Non-destructive testing (NDT) scanner and operator interface

Abstract

The nondestructive testing device may include, for example, a scanner assembly configured to encode movement in one or two directions. The scanner assembly may include a carriage with one or more respective wheels oriented to rotate in a circumferential scanning direction, and a carriage housing or other method guides the transducer probe assembly. A first encoder may be configured to generate a first signal representing displacement of the carriage in the first direction, and the scanner assembly may also include at least one wheel oriented to rotate in an index direction, and a second encoder configured to generate a second signal representing displacement of the carriage in the second direction in response to rotation of the at least one wheel oriented to rotate in the second direction. An operator interface mounted on the scanner assembly may receive user input and simultaneously present a status display to guide the inspection.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Claim of Priority This patent application was filed on September 23, 2022, and claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 376,839, filed by Veronique Simard et al. and titled "DUAL ENCODER SCANNER AND RELATED OPERATOR INTERFACE" (Attorney Docket No. 6409.236PRV), the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] This document generally relates to devices and techniques for non-destructive testing, such as facilitating non-destructive testing, such as acoustic inspection, and more particularly, to devices and techniques for performing encoding of scan positions, including optionally visual feedback to an operator, but is not limited thereto.

Background Art

[0003] Non-destructive testing (NDT) can refer to the use of one or more different techniques for inspecting areas on or within an object, for example, to confirm the presence of flaws or defects in the object being inspected or to otherwise characterize the object being inspected. Examples of non-destructive testing approaches can include the use of eddy current testing approaches where electromagnetic energy is applied to an object and the resulting induced current is detected on or within the object, and the value of the detected current (or related impedance) provides an indication of the structure of the test object, such as indicating the presence of cracks, voids, porosity, or other non-uniformities.

[0004] Another approach for NDT may involve the use of acoustic inspection techniques, such as using one or more electroacoustic transducers to irradiate an area on or within the object under test with ultrasound, and detecting and processing the scattered or reflected acoustic energy. Such scattered or reflected energy may be referred to as an acoustic echo signal. Generally, such acoustic inspection schemes involve the use of acoustic frequencies in an ultrasonic range of frequencies, including, as an exemplary example, pulses having energy within a specified range, which can include values ​​from several hundred kilohertz to several tens of megahertz. [Overview of the project]

[0005] Non-destructive testing can be performed using various methods. For example, as mentioned above, acoustic testing is a non-destructive testing (NDT) approach that can be used, as an exemplary example, to evaluate structures such as pipes, containers, plates, or associated welds. Such evaluations may include thickness measurement, corrosion monitoring, or inspection for defects such as voids or porosity in welded structures. Scanning approaches may include the use of phase array ultrasonic transducer assemblies. Generally, to achieve the desired coverage without gaps or unusable acquisitions, approaches may include manually positioning the test probe assembly at index locations along the object under test, and then manually rotating or sliding the test probe assembly in the scanning direction to perform the scan (e.g., taking each A scan or compiling C scan views, as an exemplary example). After the “line” scan is completed, the test probe assembly may be moved to a new index location (e.g., “indexed”) and another scan may be performed. In such approaches, which may be called raster scans, composite materials may assemble each circumferential scan. In applications involving scanning of circular or tubular structures such as pipes or containers, the line scan may be circumferential and the indexing direction may be axial; however, the apparatus and techniques described herein are not limited to such acquisition configurations.

[0006] Generally, a test probe assembly is coupled to a separate test instrument having a display and key input (or, as an example, a touchscreen) using an umbilical cable. Therefore, the operator of the test probe assembly may need to look at the separate test instrument while performing scans, thus keeping the operator's viewpoint away from the test probe assembly. Furthermore, aligning the test probe in such a setup may involve using a completely separate position encoder, manually marking index locations, or performing sometimes non-intuitive arithmetic calculations for each index step.

[0007] As an example, corrosion mapping of an area using acoustic inspection may be performed using one encoded axis ("clicker mode"), and such a scheme generally involves drawing lines to be drawn on the surface to be inspected. A second axis position increment is performed by displacing the probe assembly each time the probe assembly is indexed, thereby performing another line scan that is parallel to the previous axis but offset within the second axis. Drawing or scribing lines on a part can be complex and very time-consuming. If a fixed increment of the instrument is assumed for each scan, the positioning of the probe assembly is done according to such fixed increments, which can affect the flexibility of the inspection. For example, if an obstruction prevents the scanner from indexing to a given increment value, the data will not be properly aligned with the previous line scan data, and the scan of the remaining surface at that index location may be excluded.

[0008] The inventors also recognize that, among other things, including an operator interface that can be mated with the scanner assembly housing or otherwise guide the transducer probe assembly, can facilitate the acquisition of non-destructive testing data using uniaxial or biaxial coding with the use of a user input device and a display provided on the scanner assembly. In this way, the operator can maintain their own line of sight of the scanner assembly without requiring monitoring of a display on a separate acoustic testing instrument. As shown and described herein, the operator can also use user input (such as a button) to select between, for example, scan (e.g., line) mode and index mode. The display may simultaneously provide feedback, such as indicating that it is ready to perform a scan or that such acquisition has reached a specified boundary.

[0009] The inventors also recognize that, among other things, using a second encoder (to support raster scan mode) can provide additional flexibility, such as enabling feedback on indexing operations or supporting freehand acquisition where movement may occur in both the scan and indexing directions during each acquisition. For example, if there is no operator interface mounted on the scanner assembly, the operator may need to look at the second axis value on a separate display on the acquisition device (separate from the scanner assembly) and try to bring it as close to the optimal value as possible before performing the next line scan. For example, in an acoustic inspection application, if the effective beam of the ultrasonic probe is 63 mm wide, the index position may be the following non-intuitive values: 63, 126, 189, 252, 315 mm, etc. As mentioned above, it is inconvenient for the operator to look at a separate acquisition device every time indexing on the second axis occurs and, if not displayed, perform the calculation of the next index position value. To address such challenges, feedback can be provided using a second encoder with an operator interface mounted on or otherwise fixed to the scanner assembly. In this way, users can be provided with the appropriate information to perform scanning or indexing operations without having to look at separate acquisition devices, perform mental calculations, or mark the object under test.

[0010] In one embodiment, the nondestructive testing apparatus may include a scanner assembly, the scanner assembly comprising: a carriage having at least one wheel oriented to rotate in a first direction, the carriage being configured to mechanically guide a transducer probe assembly; a first encoder configured to generate a first signal representing the displacement of the carriage in the first direction in response to the rotation of the at least one wheel oriented to rotate in the first direction; and an operator interface comprising a user input device and a display, the operator interface comprising a modular assembly detachably mated with the carriage, the operator interface being configured to receive input at the user input device and to present a status display associated with the scanning operation of the nondestructive testing in order to control an operating mode associated with nondestructive testing. In one embodiment, the technique, such as a method, may include facilitating non-destructive testing (NDT), the method including receiving input at a user input device of an operator interface to control an operating mode associated with non-destructive testing, in response to initiating the acquisition of non-destructive testing data associated with a scanning operation of non-destructive testing, and presenting a status display using a display of the operator interface, the status display being associated with a scanning operation of non-destructive testing using displacement data acquired using a first encoder, the user input device and display being included as part of the operator interface on a scanner assembly, the scanner assembly comprising a carriage having at least one wheel oriented to rotate in a first direction, the carriage being configured to mechanically guide a transducer probe assembly, a first encoder configured to produce a first signal representing the displacement of the carriage in a first direction in response to the rotation of at least one wheel oriented to rotate in a first direction, and an operator interface, the operator interface comprising a user input device and a display.

[0011] In such an example, the scanner assembly may include at least one wheel oriented to rotate in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction, and a second encoder configured to generate a second signal representing the displacement of the carriage in the second direction in response to the rotation of the at least one wheel oriented to rotate in the second direction, wherein the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction.

[0012] In one embodiment, a nondestructive testing apparatus may include a scanner assembly configured to encode movement in at least two directions, the scanner assembly comprising: a carriage having each wheel oriented to rotate in a first direction including a circumferential scanning direction, the carriage guiding a transducer probe assembly; a first encoder configured to generate a first signal representing the displacement of the carriage in the first direction; at least one wheel oriented to rotate in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the second direction including an indexing direction along the object under test, the at least one wheel and a second encoder configured to generate a second signal representing the displacement of the carriage in the second direction in response to the rotation of the at least one wheel oriented to rotate in the second direction; and an operator interface comprising a user input device and a display, the operator interface being configured to receive inputs at the user input device and, depending on the operating mode, to use the display and to present a status display using displacement data acquired using the first or second encoder to control an operating mode associated with nondestructive testing.

[0013] Other embodiments of the scanner assembly described herein may include local immersion configurations such as providing a couplant chamber (e.g., a water box) and a chamfered or rounded gasket arrangement for coupling the active surface of the acoustic transducer probe array to the object under test. Modular configurations may be provided such that an operator interface and a second encoder are included as a removable (e.g., detachable) assembly that can be fixed to a carriage comprising the first encoder. Different acoustic inspection probe arrays may be detachably housed by the carriage or otherwise guided by the carriage.

[0014] This summary is intended to provide an overview of the subject matter of this patent application. It is not intended to provide an exclusive or exhaustive description of the invention. A more detailed description is included to provide further information relating to this patent application. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] In drawings that are not necessarily drawn to an accurate scale, similar figures may describe similar components in different views. Similar figures with different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar components. The drawings, while not limiting, generally illustrate the various embodiments considered in this document.

[0016] [Figure 1] This specification outlines an embodiment that includes an acoustic inspection system, which may be used to carry out at least one or more of the techniques described herein. [Figure 2A] The diagrams of the scanner assemblies capable of housing the acoustic transducer probe assembly are shown in general. [Figure 2B] The diagrams of the scanner assemblies capable of housing the acoustic transducer probe assembly are shown in general. [Figure 2C] The diagrams of the scanner assemblies capable of housing the acoustic transducer probe assembly are shown in general. [Figure 3A] The diagrams of the encoder wheel handling sections of the scanner assembly are shown in general. [Figure 3B] The diagrams of the encoder wheel handling sections of the scanner assembly are shown in general. [Figure 3C] The diagrams of the encoder wheel handling sections of the scanner assembly are shown in general. [Figure 4] An exploded view of an acoustic transducer probe assembly, which may include a chamfered gasket, is shown. [Figure 5] This generally refers to machine implementation methods and other technologies that include an operator interface located on a scanner assembly, which may include receiving user input, displaying status information, or a combination thereof. [Figure 6A] The following are illustrative examples of operator interfaces that can be included as part of the scanner assembly described above in relation to Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, or 3C, and that can be used to perform other operations as described in relation to the technology of Figure 5 or the illustrative example of Figure 6B. [Figure 6B] Here is an example. [Figure 7] This generally refers to a scanner assembly located on the object under test, and non-destructive testing equipment, such as one that is communicatively coupled to the scanner assembly. [Figure 8] A block diagram of one embodiment is shown, comprising a machine in which one or more of the techniques (e.g., methodologies) discussed herein can be implemented. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0017] Generally discussed above and described in detail below, a non-destructive testing apparatus can include, for example, a scanner assembly configured to encode movement in one or two directions. The scanner assembly can include a carriage having one or more respective wheels oriented to rotate in a circumferential scan direction, and the carriage housing or other means can guide a transducer probe assembly. A first encoder can be configured to generate a first signal representative of displacement of the carriage in a first direction, and the scanner assembly can also include at least one wheel oriented to rotate in an index direction, and a second encoder can be configured to generate a second signal representative of displacement of the carriage in a second direction in response to rotation of at least one wheel oriented to rotate in the second direction. An operator interface mounted on or mechanically fixed to the scanner assembly can receive user input and present a status display to guide the inspection simultaneously. Such an approach can serve to provide a "head-down" configuration that allows a user, such as an inspection technician, to focus on the scanner assembly without the need to observe index positions or acquisition status on a separate test fixture during acquisition or indexing. Such an approach can also facilitate the selection or use of other operating modes, such as a freehand mode of acquisition.

[0018] [[IDID=3]] Generally, as shown in the following embodiments, a first encoder (e.g., a “scan” encoder) may track the movement of the scanner in the scan direction as the scanner assembly moves across the surface of the object under test. This movement can be interpreted by a separate acquisition instrument and converted into position data in the scan direction. Alternatively, a second encoder (e.g., an “index” encoder) may track movement in a direction perpendicular to the scan direction. This movement can be interpreted by a separate acquisition instrument and converted into position data in the index direction (e.g., perpendicular to the scan direction). Using the scan and index position information, an instrument may display a 2D mapping of the data acquired during inspection, for example, to perform thickness or corrosion testing using a phase array ultrasonic transducer (PAUT) probe assembly housed in or otherwise guided by the carriage of the scanner assembly, or using another non-destructive testing technique such as eddy current testing.

[0019] Figure 1 outlines an example including an inspection system 100 that may be used to implement at least one or more of the techniques shown and described herein. The inspection system 100 may include a test instrument 140, such as a handheld or portable assembly. The test instrument 140 may be electrically coupled to a probe assembly 150, for example, by using a multiconductor interconnect 130. In the context of acoustic inspection, the probe assembly 150 may include one or more electroacoustic transducers, such as a transducer array 152 containing respective transducers 154A to 154N. The transducer array may follow a linear or curved contour, or may include an array of elements extending along two axes, such as providing a matrix of transducer elements. The size and pitch of the elements may vary depending on the inspection application.

[0020] A modular probe assembly 150 configuration can be used that allows the test instrument 140 to be used with a variety of different probe assemblies. Generally, the transducer array 152 can include piezoelectric transducers that can be acoustically coupled to a target 158 (e.g., a test sample or “test subject”), for example, via a coupling medium 156. The coupling medium can include a fluid or gel, or a solid film (e.g., an elastomer or other polymeric material), or a combination of a fluid, gel, or solid structure. For example, the acoustic transducer assembly can include a transducer array (e.g., Rexolite® available from C-Lec Plastics Inc.) coupled to a wedge structure that includes a rigid thermosetting polymer having known acoustic propagation characteristics, and water can be injected between the wedge and the structure during testing as the coupling medium 156, or the test can be performed by immersing the interface between the probe assembly 150 and the target 158 in a coupling medium in another manner.

[0021] The test instrument 140 can include digital and analog electrical circuit configurations, such as a front-end circuit 122 that includes one or more transmission signal chains, receive signal chains, or switching electrical circuit configurations (e.g., a transmit / receive switching electrical circuit configuration). The transmission signal chain can include amplifier and filter electrical circuit configurations that provide transmission pulses for delivery to the probe assembly 150 via an interconnect 130 for high-frequency acoustic wave irradiation of the target 158, and that receive scattered or reflected acoustic energy that is extracted in response to the high-frequency acoustic wave irradiation to image or otherwise detect a defect 160 in or on the target 158 structure.

[0022] Figure 1 shows a single probe assembly 150 and a single transducer array 152, but other configurations can be used, such as multiple probe assemblies connected to a single test instrument 140, or multiple transducer arrays 152 used with a single probe assembly 150 or multiple probe assemblies for pitch / catch inspection modes. Similarly, the test protocol can be implemented using coordination between multiple test instruments 140, for example, in response to an overall test scheme established from a master test instrument 140, or by another remote system such as a computing device 108 or a general-purpose computing device such as a laptop 132, tablet, smartphone, or desktop computer. The test scheme may be established in accordance with published standards or regulatory requirements and may be implemented, as an exemplary example, at the time of initial manufacture or repeatedly for ongoing monitoring.

[0023] The receiving signal chain of the front-end circuit 122 may include one or more filter or amplifier circuits, along with analog-to-digital conversion equipment, such as digitizing the echo signal received using the probe assembly 150. The digitization may be performed coherently to provide multiple channels of digitized data aligned or referenced to one another in time or phase. The front-end circuit may be coupled to and controlled by one or more processor circuits, such as processor circuit 102, which is included as part of the test instrument 140. The processor circuits may be coupled to memory circuit 104, for example, to execute instructions causing the test instrument 140 to perform one or more of the following: acoustic transmission, acoustic acquisition, processing, or storage of data related to acoustic inspection, or otherwise to perform techniques as shown and described herein. The test instrument 140 may be communicably coupled to other parts of the system 100, such as by using a wired or wireless communication interface 120.

[0024] For example, the performance of one or more techniques as shown and described herein may be achieved on the test apparatus 140 or using other processing or storage equipment, such as a computing device 108 or a laptop 132, a tablet, a smartphone, or a desktop computer. For example, processing tasks that would be unnecessarily slow if performed on the test apparatus 140 or if performed beyond the capabilities of the test apparatus 140 may be performed remotely (for example, on a separate system) in response to a request from the test apparatus 140. Similarly, the storage of intermediate data or other representations of such data, such as an A-scan matrix of imaging data or time-series data, may be achieved using remote equipment communicatively coupled to the test apparatus 140. The test apparatus may include a display 110 for presenting configuration information or results, and an input device 112 including one or more of a keyboard, trackball, function keys or soft keys, mouse interface, touchscreen, stylus, etc., for receiving operator commands, configuration information, or responses to queries.

[0025] Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C provide general illustrations of the scanner assembly 250, which may house an acoustic transducer probe assembly 253. As shown in Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C, the scanner assembly 250 may be a module that allows the use of different acoustic transducer probe assembly 253 configurations (e.g., supporting an acoustic transducer array 252 having a specified number of acoustic transducer elements, such as defining a specified aperture width, or having other specified characteristics). The transducer array 252 may be coupled communicatively to an analog front end on a separate acoustic testing instrument via a cable 230, etc. The acoustic probe assembly may include a couplant chamber (e.g., a water box 283) to provide local immersion of the junction between the object under test and the active surface 233 of the acoustic transducer array 252, and a gasket support frame 256 and housing that support a gasket (e.g., including a cover 255). For example, the gasket may be configured to hold the couplant in the region between the surface of the object under test and the active surface 233. The couplant chamber may be supplied through the couplant opening 231, for example, by the couplant line 276.

[0026] The scanner assembly 250 may include a carriage 270 that defines, or otherwise includes, a region 249 for receiving the acoustic transducer probe assembly 253 in order to mechanically house the acoustic transducer probe assembly 253. Other configurations can be used, such as an arrangement in which one or more acoustic transducer probe assemblies are mechanically fixed to the carriage via an arm or support frame, etc. The carriage 270 may include a wheel 272 aligned to rotate in a first direction (for example, defining a scan axis for acquiring a line scan). The line scan direction may be longitudinal for axial scan alignment, or orbiting a cylindrical or tubular workpiece, or aligned in another direction, such as a specific direction along a planar workpiece. The wheel 272 may be magnetized or include a permanent magnet so that the carriage 270 is held against a ferromagnetic workpiece during scanning. As shown in Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C, the operator interface 262 may be detachably mated with the carriage 270. For example, the operator interface 262 may include one or more user inputs and displays, as shown and described below in other embodiments. The operator interface 262 may be custom-made for the scanner assembly 250, or the operator interface 262 may be a ready-made assembly such as a mobile device or tablet device having a touchscreen or other user input device and display, which is mechanically fixed to the carriage 270 by a mount, or otherwise mechanically coupled to the carriage 270, or may include such an assembly. The operator interface 262 may house, or otherwise include, one or more encoders, such as a first encoder 267 that can monitor the rotation of one or more of the wheels 272, forming the scan encoder assembly 264. The operator interface may include other equipment for communication and power, such as an electrical connector 263, or interconnection via cables and connector 263 with a separate acoustic inspection instrument.One or more of the couplant line 276, cable 230, or cables connected to connector 263 can be bundled together and held within a cable loom or umbilical cord bundle 274.

[0027] The scanner assembly 250 may include, for example, a second wheel 268 configured to rotate in a second direction perpendicular to the rotation direction of the wheel 272. Such a direction may be the indexing direction along the object under test. For example, as shown in the diagram of Figure 2A, the index encoder assembly 266 may house a second encoder capable of monitoring the rotation of the second wheel 268. The first wheel 272 and the second wheel 268 may be configured to rotate exclusively in their respective directions (for example, the first wheel 272 rotates to move along the first direction, and the second wheel 268 rotates to move along the orthogonal second direction).

[0028] As shown and described below, the operator interface 262 may provide the user with indicators such as a status indicator showing whether the first encoder, the second encoder, or both are active, or otherwise indicating the active operating mode of the scanner assembly 250. As shown in Figures 2B and 2C, the index encoder assembly 266 may include a retraction lever 265 for raising or lowering the second wheel 268. The second wheel 268 may also include other features such as limiting coupling or facilitating circumferential sliding. For example, as shown in Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C, the second wheel 268 may be chamfered or rounded.

[0029] As examples of the operation of the retraction lever 265 and other features that may be included as part of the index encoder assembly 266, Figures 3A, 3B, and 3C show general diagrams of the encoder wheel handling portion of the scanner assembly 250 as it may be included as part of the index encoder assembly 266. In Figure 3A, the second wheel may be in the raised position or the disengaged position 268A, for example, in response to the retraction control unit being in the raised position 265A. In this raised position 268A, the second wheel may avoid causing coupling or off-axis displacement of the carriage when the carriage is moving perpendicular (or substantially perpendicular) to the rotation direction of the second wheel. As shown in Figure 3A, the resistance or friction associated with the rotation of the second wheel may be adjusted, for example, using a resistance control unit 269 (such a control unit may apply force to the shaft or hub of the second wheel, or select to apply force). In Figure 3B, the second wheel can be moved to the lowered position or the engaged position 268B, for example, by moving the storage control unit to the lowered position 265B. Figure 3C shows the locking configuration of the storage lever of the index encoder assembly 266 of the scanner assembly 250, where, in the raised position 268A, the storage lever may engage with a clip, tab, or other retaining feature 271 that engages with the storage lever and prevents the storage lever from being lowered unless the storage lever is pushed inward.

[0030] Figures 3A and 3B also show end views of the gasket cover 255, and the features of the gasket cover 255 are described with respect to Figure 4, which shows an exploded view of the acoustic transducer probe assembly 253 (the acoustic transducer array 252 itself is not shown) that may include the gasket cover 255. The gasket cover 255 may be a replaceable element made of either a porous (e.g., moisture-absorbing) or non-porous material and may include or define respective chamfered or rounded edges, such as chamfered edges 282, to prevent one or more of the flexible gasket 259 from bonding, pinching, or damaging, such as when the acoustic transducer probe assembly 253 moves in the scanning direction (compared to the indexing direction). The gasket 259 and gasket cover 255 can help maintain the couplant within the couplant chamber defined by the inside of the transducer housing water box 283 and the gasket support frame 256. The acoustic transducer probe assembly 253 may include other elements such as plates 281 and 285, and the assembled acoustic transducer probe assembly 253 is configured to provide localized immersion of the surface of the object under test by the couplant.

[0031] Figure 5 outlines technique 500, such as a machine implementation method, which includes an operator interface located on a scanner assembly that may include receiving user input, displaying status indicators, or a combination thereof. Technique 500 may be implemented by software or firmware instructions, which are executed by one or more processors locally mounted on the scanner assembly, or in cooperation with another device, such as an acoustic test instrument having one or more processors. In 505, the operator interface of the scanner assembly may receive input (such as a button or input provided on a touchscreen provided by the user). Such input may control the operating mode associated with the acoustic test. For example, such input may be used to select a scan operating mode, such as indicating the start of a line scan operation in a first direction. In 510, in a scan operating mode, in response to user input, acquisition of acoustic test data associated with the scan operation may be initiated.

[0032] A status indicator may be provided using a display at the start of acquisition or during acquisition, etc. 515. The display may include a light-emitting device (e.g., a light-emitting diode or other lamp) or display element that illuminates (e.g., changes in brightness) or shows a specified color (e.g., green) to indicate that acquisition is active in scan operation mode. Such a status indicator may indicate that a scan in a first direction should be started, continued, or terminated. For example, the display may be updated, or in other ways, a status indicator may be provided using displacement data acquired using a first encoder, the first encoder representing the displacement of the scanner assembly in the first direction. For example, the light-emitting device may shift from green to red, blink, or turn off when a boundary defining a specified coverage for each line scan is encountered or crossed. For example, if the scanner assembly moves beyond a line scan boundary, the light-emitting device may shift from green to blinking green, or from green to red.

[0033] In another embodiment, the input received at 505 may switch or otherwise select an indexing operation mode from among other operating modes. The operator interface at 525 may present a status indicator associated with the indexing operation in response to the selection of the indexing operation mode. For example, such a status indicator may provide the user with timely feedback using displacement data acquired using a second encoder configured to encode displacement in a direction orthogonal to the first encoder. Embodiments of such status indicators are further discussed below in relation to the exemplary (but not limiting) examples in Figures 6A and 6B. For example, the status indicator may change brightness or color to indicate that movement in a second (e.g., indexing) direction should begin or continue to achieve a specified index location. The status indicator may change to indicate that movement in the indexing direction should end or that the scanner has overshot a specified index location (or is outside a specified margin from such a location). Scan operation modes and index operation modes may generally be referred to as embodiments supporting raster scanning, where each line scan may be performed at different index locations to assemble the composite material, and encoding is performed in both the scan direction and the orthogonal index direction (e.g., a “dual” encoding approach). The operator interface may also present a status indication using an operator interface display that indicates when the freehand operation mode is active, for example, supporting the selection of the freehand operation mode in 530, where the freehand operation mode includes using displacement data acquired using both the first encoder and the second encoder simultaneously.

[0034] Figure 6A outlines exemplary examples of operator interfaces 562, which can be included as part of the scanner assembly described above in relation to Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, or 3C, and can be used to perform the techniques of Figure 5, or other operations as described elsewhere in this specification in relation to the exemplary example of Figure 6B. Operator interfaces 562, as shown in Figures 6A and 6B, may include user input devices such as instantaneous contact buttons 583, keypads, touchscreens, or other inputs. Operator interfaces 562 may include a display, which may include, for example, a light-emitting device such as a status indicator 584 or a couplant status indicator 597, or other display elements (e.g., pixel elements or icons, such as those presented using a bitfield or liquid crystal display, such as index guide 585 and scan guide 586 indicators, or a graphical display 599). As mentioned elsewhere in this specification, operator interfaces 562 do not need to be custom or scanner-specific and may be implemented on a mobile device or tablet device, such as being fixed to the scanner assembly.

[0035] In embodiments of this specification, the status display may be presented using one or more purpose-specific indicators or annunciators, or using a general-purpose indicator (e.g., a bitfield display). Referring to Figure 6B, various different scan configurations or workflows may be implemented using the scanner assembly and its associated operator interface 562. For example, the user interface 600 may be presented by another device or system, such as a non-destructive testing instrument used to configure an acoustic inspection operation or each acquisition including such an operation. For example, the scanner assembly may be selected or detected from a plurality of available assemblies that may be compatible with the non-destructive testing instrument. The probe aperture value 589 can be set either manually or automatically, and the associated index increment value 593 can be established. For example, the index increment value 593 may be less than the probe aperture value 589, resulting in an overlap value 591 corresponding to an overlap in the index direction between adjacent line scans or consecutive line scans.

[0036] As an illustrative example, the “clicker” workflow, as described in the user interface 600 guide and shown in area 590, may behave as follows: Initially, the workflow may begin with the first encoder (e.g., scan encoder) of the activated scan assembly, as indicated by the status indicator 584 being illuminated (e.g., showing a green indicator with neither the index guide 585 nor the scan guide 586 lit), which allows the operator to perform a line scan. In the “clicker” workflow, when the operator clicks button 583, the first encoder can be switched between active and inactive status. When inactive, the status indicator 584 may illuminate in a different color (e.g., red), and the operator may move the scanner assembly in the indexing direction without overwriting previously acquired line scan data. Once the indexing operation is performed, the operator may click button 583 to activate the scan encoder (changing the operating mode to scan mode) and perform the next line scan using the increment of the index value stored in the instrument. In this "clicker" mode, no coding of index or axial movement is performed, and the index increment is generally fixed within the instrument. Other modes may be supported, such as the "reverse" index mode. For example, in the "clicker" workflow, a transition to the "reverse" index mode may be achieved in response to a series of clicks (e.g., a double-click) of button 583. In this mode, the index location may be shifted in the opposite direction to the normal index direction by the associated index increment value 593, for example, to perform a rescan of the previous line scan.

[0037] Another type of workflow may include a “raster” workflow, where encoding can be performed in both the scan (e.g., circumferential) and index (e.g., axial) directions. For example, as shown in Figure 6B, the operator interface 562 may be used to select between “clicker” mode and “raster” mode in response to sustained pressure by the operator on button 583 (e.g., pressing and holding a momentary contact push button for a specified duration longer than the “click” duration described above, such as about 8 seconds). In the “induction” mode shown in region 594, the first state may include activating a first (e.g., scan) encoder and disabling or ignoring a second (e.g., index) encoder. This may be referred to as “muting” the encoder. Muting the encoder can prevent incorrect counts from being processed by the acquisition instrument.

[0038] In the operator interface 562, the scan guide 586 and index guide 585 may be selectively illuminated, for example, to indicate which encoder axis is active. The status indicator 584 may indicate the scan mode (as opposed to the index mode), as in the “clicker” operating mode described above. Once each line scan is completed at each index location, the operator may click button 583 to select the index operating mode. For example, this would mute the scan encoder and unmute the index encoder, in which case the scan guide 586 indicator would turn off and the index guide 585 would light up (or provide other indicators). The status indicator 584 may turn off. In the index operating mode, index movement is tracked and compared to the associated index increment value 593. When the index position is within a specified range of a desired value, such as selected by the warning tolerance range 595 display or indicated by a specified range, the status indicator 584 may change to light up (for example, showing green). If the index movement continues beyond the location corresponding to the associated index increment value 593, the status indicator 584 may change, for example, by changing color (e.g., showing red) or by displaying some other indication of the overshoot. In this way, the status indicator 584 changes in response to the distance traversed by the scanner assembly. Once indexing is complete by the operator, the operator may click button 583 to select a scan operation mode and perform a new coded line scan at the new index location.

[0039] Another raster operation mode may be available, exemplified in area 592 as a “freehand” mode. In freehand operation mode, both the index encoder and the scan encoder can be active simultaneously. The status indicator may still provide index increment tracking (e.g., changing from off, green, red in response to movement along the index axis), but in freehand mode, the index encoder remains active even during line scan acquisition. As an exemplary example, switching between freehand operation and induced non-freehand operation may be achieved, for example, in response to a series of clicks on button 583 (e.g., a double-click action). In general, the indicator colors or other behaviors and user inputs considered above are merely exemplary examples. Other methods or devices for display may be used in conjunction with the operator interface 562, such as bitfield displays, text, numeric, or icon-based indicators, touchscreen inputs, or soft keys, as exemplary examples. In general, the approaches and workflows described above allow for “head-down” viewing of the scanner assembly during acquisition or indexing (or both) without requiring the user to view a separate display on the acquisition instrument.

[0040] For additional context regarding this distinction, Figure 7 generally illustrates a system 700 comprising a scanner assembly 750 positioned on the object under test 758 and a non-destructive testing instrument 740 (e.g., a separate acquisition instrument for storing inspection data acquired by the scanner assembly 750) which is communicatively coupled to the scanner assembly 750. The workflow described above can be performed using an operator interface mounted on the scanner assembly 750 without requiring the operator to view the display of the non-destructive testing instrument 740 during acquisition. Various acoustic inspection parameters or other configurations can be performed using a user interface presented by the non-destructive testing instrument 740, and line scan acquisition and indexing can be performed using the operator interface of the scanner assembly 750 without requiring the operator to manually calculate index increments or view cues or values ​​on the non-destructive testing instrument 740 during indexing or line scan acquisition. Such approaches can address a variety of challenges, such as improving index positioning accuracy, increasing inspection throughput (e.g., enabling faster inspection with less setup or rework), simplifying the operation of System 700, or a combination of such technical improvements. While Figure 7 shows the index direction as axial and the scan direction as circumferential, the apparatus and techniques described herein are applicable to other objects and orientations, using cylindrical objects under test. For example, the scan direction may be longitudinal or axial instead of circumferential. Planar objects can also be inspected using the approaches and apparatus described herein.

[0041] Many of the examples in this document refer to acoustic testing using acoustic transducer probes. The apparatus and techniques described herein are generally applicable to other non-destructive testing modalities, such as eddy current or optical testing, as exemplary examples.

[0042] Figure 8 illustrates an example block diagram of a machine 800 in which one or more of the techniques (e.g., methodologies) discussed herein may be implemented. The machine 800 (e.g., a computer system) may include a hardware processor 802 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a hardware processor core, or any combination thereof), main memory 804, and static memory 806, which are connected via an interlink 830 (e.g., a link or bus), and some or all of these components may constitute the hardware for the system or related implementation discussed above.

[0043] Specific examples of main memory 804 include semiconductor memory devices that may include random access memory (RAM) and storage locations within semiconductors such as registers. Specific examples of static memory 806 include non-volatile memory such as semiconductor memory devices (e.g., electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)) and flash memory devices, magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-optical disks, RAM, or optical media such as CD-ROM disks and DVD-ROM disks.

[0044] Machine 800 may further include a display device 810, an input device 812 (e.g., a keyboard), and a user interface (UI) navigation device 814 (e.g., a mouse). In one example, the display device 810, the input device 812, and the UI navigation device 814 may be touchscreen displays. Machine 800 may further include a mass storage device 808 (e.g., a drive unit), a signal generation device 818 (e.g., a speaker), a network interface device 820, and one or more sensors 816 such as a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, a compass, an accelerometer, or other sensors. Machine 800 may also include an output controller 828 for communicating with or controlling one or more peripheral devices (e.g., a printer, a card reader, etc.) via a serial (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB), parallel, or other wired or wireless (e.g., infrared (IR), near-field communication (NFC), etc.) connection).

[0045] The mass storage device 808 may include a machine-readable medium 822 that stores one or more sets of data structures or instructions 824 (e.g., software) that embody or utilize any of the technologies or functions described herein. The instructions 824 may also reside entirely or at least partially in the main memory 804, static memory 806, or hardware processor 802 during their execution by machine 800. In one example, one or any combination of the hardware processor 802, main memory 804, static memory 806, or mass storage device 808 includes the machine-readable medium.

[0046] Specific examples of machine-readable media include one or more of the following: non-volatile memory such as semiconductor memory devices (e.g., EPROM or EEPROM) and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; RAM; or optical media such as CD-ROM disks and DVD-ROM disks. Although machine-readable media are illustrated as a single medium, the term “machine-readable media” may include a single or multiple mediums configured to store one or more instructions 824 (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, or associated caches and servers).

[0047] The apparatus of machine 800 includes one or more of the following: a hardware processor 802 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a hardware processor core, or any combination thereof), main memory 804 and static memory 806, a sensor 816, a network interface device 820, an antenna, a display device 810, an input device 812, a UI navigation device 814, a mass storage device 808, an instruction 824, a signal generation device 818, or an output controller 828. The apparatus may be configured to perform one or more of the methods or operations disclosed herein.

[0048] The term “machine-readable medium” includes any medium capable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution by machine 800, causing machine 800 to implement one or more of the technologies of this disclosure, or causing another device or system to implement one or more of the technologies, or storing, encoding, or carrying data structures used by or associated with such instructions. Non-limiting examples of machine-readable mediums include solid-state memory and optical or magnetic media. Specific examples of machine-readable mediums include non-volatile memory such as semiconductor memory devices (e.g., electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)) and flash memory devices, magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-optical disks, random access memory (RAM), or optical media such as CD-ROM disks and DVD-ROM disks. In some embodiments, machine-readable medium includes non-temporary machine-readable medium. In some embodiments, machine-readable medium includes machine-readable medium that is not a temporary propagating signal.

[0049] Instruction 824 may be transmitted or received over a communication network 826 using a transmission medium via a network interface device 820, for example, by utilizing one of several transport protocols (e.g., Frame Relay, Internet Protocol (IP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), etc.). Illustrative communication networks include, among others, local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), packet data networks (e.g., the Internet), mobile telephone networks (e.g., cellular networks), conventional telephone service (POTS) networks, and wireless data networks (e.g., the IEEE 802.11 family of standards known as Wi-Fi®), the IEEE 802.15.4 standard family, the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) 4G or 5G standard family, the Universal Mobile Communications System (UMTS) standard family, peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, and satellite communication networks.

[0050] In one example, the network interface device 820 includes one or more physical jacks (e.g., Ethernet, coaxial, or interconnect) or one or more antennas for accessing the communication network 826. In one example, the network interface device 820 includes one or more antennas for wireless communication using at least one of the following technologies: single input multiple output (SIMO), multiple input multiple output (MIMO), or multiple input single output (MISO). In some embodiments, the network interface device 820 wirelessly communicates using multi-user MIMO technology. The term “transmission medium” should be understood to include any intangible medium capable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution by machine 800, and including digital or analog communication signals or other intangible mediums for facilitating communication of such software.

[0051] Various notes Each of the above non-limiting embodiments may exist on its own or may be combined in various permutations or combinations with one or more of the other embodiments or subjects described herein.

[0052] The above detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form part of the detailed description. The drawings illustrate specific embodiments in which the present invention can be carried out. These embodiments are also commonly referred to as “Examples.” Such examples may include elements in addition to those illustrated or described. However, the inventors also intend examples in which only the illustrated or described elements are provided. Furthermore, the inventors also intend examples in which, with respect to a particular example (or one or more aspects thereof) or with respect to other examples (or one or more aspects thereof) illustrated or described herein, any combination or permutation of those elements (or one or more aspects thereof) is used.

[0053] In the event of any conflict in usage between this document and any document incorporated by such reference, the usage described in this document shall prevail.

[0054] In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used to include one or more, independently of any other instances or uses of “at least one” or “one or more,” as is common in patent literature. In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a non-exclusive OR, such that “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B.” In this document, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as plain English equivalents of the terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Furthermore, in the following claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are not limited; that is, any system, device, article, composition, formulation, or process that includes elements in addition to those listed after such terms in a claim is still considered to be within the scope of that claim. Furthermore, in the following claims, terms such as “first,” “second,” and “third” are used merely as labels and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects.

[0055] Examples of the methods described herein can be implemented in a machine or computer, at least in part. Some examples may include computer-readable or machine-readable media encoded with instructions that can be operated to constitute an electronic device and implement the methods described in the above examples. Implementations of such methods may include code such as microcode, assembly language code, or higher-level language code. Such code may include computer-readable instructions for implementing various methods. The code may form part of a computer program product. Such instructions may be read and executed by one or more processors to enable the implementation of operations, for example, a method. The instructions may be in any preferred form, but are not limited to, source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, and so on. Furthermore, in one example, the code may be explicitly stored in one or more volatile, non-transient, or non-volatile tangible computer-readable media, such as during execution or at other times. Examples of these tangible computer-readable media include, but are not limited to, hard disks, removable magnetic disks, removable optical disks (e.g., compact discs and digital video discs), magnetic cassettes, memory cards or sticks, random access memory (RAM), and read-only memory (ROM).

[0056] The above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. For example, the examples (or one or more aspects thereof) described above may be used in combination with each other. Other embodiments may be used, for example, by those skilled in the art when reviewing the above description. An abstract is provided to enable readers to quickly confirm the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it is not to be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Also, in the above detailed description, various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as meaning that any disclosed features not claimed are essential to any patent claim. Rather, the subject matter of the invention may lie in fewer features than all the features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Accordingly, the following claims are incorporated into the detailed description as examples or embodiments, and each claim exists independently as a separate embodiment, and such embodiments are intended to be able to be combined with each other in various combinations or permutations. The scope of the invention should be determined by referring to the appended claims, together with the entire scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. This disclosure includes the following aspects: (Clause 1) Non-destructive testing equipment, A scanner assembly is provided, and the scanner assembly is A carriage comprising at least one wheel oriented to rotate in a first direction, wherein the carriage is configured to mechanically guide a transducer probe assembly, A first encoder configured to generate a first signal representing the displacement of the carriage in the first direction in response to the rotation of at least one wheel oriented to rotate in the first direction, An operator interface comprising a user input device and a display, wherein the operator interface comprises a modular assembly detachably fitted to the carriage, and the operator interface is To control the operating mode associated with non-destructive testing, the user input device receives input, A non-destructive testing apparatus comprising: an operator interface configured to display a status indicator associated with the scanning operation of the non-destructive testing; (Article 2) The operator interface uses the display to The scan in the first direction should be initiated or continued, or The non-destructive testing apparatus described in Clause 1, which is configured to display a status indicator showing at least one of the following: that the scan should be completed. (Article 3) The operator interface is configured to receive the input at the user input device in order to select the operating mode as a scan operating mode. In response, the operator interface is configured to use the display to present a status indicator to indicate that scanning in the first direction should be initiated, as described in Clause 1 or 2 of the nondestructive testing apparatus. (Article 4) The scanner assembly, At least one wheel oriented to rotate in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction, A nondestructive testing apparatus according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, comprising: a second encoder configured to generate a second signal representing the displacement of the carriage in the second direction in response to the rotation of the at least one wheel oriented to rotate in the second direction, wherein the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction. (Article 5) The non-destructive testing apparatus according to Clause 4, wherein the second direction includes an axial indexing direction along the object under test. (Article 6) The operator interface is configured to receive input from the user input device in order to select the operation mode from among the scan operation mode and the index operation mode. In response, the non-destructive testing apparatus according to Clause 4, wherein the operator interface is configured to use the display to present a status indicator indicating whether a scan operation mode or an index operation mode is active. (Article 7) In the index operation mode, the operator interface is configured to use the second encoder to obtain displacement data and to use the display to show a status display, and the status display is Movement along the index direction should be initiated or continued in order to reach a specified index location, or A nondestructive testing apparatus according to Clause 6, which indicates at least one of the following: that the movement along the index direction should be terminated. (Clause 8) The nondestructive testing apparatus according to Clause 7, wherein in the index operation mode, the operator interface is configured to use the display to show a status indication that movement along the index direction has overshot the designated index location. (Article 9) The non-destructive testing apparatus according to Clause 8, wherein in the index operation mode, the operator interface is configured to use the display to present a status indication indicating that movement along the index direction should be in the reverse direction. (Clause 10) A nondestructive testing apparatus according to any one of Clauses 4 to 9, wherein at least one of the first encoder or the second encoder is included as part of the modular assembly which can be detachably mated with the carriage. (Article 11) A nondestructive testing apparatus according to any one of the clauses 4 to 10, comprising a storage control unit configured to lower or raise the at least one wheel configured to rotate in the second direction in order to engage with or disengage from the at least one wheel. (Article 12) The nondestructive testing apparatus according to any one of the clauses 4 to 11, wherein the at least one wheel configured to rotate in the second direction has a chamfered edge. (Article 13) A nondestructive testing apparatus according to any one of the clauses 4 to 12, comprising a resistance adjustment unit configured to adjust the rotational resistance of at least one wheel configured to rotate in the second direction. (Article 14) The at least one wheel configured to rotate in the first direction is configured to rotate exclusively in the first direction, or The at least one wheel configured to rotate in the second direction is configured to rotate exclusively in the second direction, or A nondestructive testing apparatus as described in any one of Clauses 4 to 13, wherein both wheels are configured to rotate exclusively in their respective first and second directions. (Article 15) A non-destructive testing apparatus according to any one of clauses 1 to 9, wherein the first direction includes a circumferential scanning direction along the object under test. (Article 16) The transducer probe assembly further comprises the above, The transducer probe assembly comprises a gasket, the gasket is configured to hold a couplant in the region between the surface of the object under test and the active surface of the transducer probe assembly, The non-destructive testing apparatus according to any one of Clauses 1 to 15, wherein the transducer probe assembly includes an acoustic transducer probe assembly. (Article 17) The nondestructive testing apparatus according to Clause 16, wherein the gasket or corresponding gasket protector has a chamfered or rounded edge, the chamfered or rounded edge being configured to prevent the gasket from bonding or pinching as the transducer probe assembly moves along the object under test. (Article 18) The nondestructive testing apparatus according to Clause 16 or 17, wherein the operator interface is configured to provide a display of the couplant state status, the couplant state corresponding to the bonding surface between the acoustic transducer probe assembly and the object under test. (Article 19) A nondestructive testing apparatus according to any one of Clauses 1 to 18, further comprising a nondestructive acquisition device, the nondestructive acquisition device comprising a second display, and configured to start or stop the acquisition of nondestructive testing data associated with the scanning operation of the nondestructive testing in response to the input received at the user input device and using the signal representing the displacement of the carriage in the first direction. (Article 20) A method for facilitating non-destructive testing (NDT), wherein the method is To control the operating modes associated with non-destructive testing, the operator interface receives input via a user input device, In response to this, the acquisition of non-destructive testing data associated with the scanning operation of the non-destructive testing is initiated, The operator interface display is used to present a status display, wherein the status display is associated with the scan operation of the non-destructive inspection using displacement data acquired using a first encoder. The user input device and the display are included as part of the operator interface on the scanner assembly, and the scanner assembly is A carriage comprising at least one wheel oriented to rotate in a first direction, wherein the carriage is configured to mechanically guide a transducer probe assembly, A first encoder configured to generate a first signal representing the displacement of the carriage in the first direction in response to the rotation of at least one wheel oriented to rotate in the first direction, A method comprising the operator interface, wherein the operator interface comprises the user input device and the display. (Article 21) Using the aforementioned display, The scan in the first direction should be initiated or continued, or The method described in Clause 20, including presenting a status indicator that shows at least one of the following: that the scan should be completed. (Article 22) In order to select the aforementioned operating mode as the scan operating mode, the user input device receives input, The method according to clause 20 or 21, comprising, in response thereto, using the display to present a status indicator to indicate that a scan in the first direction should be initiated. (Article 23) The scanner assembly, At least one wheel oriented to rotate in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction, The method according to any one of the claims 20 to 22, further comprising: a second encoder configured to generate a second signal representing the displacement of the carriage in the second direction in response to the rotation of the at least one wheel oriented to rotate in the second direction, wherein the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction. (Article 24) The second direction includes the index direction along the object under test, The operator interface is configured to receive input from the user input device in order to select the operation mode from among the scan operation mode and the index operation mode. The method according to Clause 23, wherein, in response, the operator interface is configured to use the display to present a status indicator indicating whether a scan operation mode or an index operation mode is active. (Article 25) In the aforementioned index operation mode, the operator interface uses the display to: The movement along the aforementioned index direction should be initiated or continued in order to reach the specified index location, or The method according to clause 24, which provides a status indicator showing at least one of the following: that the movement along the index direction should be completed. (Article 26) The method according to Clause 25, wherein, in the index operation mode, the operator interface uses the display to provide a status indication that movement along the index direction has overshot the designated index location. (Article 27) The method according to any one of the clauses 24 to 26, wherein, in the index operation mode, the operator interface uses the display to present a status indication indicating that movement along the index direction should be in the reverse direction. (Article 28) The method according to any one of the claims 24 to 27, wherein the operator interface is configured to receive the input at the user input device in order to select the operation mode from among the scan operation mode, the index operation mode, or the freehand operation mode in which encoding is performed simultaneously in both the index and scan directions. (Article 29) The method according to any one of the clauses 20 to 27, wherein the first direction includes a circumferential scanning direction along the object under test. (Article 30) The method according to any one of the claims 20 to 29, wherein the transducer probe assembly includes an acoustic transducer probe assembly, and the method includes providing a display of the status of the couplant state in the operator interface, wherein the couplant state corresponds to a bonding surface between the acoustic transducer probe assembly and the object under test. (Article 31) The method according to any one of the clauses 20 to 30, comprising using a separate nondestructive acquisition device to acquire nondestructive inspection data associated with the scanning operation of the nondestructive inspection in response to the input received at the user input device and using the signal representing the displacement of the carriage in the first direction. (Article 32) A machine-readable medium containing instructions, when executed by at least one processor circuit, causing a non-destructive testing system to perform the method described in any one of the clauses 20 to 30. (Article 33) Non-destructive testing equipment, A scanner assembly configured to encode movement in at least two directions, wherein the scanner assembly A carriage comprising wheels oriented to rotate in a first direction including the circumferential scanning direction, wherein the carriage guides the transducer probe assembly, A first encoder configured to generate a first signal representing the displacement of the carriage in the first direction, At least one wheel oriented to rotate in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction, wherein the second direction includes an index direction along the object under test, A second encoder configured to generate a second signal representing the displacement of the carriage in the second direction in response to the rotation of at least one wheel oriented to rotate in the second direction, An operator interface comprising a user input device and a display, wherein the operator interface is To control the operating mode associated with non-destructive testing, the user input device receives input, A non-destructive testing apparatus comprising: an operator interface configured to display a status using the display and displacement data acquired using the first encoder or the second encoder, depending on the operating mode. (Article 34) The user input device is equipped with a button, The display is equipped with the respective indicators, The input received by the user input device includes one of the following: a single click of the button, a double click of the button, or a sustained pressure on the button for a specified period of time. In response, the nondestructive testing apparatus according to Clause 33, wherein the operator interface is configured to indicate an operating mode in response to whether the user input includes a single click, double click, or sustained pressure on the button. (Article 35) The nondestructive testing apparatus according to Clause 34, wherein each of the indicators includes a light emitter or display element that indicates whether the carriage is moving in the first direction, the second direction, or both. (Article 36) The nondestructive testing apparatus according to Clause 34 or 35, wherein each of the indicators includes a light emitter or display element that changes at least one of brightness or color depending on the distance the carriage crosses in either the first or second direction. (Article 37) The non-destructive testing apparatus according to any one of the clauses 33 to 36, wherein the display comprises a light-emitting device or display element indicating the couprant state.

Claims

1. Non-destructive testing equipment, A scanner assembly is provided, and the scanner assembly is A carriage comprising at least one wheel oriented to rotate in a first direction, wherein the carriage is configured to mechanically guide a transducer probe assembly, A first encoder configured to generate a first signal representing the displacement of the carriage in the first direction in response to the rotation of at least one wheel oriented to rotate in the first direction, An operator interface comprising a user input device and a display, wherein the operator interface comprises a modular assembly detachably fitted to the carriage, and the operator interface is To control the operating mode associated with non-destructive testing, the user input device receives input, The system comprises an operator interface configured to display a status indicator associated with the scanning operation of the non-destructive testing, The operator interface is configured to receive the input at the user input device in order to select the operating mode as a scan operating mode. In response, the operator interface is configured to use the display to present a status indicator to indicate that scanning in the first direction should be initiated, in a non-destructive testing apparatus.

2. The operator interface uses the display to The scan in the first direction should be initiated or continued, or The nondestructive testing apparatus according to claim 1, configured to display a status indicator showing at least one of the following: that the scan should be completed.

3. The scanner assembly, At least one wheel oriented to rotate in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction, The nondestructive testing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: a second encoder configured to generate a second signal representing the displacement of the carriage in the second direction in response to the rotation of at least one wheel oriented to rotate in the second direction, wherein the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction.

4. The non-destructive testing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second direction includes an axial indexing direction along the object under test.

5. The operator interface is configured to receive input from the user input device in order to select the operation mode from among the scan operation mode and the index operation mode. In response, the operator interface is configured to use the display to present a status indicator indicating whether a scan operation mode or an index operation mode is active, according to claim 3.

6. The nondestructive testing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the first encoder or the second encoder is included as part of the modular assembly which can be detachably mated with the carriage.

7. The non-destructive testing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first direction includes a circumferential scanning direction along the object under test.

8. The transducer probe assembly further comprises the above, The transducer probe assembly comprises a gasket, the gasket is configured to hold a couplant in the region between the surface of the object under test and the active surface of the transducer probe assembly, The non-destructive testing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the transducer probe assembly includes an acoustic transducer probe assembly.

9. The nondestructive testing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the gasket or corresponding gasket protector has a chamfered or rounded edge, the chamfered or rounded edge being configured to prevent the gasket from bonding or pinching as the transducer probe assembly moves along the object under test.

10. The nondestructive testing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the operator interface is configured to provide a display of the status of the couplant state, the couplant state corresponds to the bonding surface between the acoustic transducer probe assembly and the object under test.

11. The user input device is equipped with a button, The display is equipped with the respective indicators, The input received by the user input device includes one of the following: a single click of the button, a double click of the button, or a sustained pressure on the button for a specified period of time. In response to this, the operator interface is configured to indicate an operating mode in response to whether the user input includes a single click, double click, or sustained pressure on the button, according to claim 1, the nondestructive testing apparatus.

12. The nondestructive testing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each of the indicators includes a light emitter or display element that indicates whether the carriage is moving in the first direction, the second direction, or both.

13. A method for facilitating non-destructive testing (NDT), wherein the method is To control the operating modes associated with nondestructive testing, the user input device of the operator interface of the scanner assembly of the nondestructive testing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, 11 and 12 receives input, In response to this, the acquisition of non-destructive testing data associated with the scanning operation of the non-destructive testing is initiated, A method comprising using the display of the operator interface to present a status display, wherein the status display is associated with the scanning operation of the non-destructive inspection using displacement data acquired using the first encoder.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the operator interface is configured to receive the input at the user input device in order to select the operation mode from among a scan operation mode, an index operation mode, or a freehand operation mode in which encoding is performed simultaneously in both the index direction and the scan direction.

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