Patent ID: 6216539
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An apparatus for determination of ultrasonic measurement parameters for ultrasonic measurements to be performed on a system, the ultrasonic measurements to be performed using a portable ultrasonic measurement device, the ultrasonic measurement parameters comprising information used in configuring the portable ultrasonic measurement device to make the ultrasonic measurements on the system, where the ultrasonic measurement device uses an ultrasonic sensor to measure ultrasonic characteristics of the system, the ultrasonic characteristics being indicative of an operating condition of the system, the apparatus comprising:a processor for generating user instruction messages corresponding to a plurality of different application types, the instruction messages querying a user of the apparatus concerning which of the application types are applicable to the system on which the ultrasonic measurements are to be performed and offering the user a choice of application type selected from the group comprising steam trap, leak detection, valves, mechanical, electrical, and user-defined, and providing response options from which the user chooses in selecting from among the plurality of application types;a graphical user interface connected to the processor, the graphical user interface comprising:a display device for receiving the user instruction messages generated by the processor, and visually displaying the user instruction messages to the user, anda user input device for enabling the user to enter responses to the user instruction messages, and for generating user input signals based upon the responses to the user instruction messages, the user input signals including an application type signal indicating the specific application type that is applicable to the system on which measurements are to be performed;the processor for receiving the user input signals and generating the ultrasonic measurement parameters based on the user input signals;memory connected to the processor for receiving and storing the ultrasonic measurement parameters; anda data interface connected to the processor for receiving the at least one set of the ultrasonic measurement parameters from the processor, and for providing the at least one set of the ultrasonic measurement parameters to the portable ultrasonic measurement device.