System and method for ultrasonic detection and imaging

• US 7,698,946 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2006
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Allgaier, Ryan Paul, Clarke, Burton Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): SAINT SURIN, JACQUES M
• Application Number:
  US11/361,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20070238993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 736/01, 736/06, 736/18, 600/437, 600/443, 600/447, 600/459
• US Class Current: 73/601
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/24 using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03

Abstract

Systems and Methods are disclosed for the detection and imaging of ultrasonic energy. Embodiments of the invention utilize an array of ultrasonic sensors where data from each of the sensors are processed by RMS-to-DC conversion. In addition, embodiments of the invention output a contour map based on detected ultrasonic energy and blend at least one feature of the contour map with a feature of a visible image so that a blended image can be displayed to an operator. Furthermore, embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for repositioning an array of ultrasonic sensors with respect to target area or Unit Under Test (UUT) to facilitate a thorough and repeatable test.

Claims

1. A method for graphically displaying ultrasonic energy comprising:

receiving data from each of a plurality of ultrasonic sensors that each comprise a Root-Mean-Square-Direct Current (RMS-DC) converter, the data based on a RMS-DC calculation;

building a contour map based on the received data;

receiving a camera image; and

blending at least one feature of the contour map with at least one feature of the received camera image.

2. The method of claim 1 further including smoothing the received data prior to the building.

3. The method of claim 1 further including scaling the camera image prior to the blending.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein building the contour map includes:

initializing a matrix;

inserting each of a plurality of known data values at positions in the matrix to create a contour map, each of the plurality of known data values associated with the RMS-DC calculation;

scaling the contour map; and

colorizing the contour map based on a color ramp.

5. The method of claim 4 further including:

determining additional data values via interpolation; and

inserting the additional data values in the contour map prior to scaling the contour map.

6. A processor-readable medium having stored thereon instructions for a method of generating a graphical user interface (GUI), the method comprising:

receiving data from each of a plurality of ultrasonic sensors that each comprise a Root-Mean-Square-Direct Current (RMS-DC) converter, the data based on a RMS-DC calculation;

building a contour map based on the received data;

receiving a visual camera image;

blending at least one feature of the contour map with at least one feature associated with the received visual camera image to create a blended image; and

displaying the blended image in a first portion of a display screen.

7. The processor-readable medium of claim 6, the method farther including displaying the contour map in a second portion of the display screen.

8. The processor-readable medium of claim 6 wherein the at least one feature of the contour map is associated with a highest intensity on the contour map, the highest intensity related to a highest RMS-DC calculation value.

9. A method for graphically displaying ultrasonic energy comprising:

receiving data from each of a plurality of ultrasonic sensors, the data based on Root-Mean-Square (RMS) calculation;

building a contour map based on the received data, the building of the contour map including

initializing a matrix,

inserting each of a plurality of known data values at positions in the matrix to create a contour map, each of the plurality of known data values associated with

a Root-Mean-Square (RMS) calculation,

scaling the contour map, and

colorizing the contour map based on a color ramp;

receiving a camera image; and

blending at least one feature of the contour map with at least one feature of the received camera image.

10. The method of claim 9 further including smoothing the received data prior to the building.

11. The method of claim 9 further including scaling the camera image prior to the blending.

12. The method of claim 9 further including:

determining additional data values via interpolation; and

inserting the additional data values in the contour map prior to scaling the contour map.

13. A processor-readable medium having stored thereon instructions for a method of generating a graphical user interface (GUI), the method comprising:

receiving data from each of a plurality of ultrasonic sensors, the data based on Root-Mean-Square (RMS) calculation;

building a contour map based on the received data, the building of the contour map including

initializing a matrix,

inserting each of a plurality of known data values at positions in the matrix to create a contour map, each of the plurality of known data values associated with a Root-Mean-Square (RMS) calculation,

scaling the contour map, and

colorizing the contour map based on a color ramp;

receiving a visual camera image;

blending at least one feature of the contour map with at least one feature associated with the received visual camera image to create a blended image; and

displaying the blended image in a first portion of a display screen.

14. The processor-readable medium of claim 13, the method further including displaying the contour map in a second portion of the display screen.

15. The processor-readable medium of claim 13 wherein the at least one feature of the contour map is associated with a highest intensity on the contour map, the highest intensity related to a highest RMS calculation value.