Patent · US Expired

System and method for processing acoustic signals to image behind reflective layers

US5995447A · kind A · utility

37Cited by
57References
36Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 14, 1997
Grant dateNov 30, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 14, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01V1/44
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system for acoustically imaging a target region behind an acoustically reflective layer includes a transducer configuration for acquiring acoustic image data from the reflective layer and target region, wherein the reflective layer and target region are divided into voxels circumferentially disposed about a central point. The system includes a mechanism for processing the data comprising a transmitting transducer for transmitting a first acoustic pulse, a receiving transducer for detecting a first arrival of a first acoustic reflection signal associated with the first acoustic pulse, and a mechanism for suppressing multiple reflected signals from the acoustic reflection signal associated with the first acoustic pulse, wherein the suppressing mechanism facilitates the acquisition of image data from the target region. The system may also include a mechanism which filters and compresses acoustic data downhole, transmits data uphole and which reassembles data uphole for conversion into an image on standard computer display equipment.

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