APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ULTRASONIC TESTING

• US 20130197824A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Power Limited (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: BABA, Atsushi, KITAZAWA, So, KONO, Naoyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,924,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/39
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/106 one or more transducer arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/04 Analysing solids using acoustic emission techniques G01N29/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/07 by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/2468 Probes with delay lines
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/262 by electronic orientation or focusing, e.g. with phased arrays phased arrays per se G10K11/34
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8918 the array being linear
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8925 the array being a two-dimensional transducer configuration, i.e. matrix or orthogonal linear arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8927 using simultaneously or sequentially two or more subarrays or subapertures
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8993 Three dimensional imaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/8997 using synthetic aperture techniques

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for ultrasonic testing obtains high-resolution and high-S/N ratio testing results by driving a number of piezoelectric elements using fewer pulsers and receivers in comparison with the number of elements composing an array transducer. A sensor information setter sets a plurality of piezoelectric element groups used for transmission and a plurality of piezoelectric element groups used for reception among the plurality of piezoelectric elements composing an ultrasonic array transducer. A computer transmits an ultrasonic wave from the element cluster set for transmission, and stores an ultrasonic wave received by the element cluster set for reception. The procedure is repeated including different element cluster sets for transmission and reception to obtain first receive signals. The first receive signals are summed to obtain a second receive signal; and the second receive signal is displayed with reference to the sensor center position on a display unit.

Claims

1. A method for three-dimensional ultrasonic imaging comprising the steps of:

transmitting an ultrasonic wave from a two-dimensional array ultrasonic sensor to focus at a desired depth;

three-dimensionally scanning the inside of an object under test while varying the ultrasonic beam angle, and storing waveform data;

converting the obtained waveform data to three-dimensional testing data;

storing the three-dimensional testing data by sequentially changing the set position of the array ultrasonic sensor; and

combining the three-dimensional testing data obtained at each testing position while making a shift by the displacement of the array ultrasonic sensor to attain three-dimensional imaging.

2. The three-dimensional ultrasonic imaging method according to claim 1, comprising the steps of:

measuring a surface shape of the object under test, following the surface shape thereof, and storing three-dimensional testing data of the inside of the object under test while varying the ultrasonic beam angle;

sequentially moving the set position of the array ultrasonic sensor and testing the object under test; and

combining three-dimensional testing data obtained at each testing position while making a shift by a displacement and a rotation angle of the array ultrasonic sensor to attain three-dimensional imaging.

3. The three-dimensional ultrasonic imaging method according to claim 1,

wherein the method changes the beam angle of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the two-dimensional array ultrasonic sensor to select rotation scanning, swing scanning, or wedged swing scanning as an ultrasonic scanning process for three-dimensional testing of the inside of the object under test.

4. The three-dimensional ultrasonic imaging method according to claim 1,

wherein the method combines three-dimensional testing data by summing up (or averaging) three-dimensional testing data to attain imaging.

5. A three-dimensional ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprising:

a two-dimensional array ultrasonic sensor composed of a plurality of piezoelectric elements;

pulsers configured to transmit a transmit signal to each piezoelectric element of the array ultrasonic sensor;

receivers configured to receive a receive signal;

delay control means configured to perform time control for the transmit and receive signals by varying a delay time for each piezoelectric element;

data storage means configured to store ultrasonic waveforms transmitted and received by the array ultrasonic sensor;

sensor moving means configured to feed the array ultrasonic sensor, and scanning control means configured to control the sensor moving means;

displacement detection means configured to measure the displacement of the array ultrasonic sensor;

a computer configured to convert the stored waveform data to three-dimensional testing data, and combine the plurality of pieces of three-dimensional testing data while making a shift by the displacement of the array ultrasonic sensor measured by the displacement detection means; and

display means configured to display the combined testing data.

6. The three-dimensional ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

sensor moving means which moves the sensor following a surface shape of the object under test, a scanning controller, and displacement detection means; and

a computer which combines three-dimensional testing data while making a shift by the displacement and angle of the array ultrasonic sensor based on the detected displacement of the array ultrasonic sensor and measurement value or design value of the surface shape of the object under test.

7. The three-dimensional ultrasonic imaging apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the display means includes data processing switching means configured to switch between testing data obtained by ordinary testing and testing data obtained by combining processing;

wherein, in ordinary testing, a maximum value out of testing data sequentially obtained by moving the array ultrasonic sensor is handled as testing data.