JPH09292376A - Portable ultrasonic inspecting instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable ultrasonic inspecting instrument which enables observation of an ultrasonic data sampled with a large display device separately provided. SOLUTION: A transmitting circuit 21 of the body 20 of a portable ultrasonic inspecting instrument excites a plurality of vibrators selected of an array probe 1 being switched sequentially to perform an electronic scanning by an ultrasonic beam. A receiving circuit 22 converts a reflection echo from an array probe 1 into an electrical signal and a imaging processing circuit 23 stores the signal into an image memory as ultrasonic data, while being displayed on a motor 24. When a need arises to observe or examine the ultrasonic data in detail, an IC card 4 is mounted on an interface circuit 27 to transfer the ultrasonic data stored in the image memory to the IC card. The IC card is removed and inserted into a large display device separately set, to display the ultrasonic data in the IC card. The displayed ultrasonic data is not thinned out, and since the screen of the display device is large, detailed observation and examination are possible.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable ultrasonic inspection apparatus which can be carried to a site where an object is present and used for ultrasonic inspection of the object.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional portable ultrasonic inspection apparatus is provided with a probe composed of one ultrasonic transducer, and the ultrasonic transducer transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to and from a subject, and based on the received signal. The ultrasonic echo is displayed on the monitor (the horizontal axis shows time and the vertical axis shows signal amplitude). On the other hand, in recent years, a large number of minute ultrasonic transducers are arranged in a line to form an ultrasonic probe (array probe), and a plurality of the ultrasonic transducers (array transducers) are grouped together. Proposes an ultrasonic inspection device that moves (electronically scans) the ultrasonic beam along the array direction of the array transducers by transmitting and receiving one ultrasonic beam as the Has been done. Such an ultrasonic inspection device,
Although it is widely used in the medical field, the device is large due to the complicated circuit, and the cost is high, and it has not been used in industrial, particularly, portable ultrasonic inspection devices for in-situ inspection. However, with the recent high-speed operation, high integration, and cost reduction of electronic devices centered on semiconductors, the ultrasonic inspection device using the array probe can be applied to a portable ultrasonic inspection device, and in the future, It is expected to spread.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a portable ultrasonic inspection apparatus using an array probe. In FIG. 3, 1 indicates an array probe. Array probe 1 has several tens to several hundreds
The array transducers are arranged in a straight line or a curved line. Reference numeral 2 is a main body of the portable ultrasonic inspection apparatus, which is connected to the array probe 1 by a cable 3 and is adapted to be replaced with the array probe 1 according to the intended use. The main body 2 includes a transmission circuit 21, a reception circuit 22, and an imaging processing circuit 2
3, monitor 24, and CPU (central processing unit) 2
It is composed of 5. Note that, in FIG. 3, illustration of a panel key input unit and the like attached to the main body 2 is omitted.

The transmission circuit 21 of the main body 2 selects an array transducer group and excites these at a predetermined timing to emit an ultrasonic beam. The reception circuit 22 selects an array transducer group that should participate in the ultrasonic echo reflected from the subject and adds the received signals at a predetermined timing to form an ultrasonic echo signal. The image processing circuit 23 A / D converts the signal received by the receiving circuit 22, and stores the converted signal at a predetermined address of an image memory (not shown) built in the image processing circuit 23. . The monitor 24 displays the ultrasonic echo received by the imaging processing circuit 23 based on the signal stored in the image memory. These transmitter circuits 2
The operations of 1, the receiving circuit 22, the imaging processing circuit 23, and the monitor 24 are executed under the control of the CPU 25.

[0005]

By the way, the portable ultrasonic inspection apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is desirable to be small and lightweight because it may be carried to the site and frequently moved there. The device body 2 actually used has dimensions of 300 mm × 200 mm × 400 mm and a weight of 15 kg.
It is a degree. In order to reduce the size and weight of the main body 2 as described above, it is particularly effective to use, as the monitor 24, a liquid crystal display that is thinner and lighter than a CRT (cathode ray tube), consumes less power, and has less burden on the power supply circuit. Is. The size of the monitor 24 composed of the liquid crystal display is about 5 to 9 inches due to the conditions of the size and weight reduction of the main body 2.

The liquid crystal display having such dimensions has a small number of display pixels of 320 × 240 dots. On the other hand, the portable ultrasonic inspection device using the array probe is
The number of ultrasonic beams is close to 100. When electronic scanning is performed while moving such an array probe in the array direction, the number of ultrasonic beams is several 100.
The number is up to the order of 1000, and the number of display pixels is often exceeded. In order to deal with this, the ultrasonic data stored in the image memory is appropriately thinned out to monitor 2.
Must be displayed on 4. However, in such a process, since the size of the monitor 24 is originally small and the screen is difficult to see, and the amount of information is reduced by thinning out, it becomes more difficult to see when the defect of the subject is small.

There is also a portable ultrasonic inspection apparatus having a means for printing an image in which a defect appears, but the printer in this case is naturally small in size and weight, and therefore has a low resolution ( (About 100 to 300 dots), and since such a printer is in a state of further thinning the display image, it is not useful as a material for detailed examination later.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to provide a portable ultrasonic inspection apparatus capable of observing collected ultrasonic data with a large display device provided separately. To do.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an array probe in which a large number of ultrasonic transducers are arranged, and the array probe is arranged in the direction of arrangement of the ultrasonic transducers. In a portable ultrasonic inspection device, comprising: a drive unit that mechanically drives the unit so as to obtain a predetermined pitch in a direction orthogonal to the above, and a storage unit that stores the ultrasonic data received by the ultrasonic transducer, A detachable recording means for recording the ultrasonic data stored in the unit, and a data transfer means for transferring the ultrasonic data stored in the storage section to the recording means are provided.

[0010]

[Function] When it is necessary to observe and examine the ultrasonic data stored in the storage unit in detail, the recording means is attached,
The ultrasonic data stored in the storage unit is transferred to the recording unit by the data transfer unit. The recording means to which the ultrasonic data is transferred and recorded in this way is detached from the portable ultrasonic inspection apparatus, inserted into a separately installed large-sized display device, and recorded on the recording means by this display device. Ultrasonic data is displayed. The displayed ultrasonic data is not thinned out and the screen of the display device is large, so that detailed observation and examination can be performed.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portable ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the same parts as those shown in FIG. 4 is IC
A card, 20 is a main body of a portable ultrasonic inspection apparatus corresponding to the main body 2 shown in FIG. 3, and 27 is an interface circuit provided in the main body 20. The main body 20 of the present embodiment differs from the main body 2 shown in FIG. 3 only in that an interface circuit 27 is added, and the other configurations are the same. Although not shown, the interface circuit 27 includes a mounting portion for the IC card 4, and the IC card 4 is detachably mounted in the mounting portion of the interface circuit 27.

At the time of inspection by the portable ultrasonic inspection device, the IC card 4 is attached to the interface circuit 27. During the examination, the collected ultrasonic data is stored in the image memory of the imaging processing circuit 23 and displayed on the monitor 24. While inspecting the image on the monitor 24,
If there is an image to be recorded (for example, an image indicating that there is a possibility of the presence of a defect), the CPU 26 is instructed to process the ultrasonic data of the image through the interface circuit 27 into an imaging process. From the image memory of the circuit 23 I
The data is transferred to the C card 4 and recorded in the IC card 4. This process is executed every time there is an image to be recorded. The ultrasonic data recorded in the IC card 4 in this manner is not the thinned ultrasonic data as displayed on the monitor 24, but the original data with a large number of data points.

When recording on the IC card 4, it is natural to add a file name and a file number so that each recorded image can be distinguished and recognized. It is also possible to record the sample name, test conditions, etc.

After the inspection at the site is completed, the inspector takes the IC card 4 back to the office. Here, the office means a place where a large-sized display device is provided. An example of this display device is shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a large display device. In this figure, 5 is a display device main body, 51 is a keyboard for inputting required instructions and data, 52 is an interface circuit, 53 is a hard disk in which required data is stored, 54 is RA for storing data in calculation and control.
M (random access memory), 55 is a monitor for displaying data, 56 is a printer for printing required data, 5
Reference numeral 7 is a CPU that performs overall control. Although not shown, the interface circuit 52 includes a mounting portion for the IC card 4, and the IC card 4 is detachably mounted in the mounting portion of the interface circuit 52. The monitor 55 has a large, high-definition screen, for example, a 20-inch CRT (1024 x
750) It has a screen with pixels and has a multi-gradation display function.

The inspector inserts the IC card 4 brought back into the mounting portion of the interface circuit 52. CPU57
Displays the file name or file number recorded on the IC card 4 on the monitor 55, and the inspector selects the required file name or file number from the display using the keyboard 51. In response to this, the CPU 57 takes out the instructed data from the IC card 4 via the interface circuit 52, temporarily stores it in the RAM 54, and then displays it on the monitor 55. As described above, since the monitor 55 has a large-sized and high-definition screen, it is possible for the inspector to clearly see the intricate details in the image displayed on the monitor 24 of the portable ultrasonic inspection device. Detailed observation and examination can be performed. Naturally, the character information such as the inspection date described above can also be displayed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the ultrasonic data collected by the portable ultrasonic inspection device is recorded in the IC card, so that the required ultrasonic data can be stored in a separately provided large-sized display device. It is possible to display the image, which makes it possible to clearly see the small portion that is difficult to see in the image displayed on the monitor of the portable ultrasonic inspection device, and to perform detailed observation and examination.

Further, as long as ultrasonic data is recorded in the IC card, the observation and examination can be performed later, so that the configuration of the portable ultrasonic inspection apparatus can be limited to the necessary minimum ( (For example, a monitor with the smallest size is used.), The overall size and weight can be reduced, and dust prevention is also easy. Furthermore, image output and observation at the site can be omitted, so the work is simplified. It

The large-sized display device can be composed of a commercially available personal computer. In this case, it is possible to process the displayed image by software such as arbitrarily coloring the image or binarizing the image. Become. Further, when the printer 56 having high image quality and color output is used, extremely detailed and useful printing can be performed together with the personal computer. Further, by using the personal computer, it is possible to freely add data such as comments by the inspector and edit data such as correction of erroneous data.
Further, as a recording means, a magnetic disk is used instead of the IC card,
A magneto-optical disk can be used.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, the ultrasonic data collected by the portable ultrasonic inspection apparatus is recorded in the recording means, so that the required ultrasonic data is separately provided in a large size. The image can be displayed on the display device, so that in the image displayed on the monitor of the portable ultrasonic inspection device, a small portion that is difficult to see can be clearly seen, and detailed observation and examination can be performed.

Further, as long as ultrasonic data is recorded in the recording means, the observation and examination can be performed later.
The configuration of the portable ultrasonic inspection device can be limited to the necessary minimum, the entire size can be made small and lightweight, dust prevention can be facilitated, and image output and its observation at the site can be omitted. Therefore, the work is simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portable ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a large-sized display device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional portable ultrasonic inspection apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Array Probe 4 IC Card 20 Main Body 21 Transmission Circuit 22 Reception Circuit 23 Imaging Processing Circuit 24 Monitor 26 CPU 27 Interface Circuit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Hiroyuki Hayakawa, Inventor Hiroyuki Hayakawa 2-47, Shiobara, Minami-ku, Fukuoka City, Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc. Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. in Tsuchiura Plant (72) Inventor Hirotoshi Kino 650 Kintatecho, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture Machinery Co., Ltd. Tsuchiura Plant (72) Inventor Tadatoshi Shimamura 650 Jinrachicho, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. Tsuchiura Plant

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An array probe formed by arranging a large number of ultrasonic transducers, and the array probe is mechanically driven so as to obtain a predetermined pitch in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the ultrasonic transducers. In a portable ultrasonic inspection apparatus including a driving unit and a storage unit that stores the ultrasonic data received by the ultrasonic transducer, a removable recording unit that records the ultrasonic data stored in the storage unit And a data transfer unit for transferring the ultrasonic data stored in the storage unit to the recording unit. 2. The recording means according to claim 1, wherein the recording means is I
A portable ultrasonic inspection device, which is a C card. 3. The portable ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means is a magnetic disk. 4. The portable ultrasonic inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means is a magneto-optical disk.