The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 19, 2002
Filed:
Nov. 06, 2000
Roger M. Turpening, Andover, MA (US);
Zhenya Zhu, Quincy, MA (US);
Joseph R. Matarese, Cambridge, MA (US);
Carol E. Lewis, Fairbanks, AK (US);
Other;
Abstract
An ultrasonic computed tomography tree or log scanner has a plurality of ultrasonic transceivers carried on a belt ( ) sized to encircle a tree ( ). The belt includes an apparatus for engaging is tightly around the tree ( ). The transceivers are strapped around the tree, and their mutual relative distances are known. Electronic circuitry energizes the transmitters in a known sequence. The signals received at each of the receivers are also collected and analyzed. Computed tomographic techniques analyze the time of arrival of the acoustic pulse that is first to arrive at each receiver. A signal processor generates a two-dimensional image of a slice of the tree ( ) at the locus of the belt.