Method and apparatus for acoustic scanning using waves scattered by an acoustic grating

摘要

An acoustic scanning apparatus is described having an acoustic grating for scattering waves into a focused beam. Surface acoustic waves are generated by a chirp signal generator and are introduced along one surface of the scanning apparatus. These waves propagate along the surface, are scattered by the acoustic grating and are thereby converted into bulk acoustic waves. The bulk acoustic waves converge into a focused beam inwardly directed at an angle to the surface acoustic waves. The focused beam scans at substantially the same speed as the surface acoustic waves traveling along the surface of the apparatus. The acoustic grating can also be used to convert bulk waves to surface acoustic waves as either a variable chirp rate generator or a variable pulse compression filter.