Patent US5415045A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5415045A
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US
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Apparatus and method for detecting flaws in and inspecting an object
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 1992-11-16
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Granted: 1995-05-16
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Expires: 2012-11-16
Abstract
Abstract An ultrasonic detecting apparatus which includes a generator which generates more than three transmission signals. The detecting apparatus also includes a transmitter/receiver which transmits waves, which may be ultrasonic waves, to an object and receives echoes corresponding to the transmission signal. A correlator performs correlation operations with respect to the echoes. The results of the correlation operations are processed to obtain a signal with substantially zero side lobes.
Inventors
- 👤 Shusou Wadaka
- 👤 Koichiro Misu
- 👤 Tsutomu Nagatsuka
- 👤 Mitsuhiro Koike
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:17
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/44; G01N29/50; G01N29/04; G01N29/06; G01N29/0609; G01N29/07; G01N29/11; G01N29/22; G01N29/30; G01N29/34; G01N29/341; G01N29/343; G01N29/348; G01N29/36; G01N29/40; G01N29/4409; G01N29/4436; G01N29/4445; G01N29/46; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/04; G01N2291/044; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S367/00; Y10S367/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 94
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A detecting apparatus comprising: (a) a transmission signal generating means for generating more than three transmission signals, at least one of which differs from the others; (b) a transmitting means for transmitting waves to an object by said transmission signals; (c) a receiving means for receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) a correlation operation means for performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; and (e) a processing means for processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A detecting apparatus comprising: (a) a transmission signal generating means for generating more than three transmission signals, at least one of which differs from the others; (b) a transmitting means for transmitting waves to an object by said transmission signals; (c) a receiving means for receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) a correlation operation means for performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; and (e) a processing means for processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that each wave form of said transmission signals corresponds to each of sequences prescribing said transmission signals, respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 2 characterized in that said sequences are finite binary sequences.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 2 characterized in that each of said transmission signals has a wave form which is obtained by arranging a wave form portion including a frequency component f o along a time axis according to first and second values in the corresponding sequence and according to a rule of changing the phases by 180° in the wave form portions corresponding to the first value compared to the wave form portions corresponding to the second value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 2 characterized in that a wave form of each of said transmission signals is a phase-coded waveform by using the corresponding sequence.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 2 characterized in that a wave form of each of said transmission signals is an amplitude-coded waveform by using the corresponding sequence.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein a signal obtained by summing all of the autocorrelation functions of said sequences has substantially zero range sidelobes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 2 characterized in that said sequences are generated in a predetermined order in timing whereby said transmission signals are generated in a predetermined order in timing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said transmission signals has a wave form comprising substantially sinusoidal portions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the processing means includes means for summing all results of said correlation operations to obtain said signal with substantially zero range sidelobes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a signal obtained by summing all of the autocorrelation functions of said transmission signals has substantially zero range sidelobes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 10, 11 or 7 wherein said processing means is constituted by an adder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said correlation operations are performed between said echoes and reference signals, each of said reference signals being related respectively to each of said echoes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said reference signals are said transmission signals corresponding to said echoes, respectively.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said transmission signal generating means is constituted by a plurality of independent generators.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said transmitting means is constituted by a plurality of independent transmitters.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said receiving means is constituted by a plurality of independent receivers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said correlation operation means is constituted by a plurality of independent correlators.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said transmission signal generating means is constituted by a single common generator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said transmitting means is constituted by a single common transmitter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said receiving means is constituted by a single common receiver.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said correlation operation means is constituted by a single common correlator.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 22 characterized in that said waves transmitted from said transmitting means to said object are ultrasonic waves.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said transmitting means and said receiving means are constituted by a single common transmitting/receiving means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said transmission signals are generated in a predetermined order in timing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said transmission signals has a wave form comprising substantially rectangular portions.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
129 words
A detecting apparatus comprising: (a) a transmission signal generating means for generating more than three different transmission signals; (b) a transmitting means for transmitting waves to an object by said transmission signals; (c) a receiving means for receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signal; (d) a correlation operation means for performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) a processing means for processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; wherein said correlation operations are performed between said echoes and reference signals, each of said reference signals being related respectively to each of said echoes; and wherein said reference signals are echoes from a surface or bottom of said object, said echoes being related respectively to said transmission signals.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
129 words
A detecting apparatus comprising: (a) a transmission signal generating means for generating more than three different transmission signals; (b) a transmitting means for transmitting waves to an object by said transmission signals; (c) a receiving means for receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signal; (d) a correlation operation means for performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) a processing means for processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; wherein said correlation operations are performed between said echoes and reference signals, each of said reference signals being related respectively to each of said echoes; and wherein said reference signals are echoes from a surface or bottom of said object, said echoes being related respectively to said transmission signals.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
151 words
A detecting apparatus comprising: (a) a transmission signal generating means for generating more than three different transmission signals; (b) a transmitting means for transmitting waves to an object by said transmission signals; (c) a receiving means for receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) a correlation operation means for performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) a processing means for processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; wherein said correlation operations are performed between said echoes and reference signals, each of said reference signals being related respectively to each of said echoes; and wherein each of said reference signals is a signal computed based on frequency response characteristics of each signal path from an output portion of each of said transmission signal generating means through said object to an input portion of each of said correlation operation means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
151 words
A detecting apparatus comprising: (a) a transmission signal generating means for generating more than three different transmission signals; (b) a transmitting means for transmitting waves to an object by said transmission signals; (c) a receiving means for receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) a correlation operation means for performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) a processing means for processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; wherein said correlation operations are performed between said echoes and reference signals, each of said reference signals being related respectively to each of said echoes; and wherein each of said reference signals is a signal computed based on frequency response characteristics of each signal path from an output portion of each of said transmission signal generating means through said object to an input portion of each of said correlation operation means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 28 characterized in that each of said frequency response characteristics includes frequency characteristics relating to reflection of a reflection body in said object.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
142 words
A detecting apparatus comprising: (a) a transmission signal generating means for generating more than three different transmission signals; (b) a transmitting means for transmitting waves to an object by said transmission signals; (c) a receiving means for receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) a correlation operation means for performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) a processing means for processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; wherein said correlation operations are performed between said echoes and reference signals, each of said reference signals being related respectively to each of said echoes; and wherein each of said reference signals is an echo from a portion of a trial object when waves are transmitted to said trial object from each of said transmitting means by each of said transmission signals.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
142 words
A detecting apparatus comprising: (a) a transmission signal generating means for generating more than three different transmission signals; (b) a transmitting means for transmitting waves to an object by said transmission signals; (c) a receiving means for receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) a correlation operation means for performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) a processing means for processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; wherein said correlation operations are performed between said echoes and reference signals, each of said reference signals being related respectively to each of said echoes; and wherein each of said reference signals is an echo from a portion of a trial object when waves are transmitted to said trial object from each of said transmitting means by each of said transmission signals.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
130 words
A detecting apparatus comprising: (a) a transmission signal generating means for generating more than three different transmission signals; (b) a transmitting means for transmitting waves to an object by said transmission signals; (c) a receiving means for receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) a correlation operation means for performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) a processing means for processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; wherein said correlation operations are performed between said echoes and reference signals, each of said reference signals being related respectively to each of said echoes; and wherein each of said reference signals corresponding to each of said echoes has the wave form similar to that of each of said echoes.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
130 words
A detecting apparatus comprising: (a) a transmission signal generating means for generating more than three different transmission signals; (b) a transmitting means for transmitting waves to an object by said transmission signals; (c) a receiving means for receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) a correlation operation means for performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) a processing means for processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; wherein said correlation operations are performed between said echoes and reference signals, each of said reference signals being related respectively to each of said echoes; and wherein each of said reference signals corresponding to each of said echoes has the wave form similar to that of each of said echoes.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
96 words
A detecting apparatus comprising: (a) a transmission signal generating means for generating more than three different transmission signals; (b) a transmitting means for transmitting waves to an object by said transmission signals; (c) a receiving means for receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) a correlation operation means for performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) a processing means for processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; and wherein a plurality of correlation operations are performed with respect to each of said echoes.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
96 words
A detecting apparatus comprising: (a) a transmission signal generating means for generating more than three different transmission signals; (b) a transmitting means for transmitting waves to an object by said transmission signals; (c) a receiving means for receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) a correlation operation means for performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) a processing means for processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; and wherein a plurality of correlation operations are performed with respect to each of said echoes.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
53 words
A detecting apparatus as claimed in claim 32 characterized in that each of said correlation operations is a correlation operation between each of a plurality of reference signals and each of said echoes and a wave form of each of said reference signals is different from wave forms of the other reference signals.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
215 words
A detecting apparatus comprising: (a) a transmission signal generating means for generating more than three different transmission signals; (b) a transmitting means for transmitting waves to an object by said transmission signals; (c) a receiving means for receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) a correlation operation means for performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) a processing means for processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; wherein each wave form of said transmission signals corresponds to each of sequences prescribing said transmission signals, respectively; characterized in that each of said transmission signals has a wave form which is obtained by arranging a wave form portion including a frequency component f o along a time axis according to an appearance order of plus sign and minus sign in the corresponding sequence and according to a rule of changing the phases by 180° in the wave form portions corresponding to the minus signs compared to the other wave form portions corresponding to the plus signs; and characterized in that said frequency component f o is determined by frequency characteristics of said transmitting means, frequency characteristics of said object and frequency characteristics of said receiving means whereby a signal to noise ratio is maximized.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
215 words
A detecting apparatus comprising: (a) a transmission signal generating means for generating more than three different transmission signals; (b) a transmitting means for transmitting waves to an object by said transmission signals; (c) a receiving means for receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) a correlation operation means for performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) a processing means for processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; wherein each wave form of said transmission signals corresponds to each of sequences prescribing said transmission signals, respectively; characterized in that each of said transmission signals has a wave form which is obtained by arranging a wave form portion including a frequency component f o along a time axis according to an appearance order of plus sign and minus sign in the corresponding sequence and according to a rule of changing the phases by 180° in the wave form portions corresponding to the minus signs compared to the other wave form portions corresponding to the plus signs; and characterized in that said frequency component f o is determined by frequency characteristics of said transmitting means, frequency characteristics of said object and frequency characteristics of said receiving means whereby a signal to noise ratio is maximized.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
120 words
A detecting apparatus comprising: (a) a transmission signal generating means for generating more than three different transmission signals; (b) a transmitting means for transmitting waves to an object by said transmission signals; (c) a receiving means for receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) a correlation operation means for performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) a processing means for processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; and wherein a center frequency of each of said transmission signals is determined by frequency characteristics of said transmitting means, frequency characteristics of said object and frequency characteristics of said receiving means whereby a signal to noise ratio is maximized.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
120 words
A detecting apparatus comprising: (a) a transmission signal generating means for generating more than three different transmission signals; (b) a transmitting means for transmitting waves to an object by said transmission signals; (c) a receiving means for receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) a correlation operation means for performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) a processing means for processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; and wherein a center frequency of each of said transmission signals is determined by frequency characteristics of said transmitting means, frequency characteristics of said object and frequency characteristics of said receiving means whereby a signal to noise ratio is maximized.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for inspecting an object comprising the steps of: (a) generating more than three transmission signals; (b) transmitting waves to the object by using said transmission signals, at least one of which differs from the others; (c) receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; and (e) processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
73 words
A method for inspecting an object comprising the steps of: (a) generating more than three transmission signals; (b) transmitting waves to the object by using said transmission signals, at least one of which differs from the others; (c) receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; and (e) processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 36 characterized in that each wave form of said first transmission signals corresponds to each of sequences prescribing said transmission signals, respectively.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 37 characterized in that said sequences are finite binary sequences.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 37 characterized in that each of said transmission signals has a wave form which is obtained by arranging a wave form portion including a frequency component f o along a time axis according to first and second values in the corresponding sequence and according to a rule of changing the phases by 180° in the wave form portions corresponding to the first value compared to the other wave form portions corresponding to the second value.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 37 characterized in that a wave form of each of said transmission signals is a phase-coded waveform by using the corresponding sequence.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 37 characterized in that a wave form of each of said transmission signals is an amplitude-coded waveform by using the corresponding sequence.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 37 characterized in that said sequences are generated in a predetermined order in timing whereby said transmission signals are generated in a predetermined order in timing.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 36 wherein the step of processing includes summing results of said correlation operations to obtain the signal with substantially zero range sidelobes.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 36 wherein each of said transmission signals has a wave form comprising substantially sinusoidal portions or substantially rectangular portions.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 36 wherein the step of processing includes summing results of said correlation operations to obtain the signal with substantially zero range sidelobes.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 36 wherein a signal obtained by summing all of the auto-correlation functions of said transmission signals has substantially zero range sidelobes.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
20 words
The method of one of claims 43, 45 or 46 wherein said step of processing comprises the step of adding.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 36 wherein said correlation operations are performed between said echoes and reference signals, each of said reference signals being related respectively to each of said echoes.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 48 wherein said reference signals are said transmission signals corresponding to said echoes, respectively.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 36 characterized in that said transmission signals are generated in a predetermined order in timing.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 36 wherein said waves transmitted in said step of transmitting to said object are ultrasonic waves.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 36 wherein each of said transmission signals has a wave form comprising substantially rectangular portions.
Claim 62
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for inspecting an object comprising the steps of: (a) generating more than three transmission signals; (b) transmitting waves to the object by using said transmission signals; (c) receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; wherein said correlation operations are performed between said echoes and reference signals, each of said reference signals being related respectively to each of said echoes; and wherein said reference signals are echoes from a surface or bottom of said object, said echoes being related respectively to said transmission signals.
Claim 63
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for inspecting an object comprising the steps of: (a) generating more than three transmission signals; (b) transmitting waves to the object by using said transmission signals; (c) receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; wherein said correlation operations are performed between said echoes and reference signals, each of said reference signals being related respectively to each of said echoes; and wherein said reference signals are echoes from a surface or bottom of said object, said echoes being related respectively to said transmission signals.
Claim 64
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for inspecting an object comprising the steps of: (a) generating more than three transmission signals; (b) transmitting waves to the object by using said transmission signals; (c) receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; wherein said correlation operations are performed between said echoes and reference signals, each of said reference signals being related respectively to each of said echoes; and wherein each of said reference signals is a signal computed based on frequency response characteristics of each signal path from an output portion of a transmission signal generator used for generating the transmission signals through said object to an input portion of a correlator used for performing the correlation operations.
Claim 65
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for inspecting an object comprising the steps of: (a) generating more than three transmission signals; (b) transmitting waves to the object by using said transmission signals; (c) receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; wherein said correlation operations are performed between said echoes and reference signals, each of said reference signals being related respectively to each of said echoes; and wherein each of said reference signals is a signal computed based on frequency response characteristics of each signal path from an output portion of a transmission signal generator used for generating the transmission signals through said object to an input portion of a correlator used for performing the correlation operations.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 54 characterized in that each of said frequency response characteristics includes frequency characteristics relating to reflection of a reflection body in said object.
Claim 67
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for inspecting an object comprising the steps of: (a) generating more than three transmission signals; (b) transmitting waves to the object by using said transmission signals; (c) receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; wherein said correlation operations are performed between said echoes and reference signals, each of said reference signals being related respectively to each of said echoes; and wherein each of said reference signals is an echo from a portion of a trial object when waves are transmitted to said trial object by each of said transmission signals.
Claim 68
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for inspecting an object comprising the steps of: (a) generating more than three transmission signals; (b) transmitting waves to the object by using said transmission signals; (c) receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; wherein said correlation operations are performed between said echoes and reference signals, each of said reference signals being related respectively to each of said echoes; and wherein each of said reference signals is an echo from a portion of a trial object when waves are transmitted to said trial object by each of said transmission signals.
Claim 69
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for inspecting an object comprising the steps of: (a) generating more than three transmission signals; (b) transmitting waves to the object by using said transmission signals; (c) receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; wherein said correlation operations are performed between said echoes and reference signals, each of said reference signals being related respectively to each of said echoes; and wherein each of said reference signals corresponding to each of said echoes has the wave form similar to that of each of said echoes.
Claim 70
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for inspecting an object comprising the steps of: (a) generating more than three transmission signals; (b) transmitting waves to the object by using said transmission signals; (c) receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; wherein said correlation operations are performed between said echoes and reference signals, each of said reference signals being related respectively to each of said echoes; and wherein each of said reference signals corresponding to each of said echoes has the wave form similar to that of each of said echoes.
Claim 71
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for inspecting an object comprising the steps of: (a) generating more than three transmission signals; (b) transmitting waves to the object by using said transmission signals; (c) receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; and wherein a plurality of correlation operations are performed with respect to each of said echoes.
Claim 72
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for inspecting an object comprising the steps of: (a) generating more than three transmission signals; (b) transmitting waves to the object by using said transmission signals; (c) receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; and wherein a plurality of correlation operations are performed with respect to each of said echoes.
Claim 73
Independent Claim
48 words
The method of 58 characterized in that each of said correlation operations is a correlation operation between each of a plurality of reference signals and each of said echoes and a wave form of each of said reference signals is different from wave forms of other reference signals.
Claim 74
Independent Claim
48 words
The method of 58 characterized in that each of said correlation operations is a correlation operation between each of a plurality of reference signals and each of said echoes and a wave form of each of said reference signals is different from wave forms of other reference signals.
Claim 75
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for inspecting an object comprising the steps of: (a) generating more than three transmission signals; (b) transmitting waves to the object by using said transmission signals; (c) receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; wherein each wave form of said transmission signals corresponds to each of sequences prescribing said transmission signals, respectively; wherein each of said transmission signals has a wave form which is obtained by arranging a wave form portion including a frequency component f o along a time axis according to first and second values in the corresponding sequence and according to a rule of changing the phases by 180° in the wave form portions corresponding to the first value compared to the other wave form portions corresponding to the second value; and wherein said frequency component f o is determined by frequency characteristics of a transmitter/receiver used for transmitting waves and receiving echoes and frequency characteristics of said object whereby a signal to noise ratio is maximized.
Claim 76
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for inspecting an object comprising the steps of: (a) generating more than three transmission signals; (b) transmitting waves to the object by using said transmission signals; (c) receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; wherein each wave form of said transmission signals corresponds to each of sequences prescribing said transmission signals, respectively; wherein each of said transmission signals has a wave form which is obtained by arranging a wave form portion including a frequency component f o along a time axis according to first and second values in the corresponding sequence and according to a rule of changing the phases by 180° in the wave form portions corresponding to the first value compared to the other wave form portions corresponding to the second value; and wherein said frequency component f o is determined by frequency characteristics of a transmitter/receiver used for transmitting waves and receiving echoes and frequency characteristics of said object whereby a signal to noise ratio is maximized.
Claim 77
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for inspecting an object comprising the steps of: (a) generating more than three transmission signals; (b) transmitting waves to the object by using said transmission signals; (c) receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; and wherein a center frequency of each of said transmission signals is determined by frequency characteristics of a transmitter/receiver used for transmitting waves and receiving echoes and frequency characteristics of said object whereby a signal to noise ratio is maximized.
Claim 78
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for inspecting an object comprising the steps of: (a) generating more than three transmission signals; (b) transmitting waves to the object by using said transmission signals; (c) receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; and wherein a center frequency of each of said transmission signals is determined by frequency characteristics of a transmitter/receiver used for transmitting waves and receiving echoes and frequency characteristics of said object whereby a signal to noise ratio is maximized.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
128 words
A detecting apparatus comprising: (a) a transmission signal generating means for generating more than three transmission signals; (b) a transmitting means for transmitting waves to an object by said transmission signals; (c) a receiving means for receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) a correlation operation means for performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) a processing means for processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; wherein said correlation operations are performed between said echoes and reference signals, each of said reference signals being related respectively to each of said echoes; and wherein said reference signals are echoes from a surface of bottom of said object, said echoes being related respectively to said transmission signals.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
128 words
A detecting apparatus comprising: (a) a transmission signal generating means for generating more than three transmission signals; (b) a transmitting means for transmitting waves to an object by said transmission signals; (c) a receiving means for receiving echoes corresponding to said transmission signals; (d) a correlation operation means for performing correlation operations with respect to said echoes; (e) a processing means for processing results of said correlation operations, whereby a signal which has substantially zero range sidelobes is obtained; wherein said correlation operations are performed between said echoes and reference signals, each of said reference signals being related respectively to each of said echoes; and wherein said reference signals are echoes from a surface of bottom of said object, said echoes being related respectively to said transmission signals.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
51 words
A signal transmitting method, comprising: generating four finite binary sequences, at least one of which differs from the others and which sequences have the property that the sum of the auto-correlation functions of the sequences has a substantially zero sidelobe, and transmitting four transmission signals respectively related to the four sequences.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
51 words
A signal transmitting method, comprising: generating four finite binary sequences, at least one of which differs from the others and which sequences have the property that the sum of the auto-correlation functions of the sequences has a substantially zero sidelobe, and transmitting four transmission signals respectively related to the four sequences.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 63 wherein each of said transmission signals has a wave form comprising substantially sinusoidal portions.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 63 wherein each of said transmission signals has a wave form which is obtained by arranging a wave form portion including a frequency component f o along a time axis according to first and second values in the corresponding sequence and according to a rule of changing the phases by 180° in the wave form portions corresponding to the first value compared to the other wave form portions corresponding to the second value.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 63 wherein a wave form of each of said transmission signals is phase-coded using the related sequence.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 63 wherein a wave form of each of said transmission signals is amplitude-coded using the related sequence.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 63 wherein said transmission signals transmitted from said transmitting means to said object are ultrasonic waves.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus for transmitting signals, comprising: generating means for generating four finite binary sequences, at least one of which differs from the others and which sequences have the property that the sum of the auto-correlation functions of the sequences has a substantially zero sidelobe, and transmitting means for transmitting four transmission signals each respectively related to the four sequences.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus for transmitting signals, comprising: generating means for generating four finite binary sequences, at least one of which differs from the others and which sequences have the property that the sum of the auto-correlation functions of the sequences has a substantially zero sidelobe, and transmitting means for transmitting four transmission signals each respectively related to the four sequences.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 71 wherein each of said transmission signals has a wave form comprising substantially sinusoidal portions.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus of claim 69 wherein each of said transmission signals has a wave form which is obtained by arranging a wave form portion including a frequency component f o along a time axis according to first and second values in the corresponding sequence and according to a rule of changing the phases by 180° in the wave form portions corresponding to the first value compared to the other wave form portions corresponding to the second value.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 69 wherein a wave form of each of said transmission signals is phase-coded using the related sequence.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 69 wherein a wave form of each of said transmission signals is amplitude-coded using the related sequence.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 69 wherein said transmission signals transmitted from said transmitting means to said object are ultrasonic waves.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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