Patent ID: 7246522

Claim:
An inspection apparatus for multiparameter acoustic inspection and identification, comprising: at least two transducers operably disposed for inspection of a container, a material, and/or a fluid, wherein at least one of the at least two transducers transmits an acoustic excitation pulse(s) or waveform(s) through the container, material, or fluid for inspection of same and one or more of the at least two transducers receives the pulse(s) or waveform(s) transmitted through, and/or reflected in, the container, material and/or fluid; dry coupling means operably disposed for coupling said at least two transducers to said container, material, and/or fluid whereby said pulse(s) or waveform(s) have sufficiently high throughput energy through said container, material, and/or fluid providing for analysis of same; path length measuring means operably disposed for measuring acoustic path length of said pulse(s) or waveform(s); temperature measuring means operably disposed for measuring temperature of said container, material, and/or fluid; circuit means operably disposed to said transducers for conditioning of said pulse(s) or waveform(s) transmitted and/or received through the container, material, and/or fluid; computing means electrically coupled to said circuit means providing for at least an analysis of said pulse(s) or waveform(s) conditioned by said circuit means; and, wherein analysis of said pulse(s) or waveform(s) and/or a portion thereof as a function of temperature by said inspection apparatus provides at least a first and a second acoustic discrimination signature for identifying said material and/or said fluid being inspected.