Multiple sensor ultrasonic monitoring device
First Claim
1. An ultrasonic monitoring device for detecting ultrasonic sound waves and vibrations, the device comprising:
- a housing for containing the ultrasonic monitoring device in a manner that allows the ultrasonic monitoring device to be portably used by an operator;
at least one removable airborne ultrasonic sensor for detecting airborne ultrasonic sound waves and producing ultrasonic electrical signals related to said ultrasonic sound waves;
at least one removable contacting ultrasonic sensor for sensing ultrasonic vibrations be being placed in contact with an object and producing ultrasonic electrical signals related to said ultrasonic vibrations;
a sensor socket for receiving at least one of said removable sensors;
a digital processing means;
a split path signal conditioning means comprising a first circuit path for receiving and conditioning ultrasonic electrical signals wherein a logarithmic amplifier means provides an amplitude demodulated envelope of the ultrasonic electrical signals for input to said digital processing means; and
a second circuit path for receiving and conditioning ultrasonic electrical signals and providing said ultrasonic electrical signals to a frequency conversion means for translation to audible frequency electrical signals; and
an output means for communicating the results of the digital analysis to a user of the device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonic monitoring apparatus is provided for use by an operator in detecting ultrasonic vibrations and sound waves. The ultrasonic monitoring apparatus consists of a hand held device with a sensor socket that allows a variety of different types of sensors to be interchangeably installed in the hand held device. These sensors include both contact and airborne ultrasonic sensors as well as a combination temperature and ultrasonic sensor that allows the operator to simultaneously monitor the surface temperature of an object and the ultrasonic vibrations produced by the object. Identification information corresponding to the type of sensor is encoded on the individual sensors. The identification information is read by an identification circuit located in the hand held device. This identification information allows the hand held device to configure itself to operate with the type of sensor installed in the socket.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An ultrasonic monitoring device for detecting ultrasonic sound waves and vibrations, the device comprising:
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a housing for containing the ultrasonic monitoring device in a manner that allows the ultrasonic monitoring device to be portably used by an operator;
at least one removable airborne ultrasonic sensor for detecting airborne ultrasonic sound waves and producing ultrasonic electrical signals related to said ultrasonic sound waves;
at least one removable contacting ultrasonic sensor for sensing ultrasonic vibrations be being placed in contact with an object and producing ultrasonic electrical signals related to said ultrasonic vibrations;
a sensor socket for receiving at least one of said removable sensors;
a digital processing means;
a split path signal conditioning means comprising a first circuit path for receiving and conditioning ultrasonic electrical signals wherein a logarithmic amplifier means provides an amplitude demodulated envelope of the ultrasonic electrical signals for input to said digital processing means; and
a second circuit path for receiving and conditioning ultrasonic electrical signals and providing said ultrasonic electrical signals to a frequency conversion means for translation to audible frequency electrical signals; and
an output means for communicating the results of the digital analysis to a user of the device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An ultrasonic monitoring device for monitoring ultrasonic sound waves, the device comprising:
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a housing for containing the ultrasonic monitoring device in a manner that allows the ultrasonic monitoring device to be portably used by an operator;
a set of sensors, including at least one of a contact ultrasonic sensor for sensing ultrasonic vibrations by being placed in contact with an object producing ultrasonic vibrations, an airborne ultrasonic sensor for sensing ultrasonic sound waves being produced by an object without coming into contact with the object and an ultrasonic sensor for sensing ultrasonic vibrations having an integral temperature sensor for sensing temperature of an object, for producing electrical signals in response to a variety of different conditions wherein each sensor in the set of sensors has a plurality of electrical contacts;
a sensor socket located on the housing of the ultrasonic monitoring device that is designed to interchangeably and removably receive a sensor from the set of sensors wherein the sensor socket has a plurality of electrical contacts for electrically receiving electrical signals from the plurality of electrical contacts of a sensor installed in the sensor socket and providing the electrical signals from the sensor installed in the sensor socket to the ultrasonic monitoring device wherein the ultrasonic monitoring device is passive and each sensor in the set of sensors contains identification information encoded on the sensor and wherein the ultrasonic monitoring device contains an identification circuit for receiving and analyzing the identification information from a sensor installed in the sensor socket and configuring the ultrasonic monitoring device to operate with the sensor installed in the sensor socket; and
a wireless communications port for sending and receiving signals and for providing properties of the electrical signals from the sensor installed in the sensor socket to an external processing device for analysis. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An ultrasonic monitoring device for monitoring ultrasonic sound waves, the device comprising:
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a housing for containing the ultrasonic monitoring device in a manner that allows the ultrasonic monitoring device to be portably used by an operator;
a set of sensors, including at least one of a contact ultrasonic sensor for sensing ultrasonic vibrations by being placed in contact with an object producing ultrasonic vibrations and producing electrical signals related to said ultrasonic vibrations, and an airborne ultrasonic sensor for sensing ultrasonic sound waves being produced by an object without coming into contact with the object and producing electrical signals related to said ultrasonic sound waves;
a sensor socket located on the housing of the ultrasonic monitoring device that is designed to interchangeably and removably receive a sensor from the set of sensors wherein the sensor socket has electrical contacts for electrically receiving electrical signals from electrical contacts on a sensor installed in the sensor socket and configuring said ultrasonic monitoring device to operate with said sensor installed in the sensor socket;
a digital microprocessor for receiving and processing said electrical signals from said sensor socket and producing digital output data; and
an RS 232 port for receiving said output data from said digital microprocessor and outputting said output data to an external device wherein said external device stores said output data and trends said output data over a period of time. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A digital ultrasonic monitoring device for monitoring ultrasonic sound waves, the device comprising a sensor socket located on a housing of the ultrasonic monitoring device that is designed to interchangeably and removably receive a sensor from a set of sensors wherein the sensor socket has electrical contacts for electrically receiving electrical signals from electrical contacts on a sensor installed in the sensor socket and wherein said sensors in said set of sensors have different sensing properties and wherein each sensor contains an identification code such that said digital ultrasonic monitoring device can identify said sensors based upon said identification code.
Specification