shield surrounding said electrical coil.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 48 including said drive means including at least one electric motor disposed within said sealed housing, and said electrical cable means energizing each said motor.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
49 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 50 including said sealed housing containing two said electrical motors, said pulleys each serving as the armature of one said electric motor, field windings secured to stators disposed on opposed sides of each said pulley, and said electrical cable means energizing said field windings.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 51 including said pulleys containing squirrel cage induction motor armatures.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 52 including said stators having shading poles provided with shorting bars.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
61 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 53 including a first pulley shaft being externally threaded and being rotatably mounted, and said first pulley having an internally threaded bore engaged with said first pulley shaft threads, whereby rotation of said first pulley to establish orbital motion of said endless belt will establish translational movement of said first pulley along said first pulley shaft.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 54 including a second pulley shaft being rotatably mounted for synchronous rotation with the second pulley.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 55 including said second pulley shaft and said second pulley being so configurated as to permit substantially free relative sliding movement of said second pulley along said second pulley shaft.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
39 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 55 including gear means connecting said first and second pulley shafts, whereby rotation of said second pulley shaft responsive to rotation of said second pulley will establish responsive rotation of said first pulley shaft.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
87 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 57 including said gear means including a first gear fixedly secured to said first pulley shaft and a second gear fixedly secured to said second pulley shaft, a third gear engaged with said first gear, a fourth gear engaged with said second gear, and a rotatably mounted shaft connecting said third and fourth gears, and said gears being so configurated that said first gear rotates at a slower speed than said second pulley shaft responsive to rotation of said second pulley shaft.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 48 including each said pulley shaft being composed of ferrite.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 46 including said sealed housing having front and rear faces, said rear face being optically transparent, and said front face being acoustically transparent.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
39 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 60 including said light emitting diode having a convex converging lens that focuses the light output at about 3/8 to 1/4 inch from the portion of said endless belt to which it is secured.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 60 including means for recording at least certain portions of the output of the light emitted by said light emitting diode.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 62 including said recording means including photographic record making means disposed exteriorly of said sealed scanner housing adjacent to said rear face.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 63 including said photographic record making means being a camera, and said camera containing means for developing a picture of the photographically recorded images of said light emitting diode.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 46 including the front face of said housing being mechanically compliant.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
40 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 65 including said electric power source means disposed exteriorly of said housing in communication with said cable means, and said external signal processing means disposed exteriorly of said housing in communication with said cable means.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
39 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 66 including an insonifying transducer disposed exteriorly of said sealed housing and adapted to emit an acoustical wave which will pass through the test specimen and be received by said endless belt mounted transducer.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
89 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 46 including a test specimen holder disposed exteriorly of said housing and in contact with the front face thereof composed of a material which will permit free transmission of dilatational ultrasonic waves, and said test specimen holder having a portion which is generally complementary with respect to at least a portion of said test specimen, whereby interposing an acoustical coupling material between said test specimen and said test specimen holder will establish substantially continuous acoustical contact between said test specimen and said sealed housing.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
51 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 68 including said test specimen holder having an outwardly open recess serving as said test specimen complementary portion, and vacuum pump means in communication with said holder recess, whereby said vacuum pump means will urge said test specimen into intimate acoustical coupling with said specimen holder.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 69 including said recess having the general configuration of a human female breast.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 69 including an insonifying transducer mounted on the side of said specimen holder opposite from the side on which said sealed housing is in contact with said test specimen holder.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 68 including said test specimen holder composed of a material selected from the group consisting of silicone rubber, vinylsols and plastisols.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
82 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 68 including said test specimen holder having a generally cylindrical exterior surface, a coupling ring mounted for relative rotation about said specimen holder exterior surface, said sealed housing having a curved front face secured in surface to surface contact with the exterior surface of said coupling ring, and an insonifying transducer secured to said ring at a position generally diametrically opposed to said sealed housing and oriented for acoustical transmission in the direction of said sealed housing.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
40 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 73 including photographic record making means disposed on the opposite side of said endless belt from said sealed housing front face for recording at least a portion of the output of said light emitting diode.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 74 including said photographic record making means including a photographic plate holder of generally complementary curvature to said sealed housing curved front face.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 51 including means for reversing the direction of orbital movement of said endless belt to thereby effect a reversal in the direction of translation of said endless belt.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 76 including said reversing means including means for electrically reversing the direction of rotation of said pulleys.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
161 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 77 including alternating current power means operatively associated with said electrical cable means to excite said field winding of each said stator, each said stator having first and second pole pieces depending from one side of the stator body and third and fourth pole pieces depending from a second side of the stator body, said field winding disposed on said stator body, tertiary coils wound around each of said first, second, third and fourth pole pieces, said first pole tertiary coil electrically connected in series to said third pole tertiary coil, with first switch means in said circuit, and said second pole tertiary coil electrically connected in series to said fourth pole tertiary coil, with second switch means in said circuit, whereby closing said first switch will result in rotation of said pulleys in a first direction and closing said second switch in lieu of said first switch will effect pulley rotation in the opposite direction.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
117 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 48 including a transducer electronics unit secured to said endless belt adjacent to said transducer, said transducer electronics unit being electrically connected to said transducer and to said commutation spring, said transducer electronics unit having means for energizing said transducer and receiving signals therefrom while resisting passage of high frequency radio-frequency current into said transducer, a diode electronics unit secured to said endless belt adjacent to said light emitting diode, said diode electronics unit being electrically connected to said light emitting diode and said commutation spring, and said diode electronics unit having means for receipt of radio frequency current to energize said diode and resist passage of transducer signals into said diode.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 45 including said transducer and said light emitting diode each disposed on the exterior of said endless belt.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
73 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 79 including said transducer electronics unit having resonant circuit means in series with said commutation spring and a step down transformer in parallel relationship therewith, and said diode electronics unit having resonant circuit means in series with said commutation spring, rectifier means receiving the output of said resonant circuit means, filter means receiving the output of said rectifier means and having an output operating said light emitting diode.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
34 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 79 including said transducer electronics unit and diode electronics unit being sufficiently elastic as to survive repeated cycles of belt travel over said pulleys without loss of electrical continuity.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 82 including the electronic components with said electronics units being connected to each other by resilient conductive members, and said electronics units having resilient enclosures.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
14 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 83 including said resilient conductive members being corrugated springs.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
138 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 67 including said external signal processing means including pulse generator means, pulse amplifier means receiving input from said pulse generator means and delivering amplified pulses to said insonifying transducer, and said external signal processing means also including band reject filter means receiving acoustical imaging signals from one pulley commutation means through said cable means, logarithmic receiver means obtaining a signal from said band reject filter means, time delay generator means receiving input from said pulse generator means and delivering output signals to linear gate means which prevents passage of the logarithmic receiver means output signal until said time delay generator means permits, and peak detector means receiving signals from said linear gate means having its output pass through modulator means through radio frequency power amplifier means to the other said pulley commutation means.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
58 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 67 including power means disposed exteriorly of said sealed housing for energizing said insonifying transducer, and said external signal processing means including means for receiving the belt mounted transducer acoustical function electrical signals and creating responsive lighting of said light emitting diode in proportion to the logarithm of said acoustical function electrical signal.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
73 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 85 including said external signal processing means also including manually activated switch means for initiating operation of (1) scan time timer means which operate said scanner for a predetermined time period and (2) radio frequency carrier oscillator means which through said modulator means activates said light emitting diode and (3) audio frequency oscillator means which emits a signal through audio frequency amplifier means to activate said electric motors.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 87 including switch means for establishing translation of said endless belt in a first direction or in a second reverse direction.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
64 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 45 including said endless belt having an endless portion composed of an electrically conductive material, said drive means including a number of replicating magnets defining a gap within which said conductive portion of said endless belt passes, and alternating current means energizing said magnets, whereby said magnets will generate magnetic fields which establish orbital movement of said endless belt.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 89 including said transducer and said light emitting diodes secured to electrically nonconductive portions of said endless belt.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
197 words
An integrated closed ultrasonic scanner comprising a sealed housing, an acoustically conductive liquid disposed within said sealed housing, a rotatable drum disposed within said sealed housing, at least two rows of transducers disposed on the circumference of said drum generally aligned with the central axis of said drum, said rows of transducers spaced circumferentially from each other, at least two rows of light emitting diodes disposed on the circumference of said drum generally aligned with the central axis of said drum, drive means for rotating said drum, commutation means for coordinating operation of an insonifying transducer disposed exteriorly of said sealed housing with the operation of internal signal handling means disposed within said sealed housing, external signal processing means for energizing said insonifying transducer and coordinating operation of said commutation means with operation of said insonifying transducer, an array of sound pipes having a generally curved surface adjacent to said drum and a generally flat surface on the other side thereof, whereby acoustical waves impinging upon said flat surface will be transmitted to said drum transducer through said curved surfaces, and a wall of said sealed housing adjacent to said sound pipe array flat surface being flexible.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
197 words
An integrated closed ultrasonic scanner comprising a sealed housing, an acoustically conductive liquid disposed within said sealed housing, a rotatable drum disposed within said sealed housing, at least two rows of transducers disposed on the circumference of said drum generally aligned with the central axis of said drum, said rows of transducers spaced circumferentially from each other, at least two rows of light emitting diodes disposed on the circumference of said drum generally aligned with the central axis of said drum, drive means for rotating said drum, commutation means for coordinating operation of an insonifying transducer disposed exteriorly of said sealed housing with the operation of internal signal handling means disposed within said sealed housing, external signal processing means for energizing said insonifying transducer and coordinating operation of said commutation means with operation of said insonifying transducer, an array of sound pipes having a generally curved surface adjacent to said drum and a generally flat surface on the other side thereof, whereby acoustical waves impinging upon said flat surface will be transmitted to said drum transducer through said curved surfaces, and a wall of said sealed housing adjacent to said sound pipe array flat surface being flexible.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 91 including said rows of light emitting diodes spaced circumferentially from each other.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 91 including said external signal processing means having means for energizing said drive means.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 93 including said sealed housing having two chambers, and said rotatable drum disposed within a first said chamber.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 94 including a flexible wall defining at least part of said second chamber.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
14 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 95 including said commutation means being noncontacting magnetic means.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 96 including said drum having at least four rows of said transducers and at least four rows of said light emitting diodes.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
40 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 97 including said drum having the same number of rows of said transducers and said light emitting diodes, and each said row of transducers disposed closely adjacent to a row of said light emitting diodes.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 98 including said rows of transducers being spaced substantially equally about the circumference of said drum.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim
91 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 99 including each said row of transducers having the same number of transducers and each like numbered transducer of each row being in substantially the same axial position on said drum, each said row of light emitting diodes having the same number of diodes and each like numbered light emitting diode of each row being in substantially the same axial position on said drum, and the number of said transducers in a row being equal to the number of said light emitting diodes in a row.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 94 including said first chamber having a viewer window in the wall opposite the wall having the said sound pipe array.
Claim 105
Dependent Claim
14 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 101 including said viewer window being a magnifying lens.
Claim 106
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 102 including said viewer window being hooded and said lens having means for correcting for cylindrical distortion of said image.
Claim 107
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 101 including a magnifying lens disposed adjacent to said viewer window.
Claim 108
Dependent Claim
47 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 91 including said drive means disposed within said housing, and said drive means including an alternating current motor having a squirrel cage rotor secured within or formed integrally with said rotatable drum and stators disposed adjacent said rotor energized by field windings.
Claim 109
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 105 including internal signal handling means disposed within said drum for energizing predetermined light emitting diodes responsive to receipt of acoustical waves by predetermined transducers.
Claim 110
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 106 including secondary coils secured to the interior of said rotor for energizing said internal signal handling means.
Claim 111
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 106 including said commutation means being antenna means connecting said internal signal handling means with the exterior of said sealed housing.
Claim 112
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 108 including switch means for operating said scanner, and handle means secured to the exterior of said scanner.
Claim 113
Dependent Claim
72 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 108 including said internal signal handling means having means for energizing all light emitting diodes at the same axial position on said drum when a transducer at the same axial position on said drum receives an acoustical wave from an insonifying transducer through a specimen with the intensity of light emitting diode illumination being related to the intensity of the acoustical wave received by said insonifying transducer.
Claim 114
Dependent Claim
96 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 107 including said internal signal handling means including a. rectifier bridge means electrically connected to said secondary coils for receiving voltage therefrom and emitting direct current voltage, and b. for said adjacent rows of said adjacent transducers and light emitting diodes (1) electrolytic capacitor means for smoothing said direct current voltage received from said rectifier bridge and (2) voltage regulator means regulating said voltage received from said capacitor means and (3) conductor means electrically connecting said voltage regulator means with said transducers and said light emitting diodes through internal circuit means.
Claim 115
Dependent Claim
195 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 111 including all said transducers in the same axial position on said drum being electrically connected in parallel relationship, commutation antenna means for receiving time reference signals from said external signal processing means for coordinating transfer of signals from said transducers to said light emitting diodes, and said internal circuit means including as to each set of said transducers in the same axial position a. radio frequency amplifier means for receiving the combined signal from said set of transducers, b. gate means for permitting passage of the output of said radio frequency amplifier solely when said commutation antenna means is receiving a predetermined signal, c. diode means for rectifying the output of said gate means, d. peak detector means receiving the output of said diode means, and e. light emitting diode driver means for energizing all light emitting diodes in the same axial position as said transducer set responsive to receipt of the output of said peak detector means, whereby each receipt of an insonifying transducer signal by a said transducer will result in responsive illumination of all said light emitting diodes at the same axial position as said transducer.
Claim 116
Dependent Claim
45 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 108 including said external signal processing means having means for energizing said insonifying transducer and controlling through said commutation antenna means the period within which the internal signal handling means will process acoustical signals received by said rows of transducers.
Claim 117
Dependent Claim
84 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 113 including said external signal processing means including a. pulse generator means energizing said insonifying transducer through pulse amplifier means, b. adjustable time delay generator means receiving signals from said pulse generator means and initiating output from gate pulse generator means, c. modulator means receiving the output from said gate pulse generator means and radio frequency generator means, and d. radio frequency power amplifier means receiving the output of said modulator and emitting output to said commutation antenna means.
Claim 118
Dependent Claim
47 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 113 including said external signal processing means including switch means for initiating operation of audio frequency oscillator means which in turn drives audio frequency power amplifier means, electrical conductor means connecting said audio frequency power amplifier means with said stator field windings.
Claim 119
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 107 including said external signal processing means including rechargeable battery means.
Claim 120
Dependent Claim
157 words
An integrated closed ultrasonic scanner comprising a sealed housing, an acoustically conductive liquid disposed within said sealed housing, a rotatable drum disposed within said sealed housing, a front wall of said drum oriented generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of said drum and rotatable therewith, a substantially linear array of receiving transducers secured to said front wall, a rear wall of said drum oriented generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of said drum and rotatable therewith, a substantially linear array of light emitting diodes secured to said rear wall, drive means for rotating said drum, internal signal handling means disposed within said sealed housing for energizing predetermined light emitting diodes responsive to acoustical signals received by predetermined receiving transducers, external signal processing means disposed exteriorly of said sealed housing for energizing said drive means and cooperating with said internal signal handling means, and commutation means connecting said internal signal handling means with said external signal processing means.
Claim 121
Dependent Claim
157 words
An integrated closed ultrasonic scanner comprising a sealed housing, an acoustically conductive liquid disposed within said sealed housing, a rotatable drum disposed within said sealed housing, a front wall of said drum oriented generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of said drum and rotatable therewith, a substantially linear array of receiving transducers secured to said front wall, a rear wall of said drum oriented generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of said drum and rotatable therewith, a substantially linear array of light emitting diodes secured to said rear wall, drive means for rotating said drum, internal signal handling means disposed within said sealed housing for energizing predetermined light emitting diodes responsive to acoustical signals received by predetermined receiving transducers, external signal processing means disposed exteriorly of said sealed housing for energizing said drive means and cooperating with said internal signal handling means, and commutation means connecting said internal signal handling means with said external signal processing means.
Claim 122
Dependent Claim
42 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 117 including a portion of said sealed housing adjacent said drum front wall being defined by a flexible wall, whereby intimate acoustical contact between a test specimen of irregular configuration and said flexible wall may be effected.
Claim 123
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 117 including a transparent viewing window secured to said sealed housing rearwardly of said rear wall.
Claim 124
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 119 including a light shielding hood projecting rearwardly from said viewing window.
Claim 125
Dependent Claim
14 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 119 including said viewing window including a magnifying lens.
Claim 126
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 119 including a magnifying lens disposed adjacent to said viewing window.
Claim 127
Dependent Claim
36 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 117 including said drive means including an electric motor disposed within said housing, and said motor having a rotor which is secured to or formed as a unit with said drum.
Claim 128
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 123 including said electric motor having an annular split-phase alternating current induction motor stator disposed within said housing in surrounding relationship with respect to said rotor.
Claim 129
Dependent Claim
56 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 124 including said stator having running windings and starting windings, said external signal processing means including alternating current supply means for energizing said stator windings, electric switch means interposed between said current supply means and said stator windings, and capacitor means electrically interposed between said switch means and said starting windings.
Claim 130
Dependent Claim
12 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 117 including said commutation means being magnetic.
Claim 131
Dependent Claim
31 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 123 including said rotor being a squirrel cage rotor, and secondary coils secured to the interior of said rotor for energizing said internal signal handling means.
Claim 132
Dependent Claim
14 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 126 including said commutation means being noncontacting antenna means.
Claim 133
Dependent Claim
71 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 128 including said internal signal handling means having means to energize a predetermined light emitting diode responsive to receipt by a predetermined receiving transducer of an acoustical wave generated by an externally disposed insonifying transducer and passed through a test specimen with the intensity of the illumination of said light emitting diode being related to the intensity of the acoustical wave received by said receiving transducer.
Claim 134
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 117 including said sealed housing being generally cylindrical and having an axial length of about 5 to 12 inches and a diameter of about 5 to 15 inches.
Claim 135
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 117 including said front wall having an elongated slot to which is secured a metal sheet-like element on which said array of transducers is secured.
Claim 136
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 130 including the number of receiving transducers being equal to the number of light emitting diodes, and said scanner having about 25 to 75 transducers.
Claim 137
Dependent Claim
52 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 129 including said internal signal handling means including full-wave rectifier bridge means for receiving output from from said secondary coils and emitting direct current voltage, capacitor means smoothing the output of said rectifier bridge means and voltage regulator means regulating said voltage received from said capacitor means.
Claim 138
Dependent Claim
41 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 133 including said internal signal handling means including circuit means receiving said direct current voltage from said voltage regulator and converting the acoustical signal received by said receiving transducer into a responsively energized light emitting diode.
Claim 139
Dependent Claim
132 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 134 including said commutation antenna means adapted to receive time reference signals from said exterior signal processing means for coordinating transfer of signals from said transducer to said light emitting diodes, and said circuit means including for each said receiving transducer a. radio frequency amplifier means for receiving the output signal from said receiving transducer, b. gate means for permitting passage of the output of said radio frequency amplifier solely when said commutation antenna means is receiving a predetermined signal, c. diode means for rectifying the output of said gate means, d. peak detector means receiving the output of said diode means, and e. light emitting diode driver means for energizing a predetermined light emitting diode responsive to receipt of the output of said peak detector means.
Claim 140
Dependent Claim
45 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 135 including said external signal processing means having means for energizing an insonifying transducer and controlling through said commutation antenna means the period within which the internal signal handling means will process acoustical signals received by said array of transducers.
Claim 141
Dependent Claim
85 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 136 including said external signal processing means including a. pulse generator means energizing said insonifying transducer through pulse amplifier means, b. adjustable time delay generator means receiving signals from said pulse generator means and initiating output from gate pulse generator means, c. modulator means receiving the output from said gate pulse generator means and radio frequency generator means, and d. radio frequency power amplifier means receiving the output of said modulator means and emitting output to said commutation antenna means.
Claim 142
Dependent Claim
48 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 137 including said external signal processing means including switch means for initiating operation of audio frequency oscillator means which in turn drives audio frequency power amplifier means, and electrical conductor means connecting said audio frequency power amplifier means with said stator field windings.
Claim 143
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 118 including said housing divided into two chambers by an acoustically transparent rigid wall disposed between said drum and said flexible wall.
Claim 144
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ultrasonic scanner of claim 129 including said external signal processing means including rechargeable battery means powering said scanner.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
GB865573A
Cited
US3415111A
Cited
US3480002A
Cited
US3817089A
Cited
US3780572A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-06-22 | 1979-12-22 | 1980-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-22 | 1983-12-22 | 1984-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-22 | 1987-12-22 | 1988-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |