Patent ID: 6116090
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: G10K

Abstract:
An acoustical microscope for use in a welding environment, comprising:a plurality of acoustical transducers, wherein each of said plurality selectively generates a beam of acoustic energy, each of said plurality is positioned in an adjacent relationship with a remainder of said plurality such that each beam of acoustic energy follows a path parallel to each remaining beam of acoustic energy;a computer in electrical communication with each of said plurality, said computer selectively instructing each of said plurality to generate said beam of acoustic energy for a short time duration such that each of said plurality operates in a transmission mode and a receiver mode, said computer processing reflected acoustic energy received by each of said plurality when each of said plurality is in said receiver mode, said computer analyzing said processed reflected acoustic energy;a device for laterally shifting said plurality of acoustical transducers, said device selectively moving said plurality of acoustical transducers to provide said computer with information to generate a first longitudinal scan; andsaid device selectively laterally shifts and moves said plurality of acoustical transducers to provide said computer with information to generate a second longitudinal scan, said computer selectively combining said first longitudinal scan and said second longitudinal scan to form a third longitudinal scan.