US3983529A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Detector for use in acoustic holography
Assignee: Holosonics Inc
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Filing: 1975-03-28
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Granted: 1976-09-28
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Expires: 1995-03-28
Abstract
Abstract An improved detector having a reflective surface which is substantially insensitive to vibration. The detection surface comprises a thin layer of liquid metal which is disposed over a substantially rigid, wettable substrate. In a presently preferred embodiment, the detector comprises a receptacle having disposed therein a rigid brass plate covered by a thin layer of mercury. The detector is submersed in a suitable fluid, such as water, to which an acidic substance has been added to reduce the pH of the fluid to the range of 5 to 6.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary Norris Langlois
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/04; G01N29/06; G01N29/0654; G01N29/0663; G01H; G01H9/00; G01H9/002; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01S15/8965; G01S15/897; G01S15/8972; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
Improved detector apparatus responsive to impingent acoustic wavefronts to form a hologram, comprising: a rigid substrate having a continuous substantially planar upper surface; a layer of liquid metal covering said planar upper surface; said upper surface of said substrate being formed of a material which is wetted by said liquid metal; said layer of liquid metal being thinner than the thinnest layer of said metal which could exist upon a planar surface of a material not wetted by said metal; and defining an upper surface and defining a lower surface in intimate contact with the upper surface of said rigid substrate; a mass of a second liquid, said layer of liquid metal being submersed in said second liquid; first transducer means positioned to direct a beam of object-modified acoustic energy through said second liquid directly onto the upper surface of said layer of liquified metal; second transducer means positioned to direct a reference beam of acoustic energy through said second liquid directly onto the upper surface of said layer of liquid metal; the beam from said second transducer means being oriented at a predetermined angle with respect to the beam from said first transducer means to give rise to a pattern of disturbances on said upper surface of said layer of liquid metal; and means for directing illuminating energy upon the pattern of disturbances.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
Improved detector apparatus responsive to impingent acoustic wavefronts to form a hologram, comprising: a rigid substrate having a continuous substantially planar upper surface; a layer of liquid metal covering said planar upper surface; said upper surface of said substrate being formed of a material which is wetted by said liquid metal; said layer of liquid metal being thinner than the thinnest layer of said metal which could exist upon a planar surface of a material not wetted by said metal; and defining an upper surface and defining a lower surface in intimate contact with the upper surface of said rigid substrate; a mass of a second liquid, said layer of liquid metal being submersed in said second liquid; first transducer means positioned to direct a beam of object-modified acoustic energy through said second liquid directly onto the upper surface of said layer of liquified metal; second transducer means positioned to direct a reference beam of acoustic energy through said second liquid directly onto the upper surface of said layer of liquid metal; the beam from said second transducer means being oriented at a predetermined angle with respect to the beam from said first transducer means to give rise to a pattern of disturbances on said upper surface of said layer of liquid metal; and means for directing illuminating energy upon the pattern of disturbances.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A detector as defined in claim 1, further including liquid retaining means disposed about said substrate for confining said liquid metal thereon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
A detector as defined in claim 2, wherein said liquid metal is mercury.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A detector as defined in claim 3, wherein said second liquid is water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A detector as defined in claim 4, wherein said second liquid has a pH in the range of approximately 5 to 6.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A detector as defined in claim 5, wherein said second liquid comprises water and hydrochloric acid, said second liquid having a pH from approximately 5 to approximately 6.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A detector as defined in claim 6, wherein said substrate is composed of brass.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
124 words
A detector for use in an acoustic imaging system including means for directing an object-modulated acoustic beam thereon, means for directing a reference acoustic beam thereon, and means for illuminating the area of the detector impinged upon by said acoustic beams, comprising: a substrate disposed beneath said means for directing and having a substantially planar upper surface; a layer of liquified metal disposed upon said planar surface and having a lower surface in intimate contact with said substrate and an upper surface oriented in the path of the acoustic beams; means for retaining said liquified metal upon said planar surface; said substrate being formed of a material which substantially absorbs acoustic energy which traverses said layer of liquified metal and impinges upon said substrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
124 words
A detector for use in an acoustic imaging system including means for directing an object-modulated acoustic beam thereon, means for directing a reference acoustic beam thereon, and means for illuminating the area of the detector impinged upon by said acoustic beams, comprising: a substrate disposed beneath said means for directing and having a substantially planar upper surface; a layer of liquified metal disposed upon said planar surface and having a lower surface in intimate contact with said substrate and an upper surface oriented in the path of the acoustic beams; means for retaining said liquified metal upon said planar surface; said substrate being formed of a material which substantially absorbs acoustic energy which traverses said layer of liquified metal and impinges upon said substrate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
A detector as defined in claim 8, wherein said liquified metal is mercury.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A detector as defined in claim 9, wherein said mercury forms a layer over said planar surface having a thickness of approximately 1 mm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
A detector as defined in claim 10, wherein said substrate is rigid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A detector as defined in claim 11, wherein said planar surface is composed of brass.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A detector as defined in claim 11, wherein said substrate is formed of a material which is wettable by said liquified metal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
134 words
An ultrasonic holography imaging method comprising the steps of: a. providing a substantially rigid substrate, which is wettable by a liquified metal; b. disposing a layer of said liquified metal over said substrate to form a readily deformable upper surface, said layer being thinner than the thinnest layer which could exist upon a substrate not wettable by said liquified metal; c. submerging said layer of liquified metal in a second liquid; d. directing a first, object-modified beam of acoustic energy through said second liquid directly upon said upper surface; e. directing a second, reference beam of acoustic energy through said second liquid directly upon said upper surface, said second beam lying at a predetermined angle to said first beam to produce a disturbance pattern upon said upper surface; and f. illuminating said disturbance pattern.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
134 words
An ultrasonic holography imaging method comprising the steps of: a. providing a substantially rigid substrate, which is wettable by a liquified metal; b. disposing a layer of said liquified metal over said substrate to form a readily deformable upper surface, said layer being thinner than the thinnest layer which could exist upon a substrate not wettable by said liquified metal; c. submerging said layer of liquified metal in a second liquid; d. directing a first, object-modified beam of acoustic energy through said second liquid directly upon said upper surface; e. directing a second, reference beam of acoustic energy through said second liquid directly upon said upper surface, said second beam lying at a predetermined angle to said first beam to produce a disturbance pattern upon said upper surface; and f. illuminating said disturbance pattern.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
123 words
An ultrasonic holography imaging method comprising the steps of: a. providing a liquid-retaining enclosure; b. providing a substantially continuous planar substrate within said enclosure; c. disposing a layer of liquified metal over said substrate, said liquified metal wetting said substrate so as to form a thin layer thereon, said layer being thinner than the thinnest layer which could exist upon a non-wettable substrate; d. submersing said layer of liquified metal in a second, acoustically-transmissive liquid; e. directing a first, object-modified and a second, reference beam of acoustic energy through said second liquid directly upon the upper surface of said liquified metal to produce a disturbance pattern thereon; and f. directing a beam of electromagnetic radiation upon the disturbance pattern to illuminate said pattern.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
123 words
An ultrasonic holography imaging method comprising the steps of: a. providing a liquid-retaining enclosure; b. providing a substantially continuous planar substrate within said enclosure; c. disposing a layer of liquified metal over said substrate, said liquified metal wetting said substrate so as to form a thin layer thereon, said layer being thinner than the thinnest layer which could exist upon a non-wettable substrate; d. submersing said layer of liquified metal in a second, acoustically-transmissive liquid; e. directing a first, object-modified and a second, reference beam of acoustic energy through said second liquid directly upon the upper surface of said liquified metal to produce a disturbance pattern thereon; and f. directing a beam of electromagnetic radiation upon the disturbance pattern to illuminate said pattern.
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) | 1979-09-28 | 1980-03-29 | 1980-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-09-28 | 1984-03-29 | 1984-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-09-28 | 1988-03-29 | 1988-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |