Patent ID: 9354206
Filing Date: 2016-05-31
CPC Classification: G01N

Claim Text:
1. A method for inspecting a structural sample using ultrasonic energy, the method comprising: positioning an ultrasonic transducer adjacent to a surface of the sample; transmitting ultrasonic energy into the sample using an ultrasonic transducer; applying force pulses to the transducer, concurrently with the transmission of the ultrasonic energy and at a frequency that is lower than a frequency of the ultrasonic energy, to thereby vertically displace the transducer and cause the transducer to exert a periodic force on the surface; moving the transducer with respect to the surface and in synchronization between the transmission of pulses with the periodic force and movement of the transducer; processing an ultrasonic return pulse from an ultrasonic pulser/receiver using a host machine to thereby quantify a level of attenuation of the ultrasonic input pulses within the sample; and using the host machine to detect a defect in the sample using the quantified level of attenuation; wherein an actuator and the transducer are enclosed within a housing having a perforated skirt; and applying a vacuum to the surface through pores in the perforated skirt while moving the transducer with respect to the surface.