Communications – electrical: acoustic wave systems and devices – Signal transducers – Underwater type
Patent
1992-06-08
1993-09-28
Eldred, J. Woodrow
Communications, electrical: acoustic wave systems and devices
Signal transducers
Underwater type
367151, 73653, 73655, 359212, 359214, G01H 100
Patent
active
052491633
ABSTRACT:
An acoustic sensor, suitable for use as an ultrasonic transducer, microphone or hydrophone, uses an optical lever to amplify the motion of the sensor surface and convert it to an electrical signal suitable for image processing. In the acoustic sensor, a beam of light from a laser is directed at an oblique angle onto a reflective surface coupled to a sensor membrane. The reflected light strikes a position-sensitive light detector (PSD) which generates an electrical signal indicative of the position of the spot of light on the PSD. When an incident acoustic wave strikes the sensor membrane, the small movements of the reflective surface result in large motions of the spot of light on the PSD, thereby amplifying the acoustic signal and converting it into an electrical signal. Also disclosed is a multi-element sensor array suitable for linear array or phased array imaging.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3364813 (1968-01-01), McKinney
patent: 3831137 (1974-08-01), Cuomo
patent: 3998092 (1976-12-01), Maccabee
patent: 4185503 (1980-01-01), Saito
patent: 4310905 (1982-01-01), Palmer
patent: 4482805 (1984-11-01), Palmer
patent: 5063781 (1991-11-01), Conforti et al.
Eldred J. Woodrow
Leary James J.
LandOfFree
Optical lever for acoustic and ultrasound sensor does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Optical lever for acoustic and ultrasound sensor, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Optical lever for acoustic and ultrasound sensor will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2195479