Integrated electro-optical position sensing, workpiece probing and display method and apparatus
First Claim
1. An integrated probing, probe position sensing and probe signal versus position indicating system for use in testing work pieces, comprising:
- an independently movable signal producing probe means for producing an output probe signal of variable value representing a predetermined characteristic of a workpiece;
a spot source of radiation mounted with the said probe means for movement as a unit therewith;
first and second directional, radiation sensor means, mounted in spaced apart relation and for movement so as to scan across said radiation source means;
first and second angle determining means coupled to said first and second directional radiation sensor means, respectively, for producing signals representing the angles of said first and second directional radiation sensor means when they are respectively aligned with said radiation source means;
position determining control means for receiving said signals representing said angles from said first and second angle determining means and for producing position coordinate signals representing the position coordinates of said radiation source means and hence said probe means in response to said signals representing said angles;
signal correlating control means for receiving said probe output signal from said probe means and for receiving said position coordinate signals from said position determining control means and in response thereto correlating said output probe signal with said position coordinate signals; and
,indicating means responsive to said signal correlating control means for indicating the correlation between said output probe signal and said position coordinate signals.
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Abstract
A system is disclosed for automatically correlating the position of a nondestructive test (NDT) probe and the magnitude of a probe produced NDT signal as the probe is moved manually, and independently of any mechanical constraint, over a planar surface of a test workpiece. The probe position is sensed electro-optically by a position-determining subsystem including an LED light source affixed to the probe housing so as to be movable therewith and a scanning assembly on which are mounted spaced apart, scanning light sensors, sensor drive motors and angle encoders. An associated control circuit provided in part by a programmed microcomputer is interfaced with the sensors, drive motors and angle encoders of the scanning assembly such that as the electro-optical sensors scan through the position of the LED light source on the probe, peak sensory signals are produced and the corresponding, instantaneous scan angles are registered by the angle encoders and are fed into the microcomputer which, using triangulation processes, determines the position of the probe in the probed area and produces signals representing the coordinates of such instantaneous probe position. Concurrently therewith, the magnitude of the NDT probe signal is registered, correlated and stored in memory along with the probe position coordinates. A video display subsystem, including display control circuitry, also provided by a programmed microcomputer, receives the position coordinate signals and the correlated NDT signal and processes these signals for display on a cathode ray tube (CRT) so as to present a C-scan video display of the NDT signal magnitude as a function of position on the workpiece in the area traversed by the probe.
39 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An integrated probing, probe position sensing and probe signal versus position indicating system for use in testing work pieces, comprising:
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an independently movable signal producing probe means for producing an output probe signal of variable value representing a predetermined characteristic of a workpiece; a spot source of radiation mounted with the said probe means for movement as a unit therewith; first and second directional, radiation sensor means, mounted in spaced apart relation and for movement so as to scan across said radiation source means; first and second angle determining means coupled to said first and second directional radiation sensor means, respectively, for producing signals representing the angles of said first and second directional radiation sensor means when they are respectively aligned with said radiation source means; position determining control means for receiving said signals representing said angles from said first and second angle determining means and for producing position coordinate signals representing the position coordinates of said radiation source means and hence said probe means in response to said signals representing said angles; signal correlating control means for receiving said probe output signal from said probe means and for receiving said position coordinate signals from said position determining control means and in response thereto correlating said output probe signal with said position coordinate signals; and
,indicating means responsive to said signal correlating control means for indicating the correlation between said output probe signal and said position coordinate signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An integrated test probing, probe position monitoring and probe signal versus position displaying method, comprising the steps of:
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moving a test probe relative to a workpiece to produce a variable level test signal representing a predetermined characteristic of such workpiece at the probe position; producing position indicating radiation at the probe which radiates to distant sensors; scanning first and second separated radiation sensors across a scanning field in which the test probe is located; determining the scan angles of the sensors at which they detect radiation from said test probe; determining position coordinates of the test probe in said field from said scan angles; correlating level variations of said test probe signal with said position coordinates; and displaying the correlated level variations of said test probe signal and said position coordinates.
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Specification