Ultrasonic array sensor, ultrasonic inspection instrument and ultrasonic inspection method

An ultrasonic inspection instrument comprising:

• an array sensor having both a transmitter element array in which a plurality of transmitter elements for transmitting ultrasonic waves are arrayed and a receiver element array in which a plurality of receiver elements for receiving ultrasonic waves are arrayed;
• a control unit for focusing ultrasonic waves transmitted from said transmitter elements respectively on a focus point where half the sum of a transmitting angle and a receiving angle will be not larger than 30 degrees;
• a generation unit for generating inspection information based on said ultrasonic waves received by said receiver elements;
• and
• a display unit for displaying said inspection information generated by said generation unit.

An ultrasonic inspection instrument comprising:

• an array sensor having both a transmitter element array in which a plurality of transmitter elements for transmitting ultrasonic waves are arrayed and a receiver element array in which a plurality of receiver elements for receiving ultrasonic waves are arrayed;
• a control unit for focusing ultrasonic waves transmitted from said transmitter elements on a focus point;
• an amplification control unit for changing amplification of at least one of a signal to be supplied to each of said transmitter elements and a signal to be supplied from each of said receiver elements, in accordance with said focus point;
• a generation unit for generating inspection information based on said ultrasonic waves received by said receiver elements;
• and
• a display unit for displaying said inspection information generated by said generation unit.