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:
Jul. 21, 2009
Filed:
Dec. 07, 2006
Barry A. Fetzer, Renton, WA (US);
Jeffrey R. Kollgaard, Kent, WA (US);
Clyde T. Uyehara, Kent, WA (US);
Barry A. Fetzer, Renton, WA (US);
Jeffrey R. Kollgaard, Kent, WA (US);
Clyde T. Uyehara, Kent, WA (US);
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
An ultrasonic transducer device is pressed against the front surface of a structure, emits an ultrasonic pulse into the structure, and detects an echo profile from the structure. An indicator is activated if the echo profile includes a return pulse that at least is received from between the front surface and the back surface of the structure. An ultrasonic transducer device includes an ultrasonic transducer and a coupling element coupled to the transducer for disposition between the transducer and a surface of a structure. The coupling element serves as a delay line that allows time for quiescence in the transducer so that return pulses from shallow depths can be detected. The ultrasonic transducer is activated when multiple switches are pressed against a surface thus assuring both firm coupling and perpendicular disposition of the acoustic axis of the transducer relative to the surface.