Ultrasonic Testing Signal Acquisition Using Reduced Coding Matrix
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasonic signal acquisition methods face challenges in achieving high Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) due to strong electronic or structural noise, particularly in highly attenuating materials, which limits the detection and characterization of defects, and are hindered by the need for multiple transducer emissions and reconstruction artefacts.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves defining an initial coding matrix for ultrasonic transmissions, calculating acoustic fields, and selecting columns based on amplitude and angular thresholds to reduce the number of emissions while maintaining SNR, using a reduced coding matrix for subsequent transmissions to acquire ultrasonic signals, thereby simplifying the acquisition process and improving image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple successive transmissions are performed by single transducers (FMC acquisition), then complete coverage of the inspection area is achieved, but the transmitted energy is limited and SNR degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple transducer emissions simultaneously to form a virtual source, merging their energies to increase transmitted energy and improve SNR. This is achieved by activating several transducers at once with coordinated delay laws rather than sequentially activating single transducers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary calculations of acoustic fields to determine optimal virtual source positions and corresponding transducer activation patterns before actual inspection. This allows pre-planning of transmission sequences that maximize energy efficiency and SNR.
2Productivity
If all transducers emit simultaneously with delay laws to focus at a given point, then focusing speed is improved, but reconstruction artefacts appear due to parasitic echoes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different delay laws to different groups of transducers based on their spatial positions and the specific focusing requirements. Each transducer or transducer group is configured with localized delay parameters optimized for its position, allowing precise focusing while minimizing parasitic echoes from inappropriate transducer activations.
3Measurement precision
If the number of successive emissions is increased to improve SNR, then detection capability is enhanced, but acquisition time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple transducer emissions into simultaneous transmissions, achieving SNR improvement equivalent to multiple sequential emissions but in a single time step. This parallel approach maintains detection capability while dramatically reducing acquisition time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary acoustic field calculations to optimize transmission sequences, determining the minimum number of virtual sources needed to achieve adequate SNR. This prevents unnecessary transmissions and optimizes the balance between detection capability and acquisition time.
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 reduces the number of emissions while minimizing the impact on SNR, resulting in improved image quality and defect detection, with images obtained being less noisy and comparable in quality to those from conventional methods but acquired faster.
Implementation Method 1
control of L transmission transducers for M successive transmissions of ultrasonic waves towards a zone of interest, control of N reception transducers so as to receive simultaneously and for a predetermined duration, for each of the M successive transmissions, N measurement signals, measuring in particular echoes due to reflections of the emission considered in the zone of interest
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~3C
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A method (200) for acquiring ultrasonic testing signals comprises: controlling (208) L emitting transducers (1081, ..., 108N) and N receiving transducers (1081, ..., 108N) for simultaneously receiving, for each M successive emissions, N measuring signals; and obtaining (210) a matrix of temporal ultrasonic signals of a size NxM. An initial matrix ([MC']) of size LxM' for encoding the successive emissions is previously defined (202) for a number M' of successive initial emissions strictly greater than M. An acoustic field calculation is carried out (204) for each of the initial M' emissions. A reduced encoding matrix ([MC]) of size LxM is obtained (206) by deleting M'-M columns of the initial encoding matrix ([MC']) on the basis of a selection criterion applied to the M' acoustic field calculations. Finally, the control (208) of the L emitting transducers for the M successive emissions is encoded using the reduced encoding matrix ([MC]).