Provided is a member state evaluation method that makes more highly accurate instantaneous understanding of various states of a member to be tested possible without reliance on the shape of the member, the testing environment, or the skill level of the tester. The member state evaluation method is provided with: a state evaluation database construction step for constructing a state evaluation database by determining a plurality of vibration points and measurement points for each analysis model, carrying out vibration at the vibration points, measuring the acoustic signal generated by the vibration at the measurement points, carrying out frequency analysis, and thereby obtaining, as state evaluation data, frequency distribution data acquired for each vibration point and each measurement point that includes the natural frequencies for each of a plurality of modes; an actual measurement state evaluation data acquisition step for acquiring, as actual measurement state evaluation data, frequency distribution data for the member to be tested that includes the natural frequencies of each of the plurality of modes; and a state evaluation step for evaluating the member to be tested by comparing the acquired actual measurement state evaluation data and all the state evaluation data of the state evaluation database.

Degradation of a pipe can be easily detected. A piping inspection system 1 includes an excitation unit 100, a wave detection unit 210, and a diagnosis unit 220. The excitation unit 100 excites waves of different wave modes simultaneously at a first position of a pipe 300. The wave detection unit 210 detects the waves of different wave modes at a second position of the pipe 300. The diagnosis unit 220 diagnoses degradation of the pipe 300 based on a velocity of one of the waves of different wave modes, the velocity being calculated by using a detection time difference between the waves of different wave modes.

Degradation of a pipe can be easily detected. A piping inspection system 1 includes an excitation unit 100, a wave detection unit 210, and a diagnosis unit 220. The excitation unit 100 excites waves of different wave modes simultaneously at a first position of a pipe 300. The wave detection unit 210 detects the waves of different wave modes at a second position of the pipe 300. The diagnosis unit 220 diagnoses degradation of the pipe 300 based on a velocity of one of the waves of different wave modes, the velocity being calculated by using a detection time difference between the waves of different wave modes.

A method (900, 1000) of determining a vibration response parameter of a vibratory element (104) is provided. The method (900, 1000) includes vibrating the vibratory element (104) at a first frequency with a first drive signal, receiving a first vibration signal from the vibratory element (104) vibrated at the first frequency, measuring a first phase difference, the first phase difference being a phase difference between the first drive signal and the first vibration signal. The method (900, 1000) also includes vibrating the vibratory element (104) at a second frequency with a second drive signal, receiving a second vibration signal from the vibratory element (104) vibrated at the second frequency, measuring a second phase difference, the second phase difference being a phase difference between the second drive signal and the second vibration signal. The method (900, 1000) further includes using the first phase difference and the second phase difference to determine at least one of a phase difference, and a frequency of the vibratory element (104).

A method (900, 1000) of determining a vibration response parameter of a vibratory element (104) is provided. The method (900, 1000) includes vibrating the vibratory element (104) at a first frequency with a first drive signal, receiving a first vibration signal from the vibratory element (104) vibrated at the first frequency, measuring a first phase difference, the first phase difference being a phase difference between the first drive signal and the first vibration signal. The method (900, 1000) also includes vibrating the vibratory element (104) at a second frequency with a second drive signal, receiving a second vibration signal from the vibratory element (104) vibrated at the second frequency, measuring a second phase difference, the second phase difference being a phase difference between the second drive signal and the second vibration signal. The method (900, 1000) further includes using the first phase difference and the second phase difference to determine at least one of a phase difference, and a frequency of the vibratory element (104).

In a piezoelectric ejector assembly, a piezoelectric actuator is attached to an ejector mechanism, while a drive signal generator and a controller are coupled to the actuator. The drive signal generator is configured to generate a drive signal for driving the actuator to oscillate the ejector assembly. The controller is configured to control the drive signal generator to drive the actuator at a resonant frequency of the ejector assembly, and an auto-tuning circuit is provided to define the optimum drive signal frequency.

In a piezoelectric ejector assembly, a piezoelectric actuator is attached to an ejector mechanism, while a drive signal generator and a controller are coupled to the actuator. The drive signal generator is configured to generate a drive signal for driving the actuator to oscillate the ejector assembly. The controller is configured to control the drive signal generator to drive the actuator at a resonant frequency of the ejector assembly, and an auto-tuning circuit is provided to define the optimum drive signal frequency.

A directional acoustic sensor may include a plurality of resonators arranged in different directions; and a processor configured to calculate a time difference between a first signal that is received by the plurality of resonators directly from a sound source (e.g., a speaker) and a second signal that is received by the plurality of resonators from the sound source after being reflected on a wall surface around the sound source, and determine a distance between the sound source and the directional acoustic sensor based on the time difference.

A directional acoustic sensor may include a plurality of resonators arranged in different directions; and a processor configured to calculate a time difference between a first signal that is received by the plurality of resonators directly from a sound source (e.g., a speaker) and a second signal that is received by the plurality of resonators from the sound source after being reflected on a wall surface around the sound source, and determine a distance between the sound source and the directional acoustic sensor based on the time difference.

Various embodiments of an apparatus for measuring binding kinetics of an interaction of an analyte material present in a fluid sample are disclosed. The apparatus includes a sensing resonator having at least one binding site for the analyte material; actuation circuitry adapted to drive the sensing resonator into an oscillating motion; measurement circuitry coupled to the sensing resonator and adapted to measure an output signal of the sensing resonator representing resonance characteristics of the oscillating motion of the sensing resonator; and a controller coupled to the actuation and measurement circuitry, wherein the controller is adapted to detect an individual binding event between the at least one binding site and a molecule of the analyte material.