Signal processing apparatus and non-destructive testing apparatus using the same

• US 6,370,485 B1
• Filed: 08/04/1999
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kumano, Shintaro, Matsumoto, Mitsuyoshi, Kawata, Kayoko
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US09/366,202
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 702/113, 702/182, 702/184, 702/185, 702/180, 702/188, 702/189, 702/191, 702/57, 702/66, 702/67, 702/69, 702/70, 702/71, 702/74, 702/75, 702/76, 702/77, 702/106, 702/108, 702/122, 702/124, 702/126, 702/179, 702/193, 702/195, 702/196, 702/197
• US Class Current: 702/113
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/044 Internal reflections (echoes), e.g. on walls or defects
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/9046 by analysing electrical signals

Abstract

A signal processing apparatus includes a 2-dimensional conversion processing section, a 2-dimensional emphasis and attenuation processing section and a 2-dimensional smoothing processing section. The 2-dimensional conversion processing section maps an observation signal in a first coordinate system onto a second coordinate system to output a 2-dimensional converted signal. The observation signal includes a detection object component and a noise component to be attenuated. The noise component is composed of a first noise component and a second noise component. The 2-dimensional emphasis and attenuation processing section attenuates the first noise component to emphasize the detection object component and outputs a 2-dimensional filtered signal in which the detection object component is emphasized. The 2-dimensional smoothing processing section attenuates the second noise component contained in the 2-dimensional filtered signal, and outputs a 2-dimensional smoothing signal, whereby a detection object can be detected based on the 2-dimensional smoothed signal.

Claims

1. A signal processing apparatus comprising:

a 2-dimensional conversion processing section which maps an observation signal in a first coordinate system into a second coordinate system to output a 2-dimensional converted signal, wherein said observation signal includes a detection object component and a noise component to be reduced, and said noise component is composed of a first noise component and a second noise component;

a 2-dimensional identification and reduction processing section which reduces said first noise component of said 2-dimensional converted signal to identify said detection object component thereof and outputs a 2-dimensional filtered signal in which said detection object component is identified from said noise component; and

a 2-dimensional smoothing processing section which reduces said second noise component contained in said 2-dimensional filtered signal, and outputs a 2-dimensional smoothed signal, whereby a detection object can be detected based on said 2-dimensional smoothed signal.

2. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said 2-dimensional identification and reduction processing section includes a 2-dimensional digital differential filter.

3. A signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said 2-dimensional smoothing processing section includes a median filter.

4. A non-destructive testing apparatus comprising:

a detector measuring a test object to generate a measurement signal in a first coordinate system;

a display unit; and

a processor;

mapping said measurement signal in said first coordinate system onto a second coordinate system to produce a second coordinate system measurement signal,

removing a noise component from said second coordinate system measurement signal to produce a resultant signal, and

controlling said display unit to display said resultant signal.

5. A non-destructive testing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said detector is a rotary type detector, and said first coordinate system is a polar coordinate system.

6. A non-destructive testing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said detector is a multi-coil type sensor, and said first coordinate system is a 2-dimensional coordinate system.

7. A non-destructive testing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said second coordinate system is a 2-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system, and

wherein said processor approximately converts each of values of said measurement signal to a value on said 2-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system, while mapping said measurement signal in said first coordinate system onto said 2-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system.

8. A non-destructive testing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said processor reduces a part of said noise component from said second coordinate system measurement signal.

9. A non-destructive testing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said processor reduces the part of said noise component from said second coordinate system measurement signal using a filter of a first frequency cutting type.

10. A non-destructive testing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said filter is a 2-dimensional digital differential filter.

11. A non-destructive testing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said processor removes the remaining part of said noise component from said second coordinate system measurement signal.

12. A non-destructive testing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said processor smoothes said second coordinate system measuring signal to remove the remaining part of said noise component from said second coordinate system measurement signal.

13. A non-destructive testing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said processor smoothes said second coordinate system measuring signal using a filter to remove the remaining part of said noise component from said second coordinate system measurement signal.

14. A non-destructive testing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said filter is a median filter.

15. A non-destructive testing method of a test object comprising:

measuring a test object to generate a measurement signal in a first coordinate system;

mapping said measurement signal in said first coordinate system onto a second coordinate system to produce a second coordinate system measurement signal;

removing a noise component from said second coordinate system measurement signal to produce a resultant signal; and

providing information of said test object based on said resultant signal.

16. A non-destructive testing method according to claim 15, wherein said second coordinate system is a 2-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system, and

wherein said mapping includes approximately setting each of values of said measurement signal to a lattice value on said 2-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system, while mapping said measurement signal in said first coordinate system onto said 2-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system.

17. A non-destructive testing method according to claim 15, wherein said removing includes reducing a part of said noise component from said second coordinate system measurement signal.

18. A non-destructive testing method according to claim 15, said removing includes smoothing said second coordinate system measuring signal to remove the remaining part of said noise component from said second coordinate system measurement signal.

19. A non-destructive testing apparatus comprising:

a detector measuring a test object to generate a measurement signal in a first coordinate system;

a display unit; and

a first filter filtering to reduce a first frequency region of an input signal to produce a first filtering resultant signal;

a second filter filtering to reduce a second frequency region of an input signal to produce a second filtering resultant signal, said second frequency region being apart from said first frequency region; and

a processor;

executing mapping of said measurement signal in said first coordinate system onto a second coordinate system adaptable for said first filter,

selectively executing mapping a first filtering resultant signal in said second coordinate system into a third coordinate system adaptable for said second filter, and

controlling said display unit to display a second filtering resultant signal.

20. A non-destructive testing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said processor controls said display unit to display a second filtering resultant signal without mapping said first filtering resultant signal in said second coordinate system into said third coordinate system, when the coordinate system is common to said first filter and said second filter.