US 11,719,672 B2
Application specific excitation of ultrasonic probes
Thomas Wuerschig, Cologne (DE); and Johannes Buechler, Siegburg (DE)
Assigned to Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
Filed by Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on May 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/308,003.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/038,382, filed on Jun. 12, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0389278 A1, Dec. 16, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 29/34 (2006.01); G01N 29/24 (2006.01); G01N 29/30 (2006.01); G01N 29/06 (2006.01); G01N 29/40 (2006.01); G01N 29/42 (2006.01); G01N 29/38 (2006.01); G01N 29/04 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 29/34 (2013.01) [G01N 29/24 (2013.01); G01N 29/30 (2013.01); G01N 29/341 (2013.01); G01N 29/343 (2013.01); G01N 29/348 (2013.01); G01N 29/38 (2013.01); G01N 29/40 (2013.01); G01N 29/42 (2013.01); G01N 29/043 (2013.01); G01N 29/0654 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system, comprising:
an ultrasonic probe including a plurality of ultrasonic transducers; and
an ultrasonic controller including one or more processors in electrical communication with the ultrasonic probe, the ultrasonic controller being configured to generate one or more driving signals operative to cause the plurality of ultrasonic transducers to generate respective ultrasonic waves, the ultrasonic probe and the ultrasonic controller configured to perform operations comprising
generating, by the ultrasonic controller, one or more first driving signals;
emitting, by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers, respective first ultrasonic waves in response to receipt of one or more first driving signals, wherein a combination of the first ultrasonic waves is a first ultrasonic waveform having one or more characteristics specified by the one or more first driving signals;
generating, by the ultrasonic controller, one or more second driving signals;
emitting, by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers, respective second ultrasonic waves in response to receipt of the one or more second driving signals, wherein a combination of the second ultrasonic waves is a second ultrasonic waveform having at least one characteristic that is adjusted with respect to the first ultrasonic waveform, wherein the at least one adjusted characteristic is a center frequency;
selecting the center frequency by emitting, by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers, the first ultrasonic waveform having a first center frequency;
receiving, by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers, a third ultrasonic waveform resulting from reflection of the first ultrasonic waveforms from a target;
measuring, by the ultrasonic controller, an amplitude of the third ultrasonic waveform;
emitting, by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers, the second ultrasonic waveform having a second center frequency;
receiving, by the plurality of ultrasonic transducers, a fourth ultrasonic waveform resulting from reflection of the second ultrasonic waveforms from the target;
measuring, by the ultrasonic controller, an amplitude of the fourth ultrasonic waveform;
selecting, by the ultrasonic controller, the center frequency as first center frequency when the amplitude of the third ultrasonic waveform is greater than the amplitude of the fourth ultrasonic waveform; and
selecting, by the ultrasonic controller, the center frequency as second center frequency when the amplitude of the fourth ultrasonic waveform is greater than the amplitude of the third ultrasonic waveform.