Biometrical object reader having an ultrasonic wave manipulation device

• US 8,139,827 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2007
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ultra-Scan Corporation (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schneider, John K., Venikov, Fedir, Shmelkin, Igor, Kitchens, Jack C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mariam, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): RICE, ELISA M
• Application Number:
  US11/754,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20070272020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,761 Days
• Field of Search: 382/123
• US Class Current: 382/123
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1172 using fingerprinting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/08 Detecting organic movements or changes, e.g. tumours, cysts, swellings A61B8/02 - A61B8/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02466 Biological material, e.g. blood
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/044 Internal reflections (echoes), e.g. on walls or defects
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/06 Visualisation of the interior, e.g. acoustic microscopy medical or veterinary diagnosis using sonic waves A61B8/00; representation of acoustic wave distribution G01H3/125, G01H9/002; short-range imaging systems using reflection of acoustic waves G01S15/8906
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1306 non-optical, e.g. ultrasonic or capacitive sensing
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1214 comprising a plurality of TFTs formed on a non-semiconducting substrate, e.g. driving circuits for AMLCDs
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 39/00 Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one piezoelectric, electrostrictive or magnetostrictive element covered by groups H10N30/00 – H10N35/00

Abstract

Devices and methods of creating an image of a biological object are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention there is a plane wave ultrasonic pulse generator, an ultrasonic wave manipulation device, an ultrasonic detector and an image generator. In a method according to the invention, a biological object is imaged by emitting an unfocussed ultrasonic energy wave front, reflecting at least a portion of the ultrasonic energy wave front from the object, altering a direction of the ultrasonic energy, detecting that energy, and using the detected energy to create an image of the object.

Claims

1. A biological object reader, comprising:

a plane wave ultrasonic pulse generator configured to produce an unfocussed ultrasonic energy wave directed at an object to be imaged;

an ultrasonic wave manipulation device, positioned to alter a direction of at least some of the ultrasonic energy that has been reflected by the object to be imaged;

an ultrasonic detector positioned to detect the reflected and altered ultrasonic energy; and

an image generator, configured to create an image of the object using the detected ultrasonic energy.

2. The biological object reader of claim 1, wherein the wave manipulation alters the direction of the ultrasonic energy so as to enlarge a footprint of the reflected ultrasonic energy.

3. The biological object reader of claim 1, wherein the wave manipulation device includes an ultrasonic lens.

4. The biological object reader of claim 1, where the wave manipulation device includes an array of lenses.

5. The biological object reader of claim 1, wherein the wave manipulation device includes a first plano-concave lens and a second plano-concave lens.

6. The biological object reader of claim 1, wherein the wave manipulation device includes a first plano-convex lens and a second plano-convex lens.

7. The biological object reader of claim 1, wherein the wave manipulation device includes a concave-concave lens.

8. The biological object reader of claim 1, wherein the wave manipulation device includes a convex-convex lens.

9. The biological object reader of claim 1, wherein the wave manipulation device is an ultrasonic mirror.

10. The biological object reader of claim 1, wherein the wave manipulation device is partially reflective and partially transmissive.

11. The biological object reader of claim 10, wherein the mirror is substantially flat.

12. The biological object reader of claim 10, wherein the mirror is curved.

13. The biological object reader of claim 12, wherein the mirror is ellipsoidal.

14. The biological object reader of claim 1, wherein the pulse generator and the detector are oriented substantially at right angles to each other.

15. A method of imaging a biological object, comprising:

emitting an unfocussed ultrasonic energy plane-wave in the direction of an object to be imaged;

reflecting the ultrasonic energy with a biological object having a surface to be imaged;

manipulating the reflected ultrasonic energy so that a direction of the ultrasonic energy is altered;

detecting the reflected and altered ultrasonic energy;

creating an image of the surface using the detected ultrasonic energy.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the direction of the ultrasonic energy is altered by reflecting the ultrasonic energy.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the direction of the ultrasonic energy is altered by refracting the ultrasonic energy.