Patent · US Expired

Acoustic inspection device

US6938488B2 · kind B2 · utility

69Cited by
35References
55Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 21, 2002
Grant dateSep 6, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 5, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2291/044
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An ultrasound inspection apparatus particularly adapted to examine containers (sealed or unsealed) containing a liquid or solid bulk material. The apparatus has an overall configuration of a hand held pistol with a front transducer contact surface that is positioned against a front wall of the container. An ultrasound pulse is transmitted from the apparatus to be reflected from a back wall of a container being investigated. The received echo pulse is converted to a digital waveform. The waveform is analyzed relative to temperature, travel distance of the pulse(s), and time of travel to ascertain characteristics of the liquid or other materials and to provide identification of the same.

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