An imaging device includes a transducer that includes an array of piezoelectric elements formed on a substrate. Each piezoelectric element includes at least one membrane suspended from the substrate, at least one bottom electrode disposed on the membrane, at least one piezoelectric layer disposed on the bottom electrode, and at least one top electrode disposed on the at least one piezoelectric layer. Adjacent piezoelectric elements are configured to be isolated acoustically from each other. The device is utilized to measure flow or flow along with imaging anatomy.

Described is a method for estimating a material property of an object by means of a laser ultrasonic (LUS) measurement equipment comprising a generation laser, a detection laser and a detector. The method includes providing a laser pulse onto a surface of the object by the generation laser such that an ultrasonic pulse is generated in the object and such that an ultrasonic vibration is immediately generated on the surface, measuring at least a first subsequent ultrasonic echo from the object by use of the detection laser and the detector, which ultrasonic echo is an echo from the ultrasonic pulse generated in the object, measuring the ultrasonic vibration which is immediately generated on the surface, by use of the detection laser and the detector, and estimating the material property by use of an ultrasonic attenuation parameter based on the measured at least first subsequent ultrasonic echo, whereby the material property is estimated by using the measured ultrasonic vibration which is immediately generated on the surface as reference to the measured at least first subsequent ultrasonic echo.

Systems and methods for monitoring the condition of ultrasonic transducers and ultrasonic probes used in non-destructive testing are provided. In one aspect, a degree of deterioration and end of life of an ultrasonic transducer can be estimated based upon measured environmental and/or operating parameters of the ultrasonic transducer. In another aspect, testing parameters acquired by a single ultrasonic probe or different ultrasonic probes can be measured and analyzed to identify deterioration of an ultrasonic probe.

An assembly for determining a type of a fluid, the assembly configured to be mounted to a tank containing the fluid, comprises an ultrasound sending/receiving subassembly and a processor module. The ultrasound sending/receiving subassembly is configured to send a plurality of ultrasound signals into the fluid and receive the ultrasound signals reflected from the fluid. An ultrasound signal of the plurality of ultrasound signals has at least a first frequency and a second frequency different from the first frequency. The processor module is adapted to determine an attenuation of the ultrasound signal at the first frequency and at the second frequency.

Disclosed herein is a system and method for inspecting a bonded structure in a component. The system includes an integrated probe and a processor coupled to the integrated probe. The integrated probe includes an ultrasonic component and a laser component. The ultrasonic component is configured to transmit pulsed sound waves into the bonded structure and receive reflected pulsed sound waves from the bonded structure. The laser component is configured to generate laser pulses and direct the laser pulses to the bonded structure to generate tension waves across the bonded structure. The processor is configured to test a bonded structure in the component. Further, the processor includes a pre-test module configured to operate the ultrasonic component in a pre-test mode, a test module configured to operate the laser component in a test mode, and a post-test module configured to operate the ultrasonic component in a post-test mode.

An ultrasound probe is described that comprises a transducer for transmitting and receiving ultrasound. The probe also includes a coupling element, such as a spherical ball of self-lubricating or hydrogel material, for contacting and acoustically coupling to an object to be inspected. The ultrasound probe also includes an analyser that is arranged to analyse the ultrasound signal received by the transducer and thereby determine if there is contact between the coupling element, and the surface of an object. The probe can thus be used for internal (ultrasound) inspection of objects as well as measuring the position of points on the surface of the object. The probe may be mountable to a coordinate measuring machine or other moveable platforms.

A method for measuring a velocity of a fluid, comprising the steps of, acquiring an ultrasonic measuring signal after it has travelled in the fluid over a path of defined length; defining measurement zone of the ultrasonic measuring signal which includes a plurality of measurement lobes; for each measurement lobe, measuring a zero crossing point associated with said measurement lobe; selecting at least two zero crossing points which satisfy a predefined precision criterion; estimating a time of flight for the ultrasonic measuring signal from the selected zero crossing points; utilizing the time of flight to estimate the velocity of the fluid.

Disclosed herein is a detection assembly for detecting kissing bonds in a bonded joint of a part. The detection assembly comprises an electromagnetic shockwave generator that is configured to generate an electromagnetic shockwave through a target portion of the bonded joint. The electromagnetic shockwave has an intensity sufficient to induce a separation of a kissing bond in the target portion of the bonded joint and insufficient to induce a separation of a healthy bond, adjacent the kissing bond, in the target portion. The detection assembly also comprises an ultrasonic sensor that is configured to generate a transmitted ultrasonic pulse, direct the transmitted ultrasonic pulse into the target portion of the bonded joint, and receive a received ultrasonic pulse from the target portion of the bonded joint in response to the electromagnetic shockwave generator generating the electromagnetic shockwave through the target portion of the bonded joint.

An ultrasonic testing device having a packaged semiconductor device as a testing target, the device including: an ultrasonic oscillator disposed to face the semiconductor device; a pulse generator generating a driving signal that is used in the generation of an ultrasonic wave to be output from the ultrasonic oscillator; and an analysis unit analyzing an output signal that is output from the semiconductor device in accordance with the irradiation of the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic oscillator, in which the pulse generator sets an optimal frequency of the driving signal such that the absorption of the ultrasonic wave in the semiconductor device is maximized.

Disclosed is a method including the steps of defining a transmission sequence, in which a plurality of transmit transducers is uniformly and randomly selected among the transducers of a probe on the active surface of the probe and a time offset is uniformly and randomly defined for each transmit transducer over a predetermined transmission duration. Subsequently, the transmission sequence is transmitted in the medium by the plurality of transmit transducers, the reception signals are received and recorded and they are processed with a focal law suitable for the transmit transducers and the time offsets used in order to thus derive a level of detection.