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...When G.G. Hubbard learned of his future son-in-law's invention, he called it "only a toy." His daughter was engaged to a young man named Alexander Graham Bell.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8166824 | Ultrasonic sensor An ultrasonic sensor includes a transmitting device, a receiving device, and a circuit device. The circuit device determines that the receiving device receives an ultrasonic wave reflected from an object, when an output voltage of the receiving device is equal to or... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8151645 | Methods and apparatus for ultrasonic coupling using micro surface tension and capillary effects Apparatus and methods for ultrasonic coupling between a coupling fluid and an object using micro surface tension and capillary effects are provided. The apparatus may include a chamber comprising a wall, a bottom, and a fluid inlet. The fluid inlet may allow a fluid... | 04/10/2012 |
| 8127614 | Methods and systems for ultrasonic coupling using ultrasonic radiation pressure Apparatus and methods for ultrasonic coupling using ultrasonic radiation pressure generating are provided. Ultrasonic energy is generated to propagate in the form of ultrasonic waves in a medium coupled to a second element. The ultrasonic energy is converged in the ... | 03/06/2012 |
| 8037766 | Method for generation mechanical waves by generation of interfacial acoustic radiation force The present invention relates to a method for generating mechanical waves within a viscoelastic medium (11) comprising a step of generating an acoustic radiation force (15) within the viscoelastic medium (11) by application of acoustic waves foc... | 10/18/2011 |
| 8033173 | Amplifying ultrasonic waveguides Ultrasonic waveguides having improved velocity gain are disclosed for use in ultrasonic medical devices. Specifically, the ultrasonic waveguides comprises a first material having a higher acoustic impedance and a second material having a lower acoustic impedance. | 10/11/2011 |
| 7908924 | Sound focusing mechanism and method of estimating acoustic leakage of an object and method of estimating transmission loss of an object A sound focusing mechanism for generating a focused source of sound, which can be used to identify the transmission loss of an object or identify areas of acoustic leakage is disclosed. The sound focusing mechanism includes a housing having at least one wall formed ... | 03/22/2011 |
| 7886605 | Conformable ultrasonic array apparatus A method and apparatus for ultrasonic inspection. The ultrasonic inspection apparatus comprises ultrasonic transducers, a body, a set of engagement members and a set of ports. The ultrasonic transducers are at a position generally adjacent to a surface of an object.... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7798003 | Ultrasound probe arrangement The invention relates to an ultrasound probe arrangement (14, 16) for coupling ultrasonic signals toward a component (12), which is to be inspected, by using the water open jet method, with a probe (24; 124), which is placed inside a jet nozzle ... | 09/21/2010 |
| 7793546 | Ultrasonic flaw detection method and ultrasonic flaw detection device An ultrasonic transmission medium is received in a medium container, and an opening of the container is sealed by a polymer membrane. An inspection object is received in an inspection object receiving container body that is separate from the medium container and who... | 09/14/2010 |
| 7757561 | Methods and systems for processing samples using acoustic energy Methods and systems for automated compound management and sample preparation using acoustic energy. In some embodiments, acoustic energy may be transmitted through a medium and a solid or semi-solid layer that is disposed adjacent to the vessel. Both the medium and ... | 07/20/2010 |
| 7694570 | Non-invasive dry coupled disposable/reusable ultrasonic sensor A non-invasive dry coupled disposable/reusable ultrasonic sensor has a housing and a piezoelectric element at one end of the housing to which connected signal leads are connected that extend out from the housing. A piece of double-sided adhesive tape has one adhesiv... | 04/13/2010 |
| 7694569 | Phased array ultrasonic water wedge apparatus 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 ... | 04/13/2010 |
| 7661315 | Method and apparatus for ultrasonic scanning of a fabrication wafer A method and apparatus for ultrasonic scanning of a wafer assembly is disclosed. The wafer assembly is held in a wafer chuck and rotated. A transducer generates ultrasound in the wafer assembly and the ultrasound emitted from the wafer assembly is sensed. A controll... | 02/16/2010 |
| 7637163 | Thin-film ultrasonic probe An ultrasonic probe for examining an item. The probe includes a body having a contact surface adapted for contacting the item when being examined and an ultrasonic transducer attached to the body and spaced from the contact surface. The probe further includes a spac... | 12/29/2009 |
| 7571649 | Probe for inspection of edges of a structure An apparatus including a linear array transducer coupled to an upper housing of the apparatus and positioned above a tapered chamber. The tapered chamber configured to maintain a column of couplant between the linear array transducer and a structure to be inspected ... | 08/11/2009 |
| 7552641 | Through-transmission ultrasonic inspection system and testing methods Methods and systems are provided for protecting an acoustic liner having a perforated facesheet from water leakage during a through-transmission ultrasonic (TTU) inspection using an ultrasonic squirter system. The testing method utilizes a repositionable mask that c... | 06/30/2009 |
| 7530271 | Method and apparatus for coupling ultrasound between an integral ultrasonic transducer assembly and an object A method and apparatus are disclosed for coupling ultrasound between an ultrasonic transducer and an object. A scanning element is attached to an ultrasonic transducer to form an integral transducer assembly in which an ultrasound emitting surface of the ultrasonic ... | 05/12/2009 |
| 7516664 | Method for the ultrasound testing of a workpiece within a curved region of its surface and device suitable for the execution of the process In a method for the ultrasonic testing of a workpiece (2) in a curved area of its surface, in particular of a workpiece (2) made of a fiber composite material, an ultrasonic test head (10) is acoustically coupled to the workpiece in this area, a... | 04/14/2009 |
| 7481115 | Ultrasonic probe An ultrasonic probe according to the present invention includes: an ultrasonic element unit for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave while carrying out ultrasonic scanning; a storage portion for storing the ultrasonic element unit; and an acoustic medium li... | 01/27/2009 |
| 7430913 | Rapid prototype integrated matrix ultrasonic transducer array inspection apparatus, systems, and methods Apparatus, systems, and methods for inspecting a structure are provided which use a sensor holder constructed from rapid prototyping, such as stereolithography, and which is configured to support a plurality of inspection sensors typically arranged in an ordered mat... | 10/07/2008 |
| 7421901 | Method of using ultrasound to inspect a part in immersion A method of inspecting a part in immersion using a focused beam of ultrasound waves oriented perpendicularly to the surface of the part, the method including, when the axis of the focused beam is close to an edge of the part, tilting the axis towards the edge relati... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7418867 | Remote use of ultrasonic sensors A method and apparatus for conducting ultrasonic inspections of what would normally be inaccessible areas of objects for such properties as thickness, cracks, discontinuities, density, pits and holes. In addition, a method and apparatus for improving ultrasonic insp... | 09/02/2008 |
| 7418866 | Method and apparatus for evaluation of standing timber A method and apparatus for measuring the quality of live, standing timber employs deep-set spike probes angled to create a longitudinal compression wave. Alignment tools and isolation of the probes provide an improved signal, automated detection of probe separation ... | 09/02/2008 |
| 7404327 | Diffusion nozzle for an ultrasonic probe A suitable diffusion nozzle (20) for an ultrasounds probe using water as coupling agent between a piece under inspection and an acoustic transductor (13) such that the water is driven towards the surface of the material through a propulsion channel ( | 07/29/2008 |
| 7395714 | Magnetically attracted inspecting apparatus and method using a ball bearing An apparatus and method for inspecting a structure are provided which include probes with sensing elements and are disposed proximate the opposite surfaces of a structure, where only one of the probes need be driven. A tracking probe may be magnetically coupled to a... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7395713 | Tray-fed scanning microscope system and method primarily for immobilizing parts during inspection An improved scanning station and method for a tray-fed scanning acoustic microscope has a vacuum system which at least assists in immobilizing loosely held parts in the trays during insonification by an ultrasonic beam generator. ... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7389694 | Rail inspection system An apparatus rides along a rail of a railroad track. A transmitter transmits ultrasonic guided waves bidirectionally along the rail while the apparatus and transmitter are moving along the railroad track. A sensor detects flaws in response to the transmitted ultraso... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7370527 | Liquid level detecting apparatus A liquid level detecting apparatus has an ultrasonic sensor, a reflector, a first pipe and a second pipe. The reflector reflects an ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic sensor to a liquid level, and the ultrasonic sensor detects a reflection wave reflected on the liq... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7367239 | Piezocable based sensor for measuring unsteady pressures inside a pipe A piezocable-based sensor for measuring unsteady pressures inside a pipe comprises at least one cable extending around at least a portion of a circumference of the pipe. The cable includes a first electrical conductor, a piezoelectric material disposed around the fi... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7360427 | Coupling element with varying wall thickness for an ultrasound probe An ultrasonic probe is provided in which an elongate array of transducers is disposed within an elongate coupling element which is mounted for rotation about an axle. The profile of the coupling element is chosen so as to provide a substantially uniform contact forc... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7359803 | Apparatus and method for measuring parameters of a mixture having solid particles suspended in a fluid flowing in a pipe An apparatus 10,70 and method is provided that includes a spatial array of unsteady pressure sensors 15-18 placed at predetermined axial locations X1-XN disposed axially along a pipe 14 for measuring at least one par... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7343821 | Device for coupling an ultrasound clamp-on measuring head on the wall of a tube The invention relates to a device for coupling ultrasound clamp-on throughflow measuring heads to a high-temperature measuring tube. The invention is characterized in that a thin coupling plate is arranged between the tube wall and the measuring head. As a result, t... | 03/18/2008 |
| 7340958 | Methods for determining potential characteristics of a specimen based on stress wave velocity measurements Methods are provided for using stress wave velocity measurements taken of a specimen at an early age to determine potential characteristics at a later age. The data may be used to, for example, evaluate specimens and/or families and/or clones at early ages to cut co... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7339447 | High-voltage transformer coil with acoustic wave guiding function The present invention relates to a high-voltage transformer coil with acoustic wave guiding function, which comprises a plurality of wound wires, an insulated material for packaging said wound wires to form a coil, a high-voltage connector formed on a side of said c... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7328619 | Phased array ultrasonic NDT system for fastener inspections An ultrasonic probe suited for testing the integrity of sheet metal surfaces around fastener openings is provided with means to center the probe over such openings. Both a mechanical centering rod and an electronic display assist the user in centering such probe. On... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7324919 | Apparatus for analysing the condition of a machine An apparatus for analysing the condition of a machine having a rotating shaft, includes: at least one input for receiving measurement data from a sensor for surveying a measuring point of the machine, the measurement data being dependent on rotation of the shaft; an... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7320249 | Magnetically attracted inspecting apparatus and method using a fluid bearing An apparatus and method for inspecting a structure are provided which include probes with sensing elements and are disposed proximate opposite surfaces of a structure, where only one of the probes need be driven. A tracking probe may be magnetically coupled to a dri... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7287430 | Method of evaluating connected portions, method of connecting electrical winding conductors and apparatus therefor A method of connecting hollow conductors with a brazing alloy employs a measuring mechanism 10 for measuring a connecting state of a connecting portion after brazing hollow conductors. The measuring mechanism comprises a scanner 101 and a holder 19 | 10/30/2007 |
| 7284434 | Rigid-contact dripless bubbler (RCDB) apparatus for acoustic inspection of a workpiece in arbitrary scanning orientations A lightweight apparatus for performing ultrasonic immersion inspection of a workpiece in an arbitrary orientation that uses significantly less couplant and has a reduced footprint size while providing ultrasonic performance levels comparable to those typically reach... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7275807 | Wave guide with isolated coupling interface A wave-guide having an isolated coupling interface. In one variation, a constant negative pressure is maintained around the area surrounding the wave-guide. Coupling liquid may be directed to the tip of the wave-guide to provide the coupling interface between the wa... | 10/02/2007 |
