JP2002341047A - Object discrimination device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an object discrimination device and method for simultaneously discriminating whether an object is present or not and whether the object is metal or not. SOLUTION: An ultrasonic wave is transmitted from one probe 1a of a pair of probes arranged face to face in air, and the transmitted pulse and field effect pulse is received by the other probe 1b. Since the receiving state of the transmitted pulse and field effect pulse is changed depending on whether the object is present or not between the pair of the probes 1a, 1b and whether the object is metal or nonmetal, an ultrasonic flow detector 2 displays the received transmitted pulse and field effect pulse on a screen display device 3, and an evaluation device 4 discriminates whether the object is present or not and whether the object is metal or not on the basis of the state of the transmitted pulse and field effect pulse displayed on the screen display device 3 of the flaw detector 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method of transmitting ultrasonic waves from one of a pair of two probes arranged face to face.
On the other hand, the present invention relates to an object identification device and an object identification method using an ultrasonic inspection method based on a transmission method received.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, various types of identification devices have been developed for identifying the presence or absence of an object or the presence of a metal. For example, an infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor is used to identify the presence / absence of an object, and an infrared or ultrasonic wave is emitted and transmitted between a pair of sensors arranged opposite to each other to detect the existence of the object. Then, since the infrared rays or the ultrasonic waves are blocked, it is determined that an object exists between the pair of two sensors.

[0003] Further, as a device for identifying the presence of a metal, for example, there is a metal detector. When a metal is present around a sensor of the metal detector, the presence of the metal is detected by changing a magnetic field. I have.

[0004]

However, an infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor can identify the presence of an object, but cannot identify whether the object is metallic or non-metallic. On the other hand, although a metal detector knows that a metal exists in the vicinity, it is not easy to specify the position where the metal exists. The strength of the magnetic field must be investigated and the location of the strong magnetic field must be identified.

[0005] As described above, the determination of the presence or absence of an object is performed by:
Although it can be detected by an infrared sensor or an ultrasonic sensor, it is inefficient because it is necessary to separately prepare and determine a magnetic field measuring device when determining whether or not the object is a metal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an object identifying apparatus and method capable of simultaneously identifying the presence or absence of an object and identifying a metal.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an object identifying apparatus comprising: a pair of two probes arranged in the air facing each other; and a superconducting device transmitted from one of the probes. An ultrasonic flaw detector which receives a sound wave at the other of the probes and displays a transmission pulse and a field effect pulse on a screen, and an existence of an object based on the transmission pulse and the field effect pulse displayed on the screen of the ultrasonic flaw detector. An evaluation device for identifying whether or not the object is a metal or not;

In the object identification device according to the first aspect of the present invention, ultrasonic waves are transmitted from one of a pair of two probes arranged facing each other in the air, and the transmitted pulse and the transmitted pulse are transmitted by the other probe. Receive a field effect pulse. In this case, the reception status of the transmission pulse and the field-effect pulse changes depending on the presence or absence of an object between the pair of two probes and whether the object is metal or nonmetal. The ultrasonic flaw detector displays the received transmitted pulse and the field-effect pulse on the screen, and the evaluation device displays the presence or absence of the object based on the status of the transmitted pulse and the field-effect pulse displayed on the ultrasonic flaw detector. Identify whether it is metal.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an object identifying apparatus comprising:
The invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that the evaluation device determines that there is no object between the pair of two probes when receiving both the transmission pulse and the field effect pulse.

[0010] In the object identification device according to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect, when the evaluation device receives both the transmission pulse and the field effect pulse,
It is determined that no object exists between the pair of two probes. Receiving the transmitted pulse of the ultrasonic wave means that the ultrasonic wave was not blocked, and receiving the field effect pulse by the electric field means that there was no influence by the metal.

[0011] An object identification device according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises:
The invention according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation device determines that a non-metallic object exists between the pair of two probes when receiving only the field-effect pulse.

[0012] In the object identification device according to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect of the present invention, when the evaluation device receives only the field-effect pulse, the evaluation device may detect the non-contact between the pair of two probes. It is determined that a metal object exists. Not receiving the transmitted pulse of the ultrasonic wave means that the ultrasonic wave was blocked by the presence of the object, and receiving the electric field effect pulse by the electric field means that there is no effect of the metal. It can be determined that it is a metal.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an object identifying apparatus comprising:
The invention according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation device determines that a metal object exists between the pair of two probes when neither the transmission pulse nor the field-effect pulse is received.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the function of the first aspect, the evaluation device includes a pair of two probes when neither the transmission pulse nor the field-effect pulse is received. It is determined that a metal object exists between the children. Not receiving the transmitted pulse of the ultrasonic wave means that the ultrasonic wave was blocked by the presence of the object, and not receiving the electric field effect pulse due to the electric field was due to the influence of the metal. The object can be determined to be metal.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an object identifying method comprising:
An ultrasonic wave is transmitted from one of a pair of two probes arranged facing each other in the air, and it is determined whether or not both the transmission pulse and the field effect pulse are received. When both are received, it is determined that no object exists between the pair of two probes, and when only the field-effect pulse is received, it is determined that a non-metallic object exists between the pair of two probes, When neither the transmitted pulse nor the field-effect pulse is received, it is determined that a metal object exists between the pair of two probes.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, an ultrasonic wave is transmitted from one of a pair of two probes arranged face to face in the air. Then, the pulse received by the other probe is determined. First, it is determined whether both the transmission pulse and the field-effect pulse have been received, and when both the transmission pulse and the field-effect pulse have been received, it is determined that no object exists between the pair of two probes. This is because the reception of the transmitted pulse of the ultrasonic wave means that the ultrasonic wave was not blocked, and the reception of the electric field effect pulse by the electric field had no influence by the metal.

On the other hand, when only the field effect pulse is received, it is determined that a non-metallic object exists between the pair of two probes. This is because the fact that the transmitted pulse of the ultrasonic wave was not received means that the ultrasonic wave was blocked by the presence of the object, and that the reception of the field effect pulse by the electric field was not affected by the metal. It is. Further, when neither the transmission pulse nor the field effect pulse is received, it is determined that a metal object exists between the pair of two probes.
The reason for not receiving the transmitted pulse of the ultrasonic wave was that the ultrasonic wave was blocked by the presence of the object, and that the not receiving the field effect pulse due to the electric field was affected by the metal. Because it is.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an object identification device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The pair of two probes 1a and 1b are arranged facing each other in the air, so that one probe 1a transmits ultrasonic waves and the other probe 1b receives ultrasonic waves. . Then, the ultrasonic flaw detector 2 displays the transmitted pulse and the field-effect pulse received by the other probe 1b on the screen display device 3. Then, the evaluation device 4 identifies the presence or absence of the object and whether the object is metal based on the transmission pulse and the field effect pulse received by the ultrasonic flaw detector 2. Here, the transmitted pulse is an ultrasonic wave transmitted from one probe 1a, while the field-effect pulse is an ultrasonic wave transmitted from one probe 1a.
The electric field transmitted from a.

Each of the probes 1a and 1b has a vibrator that generates an ultrasonic wave when a high-frequency voltage is applied. When the high-frequency voltage is applied to the vibrator, the vibrator moves in the thickness direction by a piezoelectric effect. Generates ultrasonic waves by expanding and contracting. That is, the electric vibration of the high frequency voltage is converted into the mechanical vibration to generate an ultrasonic wave.
At the same time, an electric field based on the applied high-frequency voltage is generated.

When ultrasonic waves are input from one of the probes 1a, the other probe 1b is vibrated by the ultrasonic waves input by the vibrator, and as a result, the vibrator expands and contracts. This advance movement is converted into an electric signal to obtain a transmitted pulse. On the other hand, when an electric field from one of the probes 1a is inputted, a temporal change of the electric field is inputted as an electric signal to obtain a field effect pulse.

FIG. 2 shows an A-scope waveform of an ultrasonic wave received by the other probe 1b. FIG. 2A shows a case where no object exists between the two probes 1a and 1b. A-scope waveform of FIG. 2B is an A-scope waveform when a non-metallic object is present between the two probes 1a and 1b, and FIG.
It is an A-scope waveform when a metal object exists between two probes 1a and 1b. FIG. 2A and FIG.
The A-scope waveforms shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C are displayed on the screen display device 3 of the ultrasonic flaw detector 2.

When no object exists between the two probes 1a and 1b, both the field effect pulse C and the transmission pulse A are received as shown in FIG.

That is, in the air where no object exists between the two probes 1a and 1b, first, one probe 1a
The electric field and the ultrasonic waves propagate from the air. The other probe 1b first receives a field-effect pulse C due to an electric field having a fast propagation speed, and after a predetermined time elapses, receives a transmitted pulse of an ultrasonic wave having a slow propagation speed. That is, the first transmitted pulse A1 directly input from one probe 1a
After that, the second transmitted pulse A2 and the third transmitted pulse A3 (not shown) are sequentially received every predetermined time.

Here, the first transmission pulse A1 is a transmission pulse directly input from one of the probes 1a, and the transmission pulse A2 is reflected by the other probe 1b and further transmitted by the one probe 1a. The second transmitted pulse that has been reflected and input, and the nth transmitted pulse that has been repeatedly reflected in the same manner, are sequentially received. The transmitted pulse A for the second and subsequent times
2 to An are considerably attenuated due to repeated reflection.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the reception of the transmitted pulses A1, A2,... Of the ultrasonic waves means that the ultrasonic waves were not interrupted. Indicates that no object is present. Also, the reception of the field effect pulse by the electric field indicates that there was no influence by the metal (conductor).

Next, when a non-metallic object exists between the two probes 1a and 1b, the ultrasonic wave is blocked by the influence of the non-metallic object. On the other hand, a non-metallic object transmits an electric field (electric flux), so that an electric field effect pulse propagates without interruption.

Therefore, when a non-metallic object exists between the two probes 1a and 1b, as shown in FIG.
A field effect pulse is received. In other words, the failure to receive the transmitted pulses A1 and A2 of the ultrasonic wave means that the ultrasonic wave is blocked by the presence of the object, and therefore, the object exists between the two probes 1a and 1b. It is shown that. Receiving a field-effect pulse due to an electric field indicates that the object is an object that passes an electric field (electric flux).
This indicates that the object is non-metallic.

Next, when a metal object exists between the two probes 1a and 1b, the ultrasonic waves are blocked by the influence of the metal object. On the other hand, since the metal object is a conductor, the electric field (electric flux) becomes zero and the electric field effect pulse is interrupted.

Therefore, when a metal object exists between the two probes 1a and 1b, neither the transmission pulse nor the field effect pulse is received as shown in FIG. 2 (c).
In other words, the failure to receive the transmitted pulses A1 and A2 of the ultrasonic wave means that the ultrasonic wave is blocked by the presence of the object, and therefore, the object exists between the two probes 1a and 1b. It is shown that. Further, the fact that no electric field effect pulse was received by the electric field indicates that the conductor is a conductor where the electric field becomes zero, and that the object is a metal.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the object identification device according to the embodiment of the present invention. First, an ultrasonic wave is transmitted from one pair of two probes 1a arranged facing each other in the air (S1), and the other probe 1b is transmitted.
(S2). The received signal is an ultrasonic flaw detector 2
And the data is displayed on the screen display device 3 (S3).

The evaluation device 4 determines whether or not both the transmitted pulse and the field-effect pulse have been received (S4). If both the transmitted pulse and the field-effect pulse have been received, the pair of two probes 1a It is determined that no object exists between 1b and 1b (S5).

If it is determined in step S4 that neither the transmitted pulse nor the field effect pulse has been received, it is determined whether or not only the field effect pulse has been received (S6). Two pairs of probes 1a, 1
It is determined that a non-metallic object exists between b (S7). If no field-effect pulse is received in the determination in step S6, it is determined that neither the transmission pulse nor the field-effect pulse is received, and a metal object exists between the pair of two probes 1a and 1b. Then, it is determined (S8).

As described above, the evaluation device 4 focuses on the transmitted pulse received by one of the pair of two probes 1a and 1b and the field effect pulse between the pair of two probes 1a and 1b.
When no object exists between the two probes 1a and 1b, a transmission pulse and a field-effect pulse are received. When a non-metal object exists between the two probes 1a and 1b, When the transmitted pulse is extinguished and only the field effect pulse is received, and there is a metal object between the two probes 1a and 1b, two phenomena are used to eliminate the transmitted pulse and the field effect pulse. The presence or absence of an object between the probes 1a and 1b and whether or not the object is metal is identified.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to simultaneously detect whether or not an object is present and whether or not the object is metal by using the ultrasonic inspection method based on the transmission method. Therefore, the presence / absence of an object and the identification of metal can be simultaneously performed, which had to be performed separately until now.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an object identification device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an A scope waveform diagram displayed on a screen display device of an ultrasonic flaw detector in the object identification device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. A scope waveform diagram when no object is present, FIG. 2B is an A scope waveform diagram when a non-metallic object is present between the two probes, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an A-scope waveform diagram in the case where a metal object is present between children.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the object identification device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Probe, 2 ... Ultrasonic flaw detector, 3 ... Screen display device, 4
… Evaluation device

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2G005 AA01 2G047 AA06 AA08 BA01 BC03 BC14 CA01 EA14

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A pair of two probes arranged facing each other in the air, and an ultrasonic wave transmitted from one of the probes is received by the other of the probes, and a transmitted pulse and a field effect are received. An ultrasonic flaw detector for displaying a pulse on a screen, and an evaluation device for identifying the presence or absence of an object and whether or not the object is metal based on a transmission pulse and a field effect pulse displayed on the screen of the ultrasonic flaw detector. An object identification device, comprising: 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation device determines that there is no object between the pair of two probes when receiving both the transmission pulse and the field effect pulse. Object identification device. 3. The object identification device according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation device determines that a non-metallic object exists between the pair of two probes when receiving only the field effect pulse. apparatus. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation device determines that a metal object exists between the pair of two probes when neither the transmission pulse nor the field-effect pulse is received. An object identification device according to claim 1. 5. An ultrasonic wave is transmitted from one of a pair of two probes arranged facing each other in the air, and it is determined whether or not both a transmission pulse and a field effect pulse have been received. When both the field-effect pulse and the field-effect pulse are received, it is determined that there is no object between the pair of two probes, and when only the field-effect pulse is received, the non-metal object is between the pair of the two probes. An object identification method, characterized in that it is determined that a metal object exists, and when neither a transmission pulse nor a field-effect pulse is received, it is determined that a metal object exists between a pair of two probes.