# US 12,000,796 B2 · Contact elements for acoustic excitation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,000,796 B2 - Document ID: US12000796B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/817,240 - Filed: 2022-08-03 - Published: 2022-12-01 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-24 - Assignees: Brigham Young University (BYU) - Applicants: Brigham Young University (BYU) - Inventors: Brian A. Mazzeo; William Spencer Guthrie - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000796B2 ## CPC - G01N 29/045: {by imparting shocks to the workpiece and detecting the vibrations or the acoustic waves caused by the shocks (measuring resonant frequency G01H13/00; measuring strength properties by application of mechanical stress G01N3/00)} - G01N 29/2493: {Wheel shaped probes} - G01N 29/34: Generating the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves {, e.g. electronic circuits specially adapted therefor} - G01N 2291/0258: Structural degradation, e.g. fatigue of composites, ageing of oils - G01N 2291/0427: Flexural waves, plate waves, e.g. Lamb waves, tuning fork, cantilever - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A system includes: an acoustic exciter, a compliant material applied to the acoustic exciter to configure the acoustic exciter for triggering acoustic excitation of at least part of a substrate; a sensor configured to receive an acoustic response of the acoustic excitation; and circuitry configured to determine at least one characteristic of the substrate using the acoustic response. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: an acoustic exciter configured for triggering acoustic excitation of at least part of a substrate, the acoustic exciter including a circumferential band around a rotating element; a sensor configured to receive an acoustic response of the acoustic excitation; circuitry configured to determine at least one characteristic of the substrate using the acoustic response, the system being configured to be attached to a vehicle for traversing the substrate with the acoustic exciter, the acoustic exciter being included in a plurality of acoustic exciters; and cross ties to which the circumferential band is coupled. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising an active source configured to drive the rotating element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a movable subsystem that includes at least the acoustic exciter, the movable subsystem configured to facilitate placement of the acoustic exciter in and out of contact with the substrate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the acoustic exciter is included in a plurality of acoustic exciters, the circuitry is configured for multi-channel registration of respective acoustic responses received by a plurality of sensors. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a location detector, wherein the circuitry is further configured to identify the substrate using input from the location detector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a microphone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to traverse the substrate with the acoustic exciter when coupled to a vehicle. ### Claim 8 A system comprising: an acoustic exciter configured for triggering acoustic excitation of at least part of a substrate, the acoustic exciter including a circumferential band around a rotating element; a sensor configured to receive an acoustic response of the acoustic excitation; and circuitry configured to determine at least one characteristic of the substrate using the acoustic response, the system being configured to be attached to a vehicle for traversing the substrate with the acoustic exciter, the acoustic exciter including a contact element configured for triggering the acoustic excitation, the contact element being coupled to the circumferential band and extending from at least one side of the rotating element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the contact element is included in a plurality of contact elements, the plurality of contact elements are individually movable. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein at least some of the plurality of contact elements are chain links. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the contact element is spherical. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, further comprising a spring in contact with the contact element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, further comprising an adhesive material in contact with the contact element. ### Claim 14 An apparatus comprising: at least one rotating element; and at least one circumferential band positioned around a periphery of the at least one rotating element; a plurality of acoustic exciters extending from the at least one circumferential band, the at least one rotating element configures the plurality of acoustic exciters for triggering acoustic excitation of at least part of a substrate, the at least one rotating element configured to be attached to a vehicle for traversing the substrate with the plurality of acoustic exciters, the at least one rotating element including a peripheral surface that has an approximately circular cross section, and the at least one circumferential band being positioned around the peripheral surface; and cross ties traversing the peripheral surface, the plurality of acoustic exciters being coupled to the cross ties. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising an active source configured to drive the at least one rotating element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one circumferential band is included in at least two circumferential bands positioned adjacent respective edges of the peripheral surface. ### Claim 17 A system comprising: an acoustic exciter configured for triggering acoustic excitation of at least part of a substrate, the acoustic exciter including a circumferential band around a rotating element; a sensor configured to receive an acoustic response of the acoustic excitation; and circuitry configured to determine at least one characteristic of the substrate using the acoustic response, the system being configured to be attached to a vehicle for traversing the substrate with the acoustic exciter, the circumferential band being around a sidewall of the rotating element. ### Claim 18 A system comprising: an acoustic exciter configured for triggering acoustic excitation of at least part of a substrate, the acoustic exciter including a circumferential band and configured to extend radially from a rotating element when the rotating element is rotated; a sensor configured to receive an acoustic response of the acoustic excitation; and circuitry configured to determine at least one characteristic of the substrate using the acoustic response, the system configured to traverse the substrate with the acoustic exciter, the circumferential band being around a sidewall of the rotating element.