US4430897A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Acoustic microscope and method
Assignee: Leland Stanford Junior University
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Filing: 1981-05-14
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Granted: 1984-02-14
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Expires: 2001-05-14
Abstract
Abstract An acoustic microscope and method are disclosed in which an object under investigation is excited by two energy sources. Acoustic waves are propagated from the heated area of the object and the waves are detected and analyzed.
Inventors
- 👤 Calvin F. Quate
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:07
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/04; G01N29/06; G01H; G01H3/00; G01H3/10; G01H3/12; G01H3/125; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/02; G01N2291/028; G01N2291/02827; G01N2291/02881
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
An acoustic microscope comprising first means for heating an object of interest so that the object thermally expands responsive thereto, second means for heating the object of interest at the region of interest so that the object at the point of interest thermally expands responsive thereto, the thermal expansion by both sources provides output acoustic waves and means for sensing said acoustic waves and providing an output signal representative of the expansion due to the heating by said first and second heating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
An acoustic microscope comprising first means for heating an object of interest so that the object thermally expands responsive thereto, second means for heating the object of interest at the region of interest so that the object at the point of interest thermally expands responsive thereto, the thermal expansion by both sources provides output acoustic waves and means for sensing said acoustic waves and providing an output signal representative of the expansion due to the heating by said first and second heating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 1 in which said means for sensing the acoustic waves generated by the expansion at the region of interest comprises an acoustic transducer which provides an output electrical signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 2 in which said first means for heating heats the object at a first frequency and said second means heats the object at the region of interest at a second frequency.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 3 in which said means for receiving the generated acoustic waves provides an output representative of the sum or difference frequency of said acoustic waves.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 3 in which one of said heating frequencies is zero.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 3 when at least one of said heating means is focused on the point of interest.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 6 in which said means for receiving said generated acoustic waves and providing an output signal is focused at said point of interest.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 3 in which both of said heating means are focused at the point of interest.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 3 in which said means for receiving said generated acoustic waves and providing an output signal is focused at the point of interest.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 3 in which one of said first and second heating means has a high intensity and the other a low intensity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 10 in which the low intensity heating means it a current source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 10 in which the low intensity heating means is a focused electron beam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 1 in which said means for sensing the mixed expansion comprises means for directing acoustic waves at the region of interest and receiving acoustic waves reflected from said region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 13 wherein said acoustic waves are modulated at a selected frequency.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 14 in which said sensing means includes means for providing an output signal representative of reflected acoustic waves at said selected frequency.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 15 in which said first means for heating heats the object at a fist frequency and said output signal is at the sum or difference frequency of said selected frequency and said first frequency.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 15 in which said second means for heating heats the object at a second frequency and said output signal is at the sum or difference frequency of said selected frequency and said second frequency.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 13 in which at least one of said heating means is found at the point of interest.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
77 words
An acoustic microscope comprising first means for heating an object of interest at a first frequency so that the object thermally expands and generates acoustic waves at a first frequency, second means for heating the object of interest at a second frequency so that the object thermally expands and generates acoustic waves at a second frequency and means for receiving said generated acoustic waves and providing an output signal representative of the product of said acoustic waves.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
77 words
An acoustic microscope comprising first means for heating an object of interest at a first frequency so that the object thermally expands and generates acoustic waves at a first frequency, second means for heating the object of interest at a second frequency so that the object thermally expands and generates acoustic waves at a second frequency and means for receiving said generated acoustic waves and providing an output signal representative of the product of said acoustic waves.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 19 in which said means for receiving the generated acoustic waves provides an output representative of the sum or difference frequency of said acoustic waves.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 19 in which one of said acoustic wave frequencies is zero.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 19 when at least one of said heating means is focused on the point of interest.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 22 in which said means for receiving said generated acoustic waves and providing an output signal is focused at said point of interest.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 19 in which both of said heating means are focused at the point of interest.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 19 in which said means for receiving said generated acoustic waves and providing an output signal is focused at the point of interest.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 19 in which one of said heating means has a high intensity and the other a low intensity.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 26 in which the low intensity heating means is a current source.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
An acoustic microscope as in claim 26 in which the low intensity heating means is a focused electron beam.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
44 words
The method of acoustically inspecting an object of interest at a point of interest comprising heating the point of interest at two different frequencies to generate mixed acoustic waves and receiving said mixed acoustic waves and providing an output signal representative of their product.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
44 words
The method of acoustically inspecting an object of interest at a point of interest comprising heating the point of interest at two different frequencies to generate mixed acoustic waves and receiving said mixed acoustic waves and providing an output signal representative of their product.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
60 words
The method of inspecting an object of interest at a point of interest comprising heating the point of interest with first background energy and heating the point of interest with inspection energy whereby the action of said combined energies generates a detectable acoustic wave, and sensing the acoustic wave radiated at said point of interest to form a representative signal.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
60 words
The method of inspecting an object of interest at a point of interest comprising heating the point of interest with first background energy and heating the point of interest with inspection energy whereby the action of said combined energies generates a detectable acoustic wave, and sensing the acoustic wave radiated at said point of interest to form a representative signal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as in claim 30 in which elastic movement at said point of interest is sensed.
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) | 1987-02-13 | 1987-08-15 | 1988-02-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-02-13 | 1991-08-15 | 1992-02-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-02-13 | 1995-08-15 | 1996-02-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |