[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 24 (Friday, February 4, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-2529]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 4, 1994]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
[Notice 94-007]

 

Invention Available for Licensing

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

ACTION: Notice of availability for licensing.

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SUMMARY: The invention listed below is owned by an agency of the U.S. 
Government and is available for licensing in the U.S. in accordance 
with 35 U.S.C. 207 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results 
of federally funded research and development.
    U.S. Patent Application Number 08/118, 466, filed September 7, 
1993, and entitled ``Method for Ultrasonic Imaging and Device for 
Performing the Method''--The present invention relates in general to 
ultrasonic imaging of internal structures and flaws in materials, and 
specifically to a new method for coupling an ultrasonic transducer to a 
test specimen with irregular or complex surface geometry and a new 
device for performing the method.
    The present invention is a method for ultrasonic imaging of 
interior structures and flaws in a test specimen with smooth or 
irregular contact surfaces, in which an ultrasonic transducer is 
coupled acoustically to the contact surface via a plurality of 
ultrasonic wave guides with equal delay times. The wave guides are thin 
and bendable, so they adapt to variations in the distance between the 
transducer and different parts of the contact surface by bending more 
or less. All parts of the irregular contact surface accordingly receive 
sound waves that are in phase, even when the contact surface is 
irregular, so a coherent sound wave is infused in the test specimen. 
The wave guides can be arranged in the form of an ultrasonic brush, 
with a flat head for coupling to a flat transducer, and free bristles 
that can be pressed against the test specimen. By bevelling the bristle 
ends at a suitable angle, shear mode waves can be infused into the test 
specimen from a longitudinal mode transducer.
    The invention claimed in this patent application is available for 
licensing on an exclusive, partially exclusive or nonexclusive basis 
for upfront, running and annual minimum royalty payments to a partner 
committed to commercializing this technology.

ADDRESSES: Licensing information and a copy of the U.S. Patent 
Application (without the claims) may be obtained by writing to Kimberly 
A. Chasteen at the Office of Patent Counsel, Mail Stop 143, NASA 
Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA 23681-0001 (telephone (804) 864-
3227, fax (804) 864-8298). Please note the case number, LAR-14, 621-1, 
when requesting information.

    Dated: January 28, 1994.
Edward A. Frankle,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 94-2529 Filed 2-3-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7510-01-M