US4269067A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for focusing elastic waves converted from thermal energy
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1979-05-18
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Granted: 1981-05-26
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Expires: 1999-05-18
Abstract
Abstract Pulsed light is applied through a plano concave lens to a thin metal film, which is evaporated on the concave side of the lens. The lens, which is formed of a high thermally insulating material such as glass, for example, and the film are disposed within a liquid such as water, for example. The pulsed light is absorbed by the metal film, which converts the thermal energy produced by the pulsed light into elastic waves in the form of acoustic waves and simultaneously focuses the acoustic waves on an object within the water at a selected focal plane. The metal film is as thin as possible, consistent with complete absorption of the light energy by the metal film, so as to utilize the high thermal expansion coefficient of the water.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene E. Tynan
- 👤 Russell W. Dreyfus
- 👤 Robert J. VON Gutfeld
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:09
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K15/00; G10K15/04; G10K15/046; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/32; G01; G01N; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/02; G01N2291/028; G01N2291/02827
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
33 words
A transducer apparatus including: a medium; and unitary converting means within said medium to simultaneously convert pulses of thermal energy into acoustic waves for transmission through said medium and focus the acoustic waves.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
A transducer apparatus including: a medium; and unitary converting means within said medium to simultaneously convert pulses of thermal energy into acoustic waves for transmission through said medium and focus the acoustic waves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 in which said medium is a liquid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 in which said unitary converting means includes: a body of a solid material having a curved surface; and a thin film of metal bonded to said curved surface of said body to have substantially the same radius of curvature, said film having its surface remote from said body in contact with said liquid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 in which the pulses of thermal energy are pulses of light.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 in which said unitary converting means includes: a body of a solid material having a curved surface; and a thin film of metal bonded to said curved surface of said body to have substantially the same radius of curvature, said film having its surface remote from said body in contact with said medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 in which the pulses of thermal energy are pulses of light.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 including means to detect acoustic waves produced by the acoustic waves striking an object to be tested.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 in which said medium is a liquid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 in which said unitary converting means includes: a body of a solid material having a curved surface; and a thin film of metal bonded to said curved surface of said body to have substantially the same radius of curvature, said film having its surface remote from said body in contact with said liquid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 in which the pulses of thermal energy are pulses of light.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 in which said unitary converting means includes: a body of a solid material having a curved surface; and a thin film of metal bonded to said curved surface of said body to have substantially the same radius of curvature, said film having its surface remote from said body in contact with said medium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 in which the pulses of thermal energy are pulses of light.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
46 words
A method for converting thermal energy to focused acoustic waves within a medium including: directing pulses of thermal energy to a selected area within the medium; and converting the pulses of thermal energy into acoustic waves at the selected area while simultaneously focusing the acoustic waves.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
46 words
A method for converting thermal energy to focused acoustic waves within a medium including: directing pulses of thermal energy to a selected area within the medium; and converting the pulses of thermal energy into acoustic waves at the selected area while simultaneously focusing the acoustic waves.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 13 in which the medium is a liquid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 14 in which the pulses of thermal energy are pulses of light.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 15 including: disposing an object to be tested at a selected focal area of the focused acoustic waves; and sensing the effect on the acoustic waves by the object so that the object is non-destructively tested.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 14 including: disposing an object to be tested at a selected focal area of the focused acoustic waves; and sensing the effect on the acoustic waves by the object so that the object is non-destructively tested.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 13 including: disposing an object to be tested at a selected focal area of the focused acoustic waves; and sensing the effect on the acoustic waves by the object so that the object is non-destructively tested.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
113 words
A transducer apparatus including: a medium; unitary converting means within said medium to simultaneously convert pulses of thermal energy into acoustic waves for transmission through said medium and focus the acoustic waves; said unitary converting means including: a body of a solid material having a curved surface; and a thin film of metal bonded to said curved surface of said body to have substantially the same radius of curvature, said film having its surface remote from said body in contact with said medium; and changing means to selectively change the radius of curvature of each of said film and said curved surface of said body to change the focusing of the acoustic waves.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
113 words
A transducer apparatus including: a medium; unitary converting means within said medium to simultaneously convert pulses of thermal energy into acoustic waves for transmission through said medium and focus the acoustic waves; said unitary converting means including: a body of a solid material having a curved surface; and a thin film of metal bonded to said curved surface of said body to have substantially the same radius of curvature, said film having its surface remote from said body in contact with said medium; and changing means to selectively change the radius of curvature of each of said film and said curved surface of said body to change the focusing of the acoustic waves.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus according to claim 19 in which said changing means includes: a plurality of engaging means to engage spaced portions of the periphery of each of said film and said body; and moving means to move said engaging means relative to each other to change the radius of curvature of each of said film and said body.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus according to claim 20 in which said engaging means of said changing means includes at least two clamping means, each of said clamping means having a groove to receive a portion of the periphery of each of said film and said body.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus according to claim 21 in which: said clamping means includes two oppositely disposed clamping means; and said moving means includes means connected to each of said clamping means to simultaneously move said clamping means towards or away from each other to change the radius of curvature of each of said film and said body.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus according to claim 22 in which the medium is a liquid.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
88 words
The apparatus according to claim 21 in which: each of said film and said body has a circular periphery; said clamping means includes at least three clamping means engaging portions of the periphery of each of said film and said body; and said moving means includes means cooperating separately with each of said clamping means to move each of said clamping means towards or away from the center of said film and said body to change the radius of curvature of each of said film and said body.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus according to claim 24 in which the medium is a liquid.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus according to claim 21 in which the medium is a liquid.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus according to claim 20 in which the medium is a liquid.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus according to claim 19 in which the medium is a liquid.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-05-25 | 1984-11-24 | 1985-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-05-25 | 1988-11-24 | 1989-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-05-25 | 1992-11-24 | 1993-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |