Abstract: The invention discloses an inspection system for detecting near surface flaws or defects in conductors using nondestructive eddy current testing suitable for industrial application. The system provides a method and apparatus for acquiring real time, synchronized, discrete eddy current measurement signals from a plurality of sufficiently disposed, spatially correlated eddy current probes then processing and formatting said measurement signals automatically over parallel data channels to accommodate digital processing techniques in order to produce on eddy current image. Utilizing digital image processing provides a capability for improving flaw detection limits while simultaneously enhancing image resolution.

Abstract: The quality of incomplete data Non-Destructive Evaluation and Computed Tomography images is improved by incorporating a priori information into the image reconstruction and image processing to supplement the available data. The a priori information is provided by electronic models of the part derived from a solid modeler, physics of the inspection process, and outputs of touch and other sensors. Methods of improving limited-angle X-ray CT images are given. Calculated projection data in the missing angular range is provided by calculating x-ray path lengths through a solid model of the part, and x-ray attenuation from known physical parameters of the part and source. The measured and calculated projection data are combined to reconstruct the CT image. In an iterative reconstruction approach, precise boundary information from a model and calculated attenuation are information to improve the limited angle image.