Sensor array for navigation on surfaces

• US 7,324,910 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ge Inspection Technologies GmbH (General Electric Company), General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kleinert, Wolf-Dietrich, Struempler, Ralf
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui; Bryan
• Application Number:
  US11/317,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20070150238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 702/38, 702/39, 702/116, 702/168, 324/533, 324/534, 324750-751, 250/370.01, 250/370.08, 250/208.1, 600/437, 600/475, 600/476
• US Class Current: 702/116
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/269 Various geometry objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/90 using eddy currents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/07 by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/265 by moving the sensor relative to a stationary material

Abstract

A probe system is provided that includes a linear and/or two-dimensional sensor array for obtaining information regarding a test piece. The sensor elements of the sensor array may include ultrasonic, eddy current, magnetic, and/or piezoelectric elements. The sensor array may be utilized to detect movement of the probe with respect to the test piece, and may be further utilized to obtain data regarding the test piece, such as image data, for example with respect to a characteristic of the test piece in detecting and locating flaws. A CAD type file or other graphical or image file of the test piece may be displayed concurrently with image data of the test piece obtained by the probe for example to assist an operator in navigating the probe with respect to the test piece, and/or to determine a coordinate location of characteristics of the test piece with respect to the CAD type file.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a signal capable of at least partially penetrating a test piece that is coupled to the transmitter;

an array of at least one or more sensors capable of detecting at least a portion of the signal reflected back from the test piece, said array comprising a grid of at least three sensors arranged in a first number of rows of sensors and a second number of columns of sensors; and

an information handling system configured to receive data from the array and to determine at least one of movement data of the array or data of a characteristic of the test piece, or a combination thereof.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said array being capable of measuring three or more values per axis to be encoded.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data of the characteristic comprises image data of the test piece.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the test piece comprise at least one or more of a manufacturing defect, a flaw, a void, a stress, a fissure, a fracture, a stratum, an inclusion, or corrosion, or a combination thereof.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said array comprising a linear array of the at least three or more sensors.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said array comprising a first linear array of the at least three or more sensors and a second linear array of the at least three or more sensors, the first linear array being orthogonally disposed with respect to the second linear array.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the at least one or more sensors comprising at least one or more of an ultrasound sensor, a magneto impedance sensor, a Hall sensor, Eddy Current sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, or a radio-frequency sensor, or a combination thereof.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, at least one of said transmitter or said array being disposed on a catheter type device.

9. A method, comprising:

transmitting a signal capable of at least partially penetrating a test piece;

detecting at least a portion of the signal reflected from the test piece;

determining at least one of movement data or data of a characteristic of the test piece, or a combination thereof, in response to said detecting;

generating image data of the test piece based at least in part on said determining; and

displaying the image data on a display and concurrently displaying on the display a rendition of the test piece generated from a data file of the test piece in accordance with a probe position.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising generating image data of the test piece based at least in part on said determining.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising generating image data of the characteristic of test piece based at least in part on said determining.

12. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising generating image data of the test piece based at least in part on said determining, and displaying the image data on a display.

13. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising generating image data of the test piece based at least in part on said determining, displaying the image data on a display, and updating the image data based at least in part on the movement data.

14. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising generating image data of the test piece based at lest in part on said determining, displaying the image data on a display, and concurrently displaying on the display a rendition of the test piece generated from a computer aided design type file of the test piece.

15. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising correlating at least one of the movement data or the data of a characteristic of the test piece, or a combination thereof, with a data file of the test piece.

16. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising correlating at least one of the movement data or the data of a characteristic of the test piece, or a combination thereof, with a computer aided design type file of the test piece.

17. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising identifying the characteristic based at least in part on the data of the characteristic or the movement data, or a combination thereof, and correlating the characteristic with a coordinate of the test piece in a data file of the test piece.

18. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising identifying the characteristic based at least in part on the data of the characteristic or the movement data, or a combination thereof, and correlating the characteristic with a coordinate of the test piece in computer aided design type file of the test piece.

19. A probe system, comprising:

an information handling system; and

a probe capable of coupling with said information handling system, said probe comprising;

a transmitter to transmit a signal capable of at least partially penetrating a test piece; and

an array of at least one or more sensors capable of detecting at least a portion of the signal reflected back from the test piece, said array comprising a grid of the at least one or more sensors arranged in a first number of rows of sensors and a second number of columns of sensors;

wherein, in response to said array detecting at least a portion of the reflected signal, said information handling system is capable of determining at least one of movement data of the array or data of a characteristic of the test piece, or a combination thereof.

20. A probe system as claimed in claim 19, said array being capable of measuring three or more values per axis to be encoded.

21. A probe system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the data of the characteristic comprises image data of the test piece.

22. A probe system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the characteristic of the test piece comprise at least one or more of a manufacturing defect, a flaw, a void, a stress, a fissure, a fracture, a stratum, an inclusion, or corrosion, or a combination thereof.

23. A probe system as claimed in claim 19, said array comprising a linear array of the at least three or more sensors.

24. A probe system as claimed in claim 19, said array comprising a first linear array of the at least three or more sensors and a second linear array of the at least three or more sensors, the first linear array being orthogonally disposed with respect to the second linear array.

25. A probe system as claimed in claim 19, the at least one or more sensors comprising at least one or more of an ultrasound sensor, a magneto impedance sensor, a Hall sensor, Eddy Current sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, or a radio-frequency sensor, or a combination thereof.

26. A probe system as claimed in claim 19, at least one of said transmitter or said array, or a combination thereof, being disposed on a catheter type device.