Communications – electrical: acoustic wave systems and devices – Signal transducers – Underwater type
Patent
1993-04-05
1994-08-16
Eldred, J. Woodrow
Communications, electrical: acoustic wave systems and devices
Signal transducers
Underwater type
367151, 73653, 73655, 359212, 359214, G01H 100
Patent
active
053392892
ABSTRACT:
An optical lever acoustic and ultrasound sensor with increased sensitivity using an optical amplification means to amplify the motion of an incident acoustic wave and convert it to an electric signal for image processing. Three approaches to the optical amplification are disclosed. In the first approach, the vibrating mirror is part of a cantilever that increases the angular deflection of the incident light beam. In the second approach, a second, stationary mirror is positioned approximately parallel to the vibrating mirror surface. The reflected light beam is reflected back onto the vibrating mirror, and picks up a another increment of the acoustic signal with each reflection. In the third approach, the effective moment of the optical lever is increased within a small volume by the use of two stationary mirrors to increase the path length from the vibrating mirror to the position-sensitive detector. This increases the relative movement of the light beam on the surface of the position-sensitive detector and, therefore, the overall sensitivity of the sensor. The incident beam of light is focused by a lens between the light source and the vibrating mirror, so that the focal point is in the plane of the position-sensitive detector. The smaller spot size and greater intensity of the incident light allows greater detector sensitivity. Two or more chopped light beams may be directed at a single vibrating surface, and phase-locked loop circuitry used to reduce the signal-to-noise ratio.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3708231 (1973-01-01), Walters
patent: 4422167 (1983-12-01), Shajenko
patent: 4446543 (1984-05-01), McLandrich et al.
patent: 4998225 (1991-03-01), Shajenko
"Mesures optiques de deplacements . . . " 2001a Revue de Physique Appliquee 24 (1989) Aout, No. 8, Paris, FR.
"Opto-electronic system . . . " 8127 Review of Scientific Instruments 58 (1987) Sep., No. 8, New York, N.Y., USA.
Eldred J. Woodrow
Leary James J.
LandOfFree
Acoustic and ultrasound sensor with optical amplification does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Acoustic and ultrasound sensor with optical amplification, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Acoustic and ultrasound sensor with optical amplification will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-958365