# US 9,753,017 B2 · Ultrasonic observation equipment, ultrasonic observation system, and ultrasonic observation method

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- Number: US 9,753,017 B2
- Document ID: US9753017B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/293,421
- Filed: 2014-06-02
- Published: 2014-12-04
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2013-06-03
- Assignees: Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.
- Applicants: Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.
- Inventors: Naoyuki Kono; Kouichi Kurosawa; So Kitazawa; Yuji Matsui
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9753017B2

## CPC

- G01N 29/343: {pulse waves, e.g. particular sequence of pulses, bursts}
- G01N 29/0654: {Imaging}
- G01N 29/262: {by electronic orientation or focusing, e.g. with phased arrays (phased arrays per se G10K11/34)}
- G01S 15/8913: {using separate transducers for transmission and reception}
- G01S 15/8915: {using a transducer array}
- G21C 17/01: Inspection of the inner surfaces of vessels
- G01N 2291/106: one or more transducer arrays
- G01N 2291/2636: cylindrical from inside
- G01S 7/003: {Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations}
- G21C 17/013: Inspection vehicles
- Y02E 30/30: Nuclear fission reactors
- 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)
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G21C: NUCLEAR REACTORS (fusion reactors, hybrid fission-fusion reactors G21B; nuclear explosives G21J)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A single-element ultrasonic sensor includes a single transducer element and transmits an ultrasonic wave on the basis of a pulse wave. An ultrasonic array sensor includes a plurality of transducer elements and receives an ultrasonic reflected wave. A pulsar supplies the pulse wave to the single element ultrasonic sensor. A receiver receives electric signals from the transducer elements included in the ultrasonic array sensor. An amplification and conversion unit amplifies the electric signals received from the transducer elements included in the ultrasonic array sensor, converts the electric signals into digital signals, and arranges the digital signals in a serial order so as to generate a serial digital signal. An image generator generates an image on the basis of the serial digital signal.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ultrasonic observation equipment comprising:
an ultrasonic sensor including:
a single element ultrasonic sensor including a single transducer element and configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave to an inspection target on a basis of a pulse wave; and
an ultrasonic array sensor, different from the single element ultrasonic sensor, including a plurality of transducer elements and configured to receive an ultrasonic reflected wave reflected from the inspection target;
an ultrasonic transceiver unit including:
a pulsar configured to supply the pulse wave to the single element ultrasonic sensor;
a receiver configured to receive an electric signal from the transducer elements included in the ultrasonic array sensor;
an amplification and conversion unit configured to amplify the electric signal of each of the transducer elements included in the ultrasonic array sensor received by the receiver, convert the electric signal into a digital signal, and arrange the digital signal in a serial order so as to generate a serial digital signal; and
a first communication unit configured to transmit the serial digital signal;
a processing unit comprising:
a second communication unit configured to receive the serial digital signal, and
an image generator configured to generate an image on a basis of the serial digital signal; and
a third communication unit configured to transmit and receive data between the ultrasonic transceiver unit and the processing unit;
wherein the serial digital signal is transmitted from the ultrasonic transceiver unit to the third communication unit via a single cable.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic observation equipment according to claim 1,
wherein the single element ultrasonic sensor and the ultrasonic array sensor are arranged in such a manner that a center of the single element ultrasonic sensor matches a center of the ultrasonic array sensor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The ultrasonic observation equipment according to claim 2,
wherein the ultrasonic array sensor includes a first transducer element group and a second transducer element group, and
wherein the single element ultrasonic sensor is arranged between the first transducer element group and the second transducer element group.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The ultrasonic observation equipment according to claim 3,
wherein the single element ultrasonic sensor and the ultrasonic array sensor are arranged on a saddle type surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The ultrasonic observation equipment according to claim 3,
wherein the ultrasonic array sensor includes a third transducer element group and a fourth transducer element group, and
wherein the single element ultrasonic sensor is arranged between the third transducer element group and the fourth transducer element group.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The ultrasonic observation equipment according to claim 2,
wherein the single element ultrasonic sensor and the ultrasonic array sensor are arranged in such a manner as to be perpendicular to each other.

### Claim 7

An ultrasonic observation system comprising:
a single element ultrasonic sensor including a single transducer element and configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave on a basis of a pulse wave;
an ultrasonic array sensor, different from the single element ultrasonic sensor, including a plurality of transducer elements and configured to receive an ultrasonic reflected wave;
a transducer including: a pulsar configured to supply the pulse wave to the single element ultrasonic sensor; a receiver configured to receive an electric signal from the transducer elements included in the ultrasonic array sensor; and an amplification and conversion unit configured to amplify the electric signal of each of the transducer elements included in the ultrasonic array sensor received by the receiver, convert the electric signal into a digital signal, and arrange the digital signal in a serial order so as to generate a serial digital signal;
a processing unit including an image generator configured to generate an image on a basis of the serial digital signal;
a relay unit configured to transmit and receive data between the transducer and the processing unit; and
a display unit configured to display the image,
wherein the single element ultrasonic sensor, the ultrasonic array sensor, the transceiver, and the display unit are connected to a first communication network,
wherein the processing unit is connected to a second communication network,
wherein the first communication network is connected to the second communication network, and
wherein the serial digital signal is transmitted from the transducer to the processing unit via a single cable.

### Claim 8

An ultrasonic observation method comprising:
supplying a pulse wave to a single element ultrasonic sensor;
causing the single element ultrasonic sensor including a single transducer element to transmit an ultrasonic wave on a basis of the pulse wave;
causing an ultrasonic array sensor, different from the single element ultrasonic sensor, including a plurality of transducer elements to receive an ultrasonic reflected wave;
receiving, by an ultrasonic transceiver unit, an electric signal from the transducer elements included in the ultrasonic array sensor;
amplifying the electric signal of each of the transducer elements included in the ultrasonic array sensor, converting the electric signal into a digital signal, and arranging the digital signal in a serial order so as to generate a serial digital signal; and
transmitting the serial digital signal from the ultrasonic transceiver unit to a processing unit including an image generator via a single cable; and
generating, by the image generator, an image based on the serial digital signal.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The ultrasonic observation equipment according to claim 1, further comprising:
a serial cable connecting the ultrasonic transceiver unit with the processing unit via the third communication unit.