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Three-dimensional matrix phased array spot weld inspection system

  • US 9,063,059 B2
  • Filed: 05/10/2012
  • Issued: 06/23/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for characterizing a spot weld, comprising:

  • (a) an acoustic probe, wherein the acoustic probe further includes;

    (i) a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements arranged in a curved array at one end of the acoustic probe, wherein the transducer elements are operative to both generate ultrasonic signals and to receive reflections thereof; and

    (ii) a combination of materials for allowing the probe to conform to a contoured surface of the spot weld while enabling sound energy to be transferred directly into the spot weld under test conditions,(b) a phased array excitation unit in electrical communication with the array of transducer elements for ultrasonically exciting transducer elements, and(c) a controller in electrical communication with the phased array excitation unit for controlling the operation of the phased array unit, gathering and processing information from the ultrasonic transducers, and generating a two-dimensional, color coded image that characterizes the integrity of the spot weld.

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