US 6,981,418 B1
Scanning acoustic microscopy
Dennis William Mueller, Lake Dallas, Tex. (US)
Assigned to MetScan Technologies, LLC, Savannah, Ga. (US)
Filed on May 31, 2002, as Appl. No. 10/159,547.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/378450, filed on May 07, 2002.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/355649, filed on Feb. 08, 2002.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/355201, filed on Feb. 08, 2002.
Int. Cl. G01N 9/24 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 73—633 32 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for examining the internal structure of an object by reflection mode scanning acoustic microscopy, the apparatus comprising:
a base having an extendable arm;
an acoustic scanning assembly coupled to the arm, the acoustic scanning assembly including:
a frame having at least one leg extending therefrom, the at least one leg adapted to removably couple to the object, wherein the frame defines a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction; and
an acoustic transducer assembly moveably coupled to the frame and adapted to move in both the longitudinal and transverse directions; and
a controller in communication with the acoustic transducer assembly adapted to control the movement of the acoustic transducer assembly;
a storage device in communication with the acoustic transducer assembly adapted to receive information related to reflected acoustic signals received by the acoustic transducer assembly and store the information therein.