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US4614410A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Ultrasonic microscope with optical microscope incorporated therein

Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
•
Filing: 1984-09-27
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Granted: 1986-09-30
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Expires: 2004-09-27
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Abstract

Abstract An ultrasonic microscope has an optical microscope disposed in juxtaposition therewith so that the optical microscope can directly observe a specimen to be observed by the ultrasonic microscope, by moving the specimen toward the optical microscope. The optical microscope can also observe a region where an acoustic lens of the ultrasonic microscope and the specimen face each other. For that purpose, the optical microscope is provided with an optical reflector for suiting the view of field of the optical microscope to the region where the acoustic lens and the specimen face each other. Alternatively, the optical microscope is swingably supported so that the view of field of the optical microscope is suited to the region where the acoustic lens and specimen face each other.

Inventors

  • 👤 Katsuzi Ikenaga
  • 👤 Masao Takai
  • 👤 Nobuyuki Nakashima
  • 👤 Koji Umemoto

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 01:42
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/88; G01S15/89; G01S15/8906; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/14; G01H; G01H3/00; G01H3/10; G01H3/12; G01H3/125; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/04; G01N29/06; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/02; G01N2291/028; G01N2291/02854

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 139 words
An ultrasonic microscope comprising: ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave; an acoustic lens for propagating the ultrasonic wave therethrough; a display unit for forming and displaying an image based on an ultrasonic wave reflected from a specimen and propagated through said acoustic lens; an optical microscope disposed adjacent to said acoustic lens for observing said specimen; a specimen table for supporting said specimen thereon and for moving said specimen to a position facing said acoustic lens and a position facing said optical microscope; and means for changing the direction of an optical axis of said optical microscope so as to enable said optical microscope to monitor a gap between said acoustic lens and said specimen in a vertical direction in a region where said acoustic lens and said specimen face each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 139 words
An ultrasonic microscope comprising: ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave; an acoustic lens for propagating the ultrasonic wave therethrough; a display unit for forming and displaying an image based on an ultrasonic wave reflected from a specimen and propagated through said acoustic lens; an optical microscope disposed adjacent to said acoustic lens for observing said specimen; a specimen table for supporting said specimen thereon and for moving said specimen to a position facing said acoustic lens and a position facing said optical microscope; and means for changing the direction of an optical axis of said optical microscope so as to enable said optical microscope to monitor a gap between said acoustic lens and said specimen in a vertical direction in a region where said acoustic lens and said specimen face each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 52 words
An ultrasonic microscope according to claim 1, wherein said changing means includes a reflector disposed on the optical axis of said optical microscope for changing the direction of the optical axis of said optical microscope to a direction perpendicular to a direction of propagation of an ultrasonic wave in said acoustic lens.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 22 words
An ultrasonic microscope according to claim 1, wherein said changing means is detachably mounted to an objective lens of said optical microscope.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 30 words
An ultrasonic microscope according to claim 1, wherein said changing means is supported by supporting means for rotatably supporting said changing means and an objective lens of said optical microscope.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 54 words
An ultrasonic microscope according to claim 1, wherein said changing means includes a reflector for changing the direction of the optical axis of said optical microscope through reflection and a lens for adjusting the focus of said optical microscope so as to enable monitoring of said gap between said acoustic lens and said specimen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 55 words
An ultrasonic microscope according to claim 1, wherein said changing means includes supporting means for rotatably supporting said optical microscope, said supporting means rotating said optical microscope to position the optical axis of said optical microscope to a position for enabling said optical microscope to monitor said gap between said acoustic lens and said specimen.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE98289C Cited
US3547514A Cited
US4011748A Cited
US4440475A Cited
JPS57176016A Cited
US4501476A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-09-29 1990-03-31 1990-09-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-09-29 1994-03-31 1994-09-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-09-29 1998-03-31 1998-09-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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