Method and Apparatus for Enhanced Visualization of Anomalies in a Structure
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJeong-Beom Ihn, Jung-Ryul Lee
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for enhanced visualization of anomalies in a structure. The method comprises: acquiring pulse-echo laser ultrasonic wave propagation imaging video data at a multiplicity of points in a scan area on a surface of a structure; post-processing the pulse-echo laser ultrasonic wave propagation imaging video data using multiple-time window amplitude mapping to create a multiple-time window amplitude map; and displaying the multiple-time window amplitude map on a graphical user interface.
Claims20
A method for enhanced visualization of anomalies in a structure, comprising:
- (a) acquiring pulse-echo laser ultrasonic wave propagation imaging video data at a multiplicity of points in a scan area on a surface of a structure;
- (b) post-processing the pulse-echo laser ultrasonic wave propagation imaging video data using multiple-time window amplitude mapping to create a multiple-time window amplitude map;
- and
- (c) displaying the multiple-time window amplitude map on a graphical user interface.
A method for enhanced visualization of anomalies in a structure, comprising:
- (a) acquiring pulse-echo laser ultrasonic wave propagation imaging video data at a multiplicity of points in a scan area on a surface of a structure;
- (b) post-processing the pulse-echo laser ultrasonic wave propagation imaging video data to create a video freeze-frame;
- (c) displaying the video freeze-frame on a graphical user interface;
- (d) selecting at least three points on the video freeze-frame by human interaction with the graphical user interface;
- (e) calculating an area of a polygon defined by the at least three points;
- and
- (f) displaying alphanumeric symbology representing the area calculated in step (e) on the graphical user interface.
A method for enhanced visualization of anomalies in a structure, comprising:
- (a) acquiring pulse-echo laser ultrasonic wave propagation imaging video data at a multiplicity of points in a scan area on a surface of a structure;
- (b) post-processing the pulse-echo laser ultrasonic wave propagation imaging video data to create a video freeze-frame;
- (c) displaying the video freeze-frame on a graphical user interface;
- (d) selecting a point on the video freeze-frame by human interaction with the graphical user interface;
- (e) converting pixel coordinates of the point selected in step (d) to spatial coordinates in a frame of reference of a positioner that supports a laser scanning head;
- (f) controlling the positioner to move the laser scanning head to a pointing position having the spatial coordinates resulting from step (e);
- and
- (g) activating the laser scanning head to emit a laser beam while the laser scanning head is in the pointing position.
An apparatus for enhanced visualization of anomalies in a structure, comprising:
- a pulse-echo laser ultrasonic wave propagation imaging system comprising a laser scanning head;
- a graphical user interface;
- and
- a computer system configured to perform the following operations:
- (a) receiving pulse-echo laser ultrasonic wave propagation imaging video data from pulse-echo laser ultrasonic wave propagation imaging system;
- (b) post-processing the pulse-echo laser ultrasonic wave propagation imaging video data using multiple-time window amplitude mapping to create a multiple-time window amplitude map;
- and
- (c) controlling the graphical user interface to display the multiple-time window amplitude map.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.