H - Electricity – 04 – R
Patent
H - Electricity
04
R
H04R 23/00 (2006.01) A61B 8/13 (2006.01) G01B 17/00 (2006.01) G01H 9/00 (2006.01)
Patent
CA 2121916
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An acoustic sensor, useful as an ultrasonic transducer, microphone or hydrophone, uses an optical lever to amplify the motion of the sensor surface and convert it to an electrical signal for image processing. A beam of light (15) from a laser is directed at an oblique angle onto a reflective surface (13) coupled to a sensor membrane (31). The reflected light (16) strikes a position-sensitive light detector (PSD) (17) generating an electrical signal indicating the position of the light spot on the PSD (17). When an acoustic wave strikes the sensor membrane (31), the small movements of the reflective surface (13) result in large motions of the spot of light on the PSD (17), thereby amplifying the acoustic signal. Also disclosed is a multi-element sensor array suitable for linear array or phased array imaging. Three approaches are disclosed for increasing the sensitivity by optical amplification: 1. the vibrating mirror is (46) part of a cantilever that increases the angular deflection of the incident light beam (15). 2. a stationary mirror (M2) is positioned approximately parallel to the vibrating mirror surface. The reflected light beam is reflected back onto the vibrating mirror (M1), and picks up a another increment of the acoustic signal with each reflection. 3. the effective moment of the optical lever is increased within a small volume by the use of two stationary mirrors (M3, M4) to increase the path length from the vibrating mirror (M1) to the position-sensitive detector (17). Two chopped light beams may be directed at a single vibrating surface (M1), and phase- locked loop circuitry used to reduce the signal-to-noise ratio.
Erickson Jon W.
Mcfadden Fincham
LandOfFree
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