A Real-Time Approach To Detect Seal Defects in Food Packages Using Ultrasonic Imaging

2001 ◽  
Vol 64 (9) ◽  
pp. 1392-1398 ◽  
Author(s):  
NEIL N. SHAH ◽  
PAUL K. ROONEY ◽  
AYHAN OZGULER ◽  
SCOTT A. MORRIS ◽  
WILLIAM D. O'BRIEN
Keyword(s):  
Image Quality ◽  
Ultrasonic Inspection ◽  
Spatial Sampling ◽  
Ultrasonic Frequency ◽  
Ultrasound Images ◽  
Inspection Method ◽  
Raster Scanning ◽  
Food Packages ◽  
Inspection Systems ◽  
Scanning Geometry

The microbial integrity of many types of flexible food packages depends on a zero defect level in the fused seam seal. Human inspection for defects in these seals is marginal at best, and secondary incubation protocols are often used to spot packages with compromised integrity before releasing product for sale. A new type of inspection method has been developed and is being evaluated for robustness. The purpose of the study was to evaluate a new raster scanning geometry to simulate continuous motion, online ultrasonic inspection of the seal region in flexible food package seals. A principal engineering tradeoff of scanning inspection systems is between increased line speed that results from decreased spatial sampling (less acquired data to process) and decreased image quality. The previously developed pulse-echo Backscattered Amplitude Integral (BAI) mode imaging technique is used to form ultrasound images using the new scanning geometry. At an ultrasonic frequency of 22.9 MHz, 38- and 50-μm-diameter air-filled channel defects in all-plastic transparent trilaminate are evaluated. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the processed BAI-mode image is used to quantify image quality as a function of spatial sampling. Results show seal defects (38- and 50-μm diameter) are still detectable for undersampled conditions, although image quality degrades as spatial sampling decreases. Further, it is concluded that the raster scanning geometry is feasible for online inspection.

A Practical Ultrasonic Inspection Method for Detecting and Characterising Defects Found Within Composite Repairs

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Downing ◽  
A Hook
Keyword(s):  
Wall Thickness ◽  
Steel Substrate ◽  
Ultrasonic Method ◽  
Ultrasonic Inspection ◽  
Heat Exposure ◽  
Matrix Cracking ◽  
Ultrasonic Technique ◽  
Inspection Method ◽  
Composite Repairs ◽  
Layered Matrix

Two steel substrate test panels were developed to represent common plate thicknesses found on naval vessels and scanned using the Babcock developed ultrasonic technique. One sample comprised of a series of slotted surface breaking flaws of varying widths and through thicknesses to represent fracturing/cracking. The inspection method detected simulated cracking to a depth of 2mm and 0.5mm in width. The second sample included numerous loss of wall thickness areas of varying diameters and through thicknesses, with the smallest detectable loss of wall thickness being 0.1mm at a 15mm diameter. After proving confidence in detection, there was a need to characterise flaws to provide support and ascertain a repair action. Samples were produced that were subjected to either impact or heat exposure to induce realistic representative damage. The practical ultrasonic method was successfully used to independently characterise between the samples, with induced de-laminations caused by blisters, and multi layered matrix cracking caused by varying levels of projectile impacts, due to their unique morphology.

scholarly journals Optimal Color Lighting for Scanning Images of Flat Panel Display using Simplex Search

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (11) ◽  
pp. 133
Author(s):  
HyungTae Kim ◽  
EungJoo Ha ◽  
KyungChan Jin ◽  
ByungWook Kim
Keyword(s):  
Image Quality ◽  
Light Source ◽  
Light Emitting Diode ◽  
Optical Filters ◽  
Flat Panel Display ◽  
Flat Panel ◽  
Light Emitting ◽  
Simplex Search ◽  
Inspection Systems ◽  
Color Control

A system for inspecting flat panel displays (FPDs) acquires scanning images using multiline charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras and industrial machine vision. Optical filters are currently installed in front of these inspection systems to obtain high-quality images. However, the combination of optical filters required is determined manually and by using empirical methods; this is referred to as passive color control. In this study, active color control is proposed for inspecting FPDs. This inspection scheme requires the scanning of images, which is achieved using a mixed color light source and a mixing algorithm. The light source utilizes high-power light emitting diodes (LEDs) of multiple colors and a communication port to dim their level. Mixed light illuminates an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) panel after passing through a beam expander and after being shaped into a line beam. The image quality is then evaluated using the Tenenbaum gradient after intensity calibration of the scanning images. The dimming levels are determined using the simplex search method which maximizes the image quality. The color of the light was varied after every scan of an AMOLED panel, and the variation was iterated until the image quality approached a local maximization. The number of scans performed was less than 225, while the number of dimming level combinations was 20484. The proposed method can reduce manual tasks in setting-up inspection machines, and hence is useful for the inspection machines in FPD processes.

scholarly journals Pipeline In-Line Inspection Method, Instrumentation and Data Management

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 3862
Author(s):  
Qiuping Ma ◽  
Guiyun Tian ◽  
Yanli Zeng ◽  
Rui Li ◽  
Huadong Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Management ◽  
Petroleum Products ◽  
Metal Loss ◽  
Non Destructive Testing ◽  
Destructive Testing ◽  
Inspection Method ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Pipeline Inspection ◽  
Inspection Systems ◽  
Non Destructive

Pipelines play an important role in the national/international transportation of natural gas, petroleum products, and other energy resources. Pipelines are set up in different environments and consequently suffer various damage challenges, such as environmental electrochemical reaction, welding defects, and external force damage, etc. Defects like metal loss, pitting, and cracks destroy the pipeline’s integrity and cause serious safety issues. This should be prevented before it occurs to ensure the safe operation of the pipeline. In recent years, different non-destructive testing (NDT) methods have been developed for in-line pipeline inspection. These are magnetic flux leakage (MFL) testing, ultrasonic testing (UT), electromagnetic acoustic technology (EMAT), eddy current testing (EC). Single modality or different kinds of integrated NDT system named Pipeline Inspection Gauge (PIG) or un-piggable robotic inspection systems have been developed. Moreover, data management in conjunction with historic data for condition-based pipeline maintenance becomes important as well. In this study, various inspection methods in association with non-destructive testing are investigated. The state of the art of PIGs, un-piggable robots, as well as instrumental applications, are systematically compared. Furthermore, data models and management are utilized for defect quantification, classification, failure prediction and maintenance. Finally, the challenges, problems, and development trends of pipeline inspection as well as data management are derived and discussed.

Denoising Ultrasound Medical Images

2017 ◽  
pp. 761-775
Author(s):  
A.S.C.S. Sastry ◽  
P.V.V. Kishore ◽  
Ch. Raghava Prasad ◽  
M.V.D. Prasad
Keyword(s):  
Image Quality ◽  
Medical Images ◽  
Ultrasound Image ◽  
Similarity Index ◽  
Speckle Noise ◽  
Ultrasound Images ◽  
Medical Ultrasound ◽  
Soft Thresholding ◽  
Block Based

Medical ultrasound imaging has revolutioned the diagnostics of human body in the last few decades. The major drawback of ultrasound medical images is speckle noise. Speckle noise in ultrasound images is because of multiple reflections of ultrasound waves from hard tissues. Speckle noise degrades the medical ultrasound images lessening the visible quality of the image. The aim of this paper is to improve the image quality of ultrasound medical images by applying block based hard and soft thresholding on wavelet coefficients. Medical ultrasound image transformation to wavelet domain uses debauchee's mother wavelet. Divide the approximate and detailed coefficients into uniform blocks of size 8×8, 16×16, 32×32 and 64×64. Hard and soft thresholding on these blocks of approximate and detailed coefficients reduces speckle noise. Inverse transformation to original spatial domain produces a noise reduced ultrasound image. Experiments on medical ultrasound images obtained from diagnostic centers in Vijayawada, India show good improvements to ultrasound images visually. Quality of improved images in measured using peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR), image quality index (IQI), structural similarity index (SSIM).

Automatic Ultrasonic Inspection Method of Railway Axle and its Remaining Life Prediction

2011 ◽  
Vol 213 ◽  
pp. 291-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Wei Hu ◽  
Xiong Bing Li ◽  
Xiang Hong Wang ◽  
Yi Min Shao
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Fatigue Cracks ◽  
Ultrasonic Inspection ◽  
Inspection System ◽  
Remaining Life ◽  
High Speed Railway ◽  
Inspection Method ◽  
Spiral Trajectory ◽  
Image Element ◽  
The Matrix

With the high speed railway utilization, the probability of defects or fatigue cracks in railway axles is increased. An automatic ultrasonic inspection system for railway axles is presented. This system uses combined probes and inspects the defects with spiral trajectory along the axis of the axle. Through the matrix representation of C-scan image element, a defect edge extraction method is adopted, with which the defect parameters of crack are obtained automatically. Based on these defect parameters, the stress intensity factor is assessed by svm regression and the method to predict remaining life is proposed.

Ultrasonic Inspection of Thin Duplex Steel Welds by Phased Array

2015 ◽  
Vol 818 ◽  
pp. 256-259
Author(s):  
Erika Hodúlová ◽  
Ingrid Kovaříková ◽  
Beáta Šimeková ◽  
Koloman Ulrich
Keyword(s):  
Weld Joint ◽  
Phased Array ◽  
Ultrasonic Inspection ◽  
Base Material ◽  
Outer Diameter ◽  
Experimental Sample ◽  
Inspection Method ◽  
Duplex Steel ◽  
Steel Welds ◽  
Weld Root

The non-destructive inspection of duplex steels is a big challenge, being composed of ferrite and austenite, have some particularities. When using ultrasound, for instance, its waves propagate well in ferrite, but suffer strong attenuation, scattering and refraction in austenite. The aim of this work is to use the Phased Array ultrasonic inspection method for the thin (4 mm) duplex steel weld joint inspection. The experimental sample was made ​​of duplex steel shaped tube with an outer diameter of 44 mm and a wall thickness of 3.8 mm welded with a laser beam. The experiment was necessary to verify attenuation of duplex steel. On the base material and the weld joint were made the artificial defects, in which the adjusted sensitivity of the ultrasonic device was set.The result of the measuring was the defect echo coming from the weld root layer. The length (about 25 mm) can only be estimated due to the inaccurate constant velocity of probe motion along the surface.

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