Olympus Ndt

Kirk M Rager

Jason Habermehl

Fabrice Cancre

Jason Toomey

Les Nye

Adam Liberatore

Disclosed is a method and system which efficiently and accurately identifies an acoustic wedge by as simple as pressing a button to execute a command for a phased array inspection system, once the wedge is engaged with the system. It is based on the approach to use the time of flight that ultrasonic signals travel in the wedge to measure and calculate critical parameters, such as the wedge acoustic velocity, the wedge or incident angle and the height of the first element of the associated phased array probe above the base of the wedge.

Method and system for automatic wedge identification for an ultrasonic inspection system

A solderless, direct cable interconnect for an array transducer and method for the fabrication thereof. An ultrasonic array transducer includes an acoustic backing layer, a piezoelectric layer containing an array of piezoelectric elements (typically created from a solid layer of piezoelectric material disposed over a matching layer cut with a dicing saw and fixed on a solid ground plane), and plurality of control wires, disposed between the backing layer and the piezoelectric layer. A solid backing material which will displace slightly at temperature and pressure is formed into the desired shape. Kerfs are precisely cut into the shaped backing material in a pattern such that they will line up with the center of each piezoelectric element in the piezoelectric layer. Signal wires are disposed across the backing material along the kerfs, and the piezoelectric layer is aligned and then compression bonded to the backing layer, encapsulating the signal wires and electrically connecting them to the piezoelectric elements without the need for an intermediate connection board or flex circuit.

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Reedsville, PA, United States of America

Kirk M Rager