IP Library Granted Patent US 11,898,991
Granted Patent B2
US 11,898,991 · App. 17/410,522 · Granted Feb 13, 2024

Inspection device and inspection method

Inventors: Yutaka Nakai (Yokohama Kanagawa, JP); Tomio Ono (Yokohama Kanagawa, JP); Noriko Yamamoto (Yokohama Kanagawa, JP); Kazuhiro Itsumi (Tokyo, JP)
Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA; TOSHIBA INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
G01N29/041G01N29/343G01N29/44G01N2291/011G01N2291/015
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,898,991
App. No.
17/410,522
Granted
Feb 13, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to one embodiment, an inspection device includes a transmitter configured to transmit a first ultrasonic wave, a receiver on which the first ultrasonic wave is incident, and a receiving-side waveguide located between the receiver and an inspection position. The receiver is configured to output a signal corresponding to the incident first ultrasonic wave. The inspection position is between the transmitter and the receiver. The first ultrasonic wave passes through the receiving-side waveguide. An inspection object passes through the inspection position along a second direction crossing a first direction. The first direction is from the transmitter toward the receiver. The receiving-side waveguide includes at least one of a first structure or a second structure. In the first structure, the receiving-side waveguide includes a tubular member and an inner member. The inner member is located inside the tubular member. In the second structure, the receiving-side waveguide includes a tubular member.

Claims (35)

1. An inspection device, comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a first ultrasonic wave;

a receiver on which the first ultrasonic wave is incident, the receiver being configured to output a signal corresponding to the incident first ultrasonic wave; and

a receiving-side waveguide located between the receiver and an inspection position,

the inspection position being between the transmitter and the receiver,

the first ultrasonic wave passing through the receiving-side waveguide,

an inspection object passing through the inspection position along a second direction crossing a first direction,

the first direction being from the transmitter toward the receiver,

the receiving-side waveguide including at least one of a first structure or a second structure,

in the first structure:

the receiving-side waveguide includes a tubular member and an inner member;

the inner member is located inside the tubular member; and

at least a portion of the inner member includes at least one of a mesh structure, a porous structure, or a surface unevenness structure,

in the second structure:

the receiving-side waveguide includes a tubular member; and

at least a portion of the tubular member includes at least one of a mesh structure, a porous structure, or a surface unevenness structure.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first ultrasonic wave includes a plurality of burst waves.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein

the inner member or the tubular member includes the surface unevenness structure, and

an arithmetic average surface roughness Ra of an unevenness of the surface unevenness structure is not less than 0.01 times and not more than 0.2 times a wavelength of the plurality of burst waves.

4. The device according to claim 2 , wherein

the inner member has a mesh configuration, and

a mesh pitch of the inner member is not less than 0.005 times and not more than 0.2 times a wavelength of the plurality of burst waves.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first ultrasonic wave that passes through the receiving-side waveguide is incident on the receiver,

the first ultrasonic wave that is reflected by the receiver is reflected by the inspection object, and

the first ultrasonic wave that is reflected by the inspection object passes through the receiving-side waveguide and is incident on the receiver.

6. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a transmitting-side waveguide located between the transmitter and the inspection position,

the first ultrasonic wave passing through the transmitting-side waveguide.

7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein

a receiving-side transmittance of the receiving-side waveguide for the first ultrasonic wave is less than a transmitting-side transmittance of the transmitting-side waveguide for the first ultrasonic wave.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein

a transmittance of the receiving-side waveguide for the first ultrasonic wave is less than 0.55.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Jul 29, 2025
From: TOSHIBA INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Reel/Frame 072239/0263 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 24, 2021
From: NAKAI, YUTAKA; ONO, TOMIO; YAMAMOTO, NORIKO; ITSUMI, KAZUHIRO
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA; TOSHIBA INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 057595/0696 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-038345 · Mar 10, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220291173A1 · Sep 15, 2022