IP Library Granted Patent US 11,703,479
Granted Patent B2
US 11,703,479 · App. 17/665,834 · Granted Jul 18, 2023

Inspection device, processing device and inspection method

Inventors: Yutaka Nakai (Kanagawa, JP); Tomio Ono (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA; TOSHIBA INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
G01N29/041G01N29/4409G01N2291/0237G01N2291/048
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,703,479
App. No.
17/665,834
Granted
Jul 18, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to an embodiment, an inspection device includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor. The transmitter transmits a first ultrasonic wave including burst waves of a first period. The first ultrasonic wave is incident on an inspection object between the transmitter and the receiver. The first ultrasonic wave passed through the inspection object is incident on the receiver. The receiver outputs a signal corresponding to the first ultrasonic wave. The processor obtains the signal and performs a first operation. The first operation includes deriving first and second signal values from the signal, and inspecting the inspection object based on at least one of the first signal values and at least one of the second signal values. The first signal values correspond to maximum values of the signal in each of first periods The second signal values correspond to maximum values of the signal in each of second periods.

Claims (84)

1. An inspection device, comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a first ultrasonic wave including a plurality of burst waves of a first period;

a receiver, the first ultrasonic wave being configured to be incident on an inspection object between the transmitter and the receiver, the first ultrasonic wave passed through the inspection object being incident on the receiver, the receiver is configured to output a signal corresponding to the first ultrasonic wave incident on the receiver; and

a processor configured to obtain the signal and to performing a first operation,

the first operation including:

deriving a plurality of first signal values and a plurality of second signal values from the signal, and

inspecting the inspection object based on at least one of the first signal values and at least one of the second signal values,

the first signal values corresponding to maximum values of the signal in each of a plurality of first periods having the first period derived from the signal, the first signal values corresponding to an intensity of a direct wave of the first ultrasonic wave,

the second signal values corresponding to maximum values of the signal in each of a plurality of second periods having the first period derived from the signal,

one of the first periods being between one of the second periods and an other of the second periods, and the other one of the second periods being closest to the one of the second periods among the second periods.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein

a length of each of the first periods is less than 0.5 times the first period, and

a length of each of the second periods is less than 0.5 times the first period.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein

a length of each of the first periods is not less than 0.01 times and not more than 0.3 times the first period, and

a length of each of the second periods is not less than 0.01 times and not more than 0.3 times the first period.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein

the inspecting includes outputting an inspection signal regarding presence or absence of one of the first signal values satisfying a first condition,

the one of the plurality of first signal values is smaller than one of the second signal values in the first condition,

the one of the first signal values is a maximum value of the signal in the one of the first periods, and

the one of the second signal values is a maximum value of the signal in the one of the second periods.

5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein

in the first condition, the one of the first signal values is not more than a product of the one of the second signal values and a first value, and

the first value is not less than 0.4 and not more than 0.8.

6. The device according to claim 4 , wherein the one of the second signal values is before the one of the first signal values.

7. The device according to claim 4 , wherein the one of the second signal values is after the one of the first signal values.

8. The device according to claim 4 , wherein

the inspection signal further relates to presence or absence of an other one of the first signal values satisfying a second condition,

in the second condition, the other one of the first signal values is smaller than an other one of the second signal values,

the other one of the first signal values is a maximum value of the signal in an other one of the first periods, and

the other one of the second signal values is a maximum value of the signal in the other one of the second periods,

the other one of the first periods is closest to the one of the first periods among the first periods.

9. The device according to claim 4 , wherein

the inspection signal further relates to presence or absence of an other one of the first signal values satisfying a second condition;

in the second condition, the other one of the first signal values is smaller than other one of the second signal values,

the other one of the first signal values is maximum value of the signal in an other one of the first periods,

the other one of the second signal values is a maximum value of the signal in the further other one of the second periods, and

the other one of the first periods is between the other one of the second periods and further other one of the second periods, and the further other one of the second periods is closest to the other one of the second periods among the second periods.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor includes

a first circuit portion configured to derive a plurality of first signal values and a plurality of second signal values from the signal, and

a second circuit portion configured to inspect the inspection object based on at least one of the first signal values and at least one of the second signal values.

11. A processing device, comprising:

a processor configured to obtain a signal output from a receiver and to perform a first operation,

a first ultrasonic wave including a plurality of burst waves of a first period transmitted from a transmitter being incident on an inspection object between the transmitter and the receiver, the first ultrasonic wave passed through the inspection object being incident on the receiver, the receiver being configured to output the signal corresponding to the first ultrasonic wave incident on the receiver,

the first operation including:

deriving a plurality of first signal values and a plurality of second signal values from the signal, and

inspecting the inspection object based on at least one of the first signal values and at least one of the second signal values,

the first signal values corresponding to maximum values of the signal in each of a plurality of first periods having the first period derived from the signal, the first signal values corresponding to an intensity of a direct wave of the first ultrasonic wave,

the second signal values corresponding to a maximum value of the signal in each of a plurality of second periods having the first period derived from the signal,

one of the first periods being between one of the second periods and an other of the second periods, and the other one of the second periods being closest to the one of the second periods among the plurality of second periods.

12. The device according to claim 11 , wherein

a length of each of the first periods is less than 0.5 times the first period, and

a length of each of the second periods is less than 0.5 times the first period.

13. The device according to claim 11 , wherein

a length of each of the first periods is not less than 0.01 times and not more than 0.3 times the first period, and

a length of each of the second periods is not less than 0.01 times and not more than 0.3 times the first period.

14. The device according to claim 11 , wherein

the inspecting includes outputting an inspection signal regarding presence or absence of one of the first signal values satisfying a first condition,

in the first condition, the one of the first signal values is not more than a product of one of the second signal values and a first value, the first value is not less than 0.4 and not more than 0.8,

the one of the first signal values is a maximum value of the signal in the one of the first periods, and

the one of the second signal values is a maximum value of the signal in the one of the second periods.

15. The device according to claim 11 , wherein

the processor includes:

a first circuit portion configured to derive a plurality of first signal values and a plurality of second signal values from the signal, and

a second circuit portion configured to inspect the inspection object based on at least one of the first signal values and at least one of the second signal values.

16. An inspection method, comprising: obtaining a signal output from a receiver, and performing a first operation, a first ultrasonic wave including a plurality of burst waves of a first period transmitted from the transmitter being incident on an inspection object between the transmitter and the receiver, the first ultrasonic wave passed through the inspection object being incident on the receiver, the receiver being configured to output the signal corresponding to the first ultrasonic wave incident on the receiver,

the first operation including:

deriving a plurality of first signal values and a plurality of second signal values from the signal, and

inspecting the inspection object based on at least one of the first signal values and at least one of the second signal values,

the first signal values corresponding to maximum values of the signal in each of a plurality of first periods having the first period derived from the signal, the first signal values corresponding to an intensity of a direct wave of the first ultrasonic wave,

the second signal values corresponding to a maximum value of the signal in each of a plurality of second periods having the first period derived from the signal,

one of the first periods being between one of the second periods and an other of the second periods, and the other one of the second periods being closest to the one of the second periods among the second periods.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein

a length of each of the first periods is less than 0.5 times the first period, and

a length of each of the second periods is less than 0.5 times the first period.

18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein

a length of each of the first periods is not less than 0.01 times and not more than 0.3 times the first period, and

a length of each of the second periods is not less than 0.01 times and not more than 0.3 times the first period.

19. The method according to claim 16 , wherein

the inspecting includes outputting an inspection signal regarding presence or absence of one of the first signal values satisfying a first condition,

in the first condition, the one of the first signal values is not more than a product of one of the second signal values and a first value, the first value is not less than 0.4 and not more than 0.8,

the one of the first signal values is a maximum value of the signal in the one of the first periods, and

the one of the second signal values is a maximum value of the signal in the one of the second periods.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Jul 29, 2025
From: TOSHIBA INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Reel/Frame 072239/0263 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2022
From: NAKAI, YUTAKA; ONO, TOMIO
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA; TOSHIBA INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058909/0598 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-132583 · Aug 17, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230054123A1 · Feb 23, 2023