Patent ID: 6940212

Claim:
An apparatus for examining the internal structure of an object by reflection mode scanning acoustic microscopy, the apparatus comprising: an acoustic transducer assembly having a first end that is adapted to emit an acoustic signal that is approximately in the 1 to 200 MHz frequency range and adapted to receive acoustic reflections of the emitted acoustic signal, wherein the acoustic transducer assembly generates and transmits an electrical echo signal that corresponds to the received acoustical reflections; an acoustic transducer assembly positioning apparatus coupled to the acoustic transducer assembly to move the acoustic transducer assembly in at least two dimensions; a solid acoustic coupler having opposed first and second ends, wherein the first end of the acoustic coupler is coupled to the first end of the acoustic transducer assembly such that the acoustic coupler and the acoustic transducer assembly are in acoustical communication, wherein the acoustic transducer assembly positioning apparatus is adapted to position the acoustic transducer assembly such that the second end of the acoustic coupler is in acoustical communication with a surface of the material, wherein the acoustic coupler carries the emitted acoustic signals from the first end of the acoustic transducer assembly to the second end of the acoustic coupler and the acoustical reflections from the second end of the acoustic coupler to the first end of the transducer.