Pseudorandom binary sequence apparatus and method for in-line inspection tool
First Claim
1. A method of inspecting the wall of a pipeline, the method comprising:
- obtaining an in-line inspection tool comprising a transmitter, a receiver, and a signal generator;
positioning the in-line inspection tool within a pipeline;
driving, by the signal generator, the transmitter with a convolution of a pseudorandom signal and an inspection signal;
generating, by the transmitter in response to the driving, a guided wave within a wall of the pipeline;
receiving, by the receiver after the generating, from the wall of the pipeline a received signal; and
identifying the inspection signal within the received signal by cross correlating the received signal and the pseudorandom signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An in-line inspection tool is disclosed for inspecting the wall of a pipeline while traveling therethrough. The in-line inspection tool may include a transmitter, a signal generator, one or more receivers, and a decoder. The signal generator may generate a pseudorandom signal, generate an inspection signal, and drive the transmitter with a convolution of the pseudorandom signal and the inspection signal. The transmitter may transmit the convoluted signal to the wall of the pipeline. One or more receivers may receive from the wall of the pipeline a received signal comprising at least one of the convoluted signal and a reflection of the convoluted signal. The decoder may identify the inspection signal within the received signal by cross correlating the received signal and the pseudorandom signal.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of inspecting the wall of a pipeline, the method comprising:
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obtaining an in-line inspection tool comprising a transmitter, a receiver, and a signal generator; positioning the in-line inspection tool within a pipeline; driving, by the signal generator, the transmitter with a convolution of a pseudorandom signal and an inspection signal; generating, by the transmitter in response to the driving, a guided wave within a wall of the pipeline; receiving, by the receiver after the generating, from the wall of the pipeline a received signal; and identifying the inspection signal within the received signal by cross correlating the received signal and the pseudorandom signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of inspecting the wall of a pipeline, the method comprising:
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obtaining an in-line inspection tool comprising a transmitter, a receiver, and a signal generator; positioning the in-line inspection tool within a pipeline comprising a pipe wall; driving, by the signal generator, the transmitter with a convolution of a pseudorandom binary sequence and an inspection pulse; generating, by the transmitter in response to the driving, a guided wave traveling in a circumferential direction about the pipeline within the pipe wall; receiving, by the receiver after the generating, from the pipe wall a received signal; and identifying the inspection pulse within the received signal by cross correlating the received signal and the pseudorandom binary sequence. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An in-line inspection tool for inspecting the wall of a pipeline while traveling through the pipeline, the in-line inspection tool comprising:
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a transmitter; a signal generator operably connected to drive the transmitter with a convolution of a pseudorandom signal and a inspection pulse; the transmitter positioned and oriented to transmit the convolution to the wall of the pipeline in the form of a guided wave traveling within the wall; and one or more receivers positioned and oriented to receive from the wall of the pipeline a received stress wave comprising at least one of the convolution, a remnant of the convolution, and a reflection of the convolution. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification