Claims
- 1. 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.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the acoustic transducer assembly focuses the emitted acoustic signal at point that is a focal distance from the first end of the acoustic transducer, and the first and second ends of the acoustic coupler define a length that is less than or equal to the focal distance.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid acoustic coupler is made from an epoxy.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the acoustic transducer assembly positioning assembly is adapted to move the acoustic transducer assembly in at least three dimensions.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the acoustic transducer assembly positioning assembly is adapted to move the acoustic transducer assembly such that the acoustic transducer assembly has at least three degrees of freedom.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the least three degrees of freedom is five degrees of freedom.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further including:
a positioning controller in communication with the acoustic transducer assembly positioning apparatus, wherein the acoustic transducer assembly positioning apparatus positions the acoustic transducer assembly according to instructions from the positioning controller.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 7, further including:
a acoustic transducer assembly controller in communication with the transducer, wherein the acoustic transducer assembly emits an acoustic signal in response to a signal from the acoustic transducer assembly controller.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 8, further including:
a controller in communication with the acoustic transducer assembly controller and the positioning controller, wherein the controller synchronizes the instructions from the positioning controller and the signals from the acoustic transducer assembly controller.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 8, further including:
a storage device in communication with the acoustic transducer assembly and information related to the echo signal is stored in the storage device.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the solid acoustic coupler is made from a material selected from the group consisting of epoxy, polymide, resin, ceramic, metal, polymer, and glass.
- 12. A device for reflection mode acoustic microscopy of an object, wherein the object is substantially immersed in a medium having an acoustic conductance that essentially does not conduct acoustic signals in the 1 to 200 MHz frequency range, the device comprising:
an acoustic transducer assembly adapted to emit and receive acoustic signals that are approximately in the 1 to 200 MHz frequency range; and a solid acoustic coupler attached to the acoustic transducer assembly adapted to carry acoustic signals in the 1 to 200 MHz frequency range, wherein the solid acoustic coupler defines a solid body having a contact end adapted to contact an area of a surface of the object, whereby acoustic signals are carried between the acoustic transducer assembly and the object through the contact end.
- 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the contact end is made from a material selected from the group consisting of epoxy, polymide, resin, ceramic, metal, polymer, and glass.
- 14. The device of claim 12, wherein the acoustic transducer assembly includes an end that emits and receives acoustic signals, the solid acoustic coupler defines a body having a longitudinal length with opposed ends, a coupling end and the contact end, wherein the coupling end is coupled to the end of the acoustic transducer assembly such that acoustic signal are substantially transmitted through the interface of the acoustic transducer assembly and the solid acoustic coupler.
- 15. The device of claim 14, wherein acoustic signals emitted from the acoustic transducer assembly are focused a predetermined length from the end of the acoustic transducer, wherein the longitudinal length of the solid acoustic coupler greater than or equal to the focal length.
- 16. The device of claim 14, wherein acoustic signals emitted from the acoustic transducer assembly are focused a predetermined length from the end of the acoustic transducer, wherein the longitudinal length of the solid acoustic coupler less than or equal to the focal length.
- 17. A method for examining the internal structure of a material using reflection mode scanning acoustic microscopy, the method comprising the steps of:
touching a first end of an acoustic coupler to a point on a surface of the material, wherein the acoustic coupler includes a second end that is opposed to the first end, and the second end of the acoustic coupler is attached to a first end of an acoustic transducer, and wherein the acoustic coupler is adapted to carry acoustic signals that are approximately in the 1 to 200 MHz frequency range between the first and second ends of the acoustic coupler; emitting an acoustic signal from the first end of the acoustic transducer, wherein the emitted acoustic signal is approximately in the 1 to 200 MHz frequency range; receiving at the acoustic transducer assembly a reflected acoustic signal, which is a reflection of the emitted acoustic signal, wherein a change in the acoustic impedance of the material reflects at least a portion of the emitted acoustic signal, and the reflected signal is carried by the acoustic coupler to the first end of the transducer.
- 18. The method of claim 17, further including the steps of:
repositioning the acoustic transducer assembly such that the first end of the acoustic coupler is touching a second point on the surface of the material; and repeating the steps of emitting an acoustic signal and receiving a reflected acoustic signal.
- 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of repositioning the acoustic transducer assembly further includes the steps of:
(a) moving the acoustic transducer assembly a first predetermined distance in a first direction, wherein the first direction is not a tangent to the point of contact between the surface of the material and the acoustic coupler; (b) following step (a), moving the acoustic transducer assembly a second predetermined distance in a second direction, wherein when the acoustic transducer assembly has been moved the second predetermined distance in the second direction, the first end of the acoustic coupler touches the second point of the surface.
- 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of repositioning the acoustic transducer assembly further includes the step of:
moving the acoustic transducer assembly a predetermined distance in a direction, wherein the direction is a tangent to the point of contact between the surface of the material and the acoustic coupler, and wherein when the acoustic transducer assembly has been moved the predetermined distance in the direction, the first end of the acoustic coupler touches the second point of the surface.
- 21. The method of claim 17, wherein the acoustic coupler is a solid material.
- 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the acoustic coupler is made from a material selected from the group consisting of epoxy, polymide, resin, ceramic, metal, polymer, and glass.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. provisional applications entitled: “Scanning Acoustic Microscopy,” having ser. No. 60/355,201, filed Feb. 8, 2002; “Acoustic Coupling,” having ser. No. 60/355,649, filed Feb. 8, 2002; and “Apparatus For Reflection Mode Acoustic Microscopy Scanning Of An Object,” having ser. No. 60/378,540, filed May 7, 2002, all of which are entirely incorporated herein by reference. This application is one of five co-pending, commonly assigned U.S. Patent Applications entitled “Flowing Fluid Acoustic Coupling,” Ser. No. ______, “Scanning Acoustic Microscopy,” Ser. No. ______; “Acoustic Coupling With A Fluid Retainer,” and Ser. No. ______; “Acoustic Coupling With A Fluid Bath,” Ser. No. ______ and all five co-pending application have the same filing date of May 31, 2002 and are hereby incorporated into this document by reference.
Provisional Applications (3)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60355201 |
Feb 2002 |
US |
|
60355649 |
Feb 2002 |
US |
|
60378540 |
May 2002 |
US |