Patent US5307680A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5307680A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for visualization of internal stresses in solid non-transparent materials by elastoacoustic technique
Assignee: United States Department of Commerce
•
Filing: 1992-10-21
•
Granted: 1994-05-03
•
Expires: 2012-10-21
Abstract
Abstract A process and apparatus for visualization of internal stresses in solid materials by an acoustic microscope (10) connected to an acoustic lens (5) having a circular or spherical transmitting and receiving surface (8) for transmitting ultrasonic waves to and receiving reflected waves from a sample (3) to be examined in a body of liquid (2), such as water, a motor drive unit (7) having a movable arm thereon (6) connected to the acoustic lens (5) for supporting and moving the lens for scanning the sample, the motor drive (7) being connected to the acoustic microscope (10) for being operated thereby to perform the scanning, a computer (16) having a visual display unit (18), and an oscilloscope (20) for indicating the reflected waves.
Inventors
- 👤 Ewa Drescher-Krasicka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:38
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/22; G01N29/227; G01N29/04; G01N29/06; G01N29/0654; G01N29/0672; G01N29/0681; G01N2203/00; G01N2203/02; G01N2203/06; G01N2203/0641; G01N2203/0647; G01N2203/0658; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/02; G01N2291/028; G01N2291/02827
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A process for visualization of internal stress in solid materials by acoustic microscope imaging comprising: providing an coustic microscope having an acoustic lens comprising an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver; supporting a sample comprising a body of solid material to be examined; supporting said acoustic lens in spaced relationship to said sample; defocusing said lens by adjusting the focal point of said lens beneath the surface of said sample; exciting said ultrasonic transmitter to produce transmitted ultrasonic waves; directing said transmitted waves toward said body; positioning said acoustic lens relatively to said sample for receiving acoustic waves reflected from said sample and produced by said transmitted waves; and measuring the amplitude of said received waves to analyze distribution of internal stress in said sample.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A process for visualization of internal stress in solid materials by acoustic microscope imaging comprising: providing an coustic microscope having an acoustic lens comprising an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver; supporting a sample comprising a body of solid material to be examined; supporting said acoustic lens in spaced relationship to said sample; defocusing said lens by adjusting the focal point of said lens beneath the surface of said sample; exciting said ultrasonic transmitter to produce transmitted ultrasonic waves; directing said transmitted waves toward said body; positioning said acoustic lens relatively to said sample for receiving acoustic waves reflected from said sample and produced by said transmitted waves; and measuring the amplitude of said received waves to analyze distribution of internal stress in said sample.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The process as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: choosing polarized shear modes produced in said sample in said received acoustic waves and separating said chosen shear modes from other received acoustic waves; and imaging the area beneath the surface of said sample by using said separated shear modes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: at least partially immersing said sample and said acoustic microscope lens in a liquid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process as claimed in claim 2 and further comprising: at least partially immersing said sample and said acoustic microscope lens in a liquid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process as claimed in claim 3 wherein: said liquid is selected from the group consisting of water and alcohol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: imposing a force on said sample to produce internal stresses therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process as claimed in claim 3 and further comprising: imposing a force on said sample to produce internal stresses therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The process as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: polarizing said waves; and controlling said transmitted waves to produce splitting of a polarized shear mode propagating through the material of said sample into at least two differently polarized shear modes having different velocities.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process as claimed in claim 8 and further comprising: producing an acoustic microscope image using said at least two differently polarized shear modes separately.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process as claimed in claim 4 and further comprising: applying an external force on said sample for producing at least one of tension and compression stresses in said sample.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The process as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: polarizing said waves; controlling said transmitted waves to produce splitting of a polarized shear mode propagating through the material of said sample into at least two differently polarized shear modes having different velocities; producing quasi-longitudinal polarized modes in said sample; and producing an acoustic microscope image using at least one of said polarized modes.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
198 words
An apparatus for visualization of internal stresses in solid materials by acoustic microscope imaging comprising: means for supporting a sample to be examined; ultrasonic transmitter means supported in spaced relationship to said sample support means for transmitting ultrasonic waves toward the sample; ultrasonic receiver means f or receiving ultrasonic waves reflected from said sample; motor drive means operatively connected to said transmitter and receiver means for moving said transmitter and receiver means with respect to said sample for scanning said sample; acoustic microscope means operatively connected to said ultrasonic transmitter means, ultrasonic receiver means and motor drive means for operating said motor drive means, exciting said ultrasonic transmitter means to produce said ultrasonic transmitted waves, and for receiving signals from said ultrasonic receiver means produced by said reflected waves so that said acoustic microscope detects differences in intensity of said reflected waves as an indication of internal stress in said sample; and computer means operatively connected to said acoustic microscope for controlling said acoustic microscope and receiving signals therefrom indicating said differences in intensity of said signals transmitted by said ultrasonic receiver and for visually displaying said signals from said acoustic microscope to show said differences in intensity.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
198 words
An apparatus for visualization of internal stresses in solid materials by acoustic microscope imaging comprising: means for supporting a sample to be examined; ultrasonic transmitter means supported in spaced relationship to said sample support means for transmitting ultrasonic waves toward the sample; ultrasonic receiver means f or receiving ultrasonic waves reflected from said sample; motor drive means operatively connected to said transmitter and receiver means for moving said transmitter and receiver means with respect to said sample for scanning said sample; acoustic microscope means operatively connected to said ultrasonic transmitter means, ultrasonic receiver means and motor drive means for operating said motor drive means, exciting said ultrasonic transmitter means to produce said ultrasonic transmitted waves, and for receiving signals from said ultrasonic receiver means produced by said reflected waves so that said acoustic microscope detects differences in intensity of said reflected waves as an indication of internal stress in said sample; and computer means operatively connected to said acoustic microscope for controlling said acoustic microscope and receiving signals therefrom indicating said differences in intensity of said signals transmitted by said ultrasonic receiver and for visually displaying said signals from said acoustic microscope to show said differences in intensity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein: said ultrasonic transmitter means and ultrasonic receiver means comprise a unitary acoustic microscope lens for transmitting said ultrasonic waves and for receiving said reflected waves simultaneously.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 and further comprising: oscilloscope means operatively connected to said computer means and said acoustic microscope means for indicating said differences in intensity of said reflected waves as an indication of internal stresses in the sample.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 and further comprising: polarizing means for polarizing said transmitted ultrasonic waves.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 and further comprising: a tank containing a liquid; and wherein said sample, said ultrasonic transmitter means and said ultrasonic receiver means are at least partly immersed in said liquid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 and further comprising: a tank containing a liquid; and wherein said sample, said ultrasonic transmitter means and said ultrasonic receiver means are at least partly immersed in said liquid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 and further comprising: a tank containing a liquid; and wherein said sample, said ultrasonic transmitter means and said ultrasonic receiver means are at least partly immersed in said liquid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 and further comprising: means for adjusting the focal point of said transmitted waves beneath the surface of said sample.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 and further comprising: means for measuring the amplitude of said reflected waves for analyzing distribution of internal stress in said sample.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4012951A
Cited
US4459852A
Cited
US4531410A
Cited
US4503708A
Cited
US4524621A
Cited
US4655083A
Cited
US4620443A
Cited
US4658649A
Cited
US4702112A
Cited
US4674333A
Cited
US4788866A
Cited
US5085081A
Cited
US4866986A
Cited
US5079952A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-05-02 | 1997-11-01 | 1998-05-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-05-02 | 2001-11-01 | 2002-05-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-05-02 | 2005-11-01 | 2006-05-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |