JP2020197512A - Aerial ultrasonic inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an aerial ultrasonic inspection device capable of detecting whether necessary and sufficient quantity of liquid is filled into an analyte.SOLUTION: An aerial ultrasonic inspection device comprises: a transmission ultrasonic probe which is arranged opposite a cylindrical analyte fillable with a liquid through air, and transmits a pulsed ultrasonic wave from a transmission surface to the analyte; a reception ultrasonic probe which is arranged opposite the analyte through air, and receives an ultrasonic wave propagated in the analyte on a reception surface having smaller area than that of the transmission surface, converts the ultrasonic wave into an electric signal by a vibrator, and outputs the electric signal; a reception unit which receives the signal output from the reception ultrasonic probe; and an analysis unit which analyzes whether the analyte is filled with the necessary and sufficient quantity of liquid based on a signal level of the electric signal received by the reception unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

The present invention relates to an aerial ultrasonic inspection device, and more particularly to an aerial ultrasonic inspection device capable of performing an ultrasonic inspection without contacting a subject.

Ultrasonic measurement is widely used for non-destructive inspection and medical ultrasonic waves. Normally, a contact medium such as water, oil, or glycerin is applied to the test object so that air does not enter between the probe and the test object (test object) to be tested. However, an error in the inspection result may occur depending on the state of the contact medium, or it may be necessary to remove the contact medium after the inspection. Therefore, in order to solve such problems of inspection stability and cost, the contact medium is used. It is desired to perform ultrasonic measurement without using it.

Therefore, the applicant has developed an aerial ultrasonic inspection method for imaging defects in a test piece by aerial ultrasonic waves, and has applied it to lithium ion batteries, CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic), automobile brake pads, and the like. In addition, in medical ultrasonic waves, it is being studied to use aerial ultrasonic waves to measure heels.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-25817 JP-A-2015-179011

By the way, as an object of measurement by ultrasonic waves, there is a lithium ion battery having a cylindrical shape, for example, a can type and a round shape. In this lithium ion battery, for example, the battery body is covered with a round can case, and an electrolytic solution is filled between the battery body and the can case.
In a normal lithium-ion battery, the electrolytic solution is filled inside as described above, but it is said that the electrolytic solution is not sufficiently filled inside due to, for example, a defect during manufacturing or deterioration over time. , The performance as a lithium-ion battery cannot be exhibited.
Therefore, for example, it is desired to detect by ultrasonic waves whether or not the lithium ion battery at the time of manufacture or after a certain period of time has passed from the time of manufacture is sufficiently filled with the electrolytic solution.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an aerial ultrasonic inspection apparatus capable of detecting with high accuracy whether or not a liquid is necessary and sufficiently filled inside a subject.

In order to solve the above problems, the aerial ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is arranged to face a cylindrical subject which can be filled with a liquid through air, and is a pulsed ultrasonic inspection device. A transmitting ultrasonic probe that transmits sound waves from a transmitting surface to the subject, and a receiving ultrasonic probe that is disposed facing the subject via air and propagates the subject with an area smaller than that of the transmitting surface. A receiving ultrasonic probe that receives a surface and converts it into an electric signal by an oscillator and outputs it, a receiving unit that receives a signal output from the receiving ultrasonic probe, and electricity received by the receiving unit. The subject is provided with an analysis unit that analyzes whether or not the liquid is necessary and sufficient based on the signal level of the signal.

In the present invention, it is possible to detect with high accuracy whether or not the liquid is required and sufficiently filled inside the subject.

The figure which shows the schematic configuration example of the aerial ultrasonic inspection apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the rectangular wave burst signal. The figure which shows an example of the waveform of each signal displayed on the display part. The figure which shows an example of the circuit of the signal generation part incorporated in the aerial ultrasonic inspection apparatus. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an ultrasonic probe. The block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the gate signal generation circuit built in the signal generation part. A time chart showing an example of the operation of the signal generator. It is a figure explaining an example of the form of inspection of the inside of a cylindrical lithium ion battery by the aerial ultrasonic inspection apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining an example of the form of inspection of the inside of a cylindrical lithium ion battery by the aerial ultrasonic inspection apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a schematic configuration example of an aerial ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a rectangular wave burst signal.
The aerial ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to this embodiment is roughly divided into a pulse transmitter / receiver 10 for outputting the rectangular wave burst signal a and inputting the received signal b shown in FIG. 2 and receiving the rectangular wave burst signal a. A transmitting ultrasonic probe 12 that transmits an ultrasonic pulse (hereinafter, also simply referred to as an ultrasonic wave) toward a subject via air, and a transmission ultrasonic probe 12 that has passed through or reflected in the subject. An image showing the presence or absence of defects in the subject, or a subject, based on the received ultrasonic probe 13 that receives the transmitted ultrasonic pulse via air and outputs the received signal b, and the received signal b. Is composed of an inspection control analyzer 14 that outputs an image or the like indicating whether or not the electrolytic solution is sufficiently filled in the battery when the battery is a battery, and makes various settings in the pulse transmitter / receiver 10. There is. The state in which the battery is sufficiently filled with the electrolytic solution means that the battery can fully exhibit its performance.

The square wave burst signal a is not a conventional pulse signal composed of one (one cycle) sine wave, but is a rectangular wave burst composed of a predetermined number of continuous negative rectangular waves, for example, as shown in FIG. It is a signal.

In this way, by making the pulse signal applied to the vibrator in the transmitting ultrasonic probe a square wave burst signal composed of a predetermined number of continuous negative square waves, the electric signal in the vibrator is changed to ultrasonic waves. High conversion efficiency can be achieved.

Specifically, the electric energy W of one square wave in the square wave burst signal applied to the transducer in the transmitting ultrasonic probe has a voltage V _H in the pulse width (T / 2) of the square wave. Corresponds to the area S _A of the multiplied square wave. This square wave area S _A is much larger than the area of the pulse signal formed from a sine wave of the conventional one (one period).

Further, by setting the period T of continuous negative square waves in the square wave burst signal shown in FIG. 2 to 1 times or an integral multiple of the thickness of the vibrator, the vibrator having a resonance frequency determined by the thickness is resonated. Can be in a state.

In this way, when a square wave burst signal composed of a predetermined number of continuous negative square waves is applied to the vibrator, the level of the ultrasonic pulse output from the vibrator consists of one sine wave. It is significantly higher than the level of the ultrasonic pulse output from the vibrator when the pulse signal is applied to the vibrator.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the pulse transmitter / receiver 10, the signal generation unit 15 that creates the square wave burst signal a and the square wave burst signal a output from the signal generation unit 15 are transmitted via the signal cable 17. Amplifies the received signal b received by the transmitting unit 16 that transmits to the sound probe 12, the receiving unit 19 that receives the received signal b from the receiving ultrasonic probe 13 via the signal cable 18, and the receiving unit 19. Each of the amplification units 20 is provided to send the signal to the inspection control analyzer 14.

Further, for example, in the inspection control analyzer 14 composed of a commercially available personal computer (PC) or the like, an analysis unit 21, a frequency conversion unit (FFT) 22, a display unit 23 including a liquid crystal display or the like, and a measurement condition setting unit 24 are included. , And an operation unit 25 and the like including a keyboard, a mouse and the like are provided. The PC includes a memory, a CPU, a communication interface, a storage device, and the like, and the information processing according to the embodiment of the present invention realizes the information processing according to the embodiment of the present invention stored in the storage device. It is realized by the CPU executing the program.

The analysis unit 21 describes the signal level of the amplified received signal b ₁ output from the amplification unit 20 of the pulse transmitter / receiver 10, actually the signal level of the reception signal b ₁ and the rectangular wave output from the signal generation unit 15. Based on the ratio of the burst signal a to the signal level, a C-mode image showing the presence or absence of defects in the subject can be displayed and output to the display unit 23.
Further, the analysis unit 21 receives the image based on the ratio of the signal level of the reception signal b received by the reception unit 19 of the pulse transmitter / receiver 10 to the signal level of the square wave burst signal a output from the transmission unit 16. When the sample is a battery, an image showing whether or not the battery is sufficiently filled with the electrolytic solution can be displayed and output on the display unit 23.
Here, as shown in FIG. 1, an example in which the square wave burst signal a is output from the transmission unit 16 to the analysis unit 21 is shown, but the analysis unit 21 has the signal level of the reception signal b and the signal generation unit. Based on the ratio of the square wave burst signal a output from 15 to the signal level, an image showing whether or not the battery is sufficiently filled with the electrolytic solution may be displayed and output on the display unit 23. ..

The frequency converter (FFT) 22 has a frequency range (f _{1 to} f ₂ ) specified by the measurement condition setting unit 24 with respect to the amplified received signal b ₁ output from the amplification unit 20 of the pulse transmitter / receiver 10. A fast Fourier transform, which is a frequency transform, is performed, and the frequency-converted received signal b ₂ can be displayed and output to the display unit 23 separately from the C mode image and the like.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the waveform of each signal displayed on the display unit. Display unit 23, a rectangular wave burst signal a shown in FIG. 3 (a), the received signal b ₁ after amplification shown in FIG. 3 (b), and the received signal b ₂ which are frequency converted shown in FIG. 3 (c) Each can be displayed. Therefore, the inspector can confirm the details of various signals.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a circuit of a signal generation unit incorporated in an aerial ultrasonic inspection device. FIG. 4 shows a detailed circuit of the signal generation unit 15 that generates the rectangular wave burst signal a.
As shown in FIG. 4, the measurement condition setting unit 24 has the measurement conditions operation-input by the inspector via the operation unit 25, here, the voltage V _H , the frequency f, in the rectangular wave burst signal a shown in FIG. The measurement conditions including the wave number N and the start signal S are transmitted to the signal generation unit 15 of the pulse transmitter / receiver 10. Further, the measurement condition setting unit 24 sets the frequency range (f _{1 to} f ₂ ) corresponding to the frequency f specified in the measurement condition to the frequency conversion unit (FFT) 22.

Specifically, the voltage V _H is the voltage of the negative square wave 40 in the square wave burst signal a shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an ultrasonic probe. The frequency f corresponds to the period T of the continuous negative square wave 40 in the square wave burst signal a applied to the transducer 42 in the transmitting ultrasonic probe 12 and the receiving ultrasonic probe 13 shown in FIG. The frequency f (= 1 / 2πT) is set. Further, the wave number N is set to the number of continuous negative rectangular waves 40 in the rectangular wave burst signal a. Furthermore, the start signal S, toward a patient, the output period T _S and the output timing of the rectangular wave burst signal a when the rectangular wave burst signal a is sent repeatedly at a predetermined period T _S is set respectively.

As shown in FIG. 4, the signal generation unit 15 contains a high voltage generation circuit 26, switching elements 27a and 27b, a power supply resistor 28 (R _s ), a coupling capacitor 29 (C _c ), and a damping resistor 30 (R). _d ) and the gate signal generation circuit 32 are provided.
The high voltage generation circuit 26 outputs a DC high voltage E _H equal to the voltage V _H specified by the measurement condition setting unit 24, for example, 600 V (volts). A series circuit of two switching elements 27a and 27b is interposed between the high voltage output terminal of the high voltage generation circuit 26 and the ground.

High voltage output terminal and the switching element 27a of the high voltage generating circuit 26, power supply resistance between the midpoint 33 of 27b 28 _{(R s)} is connected, the switching element 27a, the midpoint 33 of 27b and the signal generating section 15 the (+) side output coupling capacitor 29 between the terminals 31a _{(C c)} is interposed, the damping resistor 30 between ground and the (+) side output terminal 31a of the signal generator 15 _{(R d)} is connected Has been done.

The rectangular wave burst signal a shown in FIG. 2 is output between the (+) side output terminal 31a and the ground side output terminal 31b of the signal generation unit 15. Each of the switching elements 27a, 27b are energized controlled by gate signals g _1, g _2, which is outputted from the gate signal generating circuit 32.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration example of the gate signal generation circuit 32. FIG. 7 is a time chart showing an example of the operation of the signal generation unit.
As shown in FIG. 6, the gate signal generation circuit 32 includes a sine wave oscillation circuit 34, a binarization circuit 35, a first gate circuit 36, an inverting circuit (inverter circuit) 37, a second gate circuit 38, and a pulse. It has a number counter 39.
When the start signal S is input from the measurement condition setting unit 24 at time x ₁ , the sine wave oscillation circuit 34 has a frequency f (period T) specified by the measurement condition setting unit 24 as shown in the time chart of FIG. The sine wave signal h having the above is oscillated and the output is started.

The sine wave signal h output from the sine wave oscillation circuit 34 is converted into a binarization signal j by the binarization circuit 35 provided in the next stage. The binarized signal j is a signal in which the “+” portion is the H (high) level and the “−” portion is the L (low) level. The binarized signal j output from the binarized circuit 35 is input to the first gate circuit 36 and the pulse number counter 39, respectively. Further, the binarized signal j output from the binarized circuit 35 is level-converted into H level and L level by the inverting circuit (inverter circuit) 37, and is used as the inverting binarized signal k in the second gate circuit. It is input to 38.

The wave number N is set in the pulse number counter 39 from the measurement condition setting unit 24. In this embodiment, N = 2. Then, when the start signal S is input from the measurement condition setting unit 24 at the time x ₁ , the pulse number counter 39 has the binarization signal j output from the binarization circuit 35 as shown in the time chart of FIG. When the counting value reaches the wave number N set by the measurement condition setting unit 24 at time x ₂ , the counting is finished and the counting value is cleared to "0". Then, the pulse number counter 39 sends the gate signal m, which becomes the H level during the counting period from the time x ₁ to the time x _2, to the gate circuits 36 and 38.

The first gate circuit 36 passes the binarized signal j output from the binarized circuit 35 during the period when the gate signal m from the pulse counter 39 is at H level, and is used as a gate signal g ₁ in the figure. It is applied to the gate terminal of the switching element 27a shown in 4. Similarly, the second gate circuit 38 passes the inverted binarization signal k output from the inverting circuit 37 during the period when the gate signal m from the pulse number counter 39 is at H level, and becomes the gate signal g _2. , Is applied to the gate terminal of the switching element 27b shown in FIG.

As a result, as shown in the time chart of FIG. 7, during the period when the gate signal g ₁ is at the H level, the switching element 27a is conducting and the switching element 27b is cut off, so that the intermediate point between the switching elements 27a and 27b. The voltage signal n of 33 is a voltage V _H equal to the DC high voltage E _H.
Further, during the period when the gate signal g ₂ is at the H level, the switching element 27b is conducting and the switching element 27a is cut off, so that the voltage signal n at the intermediate point 33 is the ground potential (0V (volt)). It becomes.

The polarity of the voltage signal n at the intermediate point 33 is reversed during the energization period of the switching element 27a by the power supply resistor 28 (R _s ), the coupling capacitor 29 (C _c ), and the damping resistor 30 (R _d ). .. A rectangular wave burst signal a composed of two consecutive (N = 2) negative rectangular waves 40 shown in the time chart of FIG. 7 is output from between the output terminals 31a and 31b.

Therefore, the voltage V _H of the negative square wave 40 in the square wave burst signal a shown in FIG. 2 output from the signal generation unit 15 is a DC high voltage E of 600 V (volts) output from the high voltage generation circuit 26. It becomes _H.

As described above, the inspector examines the voltage _{VH of} the negative square wave 40, the wave number N of the negative square wave 40, and the period T of the negative square wave 40 (pulse width of the square wave 40) in the square wave burst signal a. T / 2), the measurement conditions such as transmission period T _S of the rectangular wave burst signal a, it can be arbitrarily set the measurement condition setting unit 24 from the operation unit 25.

The rectangular wave burst signal a output from the signal generation unit 15 is transmitted by the transmission unit 16 to the transmission ultrasonic probe 12 via the signal cable 17. In the present embodiment, the transmitting ultrasonic probe 12 and the receiving ultrasonic probe 13 are arranged and used so as to sandwich the subject. The transmitting ultrasonic probe 12 is arranged to face one surface of the subject via a layer of air such as 40 mm (millimeters). Further, the receiving ultrasonic probe 13 is disposed so as to face the surface of the subject opposite to the one surface of the subject via a layer of air such as 50 mm.

When the transmitting ultrasonic probe 12 and the receiving ultrasonic probe 13 are arranged so as to sandwich the subject, a rectangular wave burst signal a is applied to the transducer 42 of the transmitting ultrasonic probe 12. Then, the ultrasonic pulse c is incident on the subject through the air which is the contact medium. The ultrasonic pulse c propagates in the subject or is reflected in the subject, then passes through the subject, and is sent from the opposite surface of the subject toward the receiving ultrasonic probe 13. The ultrasonic pulse c is converted into a transmitted light signal which is a received signal by the vibrator 42 of the received ultrasonic probe 13, and is input to the receiving unit 19 of the pulse transmitter / receiver 10 via the signal cable 18. ..

Next, the configuration of the transmitting ultrasonic probe 12 and the receiving ultrasonic probe 13 will be described with reference to FIG. The transmitting ultrasonic probe 12 and the receiving ultrasonic probe 13 have the same configuration except for the difference between the transmitting surface and the receiving surface, and as shown in FIG. 5, a metal tubular shape having a lower end opening 44. An oscillator 42 is arranged near the lower end opening 44 of the case 43. The front plate 45 is attached below the vibrator 42, that is, on the input / output side of the ultrasonic pulse. The front plate 45 corresponds to the transmitting surface of the transmitting ultrasonic probe 12 or the receiving surface of the receiving ultrasonic probe 13.

Then, in the transmitting ultrasonic probe 12 and the receiving ultrasonic probe 13 of this embodiment, the acoustic impedance of the vibrator 42 and the front plate 45 is a contact type ultrasonic probe used in contact with the subject. It is set lower than the tentacle. Specifically, by changing the material of the front plate 45 from the conventional ceramic type to the resin type, the acoustic impedance Z is lowered and brought closer to the acoustic impedance of the air 46. Further, as the material of the front plate 45, a resin material having a porous structure having a specific gravity of, for example, about 0.7 to 0.8 can be adopted.

As a result, the transmittance of ultrasonic waves at the connection portion between each ultrasonic probe and the air 46 is improved, and the level of the ultrasonic pulse is prevented from decreasing. Further, in the received ultrasonic probe 13, since the ultrasonic pulse is efficiently incident on the vibrator 42, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the signal level of the received signal output from the received ultrasonic probe 13.

Further, in the transmitting ultrasonic probe 12 and the receiving ultrasonic probe 13 of this embodiment, on the upper side of the vibrator 42, the acrylic provided on the upper side of the vibrator of the contact type ultrasonic probe. The damper member is removed.

Next, using a cylindrical lithium-ion battery, for example, a can-type round lithium-ion battery, as a subject, an electrolytic solution (an electrolytic solution) is placed between the inner wall of the can case of the lithium-ion battery and the outer surface of the battery body inside the battery. It will be described that whether or not the liquid) is sufficiently filled is measured by the aerial propagating ultrasonic / guided wave (plate wave) transmission method.

8 and 9 are views for explaining an example of an inspection mode of the inside of a cylindrical lithium ion battery by the aerial ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 shows a form of inspection when the inside of the lithium ion battery is filled with an electrolytic solution, and FIG. 9 shows a form of inspection when the inside of the lithium ion battery is not filled with an electrolytic solution.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the lithium ion battery, which is a subject and is disposed between the transmitting ultrasonic probe 12 and the receiving ultrasonic probe 13 via air, has a cylindrical shape. The outer peripheral surface of the battery body 100 is covered with a cylindrical can case 110. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the gap 300 between the outer surface of the battery body 100 and the inner wall surface of the can case 110 is sufficiently filled with the electrolytic solution 120. On the other hand, in the example shown in FIG. 9, the electrolytic solution 120 is not filled in the gap 300 between the outer surface of the battery body 100 and the inner wall surface of the can case 110.

Here, when the rectangular wave burst signal a is applied from the pulse transmitter / receiver 10 to the vibrator in the transmitting ultrasonic probe 12, the ultrasonic pulse output from the vibrator is transmitted from the air to the curved surface of the can case 110. When a guide wave (plate wave) 200, which is a circumferential wave, is generated by incident on the outer wall of the wave, the guide wave 200 travels in the circumferential direction along the can case 110.
If the can case 110 is cylindrical as described above, the guide wave 200 proceeds so as to rotate around the outer wall of the can case 110 until the energy of the guide wave 200 is attenuated and disappears.

Ultrasound performs reflection, transmission, refraction and mode conversion at the interface between two different substances, and the reflectance and transmittance at this time depend on the ratio of the acoustic impedances of the two different substances.
The transmittance of the guide wave 200 from the inner wall surface of the can case 110 to the substance differs greatly depending on whether the substance in contact with the inner wall surface of the can case 110, which is a solid, is a liquid or a gas.

For example, when the substance in contact with the inner wall surface of the can case 110 is a liquid, the transmittance from the inner wall surface of the can case 110 to the liquid is higher than that in the case of a gas.
On the other hand, when the substance in contact with the inner wall surface of the can case 110 is a gas, the transmittance of the guide wave 200 from the inner wall surface of the can case 110 to the gas is lower than that in the case of a liquid.

That is, as described above, when the substance filled between the inner wall surface of the can case 110 and the outer surface of the battery body 100 inside the battery contains a liquid, it is compared with the case where the liquid is not contained. The energy of the guide wave 200 transmitted from the inner wall surface of the can case 110 into the liquid is large.
Therefore, the energy of the guide wave 200 propagating in the circumferential direction of the can case 110 is smaller than that in the case where the filled substance does not contain a liquid.

On the other hand, as described above, when the substance filled between the inner wall surface of the can case 110 and the outer surface of the battery body 100 does not contain liquid and is only gas, it is compared with the case where liquid is contained. Therefore, the energy of the guide wave 200 transmitted from the inner wall surface of the can case 110 into the gas is small.
Therefore, the energy of the guide wave 200 propagating in the circumferential direction of the can case 110 is larger than that in the case where the filled substance contains a liquid.

Therefore, in the aerial ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the ultrasonic pulse output from the transducer when the rectangular wave burst signal a is applied to the transducer in the transmission ultrasonic probe 12. Is incident on the outer wall of the can case 110 of the lithium ion battery to generate a guide wave 200, and the guide wave 200 propagating in the circumferential direction of the can case 110 is received by the receiving ultrasonic probe 13 and transmitted. The level of the ultrasonic pulse and the level of the received signal, which is the received wave by the received ultrasonic probe 13, for example, at 0.5 lap, which is the initial orbit of the guide wave 200 propagating in the circumferential direction of the can case 110. The degree of attenuation, which is the ratio of, is measured by the inspection control analyzer 14 with the A scope. This measurement may be performed in the subsequent laps of 1.5 laps, 2.5 laps, and N.5 laps (N is an integer). Further, the guide wave 200 may be received by the configuration as described in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2.

For example, the analysis unit 21 of the inspection control analyzer 14 receives the reception signal b received by the reception unit 19 with respect to the level of the transmission wave (T) which is the rectangular wave burst signal a transmitted from the transmission unit 16 of the pulse transmitter / receiver 10. When the degree of attenuation of the level of the received wave (R) is low, satisfying a predetermined condition, the electrolytic solution is sufficiently filled between the inner wall surface of the battery can case 110 and the outer surface of the battery body 100. It is determined that this is done, and a character or image indicating the determination result is displayed on the display unit 23.

On the other hand, the analysis unit 21 of the inspection control analyzer 14 receives the reception signal received by the reception unit 19 with respect to the level of the transmission wave (T) which is the rectangular wave burst signal a transmitted from the transmission unit 16 of the pulse transmitter / receiver 10. If the degree of attenuation of the level of the received wave (R), which is b, is not low and satisfies the above-mentioned predetermined conditions, an electrolytic solution is formed between the inner wall surface of the battery can case 110 and the outer surface of the battery body 100. It is determined that the battery is not sufficiently filled, and a character or image indicating the determination result is displayed on the display unit 23.

The fact that the electrolytic solution is not sufficiently filled between the inner wall surface of the battery can case 110 and the outer surface of the battery body 100 means that the inner wall surface of the battery can case 110 and the outer surface of the battery body 100 are not sufficiently filled. Includes that no electrolyte is filled in between. FIG. 9 shows an example in which the electrolytic solution is not completely filled between the inner wall surface of the battery can case 110 and the outer surface of the battery body 100, but even when only a small amount of the electrolytic solution is filled, the attenuation If the degree of the above condition is not low and the above-mentioned predetermined conditions are satisfied, the electrolytic solution is required and sufficiently filled between the inner wall surface of the battery can case 110 and the outer surface of the battery body 100 as described above. It will be a judgment result that it has not been done.

Two types of thresholds for the degree of attenuation related to filling of the electrolytic solution are provided, and the analysis unit 21 sets the battery can case 110 when the degree of attenuation is low to some extent, that is, the level of the received wave is high to some extent. Although the electrolytic solution is filled between the inner wall surface and the outer surface of the battery body 100, it is judged that the filling amount is not necessary and sufficient, and when the degree of attenuation is further lower, that is, the level of the received wave is further increased. When it is high, it may be determined that the electrolytic solution is not filled between the inner wall surface of the battery can case 110 and the outer surface of the battery body 100.

As described above, the ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention has the inner wall of the can case 110 and the battery based on the level of the transmitted wave and the level of the received wave for the can case 110 of the battery as the subject. The substance filled between the outer surface of the main body 100 contains a necessary and sufficient liquid as an electrolytic solution, or the substance filled between the inner wall of the can case 110 and the outer surface of the battery main body 100 is contained. It is possible to determine whether or not it is only a gas.

Further, in the above example, an electrolytic solution is necessary and sufficient between the inner wall of the can case 110 of the battery and the outer surface of the battery body 100 based on the degree of attenuation of the level of the received wave with respect to the level of the transmitted wave with respect to the battery. An example is shown in which it is determined whether or not the battery is filled, but when it is known that the transmitted wave level is constant, for example, the inner wall of the battery can case 110 is based only on the received wave level. It may be determined whether or not the electrolytic solution is sufficiently filled with the outer surface of the battery body 100. Further, in the above example, an example is shown in which the battery is used as a subject and is applied to an inspection as to whether or not the battery is sufficiently filled with the electrolytic solution, but other subjects other than the electrolytic solution are used. It may be inspected for inspection of whether the liquid is sufficiently filled.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

10 ... Pulse transmitter / receiver, 12 ... Transmit ultrasonic probe, 13 ... Receive ultrasonic probe, 14 ... Inspection control analyzer, 15 ... Signal generator, 16 ... Transmitter, 17, 18 ... Signal cable ,, 19 ... Receiver unit, 20 ... Amplification unit, 21 ... Analysis unit, 22 ... Frequency conversion unit, 23 ... Display unit, 24 ... Measurement condition setting unit, 25 ... Operation unit, 26 ... High voltage generation circuit, 27a, 27b ... Switching Element, 28 ... Power supply resistance, 29 ... Coupling capacitor, 30 ... Damping resistance, 32 ... Gate signal generation circuit, 42 ... Transducer, 43 ... Case, 45 ... Front plate, 100 ... Battery body, 110 ... Can case, 120 ... Electrolyte, 200 ... Guide wave.

Claims (4)

A transmission ultrasonic probe that is capable of filling a liquid and is arranged to face a cylindrical subject via air and transmits pulsed ultrasonic waves from the transmission surface to the subject.
A received ultrasonic probe that is disposed facing the subject via air, receives ultrasonic waves propagating from the subject by a receiving surface having an area smaller than the transmitting surface, converts it into an electric signal with an oscillator, and outputs it. With a tentacle
A receiver that receives the signal output from the receiving ultrasonic probe, and
An aerial ultrasonic inspection apparatus including an analysis unit that analyzes whether or not the subject is sufficiently filled with the liquid based on the signal level of the electric signal received by the reception unit. The subject is
A battery that can be filled with an electrolytic solution and has a cylindrical shape.
The analysis unit
When the signal level of the electric signal received by the receiving unit is a low level satisfying a predetermined condition, it is analyzed that the battery is sufficiently filled with the electrolytic solution.
When the signal level of the electric signal received by the receiving unit is not a low level satisfying the predetermined condition, it is analyzed that the battery is not sufficiently filled with the electrolytic solution.
The aerial ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to claim 1. The battery is
The battery body is covered with a cylindrical case, and the electrolytic solution can be filled between the outer surface of the battery body and the inner wall of the case.
The analysis unit
When the degree of attenuation of the level of the electric signal received by the receiving unit with respect to the level of ultrasonic waves transmitted by the transmitting ultrasonic probe is a low degree that satisfies a predetermined condition, the outside of the battery body. It was analyzed that the electrolytic solution was sufficiently filled between the surface and the inner wall of the case.
When the degree of attenuation is not a low degree that satisfies the predetermined condition, it is analyzed that the electrolytic solution is not sufficiently filled between the outer surface of the battery body and the inner wall of the case.
The aerial ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to claim 2. It also has a signal generator that creates and outputs a square wave burst signal consisting of a predetermined number of continuous negative square waves.
The transmitting ultrasonic probe is
The rectangular wave burst signal output from the signal generation unit is converted into ultrasonic waves by an oscillator and transmitted from the transmission surface to the subject.
The aerial ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to claim 1.