Patent · US Expired

Ultrasonic sector-scan probe

US4580451A · kind A · utility

19Cited by
6References
2Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 17, 1985
Grant dateApr 8, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 17, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S128/916
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An ultrasonic sector-scan probe comprises at least an array having a plurality of ultrasonic transducer segments, a window for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves and an ultrasonic wave propagation medium filled in a front space between the array and the window. A group of the ultrasonic transducer segments are selectively driven as an aperture and ultrasonic waves emitted therefrom are converged into a beam for transmission and reception. By partly or entirely changing the segments in the group with the ones outside the group the scan line is shifted to a new angle, and a member under test contacted with the window on the outside thereof is sector-scanned by the ultrasonic beam. The array is arranged so that scanning lines of the groups intersect at one point in the window or in its vicinity for sector scan. An acoustic lens is provided in the window or in its vicinity so that the ultrasonic beam may be converged over the measuring depth range of the member under test with or without phase control of the segments in the group. Furthermore, the array is arranged multidimensionally or in plural linear arrays so that the scanning lines of the groups intersect substantially at…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.