Sound-based inspection apparatus and sound-based inspection method

Abstract

Provided is a technology related to a sound-based inspection apparatus capable of improving inspection workability while improving inspection accuracy in sound-based inspection of an object to be inspected.　This sound-based inspection device comprises: an attachable / detachable attachment body having fingertip parts that cover the fingertips of a user and a piezoelectric element that is provided to each of the fingertip parts and that outputs an electrical signal corresponding to a pressure change caused by vibration; and a signal processing device that processes the electrical signal. The signal processing device is provided with an input processing unit that receives input of the electrical signal from the piezoelectric element, and a recording processing unit that converts the inputted electrical signal into electronic data and records the electronic data in a storage device.

Description

Acoustic inspection device and acoustic inspection method

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technology for an audio inspection device that inspects the operating status of equipment based on sound.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology related to an abnormality diagnosis device that diagnoses abnormalities in mechanical structures. This device has a swing-type vibration detection unit, separate from the vibrometer body, attached to the tip of a position-adjustable rod in the shape of a listening rod, the length of which can be adjusted freely. This makes it possible to measure vibrations from a location the required distance away from the machine being measured.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-305024

[0004] The technique of Patent Document 1 requires the tip of a long position adjustment rod to come into contact with the measurement location, which may make it difficult to accurately bring the tip into contact with the desired measurement location.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide technology related to an audio inspection device that can improve inspection accuracy while improving inspection workability during audio inspection of inspection objects.

[0006] The audio inspection device disclosed herein comprises a detachable attachment having a fingertip portion that covers the user's fingertip, a piezoelectric element provided on the fingertip portion that outputs an electrical signal in response to pressure changes due to vibration, and a signal processing device having a control device that processes the electrical signal, and the control device comprises an input processing unit that accepts input of the electrical signal from the piezoelectric element, and a recording processing unit that converts the input electrical signal into electronic data and records it in a memory device.

[0007] The acoustic inspection method of the present disclosure is a method for performing an acoustic inspection of an object to be inspected using the above-mentioned acoustic inspection device, and includes the steps of receiving an input of an electrical signal from a piezoelectric element when the fingertip portion of a wearable device attached to a user's fingertip is brought into contact with the object to be inspected, converting the input electrical signal into electronic data and recording it in a memory device, and converting the electronic data recorded in the memory device into sound data and outputting it from a sound output device.

[0008] The audio inspection device of the present disclosure makes it possible to easily check the operating sounds of an object to be inspected at any location, thereby improving inspection accuracy and improving inspection workability.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of an audio inspection device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of an audio inspection method. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining another example of an audio inspection method. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an audio inspection device according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining various functions of a control device of an audio inspection device according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of processing executed in an audio inspection device according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a modified example of hardware resources of a control device.

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that elements common to the various drawings are given the same reference numerals and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0011] 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of an audio inspection device according to an embodiment. The audio inspection device 100 is a device that collects operating sounds of equipment to be inspected, such as a motor, and checks the collected sounds for abnormalities. The audio inspection device 100 mainly comprises a wearable body 10 and a signal processing device 20.

[0012] The wearing body 10 is a glove-shaped, removable wearing body that a user wears on their hand. In the wearing body 10, a piezoelectric element 12(k) (k = 1, 2, ..., n) is attached to each fingertip portion 10a corresponding to the user's fingertips. The piezoelectric element 12(k) is a sensor that outputs an electrical signal in response to pressure changes caused by vibration. The piezoelectric element 12(k) is, for example, a piezo element. The vibration here includes vibration caused by sound. In the example shown in FIG. 1, a piezoelectric element 12(k) (k = 1 to 5) is arranged on each of the five fingertip portions 10a of the glove-shaped wearing body 10.

[0013] The signal processing device 20 is a processing device having a plurality of input systems and at least one output system. Each of the plurality of input systems of the signal processing device 20 is connected to a respective one of the piezoelectric elements 12(k). The electrical signals output from each of the piezoelectric elements 12(k) are sent to the signal processing device 20. The signal processing device 20 has various functions for processing the electrical signals input from each input system.

[0014] The signal processing device 20 is installed, for example, on the back or wrist of a glove-shaped wearing body 10. In other words, the audio inspection device 100 functions as a wearable terminal worn by a user with the wearing body 10 and the signal processing device 20 integrated together. The signal processing device 20 includes a display device 22 that displays information, and a sound output device 24 that outputs sound data. The display device 22 is, for example, a display provided on the main body of the signal processing device 20. The sound output device 24 is, for example, headphones or a speaker connected to the output system of the signal processing device 20.

[0015] Here, an overview of an audio inspection method in which a user uses the audio inspection device 100 to inspect the operating sound of an object to be inspected will be described. The object to be inspected is, for example, a rotating machine such as a motor. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of an audio inspection method. The signal processing device 20 receives an electrical signal input from each of the piezoelectric elements 12(k). This processing will be referred to as "input processing" hereinafter. FIG. 2 illustrates a state in which a user wearing the attachment 10 uses two fingers to contact each of the piezoelectric elements 12(1) and 12(2) with the object to be inspected.

[0016] The signal processing device 20 detects contact of the piezoelectric element 12(k) with an object. This process will be referred to as the "contact detection process" hereinafter. In the contact detection process, if the strength of an electrical signal input by the input process is greater than a predetermined determination value, for example, the signal processing device 20 determines that the piezoelectric element 12(k) corresponding to the electrical signal is in contact with the object to be inspected.

[0017] The signal processing device 20 performs AD conversion on the electrical signals of the piezoelectric elements 12(k) to convert them into recordable electronic data, and then records the data in a storage device for each system. This process will be referred to as a "recording process" hereinafter. In the recording process, the signal processing device 20 may record in the storage device the electrical signals of the piezoelectric elements 12(k) for which contact is detected in the contact detection process, but may not record in the storage device the electrical signals of the piezoelectric elements 12(k) for which contact is not detected in the contact detection process.

[0018] The signal processing device 20 accepts from the user a selection of data to be output from among the electronic data recorded in the storage device. This process is hereinafter referred to as the "reception process." The user selects the data to be output, for example, by operating a button (not shown) provided on the main body of the signal processing device 20. The signal processing device 20 performs DA conversion of the data selected by the user into audible sound data, and then outputs the data from the sound output device 24. This process is hereinafter referred to as the "sound output process." Furthermore, the signal processing device 20 converts the selected data into displayable waveform data, and then displays the waveform on the display device 22. This process is hereinafter referred to as the "waveform output process." The user checks the sound output from the sound output device 24 or the waveform output from the display device 22.

[0019] This type of acoustic inspection method makes it possible to easily check the operating sounds of an object to be inspected at any location, thereby improving inspection accuracy and workability.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating another example of an audio inspection method. The other example shown in FIG. 3 illustrates an inspection method in which, in inspecting a motor, which is an object to be inspected, voice data of a guide voice spoken by a user wearing the attachment 10 is recorded in addition to vibration data detected from the motor. In this case, for example, the user touches the piezoelectric element 12(k) of the fingertip 10a near their vocal cords and speaks a voice guide such as "Check motor." In the input process, the signal processing device 20 receives an electrical signal of the voice data. Next, the user touches the piezoelectric element 12(k) of the fingertip 10a to the motor, which is the object to be inspected. In the input process, the signal processing device 20 receives an electrical signal of the vibration data detected from the motor. Then, in the recording process, the signal processing device 20 converts the electrical signals received in the input process into electronic data and records it.

[0021] According to this audio inspection method, in addition to recording vibration data from the audio inspection, it is possible to record voice guidance data on the inspection contents.

[0022] 2. Configuration of an Audio Inspection Device According to an Embodiment Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an audio inspection device according to an embodiment. The audio inspection device 100 includes the above-described attachment 10 and a signal processing device 20. The attachment 10 includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements 12(k) (k = 1 to n). The signal processing device 20 includes a control device 30, a display device 22, and a sound output device 24.

[0023] The control device 30 is a microcomputer including at least one processor 40 and at least one storage device 50. The control device 30 is also called an information processing device.

[0024] The storage device 50 stores an inspection program 52 and various data 54 related to the inspection program 52. The processor 40 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor 40 reads and executes the inspection program 52 to realize various functions of the control device 30. The inspection program 52 may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

[0025] 5 is a diagram illustrating various functions of the control device of the audio inspection device according to the embodiment. As shown in this diagram, the control device 30 includes, as its functional blocks, an input processing unit 41, a contact detection unit 42, a recording processing unit 43, a reception processing unit 44, a sound output unit 45, and a waveform output unit 46.

[0026] The input processing unit 41 is a functional block for executing the above-described input processing and receiving an electrical signal from the piezoelectric element 12(k). The contact detection unit 42 is a functional block for executing the above-described contact detection processing and detecting whether or not each piezoelectric element 12(k) is in contact. The recording processing unit 43 is a functional block for executing the above-described recording processing and recording electronic data. The reception processing unit 44 is a functional block for executing the above-described reception processing and receiving from the user the selection of data to be output. The sound output unit 45 is a functional block for executing the above-described sound output processing and outputting sound from the sound output device 24. Furthermore, the waveform output unit 46 is a functional block for executing the above-described waveform output processing and outputting a waveform from the display device 22. Specific processes executed in the signal processing device 20 of the audio inspection device 100 will now be described with reference to a flowchart.

[0027] 3. Specific Processing Executed in the Audio Inspection Device According to the Embodiment Next, a procedure for an audio inspection method in which a user of the audio inspection device 100 wears the attachment 10 on their hand and performs an audio inspection of an object to be inspected will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the processing executed in the audio inspection device according to the embodiment. The routine shown in FIG. 6 is executed by the processor 40 of the signal processing device 20 executing the inspection program 52 recorded in the storage device 50. Note that this routine also represents a part of the audio inspection method in which the audio inspection device 100 performs an audio inspection of an object to be inspected.

[0028] In step S100, input processing is performed in the input processing unit 41, and the electrical signals of the piezoelectric elements 12(k) are input to the control device 30. In the next step S102, contact detection processing is performed in the contact detection unit 42. As a result, if it is determined that any of the piezoelectric elements 12(k) has come into contact with the inspection target, the processing proceeds to step S104, and if it is determined that none of the piezoelectric elements 12(k) has come into contact with the inspection target, the processing proceeds to step S106.

[0029] In step S104, the electrical signal of the piezoelectric element 12(k) whose contact was detected in step S102 is converted into electronic data and recorded in the storage device 50. After the process of step S104 is executed, the process proceeds to step S106.

[0030] In step S106, it is determined whether the selection of data to be output has been accepted from the user through the acceptance process. If the result of the judgment is negative, the processing of this routine is terminated, and if the result of the judgment is positive, the processing proceeds to step S108.

[0031] In step S108, sound output processing is executed in the sound output unit 45, and the electronic data selected in the reception processing is converted into sound data, which is then output from the sound output device 24. Also, waveform output processing is executed in the waveform output unit 46, and the selected electronic data is converted into waveform data, which is then output from the display device 22.

[0032] 4. Functions and Effects of the Audio Inspection Device of the Embodiment According to the audio inspection device 100 described above, the following functions and effects can be obtained.

[0033] The piezoelectric element 12(k) is provided on the fingertip portion 10a of the attachment 10, making it easy to contact the piezoelectric element 12(k) with any desired location on the object being inspected. Furthermore, since sounds from multiple different locations on the object being inspected or multiple locations along different axial directions can be recorded at once, defects can be identified by comparing the sounds. Furthermore, since the recorded sound data is stored, inspection skills can be passed on from experienced technicians to younger technicians. Furthermore, the stored sound data is expected to be utilized in future technologies such as automated inspections.

[0034] The signal processing device 20 can record in the storage device 50 only the electrical signal of the piezoelectric element 12(k) for which contact has been detected, thereby making it possible to suppress an increase in the amount of data to be recorded in the storage device.

[0035] The signal processing device 20 can display waveform data in addition to sound data, allowing the user to visually verify the sound data.

[0036] The signal processing device 20 is configured to be attached to the attachment 10, which improves usability as a wearable terminal.

[0037] 5. Modifications The audio inspection device 100 of this embodiment may employ the following modifications.

[0038] 5-1. Piezoelectric Elements 12(k) There are no limitations on the material, structure, or number of the piezoelectric elements 12(k) as long as they can be installed on the fingertip 10a.

[0039] 5-2. Wearing Body 10 The shape of the wearing body 10 is not limited to a glove-like shape, and may be, for example, a shape consisting of only a fingertip portion 10a worn on the fingertip of the user.

[0040] 5-3 Signal Processing Device 20 The signal processing device 20 is not limited to being integrated with the wearable body 10, and may be configured separately from the wearable body 10.

[0041] The display device 22 is not essential, and may be configured as a separate unit from the main body of the signal processing device.

[0042] The sound output device 24 is not essential, and may be integrated with the main body of the signal processing device.

[0043] 5-4. Control device 30

[0044] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a modified example of the hardware resources of the control device. In the example shown in Fig. 7, the control device 30 includes, for example, a processor 40, a storage device 50 as a memory, and a processing circuit 62 including dedicated hardware 60. Fig. 7 shows an example in which some of the functions of the control device 30 are realized by the dedicated hardware 60. All of the functions of the control device 30 may also be realized by the dedicated hardware 60. The dedicated hardware 60 may be a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0045] The storage device 50 may be independent from the control device 30, and the role of the storage device 50 may be performed by a cloud or the like.

[0046] There is no limitation on the functional arrangement of the control device 30. That is, all or part of the functions of the control device 30 may be installed in the display device 22, the sound output device 24, or a server on a cloud with which the control device 30 can communicate.

[0047] Of the functions of the control device 30, the function of the contact detection unit is not essential. That is, the control device 30 may be configured to record all of the electrical signals input by the input processing in the storage device 50. Furthermore, of the functions of the control device 30, the function of the waveform output unit is also not essential.

[0048] The sound output unit 45 may have a function of synthesizing and outputting a plurality of pieces of sound data in the sound output process. Also, the sound output unit 45 may have a function of directly outputting the sound data input by the input process in the sound output process.

[0049] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Wearing body, 10a Fingertip portion, 12 Piezoelectric element, 20 Signal processing device, 22 Display device, 24 Sound output device, 30 Control device, 40 Processor, 41 Input processing unit, 42 Contact detection unit, 43 Recording processing unit, 44 Reception processing unit 45 Sound output unit, 46 Waveform output unit, 50 Storage device, 52 Inspection program, 54 Data, 60 Dedicated hardware, 62 Processing circuit, 100 Audio inspection device

Claims

1. A listening inspection device comprising: a detachable attachment having a fingertip portion that covers the user's fingertip; and a piezoelectric element that is attached to the fingertip portion and outputs an electrical signal in response to pressure changes due to vibration; and a signal processing device having a control device that processes the electrical signal, wherein the control device comprises an input processing unit that receives the electrical signal from the piezoelectric element; and a recording processing unit that converts the input electrical signal into electronic data and records it in a storage device.

2. The audio inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the wearer has a glove shape with a plurality of fingertip parts, each of the plurality of fingertip parts is provided with a respective one of the plurality of piezoelectric elements, the input processing unit is configured to receive input of electrical signals from each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements by system, and the recording processing unit is configured to convert each of the received electrical signals into electronic data and record it in the storage device by system.

3. The audio inspection device according to claim 2, wherein the control device further comprises a contact detection unit that detects whether or not each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements is in contact, and the recording processing unit is configured to record in the storage device the electrical signals of the piezoelectric elements for which contact is detected by the contact detection unit, and not to record in the storage device the electrical signals of the piezoelectric elements for which contact is not detected by the contact detection unit.

4. The audio inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing device comprises a sound output device that outputs sound data, and the control device further comprises a sound output unit that converts the electronic data recorded in the storage device into sound data and outputs it to the sound output device.

5. The audio inspection device according to claim 4, wherein the signal processing device is provided with a display device, and the control device further comprises a waveform output section that converts the electronic data recorded in the storage device into waveform data and outputs it from the display device.

6. An audio inspection device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the signal processing device is integrally formed with the wearable body.

7. A method for acoustic inspection of an object to be inspected using the acoustic inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising the steps of: receiving the input of the electrical signal from the piezoelectric element when the fingertip portion of the attachment worn on the fingertip of a user is brought into contact with the object to be inspected; converting the input electrical signal into electronic data and recording it in a storage device; and converting the electronic data recorded in the storage device into sound data and outputting it from a sound output device.

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