Innovative Techniques for the Benefit of the User

1. Innovative Techniques for the Benefit of the User GE Inspection Technologies Johannes Büchler, Bernd Kirchner, Siegmar Schulz MATEST 2004, Zagreb, Croatia GE Inspection Technologies (“GEIT”) Proprietary Information—The information contained in this document is GEIT proprietary information and is disclosed in confidence. It is the property of GEIT and shall not be used, disclosed to others or reproduced without the express written consent of GEIT. If consent is given for reproduction in whole or in part, this notice and the notice set forth on each page of this document shall appear in any such reproduction in whole or in part. The information contained in this document may also be controlled by the U.S. export control laws. Unauthorized export or re-export is prohibited.

2. Application examples of the most used software Using latest state of the art software architectures Summary New innovative techniques for the benefit of the user in the field of ultrasonic testing

3. Micro-components and flexible printed board technology FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays) with greater complexity and integrated RAMs for quicker storage of data Increase of scanning rates for digitizing high frequency ultrasonic signals Micro-controller with greater capacity and DSPs (Digital Signal Processors) Digital interfaces for higher data rates Latest state of the art hardware technologies

4. Highest degree of integration in the smallest volume Simultaneous display of A-scans from the same evaluation cycle Real-time compression of the measurement data on position or time grid Recording of compressed A-scans Reduction of noise Standardized, rapid data interfaces for the ultrasonic inspection Storage of information in the ultrasonic probe Examples for using latest state of the art hardware technologies

5. Integration of electronics and battery in the probe for 80 hours of operation Maximum integration for the smallest universal thickness gauge

6. Magnification Simultaneous display of A-scans from the same evaluation cycle with a digitizing rate of 400MHz 0.5 mm Backwall echo sequence with a 35 MHz probe Display range 20 mm Display range 1 mm

7. 1. A=20% 2. Corresponding position pulse or time grid A=0% 3. A=0% N. A=60% Superimposed and stored data without loss of measurement readings in the position or time grid. A=60% Real-time compression of the A-scans and measurement data on position pulse or time grid

8. s(t) u(t) + h(t) + n(t) h(t) = s(-t) Reduction of noise using matched filters (filter matched to signal) • Required: maximum signal-to-noise ratio in the output signal u(t) • Interference n(t) recorded as additive, white, random noise • Solution: matched filter

9. Transmission signal Received signal with noise Received signal after filtering Reduction of noise signals with matched filters

10. Communication with the probe Serial interface for storage of information in the ultrasonic probe US instrument Ethernet PC US instrument Seriell Probe Digital data interfaces • Ethernet The standardized, rapid data interface even for the ultrasonic inspection, involving the transfer of measurement readings with a data rate of many MBs

11. Visual Studio .NET (development environment for VB.NET, C#.NET, C++.NET from Microsoft) Universal Application Framework (UAF) Plug-in and Layer technology for structuring function groups Enables linking the customer´s own developed plug-ins Contains UNICODE, i.e. all languages can be supported Common Application Architecture (CAA) Specifies the organization and behaviour of windows applications without going into their specific contents (e.g. distributable interfaces, linkage of plug-ins independent of operation) Use of communication report TCP/IP New software technologies

12. User-friendly interfaces by using modular design Configuration of the user-interface by the user Easy transfer and further processing of the measurement results into software applications of the user Rapid data storage Graphics presentation of measurement readings Remote operation via modem for online support Use of latest state of the art software technologies

13. User-friendly interfaces and configuration capability for the user Modular design of user-interfaces Plug-in defines function group (interface definition Universal Application Framwork, UAF) Customer Appl. Plug-ins are combined on a layer

14. CAA, Common Application Architecture, defines the organization of the operator environment A plug-in contains the module group A layer contains one or more plug-ins One or more layers define the interface Layer technology for structured operation

15. Modular design of user-interfaces

16. Roller inspection (paper industry) 2D presentation with amplitude values (C-scan) in the inspection of coated rollers for bonding flaws and inclusions using gate evaluation

17. Graphic 3D presentation of a test object on the basis of an A-scan A-scan acquisition in the position pulse grid for presentation of the inspection result; relation of the A-scan pixel to the location position

18. High degree of integration, increase of measurement reliability and test speed by using the latest hardware technologies Design of user-friendly interfaces by the application of latest state of the art software architectures Configuration of functions even by the user Viewing of inspection results Summary