Abstract:
A system includes an image capture device configured to capture an image of at least a portion of an industrial device or machinery. The system also includes a display configured to display the image. The system further includes a processor communicatively coupled to the image capture device and the display and configured to cause the display to display a graphical user interface (GUI) on the display, wherein the GUI comprises a first indicator located in user selectable first portion of the display and a window configured to display a portion of the image corresponding to a location of the first indicator, wherein the processor is configured to cause the first indicator to move to a second portion of the display in response to receiving an indication of a user interaction with the window.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The subject matter disclosed herein relates to non-destructive testing devices, and more specifically, to providing selectable functionality of displayed images to facilitate the use of the non-destructive testing devices. 
         [0002]    Certain devices may be used to inspect a variety of systems and facilities, such as power generation equipment and facilities, oil and gas equipment and facilities, aircraft equipment and facilities, manufacturing equipment and facilities, and the like. The inspection equipment may include various non-destructive inspection or non-destructive testing (NDT) devices. For example, video boroscopes (or endoscopes), portable eddy current inspection devices, portable X-ray inspection devices, and the like, may be used to observe or otherwise inspect the systems and facilities using non-destructive inspection techniques. These devices may display a video picture of an object situated within a remote cavity. 
         [0003]    The image displayed by the NDT devices may be displayed on a video screen and may vary in magnification, apparent size, and detail, depending upon how close the end of the insertion tube carrying the lens system is from the object being viewed. Likewise, particular regions of the image may be presented as a magnified portion in the display. Additionally, the NDT devices may include user interfaces useful in allowing users to perform various monitoring functions. Unfortunately, such user interfaces may be complex, cumbersome, and time-consuming for users. Additionally, these user interfaces may not allow for ease of viewing of an enhanced portion of an image. Accordingly, it may be useful to provide NDT devices with improved user interfaces. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       [0004]    Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimed invention are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but rather these embodiments are intended only to provide a brief summary of possible forms of the invention. Indeed, the invention may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth below. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, a portable non-destructive testing (NDT) device, includes a processor configured to receive imaging data captured via a sensor of the NDT device, cause a display of the NDT device to display an image to be analyzed based on the imaging data, cause the display to display a graphical user interface (GUI), wherein the GUI comprises a first indicator located in user selectable first portion of the display and a window configured to display a portion of the image corresponding to a location of the first indicator, and cause the first indicator to move to a second portion of the display in response to receiving an indication of a user interaction with the window. 
         [0006]    In a second embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer executable code stored thereon, the code comprising instructions to receive captured imaging data, generate image data for display of an image on a display based on the captured imaging data, generate a graphical user interface (GUI) for display on the display in conjunction with the image data, wherein the GUI comprises a first indicator located in a user selectable first portion of the display and a window configured to display a portion of the image corresponding to the location of the first indicator, and modify the GUI to cause the first indicator to move to a second portion of the display in response to receiving an indication of a user interaction with the window. 
         [0007]    In a third embodiment, a system includes a camera configured to capture an image of at least a portion of an industrial device or machinery, a display configured to display the image, and a processor communicatively coupled to the camera and the display and configured to cause the display to display a graphical user interface (GUI) on the display, wherein the GUI comprises a first indicator located in a user selectable first portion of the display and a window configured to display a portion of the image corresponding to a location of the first indicator, wherein the processor is configured to cause the first indicator to move to a second portion of the display in response to receiving an indication of a user interaction with the window. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates embodiments of various non-destructive testing (NDT) devices, in accordance with the present embodiments; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a screenshot of the display of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the present embodiments; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of the magnification window of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with the present embodiments; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates a second embodiment of the magnification window of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with the present embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    One or more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. 
         [0014]    When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present invention, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. 
         [0015]    Present embodiments relate to a non-destructive testing (NDT) device (e.g., video boroscope) useful in presenting enhanced (e.g., magnified) images in conjunction with a video image. The magnification images may be presented in a magnification window and may allow for user input to adjust icons on the image separate from the magnification image. In this manner, a graphical user interface may allow for precise movements of a cursor or other indicator in a portion of a primary image via inputs received in the magnification window (e.g. in a portion of the display separate from the image of the indicator on a primary image), whereby the magnification window includes a magnified portion of the primary image that corresponds to the location of the indicator. In some embodiments, this may allow for fine-tuning of the movements of the cursor or other indicator. In this way, the user (e.g., operator, technician, engineer, and so forth) may be able to view a primary image and modify a portion that is magnified without impacting the ability to view the primary image while altering the portion that is magnified. This may allow for greater ease of interaction with the NDT device&#39;s graphical user interface (GUI), thus facilitating and improving the use and user-friendliness of such devices in various testing and inspection applications. 
         [0016]    With the foregoing in mind, it may be useful to describe embodiments of various non-destructive testing (NDT) devices, such as example NDT devices  10  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The NDT devices  10  may include any of various portable devices (e.g., mobile electronic devices) that may be useful in monitoring, analyzing, and providing visual inspection, for example, in a gas turbine system, a steam turbine system, a hydraulic turbine system, one or more compressor systems (e.g., aeroderivative compressors, reciprocating compressors, centrifugal compressors, axial compressors, screw compressors, and so forth), one or more electric motor systems, industrial systems including, for example, fans, extruders, blowers, centrifugal pumps, or any of various additional industrial devices or machinery that may be included in an industrial plant or other industrial facility. 
         [0017]    In certain embodiments, as depicted in  FIG. 1 , the NDT devices  10  may include a video boroscope  12 , an eddy current inspection device  14 , a transportable pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera  16 , an ultrasonic flaw detector  18 , a portable digital radiography device  20 , an interface device  22 , and so forth. The interface device  22  may include a mobile device (e.g., cell phone, laptop, tablet computer) that may be communicatively coupled to the aforementioned NDT devices  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  suitable for providing enhanced visualization (e.g., at a larger screen display), and for remote control and operations of the NDT devices  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 . The NDT devices  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  may be connected to each other and/or to local servers (e.g., local area network [LAN] servers), remote servers (e.g., wide area network [WAN] servers), and “cloud” based devices and services, near-field communication (NFC), and so forth. In one embodiment, the interface device  22  may be a MENTOR™ hardware device or software “app” executable via a mobile device (e.g., cell phone, tablet) available from General Electric Company, of Schenectady, N.Y. Likewise, the 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 devices may also be available from General Electric Company, of Schenectady, N.Y. 
         [0018]    The depicted NDT devices  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  include respective processors  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  and memory  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46 . The NDT devices  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  may additionally include a communications system suitable for communicating with other NDT devices  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  and with external systems such as “cloud” based systems, servers, computing devices (e.g., tablets, workstations, laptops, notebooks), and the like. The memory devices  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46  may include non-transitory, tangible storage suitable for storing computer code or instructions useful in implementing various techniques described herein and may be executed via the respective processors  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 , and  34 . As will be further appreciated, the devices  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  may also include respective displays that may be used to display a graphical user interface (GUI) including multiple views of an image as well as inputs (e.g., touch buttons) to facilitate use of the devices  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22 . For example, the boroscope  12 , which may be, for example, a video boroscope  12 , may include a display  25  (e.g., liquid crystal display [LCD], organic light emitting display [OLED], etc.) that may be touch-sensitive (e.g., touch screen) and used to allow a user to interface and/or control the boroscope  12  and/or other NDT devices  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22 . In addition, the boroscope  12  may include additional inputs such as physical buttons  45  and/or other input devices  47 , such as a joystick, mouse ball, wheel, or other known input structure used to control the movement of an icon as part of the GUI. 
         [0019]    Additionally, the GUI of the boroscope  12  may be able to present more than one image concurrently on the display  25 . For example, a magnification window  49  may be displayed on the display  25  as part of the GUI of the boroscope  12  (or any other display displaying images of the various NDT devices  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ). In some embodiments, the magnification window  49  may represent a zoomed-in or magnified portion of the image displayed on display  25 . For example, the magnification window  49  may display the portion of an image on the display at which an indicator of the GUI is overlaid on the image. In this manner, a user  48  may be able to view a portion of the image in greater detail by viewing the magnification window  49  and may be able to alter the location of the image presented in the magnification window  49  by moving the indicator of the GUI via, for example, an input device  47  and/or via touch input on the display  25 . In other embodiments, as will be discussed in greater detail below, a user  48  may also be able to alter the location of the image presented in the magnification window  49  by interfacing with the magnification window  49  via, for example, an input device  47  and/or via touch input on the display  25 . 
         [0020]    In certain embodiments, as previously discussed, a user  48  (e.g., operator, field technician, engineer, and so forth) may utilize the NDT devices  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  to inspect facilities  50 , including facilities that may have equipment such as oil and gas equipment  52 , and may include locations such as the interior of pipes or conduits  54 , underwater (or underfluid) locations  56 , and inaccessible or partially inaccessible locations such as locations having curves or bends  58 , and so forth. Similarly, other systems  60  may also be inspected, such as aircraft systems, power generation systems (e.g., gas turbines, steam turbines, wind turbines, hydroturbines, combustion engines, generators, electric motors, and so forth), machinery (compressors, expanders, valves, actuators, and so forth), and the like, that may include conduits  62 , various surfaces  64  and  66 , and may be used to find undesired cracks  68  or to visualize parts  70 , among many other uses. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates a screenshot of a display  25  that may be generated to aid a user  48  in inspecting facilities  50  and/or systems  60 . The display  25  may be a display internal to (e.g., housed within) a respective NDT device  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  utilized to inspect the facilities  50  and/or systems  60 . In other embodiments, the display  25  may correspond to a display of a workstation remote from (e.g., separate from) the respective NDT device  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 . In this embodiment, the remote workstation may communicate with the respective NDT device  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  (e.g., via a communications system therein) to control the respective NDT device  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  and the operation thereof. Thus, while  FIG. 2  will be discussed from the perspective of a boroscope  12  with an internal display  25 , it may be appreciated that the discussion below also corresponds to additional NDT devices  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22  and/or remote workstation displays coupled to the respective NDT devices  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 . 
         [0022]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , display  25  may display a GUI  72  over an image  74  being captured by the boroscope  12 . This GUI  72  may allow a user to interact with and control the boroscope  12 . In some embodiments, the GUI  72  may include various layers, windows, screens, templates, elements, or other components that may be displayed in all, or a portion, of the display  25 . Generally, the GUI  72  may include graphical elements that represent applications and functions of the boroscope  12 . The graphical elements may include representations of virtual buttons  76 , virtual toggle button  77 , menu bars and/or status information  78 , measurement information  80 , indicators  82  and  84 , and the like. In certain embodiments, physical buttons  45  and/or other input devices  47  may be used to cause the processor  24  to display the GUI  72 . For example, in response to actuation of the physical buttons  45  and/or other input devices  47 , the horoscope  12  may display the menu bars and/or status information  78 , measurement information  80 , indicators  82  and  84 , and the like. Additionally, a user  48  may interface with the virtual buttons  76 , virtual toggle button  77 , menu bars and/or status information  78 , measurement information  80 , and indicators  82  and  84  via a touch screen included in the display  25 . 
         [0023]    For example, when a virtual button  76  is selected, the horoscope  12  may open an application associated with that virtual button  76  and display a corresponding screen. Indeed, for each virtual button  76 , a corresponding application that may include various GUI elements may be opened and displayed on the display  25 . In some embodiments, as will also be further appreciated, selecting any of the virtual buttons  76  may also cause the display  25  of the horoscope  12  to display additional virtual buttons useful in providing additional options to the user  48 . In some embodiments, the user  48  may further perform one or more touch gestures (e.g., pinch and zoom, double tap, etc.) or other selection techniques via interaction with the display  25  of the horoscope  12  to change or adjust the information presented on the display  25 . This may be in place of or in addition to providing inputs via physical buttons  45  and/or other input devices  47 . 
         [0024]    Additionally, in some embodiments, virtual toggle button  77  may be utilized to toggle between a first set and a second set of operations assigned to virtual buttons  76 . In this manner, additional operational flexibility may be provided to the user  48  without overly cluttering the display  25 , as additional processes (selectable by the virtual buttons  76 ) may be accessible to the user  48  via the virtual toggle button  77 . 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, the GUI  72  may be represented in addition to an image  74  being captured by the horoscope  12 . This image  74  may correspond to live video monitoring, freeze-frame image monitoring, image recall, and so forth of the horoscope  12 . The GUI  72  may provide, for example, indicators  82  and  84  that may allow the user  48  (e.g., operator, technician, engineer, and so forth) to mark items of interest in the image for review. For example, a crack  86  may be present on an inspection item and the user  48  may place indicator  82  at a first portion (start) of the crack  86  and may place indicator  84  at a second portion (end) of the crack  86 . The interaction of the user  48  with the horoscope  12  in this manner (e.g., via the GUI  72 ) may allow for inspection of the crack  86  to aid in diagnosing problems with an item being inspected with the horoscope  12 . 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, selection of one of the indicators  82 ,  84  (for example, indicator  84 ) by touch or via other input devices  47  may cause the processor  24  to generate a magnification window  49 . This magnification window  49  may provide a magnified view of the portion of the image that corresponds to the selected indicator  84 . In some embodiments, this magnification may be a magnification level of 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 10×, 20×, or more with respect to the representation of image  74 . In some embodiments, the selected indicator  84  may flash, may be shaded temporarily, may change colors, or may otherwise visually indicate to a user  48  that the respective indicator  84  has been selected by the user  48 . Once selected, user  48  interaction with the indicator  84  may cause movement of the selected indicator  84  with respect to the image  74 . This may be useful to, for example, alter the distance between indicators  82  and  84  so that a user may be able to determine the length of the crack  86  therebetween. 
         [0027]    Likewise, movement of the selected indicator across image  74  will cause the magnification window  49  to alter the region of image  74  being magnified. In this manner, magnification window  49  will display a magnified portion of image  74  which corresponds to the location of the selected indicator  84 . Likewise, if a user  48  selects a different indicator  82 , then the magnification window  49  will display a magnified portion of image  74  which corresponds to the location of the selected different indicator  82 . 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, movements of the indicators  82  and  84  via touch or via other input devices  47  may not allow for fine adjustments in moving the location of the indicators  82  and  84 . Likewise, when using touch to move indicators  82  and  84 , the finger of a user  48  may obscure the region of interest in the image  74  to be viewed. Accordingly, a user  48  may be unable to quickly, conveniently, and easily fine tune movement of the indicators  82  and  84  so as to, for example, allow for a detailed examination of a particular portion of image  74  via the magnification window  49 . Accordingly, in some embodiments, fine (fractional) movements of the selected indicator (e.g., indicator  84 ) may be accomplished via user  48  interaction with the magnification window  49 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  illustrates the magnification window  49  in greater detail. The magnification window  49  may include directional indicators  88 ,  90 ,  92 , and  94 . Additionally, in some embodiments, magnification window  49  may be divided by demarcation lines  96  into regions  98 ,  100 ,  102 , and  104 . These demarcation lines  96  may optionally be visible to the user  48  as part of the GUI  72 . As illustrated, directional indicator  88  may be associated with region  98 , directional indicator  90  may be associated with region  100 , directional indicator  92  may be associated with region  102 , and directional indicator  94  may be associated with region  104 . However, it should be noted that the regions  98 ,  100 ,  102 , and  104  may be further subdivided by additional demarcation lines such that additional regions correspond to each of directional indicators  88 ,  90 ,  92 , and  94 . 
         [0030]    In some embodiments, a user  48  may select a directional indicator  88 ,  90 ,  92 , or  94  so as to fractionally move the region inclusive of the magnified image in the direction corresponding to the directional indicator  88 ,  90 ,  92 , or  94  selected. In some embodiments, this fractional movement of the image corresponds to movement equal to a width of five pixels of the display  25 , two pixels of the display  25 , one pixel of the display  25 , ½ a pixel of the display  25 , ⅓ a pixel of the display  25 , ¼ a pixel of the display  25 , ⅕ a pixel of the display  25 , 1/10 a pixel of the display  25 , 1/20 a pixel of the display  25 , or another fractional amount of the movement across image  74  generated via a similar input made to indicator  82  or  84 . In some embodiments, selection of directional indicator  88  will cause the portion of image  74  rendered in magnification window  49  to move towards the topmost portion of image  74 . Likewise, selection of directional indicator  90  will cause the portion of image  74  rendered in magnification window  49  to move towards the rightmost portion of image  74 . Similarly, selection of directional indicator  92  will cause the portion of image  74  rendered in magnification window  49  to move towards the bottommost portion of image  74 . Finally, selection of directional indicator  94  will cause the portion of image  74  rendered in magnification window  49  to move towards the leftmost portion of image  74 . 
         [0031]    In this manner, a user  48  may alter the portion of the image  74  displayed with magnification in magnification window  49 . In some embodiments, a user  48  need not interface with directional indicators  88 ,  90 ,  92 , and  94  to cause the above-noted movement to occur. Instead, interaction with any of the regions  98 ,  100 ,  102 , or  104  or the borders around regions  98 ,  100 ,  102 , or  104  will have the same result (e.g., movement of the portion of the image  74  magnified) as selection of the directional indicator  88 ,  90 ,  92 , or  94  that corresponds to the selected region  98 ,  100 ,  102 , or  104 . This selection technique may be in addition to or in place of interaction with the directional indicators  88 ,  90 ,  92 , and  94 . 
         [0032]    In some embodiments, interaction with the directional indicators  88 ,  90 ,  92 , and  94  and/or regions  98 ,  100 ,  102 , and  104  by the user  48  will cause the directional indicators  88 ,  90 ,  92 , and  94  and/or regions  98 ,  100 ,  102 , and  104  to flash, to be shaded temporarily, to change colors, or may otherwise visually indicate to a user  48  that the respective indicators  88 ,  90 ,  92 , and  94  and/or regions  98 ,  100 ,  102 , and  104  has been selected by the user  48  and/or that movement has occurred. Additionally, the time that a user  48  interacts with the magnification window  49  may impact the amount of movement across the image  74  therein. For example, by pressing and holding the directional indicators  88 ,  90 ,  92 , and  94  and/or regions  98 ,  100 ,  102 , and  104  by the user  48  may cause continuous respective fractional movement of the portion of the image  74  being magnified. Likewise, a single touch by the user may correspond to a single fractional movement (e.g., the width of a pixel of the display  25  or a fractional width of a pixel of the display  25 ) of the portion of the image  74  being magnified. 
         [0033]    In some embodiments, inputs received via the magnification window  49  may also cause the selected indicator  82  or  84  to move by an associated amount. In this manner, movement of the indicators  82  and  84  impacts the image presented in magnification window  49  and inputs received in magnification window  49  also impacts the location of the selected indicator  82  or  84 . In some embodiments, the magnification window  49  may be shaped similar to or different from the indicators  82  and  84 . However, while circular indicators  82  and  84  and magnification window  49  are illustrated, it is understood that the indicators  82  and  84  as well as magnification window  49  may also be sided shapes (e.g., square, triangular, rectangular, etc.). 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment in which magnification window  49  is sized to be a sided shape (e.g. a rectangle). It may be understood that the discussion of  FIG. 3  above with respect to the magnification window  49  also applies to the magnification window  49  of  FIG. 4 . Additionally, it should be noted that the magnification window  49  may provide additional views instead of/in addition to magnification of image  74 . For example, contrast enhancements, differing dynamic ranges of the image  74 , alternate views of the image  74 , and/or other enhancements of the image  74  may be presented in place of, or in addition to, the magnification in window  49 . Regardless of the image enhancement presented to a user  48 , the technique of fractional movement via interaction with the window  49 , as discussed above, would be available. Likewise, it may be appreciated that the techniques outlined above may be implemented via the processor  24  in conjunction with instructions stored in the memory  36  as part of the operation of the boroscope  12 . 
         [0035]    Technical effects of the present application include providing an image and an enhanced portion of that image to a user. Additionally, interaction with an interface may allow for the user to adjust the portion of the enhanced image to be altered. Likewise, the ability to fractionally alter which portion of the image is being enhanced is provided. In some embodiments, fractional movement of the enhanced image may occur via interaction with the enhanced image itself or graphical elements associated therewith. In this manner, precise movements of a cursor or other indicator in a portion of a primary image via inputs received in the magnification window (e.g. in a portion of the display separate from the image of the indicator on a primary image) may be accomplished. In this way, the user (e.g., operator, technician, engineer, and so forth) may be able to view a primary image and modify a portion that is enhanced without impacting the ability to view the primary image. This may allow for greater ease of interaction with the NDT device&#39;s graphical user interface (GUI), thus facilitating and improving the use and user-friendliness of such devices in various testing and inspection applications. 
         [0036]    This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.