139 results about "Phased array transducer" patented technology

A system for acquiring an ultrasound signal comprises a signal processing unit adapted for acquiring a received ultrasound signal from an ultrasound transducer having a plurality of elements. The system is adapted to receive ultrasound signals having a frequency of at least 20 megahertz (MHz) with a transducer having a field of view of at least 5.0 millimeters (mm) at a frame rate of at least 20 frames per second (fps). The signal processing can further produce an ultrasound image from the acquired ultrasound signal. The transducer can be a linear array transducer, a phased array transducer, a two-dimensional (2-D) array transducer, or a curved array transducer.

A two-dimensional ultrasound phased array transducer includes an acoustic backing, a first circuit, which may be a flexible circuit disposed over the acoustic backing or a ground plane, an acoustically absorptive interface layer disposed over the flexible circuit, and a piezoelectric layer disposed over the interface layer. A matching layer may be disposed over the piezoelectric layer, and a second circuit, which may be a ground plane or a flexible circuit, may be disposed over the matching layer. The piezoelectric layer and the matching layer are diced by forming kerfs extending through these layers and at least partially into the interface layer. Extending the kerfs into the interface layer reduces cross-talk between elements, electrically isolates the elements, and facilitates manufacturing by reducing the precision required in controlling the depth of the cut. The acoustically absorptive interface layer may have acoustic properties similar to the backing material and may be formed of the same material as the backing material. Electrical interconnection between the piezoelectric elements and the first circuit is provided through the interface layer. The electrical connection may be formed by laser drilled vias in the interface layer, coated with gold or another suitable material.

The invention discloses a phased array ultrasonic detection data acquisition and processing unit, comprising a USB bus and a main control computer; the USB bus communication is connected with a data acquisition and processing card component, and a 64 array element ultrasound phased array transducer in sequence; the data acquisition and processing card component comprises 16 completely same data acquisition and processing cards; the data acquisition and processing card comprises a four-way ultrasonic emission / reception and signal pretreatment circuit, an A / D conversion module, an FPGA module and a DSP microprocessor module, a reset circuit, and a power supply module, which are connected in a coordinating way; the data acquisition and processing card component has 64 input channels and 16 output channels, wherein every four input channels and one output channel have a data acquisition and processing card correspondingly; by controlling the time delaying of pulse excitating or receiving of each array element in a transducer array, and changing the phase relationship of sound wave emitted or received by each array element when reaching or coming from a cetain point in an object, the flexible deflection and focusing of the acoustic beam are achieved, and the transverse movement of the acoustic beam position can also be realized by selecting the needed array element group.

A high-speed high-isolation fiber-optic matrix switch using only one acousto-optic device with phased array transducers is disclosed. Previously disclosed fiber-optic switches either required spatially separated more than one acousto-optic devices making them complex, hard to align and expensive or could not achieve high-isolation and low-insertion loss performance. A simple structure of 2×2 fiber-optic matrix switch with one phased array transducer as disclosed here is expected to make acousto-optic based fiber-optic switches more attractive than similar MEMs based switches. Use of shared lens instead of individual lenses at the input and output fiber array is expected to further reduce complexity and cost of the acousto-optic based fiber-optic switches.

The invention provides an integrated Phased Array (PhA) structural radar transducer, permanently bonded to a structure, that can provide reliable electromechanical connection with corresponding miniaturized electronic SHM device installed above it. The integrated PhA transducer consists of a set of aligned piezo-electric discs with wrap around electrodes for transceiving of elastic ultrasonic waves, plurality of electrical traces and contact pads, several layers of a flexible printed circuit board, electromagnetic shielding between channels and overall, one electromechanical multi-pinned connector and all that integrated into one small unit easy for surface installation by bonding and final application on real structures. The integrated PhA transducer, as a key component of SHM (Phased Array Monitoring for Enhanced Life Assessment) system, has two principal tasks to reliably transceive elastic waves and serve as a reliable sole carrier or support for associated sophisticated SHM electronic device attached above.

In accordance with one embodiment, the present technique provides a testing apparatus for testing material integrity of an object. The exemplary testing apparatus includes a phased array transducer, which is disposed external to the object. The phased array transducer is configured to transmit a first set of ultrasonic signals and to receive a second set of ultrasonic signals. The testing apparatus further includes logic circuitry coupled to the phased array transducer. The logic circuitry is configured to dynamically control apertures for transmitting the first set of ultrasonic signals and receiving the second set of ultrasonic signals based on a region of interest and a testing speed.

An ultrasonic apparatus is provided for producing three dimensional images using at least one moving curved array transducer for scanning a volume of a region of interest to be imaged. The apparatus includes an acoustic front shell having complex shape and an ultrasonic transducer adapted for swinging movement underneath the front shell and having a front surface of a shape conforming to the complex shape of the front shell. A motor provides the swinging movement of the ultrasonic array transducer underneath the front shell so as to scan a volume of the region of interest. The shell and a transducer carrier may be of an ovoid shape. The transducer may include lips at superior edges thereof which contain a coupling grease. Multiple transducers for different applications may be employed.

A phased array ultrasonic probe assembly includes, in an exemplary embodiment, a housing and a phased array transducer supported inside the housing. The housing includes a first side wall and an opposing second side wall, and a first end wall and an opposing second end wall. The first and second side walls and the first and second end walls define a housing cavity in which the phased array transducer is positioned. The first and second side walls each have an inside surface that include a plurality of projections.

Improved two-dimensional planar array transducer and beamformer apparatus and methods. In one embodiment, the two-dimensional planar array transducer is capable of simultaneously or sequentially forming multiple acoustic beams in two axes and at two or more widely separated acoustic frequencies from a single flat planar array transducer. The transducer planar array consists of two or more electrically and acoustically independent two dimensional planar transducer array structures operating at different frequencies that are physically integrated onto a single multi frequency configuration. In an exemplary embodiment, a second higher frequency transducer array is positioned within the aperture area of a lower frequency planar array transducer. Methods of using the aforementioned two-dimensional planar array transducer and beamformer are also disclosed.

The invention provides an on-line detection system and an on-line detection method for pipes or bars ultrasonic phased array. The method comprises the following steps of: arranging a plurality of concave surface phased array energy converter probes on planes which are perpendicular to the center lines of the pipes or bars and at the position which forms a certain included angle with the center lines of the pipes or bars at the peripheries of the pipes or the bars; generating an electronic control sound field focused by the phased arrays by utilizing the concave surface phased array energy converter probes; and switching continuously and quickly by utilizing a high-voltage switch array, a multi-channel phased array transmit-receive system and a control system through a high-voltage switch array circuit, and controlling different array elements of the concave surface phased array energy converter to transmit and receive at different moments, so that phased array focusing acoustic beams rotate in the pipes or bars at high speed to realize dynamic focusing and scanning. By the system and the method, the 360-degree full-coverage scanning of the pipes or bars can be realized under the condition that the concave surface phased array energy converter probes are not moved, longitudinal and traverse defects can be scanned and detected, and the detection speed is improved greatly while the detection accuracy is improved.

The invention discloses a flexible ultrasonic phased array transducer which comprises a flexible piezoelectric ceramic composite material chip, a damping back material, a matching layer, a flexible circuit board, a coaxial cable and a probe interface. The matching layer, the flexible piezoelectric ceramic composite material chip and the damping back material are adhered together in sequence to form an acoustic laminating layer. The flexible circuit board is connected with the flexible piezoelectric ceramic composite material chip, and the multi-core coaxial cable is led out from the flexible circuit board to the probe interface. When the center frequency Fc of the ultrasonic transducer equals to 7.85 MH, the bandwidth Bw can reach 87.78 %, pulse echo sensitivity Sr equals to minus 36.54 decibels, and crosstalk of adjacent array elements is minus 34 decibels. The flexible ultrasonic phased array transducer can be applied to industrial non-destructive testing.

The invention provides an automatic ultrasonic phased array scanning device used for a large-size curved-surface component. The automatic ultrasonic phased array scanning device comprises a driving component, a steering component and a processor assembly of a control part, a sensor and an energy converter component of a detection part, and a power supply, a coupling agent storage tank, a low-pressure pump, a main case, a roller brush component and a base plate of an auxiliary part, wherein the steering component is provided with a distance sensor and a pressure sensor; and the energy converter component is provided with an automatic height and curvature adjusting device. Automatic scanning and stoppage of the device in a direction shaped like a Chinese character 'gong' can be realized by controlling the driving component and the steering component with a sensor feedback control function. The posture of an ultrasonic phased array energy converter is automatically adjusted by the energy converter component so that the ultrasonic phased array energy converter can be coupled with the surface of the component; and online detection or offline analysis of an ultrasonic phased array can be realized by the processor assembly. The automatic ultrasonic phased array scanning device used for the large-size curved-surface component can be used for automatic ultrasonic phased array detection of important components of industries including aviation and aerospace, wind power and the like, is particularly suitable for horizontally-arranged small-curvature large-size components, and has the advantages of strong adaptability, high detection efficiency and the like.

The invention relates to an automatic detecting and imaging method of a hyper-acoustic phased array of a weld joint in a complex space. The automatic detecting and imaging method comprises the following steps: 11) determining a scanning trace according to a three-dimensional CAD model of the complex space; 12) clamping a hyper-acoustic phased array transducer with a six-shaft manipulator to track and scan the weld joint along the determined scanning trace, so as to obtain detected data and a detected result of the weld joint, and displaying the detecting result of the weld joint in a three-dimensional weld joint figure. As the manipulator is used in the weld joint detection, high-efficient automatic detection is realized; the detected result is displayed visually into the three-dimensional geometric figure of a workpiece by applying the computer three-dimensional visualization technology, so that detectors can position and quantify defects conveniently.

The invention relates to a coal-rock interface identification method, and particularly relates to a method for detecting a coal-rock interface by phased-array ultrasonic imaging. The method is realized by adopting a system for detecting the coal-rock interface on the basis of phased-array ultrasonic imaging. The system consists of a supporting device, a coupling device, an ultrasonic phased-array transducer and an imaging device. The phased-array transducer in water transmits ultrasonic waves to a coal bed, the ultrasonic waves enter the coal bed after being transmitted to a water and coal interface, then the ultrasonic waves are transmitted to the coal-rock interface and returned to the coal bed, and then the ultrasonic waves are returned to the water and received by the phased-array transducer. The thickness of the coal bed is calculated according to parameters such as the transmitting and receiving time difference of the phased-array transducer, and the coal-rock interface can be judged. By utilizing the advantages of the phased-array ultrasonic wave such as good directivity, high energy, high measurement precision and deflection focusing as well as the characteristic of the ultrasonic wave of no scattering in the water, the coal-rock interface can be precisely identified in real time, the method can be used for adjusting the cutting depth of a coal mining machine roller and reducing the residual coal bed, thereby reducing the coal loss to increase the coal exploitation quantity.

The invention relates to a phased array ultrasonic focusing system for acoustic and resistivity imaging. The phased array ultrasonic focusing system comprises an upper computer, a transmitting module, a receiving module and a digital control and data processing module, delay time and pulse width of array elements of a phased-array transducer are calculated through a PC terminal by the upper computer according to position and depth of focus points, the delay time and the pulse width are transmitted to FPGA (field programmable gate array), transceiving control and emission focusing, deflection and dynamic scanning of a multi-channel phased array probe are achieved by the aid of programming of the FPGA, and delay information and pulse width information of the energy converter are transmitted to a beam former in real time.

A method is disclosed for nondestructively examining airfoils for defects without removing them from the turbine machines of which they are a part. The method uses phased array ultrasound technology, which can be used with all types of airfoils. The angle of entry of the ultrasonic beam is varied by using phased array ultrasound technology. The phased array ultrasound allows an inspector to steer the ultrasonic beam toward an area of interest within the airfoil. The phased array allows an inspector to monitor multiple angles at once. So long as the scan angle does not exceed a calibrated range, an inspector can monitor an area of interest, no matter what the sound beam entry surface angle is. The ultrasonic beam is steered or phased to inspect different orientations with one scan. The method uses a phased array transducer that is a linear array probe that is comprised of a series of transducers. Each of these transducers is programmed to trigger at predetermined time intervals and also receive at predetermined time intervals. The signals acquired by each transducer are then processed by a computer to give a composite view of a tested region so that a defect indication can be viewed.

The invention discloses a defect defecting method based on a wide frequency band ultrasonic phase array, which is applied to an ultrasonic phase array transducer consisting of multiple array elements. The defect defecting method comprising the steps of: exciting by multiple array elements by adopting modulation codes, transmitting modified big-timewidth and big-bandwidth linear frequency modulation signals at a transmitting end, gathering the linear frequency modulation signals at a focal point and reflecting the signals; receiving the reflected signals at a receiving end by each array element and distributing the delayed and corrected signals within a same time window range; and implementing matched-filtering within a frequency domain according to the reflected signals received by each array element, coherently combining the matched-filtered signals within the frequency domain to obtain bandwidth signals within the frequency domain, and implementing inverse fast Fourier transform, thus obtaining time domain pulse compression signals. By virtue of the method, the bandwidth of the transmitted signals can be increased and the pulse compression signals with high resolution can be obtained, so that micro defects can be accurately detected.

The invention relates to a geological exploration method and device. The method includes the steps that a sound wave signal is transmitted by a transmitting transducer combination (namely, a phased array transducer combination) and arrives at an object to be explored through a stratum, and transducer array elements in the phased array transducer combination load exciting signals according to the amplitude and phase weighting mode; echo signals being reflected backwards by the object to be explored and passing through the stratum are received by a receiving transducer combination; the echo signals are processed by a control system, and accordingly information of the object to be explored is acquired. The device comprises the transmitting transducer combination, the receiving transducer combination and the control system. By means of the geological exploration method and device, geological conditions in front of an exploration drill bit can be explored in real time, strong-energy signals are transmitted to places in front of the drill bit by sound source signals provided through the directional sound wave technology, and therefore the purpose of accurate exploration is achieved.

The invention discloses an ultrasonic imaging detection method for a blade fir-type root of a turbine. The method comprises the following steps: (A) connecting a phased array detector with a phased array transducer; (B) coating the blade fir-type root with a coupling agent; (C) directly arranging the phased array transducer on a steam inlet side shoulder and a steam outlet side shoulder of the blade fir-type root and in an area, close to the blade fir-type root, of a blade body to perform sector scanning; (D) storing a formed image through the phased array detector, and interpreting defect information; (E) fixing the phased array transducer on a wedge block, and arranging the phased array transducer at a joint of the outer arc surface of the blade body and the blade root to perform sector scanning on the middle area of the inner arc of the blade root; (F) storing the formed image through the phased array detector, and interpreting the defect information; and (G) performing quality evaluation on the detected blade fir-type root, and keeping a record. According to the method, the blade fir-type root of a complicated geometrical shape can be subjected to comprehensive, accurate, quick and intuitive imaging inspection, so that the problems of small detection range and large detection failure area of an existing detection method are solved.

The invention provides a full-focusing imaging detection method based on a ring array transducer and belongs to ultrasonic non-destructive testing. The method comprises the following steps: setting a detection imaging region as a linear region along the axial direction of the ring array transducer; clamping the ring transducer with a mechanical clamp to scan the detection regions, successively motivating single array elements when the detection regions are scanned, wherein all array elements receive ultrasonic echo time domain signals for every motivation to form full matrix data of the detection regions; discretizing each detection region to a plurality of detection points, determining the sound wave spreading paths at the detection points according to the Fermat principle to obtain the spreading times, fully focusing the full matrix data collected to monitoring points by means of a time delay method to obtain the amplitude of the detection points. The method can generate a relatively strong sound field under the circumstance of using few array elements, so that the circuit control complicated degree is greatly reduced, the detection thickness and detection precision are improved, and intelligence and efficiency of detection can be realized.

The invention relates to a focused ultrosound therapy combined array element phased array and multifocal shear wave imaging system for focused ultrosound non-invasive surgical therapy, belonging to the technical field of biomedical instrument, in particular to a combined array element phased array transducer used for multifocal focused ultrosound therapy and radial force excitation imaging and also relates to a multifocal plane shear wave imaging system by using the combined array element phased array transducer. In the transducer, the combined array element is formed by compactly placing 2*2 or 3*3 basic matrix array elements in rows according to spherical rectangle mode, all basic matrix array elements in each combined array element are in parallel electrically and share one power driven channel; a basic matrix array element distance is left between the centers of two adjacent combined array elements along at least one direction, and each combined array element is matched with the phase and amplitude of one power driven channel so as to significantly expand the focal scanning area.

A metamaterial comprising, a plurality of acoustic vector field sensors, each configured to sense an acoustic vector field of a fluid within a fluid-filled space in response to fluid waves, and producing an electrical signal corresponding to the sensed acoustic vector field; a processor configured to perform a time and space transform on the electrical signal; and at least one phased array transducer, configured to emit fluid waves according to a produced acoustic vector field pattern dependent on a result of the time and space transform, a within a portion of the fluid.

Systems and methods for measuring velocity in fluid are disclosed. In one aspect, a method (900) comprises transmitting a first set of signals of a bandwidth broader than the measuring system, receiving echoes from the first set of signals, obtaining a first velocity estimate based on the echoes, transmitting a second set of signals of a bandwidth narrower than the measuring system, receiving echoes from the second set of signals, obtaining velocity estimates based on the echoes from the second set of signals, selecting one of the velocity estimates based on the first velocity estimate. In another aspect, a method (280) comprises removing substantially a bias related to a first velocity from raw velocity estimates. In another aspect, a method (1900) comprises obtaining a velocity estimate for each of a set of transmitted pings, calculating a velocity based on the sum of the velocity estimates.

The invention, which belongs to the technical field of underwater detection, provides an underwater ultrasonic phased array detection system and an underwater detection method. The underwater ultrasonic phased array detection system is composed of an ultrasonic phased array transducer, a receiving terminal and a processor. Phase excitation sequences and delays of transmitted signals of all array elements are controlled and ultrasonic beams with continuously changing directions are synthesized to scan underwater different directions; and all array elements are able to receive reflected waves and send the reflected waves to the receiving terminal; the receiving terminal converts the reflected wave into echo signals and sends the echo signals to the processor; and the processor carries out excitation sequence and delay controlling on the array element transmitted signals and calculate target position information based on the echo signals provided by the receiving terminal. Therefore, detection of random underwater directions is realized; and the scanning range of the target is extended. Besides, the underwater detection method is a using method based on the underwater ultrasonic phased array detection system.

A method is disclosed for nondestructively examining airfoils for defects without removing them from the turbine machines of which they are a part. The method uses phased array ultrasound technology, which can be used with all types of airfoils. The angle of entry of the ultrasonic beam is varied by using phased array ultrasound technology. The phased array ultrasound allows an inspector to steer the ultrasonic beam toward an area of interest within the airfoil. The phased array allows an inspector to monitor multiple angles at once. So long as the scan angle does not exceed a calibrated range, an inspector can monitor an area of interest, no matter what the sound beam entry surface angle is. The ultrasonic beam is steered or phased to inspect different orientations with one scan. The method uses a phased array transducer that is a linear array probe that is comprised of a series of transducers. Each of these transducers is programmed to trigger at predetermined time intervals and also receive at predetermined time intervals. The signals acquired by each transducer are then processed by a computer to give a composite view of a tested region so that a defect indication can be viewed.

A phased array ultrasonic testing system for examining discontinuities in turbine or generator rotor bores formed within turbine or generator rotors of a turbine or generator rotor assembly. The system includes a phased array ultrasonic transducer structured to be coupled to a surface of the rotor bore at a first location in order to emit an ultrasonic beam toward a second location of the rotor bore which is to be examined. The system further includes a control system with a computer and a controller for programming, emitting, and steering the ultrasonic beam via at least one, two-dimensional phased array transducer, thereby precisely and accurately inspecting the area of interest. Computer control of the beam permits the number of inspection locations and the number of different transducer wedges to be reduced providing for an efficient, timely inspection.

The invention relates to the technical field of sonic wave fish driving and aims to provide an underwater net cage multi-beam fish driving monitoring system and an underwater net cage multi-beam fish driving monitoring method. The monitoring system comprises an underwater net cage, an underwater monitoring device and a data processing device, wherein the underwater monitoring device comprises a phased array transducer array and a high-frequency sonic wave oscillation circuit, which are arranged outside of the net cage; the data processing device comprises a data processing module, a first wireless transmission module, a computer control center and a second wireless transmission module, wherein the data processing module and the first wireless transmission module are distributed around the net cage, the computer control center is placed on a bank and the second wireless transmission module is connected with the computer control center; and the phased array transducer array and the high-frequency sonic wave oscillation circuit are both connected with the data processing module, and the data processing module, the first wireless transmission module, the second wireless transmission module and the computer control center are connected in sequence. The system and the method can determine the accurate position of the breakage of a net and can effectively prevent the fish stock for escaping from the net.

A magnetostrictive phased array transducer for transducing shear horizontal bulkwaves including a plurality of magnetostrictive members each having a bottom surface of a plate-shaped structure made of a ferromagnetic material, which is mounted to be adhered closely to the surface of a mounting place; an insulator disposed on a side surface of each magnetostrictive member; a meander coil having a plurality of coil lines extended in the direction parallel with the bottom surface on each insulator, wherein adjacent coil lines are connected so that current flows in the opposite directions to each other, thereby generating a dynamic magnetic field with respect to each magnetostrictive member; and a magnet mounted to generate a static magnetic field perpendicular to the dynamic magnetic field. When the current is supplied to the meander coil, a plurality of magnetostrictive members generate a plurality of shear horizontal bulkwaves while being deformed by the magnetostriction effect.