157 results about "Acoustic signature" patented technology

A system receives information regarding current flight conditions of a device such as an aircraft and determines the acoustic level of the sonic boom and/or other noise generated by the device during operation. The current acoustic level is compared to a desired level, and various cues are displayed to operators regarding corrective actions that can be taken to reduce or maintain the acoustic level at the desired level. The system also predicts future acoustic levels based on current operating conditions, and varies the urgency of the cues based on whether and how quickly the device will exceed the desired acoustic level. Options to limit maneuvers and to automatically adjust operating condition parameters can be enabled. Options to display additional information regarding past, current, and predicted acoustic levels can also be selected. Signals that can be used to automatically control the acoustic level of a device during operation can also be generated for use in devices that can operate autonomously.

A method and apparatus for identifying running vehicles in an area to be monitored using acoustic signature recognition. The apparatus includes an input sensor for capturing an acoustic waveform produced by a vehicle source, and a processing system. The waveform is digitized and divided into frames. Each frame is filtered into a plurality of gammatone filtered signals. At least one spectral feature vector is computed for each frame. The vectors are integrated across a plurality of frames to create a spectro-temporal representation of the vehicle waveform. In a training mode, values from the spectro-temporal representation are used as inputs to a Nonlinear Hebbian learning function to extract acoustic signatures and synaptic weights. In an active mode, the synaptic weights and acoustic signatures are used as patterns in a supervised associative network to identify whether a vehicle is present in the area to be monitored. In response to a vehicle being present, the class of vehicle is identified. Results may be provided to a central computer.

Apparatus and methods for monitoring a tooth may include sensing acoustic energy propagating from regions (such as a root canal system) in and/or near a tooth. The apparatus and methods may be used with root canal cleaning treatments to determine the efficacy of the treatment and/or to reduce risk of post-treatment complications. An acoustic source (e.g., an acoustic transducer and/or a high-speed liquid jet) may be used to transmit energy into a tooth and/or regions near a tooth. An acoustic receiver may be used to detect acoustic signatures of acoustic events (e.g., acoustic echoes and/or acoustic cavitation) occurring in the tooth. The acoustic signatures may be used, for example, to determine the progress of a root canal cleaning treatment and/or the presence or movement of material toward a periapical region of the tooth. Apparatus and methods for monitoring a tooth may include detecting impact of a first jet on a tooth and actuating a second jet in response to detection of the impact.

The invention is directed biopsy site markers and methods of marking a biopsy site, so that the location of the biopsy cavity is readily visible by conventional imaging methods, particularly by ultrasonic imaging. The biopsy site markers of the invention have high ultrasound reflectivity, presenting a substantial acoustic signature from a small marker, so as to avoid obscuring diagnostic tissue features in subsequent imaging studies, and can be readily distinguished from biological features. The several disclosed embodiments of the biopsy site marker of the invention have a high contrast of acoustic impedance as placed in a tissue site, so as to efficiently reflect and scatter ultrasonic energy, and preferably include gas-filled internal pores. The markers may have a non-uniform surface contour to enhance the acoustic signature. The markers have a characteristic form which is recognizably artificial during medical imaging. The biopsy site marker may be accurately fixed to the biopsy site so as to resist migration from the biopsy cavity when a placement instrument is withdrawn, and when the marked tissue is subsequently moved or manipulated.

A multiparameter acoustic signature inspection device and method are described for non-invasive inspection of containers. Dual acoustic signatures discriminate between various fluids and materials for identification of the same.

There are disclosed methods and apparatus for monitoring hydraulic fracturing operations, using a distributed optical fibre sensor to detect relevant acoustic signatures, such as acoustic signatures of cement washout and of events involving a valve drive component.

A reduced acoustic signature loudspeaker system includes left and right loudspeaker assemblies that include cabinets having a plurality of sides. A full range acoustic driver/array is mounted to the first side and facing a side wall of a listening space, the second side forms the rear of the loudspeaker assembly to which is mounted a set of input terminals. The full range on-axis directional acoustic output of each loudspeaker assembly is directed outward toward the left and right side walls respectively of the listening space at an azimuth of approximately 180+/−45 degrees. No acoustic output of the loud speaker system is directed toward the listening space or directed vertically, up or down and the first sides of the left and right loud speaker assemblies are separated by a distance of at least approximately 1.0 feet.

Passive physiological monitoring apparatus has a sensor for sensing physiological phenomenon and method converter converts sensed data into electrical signals and a computer receives and computes the signals and output computed data for real-time interactive display. The sensor is a piezoelectric film of polyvinylidene fluoride. Signals detected include mechanical, thermal and acoustic signatures reflecting cardiac output, cardiac function, internal bleeding, respiratory, pulse, apnea and temperature. The sensor may be an array provided in a MEDEVAC litter or other device for measuring acoustic and hydraulic signals from the body of a patient for field monitoring, hospital monitoring, transport monitoring, home, remote monitoring.

Methods and systems for evaluating a performance installment in a building construction include preparing a first image of the building construction, implementing the performance installment in the building construction, preparing a second image of the building construction subsequent to or during implementation of the performance installment, and evaluating the performance installment based on a comparison between the first image and the second image. Performance installments include weatherization measures such as the application of thermal insulation and air-sealing. Related methods and systems for calculating a performance plan for a building construction include transmitting analysis information to a processor, and determining the performance plan based on the analysis information. The analysis information may include a thermal signature, an airflow signature, an acoustic signature, or a vibrational signature.

An acoustic signature reduction system for application typically on an aircraft. The acoustic signature reduction system uses a controller, power supply, and a thermo-acoustic tube such as a Rijke tube or Sondhauss tube to generate a cancellation noise of equal amplitude and inverted to that of noise generated by rotor blades when rotating. Acoustic signature reduction system can use a damping valve to make an intermittent cancellation sound to match the n/rev signature of the rotor blades with respect to a given reference location. The n/rev timing is different depending on the reference location therefore a cone of silence is created. A forced air unit may also be used to modify the phase of the cancellation noise in order to move the cone of silence around the aircraft.

Methods and device for digitally signing documents (140) by using a portable device (110) that encodes a signature string to sound. The acoustic signature string may be transmitted and then decoded (150) back into digital data. The signature string may be further processed to verify the signature of the document and to produce a certificate of identity and integrity for the document. The certificate of identity and integrity may be used to further identify and validate the document and its signer.

Pool alarm system for detecting the introduction and/or presence of a body in a liquid pool. The system includes: a first sensor for sensing audio signals generated by the body in the pool; a second sensor for sensing water pressure signals generated by the body in the pool; an analog signal processor for pre-processing the audio signals and water pressure signals and for converting them to digital data; an alarm device activated when the body was detected in the pool; a processor and control unit. The audio signals are detected and processed faster than the detection of the water pressure signal. According to the intensity of an acoustic signature originating from the audible signals an aquatic signature originating from the water pressure sensor is analyzed using an adaptable sensitivity parameter dependent on the intensity of the acoustic signature for improving alarm triggering decision.

There is provided a method and system for acoustic signature health monitoring of an unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV). The method positions an acoustic signature health monitoring system proximate to and off-board a UAV to be monitored for mechanical health of one or more sound producing structures. The method obtains and analyzes with the system a baseline acoustic signature for each of the sound producing structures, and transmits each baseline acoustic signature to a data processing system for processing. The method obtains and analyzes one or more subsequent acoustic signatures for each of the sound producing structures, and transmits the one or more subsequent acoustic signatures to the data processing system. The method compares the processed baseline acoustic signature with the one or more processed subsequent acoustic signatures for the sound producing structures, in order to detect any change in the processed baseline acoustic signature over time.

A method for collecting acoustic data from an industrial machine is disclosed. The method may include: providing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having an acoustic receiver attached thereto; and positioning the unmanned aerial vehicle at a specific location so that the acoustic receiver collects acoustic data from the industrial machine at the specific location. An acoustic receiver is attached to the UAV for collecting acoustic data from the industrial machine. An acoustic filter is attached to the acoustic receiver and the UAV for filtering unwanted sound from the acoustic data. Acoustic data can be used by a flight control system to identify a specific location relative to the industrial machine that is a source a specific acoustic signature emanating from the industrial machine.

Disclosed is an apparatus, method, and program product for steering a drill bit within a pay zone in a lateral well. The method includes receiving acoustic signature data from a downhole processor assembly. The acoustic signature data includes an amplitude spectrum and one or more acoustic characteristics evaluated from an acoustic signal provided by a sensor arranged adjacent to a drill bit and generated in real-time as a result of rotational contact of the drill bit with encountered rock in the lateral well during drilling. The method further includes comparing the received real-time acoustic signature data to predetermined acoustic signatures determined for a plurality of rock samples, and identifying a lithology type of the rock being encountered by the drill bit based on the comparison. Further, the method includes steering the drill bit in a predefined direction, in real-time, based on the identified lithology type of the rock, for maintaining the drill bit within the pay zone of the lateral well.