Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection apparatus for the inspection of metal structures, especially installed pipes.The apparatus combines a specimen inspection element, an acoustical velocity sensing element, and a surface profiling element, all in one scanning head. A scanning head bellows contains a volume of oil above the pipe surface, serving as acoustical couplant between the scanning head and the pipe.The scanning head is mounted on a scanning truck which is mobile around a circular track surrounding the pipe. The scanning truck has sufficient motors, gears, and position encoders to allow the scanning head six degrees of motion freedom.A computer system continually monitors acoustical velocity, and uses that parameter to process surface profiling and inspection data. The profiling data is used to automatically control scanning head position and alignment and to define a coordinate system used to identify and interpret inspection data.

Abstract: In the exemplary embodiments, the apparatus comprises: an ultrasonic transducer arrangement; a drive arranged to pivotably displace the transducer arrangement within a predetermined angular range; an actual-value generator for supplying a signal (F.sub.I (.rho.) dependent upon the angular position of the transducer arrangement within the said range; a desired-value generator for supplying a signal (F.sub.S (.rho.)) representing a desired angular position of the transducer arrangement within the said range; and a control for controlling the drive in dependence upon such signals from the actual-value and desired-value generators. The actual-value and desired-value generators are adapted to supply respective signals having the same or similar forms over a relatively large signal range within the said range.

Abstract: Test equipment for the detection and analysis of material faults in a test piece, including a test head, an electrical remotely controlled manipulator for moving the test head in at least two degrees of freedom, a device connected to the test head for supplying the test head and evaluating signals thereof, a display connected to the test head for measuring test results thereof, a device for providing the manipulator with a testing program for automatically following a predetermined path at the surface of the test piece, an electronic transmission system connected to the manipulator, a device connected to the electronic transmission system for simulating the test piece, and a remote controlled hand-operated guide element disposed adjacent to the display in the simulating means for controlling the test head in correspondence to manual operation.

Abstract: Apparatus to detect and/or locate an inhomogeneity in a medium comprises a transducer to transmit frequency-modulated ultrasonic energy through the medium and a transducer to receive reflected energy. The transducers are connected to a phase-locked loop which maintains a required relationship between the phase of the transmitted modulation and the phase of the received modulation by adjustment of the modulation frequency. The modulation frequency adjustment is kept within predetermined upper and lower frequency limits so that the loop can lock only on to received ultrasonic energy which has travelled a distance within a predetermined region in the medium. The energy may be scanned across the region to produce a profile of the inhomogeneity, such as tissue at a certain depth within a limb.

Abstract: A physiologic facsimile image of a biological target is obtained by: scang the target by transmitting a microwave signal through the target and measuring at least one of the amplitude and phase components of the complex microwave power transmission coefficient at each one of a plurality of sample locations which are spaced so as to define a two-dimensional array and such that a set of digital data for each of the measured components is obtained, and for at least one of the sets of data; sorting the set of data into column order; magnifying data derived from the sorting step so as to enhance the resolution of the image; mapping data derived from the magnifying step into further data using a predetermined mapping function so as to enhance the contrast between selected portions of the image; and obtaining the set of control signals by filtering data derived from the mapping step using a band pass function which rejects spatial frequencies below a predetermined first frequency and/or rejects spatial frequencies a

Abstract: A cascade charge coupled delay circuit including a plurality of serial delay line sections formed on a single semiconducter wafer, said delay line sections being directly coupled to one another through the wafer and means for independently clocking each section of said lines.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprises a probe having at least one electro-acoustic transducing element, a motor for imparting a sector motion to the probe, a pulse oscillator for energizing the electro-acoustic transducing element to generate ultrasonic pulses, and a signal processing circuit connected to receive from the electro-acoustic transducing element electric signals corresponding to the ultrasonic signals received by the probe and to process the electric signals so as to provide information on the living body being examined. The apparatus further comprises a first control circuit connected to receive first reference signals of a predetermined frequency and control the rotation of the motor according to the first reference signals, a second control circuit connected to receive second reference signals and control the rotation of the motor according to the second reference signals, and a switching circuit for connecting the first and second control circuits alternatively to the motor.

Abstract: Herein described is an electronic control system for guiding a search unit of a nondestructive material tester over sloped or curved surfaces and shapes. More particularly described is the index system used on an indexing-scanning (inspection) device. An oscillator provides a preset number of pulses through an angle rate generator and direction logic to a binary coded decimal pulse counter. The counter keeps track of the input pulses provided thereto (each pulse represents an 0.1.degree. increment) therefore, its contents are indicative of the angle accumulated therein. A pair of read only memories provides the sine function and cosine function of the accumulated angle as a binary coded decimal trigonometric representation of the input angular degree. The signals therefrom control respective Y and Z rate generators whose input clock rate is indicative of the velocity along the curve of the pivot point of the search unit.

Abstract: An ultrasonic scanning system for echocardiography or the like, the system including a pivoted transducer in a manually-held housing containing a reversible low-inertia servo motor drivingly connected to the transducer via reduction gearing for oscillating the transducer, and a photoelectric system for generating sine and cosine voltages representing the real time positions of the transducer. An electronic position control circuit controls the motor, and thus controls the position of the transducer, by feedback signals derived from the difference between the sine function generated in the photoelectric system and a triangular wave generated in the control circuit. This difference is used to determine the magnitude and polarity of the voltage applied to the servo motor. This makes it possible to program the sector position of the transducer as a function of time. The photoelectric system may consist of a slotted disc mounted on the motor shaft between light sources and arrays of photocells.

Abstract: An ultrasonic scanner having a housing, an ultrasonic transducer disposed within the housing and mounted for movement in a predetermined path therewithin. Magnetic means are provided for effecting movement of the transducer in a predetermined path, and electrical means are provided for energizing the transducer and receiving signals therefrom.The scanner may be servo-controlled and be provided with position sensing means for determining the position of the transducer within the predetermined path, and signal processing means for receiving feedback signals from said position sensing means and adjusting said transducer position responsive to said feedback signals indicating the existence of a departure from the desired transducer position.

Abstract: Ultrasonic energy transmission in rectilinear array scanning patterns of soft tissue provides projection density values of the tissue which are recorded as a function of scanning position and angular relationship, .theta., of the subject with a fixed coordinate system. A plurality of rectilinear scan arrays in the same plane for different angular relationships .theta..sub.1 . . . .theta..sub.n thus recorded are superimposed. The superimposition of intensity values thus yields a tomographic image of an internal section of the tissue in the scanning plane.

Abstract: A weld inspection system uses fluoroscopic flaw detection particularly sensitive to volumetric type weld flaws and ultrasonic flaw detection particularly sensitive to planar type weld flaws. Both inspections are performed simultaneously throughout the pipe length. Each system marks the pipe with a distinguishing mark to identify the location of the flaw detected by that system. The fluoroscopic system is a high resolution system, the ultrasonic system avoids detection of minor non-rejectable variation in weld bead geometry and is calibrated to a desired sensitivity level.