Probe system, ultrasound system and method of generating ultrasound
First Claim
1. A probe system comprising:
- an inner conductor coupled to an alternating current (AC) voltage source;
an outer conductor arranged around the inner conductor and coupled at one end to the AC voltage source, wherein the outer conductor forms a first electrode at another end thereof; and
a second electrode separated from the first electrode by a gap for initiating a plasma discharge in the gap.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A probe system for initiating and stabilizing plasma discharge includes an inner conductor coupled to an AC voltage source. The probe system also includes an outer conductor arranged around the inner conductor and coupled at one end to the AC voltage source. The outer conductor forms a first electrode at another end thereof. The probe system further includes a second electrode separated from the first electrode by a gap for initiating a plasma discharge in the gap. An ultrasound probe system includes a carrier signal source for supplying a RF carrier signal, an acoustic modulator for supplying an envelope signal, and a mixer for mixing the RF carrier signal and the envelope signal to supply a modulated RF signal. The ultrasound probe system further includes a ground electrode and a RF plasma probe separated from the ground electrode by a gap and configured to receive the modulated RF signal and generate a plasma in the gap. The plasma generates ultrasound waves.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A probe system comprising:
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an inner conductor coupled to an alternating current (AC) voltage source; an outer conductor arranged around the inner conductor and coupled at one end to the AC voltage source, wherein the outer conductor forms a first electrode at another end thereof; and a second electrode separated from the first electrode by a gap for initiating a plasma discharge in the gap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A shielded probe system comprising:
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a center conductor coupled at one end to an alternating current (AC) voltage source and forming a first electrode at another end thereof; an outer conductor arranged around the center conductor and coupled at one end to the AC voltage source, wherein the outer conductor forms a second electrode at another end thereof, and wherein the first and second electrodes are separated by a gap for initiating a plasma discharge in the gap; and a shield disposed concentric with the center conductor for electromagnetic interference shielding. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An ultrasound probe system comprising:
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a carrier signal source for supplying a radio frequency (RF) carrier signal; an acoustic modulator for supplying an envelope signal; a mixer for mixing the RF carrier signal and the envelope signal to supply a modulated RF signal; a ground electrode; and a radio frequency plasma probe separated from the ground electrode by a gap and configured to receive the modulated RF signal and generate a plasma in the gap, wherein the plasma generates a plurality of ultrasound waves. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of generating ultrasound comprising:
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supplying a modulated radio frequency signal to a radio frequency plasma probe; initiating a plasma discharge via the radio frequency plasma probe; stabilizing the plasma discharge via the radio frequency plasma probe; modulating intensity of the plasma discharge; and generating a plurality of ultrasound waves using the plasma discharge. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. An air-coupled ultrasound system for inspecting an object, the system comprising:
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a carrier signal source for supplying a radio frequency (RF) carrier signal; an acoustic modulator for supplying an envelope signal; a mixer for mixing the RF carrier signal and the envelope signal to supply a modulated RF signal; a ground electrode; a transmitter comprising a radio frequency plasma probe separated from the ground electrode by a gap and configured to receive the modulated RF signal and generate a plasma in the gap, wherein the plasma generates ultrasound waves; and a receiver for receiving ultrasound waves from the object under test, wherein the receiver, the transmitter and the object are air-coupled. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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Specification