Patent · US Expired

System and method of reducing motion-induced noise in the optical detection of an ultrasound signal in a moving body of material

US6356846B1 · kind B1 · utility

24Cited by
7References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 13, 1998
Grant dateMar 12, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 13, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2291/0289
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method to reduce motion-induced noise in the detection of ultrasonic signals in a moving sheet or body of material. An ultrasonic signal is generated in a sheet of material and a detection laser beam is moved along the surface of the material. By moving the detection laser in the same direction as the direction of movement of the sheet of material the amount of noise induced in the detection of the ultrasonic signal is reduced. The scanner is moved at approximately the same speed as the moving material. The system and method may be used for many applications, such in a paper making process or steel making process. The detection laser may be directed by a scanner. The movement of the scanner is synchronized with the anticipated arrival of the ultrasonic signal under the scanner. A photodetector may be used to determine when a ultrasonic pulse has been directed to the moving sheet of material so that the scanner may be synchronized the anticipated arrival of the ultrasonic signal.

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