# US 9,470,662 B2 · Sensor module with adaptive backing layer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,470,662 B2 - Document ID: US9470662B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/071,253 - Filed: 2013-11-04 - Published: 2015-02-26 - Granted: 2016-10-18 - Earliest claimed: 2013-08-23 - Assignees: DolphiTech AS - Applicants: DolphiTech AS - Inventors: Tore Baarstad; Eskil Skoglund; Arnt-Børre Salberg; Johan Skjelstad - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9470662B2 ## CPC - G01N 29/26: Arrangements for orientation or scanning {by relative movement of the head and the sensor (mechanical steering of sound transducers or their beams G10K11/35)} - G01N 29/043: {in the interior, e.g. by shear waves} - G01N 29/226: {Handheld or portable devices} - G01N 29/28: providing acoustic coupling {, e.g. water (impedance matching G10K11/02)} - G01N 2291/044: Internal reflections (echoes), e.g. on walls or defects - G01N 2291/102: one emitter, one receiver - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - 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) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A scanning apparatus comprising a receiver circuit and a transmitter circuit, both circuits being flexible such that they are capable of conforming to the surface contours of an object as a surface of the apparatus is pressed against it and an adaptive backing positioned behind the transmitter and receiver circuits in the scanning apparatus and configured to, as the scanning apparatus is pressed against the object, conform to the flexible circuits. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A scanning apparatus comprising: a receiver circuit and a transmitter circuit, both circuits being flexible such that they are capable of conforming to the surface contours of an object as a surface of the apparatus is pressed against it; and an adaptive backing positioned behind the transmitter and receiver circuits in the scanning apparatus and configured to, as the scanning apparatus is pressed against the object, conform to the flexible circuits. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a dry coupling that is positioned in front of the transmitter and receiver circuit in the scanning apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 2, the dry coupling being configured to act as a transmission medium for conducting scanning signals into the object. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 2, the dry coupling forming the surface of the scanning apparatus. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 2, the dry coupling being flexible such that, when the surface of the scanning apparatus is pressed against an object to be scanned, the dry coupling adapts to the surface contours of the object. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) A scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 2, the flexible circuits being configured to adapt to the surface contours of the object by flexing in conformity with the dry coupling as the dry coupling adapts to the surface contours of the object. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) A scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 2, the flexible circuits being configured to flex inwardly in conformity with any inward deflection of the dry coupling into the scanning apparatus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the adaptive backing being compressible. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a relatively rigid surface positioned behind the adaptive backing in the scanning apparatus, the adaptive backing being configured to adapt to the shape of the flexible circuits by compressing against the rigid surface to accommodate any flexing of the flexible circuits. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) A scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 2, the dry coupling being less compressible than the adaptive backing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 9, comprising a rigid frame configured to hold the flexible circuits between a dry coupling and the adaptive backing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 11, the rear of the rigid frame forming the rigid surface against which the adaptive backing is compressed. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 11, the front of the rigid frame being open such that the dry coupling forms the surface of the scanning apparatus. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the transmitter circuit and the receiver circuit being respectively configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the transmitter and receiver circuits being configured to act as an ultrasound transducer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the scanning apparatus being configured to scan the object by transmitting ultrasound signals at the object and receiving reflections of those ultrasound signals from the object, the adaptive backing being configured to absorb substantially all of the reflected signals that reach it. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the receiver circuit and the transmitter circuit having a non-planar shape in a non-deformed state. ### Claim 18 A method of scanning an object using a scanning apparatus, the scanning apparatus comprising a receiver circuit and a transmitter circuit, both circuits being flexible; and an adaptive backing positioned behind the transmitter and receiver circuits in the scanning apparatus, the method comprising: pressing a surface of the scanning apparatus against the object such that the receiver circuit and the transmitter circuit conform to surface contours of the object; and such that the adaptive backing conforms to the flexible circuits as the scanning apparatus is pressed against the object.