Patent ID: 8700342
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A system for detecting internal structural defects in a test object, the system comprising: a probe configured to launch into and receive from the test object acoustical waves, and to produce probe output signals representative of the acoustical waves received from the test object; an acquisition and computing unit (ACU) coupled to the probe and configured to control the acoustical waves launched into the test object, to receive and process the probe output signals and to produce display output signals which are representative of structural characteristics of the test object; a display coupled to the ACU for receiving and displaying the display output signals; and a controller associated with the ACU and coupled and responsive to a user interface, which includes manually operable controls, the controller operable with the ACU being configured to produce a plurality of parameters, including at least the parameters b), d) and f) below: a) an amplitude reference curve representative of a defect-free object at a plurality of frequencies; b) a phase reference curve representative of the defect-free object at a plurality of frequencies; c) an amplitude curve representative of a defective object at a plurality of frequencies; d) a phase curve representative of the defective object at a plurality of frequencies; e) an amplitude display output representative of the probe output signals obtained for the test object at a selected plurality of frequencies, and produced from the probe output signals which have been normalized to the amplitude reference curve for the defect-free object; and f) a phase display signal output representative of the probe output signals obtained for the test object at a desired plurality of frequencies, and produced from the probe output signals which have been normalized to the phase reference curve for the defect-free object; and a composite amplitude display output as a mean normalized amplitude value over a selected frequency range for each position in a surface scan according to the formula Where: A A A Nb