Phased-array ultrasonic surface contour mapping system and method for solids hoppers and the like
Abstract
A real time ultrasonic surface contour mapping system is provided including a digitally controlled phased-array of transmitter/receiver (T/R) elements located in a fixed position above the surface to be mapped. The surface is divided into a predetermined number of pixels which are separately scanned by an arrangement of T/R elements by applying phase delayed signals thereto that produce ultrasonic tone bursts from each T/R that arrive at a point X in phase and at the same time relative to the leading edge of the tone burst pulse so that the acoustic energies from each T/R combine in a reinforcing manner at point X. The signals produced by the reception of the echo signals reflected from point X back to the T/Rs are also delayed appropriately so that they add in phase at the input of a signal combiner. This combined signal is then processed to determine the range to the point X using density-corrected sound velocity values. An autofocusing signal is developed from the computed average range for a complete scan of the surface pixels. A surface contour map is generated in real time form the range signals on a video monitor.
- Inventors:
-
- Morgantown, WV
- (Morgantown, WV)
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 869441
- Patent Number(s):
- 5337289
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01F - MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01S - RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- phased-array; ultrasonic; surface; contour; mapping; method; solids; hoppers; time; provided; including; digitally; controlled; transmitter; receiver; elements; located; fixed; position; mapped; divided; predetermined; pixels; separately; scanned; arrangement; applying; phase; delayed; signals; thereto; produce; tone; bursts; arrive; relative; leading; edge; burst; pulse; acoustic; energies; combine; reinforcing; manner; produced; reception; echo; reflected; appropriately; add; input; signal; combiner; combined; processed; determine; range; density-corrected; sound; velocity; values; autofocusing; developed; computed; average; complete; scan; map; generated; form; video; monitor; phase delay; controlled phase; leading edge; fixed position; provided including; surface contour; signals produced; signals reflected; ultrasonic surface; sound velocity; digitally controlled; echo signals; elements located; sonic surface; contour mapping; delayed signal; controlled ph; /367/73/340/
Citation Formats
Fasching, George E, and Smith, Jr., Nelson S. Phased-array ultrasonic surface contour mapping system and method for solids hoppers and the like. United States: N. p., 1994.
Web.
Fasching, George E, & Smith, Jr., Nelson S. Phased-array ultrasonic surface contour mapping system and method for solids hoppers and the like. United States.
Fasching, George E, and Smith, Jr., Nelson S. Sat .
"Phased-array ultrasonic surface contour mapping system and method for solids hoppers and the like". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/869441.
@article{osti_869441,
title = {Phased-array ultrasonic surface contour mapping system and method for solids hoppers and the like},
author = {Fasching, George E and Smith, Jr., Nelson S.},
abstractNote = {A real time ultrasonic surface contour mapping system is provided including a digitally controlled phased-array of transmitter/receiver (T/R) elements located in a fixed position above the surface to be mapped. The surface is divided into a predetermined number of pixels which are separately scanned by an arrangement of T/R elements by applying phase delayed signals thereto that produce ultrasonic tone bursts from each T/R that arrive at a point X in phase and at the same time relative to the leading edge of the tone burst pulse so that the acoustic energies from each T/R combine in a reinforcing manner at point X. The signals produced by the reception of the echo signals reflected from point X back to the T/Rs are also delayed appropriately so that they add in phase at the input of a signal combiner. This combined signal is then processed to determine the range to the point X using density-corrected sound velocity values. An autofocusing signal is developed from the computed average range for a complete scan of the surface pixels. A surface contour map is generated in real time form the range signals on a video monitor.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1994},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1994}
}
Works referenced in this record:
Acoustic Range Sensing Servo Control: Improved Robot Positioning and Trajectory
journal, March 1987
- Schoenwald, J. S.; Black, M. S.; Martin, J. F.
- IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control, Vol. 34, Issue 2