A transport apparatus includes a speaker and a mike disposed at respective positions between which a transport path of a medium is interposed, where the speaker and the mike face each other, a drive circuit that outputs a drive signal to the speaker, an amplifier circuit formed by coupling a plurality of amplifiers in series, where the amplifier circuit amplifies and outputs an output signal of the mike, a processor to which the output signal of the amplifier circuit is input, an attenuation circuit disposed in a stage preceding a predetermined amplifier, where the attenuation circuit attenuates an input signal and outputs the input signal to the predetermined amplifier, and a switch that switches an attenuation factor by the attenuation circuit.

A measuring device for non-mechanical-contact measurement of a layer, the measuring device including a light source operative to generate a pulse adapted to interact with the layer so as to generate a thermal wave in a gas medium present adjacent the layer. The thermal wave causes an acoustic signal to be generated. The measuring device further includes a detector adapted to detect a first signal responsive to the acoustic signal, the detector not being in mechanical contact with the layer. The first signal is representative of the measured layer.

Quality control of a periodic structure is performed using the damping rate of acoustic waves generated in the periodic structure. In this technique, an excitation light beam illuminates the first layer in the periodic structure to excite an acoustic wave. Possible irregularities in the periodic structure can scatter the acoustic wave, thereby increasing the damping rate of the acoustic wave. A sequence of probe light beams illuminates the periodic structure to measure the acoustic wave as a function of time to generated a temporal signal representing the damping rate of the acoustic signal. The acquired damping rate is employed to evaluate the quality of the periodic structure.

According to an embodiment, an inspection device includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor. The transmitter transmits a first ultrasonic wave including burst waves of a first period. The first ultrasonic wave is incident on an inspection object between the transmitter and the receiver. The first ultrasonic wave passed through the inspection object is incident on the receiver. The receiver outputs a signal corresponding to the first ultrasonic wave. The processor obtains the signal and performs a first operation. The first operation includes deriving first and second signal values from the signal, and inspecting the inspection object based on at least one of the first signal values and at least one of the second signal values. The first signal values correspond to maximum values of the signal in each of first periods The second signal values correspond to maximum values of the signal in each of second periods.

A detection device includes an electrostatic capacitance sensor including an electrode pair and being configured to detect electrostatic capacitance of a medium brought into contact with the electrode pair, and a first ultrasonic wave sensor including a first transmission unit configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave and a first reception unit configured to receive an ultrasonic wave transmitted from the first transmission unit. The transmission unit and the reception unit are positioned to sandwich the medium.

A sensor includes a first element part having a first member and a first element. The first member is a acoustic tubular waveguide and extends along a first direction. The acoustic tubular waveguide includes a first opening and a second opening. A direction from the second opening toward the first opening is along the first direction. The first element includes a vibratile first membrane, and a first supporter supporting the first membrane. The second opening is between the first opening and the first membrane in the first direction. The sensor may be a Piezoelectric Micro electro mechanical systems Ultrasonic Transducer and may be used for inspecting paper and/or resin including detecting thickness of a fed through banknote and/or the presence of foreign matter thereon such as tape. An optical element may alternatively measure the vibration of a membrane from acoustic through transmission instead of an acoustic receiver.

A method, apparatus and program product may evaluate a packaging material to determine various metrics associated with the packaging material. A test apparatus may be used to evaluate packaging material using a take up drum capable of sensing containment force imparted upon the drum by packaging material applied thereto, and in some instances, simulated flaws may be formed in a web of packaging material to evaluate a packaging materials response to such flaws when under tension.

A measurement device includes: a first measurement unit, disposed at a first opposing position facing a portion of a sheet-like measurement target, that measures a first physical property of the measurement target by causing the measurement target to vibrate with an ultrasonic wave; a second measurement unit, disposed at a second opposing position facing another portion of the measurement target in a state in which the first measurement unit is facing the first portion, that pinches and restrains the other portion in a thickness direction and measures a second physical property other than the first physical property of the measurement target; and a disposed unit disposed between the first measurement unit and the second measurement unit in an intersecting direction with respect to the thickness direction of the measurement target.

An inspection robot, and methods and a controller thereof are disclosed. An inspection robot may include an inspection chassis including a plurality of inspection sensors and coupled to at least one drive module to drive the robot over an inspection surface. The inspection robot may also include a controller including an inspection data circuit to interpret inspection base data, an inspection processing circuit to determine refined inspection data, and an inspection configuration circuit to determine an inspection response value in response to the refined inspection data. The controller may further include an inspection response circuit to, in response to the inspection response value, provide an inspection command value while the inspection robot is interrogating the inspection surface.

According to an embodiment, an inspection device includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor. The transmitter transmits a first ultrasonic wave including burst waves of a first period. The first ultrasonic wave is incident on an inspection object between the transmitter and the receiver. The first ultrasonic wave passed through the inspection object is incident on the receiver. The receiver outputs a signal corresponding to the first ultrasonic wave. The processor obtains the signal and performs a first operation. The first operation includes deriving first and second signal values from the signal, and inspecting the inspection object based on at least one of the first signal values and at least one of the second signal values. The first signal values correspond to maximum values of the signal in each of first periods The second signal values correspond to maximum values of the signal in each of second periods.