Method for generating and displaying complex data utilizing color-coded signals

• US 20010052905A1
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oʼconnor, Henry Moncrieff
• Original Assignee: Oʼconnor, Henry Moncrieff
• Inventors: OʼConnor, Henry Moncrieff
• Granted Patent: US 7,095,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/591
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/9026 by moving the material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/9073 Recording measured data
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 1/06 using single beam tubes G09G1/26, G09G1/28 take precedence, e.g. three-dimensional or perspective representation, rotation or translation of display pattern, hidden lines, shadows G09G1/28 takes precedence; stereoscopic TV-systems, details thereof H04N13/00; oscilloscopes for three-dimensional representation G01R13/206; vectorscopes G01R13/208

Abstract

Color coded signals are superimposed upon one another in order to more conveniently understand phenomenon to which the signals relate. A specific application of the technique is non-destructive eddy-current testing of tubes used in devises such as nuclear reactors for detecting anomalies such as pits, through-holes and dents. The signals generated during the eddy tests are displayed as overlapping lissajous transforms which produce distinctive color patterns for each anomaly.

Claims

1. A method of displaying signals obtained from monitoring a phenomenon, comprising:

while the phenomenon is being monitored producing multiple real signals in electronic form, the multiple real signals each having a standard characteristic and real parameters of different real values;

assigning a separate visual distinction to at least several of the multiple signals to produce multiple visually distinct signals;

displaying the multiple visually distinct signals while superimposed with respect to one another.

2. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the real signals are analog signals, the method further comprising interpolating the real analog signals to produce the multiple virtual signals.

3. The method of

claim 2

, further comprising digitalizing the analog real signals and the analog virtual signals before displaying the signals in separate colors.

4. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the real signals are analog signals, the method further comprising converting the real analog signals to digital signals prior to assigning a separate visual distinction to each signal.

5. The method of

claim 4

, wherein the signals have different DC components, the method further comprising centering the signal by bringing the signal to a standard baseline.

6. The method of

claim 3

, comprising adjusting the real values of the real parameters.

7. The method of

claim 6

, wherein the real parameters are real phase angle and real amplitude for each real signal.

8. The method of

claim 7

, wherein the phenomenon is a detected eddy current.

9. The method of

claim 8

, wherein the eddy current is an eddy current induced in a metallic object and wherein there is an anomaly in the form of a defect in the metallic object.

10. The method of

claim 9

, wherein the metallic object is a tube and the anomaly is a defect in the tube.

11. The method of

claim 10

, wherein the multiple real signals are produced with a differential probe, the method further including converting the multiple real and virtual signals to lissajous transforms generated by voltage vector sweeps and phase angles when the multiple signals are displayed.

12. The method of

claim 11

, wherein the anomaly is one occurring in a group of anomalies, comprising through holes, interior pits, exterior pits, magnetic inclusions, dents and roll stops, each of which has distinctive display of the multiple colored signals.

13. The method of

claim 1

, comprising

assigning a color to each signal after interpolating the real signal to create the virtual signals wherein the signals are in channels of increasing frequency and the assigned colors are of increasing visible frequencies from a lowest visible frequency to a highest visible frequency.

14. The method of

claim 13

, wherein the display includes a waveform created by writing the lower visible frequency color first and superimposing a higher visible frequency color thereon in order from lower visible frequencies to higher visible frequencies.

15. The method of

claim 14

, wherein the display includes a waveform created by writing higher visible frequency colors in an order from higher visible frequencies to lower visible frequencies with a color being assigned to the highest frequency signal which contrasts with the highest visible frequency.

16. The method of

claim 15

, wherein the display includes a plot of only the end points of the waveforms.

17. The method of

claim 14

, wherein the display includes a plot of only the end points of the waveforms.