A phased array ultrasonic transducer includes a bonding wire structure, a damping material, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, and a printed circuit board. The bonding wire structure includes a plurality of bonding wire elements. The damping material surrounds the bonding wire structure and is interposed with the plurality of bonding wire elements. The plurality of ultrasonic transducers is arranged in a matrix beneath a membrane, each of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers being coupled to a corresponding bonding wire element of the plurality of bonding wire elements. The printed circuit board includes a plurality of circuits. Each of the plurality of circuits is coupled to a corresponding bonding wire element of the plurality of bonding wire elements.

A phased array ultrasonic transducer includes a bonding wire structure, a damping material, a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, and a printed circuit board. The bonding wire structure includes a plurality of bonding wire elements. The damping material surrounds the bonding wire structure and is interposed with the plurality of bonding wire elements. The plurality of ultrasonic transducers is arranged in a matrix beneath a membrane, each of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers being coupled to a corresponding bonding wire element of the plurality of bonding wire elements. The printed circuit board includes a plurality of circuits. Each of the plurality of circuits is coupled to a corresponding bonding wire element of the plurality of bonding wire elements.

An ultrasonic dry coupled wheel probe with radial transducers emit ultrasound in substantially all radial directions relative to a longitudinal axis. The probe does not require normalization and is efficient in directing ultrasound to a surface being inspected. The probe has a wheel composed of rubber or other materials for acoustically dry coupling the transducer to the surface. A first transducer is composed of a piezoelectric material so that the transducer receives an electrical signal, vibrates, and generates and transmits sound, such as ultrasound. Similarly, a second transducer receives sound such as ultrasound, vibrates, and generates a corresponding electrical signal. The transducer arrangement both transmits ultrasound to the surface and receives the reflection of the ultrasound from the surface. An acoustic barrier separates the transmitting component from the receiving component. The transducer has annular electroplates adjacent to the piezoelectric material. The two transducers can comprise a single, integrated transducer module.

An ultrasonic dry coupled wheel probe with radial transducers emit ultrasound in substantially all radial directions relative to a longitudinal axis. The probe does not require normalization and is efficient in directing ultrasound to a surface being inspected. The probe has a wheel composed of rubber or other materials for acoustically dry coupling the transducer to the surface. A first transducer is composed of a piezoelectric material so that the transducer receives an electrical signal, vibrates, and generates and transmits sound, such as ultrasound. Similarly, a second transducer receives sound such as ultrasound, vibrates, and generates a corresponding electrical signal. The transducer arrangement both transmits ultrasound to the surface and receives the reflection of the ultrasound from the surface. An acoustic barrier separates the transmitting component from the receiving component. The transducer has annular electroplates adjacent to the piezoelectric material. The two transducers can comprise a single, integrated transducer module.

A gas sensor comprises a membrane, a first plate arranged on a first side of the membrane and having through openings for the passage of a gas, a second plate arranged on a second side of the membrane, the second side being situated opposite the first side, and an electronic circuit, which is connected to the membrane, the first plate and the second plate and causes the membrane to emit ultrasonic radiation, and which is configured to determine a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic radiation.

A gas sensor comprises a membrane, a first plate arranged on a first side of the membrane and having through openings for the passage of a gas, a second plate arranged on a second side of the membrane, the second side being situated opposite the first side, and an electronic circuit, which is connected to the membrane, the first plate and the second plate and causes the membrane to emit ultrasonic radiation, and which is configured to determine a resonant frequency of the ultrasonic radiation.

An inspection system includes an image processing unit that suppresses noise of a complex number image on which pixels are represented by a complex number indicating a periodic change in a vibration state of an inspection target. The image processing unit acquires a degree of similarity between a pixel included in a target image region defined in the complex number image and a pixel included in a plurality of reference image regions defined in the complex number image separately from the target image region by comparing complex numbers representing pixels, and executes noise suppression processing of the target image region by using a weight based on the acquired degree of similarity.

A methods and systems for determining a change in condition of a rock bolt. Some methods may comprise, at a first point in time, propagating shear and longitudinal ultrasonic waves along the rock bolt to measure a first time of flight for each of the shear and longitudinal waves, at a second point in time after the first point in time, propagating shear and longitudinal ultrasonic waves along the rock bolt to measure a second time of flight for each of the shear and longitudinal waves, and using the relative changes of the first and second time of flights, determining the change in condition of the rock bolt section.

A substance sensor includes sensitive membranes to react with substances included in the odors of a gas in correspondence with the substances, and is configured to detect the reaction values of the sensitive membranes. An odor specifier specifies the odors of the gas on the basis of the reaction values of the sensitive membranes. A reaction value calculator calculates reaction values corresponding to the odors specified by the odor specifier on the basis of the reaction values of the sensitive membranes. A percentage calculator calculates the percentages of the reaction values corresponding to the odors specified by the odor specifier to the total of the reaction values corresponding to the odors. A display displays the percentages of the reaction values corresponding to the odors, calculated by the percentage calculator, so that comparison of the percentages is enabled between the odors specified by the odor specifier.

An ultrasonic transducer is disclosed. The transducer includes a wear cap and an active element. The wear cap includes at least one slot arranged so as to define a strip. The strip is arranged to be in vibrational communication with the active element. The ultrasonic transducer may include a rigid block. The active element may be interposed between the wear cap and the rigid block, and the rigid block may be configured to provide a backing mass for the active element. Optionally, the rigid block may include chamfered edges.