Frustrated total internal reflection acoustic field sensor

Patent · 01 January 2000

OSTI ID:872974

Kallman, Jeffrey S ^[1]

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1. Pleasanton, CA

A frustrated total internal reflection acoustic field sensor which allows the acquisition of the acoustic field over an entire plane, all at once. The sensor finds use in acoustic holography and acoustic diffraction tomography. For example, the sensor may be produced by a transparent plate with transparent support members tall enough to support one or more flexible membranes at an appropriate height for frustrated total internal reflection to occur. An acoustic wave causes the membrane to deflect away from its quiescent position and thus changes the amount of light that tunnels through the gap formed by the support members and into the membrane, and so changes the amount of light reflected by the membrane. The sensor(s) is illuminated by a uniform tight field, and the reflection from the sensor yields acoustic wave amplitude and phase information which can be picked up electronically or otherwise.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 6056696
• OSTI ID: 872974
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/600/73/128/
acoustic
acoustic field
acoustic wave
acquisition
allows
amount
amplitude
appropriate
causes
changes
deflect
diffraction
electronically
entire
example
field
field sensor
flexible
flexible membrane
formed
frustrated
frustrated total
gap
gap formed
height
holography
illuminated
information
internal
internal reflection
light
light reflected
membrane
membranes
occur
otherwise
phase
phase information
picked
plane
plate
position
produced
quiescent
reflected
reflection
reflection acoustic
sensor
support
tall
tight
tomography
total
total internal
transparent
transparent plate
tunnels
uniform
wave
yields