Non-fluid acoustic coupling

摘要

An apparatus examines the internal structure of an object disposed substantially in a medium such as air. The apparatus has an acoustic transducer assembly that emits and receives acoustic signals and an acoustic coupler that acoustically couples the acoustic transducer assembly to the object. The acoustic coupler has a first end adapted to couple to the acoustic transducer assembly and a second end adapted to make contact with a section of a surface of the object. The acoustic coupler carries acoustic signals between the acoustic transducer assembly and the contacted section of the surface of the object. In operation, the apparatus examines the internal structure of the object using reflection mode acoustic microscopy, wherein emitted and reflected signals are carried between the acoustic transducer and the object by acoustic coupler.