Ultrasonic-gaging system method and apparatus

Claim 1

A device adapted for interconnection with a transducer operatively connected to an object for generating an absolute analog signal related to the thickness of the object, the transducer transmits vibrations to the object, senses echoes generated by the object and generates echo pulses, said device comprising: a. pulser/receiver means adapted for interconnection with the transducer for generating driving pulses and for sensing echo pulses; b. digitally controlled means for generating a first signal defined by the material velocity coefficient of the object; c. processing means operatively connected to said pulser/receiver meanS and digitally controlled means, said processing means generating an absolute analog signal related to the material velocity coefficient and echo pulse delay through the object, said absolute analog signal defining the thickness of the object; and d. digital panel meter means operatively connected to said processing means for presenting said absolute analog signal in digital form; e. said processing means including i. first storage means operatively connected to said digitally controlled means for storing a voltage related to said first signal; ii. first switch means having first and second switching states, said first signal applied to said first storage means when said first switch means is in said first switching state; iii. amplifier means having at least one input terminal and an output terminal, second and third signals successively presented at said output terminal, said first storage means operatively connected to said input terminal; iv. second switch means having first and second switching states, said second switch means operatively connected to said output terminal; v. second storage means operatively connected to said second switch means for storing said second signal as at said output terminal; and vi. third switch means having first and second switching states, said third switch means operatively connected to said second storage means, said second signal at said output terminal stored on said second storage means when said second and third switch means are in said second switching state, a fourth signal applied to said digital panel meter means via said second storage means when said second switch means is in said second switching state and said third switch means is in said first switching state, said fourth signal being the difference between said second and third signals.

Claim 2

A device adapted for interconnection with a transducer operatively connected to an object for generating an absolute analog signal related to the thickness of the object, the transducer transmits vibrations to the object, senses echoes generated by the object and generates echo pulses, said device comprising: a. pulser/receiver means adapted for interconnection with the transducer for generating driving pulses and for sensing echo pulses; b. digitally controlled means for generating a first signal defined by the material velocity coefficient of the object; c. processing means operatively connected to said pulser/receiver meanS and digitally controlled means, said processing means generating an absolute analog signal related to the material velocity coefficient and echo pulse delay through the object, said absolute analog signal defining the thickness of the object; and d. digital panel meter means operatively connected to said processing means for presenting said absolute analog signal in digital form; e. said processing means including i. first storage means operatively connected to said digitally controlled means for storing a voltage related to said first signal; ii. first switch means having first and second switching states, said first signal applied to said first storage means when said first switch means is in said first switching state; iii. amplifier means having at least one input terminal and an output terminal, second and third signals successively presented at said output terminal, said first storage means operatively connected to said input terminal; iv. second switch means having first and second switching states, said second switch means operatively connected to said output terminal; v. second storage means operatively connected to said second switch means for storing said second signal as at said output terminal; and vi. third switch means having first and second switching states, said third switch means operatively connected to said second storage means, said second signal at said output terminal stored on said second storage means when said second and third switch means are in said second switching state, a fourth signal applied to said digital panel meter means via said second storage means when said second switch means is in said second switching state and said third switch means is in said first switching state, said fourth signal being the difference between said second and third signals.

Claim 8

A device adapted for interconnection with a transducer operatively connected to an object for generating an absolute analog signal related to the thickness of the object, the transducer transmits vibrations to the object, senses echoes generated by the object and generates echo pulses, said device comprising: a. pulser/receiver means adapted for interconnection with the transducer for generating driving pulses and for sensing echo pulses; b. digitally controlled means for generating a first signal defined by the material velocity coefficient of the object; and c. processing means operatively connected to said pulser/receiver means and digitally controlled means, said processing means generating an absolute analog signal related to the material velocity coefficient and echo pulse delay through the object, said absolute analog signal defining the thickness of the object; d. said processing means including i. control means for generating control signals; ii. first flip-flop means having set and reset states, said first flip-flop means operatively connected to said control means; iii. second flip-flop means having set and reset states, said second flip-flop means operatively connected to said control means and said first flip-flop means; and iv. third flip-flop means operatively connected to said first and second flip-flop means, said third flip-flop means triggered to said set state by said first flip-flop means and triggered to said reset state by said second flip-flop means, said third flip-flop means selectively controlling said processing means.

Claim 9

A device adapted for interconnection with a transducer operatively connected to an object for generating an absolute analog signal related to the thickness of the object, the transducer transmits vibrations to the object, senses echoes generated by the object and generates echo pulses, said device comprising: a. pulser/receiver means adapted for interconnection with the transducer for generating driving pulses and for sensing echo pulses; b. digitally controlled means for generating a first signal defined by the material velocity coefficient of the object; and c. processing means operatively connected to said pulser/receiver means and digitally controlled means, said processing means generating an absolute analog signal related to the material velocity coefficient and echo pulse delay through the object, said absolute analog signal defining the thickness of the object; d. said processing means including i. control means for generating control signals; ii. first flip-flop means having set and reset states, said first flip-flop means operatively connected to said control means; iii. second flip-flop means having set and reset states, said second flip-flop means operatively connected to said control means and said first flip-flop means; and iv. third flip-flop means operatively connected to said first and second flip-flop means, said third flip-flop means triggered to said set state by said first flip-flop means and triggered to said reset state by said second flip-flop means, said third flip-flop means selectively controlling said processing means.

Claim 11

A method of generating an absolute analog signal representing the time interval between two signals comprising the steps of: a. generating a first signal; b. applying said first signal to first storage means for a first time interval; c. storing a first voltage on said first storage means; d. applying a second signal related to said first voltage to second storage means; e. storing a second voltage related to said second signal on said second storage means; f. discharging said first storage means; g. generating a third signal; h. applying said third signal to said first storage means for a second time interval, said second time interval including said first time interval; i. storing a third voltage related to said third signal on said first storage means; and j. applying a fourth signal related to said third voltage to an output terminal via said second storage means, an absolute analog signal representing the difference between said first and second time intervals presented at said output terminal.

Claim 12

A method of generating an absolute analog signal representing the time interval between two signals comprising the steps of: a. generating a first signal; b. applying said first signal to first storage means for a first time interval; c. storing a first voltage on said first storage means; d. applying a second signal related to said first voltage to second storage means; e. storing a second voltage related to said second signal on said second storage means; f. discharging said first storage means; g. generating a third signal; h. applying said third signal to said first storage means for a second time interval, said second time interval including said first time interval; i. storing a third voltage related to said third signal on said first storage means; and j. applying a fourth signal related to said third voltage to an output terminal via said second storage means, an absolute analog signal representing the difference between said first and second time intervals presented at said output terminal.

Claim 13

A method of measuring the thickness of an object having a material velocity coefficient comprising the steps of: a. generating a first signal related to the material velocity coefficient of the object; b. applying said first signal to a first capacitor for a first time interval and charging said first capacitor to a first voltage; c. applying said first voltage to a second capacitor and charging said second capacitor to a second voltage, said second voltage including measurement errors; d. generating a driving pulse for application to the object; e. sensing an echo pulse generated by the object, the time interval between said driving pulse and said echo pulse being related to the thickness of the object; f. generating a third signal related to the thickness of the object; g. applying said third signal To said first capacitor for a second time interval and charging said first capacitor to a third voltage, said second time interval including said first time interval, said second time interval determined by the thickness of the object and said first time interval; and h. applying said third voltage to an output terminal via said second capacitor, an absolute signal representing the difference between said second and third voltages presented at said output terminal.

Claim 14

A method of measuring the thickness of an object having a material velocity coefficient comprising the steps of: a. generating a first signal related to the material velocity coefficient of the object; b. applying said first signal to a first capacitor for a first time interval and charging said first capacitor to a first voltage; c. applying said first voltage to a second capacitor and charging said second capacitor to a second voltage, said second voltage including measurement errors; d. generating a driving pulse for application to the object; e. sensing an echo pulse generated by the object, the time interval between said driving pulse and said echo pulse being related to the thickness of the object; f. generating a third signal related to the thickness of the object; g. applying said third signal To said first capacitor for a second time interval and charging said first capacitor to a third voltage, said second time interval including said first time interval, said second time interval determined by the thickness of the object and said first time interval; and h. applying said third voltage to an output terminal via said second capacitor, an absolute signal representing the difference between said second and third voltages presented at said output terminal.