Patent Description:
Internal structures can significantly affect the mechanical properties of a component or structure, but are not readily apparent for inspection. Examples of internal structures that affect the mechanical properties of a component include: the grain size in a metal; the positioning of steel bars within concrete; the presence of knots, rot, or growth rings in wood; thicknesses and compositions of layers in a laminate material; etc. Various destructive tests, such as x-ray diffraction, core-sampling, etc., can be used in a laboratory setting to examine internal structures. Nondestructive tests are needed when testing components or structures that will be put into use after inspection.

<CIT>, in accordance with its abstract, states a method and apparatus for the nondestructive evaluation of ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic materials, particularly wire ropes, cables, and strands, and pipes utilizing the magnetostrictive effect for measuring minute variations in magnetic fields and characterizing these minute variations as indicative of the acoustic/ultrasonic behavior of fractures, cracks, and other anomalies within a substance under evaluation. The apparatus and method contemplate both an active testing application, wherein a transmitting sensor generates an acoustic/ultrasonic pulse within a material through the magnetostrictive effect and a second receiving sensor detects reflected acoustic/ultrasonic waves within the material, again by the inverse magnetostrictive effect. The advantages of utilizing magnetostrictive sensors as opposed to well known piezoelectric sensors lies in the ability to generate and detect acoustic/ultrasonic waves without a direct physical or acoustical contact to the material. The apparatus and method of the present invention also anticipates the use of a passive monitoring system comprised only of a receiving magnetostrictive sensor that continuously monitors a ferromagnetic or non-ferromagnetic substance for acoustic emissions and either records this monitored information or alerts the appropriate personnel of the existence of an acoustic emission indicating deterioration within the structure.

<CIT>, in accordance with its abstract, states an objective and non-destructive test of the fused joints in an armature, that can be used on every armature being manufactured on an armature manufacturing line, as well as apparatus for performing that test, are provided. The armature is immersed in an acoustic coupling medium. Acoustic pulses, preferably ultrasonic pulses, are beamed onto the commutator tang/wire interface region of a commutator tang/bar fused joint or the fused joint itself and an acoustic signature is measured. The quality of the joint can be determined by comparing the acoustic signature to a predetermined acoustic signature of known quality. A testing station on an armature production line includes a mechanism for removing the armature from the production line, immersing it in the coupling medium, and rotating it as each joint in the commutator of that armature is checked.

<CIT>, in accordance with its abstract, states plate waves are used to determine the presence of defects within a porous medium, such as a membrane. An acoustic wave can be propagated through a porous medium to create a plate wave within the medium. The plate wave creates fast compression waves and slow compression waves within the medium that relate to the material and structural properties of the medium. The fast compression wave provides information about the total porosity of a medium. While the slow compression wave provides information about the presence of defects in the medium or the types of materials that form the medium.

<CIT>, in accordance with its abstract, states a system and associated method relate to non-destructive signal propagation to detect one or more defects in a substrate. The system can be built into a semiconductor process tool such as a substrate handling mechanism. The system comprises a transducer configured to convert one or more frequencies from an electrical signal into at least one mechanical pulse. The mechanical pulse is coupled to the substrate through the substrate handling mechanism. A plurality of sensors is positioned distal to the transducer and configured to be coupled, acoustically or mechanically, to the substrate. The plurality of distal sensors is further configured to detect both the mechanical pulse and any distortions to the pulse. A signal analyzer is coupled to the plurality of distal sensors to compare the detected pulse and any distortions to the pulse with a baseline response.

<CIT>, in accordance with its abstract, states non-contact microelectronic device inspection systems and methods are discussed and provided. Some embodiments include a method of generating a virtual reference device (or chip). This approach uses a statistics to find devices in a sample set that are most similar and then averages their time domain signals to generate the virtual reference. Signals associated with the virtual reference can then be correlated with time domain signals obtained from the packages under inspection to obtain a quality signature. Defective and non-defective devices are separated by estimating a beta distribution that fits a quality signature histogram of inspected packages and determining a cutoff threshold for an acceptable quality signature. Other aspects, features, and embodiments are also claimed and described.

<CIT>, in accordance with its abstract, states a method and installation for inspecting a butt weld of transverse ends of metal strips held together between first and second jaws along the ends, include leaving an interstice between the jaws for passage of a first transmission channel of incident waves generating ultrasound waves on one surface of the first strip and enabling passage of a second transmission channel of waves emerging from the surface of the second strip. The incident waves of the first channel are generated using laser pulses in an operating state implementing a third channel of waves generated on the surface of the first strip, passing through the weld, and emerging in the second channel. Weld inspection characteristics are identified by analyzing the operating state related to the pulses and a measurement of a signature of a vibration state of the surface of the second strip upon emergence of the waves in the second channel.

<CIT>, in accordance with its abstract, states a method of detecting inconsistencies in a composite structure is presented. A pulsed laser beam is directed towards the composite structure comprised of a number of composite materials. Wide-band ultrasonic signals are formed in the composite structure when radiation of the pulsed laser beam is absorbed by a surface of the composite structure. The wide-band ultrasonic signals are detected over a duration of time to form data. The data comprises an ultrasonic A-scan spectrum. The data is processed to identify a structure signal in a frequency domain of the ultrasonic A-scan spectrum. The structure signal of the ultrasonic A-scan spectrum is compared to a structure signal of a composite structure standard to determine whether the inconsistencies are present in the number of composite materials.

<CIT>, in accordance with its abstract, states a method of detecting inconsistencies in a structure is presented. A pulsed laser beam is directed towards the structure. A plurality of types of ultrasonic signals is formed in the structure when radiation of the pulsed laser beam is absorbed by the structure. The plurality of types of ultrasonic signals is detected to form data, wherein said ultrasonic signals may include at least one of shear waves, surface waves or longitudinal waves.

There is described herein a method for ultrasound testing of components with an ultrasound test device, the method, comprising: inducing, by the ultrasound test device, ultrasonic test waves on a first surface of a component, the ultrasonic test waves comprising at least two different ultrasonic test waves being selected from a group consisting of: a surface wave, traveling along the first surface from a first location to a second location; a shear wave, traveling from the first location on the first surface through the component to a second surface opposite to the first surface, and back to the first surface at the second location; and a transverse wave, traveling from a third location on the first surface through the component to the second surface, and back to the first surface at the third location; receiving, by the ultrasound test device, a signal in response to the ultrasonic test wave in the form of a waveform, the signal response comprising a waveform having a plurality of segments corresponding to the different induced waves that are received at different times; selecting, by the ultrasound test device, which segment of the received signal is of interest for further analysis by applying a gate to the received signal, thereby selecting a portion of the waveform; developing, by the ultrasound test device, a test signature based on the selected portion of the waveform in response to the ultrasonic test wave through the component; characterizing, by the ultrasound test device, an internal feature of the component based on a comparison between the test signature and a baseline signature for the component; and providing, by the ultrasound test device, an indication of the internal feature as characterized.

The test signature may be developed based on a time of flight and an attenuation amplitude signal response of the ultrasonic test waves through the component.

The test signature may be developed based on a frequency response of the ultrasonic test waves through the component. The internal feature characterized by the comparison may include at least one of a grain size, grain orientation, and a grain morphology of the component, and wherein the baseline signature is established based on a database of test result signals corresponding to known grain patterns.

One of the ultrasonic test waves may be induced by a laser.

Gating received signals at various times of signal reception may correspond to various depths in the component from a surface in which the ultrasonic test wave is induced.

There is further described herein a system, comprising: an ultrasound test device arranged to induce ultrasonic test waves in a component and measure the propagation of the ultrasonic test waves; a computer processor; and a memory including instructions that when executed by the computer processor enable the system to perform an operation comprising: inducing, by the ultrasound test device, ultrasonic test waves on a first surface of the component with the ultrasound test device, the ultrasonic test waves comprising at least two different ultrasonic test waves being selected from a group consisting of: a surface wave, traveling along the first surface from a first location to a second location; a shear wave, traveling from the first location on the first surface through the component to a second surface opposite to the first surface, and back to the first surface at the second location; and a transverse wave, traveling from a third location on the first surface through the component to the second surface, and back to the first surface at the third location; receiving, by the ultrasound test device, a signal in response to the ultrasonic test wave in the form of a waveform having a plurality of segments corresponding to the different induced waves that are received at different times; selecting, by the ultrasound test device, which segment of the received signal is of interest for further analysis by applying a gate to the signal, thereby selecting a portion of the waveform; measuring, by the ultrasound test device, the propagation of the ultrasonic test wave in the component with the ultrasound test device; receiving, by the ultrasound test device, a signal in response to the ultrasonic test wave in the form of a waveform; selecting, by the ultrasound test device, which segment of the received signal is of interest for further analysis by applying a gate to the received signal, thereby selecting a portion of the waveform; developing, by the ultrasound test device, a test signature based on the selected portion of the waveform in response to the ultrasonic test wave through the component; characterizing, by the ultrasound test device, an internal feature of the component based on a comparison between the test signature and a baseline signature for the component; and providing an indication of the internal feature as characterized.

The test signature may be developed based on a time of flight and an attenuation amplitude signal response of the ultrasonic test wave through the component.

The test signature may be developed based on a frequency response of the ultrasonic test wave through the component. The internal feature characterized by the comparison may include at least one of a grain size, grain orientation, and a grain morphology of the component, and wherein the baseline signature is established based on a database of test result signals corresponding to known grain patterns.

The ultrasonic test wave may be induced collected by a laser interferometer.

There is still further described herein a computer program as defined in claim <NUM>, and a computer-readable storage device including such a computer program.

The test signature may be developed based on a frequency response of the ultrasonic test wave through the component.

The internal feature characterized by the comparison may include at least one of a grain size, grain orientation, and a grain morphology of the component, and wherein the baseline signature is established based on a database of test result signals corresponding to known grain patterns. Gating received signals at various times of signal reception may correspond to various depths in the component from a surface in which the ultrasonic test wave is induced.

So that the manner in which the above recited features can be understood in detail, a more particular description, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to examples, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings.

The present disclosure provides for ultrasound testing of various components to develop and apply a signature (also referred to as a "fingerprint") to identify and track various internal structures of the components. An ultrasound test device (UTD) induces various ultrasonic waves in the component (including one of more of longitudinal waves, surface waves, lateral waves, and shear waves) and analyses the propagating waves to identify various internal features of the component by the propagation speeds, signal attenuation (e.g., absorption, amplitude decreases, scattering), and changes in frequencies of the signals. The UTD can correlate the resultant waves to various internal features and/or identify changes in the internal structure over time based on earlier readings from the same component or other components with the same internal structures. Accordingly, a user can apply an ultrasound in a nondestructive inspection (NDI) to identify and track features internal to a component.

Although the examples given herein primarily relate to metallic components, in which the internal structures include various features of the grains within those metallic components (e.g., sizes, orientations, morphologies of the grains), the present disclosure is not limited to applications in which the component is metallic, or where the internal structure relates to the grains within that metal. Indeed, the present disclosure can be applied with any solid material, including: ceramic materials, biological or natural materials (e.g., wood, bone, tooth, horn, natural rubber), plastic or synthetic materials (e.g., various plastics, synthetic rubber, carbon fiber), mineral materials (e.g., fossils, gems, stones), laminates, textiles, and composite materials including two or more different examples of the aforementioned materials to analyze the various internal structures thereof (including the grains thereof, inclusions therein, voids therein, etc.).

Additionally, although the examples given herein primarily relate to performing NDI on components or structures that are subjected to various external loads or forces when used (e.g., the wings of an aircraft, a truss of a bridge, the walls of a pressure vessel, the hull of a ship), the present disclosure can be applied with components or structures that are not subjected to external loads or forces in everyday use (e.g., a lens of a camera, a circuit board, a work of art, an artifact).

<FIG> illustrate several travel paths for ultrasound waves induced in a component <NUM>, according to examples of the present disclosure. <FIG> illustrates a component <NUM> in cross-sectional view in the ZY plane, and <FIG> illustrates that component <NUM> in the XY plane. Several ultrasound inducers 120a-c (generally or collectively, ultrasound inducers <NUM>) and corresponding ultrasound receivers 130a-c (generally or collectively, ultrasound receivers <NUM>) are shown in relation to the component <NUM> and the various wave modes 140a-c of the ultrasonic wave produced and measured by the ultrasound inducers 120a-c and ultrasound receivers 130a-c.

The component <NUM> includes a first surface <NUM> on which the one or more ultrasound inducers <NUM> induce various ultrasound waves that one or more ultrasound receivers 130a-c measure the waveforms therefrom, and a second surface <NUM> opposite to the first surface <NUM>, which can reflect various waveforms back to the first surface <NUM> for measurement.

In some examples, the ultrasound inducers <NUM> induce the ultrasonic waves directly on the first surface <NUM> and the ultrasound receivers <NUM> measure the ultrasonic waves directly from the first surface <NUM>. In other examples, an intermediary couplant (such as an oil, water, glycerin, or a gel) separates the ultrasound inducers <NUM> and/or ultrasound receivers <NUM> from the first surface <NUM> and helps reduce reflection from the first surface <NUM> and direct more acoustic energy into the component <NUM>.

In some examples, the ultrasound inducers <NUM> include piezoelectric transducers or electromagnetic acoustic transducers that convert an electrical signal into an acoustic wave which is transferred to the component <NUM> and analyzed by the ultrasound receivers <NUM>.

In various examples, the ultrasound inducers <NUM> include lasers, which generate a laser beam to induce ultrasonic waves in the component <NUM> via thermal expansion and/or ablation and recoil. The ultrasound receivers <NUM> can similarly include piezoelectric receivers or electromagnetic acoustic transducers that convert an acoustic wave received from the first surface <NUM> to an electrical signal for measurement, and laser receivers that measure vibrations in the component <NUM> (and/or surrounding medium) due to the acoustic waves induced by the ultrasound inducer <NUM>. For example, a laser interferometer can be used as an ultrasound receiver <NUM> to collect the ultrasonic test wave(s) induced in the material by one or more ultrasound inducers <NUM>.

In various examples, the inducers/receivers are paired together so that a given ultrasound receiver <NUM> is configured to receive and measure some or all of the ultrasonic waves generated by a given ultrasound inducer <NUM> (e.g., 120a/130a, 120b/130b, 120c/130c). The ultrasound receivers <NUM> can electronically gate what portions of the received waveforms are analyzed to distinguish between various waveforms (as is discussed in greater detail in regard to <FIG>) and what depth in the material of the component <NUM> is analyzed. In some examples, the inducers/receivers include separated transducers (such as the first and second ultrasound inducers 120a, 120b and the first and second ultrasound receivers 130a, 130b) that induce and measure ultrasound waves at different locations (e.g., in the Y direction) on the component to measure structural features between the different locations. In various examples, inducers/receivers include point transducers (such as the third ultrasound inducer 120c and the third ultrasound receiver 130c) that induce and measure ultrasound waves at or around the same location on the component <NUM> to measure structural features in the depth direction (e.g., in the Z direction).

The inducers/receivers can be arranged in arrays or used singularly in various examples. For example, in <FIG>, the third inducer/receiver 120c/130c is shown as a singular transducer that can be moved in the X and Y directions to take different measurements of the component in the Z direction. <FIG> also shows the second inducer/receiver 120b/130b as an arrayed transducer that can generate and measure multiple waves when located at a given position, allowing a two dimensional scan of the component to be developed.

A computing device (such as the computing device <NUM> discussed in relation to <FIG>) can combine several readings taken at the same or different times to form various scans to characterize the internal structures of the component <NUM>.

For example, each ultrasound wave that is generated and received can be used for an A-scan, which is a one dimensional representation of the travel of the wave through the component <NUM>, and several A-scans can be grouped together to form a B-scan, which is a two-dimensional cross-sectional representation of the component <NUM> generated from the A-scans. When the first surface is in the XY plane, the A-scans represent the travel of the waves in the Z direction, and the B-scans represent a cross-sectional view in the XZ plane. The computing device can amalgamate (and gate based on distance from the first surface <NUM> to the desired signal) several B-scans to generate a C-scan, which represents a cross-sectional view of the component <NUM> in the XY plane. B-scans and C-scans can provide detailed information about the size and location of various structural features in the component <NUM> to characterize the internal features.

The ultrasound inducers <NUM> and ultrasound receivers <NUM> can be configured (via construction and/or angle relative to the first surface <NUM>) to produce and measure various different modes of a generated ultrasound wave to produce the various scans. Although each paired set of ultrasound inducers <NUM> and ultrasound receivers <NUM> is shown inducing one corresponding wave mode 140a-c, it will be appreciated that each ultrasound inducer 120a-c can generate one or several different wave types and that each ultrasound receiver 130a-c can receive and measure one or several different wave modes, and the individual wave modes 140a-c are illustrated separately for clarity of explanation.

Depending on the type of material undergoing NDI, the frequencies used in the induced ultrasound waves can vary. For example, when inspecting metallic components, frequencies can vary from approximately <NUM> (megahertz) to <NUM> (± <NUM>%), and when inspecting components made from a less-dense material (e.g., wood, stone, steel-reinforced cement), lower frequencies can be used (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM> (kilohertz) ± <NUM>%). Notably, these are just some examples ranges for some example materials, and others are possible.

In <FIG>, the first ultrasound inducer 120a and the first ultrasound receiver 130a are illustrated as sending and receiving a shear wave 140a. The shear wave 140a is generated on the first surface <NUM> at a first location that travels through the body of the component <NUM> to the second surface <NUM>, and reflects back to the first surface <NUM> at a second location, where the first ultrasound receiver 130a measures the shear wave 140a. The shear wave 140a can be induced at various angles relative to the first surface <NUM>, and allows for the first ultrasound receiver 130a to measure the internal structures of the component <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the second ultrasound inducer 120b and the second ultrasound receiver 130b are illustrated sending and receiving longitudinal waves. The longitudinal waves include a surface wave 140b that travels along the first surface <NUM> (up to a depth of one wavelength in some examples) from a first location to a second location, and a structural wave 140c that travels deeper below the first surface <NUM> (in excess of one wavelength) from the first location to the second location, where the second ultrasound receiver 130b measures the longitudinal waves. Surface waves 140b allow for the second ultrasound receiver 130b to measure surface features, and can follow the first surface <NUM> over curved portions thereof. The structural waves 140c travel parallel to the first surface <NUM>, and allow for the second ultrasound receiver 130b to measure the internal features of the component <NUM>.

Although shown as generating and receiving a shear wave 140a, in various examples, the first ultrasound inducer 120a is angled relative to the first surface <NUM> to also produce longitudinal waves. As will be understood with reference to Snell's law, the angle of the first ultrasound inducer 120a relative to the first surface <NUM> and the refraction indices of the component <NUM> (and any couplant between the first ultrasound inducer 120a and the component <NUM>) determines whether the induced wave reflects off of the first surface <NUM> or is refracted into the component <NUM>. In various examples, the angle of the ultrasound inducer <NUM> incident to the first surface <NUM> is set to be at or below the critical angle to produce (via a single ultrasound inducer <NUM>) both shear waves 140a and longitudinal waves on the first surface <NUM>. By providing both shear and longitudinal waves from a single ultrasound inducer <NUM>, the ultrasound receiver <NUM> is provided with a greater amount of information about the component <NUM> than if the ultrasound inducer <NUM> were angled so as to remove or avoid inducing longitudinal waves.

In <FIG>, the third ultrasound inducer 120c and the third ultrasound receiver 130c are illustrated as sending and receiving a transverse wave 140d. The transverse wave 140d is generated on the first surface <NUM> at a third location that travels through the body of the component <NUM> to the second surface <NUM>, and reflects back to the first surface <NUM> at a third location, where the third ultrasound receiver 130c measures the transverse wave 140d. The transverse wave 140d is induced perpendicular to the first surface <NUM>, and allows for the first ultrasound receiver 130a to measure the internal structures of the component <NUM> at a specific portion of the component <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a waveform <NUM> for an ultrasonic wave generated by an ultrasound inducer <NUM> in a component <NUM> as measured by an ultrasound receiver <NUM> (such as are discussed in relation to <FIG>), according to examples of the present disclosure. The waveform <NUM> is illustrated in the time and amplitude domains, but it will be understood that the waveform <NUM> can be presented in various other domains (e.g., frequency).

As an induced wave travels through a component, the path that the wave travels and the internal structure of that component along that path affect the wave in various waves. For example, traveling a longer path generally results in the wave arriving at a destination point at a later time than a wave traveling a shorter path to the destination; however, propagation speeds through a component can be affected by the frequency of the wave and/or various inclusions with different propagation speeds. In further examples, various internal structures can scatter the waves, affect the frequencies of the waves, attenuate the amplitudes of the waves, and two or more waves can interfere with one another if traveling over at least a portion of the same path through the component. Accordingly, the amplitude, time of flight, frequency, and location of reception of an ultrasound wave relative to the induced ultrasound wave can all provide information about the internal structure and features of a component.

In the illustrated waveform <NUM>, several segments <NUM>-<NUM> are illustrated that represent different modes of the induced wave(s) that are received at different times. The several segments <NUM>-<NUM> can represent different transmission pathways to the receiver, from one or more inducers. For example, the first segment <NUM> can include a first shear wave generated by a first inducer and the second segment <NUM> can include a first surface wave generated by the same first inducer. Continuing the example, the third segment <NUM> can include a second shear wave generated by a second inducer and the fourth segment <NUM> can include a second surface wave generated by the second inducer, which have reflected or otherwise propagated through the component to be received by the first receiver.

The ultrasound test device (UTD) selects which segment of the received signal is of interest for further analysis by applying a gate <NUM> to the signal, thereby selecting a portion of the waveform <NUM> to develop a signature or fingerprint for the component from (and ignoring or using the unselected portions in a different signature/fingerprint). The gate <NUM> can be a variable data gate that is configurable to select different portions of the signal that are of interest for characterization and thereby develop a test signature based on the portion of the test signal according to one or more of a time of flight, an amplitude signal response, and a frequency signal response of the ultrasonic test wave though the component.

As shown in <FIG>, the gate <NUM> has been applied to select the third segment <NUM>, but an operator can reapply the gate <NUM> by changing the duration and/or timing of the gate <NUM> to select additional or different segments in different examples. By setting the gate <NUM> at various times within the waveform <NUM>, an operator can analyze the received signals that correspond with various depths within the component based on the portions of the ultrasonic test wave included within the gate <NUM> and the paths which those waves traveled through the component.

In various examples, the UTD can compensate for signal background noise in the received waves based on the characteristics of the originally induced wave and/or the expected characteristics of the received wave given the composition of the component being scanned. For example, the UTD can consider the frequency response of two waveforms induced in the component with different frequencies and normalize the frequencies of the two signals based on signal attenuation over the signal pathway to compensate for noise in the frequency responses of the signals.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a method <NUM> for characterizing internal structures in a component via ultrasound, according to examples of the present disclosure. Method <NUM> begins with block <NUM>, where a database of baseline signature is provided for a component. In various examples, the baseline signature is an earlier provided NDI test result (e.g., a test signature developed per blocks <NUM> and <NUM> of an earlier performance of method <NUM>) for the component, or can be an NDI test result from a different component that is known to exhibit a given internal structure. The baseline signature can include various wave patterns, A-scans, B-scans, and C-scans that are used to compare against test waves induced and measured in a component during NDI.

At block <NUM>, the UTD induces test waves in a component of interest. In various examples, the UTD can induce several test waves which can use different ultrasonic frequencies (depending on the material of the component), be induced at different locations on the component, and produce different wave modes for analysis. The UTD can induce the test waves via one or more ultrasound inducers <NUM> (as discussed in <FIG>), which can include lasers, piezoelectric transducers or electromagnetic transducers. The inducers induce the test waves on a first surface of the component, and the test waves can include various propagation modes to allow for inspection of different portions of the component. Some examples of the wave modes include: surface waves that travel along the first surface (up to a depth of one wavelength) from a first location to a second location; shear waves that travel from a first location on the first surface through the component to a second surface opposite to the first surface, and back to the first surface at a second location; and transverse waves that travel from a first location on the first surface through the component to the second surface, and back to the first surface at the first location.

At block <NUM>, the UTD develops a test signature from the test waves induced in the component. Various ultrasound receivers receive and measure the test waves propagating through the component to develop various scans of the component. In various examples, the UTD gates the received and measured test waves to measure specific portions of the received waveform to develop a test signature (or a portion thereof) for a selected wave mode and/or wave path through the component.

The UTD can characterize the test waves using several techniques. In some examples, the UTD develops the test signature based on the time of flight of the test waves through the component (i.e., from the inducer to the receiver) and the amplitude signal response and/or attenuation of the test wave through the component (i.e., a difference between induced and received amplitudes of the test wave). In some examples, the UTD develops the test signature based on the frequency response of the test waves through the component (i.e., a difference between induced and received frequencies of the test wave).

The scans developed as a test signature (per block <NUM>) can include various A-scans, which are combined into various B-scans or C-scans as part of NDI of the component and/or for use as a baseline signature for a later NDI, which the UTD compares against one or more of the baseline signatures (provided per block <NUM>) at block <NUM>. At block <NUM>, the UTD characterizes an internal feature of the component based on the comparison between the baseline and test signatures for the component.

The UTD can select one or more baseline signatures to compare against the test signature, which can include looking for matches between known baseline signatures and an unknown test signature (e.g., to verify an identity of the component), looking for changes over time from previously captured test signatures and a current test signature for one component, and comparing different instances of a component with known internal features against an instance of the component with (currently) unknown internal features.

When comparing the signatures, the UTD aligns the baseline and test signatures with one another (e.g., based on a known origin point for the NDI, locational features or "landmarks" on the component, etc.) to ensure that the portions of the test signature are compared against corresponding portions in the baseline signatures.

Internal features that can be characterized by the comparison in a metallic component include, but at not limited to: grain size, grain orientation, grain morphology of the component, and wherein the baseline signature is established based on a database of test result signals corresponding to known grain patterns. Some additional examples of internal features that can be characterized include supports or inclusions (e.g., stones, support beams, meshes, etc.,) within a composite material, layer thicknesses and waviness in a laminate component, voids or air pockets within the component, grain size/orientation/morphology of a wooden or other biological component, etc..

At block <NUM>, the UTD provides an indication of the internal structures. In various examples, the indication is provided as one or more images (e.g., the B-scans or C-scans) that indicate the internal structures, or that highlight the differences between the baseline and test signatures. In some examples, the indications include alerts for when a change is present between a baseline signature of a prior test signature and the current test signature or when the test signature matches a baseline signature associated with a given internal structure. In some examples, the indications include alerts for when a test signature matches a given baseline signature (e.g., when the inspected component matches a previously inspected component, or includes internal features that match a known-good component).

<FIG> illustrates a computing device <NUM>, according to examples of the present disclosure. <FIG> illustrates example computing components of a computing device <NUM> or other processing system as may be used to perform NDI on various components by characterizing the internal structures thereof.

The computing device <NUM> includes a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, and an interface <NUM>. The processor <NUM> and the memory <NUM> provide computing functionality to run various programs and/or operations for the respective computing device <NUM>, including the storage and retrieval of the various data described herein.

The processor <NUM>, which may be any computer processor capable of performing the functions described herein, executes commands based on inputs received from a user and the data received from the interface <NUM>.

The interface <NUM> connects the computing device <NUM> to external devices, such as, for example, external memory devices, external computing devices, a power source, a wireless transmitter, etc., and may include various connection ports (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB), Firewire, Ethernet, coaxial jacks) and cabling. The interface <NUM> is used to send and receive between computing devices <NUM> and manage the generation of ultrasound waves by one or more ultrasound inducers <NUM> and to receive and measure ultrasound waves by one or more ultrasound receivers <NUM>. The interface <NUM>, ultrasound receiver(s) <NUM>, and/or software running on the computing device <NUM> or another device can amplify, clean, and manipulate data related to the received ultrasound waves to develop various scans of a component for analysis thereof.

The memory <NUM> is a computer-readable storage device that generally includes various processor-executable instructions, that when executed by the processor <NUM>, perform the various functions related to characterizing internal structures via ultrasound as discussed herein. The processor-executable instructions may generally be described or organized into various "applications" or "modules" in the memory <NUM>, although alternate implementations may have different functions and/or combinations of functions. The memory <NUM> also generally includes data structures that store information for use by or output by the various applications or modules. In the present disclosure, the memory <NUM> includes at least instructions for an operating system <NUM>, one or more application(s) <NUM>, baseline signatures <NUM>, and test signatures <NUM>. The memory <NUM> may be one or more memory devices, such as, for example, Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), flash memory, or any other type of volatile or non-volatile storage medium that includes instructions that the processor <NUM> may execute.

When the computing device <NUM> provides the functionality of an UTD, the memory <NUM> includes processor executable instructions to provide the functionalities thereof described in the present disclosure. In some examples, the memory <NUM> includes databases for locally caching data that include listings or databases that identify the waveforms and baseline signatures <NUM> for earlier scans of a given component or profiles for various structural elements that can be compared against test signatures <NUM> to characterize the current internal structures of a component undergoing NDI.

In the current disclosure, reference is made to various examples. However, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to specific described examples. When elements of the examples are described in the form of "at least one of A and B," it will be understood that examples including element A exclusively, including element B exclusively, and including element A and B are each contemplated. Furthermore, although some examples may achieve advantages over other possible solutions and/or over the prior art, whether or not a particular advantage is achieved by a given example is not limiting of the present disclosure. Thus, the examples, features, and advantages disclosed herein are merely illustrative and are not considered elements or limitations of the appended claims except where explicitly recited in a claim(s). Likewise, reference to "the invention" shall not be construed as a generalization of any inventive subject matter disclosed herein and shall not be considered to be an element or limitation of the appended claims except where explicitly recited in a claim(s).

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, examples described herein may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, examples may take the form of an entirely hardware example, an entirely software example (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an example combining software and hardware examples that may all generally be referred to herein as a "circuit," "module" or "system. " Furthermore, examples described herein may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable storage medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Program code embodied on a computer readable storage medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for examples of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C" programming language or similar programming languages.

Examples of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatuses (systems), and computer program products according to examples of the present disclosure.

The flowchart illustrations and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various examples of the present disclosure. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order or out of order, depending upon the functionality involved.

Claim 1:
A method (<NUM>) for ultrasound testing of components with an ultrasound test device, the method comprising:
inducing (<NUM>), by the ultrasound test device, ultrasonic test waves on a first surface (<NUM>) of a component (<NUM>), the ultrasonic test waves comprising at least two different ultrasonic test waves being selected from a group consisting of:
a surface wave (140b), traveling along the first surface from a first location to a second location;
a shear wave (140a), traveling from the first location on the first surface through the component to a second surface (<NUM>) opposite to the first surface, and back to the first surface at the second location; and
a transverse wave (140c), traveling from a third location on the first surface through the component to the second surface, and back to the first surface at the third location;
receiving, by the ultrasound test device, a signal in response to the ultrasonic test waves in the form of a waveform (<NUM>), the signal response comprising a waveform having a plurality of segments corresponding to the different induced waves that are received at different times;
selecting, by the ultrasound test device, which segment of the received signal is of interest for further analysis by applying a gate (<NUM>) to the received signal, thereby selecting a portion of the waveform (<NUM>);
developing (<NUM>), by the ultrasound test device, a test signature based on the selected portion of the waveform (<NUM>) in response to the ultrasonic test waves through the component;
characterizing (<NUM>), by the ultrasound test device, an internal feature of the component based on a comparison between the test signature and a baseline signature for the component; and
providing (<NUM>), by the ultrasound test device, an indication of the internal feature as characterized.