# US 2013/0239689 A1 · Ultrasonic array focussing apparatus and method

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- Number: US 2013/0239689 A1
- Document ID: US20130239689A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/990,657
- Filed: 2011-11-24
- Published: 2013-09-19
- Earliest claimed: 2010-11-30
- Assignees: Airbus Operations GmbH
- Inventors: Andrew Bbond-Thor; Richard Freemantell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130239689A1

## CPC

- G01N 29/2456: {Focusing probes (focusing arrangements G01N29/221)}
- G01N 29/221: {Arrangements for directing or focusing the acoustical waves (electronic orientation or focusing G01N29/262; sound directing or focusing G10K11/26; mechanical steering of sound transducers or their beams G10K11/35)}
- G01N 29/2487: {Directing probes, e.g. angle probes (directing arrangements G01N29/221)}
- G01N 29/262: {by electronic orientation or focusing, e.g. with phased arrays (phased arrays per se G10K11/34)}
- G01N 2291/263: Surfaces
- G01N 2291/2694: Wings or other aircraft parts
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

A method is provided in which radiussed components are scanned by moving the focal point of a curved array into the component, whilst keeping the geometric focal point of the array coincident with that of the radiussed component.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of scanning a curved engineering component comprising the steps of:
providing a probe having a curved ultrasonic array having a plurality of elements arranged in a curved path having a geometric focal point,
providing a control system configured to fire the elements of the array according to a predetermined focal law,
providing a curved engineering component having a radius and centre of curvature, which centre of curvature is outside the component,
aligning the geometric focal point of the array and the centre of curvature of the curved engineering component,
using the control system to activate the elements of the array according to a focal law to move the focal point of the array away from the geometric focal point into the workpiece.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1 in which the curved path of the curved ultrasonic array defines a first plane, the method comprising the step of:
providing a focussing element for the curved ultrasonic array comprising a curved surface arranged to focus ultrasonic energy from the array,
positioning the scanning element proximate the array to focus ultrasonic energy from the array in a second plane, perpendicular to the first plane.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A method according to claim 2 in which the focussing element comprises:
a first, input, surface proximate the array, the first surface being flat in the second plane, and;
a second, output, surface being curved in the second plane to focus ultrasonic energy leaving the focussing element.

### Claim 4

A method of scanning an engineering component according to 1, in which the curved path is a circle segment having a geometric focal point at the origin of the circle segment.

### Claim 5

A method of scanning an engineering component according to 1, in which the workpiece comprises a radiused portion.

### Claim 6

A method of scanning an engineering component according to 1 in which the ultrasonic array is flexible.

### Claim 7

An engineering component inspection ultrasonic probe for inspection of radiused components comprising;
a probe having a curved ultrasonic array having a plurality of elements arranged in a curved path having a geometric focal point,
a control system configured to fire the elements of the array according to a predetermined focal law,
which the control system is configured to activate the elements of the array according to a focal law to move the focal point of the array away from the geometric focal point into a workpiece.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

An engineering component inspection ultrasonic probe according to claim 7, in which the curved path lies in a first plane, and in which the probe comprises:
a focussing element comprising a curved surface arranged to focus ultrasonic energy from the array in a second plane, perpendicular to the first plane.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

An engineering component inspection ultrasonic probe according to claim 8, in which the curved surface is concave.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

An engineering component inspection ultrasonic probe according to claim 9, in which the curved surface describes a concave circle segment in cross section.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

An engineering component inspection ultrasonic probe according to Claim 8, in which the focussing element comprises an input surface proximate the array, which input surface is flat in the second plane.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

An engineering component inspection ultrasonic probe according to claim 8, in which the focussing element comprises an input surface proximate the array, which input surface is curved in the first plane.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

An engineering component inspection ultrasonic probe according to Claim 8 in which the focussing element is replaceable.

### Claim 14 (depends on 7)

A method of scanning an engineering component according to Claim 7 in which the ultrasonic array is flexible.