Integrated ultrasonic scanning apparatus
First Claim
1. An integrated closed ultrasonic scanner comprisinga sealed housing having at least one mechanically compliant wall,an acoustically conductive liquid disposed within said sealed housing,an endless belt disposed within said housing and mounted for orbital movement therewithin,at least two piezoelectric transducers secured to said endless belt,drive means disposed within said sealed housing for driving said endless belt to establish orbital movement of said transducers,magnetic commutation means for energizing said transducers and transferring acoustical function electrical signals to the exterior of said sealed housing,electrical cable means operatively associated with said magnetic commutation means and said drive means and being in communication with the exterior of said sealed housing for cooperation with external signal processing means and an electrical energy source,a fresnel deflecting lens disposed between said endless belt and said mechanically compliant wall, andmeans for reciprocating said fresnel lens in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of travel of said orbiting transducers.
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Abstract
An integrated closed ultrasonic scanner having a sealed housing provided with an acoustically conductive liquid disposed therein. Means are provided within the housing to receive acoustical waves and convert the same to electrical signals. Non-contacting commutation means may be provided. These signals may be electrical signals which are converted to convenient data display format, such as a video output, may be in the form of a direct visual output as by light emitting diode arrays or other suitable means. The integrated scanner is adapted to be relatively lightweight such that a user may readily operate the instrument while holding it within one hand.
In one embodiment an endless belt is provided within the housing and adapted for orbital movement therewithin. Piezoelectric transducers are secured to the exterior of the endless belt and drive means disposed within the housing are provided for establishing the desired orbital movement. Non-contacting commutation means energize the transducers and transfer reflected transducer signals toward the exterior of the sealed housing. A flexible fresnel deflecting lens is disposed between the endless belt and a mechanically compliant wall of the sealed housing. Means for reciprocating the fresnel lens in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of the orbiting transducers is provided. This results in a rapid mechanically reliable B-scan type of reading. The endless belt may be mounted upon a pair of rotatable pulleys which may serve as the armatures of electric motors disposed within the sealed housing. Internal signal handling means disposed within the housing may communicate with external signal processing means through electrical cable means.
In another embodiment the sealed housing which contains an acoustically conductive liquid is provided with an endless belt mounted for orbital movement in a first direction and translational movement in a second direction. At least one transducer and one light emitting diode are secured to the exterior of the belt. Drive means disposed within the sealed housing drive the endless belt in the orbital first direction and translational second direction. Magnetic commutation means commutate acoustical signals received by the transducer, and additional commutation means energize the light emitting diode. Electrical cable means are operatively associated with the drive means and in communication with the exterior of the sealed housing.
In another embodiment of the invention a sealed housing may have a subdivided interior or have two chambers within which an acoustically conductive liquid is disposed. A rotatable drum is disposed within the first chamber. At least two rows of transducers are disposed on the circumference of the drum generally aligned with the central axis thereof with the rows spaced circumferentially from each other. At least two rows of light emitting diodes are disposed on the circumference of the drum generally aligned with the central axis of the drum. Electric drive means are provided for rotating the drum. An array of sound pipes having a generally curved surface adjacent the drum and a generally flat surface at the other end or receiving end thereof is provided. A wall of the sealed housing is preferably flexible so as to permit more intimate contact between a test specimen and the sound pipe array either directly or through an acoustical coupling medium. Acoustical waves impinging upon the flat surface of the sound pipe array will be transmitted to the drum transducers through the curved surfaces.
Another embodiment of the invention involves an integrated closed ultrasonic scanner having a sealed housing which may be provided with an internal division or two chambers and containing an acoustically conductive liquid. A rotatable drum is disposed within the sealed housing and the front wall of the drum is oriented generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of the drum and rotatable therewith. A linear array of receiving transducers is secured to the front wal. A rear wall of the drum is oriented generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of the drum and rotatable wtherewith. A linear array of light emitting diodes is secured to the rear wall. Electric drive means are provided for rotating the drum. Internal electronic means are disposed within the sealed housing and coordinate the energizing of the light emitting diodes responsive to acoustical signals received by the receiving transducers. External electronic means are disposed exteriorly of the housing and energize the electric drive means and cooperate with the internal electronic means.
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Citations
140 Claims
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1. An integrated closed ultrasonic scanner comprising
a sealed housing having at least one mechanically compliant wall, an acoustically conductive liquid disposed within said sealed housing, an endless belt disposed within said housing and mounted for orbital movement therewithin, at least two piezoelectric transducers secured to said endless belt, drive means disposed within said sealed housing for driving said endless belt to establish orbital movement of said transducers, magnetic commutation means for energizing said transducers and transferring acoustical function electrical signals to the exterior of said sealed housing, electrical cable means operatively associated with said magnetic commutation means and said drive means and being in communication with the exterior of said sealed housing for cooperation with external signal processing means and an electrical energy source, a fresnel deflecting lens disposed between said endless belt and said mechanically compliant wall, and means for reciprocating said fresnel lens in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of travel of said orbiting transducers.
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45. An integrated closed ultrasonic scanner comprising
a sealed scanner housing, an acoustically conductive liquid disposed within said sealed housing, an endless belt disposed within said housing mounted for orbital movement in one direction and translational movement in another direction, at least one transducer secured to said belt, at least one light emiting diode secured to said belt, drive means disposed within said sealed housing for driving said endless belt in said orbital direction and said translational direction, magnetic commutation means for commutating acoustical function electrical signals from said transducer and energizing said light emitting diode, and electrical cable means operatively associated with said drive means and said magnetic commutation means and being in communication with the exterior of said sealed housing for cooperation with external signal processing means and an electric power source means.
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91. An integrated closed ultrasonic scanner comprising
a sealed housing, an acoustically conductive liquid disposed within said sealed housing, a rotatable drum disposed within said sealed housing, at least two rows of transducers disposed on the circumference of said drum generally aligned with the central axis of said drum, said rows of transducers spaced circumferentially from each other, at least two rows of light emitting diodes disposed on the circumference of said drum generally aligned with the central axis of said drum, drive means for rotating said drum, commutation means for coordinating operation of an insonifying transducer disposed exteriorly of said sealed housing with the operation of internal signal handling means disposed within said sealed housing, external signal processing means for energizing said insonifying transducer and coordinating operation of said commutation means with operation of said insonifying transducer, an array of sound pipes having a generally curved surface adjacent to said drum and a generally flat surface on the other side thereof, whereby acoustical waves impinging upon said flat surface will be transmitted to said drum transducer through said curved surfaces, and a wall of said sealed housing adjacent to said sound pipe array flat surface being flexible.
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117. An integrated closed ultrasonic scanner comprising
a sealed housing, an acoustically conductive liquid disposed within said sealed housing, a rotatable drum disposed within said sealed housing, a front wall of said drum oriented generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of said drum and rotatable therewith, a substantially linear array of receiving transducers secured to said front wall, a rear wall of said drum oriented generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of said drum and rotatable therewith, a substantially linear array of light emitting diodes secured to said rear wall, drive means for rotating said drum, internal signal handling means disposed within said sealed housing for energizing predetermined light emitting diodes responsive to acoustical signals received by predetermined receiving transducers, external signal processing means disposed exteriorly of said sealed housing for energizing said drive means and cooperating with said internal signal handling means, and commutation means connecting said internal signal handling means with said external signal processing means.
Specification