Abstract: An enclosed electronic apparatus including a first continuous heat-transfer band forming at least a portion of the exterior surface of the enclosure, with continuous lateral edges on either side thereof, and mounting points on an internal side of the continuous heat transfer band to which a printed circuit board assembly is mountable. A printed circuit board assembly is mounted to the heat transfer band at the mounting points, with a thermally conductive portion forming a thermal path between a heat-producing electronic component of the printed circuit board assembly and the heat transfer band. A thermally conductive gasket between the printed circuit board assembly and the heat transfer band at the mounting points facilitates heat transfer. Opposing first and second enclosure portions seal the respective continuous lateral edges of the heat transfer band against penetration of fluid or debris.

Abstract: A multiple mode digitization system for a non-destructive inspection instrument which makes use of a multiplexing circuit and a single set of analog to digital converters to efficiently digitize analog test signals from a plurality of inputs. In the preferred embodiment, each of the analog to digital converters in the system is driven with an independent and separate clock signal, allowing for propagation delay compensation among the plurality of test signals as well as interleaved sampling such that custom sampling rates can be used for each input without the need for more than one clock frequency. In an alternate embodiment, phase adjustments on the sampling clocks are used only for interleave sampling, and digital filters are used to provide signal propagation delay compensation.

Abstract: An enclosed electronic apparatus including a first continuous heat-transfer band forming at least a portion of the exterior surface of the enclosure, with continuous lateral edges on either side thereof, and mounting points on an internal side of the continuous heat transfer band to which a printed circuit board assembly is mountable. A printed circuit board assembly is mounted to the heat transfer band at the mounting points, with a thermally conductive portion forming a thermal path between a heat-producing electronic component of the printed circuit board assembly and the heat transfer band. A thermally conductive gasket between the printed circuit board assembly and the heat transfer band at the mounting points facilitates heat transfer. Opposing first and second enclosure portions seal the respective continuous lateral edges of the heat transfer band against penetration of fluid or debris.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides a method and system related to phased array ultrasonic systems to identify faults in individual element on a regular basis. The method and system of the present disclosure are based on a simple approach of calculating energy levels in response signals from each individual element and then identifying any discontinuities or unexpected drops in energy levels sensed during a typical phased array operation.

Abstract: A blending circuit is disclosed to be operable to combine plurality of digital outputs received from an analog to digital conversion system to create a composite digital signal. The analog to digital conversion system receives analog signals originated from multiple but substantially the same source signals, wherein the source signals being scaled to different degrees. A blending circuit deploys a blending factor to combine the digital outputs in a manner which blends and/or adjusts portion of each digital output being used to avoid over-flown portion of the digital outputs and to minimize phase and/or amplitude discontinuity of the composite digital signal.

Abstract: A user configured measurement display system and method for a non-destructive testing device and instrument (NDT/NDI) with high input data rate is disclosed. The system and the method provide the means for NDT/NDI instruments display measurement values that satisfies user designated measurement criterion occurring during any measurement time intervals (MTIs). The present disclosure overcomes the shortcomings of conventional ways of picking and displaying measurement values at fixed MTIs, by which the values truly satisfying the measurement criterion that occurs at random MTIs (other than scheduled MTIs) are often skipped.

Abstract: An enclosed electronic apparatus including a first continuous heat-transfer band forming at least a portion of the exterior surface of the enclosure, with continuous lateral edges on either side thereof, and mounting points on an internal side of the continuous heat transfer band to which a printed circuit board assembly is mountable. A printed circuit board assembly is mounted to the heat transfer band at the mounting points, with a thermally conductive portion forming a thermal path between a heat-producing electronic component of the printed circuit board assembly and the heat transfer band. A thermally conductive gasket between the printed circuit board assembly and the heat transfer band at the mounting points facilitates heat transfer. Opposing first and second enclosure portions seal the respective continuous lateral edges of the heat transfer band against penetration of fluid or debris.

Abstract: Alerting a user of a material inspection device to a change in thickness of a material being inspected is disclosed. A thickness offset is determined from calibration information. The calibration information identifies a time of flight of a pulse through a reference sample similar in composition to a material to be inspected. The thickness offset indicates when a thickness of a material being inspected differs from a thickness of the reference sample. A calibration thickness alarm is set, the calibration thickness alarm corresponding to the thickness offset. A change in thickness of the material being inspected is detected. The calibration thickness alarm is engaged to alert the user of the inspection device of a detected change in thickness of the material being inspected.

Abstract: An enhanced wireless eddy current probe is disclosed which has means to wirelessly couple to a non-destructive inspection (NDI) system situated some distance away from an inspection point on a material under inspection. The disclosed enhanced wireless eddy current probe provides means for executing advanced functions necessary for a complex eddy current inspection operation. These functions include, but are not limited to, storing, loading, and executing a predetermined firing sequence on an array of coil elements, probe balancing, probe calibration, and providing bibliographic information specific to said probe to a wirelessly coupled NDI system.

Abstract: A phased scanning method and phased scan eddy current array probe suitable for in-situ eddy current inspection of a structure without mechanical scanning. Overlapping subsets of the sensor elements within the array probe are dynamically connected in series and sequentially scanned to simulate the mechanical motion of a conventional array probe along a test surface. An algorithm to effectively balance the scan data is provided which comprises obtaining a reference scan at the time of probe installation, storing the measurement data from this reference scan in a memory device located within the probe, subtracting this reference curve from the curve obtained by all subsequent measurement scans to produce an adjusted curve, and processing the resulting adjusted curve through a high pass filter. A technique for verifying sensor elements of an eddy current array probe after permanent or semi-permanent installation against a test structure is also provided.

Abstract: A multiple mode digitization system for a non-destructive inspection instrument which makes use of a multiplexing circuit and a single set of analog to digital converters to efficiently digitize analog test signals from a plurality of inputs. In the preferred embodiment, each of the analog to digital converters in the system is driven with an independent and separate clock signal, allowing for propagation delay compensation among the plurality of test signals as well as interleaved sampling such that custom sampling rates can be used for each input without the need for more than one clock frequency. In an alternate embodiment, phase adjustments on the sampling clocks are used only for interleave sampling, and digital filters are used to provide signal propagation delay compensation.

Abstract: A GPS enabled datalogging system for a non-destructive test/non-destructive inspection instrument. GPS obtained location data is used to geographically stamp inspection data entries, which provides for more efficient and accurate data collection, organization, and analysis. The GPS enabled datalogging system also provides a method for detecting when the instrument has entered a specific inspection zone and performing location specific tasks to aid the operator in that inspection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting non-linear operation of a measuring device comprising an array of transducers and at least one receiver channel portion. The method comprises receiving measured signals through transducers of the array, processing the measured signals from the transducers through the receiver channel portion, combining the processed measured signals to produce a combined measurement signal, and detecting non-linearity of the combined measurement signal and non-linear operation of the measuring device by detecting saturation of the receiver channel portion. In one embodiment, the receiver channel portion comprises an analog-to-digital converter, a threshold is assigned to a digital output of the analog-to-digital converter, and saturation of the receiver channel portion is detected when the digital output of the analog-to-digital converter oversteps the assigned threshold. In one application of the invention, the measuring device is a non-destructive testing device.

Abstract: A coplanar antenna system having a single-coil loop antenna provides both transmit and receive functions. The antenna operates in a tuned mode during transmitting and an untuned mode during receiving. Dead zone and transformer effect problems are virtually eliminated. The transmitter is highly efficient and the receiver is impulse noise immune.