US 6,301,512 B1 · Ultrasonic data analysis and display system

Abstract

An ultrasonic data analysis and display system for use with ultrasonic test apparatus. The ultrasonic analysis and display system includes a display that is divided into six different display formats, including a pulse echo, a time of flight display, an A-Scan, a horizontal and vertical B-Scan, and a control display. Each of the displays gives a different view of the ultrasonic test data obtained from a test part. When a portion of the ultrasonic data in any of the display formats is selected, the other display formats are automatically updated to reflect the operator's selections. The format of the displayed data can be changed to a half-wave positive, a half-wave negative, or a full-wave rectification. Distances within any of the display formats can be measured by selecting two data points. Also, different color palettes for displaying the ultrasonic data can be selected, and portions of the ultrasonic data displayed in the pulse echo or time of flight displays can be enlarged by zooming in on a selected portion.

Claims40

Dependent claims

A system for analyzing and displaying ultrasonic test data produced by an ultrasonic test apparatus for a test part, the system comprising:

(a) a display for simultaneously displaying ultrasonic test data in at least two display portions, including a first display portion and a second display portion, each of said display portions displaying ultrasonic test data in a format selected from the group consisting of an A-Scan, a B-Scan, a pulse echo, and a time of flight format, said display presenting ultrasonic test data in a manner such that locations on said display correspond to locations on said test part;
(b) an input device responsive to an operator's input for selecting at least one location on said first display portion, wherein said at least one location corresponds to a selection of the ultrasonic test data as displayed within said first display portion, and producing display location data, wherein said display location data can be produced a plurality of times in response to a plurality of input selections by the operator;
and
(c) control means coupled to said display and said input device for receiving the display location data from said input device, determining ultrasonic test data parameters corresponding to the display location data, filtering out portions of the ultrasonic test data based on the combination of the ultrasonic test data parameters and the format of said second display portion, and for causing said second display portion to update said display of ultrasonic data by displaying portions of the ultrasonic test data that have not been filtered out, wherein said filtering and updating of data can be done a plurality of times in response to a plurality of display location data produced by said input device.

1 more element

In a computer system including a display, an input device responsive to an operator's input, a processor for controlling the display, memory means for storing ultrasonic test data obtained from a test part and programs for controlling the processor, the improvement comprising a user interface program for analyzing and displaying said ultrasonic test data obtained from a test part, said user interface program controlling said processor such that:

(a) said display simultaneously displays the ultrasonic test data in at least two formats selected from the group consisting of an A-Scan, a pulse echo, a B-Scan, and a time of flight format;
(b) after said display has displayed the ultrasonic test data in at least one format, said processor responds to an operator using said input device to select at least one location on said display, wherein said at least one location corresponds to the ultrasonic test data displayed in one of said at least two formats;
(c) said processor determines the ultrasonic test data corresponding to the selected location on the display, and further determines the locations on the test part corresponding to the location on the display;
d) said processor filters out a portion of the ultrasonic test data, said filtering being determined by said locations on the test part and a second one of at least two formats;
e) said processor instructs said display to update said second format in response to the operator's selection using a portion of the ultrasonic test data that has not been filtered out, and is related to said selected location;
and
f) said display updates said second other format in response to said processor's instructions.

4 more elements

A method of analyzing and displaying ultrasonic test data obtained from a test part comprising the steps of:

(a) storing the ultrasonic test data in a storage device;
(b) simultaneously displaying the ultrasonic test data in at least two formats selected from the group consisting of an A-Scan, a pulse echo, a B-Scan, and a time of flight format;
(c) determining a portion of the displayed ultrasonic test data indicative of a characteristic of the test part;
d) selecting a location on one of said at least two formats, said location corresponding to the portion of the displayed ultrasonic test data indicative of a characteristic of the test part;
e) determining the ultrasonic test data related to the selected location;
f) filtering out portions of the ultrasonic test data based on a combination of said determined ultrasonic test data and the other of said at least two formats;
and
g) updating the other of said at least two formats using the ultrasonic data that have not been filtered out.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ultrasonic data analysis and display system

Life of this patent

Ultrasonic data analysis and display system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims40