Abstract: An ultrasound system includes a single transducer. The single transducer includes a flexible substrate. The single transducer also includes an array of transducer elements disposed on the flexible substrate and configured to be disposed on an abdomen of a subject having one or more fetuses disposed within a single uterus and to acquire scan data. The ultrasound system also includes a processor coupled to the single transducer and configured to receive the scan data and to determine a respective fetal heart rate of each fetus of the one or more fetuses based on the scan data.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a weld operation is provided. The system includes an ultrasonic wave generator adapted to deliver an ultrasonic wave to a target material during the weld operation and an ultrasonic receiver adapted to receive the ultrasonic wave propagated through the target material. The system also includes a signal processor adapted to determine a quality level of a weld created during the weld operation by extracting data corresponding to a torsional mode from the ultrasonic wave and comparing the data to a profile that corresponds to an acceptable quality level.

Abstract: A gear inspection system and method for a gearbox, wherein an image acquisition unit is oriented proximate the gearbox with a field of view of a section of the gears. The image acquisition unit obtains images of a gear tooth and corresponding contact pattern. In one embodiment a processing unit transforms the images to a gear tooth model so that the gear tooth image and contact pattern image matches the model gear tooth. Metrics are computed for the contact pattern, and based on threshold values, a determination is made as to whether the gearbox is acceptable.

Abstract: A method for determining a location of incipient damage of an object comprises insonifying the object at a plurality of locations using ultrasonic signals during an inspection, acquiring signals indicative of a possible damage condition from the plurality of locations of the insonified object in said inspection, determining a value for each of the locations to indicate accumulated damage by mathematically combining the acquired signals from said inspection and at least a portion of prior inspections, and comparing the values of the plurality of locations to determine a location indicating possible incipient damage.

Abstract: A method of computing gear modifications from a gear inspection chart is provided. The method includes extracting a gear profile from the gear inspection chart. The method also includes quantifying the gear profile. The method also includes determining a gear modification based on a quantified gear profile. The method also includes qualifying a gear based on the gear modification.

Abstract: A gear inspection system and method for a gearbox, wherein an image acquisition unit is oriented proximate the gearbox with a field of view of a section of the gears. The image acquisition unit obtains images of a gear tooth and corresponding contact pattern. In one embodiment a processing unit transforms the images to a gear tooth model so that the gear tooth image and contact pattern image matches the model gear tooth. Metrics are computed for the contact pattern, and based on threshold values, a determination is made as to whether the gearbox is acceptable.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a weld process is provided. The system includes an ultrasonic wave generator adapted to deliver an ultrasonic signal to a target material during a weld operation. The system also includes a pair of ultrasonic receiver elements with opposite directions of polarization relative to each other, the ultrasonic receiver elements configured to receive the ultrasonic signal propagated through the target material. The system further includes an electronic circuit coupled to the pair of ultrasonic receiver elements. The electronic circuit is configured to receive respective signals from the pair of ultrasonic receiver elements; wherein the respective signals comprise the ultrasonic signal and a noise signal. The electronic circuit is also configured to output the ultrasonic signal devoid of the noise signal.

Abstract: An inspection system includes an ultrasonic transducer configured to deliver ultrasonic wave energy to at least one sub volume of the part, and an ultrasonic receiver configured to receive ultrasonic wave energy from the part at a fundamental frequency and at least one harmonic frequency. Both the ultrasonic transducer and the ultrasonic receiver are located on the same side of the part in various configurations. In a method, ultrasonic wave energy is delivered to at least one subvolume of the part using an ultrasonic transducer and ultrasonic wave energy from the part at a fundamental frequency is received at least one harmonic frequency using an ultrasonic receiver positioned on the same side of the part to determine whether one or more material property anomalies are present in the part.

Abstract: A method and system for microstructural evaluation and degradation evaluation of an object are provided. The method comprises insonifying at least one subvolume of the object with ultrasonic energy at a fundamental frequency and acquiring receive energy from the object at the fundamental frequency and at least one harmonic frequency thereof. A nonlinearity parameter is determined using the receive energy. The nonlinearity parameter is then used to determine a grain size for the subvolume of the object and a variation of the grain size within the object. The nonlinearity parameter is also used to determine fatigue damage or a residual stress.

Abstract: A digital radiography imaging system for acquiring digital images of an object, and a method for transforming digital images into an absolute thickness map characterizing the object under inspection. The system includes a radiation source for directing radiation through a desired region of the object, and a radiation detector having a plurality of sensing elements for detecting radiation passing through the object. Numerical data generated from each sensing element is calibrated, for example by correcting for variations in radiation paths between the source and detector, by correcting for variations in the spatial frequency response (MTF) of the detector, by correcting for variations in the geometric profile of the object under inspection, and by correcting for material contained in and/or around the object. The calibrated data is processed in order to generate and display an absolute thickness map of the object.

Abstract: A method of computing gear modifications from a gear inspection chart is provided. The method includes extracting a gear profile from the gear inspection chart. The method also includes quantifying the gear profile. The method also includes determining a gear modification based on a quantified gear profile. The method also includes qualifying a gear based on the gear modification.

Abstract: A method for inspecting a part is provided. The method includes immersing the part in a couplant medium, delivering ultrasonic wave energy to at least one subvolume of the part using an ultrasonic transducer immersed in the couplant medium and receiving ultrasonic wave energy from the part at a fundamental frequency and at least one harmonic frequency using an ultrasonic receiver immersed in the couplant medium. The method also includes generating a nonlinear image corresponding to at least one material property variation of the part using the received ultrasonic energy and using the nonlinear image of the part to determine whether one or more material property anomalies are present in the part.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, the present technique provides a testing apparatus for testing material integrity of an object. The exemplary testing apparatus includes a phased array transducer, which is disposed external to the object. The phased array transducer is configured to transmit a first set of ultrasonic signals and to receive a second set of ultrasonic signals. The testing apparatus further includes logic circuitry coupled to the phased array transducer. The logic circuitry is configured to dynamically control apertures for transmitting the first set of ultrasonic signals and receiving the second set of ultrasonic signals based on a region of interest and a testing speed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating a depth of a crack from ultrasound scan data are provided. The method includes mapping multiple amplitude responses from the ultrasound scan data, each mapped amplitude response being representative of a signal from one of the sensors. The method further includes locating multiple linear responses among the mapped amplitude responses, each linear response being an indicator of a reflected signal from the crack. One or more sensor that corresponds to the linear responses from a given crack is identified. The depth of the crack is estimated using data from the identified sensors.

Abstract: A method and system for microstructural evaluation and degradation evaluation of an object are provided. The method comprises insonifying at least one subvolume of the object with ultrasonic energy at a fundamental frequency and acquiring receive energy from the object at the fundamental frequency and at least one harmonic frequency thereof. A nonlinearity parameter is determined using the receive energy. The nonlinearity parameter is then used to determine a grain size for the subvolume of the object and a variation of the grain size within the object. The nonlinearity parameter is also used to determine fatigue damage or a residual stress.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a weld operation is provided. The system includes an ultrasonic wave generator adapted to deliver an ultrasonic wave to a target material during the weld operation and an ultrasonic receiver adapted to receive the ultrasonic wave propagated through the target material. The system also includes a signal processor adapted to determine a quality level of a weld created during the weld operation by extracting data corresponding to a torsional mode from the ultrasonic wave and comparing the data to a profile that corresponds to an acceptable quality level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating a depth of a crack from ultrasound scan data are provided. The method includes mapping multiple amplitude responses from the ultrasound scan data, each mapped amplitude response being representative of a signal from one of the sensors. The method further includes locating multiple linear responses among the mapped amplitude responses, each linear response being an indicator of a reflected signal from the crack. One or more sensor that corresponds to the linear responses from a given crack is identified. The depth of the crack is estimated using data from the identified sensors.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, the present technique provides a testing apparatus for testing material integrity of an object. The exemplary testing apparatus includes a phased array transducer, which is disposed external to the object. The phased array transducer is configured to transmit a first set of ultrasonic signals and to receive a second set of ultrasonic signals. The testing apparatus further includes logic circuitry coupled to the phased array transducer. The logic circuitry is configured to dynamically control apertures for transmitting the first set of ultrasonic signals and receiving the second set of ultrasonic signals based on a region of interest and a testing speed.

Abstract: A digital radiography imaging system for acquiring digital images of an object, and a method for transforming digital images into an absolute thickness map characterizing the object under inspection. The system includes a radiation source for directing radiation through a desired region of the object, and a radiation detector having a plurality of sensing elements for detecting radiation passing through the object. Numerical data generated from each sensing element is calibrated, for example by correcting for variations in radiation paths between the source and detector, by correcting for variations in the spatial frequency response (MTF) of the detector, by correcting for variations in the geometric profile of the object under inspection, and by correcting for material contained in and/or around the object. The calibrated data is processed in order to generate and display an absolute thickness map of the object.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, the present technique provides a testing apparatus for testing material integrity in an object. The testing apparatus includes an electrical conductor and a sensing device. In the exemplary testing device, the electrical conductor extends in a generally linear direction and is configured to route current in a direction generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the object being tested. Routing of current through the electrical conductor creates remote field eddy current effect, which, in turn, affects a magnetic field around the test object. The testing apparatus also includes a sensing device located at a distance from the electrical conductor and configured to detect magnetic fields generated in response to current routed through the electrical conductor.