Patent ID: 7154265
Filing Date: 2006-12-26
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An eddy current (EC) probe for inspecting a component, said EC probe comprising: a tangential drive coil configured to generate a probing field for inducing a plurality of eddy currents in the component, a portion of the eddy currents being aligned parallel to an edge of the component, wherein an axis of said tangential drive coil is aligned parallel to a surface of the component; a pair of sense coils, wherein an axis of said sense coils is aligned perpendicular to the surface of the component, and wherein said sense coils are configured to sense the portion of the eddy currents aligned parallel to the edge of the component; a drive yoke, wherein said tangential drive coil is wound on said drive yoke, wherein said drive yoke comprises a pair of legs, wherein the legs are aligned perpendicular to the edge of the surface; and a pair of sense cores, wherein each of said sense coils is wound around a respective one of said sense cores, wherein the legs have a cross section, wherein the parallel alignment of eddy currents is based on an aspect ratio of the cross section of the legs, and wherein a width of the legs is greater than a length of the legs.