IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,517,094
Granted Patent B2
US 12,517,094 · App. 18/060,752 · Granted Jan 6, 2026

Processing device, processing system, processing method, and storage medium

Inventors: Hiromasa Takahashi (Tokyo, JP); Masahiro Saito (Yokohama, JP); Yasunori Chiba (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
G01N29/4427G01N29/04G01N29/11G01N29/24G01N29/262G01N29/48G01N2291/044G01N2291/106G01N2291/267
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,517,094
App. No.
18/060,752
Granted
Jan 6, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to one embodiment, a processing device receives a detection result of an intensity of a reflected wave detected by a detector including a detecting part that transmits an ultrasonic wave and receives the reflected wave, and a propagating part through which the ultrasonic wave and the reflected wave propagate, and performs a first determination of determining a state of the detecting part and a second determination of determining a state of the propagating part based on the detection result.

Claims (74)

1 . A processing system, comprising:

a detector including

a detecting part configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave and detect a reflected wave, and

a propagating part through which the ultrasonic wave and the reflected wave propagate; and

a processing device configured to

receive a detection result of an intensity of the reflected wave detected in a state where the detector is separated from any other member,

perform a first determination of determining a state of the detecting part based on the detection result, and

perform a second determination of determining a state of the propagating part.

2 . The processing system according to claim 1 , wherein

when the first determination determines the detecting part to have an abnormality, the processing device outputs first information indicating the abnormality of the detecting part, and

when the second determination determines the propagating part to have an abnormality, the processing device outputs second information indicating the abnormality of the propagating part.

3 . The processing system according to claim 1 , wherein

the detecting part includes a plurality of detection elements configured to transmit the ultrasonic waves and detecting the reflected waves,

the detection result includes intensity data,

the intensity data is a sum of at least a portion of a plurality of sets of other intensity data obtained by the plurality of detection elements detecting the reflected waves,

the second determination is performed by comparing an intensity of a portion of the reflected wave in the intensity data with a second threshold, and

the second threshold is preset.

4 . The processing system according to claim 1 , wherein

the detecting part includes a plurality of detection elements configured to transmit the ultrasonic waves and detecting the reflected waves,

the detection result includes a plurality of sets of intensity data obtained by the plurality of detection elements sequentially transmitting the ultrasonic waves and by the plurality of detection elements detecting the reflected waves,

the first determination is performed by comparing the intensity of a portion of the reflected wave with a first threshold for each of the plurality of sets of intensity data, and the first threshold is preset.

5 . The processing system according to claim 4 , wherein

the second determination is performed by comparing an intensity of a portion of the reflected wave in other intensity data with a second threshold,

the other intensity data is generated using the plurality of sets of intensity data, and

the second threshold is preset.

6 . The processing system according to claim 1 , wherein the processing device is configured to inspect a weld portion based on intensity data when receiving the intensity data, and

the intensity data is obtained by the detecting part transmitting the ultrasonic wave toward the weld portion and detecting the reflected wave from the weld portion.

7 . The processing system according to claim 1 , wherein

the propagating part includes a resin material.

8 . The processing system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a manipulator; and

a control device controlling the manipulator,

the detector being located at a distal part of the manipulator.

9 . The processing system according to claim 8 , wherein

the control device is configured to stop the manipulator when the processing device determines the detecting part to have an abnormality in the first determination or determines the propagating part to have an abnormality in the second determination.

10 . The processing system according to claim 8 , wherein

the first determination and the second determination are performed in the state in where detector is separated from any other member.

11 . The processing system according to claim 8 , wherein

the first determination and the second determination are performed while moving the manipulator.

12 . A processing system, comprising:

a detector including

a detecting part including a plurality of detection elements and configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave and detect a reflected wave, the plurality of detection elements being configured to transmit ultrasonic waves and detecting reflected waves, a plurality of sets of intensity data being obtained by the plurality of detection elements sequentially transmitting the ultrasonic waves and by the plurality of detection elements detecting the reflected waves, and

a propagating part through which the ultrasonic wave and the reflected wave propagate; and

a processing device configured to

receive the plurality of sets of intensity data detected in a state where the detector is separated from any other member, and

determine a state of the detecting part by comparing an intensity of a portion of the reflected wave with a threshold for each of the plurality of sets of intensity data, the threshold being preset.

13 . A processing system, comprising:

a detector including

a detecting part configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave and detect a reflected wave, and

a propagating part through which the ultrasonic wave and the reflected wave propagate; and

a processing device configured to

receive a detection result of an intensity of a reflected wave detected in a state where the detector is separated from any other member, and

determine a state of the propagating part by comparing an intensity of a portion of the reflected wave with a threshold, the threshold being preset.

14 . A processing method, comprising:

receiving a detection result of an intensity of a reflected wave detected by a detector, the detector including a detecting part and a propagating part, the detecting part transmitting an ultrasonic wave and detecting the reflected wave, the ultrasonic wave and the reflected wave propagating through the propagating part, the detection result being detected in a state where the detector is separated from any other member; and

performing, based on the detection result:

a first determination of determining a state of the detecting part; and

a second determination of determining a state of the propagating part.

15 . The processing method according to claim 14 , wherein

the first determination and the second determination are performed in the state where the detector is separated from any other member.

16 . The processing method according to claim 14 , wherein

a weld portion is inspected based on intensity data when the intensity data is received, and

the intensity data is obtained by the detecting part transmitting the ultrasonic wave toward the weld portion and detecting the reflected wave from the weld portion.

17 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program,

the program causing a computer to:

receive a detection result of an intensity of a reflected wave detected by a detector, the detector including

a detecting part transmitting an ultrasonic wave and detecting the reflected wave, and

a propagating part through which the ultrasonic wave and the reflected wave propagate; and

performing, based on the detection result detected in a state where the detector is separated from any other member,

a first determination of determining a state of the detecting part, and

a second determination of determining a state of the propagating part.

18 . The medium according to claim 17 , wherein

the computer is caused to receive intensity data and inspect a weld portion based on the intensity data, and

the intensity data is obtained by the detecting part transmitting the ultrasonic wave toward the weld portion and detecting the reflected wave from the weld portion.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2023
From: TAKAHASHI, HIROMASA; SAITO, MASAHIRO; CHIBA, YASUNORI
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Reel/Frame 062649/0533 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-099282 · Jun 8, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2021021511 · Jun 7, 2021
Related Publication 20230104515A1 · Apr 6, 2023
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