Ultrasonic Scanning Local Gain Components Depth Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrasonic scanning systems face challenges in detecting abnormalities deeper within test subjects due to signal attenuation, interference, and noise, making it difficult to identify defects at varying depths without compromising sensitivity.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an ultrasonic scanning system that applies local gains to specific portions of the ultrasonic wave signal, allowing for enhanced detection of defects by compensating for signal attenuation and noise, particularly for deeper defects, through the use of multiple gain components and signal gates that adjust gain levels based on depth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single gain level is used for ultrasonic scanning, then the system is simple to operate, but deeper abnormalities cannot be detected due to signal attenuation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different gain levels to different depth ranges within the test object. Local gain components are assigned to specific depth intervals, allowing each region to be amplified according to its signal attenuation characteristics. This resolves the contradiction by making the gain structure adaptive to depth-dependent signal loss while maintaining operational simplicity through automated depth-based gain selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The ultrasonic signal processing is divided into multiple depth segments, each handled by a separate local gain component. The total scanning range is segmented into multiple intervals, with each segment receiving optimized gain treatment. This segmentation allows deeper abnormalities to be detected with higher gain while keeping the overall system manageable through modular processing.
2Measurement precision
If higher gain is applied to detect deeper defects, then detection sensitivity improves, but noise and interference also increase
Solution Approach 1:
Different gain levels are applied locally to different depth ranges rather than uniformly across the entire signal. Deeper depth ranges receive higher gain to compensate for attenuation, while shallower ranges use lower gain to avoid excessive noise amplification. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by tailoring noise suppression to the specific depth-dependent signal characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies gain selectively only to the depth ranges where defects are expected or where signal attenuation is significant, rather than applying uniform gain across all depths. This partial action approach ensures that noise is not unnecessarily amplified in regions where it would not obscure meaningful signals, while still providing sufficient sensitivity where needed.
3Ease of operation
If uniform gain is applied across all depths, then the signal processing is simple, but defects at different depths are not equally detectable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements depth-dependent gain allocation where each depth range receives a gain level optimized for its specific attenuation characteristics. This local quality approach ensures that defects at all depths are amplified to comparable signal levels, achieving detection consistency while the automated gain management maintains operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The gain parameter is changed as a function of depth, with the system automatically selecting appropriate gain levels for different depth intervals. This parameter variation resolves the contradiction by adapting the processing characteristics to match the physical reality of ultrasonic attenuation, ensuring consistent defect detectability across depths while maintaining ease of operation through automated control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach ensures that all defects within a test subject are equally likely to be detected, regardless of their depth, by increasing the amplitude of signal segments corresponding to deeper defects, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of ultrasonic scanning.
Implementation Method 1
Ultrasonic transducers may incorporate piezoelectric ceramics which can be electrically connected to a pulsing-receiving unit. During operation, an electrical waveform pulse may be applied to the electrodes of the piezoelectric ceramic, causing a mechanical change in ceramic dimension and generating an acoustic wave
Implementation Method 2
The ultrasonic pulse will reflect off of and refract through any internal discontinuities in the test object, such as material abnormalities. Such irregular reflections and refractions not caused by the known external boundaries of the test object may be taken as indications of damage or abnormality
Implementation Method 3
The ultrasonic pulse will reflect off of and refract through any internal discontinuities in the test object
Implementation Method 4
Conversely, when an acoustic wave reflected from the material under inspection contacts the surface of the piezoelectric ceramic, it generates a voltage difference across the electrodes that is detected as a receive signal
Data Source
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AI summary
A device (20) is disclosed that, in an illustrative embodiment, includes an input line (201), a main gain component (229), a first local gain component (221), and a second local gain component (222). The main gain component (229), the first local gain component (221), and the second local gain component (222) each have a communicative connection with the input line (201). The main gain component (229) is configured for applying a main gain to an ultrasonic wave signal received via the input line (201), thereby providing a main gain signal (151,157). The first local gain component (221) is configured for applying a first local gain to a portion of the ultrasonic wave signal within a first signal gate (113), and thereby providing a first local gain signal (153). The second local gain component (222) is configured for applying a second local gain to a portion of the ultrasonic wave signal within a second signal gate (115), and thereby providing a second local gain signal (155).