US4840066A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultrasonic thickness gauge having automatic transducer recognition and parameter optimization and method thereof
Assignee: NDT INSTRUMENTS Inc A CORP OF CA
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Filing: 1988-06-27
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Granted: 1989-06-20
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Expires: 2008-06-27
Abstract
Abstract A measurement system employs a method and apparatus for uniquely tagging each of a plurality of transducers, automatically recognizing the tag for identifying the transducer and automatically adjusting electronic parameters of the system for enhancing performance with a selected transducer. In a preferred embodiment, a resistor is inserted in a piezoelectric transducer of an ultrasonic thickness gauge, a current source and A to D converter measure the resistor and a microprocessor-based logic system adjusts measurement parameters of the gauge to be automatically optimized for the associated transducer characteristics.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald J. Botsco
- 👤 Robert L. Jones
- 👤 David E. Methe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:50
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B17/00; G01B17/02; G01N; G01N29/00; G01N29/22; G01N29/30; G01B2210/00; G01B2210/60; G01N2291/00; G01N2291/02; G01N2291/028; G01N2291/02854
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
In an ultrasonic thickness gauge of the type having a transducer to contact a workpiece, a pulser to transmit an ultrasonic pulse into the workpiece through the transducer, a receiver for receiving an echo of the transmitted pulse, a logic circuit for calculating the time elapsed between the transmitted and received pulses for measuring the thickness of the workpiece and a display for displaying measured thicknesses; the improvement comprising: means in said transducer for identifying the type of transducer; means in said gauge for automatically recognizing said transducer type identifying means; means in said gauge, responsive to said recognizing means, for automatically setting gauge parameters in accordance with the recognized transducer type; wherein said transducer type identifying means comprises an electrical component in the electrical circuit of said transducer; wherein said recognizing means comprises a current source for applying electrical current to said component and means for measuring the voltage differential across said component induced by said current; wherein said measuring means comprises an analog-to-digital converter; wherein said setting means comprises a memory device having stored therein a plurality of parameter sets, each such set corresponding to an output of said analog-to-digital converter, said setting means further comprising means for controlling said gauge in accordance with said parameter sets; and wherein at least one parameter in said parameter sets comprises the position of a decimal point in said display.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
In an ultrasonic thickness gauge of the type having a transducer to contact a workpiece, a pulser to transmit an ultrasonic pulse into the workpiece through the transducer, a receiver for receiving an echo of the transmitted pulse, a logic circuit for calculating the time elapsed between the transmitted and received pulses for measuring the thickness of the workpiece and a display for displaying measured thicknesses; the improvement comprising: means in said transducer for identifying the type of transducer; means in said gauge for automatically recognizing said transducer type identifying means; means in said gauge, responsive to said recognizing means, for automatically setting gauge parameters in accordance with the recognized transducer type; wherein said transducer type identifying means comprises an electrical component in the electrical circuit of said transducer; wherein said recognizing means comprises a current source for applying electrical current to said component and means for measuring the voltage differential across said component induced by said current; wherein said measuring means comprises an analog-to-digital converter; wherein said setting means comprises a memory device having stored therein a plurality of parameter sets, each such set corresponding to an output of said analog-to-digital converter, said setting means further comprising means for controlling said gauge in accordance with said parameter sets; and wherein at least one parameter in said parameter sets comprises the position of a decimal point in said display.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for use in an ultrasonic thickness gauge, the gauge of the type having a transducer to contact a workpiece, a pulser to transmit an ultrasonic pulse into the workpiece through the transducer, a receiver for receiving an echo of the transmitted pulse, a logic circuit for calculating the time elapsed between the transmitted and received pulses for measuring the thickness of the workpiece and a display for displaying the measured thickness; the method comprising the steps of: (1) placing in said transducer a device for uniquely identifying the type of transducer; (b 2) recognizing the device and thus recognizing the type of said transducer; (3) setting gauge parameters in response to the recognized type of said transducer; and wherein said device is an electrical component and wherein said placing step comprises the step of connecting said electrical component in parallel with the circuit of said transducer.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for use in an ultrasonic thickness gauge, the gauge of the type having a transducer to contact a workpiece, a pulser to transmit an ultrasonic pulse into the workpiece through the transducer, a receiver for receiving an echo of the transmitted pulse, a logic circuit for calculating the time elapsed between the transmitted and received pulses for measuring the thickness of the workpiece and a display for displaying the measured thickness; the method comprising the steps of: (1) placing in said transducer a device for uniquely identifying the type of transducer; (b 2) recognizing the device and thus recognizing the type of said transducer; (3) setting gauge parameters in response to the recognized type of said transducer; and wherein said device is an electrical component and wherein said placing step comprises the step of connecting said electrical component in parallel with the circuit of said transducer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method recited in claim 2 wherein said recognizing step comprises the step of measuring the electrical impedance of said electrical component.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-06-19 | 1992-12-19 | 1993-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-06-19 | 1996-12-19 | 1997-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-06-19 | 2000-12-19 | 2001-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |