ULTRASONIC INSPECTION USING ACOUSTIC MODELING

• US 20110144935A1
• Filed: 02/21/2011
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonix, Inc. (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sonix, Inc. (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: McKeon, James C.P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,909,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/66
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02854 Length, thickness
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/044 Internal reflections (echoes), e.g. on walls or defects
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/101 one transducer
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/043 in the interior, e.g. by shear waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/4418 with a model, e.g. best-fit, regression analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/4472 Mathematical theories or simulation

Abstract

Configuration of an ultrasonic inspection system is facilitated using an ultrasound response predicted by a simulation tool. In one embodiment, estimated material properties of an object to be inspected are input to the simulation tool. Also input to the simulation tool is at least one estimated property of an ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic inspection. The simulation tool predicts the response of the object to ultrasound from the ultrasonic transducer. This response is dependent upon the estimated material properties of the object to be inspected and the at least one estimated property of the ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic inspection system is then configured dependent upon a feature of the predicted response. The system may be configured, for example, by setting the position of a time gate, selecting an appropriate ultrasonic transducer, selecting the position of the transducer to achieve good focus, or selecting parameters for signal processing.

Claims

1. A method for characterizing properties of an object under inspection, the method comprising:

a software simulation tool predicting an ultrasonic wave scattered by the object under inspection from estimated properties of the object;

measuring an ultrasonic wave scattered by the object under inspection on an ultrasonic inspection system;

comparing the predicted ultrasonic wave with the measured ultrasonic wave; and

adjusting the estimated properties to improve the degree of match between the predicted ultrasonic wave and the measured ultrasonic wave.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the object under inspection comprises a plurality of layers and wherein the properties of the object under inspection comprise the thickness of layers, the sound speed of the layers and the density of the layers.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the object under inspection comprises a plurality of layers and wherein the properties of the object under inspection comprise the thickness of layers and the acoustic impedance of the layers.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the properties of the object under inspection comprises the attenuation rate of ultrasound in the object under inspection.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein comparing the predicted ultrasonic wave with the measured ultrasonic wave comprises:

displaying the predicted ultrasonic wave to a user of the software simulation tool; and

displaying the measured ultrasonic wave to the user of the software simulation tool.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein adjusting the estimated properties to improve the degree of match between the predicted ultrasonic wave and the measured ultrasonic wave comprises the user of the software simulation tool inputting at least one new estimated property of the object.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, the method further comprising a user of the software simulation tool selecting the estimated properties of the object.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein predicting an ultrasonic wave, comparing the predicted ultrasonic wave with the measured ultrasonic wave and adjusting the estimated properties to improve the match between the predicted ultrasonic wave and the measured ultrasonic wave are performed by the software simulation tool.

9. A system for characterizing properties of an object under inspection, the system comprising:

a software simulation tool operable to predict an ultrasonic wave scattered by the object under inspection from estimated properties of the object; and

an ultrasonic inspection system operable to measure an ultrasonic wave scattered by the object under inspection, wherein the system is operable to compare the predicted ultrasonic wave and the measured ultrasonic wave and wherein the estimated properties of the object are adjustable to improve the degree of match between the predicted ultrasonic wave and the measured ultrasonic wave.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the software simulation tool of the system is operable to compare the predicted ultrasonic wave with the measured ultrasonic wave.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions that, when executed on a processor, characterize properties of an object under ultrasonic inspection by:

a software simulation tool predicting an ultrasonic wave scattered by the object under inspection from estimated properties of the object;

measuring an ultrasonic wave scattered by the object under inspection on an ultrasonic inspection system;

comparing the predicted ultrasonic wave with the measured ultrasonic wave; and

adjusting the estimated properties to improve the degree of match between the predicted ultrasonic wave and the measured ultrasonic wave.