Ultrasonic pulse-echo thickness and velocity measuring method

Abstract

In a pulse-echo ultrasonic circuit an ultrasonic search signal is periodically transmitted into a workpiece. The ensuing pair of echo signals (entrant and rear surface reflection respectively) are fed to a timing circuit for providing a timing signal responsive to the time interval between the two echo signals. A fixed pulse width pulse generator is triggered responsive to the search signal. The output from the fixed pulse width generator and the timing signal from the timing circuit are selectively fed to a converter circuit for providing an output signal indicative of workpiece thickness or workpiece acoustic velocity. The converter circuit includes adjustable parameters comprising current magnitude and resistance to provide suitable calibration. Similar calibration is achieved also by varying the repetition rate of the search signal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.