Other

Gemological Institute of America, Inc. (Gia)

Quatro Corporation

Avistar, Inc.

University of California

Gemological Institute of America, Inc.

George Wyatt Rhodes

Albert Migliori

James J Schwarz

Raymond D Dixon

Steven Frank Willard

Thomas M Bell

Tristan Fin

Sara Vollmert Rhodes

Sally Catherine Magana

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to the examination of gemstones including diamonds, both cut/polished and rough, using the technology of Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy. The resonant frequencies are obtained by mechanically causing the stone to vibrate using a swept sine oscillator, sensing the resonance vibrations, and displaying the spectrum to yield a pattern describing the stone. The resonance fingerprints can be used to both track an individual stone to verify its integrity or to grade a rough stone to establish potential value.

Fingerprinting and analyzing gemstones

Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy (RUS) is applied to diamonds (both cut/polished gemstones and rough diamonds) to yield a digital fingerprint from which the stone may be authenticated and sorted according to the structural quality. Diamonds are mined as rough stones from which they undergo examination to determine their value as being gem, or of two different industrial qualities. Fewer than 25% of mined diamonds are worthy of cutting and polishing to yield gems for jewelry. About 40% of the remaining population still have value as industrial diamonds for machine tools, and the rest is ground into dust to provide coatings for grinding applications. Rough stones exist in two conditions being coated and uncoated. The coated stones have a layer of polycrystalline diamond, different from the predominant crystal structure, rendering them opaque. This interferes with optical inspection, as any cracks, or inclusions can't be seen. RUS provides a reliable sorting and fingerprinting system for both cut/polished stones as well as rough diamonds of sufficient structural quality to yield a spectral signature. As high value items, diamonds are shipped around the world, and but sometimes thefts occur. RUS yields a digital fingerprint allowing the identity of an individual stone to be verified upon recovery.

Method for fingerprinting and sorting diamonds

The density of gold and tungsten are almost identical, allowing for substitution by unscrupulous entities. The detection of the replacement is difficult to detect by common nondestructive testing methods, and repositories have resorted to drilling, cutting and melting samples of gold bars to certify their integrity. Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy allows a digital fingerprint to be produced, which has been shown to be effective in the detection of tampering. These spectra are representative of the dimensions, density and elastic constants of any solid object. Since the dimensions and density are essentially identical for pure and adulterated gold samples, only the elastic constant variance changes the spectral fingerprint. The method described in this application provides a reliable and accurate process to certify the integrity of gold samples.

Method for detecting the purity of gold bullion

A method for detecting loss of SF6 gas from electrical utility apparatus determines a molar ratio of gas in a container at an initial time and of gas in the container at a subsequent time. Measurement of temperature is determined by averaging ambient temperature and temperature of the surface of the container. The initial values of pressure and temperature define the initial value of n as follows:n=P/TThe value at a subsequent time isn=P/TThe molar ratio can be defined asn/nor as n/n.

Method and apparatus for monitoring SF6 gas and electric utility apparatus

An inductive bridge circuit using mutual inductances to transform impedances is used for detection of wall-thinning defects in metals. The bridge circuit has a first test coil placed adjacent to a good metal section and a second test coil placed adjacent to a metal to be tested. The bridge circuit compares the inductance in the first coil and inductance in the second test coil to compare wall thinning defects. The apparatus may also include first and second measuring transformers which are connected between the bridge circuit and the test coils where the transformers provide for impedance matching and reduced current requirements in the bridge. The circuit may also include one or more potentiometer circuits connected across the bridge which are used for compensating for imbalance of impedance between the first and second test coils when the coils both have known good metal sections adjacent to them.

Mutual inductance bridge for detection of degradation in metallic components

Relevant resonance response characteristics of a sample are determined for use in characterizing the sample for non-destructive testing. The sample is excited by an exciting mechanical input at a plurality of ultrasonic frequencies. The response is separated into in-phase and quadrature components and the resonance response characteristics are computed from the in-phase and quadrature components. Apparatus for obtaining the relevant response characteristics includes a frequency generator for inputting an exciting ultrasonic frequency to the sample. A transducer outputs a response of the sample to the exciting ultrasonic frequency. A dynamic signal analyzer is connected to receive the response of the sample and to output in-phase and quadrature components of the response of the sample. A computer then determines the relevant response characteristics from the in-phase and quadrature components.

Dynamic ultrasonic resonance testing

A method of measurement of objects by resonant ultra sound is used to determine object surface to near surface flaws. First, the frequency for expected degenerate surface acoustic wave responses is determined for one or more input frequencies and then splitting of degenerate resonant modes are observed to identify the presence of surface flaws in the object.

Method for resonant measurement

A method of measurement of objects to determine object flaws, Poisson's ratio (.sigma.) and shear modulus (.mu.) is shown and described. First, the frequency for expected degenerate responses is determined for one or more input frequencies and then splitting of degenerate resonant modes are observed to identify the presence of flaws in the object. Poisson's ratio and the shear modulus can be determined by identification of resonances dependent only on the shear modulus, and then using that shear modulus to find Poisson's ratio using other modes dependent on both the shear modulus and Poisson's ratio.

An ultrasonic measurement method for distinguishing between unflawed and flawed parts comprises the steps of detecting at least two prominent resonant response frequencies, measuring the frequency difference between the two frequencies, determining the ratio of the frequency difference to one of said frequencies, and comparing the ratio to a predetermined part criterion. Resonant response frequencies dependant upon physical characteristics such as dimensions and weight are compared to other resonances which are at frequencies dependant upon stiffness of the part.

Relative resonant frequency shifts to detect cracks

A method and apparatus for ultrasonic resonance testing of an object is shown and described. Acoustic vibrations are applied to an object at a plurality of frequencies. Measurements of the object's vibrational response are made simultaneously at different locations on said object. The input frequency is stepped by using small frequency changes over a predetermined range. There is a pause interval or ring delay which permits the object to reach a steady state resonance before a measurement is taken.

Ultrasonic differential measurement

Method and apparatus are provided for detecting crack-like flaws in components. A plurality of exciting frequencies are generated and applied to a component in a dry condition to obtain a first ultrasonic spectrum of the component. The component is then wet with a selected liquid to penetrate any crack-like flaws in the component. The plurality of exciting frequencies are again applied to the component and a second ultrasonic spectrum of the component is obtained. The wet and dry ultrasonic spectra are then analyzed to determine the second harmonic components in each of the ultrasonic resonance spectra and the second harmonic components are compared to ascertain the presence of crack-like flaws in the component.

Crack detection using resonant ultrasound spectroscopy

A process for drying a conductive material, particularly coal, by subjecting the material to microwave energy is disclosed. A conductive aggregate is directed through a region where microwave energy excites absorbed water molecules and the conductive material causing the water to evaporate, leaving behind a drier material.

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Corrales, NM, United States of America

George Wyatt Rhodes