Patent ID: 8521446
Filing Date: 2013-08-27
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An ultrasonic phased array non-destructive inspection system, comprising, an ultrasonic phased array inspection probe, an ultrasonic phased array inspection unit configured to control the ultrasonic phased array probe to emit ultrasonic signals in a form of a plurality of angle beams into an industrially standard ultrasonic calibration block, to receive a set of corresponding echo signals reflected from the industrially standard ultrasonic calibration block and to provide time-of-flight (TOF) values corresponding to each of said angle beams, wherein the industrially standard ultrasonic calibration block has fixed and known geometric and physical characteristics, and a refraction angle verification unit configured to be in communication with the ultrasonic phased array inspection unit, and to use a predetermined calibration procedure, to provide a true angle for each of the angle beams based on the characteristics of the industrially standard ultrasonic calibration block and the TOF values; wherein the standard block includes a first reflector and a second reflector and a first scanning side and a second scanning side; and, wherein during the predetermine calibration procedure, the refraction angle verification unit is configured to perform a procedure including, a) instructing the phased array inspection unit and the probe to emit the angle beams with a first set of predetermined system-assumed angles within a first angle range and to receive the corresponding echo signals, targeting the first reflector, b) retrieving the TOF values as t c) instructing the phased array inspection unit and the probe to emit the angle beams with a second set of predetermined system-assumed angles within a second angle range and to receive the corresponding echo signals, targeting the second reflector, d) retrieving the TOF values as t e) calculating the true angles of the corresponding angle beams based on the TOF values and the geometric and physical characteristics of the calibration block according to a set of predetermined angle determination formulae, and f) replacing the system-assumed angles with the true angles of the angle beams.