# US 8,072,839 B2 · Hand-held acoustic camera

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,072,839 B2
- Document ID: US8072839B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/485,080
- Filed: 2009-06-16
- Published: 2010-12-16
- Granted: 2011-12-06
- Earliest claimed: 2009-06-16
- Assignees: Intelligent Sciences, Ltd.
- Inventors: Jacques Y. Guigné; James A. Stacey; Nicholas G. Pace
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8072839B2

## CPC

- G01S 15/89: for mapping or imaging
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES

## Abstract

An acoustic camera includes an acoustic transmitter disposed at one longitudinal end of a housing. The transmitter has a convex radiating surface. A diameter of the transmitter is about four times a wavelength of acoustic energy emitted by the transmitter. A plurality of acoustic receivers is disposed at spaced locations in a pattern extending laterally from the housing. A signal processor is in signal communication with the acoustic receivers. The signal processor is configured to cause the acoustic receivers to be sensitive along steered beams. The signal processor is configured to cause an end of the steered beams to move through a selected pattern within a beam width of the acoustic energy emitted by the acoustic transmitter. The signal processor is configured to operate a visual display device to generate a visual representation corresponding to acoustic energy detected by the acoustic receivers. A visual display device is in signal communication with the signal processor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An acoustic camera, comprising:
an acoustic transmitter disposed at one longitudinal end of a housing, the transmitter having a convex radiating surface, wherein a diameter of the transmitter is about four times a wavelength of acoustic energy emitted by the transmitter;
a plurality of acoustic receivers disposed at spaced apart locations in a selected pattern extending laterally from the housing;
a signal processor in signal communication with the acoustic receivers, the signal processor configured to cause the acoustic receivers to be sensitive along steered beams; the signal processor configured to cause an end of the steered beams to move through a selected pattern within a beam width of the acoustic energy emitted by the acoustic transmitter, the signal processor configured to operate a visual display device to generate a visual representation corresponding to acoustic energy detected by the acoustic receivers; and
a visual display device in signal communication with the signal processor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1 wherein the signal processor is configured to read amplitude of the steered beams.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The camera of claim 2 wherein the signal processor is configured to read amplitude of the steered beams within a selectable time range.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1 wherein a radius of curvature of the convex radiating surface is selected to provide a beam width of the emitted acoustic energy of about twenty degrees in each direction from a centerline of the acoustic transmitter.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1 wherein the steered beams have a width of about two degrees.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1 wherein the selected receiver pattern comprises lines extending laterally from a centerline of the housing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The camera of claim 6 wherein each line is disposed on an arm coupled to the housing.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The camera of claim 7 wherein each line comprises at least six of the acoustic receivers, each of the acoustic receivers on each arm spaced apart from an adjacent one of the acoustic receivers by about 1.5 times a wavelength of the emitted acoustic energy.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1 wherein the wavelength is about 8.6 millimeters.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1 wherein the signal processor is configured to resample signals detected by the acoustic receivers to generate an audio frequency range signal, and wherein the camera comprises a transducer in signal communication with the signal processor configured to generate an audible output of the audio frequency range signal.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1 wherein the arms are configured to pivot with respect to the housing between an open position and closed position substantially flat against the housing.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1 wherein the convex radiating surface comprises epoxy disposed on a flat acoustic transducer element.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The camera of claim 12 further comprising at least one impedance matching layer disposed between the transducer element and the epoxy, the at least one impedance matching layer having a thickness of about one-quarter wavelength of the emitted acoustic energy.