Patent classifications
G01N29/2456
ULTRASONIC BEAM FOCUS ADJUSTMENT FOR SINGLE-TRANSDUCER ULTRASONIC ASSEMBLY TOOLS
Methods, systems, devices, and products for ultrasonic borehole logging using an ultrasonic borehole imaging tool in a borehole intersecting the earth formation. Methods may include adjusting a focus for an ultrasonic beam generated from a single-transducer ultrasonic assembly of the ultrasonic imaging tool; using a receiver to generate measurement information responsive to an ultrasonic signal caused by the ultrasonic beam; and estimating a parameter of interest from the measurement information. Methods may include adjusting the focus in dependence upon environmental conditions, the environmental conditions comprising at least one of: i) standoff between the ultrasonic imaging tool and a wall of the borehole; and ii) borehole annulus conditions. Methods may include adjusting the focus in substantially real-time. The ultrasonic beam may be focused with a focal zone at the borehole wall configured to produce a beam spot size of a selected diameter.
COMPRESSION USING PEAK DETECTION FOR ACOUSTIC FULL MATRIX CAPTURE (FMC)
A compression technique can be used for processing or storage of acquired acoustic inspection data. For example, data indicative of peak values of an A-scan time-series can be stored to provide a compressed representation of such time-series data. A representation of the original A-scan data can be reconstructed, such as using the data indicative of the peak values, and a digital filter. Such an approach can dramatically reduce a volume of data associated an acoustic acquisition, such as a Full Matrix Capture (FMC) acquisition to be used for Total Focusing Method (TFM) beamforming and related imaging.
CONVEX ULTRASONIC SENSOR FOR WELD INSPECTION
A system and a method embodiment or automatic inspection of branch wells is provided. An exemplary system includes a scanning head including an ultrasonic probe, wherein the ultrasonic probe includes a convex crystal. A track is mounted to a branch pipe welded to a main pipe, wherein the scanning head mounts to the track, and wherein the scanning head moves the ultrasonic probe along the track. The system includes a controller configured to display an image based on data provided from the ultrasonic probe.
ULTRASOUND COUPLING MEDIUM DETECTION
A method of determining a status of ultrasound coupling medium for performing an ultrasound scan for providing an ultrasound image including plural scanlines (N.sub.l) is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes operating an ultrasound device to capture an image frame including plural scanlines (N.sub.l), each scanline having an associated sample set (s) of intensity values; processing a subset of the associated sample set (s) of values for each scanline to determine a first summation for each scanline; processing plural sets of corresponding intensity values from each of plural scanlines located within a range of a respective scanline to determine a set of difference values for each respective scanline; processing each set of difference values to determine a second summation for each scanline; and generating a status for the ultrasound coupling medium according to a relationship between each of the first summations and each of the associated second summations.
Ultrasound scanning system, assembly, and method for inspecting composite structures
An ultrasound scanning assembly is configured to inspect a structure, such as a composite winglet of an aircraft. The ultrasound scanning assembly may include an outer ultrasound probe configured to be positioned on an outer surface of the structure. The outer ultrasound probe may include a phased array transducer having a plurality of transducer elements. An inner ultrasound probe may be configured to be positioned within the structure opposite from the outer surface. The inner ultrasound probe may include a single element transducer configured to receive ultrasound signals transmitted by the phased array transducer.
Ultrasonic flaw detecting apparatus, ultrasonic transducer, and ultrasonic flaw detecting method
A transducer main body has, on a front end side thereof, an oscillating plane having a bent shape in a side view and corresponding to a larger-diameter curved surface formed at a bend of a laminated part. Over the oscillating plane of the transducer main body, a plurality of piezoelectric oscillators is distributed in a matrix in a bent direction and a width direction. In each oscillator group, a controlling unit switches the piezoelectric oscillators to transmission and reception piezoelectric oscillators by turns in the width direction according to a preset transmission/reception pattern and processes a received signal from the reception piezoelectric oscillator according to an aperture synthesis method.
Device and method for nondestructive inspection of tubular products, especially on site
A device for inspection of a tubular piece includes a cart including plural elemental ultrasound transducers distributed along at least a first direction and a guide which cooperates with an exterior surface of the piece to position the cart such that the first direction essentially corresponds to a direction transverse to the tubular piece. A control electronics, connected to the electroacoustic transducers, includes a memory storing the timed excitation laws and a controller that applies in succession a respective timed excitation law to subsets of mutually adjacent elemental transducers along the first direction. The timed excitation laws are designed so that the elemental transducers of the respective subsets jointly produce incident beams of ultrasonic waves propagating along respective directions inclined relative to a direction normal to the exterior surface of the tubular piece.
Ultrasonic imaging device with programmable anatomy and flow imaging
An imaging device includes a transducer that includes an array of piezoelectric elements formed on a substrate. Each piezoelectric element includes at least one membrane suspended from the substrate, at least one bottom electrode disposed on the membrane, at least one piezoelectric layer disposed on the bottom electrode, and at least one top electrode disposed on the at least one piezoelectric layer. Adjacent piezoelectric elements are configured to be isolated acoustically from each other. The device is utilized to measure flow or flow along with imaging anatomy.
Ultrasonic wave amplifying unit and non-contact ultrasonic wave transducer using same
An embodiment of the present invention provides an ultrasonic wave amplifying unit which can improve ultrasonic power in air, wherein the ultrasonic wave amplifying unit includes multiple rings having a concentric axis and each having a first width, and a slit having a second width is formed between the rings and an air layer is formed between the multiple rings and an ultrasonic wave generator generating ultrasonic waves or a transfer medium transferring the ultrasonic waves.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REAL-TIME VISUALIZATION OF FOREIGN OBJECTS WITHIN A MATERIAL
The present disclosure provides a system and method for real-time visualization of a material during ultrasonic non-destructive testing. The system is capable of producing A-scans, B-scans, and C-scans of the test object and automatically highlighting potential foreign objects within the test object based on the scan data. The system includes a graphical user interface (GUI) capable of displaying a three-dimensional (3-D) image of a composite laminate constructed of a series of two-dimensional (2-D) cross sections. In one embodiment, the system includes an artificial intelligence module capable of highlighting foreign objects in order to provide size data, shape data, and/or depth data of the foreign object.