# US 8,770,029 B2 · Method and apparatus for ultrasonic testing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,029 B2 - Document ID: US8770029B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/252,435 - Filed: 2011-10-04 - Published: 2013-04-04 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-04 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: Stephan Falter; Roman Koch - Inventors: Stephan Falter; Roman Koch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770029B2 ## CPC - G01N 29/38: by time filtering, e.g. using time gates - G01N 29/043: {in the interior, e.g. by shear waves} - G01N 29/0645: {Display representation or displayed parameters, e.g. A-, B- or C-Scan} - G01N 29/262: {by electronic orientation or focusing, e.g. with phased arrays (phased arrays per se G10K11/34)} - G01N 2291/044: Internal reflections (echoes), e.g. on walls or defects - 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 for ultrasonic testing of an object, the method comprising ultrasonic scanning of a plurality of scan regions of the object; converting ultrasonic echoes of the ultrasonic scanning into a plurality of electrical signals; gating the electrical signals to provide gated signals; and wherein different gating times are used for the electrical signals. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for ultrasonic testing of an object, the method comprising: a) ultrasonic scanning of a plurality of scan regions of the object, thereby generating ultrasonic echoes; b) converting the ultrasonic echoes of the ultrasonic scanning into a plurality of electrical signals; c) gating the electrical signals to provide gated signals; wherein different gating times are used for the electrical signals, the gating times each comprising a gating start time and a gating finish time; d) processing the electrical signals to obtain an ultrasonic B-mode image; e) receiving an input from a user by detecting the user adjusting at least one boundary position on the display using a cursor, the at least one boundary position defining at least one of the gating start time and the gating finish time; and f) adjusting at least one of the gating start time and the gating finish time in response to the user adjusting the at least one boundary position on the display. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the gating times depend on the respective scan region. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, comprising displaying the adjusted gating times with the B-mode image on a display. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, comprising calculating a curve depending on the input from the user and drawing the curve on the display. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the different gating times are calculated based on coordinates of the curve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, comprising calculating a free form surface depending on the input from the user and drawing the free form snake on the display. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein the gating times is calculated based on coordinates of the free form surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the gating comprises employing a gating threshold, the gating threshold being calculated based on coordinates of the free form surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein a graphic user interface is used for receiving the input from the user. ### Claim 10 Ultrasonic testing device for testing an object, comprising: a) an ultrasonic transducer for scanning a plurality of scan regions of the object and for convening ultrasonic echoes into electrical signals; b) a gating unit configured for gating the electrical signals with a gating time to provide gated signals, the gating time comprising a gating start time and a gating finish time, wherein the gating time depends on the respective scan region; c) a signal processor configured to generate a B-Mode image; d) a display configured to display the B-mode image and to display the gating time as a curve, the curve having a first portion indicating the gating start time and a second portion indicating the gating finish time; e) an input unit for receiving an input from a user, the input unit being configured for enabling the user to adjust a position of the curve on the display and for detecting the adjusted position of the curve on the display as the input, the adjusted position of the curve indicating an adjusted gating start time, an adjusted gating finish time, or both; and wherein the gating unit is configured to adjust the gating time in response to detecting the adjusted position of the curve on the display. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) Ultrasonic testing device according to claim 10, the display and the input unit being configured with a graphic user interface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) Ultrasonic testing device according to claim 10, the ultrasonic transducer comprising a phased array. ### Claim 13 A method for testing an object with an ultrasonic testing device comprising a display, the method comprising: a) scanning a plurality of scan regions of the object to obtain to plurality of electrical signals according to a eating time for each of the electrical signals; b) processing the electrical signals to obtain a B-mode image and displaying the B-mode image on the display; c) receiving an input from a user manipulating a cursor on the display to position a boundary in the B-mode image, the boundary defining at least one of a gating start time and a gating finish time of the gating time for each of the electrical signals; and d) processing of the electrical signals, wherein the processing comprises a gating of the electrical signals according to the gating times defined by display coordinates the boundary in the B-mode image. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, comprising receiving the input from the user by a graphic user interface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, comprising calculating the gating times for the gating of the electrical signals according to the coordinates of the boundary. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step e) comprises detecting the user adjusting at least two cursor positions of the cursor on the display, a first one of the at least two cursor positions corresponding to the gating start time and a second one of the at least two cursor positions corresponding to the gating finish time, and wherein the step f) comprises adjusting both the gating start time and the gating finish time in response to the user adjusting the first and second cursor positions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying the B-mode image on the display, and displaying the first and second cursor positions in relation to the B-mode image.