US4531412A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic probe for accurately determining angular position and an echography apparatus using such a probe
Assignee: CGR Ultrasonic SA
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Filing: 1983-06-24
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Granted: 1985-07-30
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Expires: 2003-06-24
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic probe for accurately determining angular location includes a rotating mobile assembly with at least one angular location track placed thereon. The angular location track is inscribed with location data arranged in a succession of pulses. As the mobile assembly rotates, the track traces a path in space. A fixed reading unit is provided at a point along the path to read the data inscribed on the track. The read data contains information corresponding to the angular position of the mobile assembly at any given point in time.
Inventors
- 👤 Lucien Prud'hon
- 👤 Robert Bele
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:13
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/18; G10K11/26; G10K11/35; G10K11/352; G10K11/355
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
An ultrasonic probe comprising: rotating mobile assembly means for performing sectorial scanning with an ultrasonic wave; at least one angular location track formed on said mobile assembly means and inscribed with pulsed location data arranged in a succession of pulses, said angular location track describing a certain path determined by the movement of said mobile assembly; and means for reading said pulsed data disposed opposite a point on said path to determine the angular position of said mobile assembly means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
An ultrasonic probe comprising: rotating mobile assembly means for performing sectorial scanning with an ultrasonic wave; at least one angular location track formed on said mobile assembly means and inscribed with pulsed location data arranged in a succession of pulses, said angular location track describing a certain path determined by the movement of said mobile assembly; and means for reading said pulsed data disposed opposite a point on said path to determine the angular position of said mobile assembly means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mobile assembly means includes a cylindrical lateral surface portion carrying said angular location track.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said angular location track includes at least one magnetic track, and wherein said reading means includes at least one magnetic head.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
An echography apparatus comprising: a probe as claimed in claim 3; and an excitation signal generator feeding an ultrasonic transducer of said probe, and including a synchronizing means, having one input connected to said reading means, for synchronizing said mobile assembly means with said reading means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The echography apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further including: memory means, connected to said reading means, for storing said read data; and means for addressing said memory means, connected to said reading means and driven thereby.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The echography apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further including; means for driving said mobile assembly means; and means for controlling the speed of said driving means, said speed control means being connected to said reading means and driven thereby.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The echography apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further including: means for driving said mobile assembly means; and means for controlling the position of said driving means, said position control means being connected to said reading means and receiving therefrom signals which correspond to a given angular position of said mobile assembly means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The probe as claimed in claim 1, further including an optoelectric converter and wherein said angular location track includes a plurality of evenly spaced apart optical reflecting zones separated by optical absorbing zones, and wherein said reading means includes at least one optical fiber having one end placed opposite said path, and a second end coupled to said optoelectric converter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
An echography apparatus comprising: a probe as claimed in claim 8; and an excitation signal generator feeding an ultrasonic transducer of said probe, and including a synchronizing means, having one input connected to said reading means, for synchronizing said mobile assembly means with said reading means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The echography apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further including: memory means, connected to said reading means, for storing said read data; and means for addressing said memory means, connected to said reading means and driven thereby.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The echography apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further including; means for driving said mobile assembly means; and means for controlling the speed of said driving means said speed control means being connected to said reading means and driven thereby.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The echography apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further including: means for driving said mobile assembly means; and means for controlling the position of said driving means, said position control means being connected to said reading means and receiving therefrom signals which correspond to a given angular position of said mobile assembly means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
The probe as claimed in claim 8, further including a light source and wherein said at least one optical fiber includes two parallel optical fibers each having one end disposed opposite said path, one of said two optical fibers being permanently associated with said light source and a second one of said two optical fibers being permanently coupled to an optical signal input of said opto-electric converter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
The probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one angular location track includes two parallel angular location tracks, each track carrying a recorded periodic signal, the signals of said two tracks being staggered in phase by approximately 90°, and wherein said reading means includes means for reading said periodic signal from each said track.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The probe as claimed in claim 14, further including a third angular location track formed on said mobile assembly means and carrying a single recorded pulse, and wherein said reading means includes means for reading said single pulse.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
An echography apparatus comprising: a probe as claimed in claim 1; and an excitation signal generator feeding an ultrasonic transducer of said probe, and including a synchronizing means, having one input connected to said reading means, for synchronizing said mobile assembly means with said reading means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The echography apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further including: memory means, connected to said reading means, for storing said read data; and means for addressing said memory means, connected to said reading means and driven thereby.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The echography apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further including; means for driving said mobile assembly means; and means for controlling the speed of said driving means, said speed control means being connected to said reading means and driven thereby.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
53 words
The echography apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further including: means for driving said mobile assembly means; and means for controlling the position of said driving means, said position control means being connected to said reading means and receiving therefrom signals which correspond to a given angular position of said mobile assembly means.
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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) | 1988-07-29 | 1989-01-28 | 1989-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-07-29 | 1993-01-28 | 1993-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-07-29 | 1997-01-28 | 1997-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |