IP Library Granted Patent US 12,669,481
Granted Patent B2
US 12,669,481 · App. 19/327,829 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Calibration block for phased array of ultra-sonic elements

Inventors: Chase David (Montgomery, TX); Michael A. Binger (Pittsburgh, PA); Kevin Y. Low (Pittsburgh, PA); Ryan DeSoto (Pearland, TX); Brandon J. Reitz (Magnolia, TX); Spencer Bowman (Pittsburgh, PA); Edward A. Bryner (Pittsburgh, PA); Albert J. Biglan (Pittsburgh, PA)
Assignee: Gecko Robotics, Inc.
G01N29/226G01N29/041G01N29/265G01N29/262
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,669,481
App. No.
19/327,829
Filed
Sep 12, 2025
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2855
USPC
73/618
Abstract

A calibration block may include an engagement surface having a selected vertical extent along a vertical axis and a selected horizontal extent along a horizontal axis. The block may include a block depth trajectory comprising a variable depth of the block along the vertical axis, the depth of the block at each position along the vertical axis comprising an effective distance between the engagement surface and an opposing surface. The block may include an end face defining at least one vertical feature hole, where the at least one vertical feature hole comprises a plurality of vertical feature holes. Each one of the plurality of vertical feature holes may comprise an angular offset orientation with a vertical axis of the block, where the angular offset orientation comprises an angle between zero degrees and 45 degrees, inclusive. The block may include a side face defining at least one horizontal feature hole.

Claims (51)

1 . A calibration block for a phased array ultrasonic sensor, comprising:

an engagement surface having a selected vertical extent along a vertical axis, and a selected horizontal extent along a horizontal axis;

a block depth trajectory comprising a variable depth of the calibration block along the vertical axis, the depth of the calibration block at each position along the vertical axis comprising an effective distance between the engagement surface and an opposing surface;

an end face defining at least one vertical feature hole,

wherein the at least one vertical feature hole comprises a plurality of vertical feature holes; and

wherein each one of the plurality of vertical feature holes comprises an angular offset orientation with a vertical axis of the calibration block, wherein the angular offset orientation comprises an angle between zero degrees and 45 degrees, inclusive; and

a side face defining at least one horizontal feature hole.

2 . The calibration block of claim 1 , wherein the angular offset orientation corresponding to each one of the plurality of vertical feature holes comprises a same offset angle.

3 . The calibration block of claim 1 , wherein the angular offset orientation corresponding to each one of the plurality of vertical feature holes comprises a selected angular progression.

4 . The calibration block of claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of vertical feature holes comprises a same horizontal position.

5 . The calibration block of claim 1 , wherein a horizontal position corresponding to each one of the plurality of vertical feature holes comprises a selected horizontal position progression.

6 . The calibration block of claim 1 , wherein a depth position corresponding to each one of the plurality of vertical feature holes comprises a selected depth position progression.

7 . The calibration block of claim 1 , wherein the block depth trajectory comprises a plurality of steps having distinct depths.

8 . The calibration block of claim 1 , wherein the block depth trajectory comprises a ramp portion.

9 . The calibration block of claim 1 , wherein the block depth trajectory comprises at least two depth progression regimes, each one of the depth progression regimes comprising at least one of:

a full thickness regime;

a thickness progression regime;

a minimum thickness regime; or

a curved progression regime.

10 . The calibration block of claim 9 , wherein the at least one vertical feature hole comprises an extent contained with one of the depth progression regimes.

11 . The calibration block of claim 1 , wherein the calibration block comprises a substrate material selected in response to a target feature material for a target inspection operation.

12 . The calibration block of claim 11 , wherein the at least one vertical feature hole comprises a void within the calibration block.

13 . The calibration block of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the at least one vertical feature hole comprises a fill material, the fill material having a distinct acoustic property as the substrate material.

14 . The calibration block of claim 11 , wherein the at least one horizontal feature hole comprises a void within the calibration block.

15 . The calibration block of claim 11 , wherein the at least one horizontal feature hole comprises a fill material, the fill material having a distinct acoustic property as the substrate material.

16 . A calibration block for a phased array ultrasonic sensor, comprising:

an engagement surface having a selected vertical extent along a vertical axis, and a selected horizontal extent along a horizontal axis;

a block depth trajectory comprising a variable depth of the calibration block along the vertical axis, the depth of the calibration block at each position along the vertical axis comprising an effective distance between the engagement surface and an opposing surface, wherein the block depth trajectory comprises a plurality of steps having distinct depths;

an end face defining at least one vertical feature hole; and

a side face defining at least one horizontal feature hole.

17 . The calibration block of claim 16 , wherein the block depth trajectory further comprises a ramp portion.

18 . The calibration block of claim 16 , wherein the block depth trajectory further comprises a curved portion.

19 . A calibration block for a phased array ultrasonic sensor, comprising:

an engagement surface having a selected vertical extent along a vertical axis, and a selected horizontal extent along a horizontal axis;

a block depth trajectory comprising a variable depth of the calibration block along the vertical axis, the depth of the calibration block at each position along the vertical axis comprising an effective distance between the engagement surface and an opposing surface,

wherein the block depth trajectory comprises at least two depth progression regimes, each one of the depth progression regimes comprising at least one of:

a full thickness regime;

a thickness progression regime;

a minimum thickness regime; or

a curved progression regime;

an end face defining at least one vertical feature hole; and

a side face defining at least one horizontal feature hole.

20 . The calibration block of claim 19 , wherein the block depth trajectory further comprises a ramp portion.

21 . The calibration block of claim 19 , wherein the block depth trajectory further comprises a curved portion.

22 . The calibration block of claim 19 , wherein the at least one vertical feature hole comprises an extent contained with one of the depth progression regimes.

23 . The calibration block of claim 19 , wherein the at least one horizontal feature hole comprises an extent contained within one of the depth progression regimes.

24 . The calibration block of claim 19 , further comprising:

wherein the at least one horizontal feature hole comprises a plurality of horizontal feature holes; and

wherein each one of the plurality of horizontal feature holes comprises an extent contained within one of the depth progression regimes.

25 . The calibration block of claim 24 , wherein all of the plurality of horizontal feature holes comprises an extent contained within a same one of the depth progression regimes.

26 . The calibration block of claim 19 , wherein the calibration block comprises a substrate material selected in response to a target feature material for a target inspection.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2025
From: DAVID, CHASE; BINGER, MICHAEL A.; LOW, KEVIN Y.; DESOTO, RYAN; REITZ, BRANDON J .; BOWMAN, SPENCER; BRYNER, EDWARD A.; BIGLAN, ALBERT J.
To: GECKO ROBOTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 072534/0090 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 18935035 · Nov 1, 2024
Continuation PCTUS2023085922 · Dec 26, 2023
Provisional Application 63596142 · Nov 3, 2023
Provisional Application 63477098 · Dec 23, 2022
Related Publication 20260009767A1 · Jan 8, 2026
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