Ultrasonic inspection using acoustic modeling
First Claim
1. A computerized method for characterizing properties of an object under inspection by an ultrasonic inspection system, the method comprising:
- executing, by a processor, a software simulation tool to predict an ultrasonic wave scattered by the object under inspection from estimated properties of the object under inspection;
measuring an ultrasonic wave scattered by the object under inspection by the ultrasonic inspection system;
enabling a comparison of the predicted ultrasonic wave with the measured ultrasonic wave by;
displaying the predicted ultrasonic wave to a user of the software simulation tool; and
displaying the measured ultrasonic wave to the user of the software simulation tool;
responsive to user input, adjusting the estimated properties to improve the degree of match between the predicted ultrasonic wave and the measured ultrasonic wave; and
generating an output dependent upon the adjusted estimated properties.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Configuration of an ultrasonic inspection system is facilitated using an ultrasound response predicted by a simulation tool. In one embodiment, estimated material properties of an object to be inspected are input to the simulation tool. Also input to the simulation tool is at least one estimated property of an ultrasonic transducer of the ultrasonic inspection. The simulation tool predicts the response of the object to ultrasound from the ultrasonic transducer. This response is dependent upon the estimated material properties of the object to be inspected and the at least one estimated property of the ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic inspection system is then configured dependent upon a feature of the predicted response. The system may be configured, for example, by setting the position of a time gate, selecting an appropriate ultrasonic transducer, selecting the position of the transducer to achieve good focus, or selecting parameters for signal processing.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A computerized method for characterizing properties of an object under inspection by an ultrasonic inspection system, the method comprising:
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executing, by a processor, a software simulation tool to predict an ultrasonic wave scattered by the object under inspection from estimated properties of the object under inspection; measuring an ultrasonic wave scattered by the object under inspection by the ultrasonic inspection system; enabling a comparison of the predicted ultrasonic wave with the measured ultrasonic wave by; displaying the predicted ultrasonic wave to a user of the software simulation tool; and displaying the measured ultrasonic wave to the user of the software simulation tool; responsive to user input, adjusting the estimated properties to improve the degree of match between the predicted ultrasonic wave and the measured ultrasonic wave; and generating an output dependent upon the adjusted estimated properties. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13)
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8. A system for characterizing properties of an object under inspection, the system comprising:
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a processor operable to execute a software simulation tool to predict an ultrasonic wave scattered by the object under inspection from estimated properties of the object; an ultrasonic inspection system operable to measure an ultrasonic wave scattered by the object under inspection; a display coupled to the processor and operable to display the predicted ultrasonic wave and the measured ultrasonic wave to a user of the software simulation tool; and a user input device operable to receive user input; wherein the system is operable to adjust the estimated properties of the object in response to the user input to improve the degree of match between the predicted ultrasonic wave and the measured ultrasonic wave. - View Dependent Claims (9, 14, 15)
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10. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing program instructions that, when executed on a processor, characterize properties of an object under ultrasonic inspection by:
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a software simulation tool executed on the processor predicting an ultrasonic wave scattered by the object under inspection from estimated properties of the object; measuring an ultrasonic wave scattered by the object under inspection on an ultrasonic inspection system; enabling a comparison of the predicted ultrasonic wave with the measured ultrasonic wave by; displaying the predicted ultrasonic wave to a user of the software simulation tool; and displaying the measured ultrasonic wave to the user of the software simulation tool; and responsive to user input, adjusting the estimated properties to improve the degree of match between the predicted ultrasonic wave and the measured ultrasonic wave. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification