Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090045994 | MULTIPLE MODE DIGITIZATION SYSTEM FOR A NON-DESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION INSTRUMENT - A multiple mode digitization system for a non-destructive inspection instrument which makes use of a multiplexing circuit and a single set of analog to digital converters to efficiently digitize analog test signals from a plurality of inputs. In the preferred embodiment, each of the analog to digital converters in the system is driven with an independent and separate clock signal, allowing for propagation delay compensation among the plurality of test signals as well as interleaved sampling such that custom sampling rates can be used for each input without the need for more than one clock frequency. In an alternate embodiment, phase adjustments on the sampling clocks are used only for interleave sampling, and digital filters are used to provide signal propagation delay compensation. | 02-19-2009 |
20090205428 | ULTRASONIC DETECTION MEASUREMENT SYSTEM USING A TUNABLE DIGITAL FILTER WITH 4X INTERPOLATOR - An ultrasonic inspection system utilizes a tunable digital filter with 4× interpolation. The system is used for scanning objects to be tested and includes a transmit/receive device to generate a test signal and receive an echo signal. A signal processing circuit processes the echo signal with one or more digital to analog converters for converting an analog version of the echo signal to a digital echo signal in the form of streaming digital data which is stored in a memory. The data is stored at a first data rate and read out at the second, slower data rate. An averaging decimator receives and processes the data from the memory and supplies it to an IIR filter and subsequently to an FIR filter and ultimately to a box car filter to effect processing thereon which increases the perceived resolution of the data by a given factor, preferably by a factor of 4. | 08-20-2009 |
20100147081 | EXTENDED OVERFLOW INDICATION FOR HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE ULTRASONIC FAULT DETECTION SYSTEMS - A method and apparatus for effecting ultrasonic flaw detection of an object processes an echo signal received from the object being tested in at least three signal channels, wherein the echo signal is scaled to different degrees along each channel to increase and extend the dynamic range of an associated A/D converter system, in a manner which dispenses with the need for using numerous analog high pass and low pass filters and a variable gain amplifier. This reduces complexity and avoids performance limitations. The digital to analog converters sample the differently scaled input signal and a selection circuit selects the output of the digital output obtained from that analog to digital converter which has the highest gain, but which has not overflowed. The digital outputs are seamlessly merged to produce an output that can be displayed as a scan display which shows the location of faults. | 06-17-2010 |
20110126624 | SEQUENTIALLY FIRED HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE NDT/NDI INSPECTION DEVICE - An apparatus for performing ultrasonic inspection of an object, during one measurement on the object, triggers a sequence of excitations of the probe system and receives a sequence of substantially identical echo signals reflected from the object, and further scales each echo signal to different degrees to increase and extend the dynamic range of the echo signals. An A/D converter is then used to digitize the scaled signal sequentially in a manner which dispenses the need for using numerous A/D converters and the associated filters. The digitized signal samples are then combined to produce a single digital output in a manner that is not over-flowed and with desirable resolution. | 06-02-2011 |
20110132092 | HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE NDT/NDI INSPECTION DEVICE WITH SELECTIVE NOISE AVERAGING - An apparatus for performing ultrasonic inspection of an object, during one measurement on the object, triggers a sequence of excitations of the probe system and receives a sequence of substantially identical echo signals reflected from the object, and further scales each echo signal to different degrees to increase and extend the dynamic range of the echo signals. An A/D converter is then used to digitize the scaled signal sequentially in a manner which dispenses the need for using numerous A/D converters and the associated filters. The digitized signal samples are then combined to produce a single digital output in a manner that is not over-flowed and with desirable resolution. A sequence of successive acquisitions of the scaled signal with the highest sensitivity are averaged to reduce system noise. | 06-09-2011 |
20130030726 | CIRCUITRY FOR MEASURING AND COMPENSATING PHASE AND AMPLITUDE DIFFERENCES IN NDT/NDI OPERATION - Disclosed are a method and an NDT/NDI inspection device deploying digital circuitry to conduct detection and compensation of phase and amplitude shift in responding signals. A digital waveform generator, such as a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) is used to generate a digital sine-wave of a specific frequency and amplitude, mimicking the pulser frequency and amplitude. The sine-wave is converted to analog signal through a DAC and transmitted to the transducer. The received analog sine-wave from the transducer is converted back to a digital signal through an ADC. The transmitted and received digital signals are then compared for phase and amplitude differences. A null circuit involving another waveform generating component is employed to compensate the detected phase and amplitude differences. As a result the phase and amplitude differences are effectively eliminated before being further processed and analyzed for defects information. | 01-31-2013 |
20130255386 | APPARATUS FOR AND A METHOD OF IMPROVED TIMING CONTROL FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING AND INSPECTION - A pulse generation circuit and method includes using digital signals to trigger a first and second varying analog signals and detecting when they reach one or more reference levels. In response to the first and second varying analog signals reaching one or more reference levels, a first and a second digital control signals are produced and provided as input to a pulser producing a voltage excitation pulse having a width and timing defined by the first and second digital control signals. | 10-03-2013 |
20130257415 | CIRCUITRY FOR AND A METHOD OF COMPENSATING DRIFT IN RESISTANCE IN EDDY CURRENT PROBES - Disclosed is an eddy current non-destructive inspection device which includes an eddy current probe with a probe conductor resistance dynamically changing due to operation conditions, such as temperature. The device further includes a signal generating circuit generating an inspection frequency signal and a low frequency signal. Sensed inspection frequency signals are processed to produce resulting signals with possible drift. A low frequency processing circuit includes a resistance calculator producing a substantially true value of the dynamic probe resistance, based on which compensation operations are configured to correct the drifted resulting signals and produce corrected resulting signals. | 10-03-2013 |
20140132254 | HALL EFFECT MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENT WITH TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION - Disclosed is a Hall Effect instrument with the capability of compensating for temperature drift consistently, accurately and in real time of operation. The instrument embodies a four-point ohm meter circuit measuring Hall Effect sensor resistance and tracking the effect of temperature on the Hall Effect sensor. The instrument takes into account a relationship between the temperature and a temperature compensation index on a per probe basis, which has exhibited a deterministic difference observed by the present inventor. | 05-15-2014 |
20140338454 | APPARATUS FOR AND A METHOD OF IMPROVED TIMING CONTROL FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING AND INSPECTION - A pulse generation circuit and method includes using digital signals to trigger a first and second varying analog signals and detecting when they reach one or more reference levels. In response to the first and second varying analog signals reaching one or more reference levels, a first and a second digital control signals are produced and provided as input to a pulser producing a voltage excitation pulse having a width and timing defined by the first and second digital control signals. | 11-20-2014 |
20150085143 | METHOD AND CIRCUITRY FOR REMOVING CIRCLING DRIFTS IN NDT/NDI MEASUREMENT DISPLAY - Disclosed is a method and an apparatus for removing circling drifts on the display of the measured eddy current or other continuous waves. The circling dot which is supposed to be a static dot can obscure information required by the operator to judge if a small defect is present. Embodiments of presently disclosed harmonic rejection filters are tunable and employed to effectively abate or eliminate signals with frequencies that are multiples of operating frequencies, resulting in the removal of the circling effects on the display. | 03-26-2015 |