Using various techniques, a position of a probe assembly of a non-destructive inspection system, such as a phase array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) system, can be determined using the acoustic capability of the probe assembly and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor, e.g., including a gyroscope and an accelerometer, without relying on a complex encoding mechanism. The IMU sensor can provide an estimate of a current location of the probe assembly, which can be confirmed by the probe assembly, using an acoustic signal. In this manner, the data acquired from the IMU sensor and the probe assembly can be used in a complementary manner.

According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic probe includes: an oscillator; a base on which the oscillator is provided; a base conductive wire portion connected to the oscillator; a bump electrode portion supplying a signal to the oscillator via the base conductive wire portion; a pad portion engaging with the bump electrode portion; and an acoustic lens provided such that a force toward the bump electrode portion is applied to the pad portion.

Described are micromachined ultrasonic transducers (MUTs) with convex or concave electrodes, which have enhanced pressure amplitude and frequency response behavior when driven at fundamental and harmonic frequencies, as well as methods of making the same.

A parametric resonator can be driven by varying a parameter of a modulated capacitor or other externally powered type device to achieve transduction. Conventionally, externally powered type devices generally require an external power source or a static charge to achieve transduction. By pumping the parameter of the device at a frequency that is about twice the resonance frequency, and an amplitude that is above a threshold, however parametric resonance can be generated and sustained without requiring an external power source or charge to be applied to the device.

In a photoacoustic measurement apparatus and a probe, artifacts due to photoacoustic waves generated in a surface portion of a subject are reduced without increasing the repetition period of photoacoustic measurement. A measurement light emitting unit emits measurement light toward a subject. An acoustic wave detector detects photoacoustic waves generated within the subject due to the measurement light. A correction light source emits correction light toward the subject. A light intensity detector detects reflected light generated by reflection of the correction light, which is emitted toward the subject, from the subject. In a probe, the correction light source and the light intensity detector are disposed between the measurement light emitting unit and the acoustic wave detector.

Provided are: an ultrasound probe with excellent characteristic stability; and ultrasound equipment that uses the ultrasound probe. The ultrasound probe has an ultrasonic transmitting and receiving element provided with a substrate, an insulating film formed on the substrate, a cavity formed between the substrate and the insulating film, and a pair of electrodes disposed parallel to the substrate so as to sandwich the cavity. The ultrasound probe is characterized in that the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving element has a beam part with a multilayer structure formed by laminating films made of materials different in stress, the beam part being disposed on the electrode distant from the substrate out of the pair of electrodes, and the beam part is formed by laminating a film that applies tensile stress and a film that applies compressive stress.

The disclosure herein relates to a measuring system for determining damage to components including at least one fiber-reinforced plastics material, comprising sensors that can be or are arranged on a component to be mutually spaced, the sensors distributed over a curved surface of the component in the use position. In order provide a measuring system by which it is possible to obtain fiber-reinforced plastics components economically and with reasonable outlay, and by which process parameters and/or state variables can be reliably obtained during production and operation of the component, it is proposed to provide the component with a substrate that is different from the component and on which the sensors can be or are arranged, the substrate being flexible, and for the sensors arranged on the flexible substrate to form a measuring device.

The present disclosure is generally directed to a method for driving an ultrasonic transducer. The method includes coupling a driving electrode and a ground electrode of the ultrasonic transducer to a power supply and a ground, respectively, during a first time period based on a received drive signal. The method further includes decoupling the driving electrode and the ground electrode of the ultrasonic transducer from the power supply and the ground, respectively, to float the driving electrode and the ground electrode of the ultrasonic transducer during a second time period based on the received drive signal to store a charge between the driving electrode to the ground electrode.

An ultrasound device includes a transducer array (404) formed on a first side of a substrate (402). A through via (406) passes through a thickness of the substrate between the first side and a second side, opposite the first side. A conductor (410) is electrically coupled to the through via on the second side to provide signals to and from the transducer array.

Aspects of this disclosure relate to a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) with a contoured electrode. In certain embodiments, the CMUT has a contoured electrode. The electrode may be non-planar to correspond to a deflected shape of the outer plate. A change in distance between the electrode and the plate after deflection may be greater than a minimum threshold across the width of the CMUT.