About dolphitech
dolphitech provides advanced ultrasound camera technology for the inspection of materials. dolphitech has developed a novel ultrasound transducer design together with high-end electronics and software that produces high-resolution images. We utilize an advanced technology developed by a team of experts in ultrasound, analogue/digital electronics, firmware/software and signal processing.
An ultrasound transducer is a device that transmits and receives ultrasound signals and converts electrical energy into acoustic and vice versa. Our technology has industrialized well-known principles into a completely new design, product and production process.
The basic technology is unique in the global context, and we have established co-development relationships with international agencies and research groups. We started the development of the technology in 2005, and dolphitech was formally established in 2009.
dolphicam2 platform
The dolphicam2 platform consists of three main parts:
- TRM (transducer module)
Resembles a camera - black box(BB)
Is attached to the back of the Toughpad - Pansonic Toughpad
- Optional PC
A PC can be connected to the black box if necessary.
The transducer and all the front end transmit and receive electronics are inside the TRM where the ultrasound data is digitalized. This data is transferred from the Transducer Module to the black box through a cable. Inside the BB you`ll find battery & power, data processing, memory and communication interfaces.
The ultrasound data is sent to the host (Toughpad or PC) through a USB 3.0 cable. The dolphicam2 system is controlled by a graphical user interface (GUI) installed on your Toughpad or PC. The GUI software also does lots of data processing and is where your inspection images and results are presented. You will find a description of the different transducer catalogue describes the different transducer modules (TRM) available from dolphitech.
Ultrasound visualization
An ultrasound visualization image is based on ultrasound reflections. The figure below shows an illustration of ultrasound reflections with a dolphicam2 transducer module.
The dolphicam2 transducer has 16384 transducer elements. Each element works as a speaker and microphone. When a transducer element sends ultrasound, it travels through the coupling medium and into the material to be inspected. Whenever the sound meets a material with different impedance, the sound is reflected. The impedance difference in the materials influences how much sound is reflected.
The most common damage/void can be air, where typically more than 99% of the sound wave is reflected. The figure shows two reflection cases, where one has a reflection from the back wall of material and one where the reflection is from a void. Both cases have a penetration echo that occurs between the coupling medium and NDT material. In the back wall reflection case, you can see that the reflection comes later, but in the void reflection, the reflection is earlier. The amplitude of the reflections depends on sound attenuation in material as well as distance travelled for the sound beam.
Scans
A-scan
Each transducer element receives an electronic signal that is digitalized and represented in an A-scan.
B-scan
B-scan is created by many A-scans put next to each other represented by 1d-array of transducer elements and shows you a cross-section of the material you are inspecting. The B-scan is generated using a colour scale, where high amplitude values are given one end of the colour scale. In the image below, you can see a B-scan where high amplitude values have the colour white, and lower amplitude values are dark. In a B-scan, you can view the depth of the reflections, hence the depth of void or /damages.
C-scan (amplitude & time-of-flight)
The C-scan amplitude image is created from the maximum amplitude of all the A-scans in from your transducer while the C-scan time-of-flight image is created from the corresponding time-of-flight value. The C-scans give you a view of looking directly into your material from the inspection side. For dolphicam2, imagine that your picture is based on the maximum amplitude value of 128×128 A-scans (16384). Each amplitude value and each time-of-flight value is given colour from the corresponding colour scale (palette).
It is possible to adjust where in the C-scan you want the B-scan cross-section, you can see how here in the User Manual.
3D image
The 3D images are based on the time-of-flight values but can be presented both as 3D amplitude image or 3D time-of-flight image. The 3D image gives you a great visualization of your damage.
Functionality software release (V 1.1)
Full Matrix Capture (FMC)
During normal scanning, one A-scan, the two B-scans (horizontal & vertical), both C-scan (amplitude & time-of-flight) is streamed to the Toughpad. However, as of software version 1.1, when the scan button is pressed to stop scanning, the full matrix capture data (128 x 128 = 16384 A-scans) is immediately sent to the Toughpad (< 0,5 sec). You can then post-process configuration settings and measurements on this FMC data. You can also save this FMC data, and load it at a later time.
Acquisition rates
Streaming A-, B-, C-scans
In this mode, all the signal processing is done inside the black box, and only the A-, B-, and C-scan are transferred to Toughpad. The C-scan has amplitude value and time-of-flight value of all 128×128 (16384) transducer elements. When you stop scanning, the FMC of your last frame is loaded into the Toughpad (< 0,5 sec) and you can post process on this data and store your FMC data set (available on software release 1.1). The acquisition rate (frame rate) depends on your configuration of averaging, delay and depth. Below are some acquisition rate examples. The numbers given are typical frame rates, but the frame rate might also be influenced by the processing of computer hardware (Toughpad).
| Frame rate examples for 128×128 transducer modules Streaming A- B-, C-scans | |||
| Averages | Delay | Depth / speed of sound | Frames per second (fps) |
| 1 | 7,5 µs | 4mm @6000m/s | 75 fps |
| 1 | 7.5 µs | 8mm @3000m/s | 40 fps |
| 2 | 7,5 µs | 10mm @3000m/s | 20 fps |
| 2 | 7,5 µs | 20mm @6000m/s | 20 fps |
| 4 | 7,5 µs | 20mm @6000m/s | 9 fps |
| 2 | 80,0 us | 60mm @3000m/s | 3 fps |
NDT applications
The dolphicam2 platform can be used for many different NDT applications and materials within many different industries. The capabilities of the system depend on what transducer module (TRM) you have. Please read the dolphitech transducer catalogue to learn more about TRM.
Markets, applictions, Coming soon
| Markets | Applications (use) | Coming soon |
Aerospace
|
Impact damage.
Lightning strikes CFRP. Bond inspection in CFRP or multi-materials Drilled hole CFRP. |
Corrosion inspection in pipes and laminates,
Cracks and voids in metals (titan, aluminium, steel, etc). |
Automotive
|
Inspection impact damage CFRP.
Adhesive Joints with carbon, steel, aluminium, multi-materials and multilayers. Bond inspection in CFRP & multi-materials, such as CFRP/aluminium. |
|
Marine
|
Impact damage.
Lightning strikes CFRP. Bond inspection in CFRP. Air holes in coating-GFRP. |
|
Wind energy
|
GFRP/CFRP inspection, corrosion mapping, crack- or void-detection.
Debonding and delamination in pipes and laminates. |
|
Oil & Gas
|
Debonding multilayer structures. | Corrosion mapping and pit detection Steel, Iron, Aluminium.
Corrosion and debonding in multi-material tanks or pressurised Wessels. |
Pipe & Weld inspections
|
Friction/HDPE welds void detection. | Spot Weld |
Production
|
Bond inspection in CFRP & multi-material (ex: CFRP/aluminum).
Drilled hole CFRP, Corrosion inspection in pipes and laminates. Cracks and voids in metals (titan, aluminium, steel, etc). |
Materials |
||
| CFRP GFRP Titanium Aluminium Steel Iron Nylon Glass Rubber Multi-material |
||
Technical Specification
Physical |
|
| Total Weight (BB + TRM + Toughpad) | 3045 grams (6.7 lbs.) |
| Transducer Module (TRM) | 265 grams (0.58 lbs.)
84 x 40 x 40 mm (3.3 x 1.57 x 1.57 “) |
| Black Box (BB) | 985 grams (2.167 lbs.)
200 x 130 x 32 mm (7.87 x 5.12 x 1.26 “) |
ToughPad FZ-G1 |
|
| Display | Touch screen – 10.1” (1920 x 1200) |
| OS & Software | Windows 10 – dolphicam2 user interface installed |
| CPU, Storage, RAM | Intel i5, 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM |
| Other | Contact dolphitech for more data on Toughpad FZ-G1 |
Black Box Power |
|
| Battery Life | 5-6 hours of continuous scanning |
| Charging | 12V DC – Reverse polarity protection |
| Battery Power | Re-chargeable Li-ion battery pack (7.2V 6.7Ah) |
Connectivity & IO |
|
| Communication | USB C 3.0, USB A 2.0, Ethernet |
| Transducer ports | 2 x Quadrature Encoder & GPIO (General Purpose In/Out)
DSUB-9 (for X-Y scanning) |
| Audio Buzzer | Different audio signals |
Environmental |
|
| Operating Temperature | 0˚C to +40˚ C (32˚F to 104˚F) |
| Operating Temp with Degrading | -20˚C to +50˚C (-4˚F to 122˚F) |
| Storage Temperature | -20˚C to 65˚C (-4˚F to 149˚F) |
| Altitude | 2000 meters (6562 feet) |
| Ingress Protection | IP66 |
| Humidity | Maximum relative humidity 80% for temperatures up to 31˚C
Decreasing linearity to 50% relative humidity at 40˚C |
| EMC | EN61326, FCC part 15B, FCC part 18 |
| Vibration and Shock | Mil-STD810G 516.6 |
| Electrical Safety | IEC-61010-1:2010 |
Ultrasound & Functionality
Transducer Technology |
|
| Transducer type | Matrix (2D-array) |
| Number of Transducer elements | 128×128 (16.384) |
| Element size | 210 µm |
| Element Pitch | 250 µm (10 mils) |
Receiver Electronics |
|
| Receiver Channels | 32 (parallel acquisitions) |
| Receiver Bandwidth | 0,5MHz to 30MHz * |
| PRF | 10 to 100 kHz * |
| Acquisition/Frame Rate (Scan stream or FMC) | 5 to 50 frames/sec * |
| Digitizing (Sampling) Rate | 50 to 65 MHz* (Up-sampled to 200 MHz) |
| A-scan resolution | 12 bits (+/- 2048) Up sampled to 16 bits (+/-32 768) |
Transmit Electronics |
|
| Transmit Pulse | 0-70 V square wave |
| Rise/Fall time | ~ 5 ns |
General Functionality |
|
| Scans 10 different views | A-scan B-scan Horizontal B-scan Vertical C-scan Amplitude C-scan Time-Of-Flight 3D Amplitude 3D Time-Of-Flight Stitched |
| Measurements | Depth B-scan Depth & Amplitude in C-scan Rectangle (Width, Height, Area) Circular (Diameter, Circumference, Area) |
| Report Functionality | Save images & settings to report |
| Full Matrix Capture (FMC) | Save & Load FMC – Post process on FMC |
| Configuration Setting Files | Save & Load |
| Other General Functionality | Colour Focus Reset settings to default Save screenshot GUI scan button Expanded view (hide configuration menu) |
Transducer |
|
| Gain | -40dB to 0dB |
| Time Corrected Gain (TCG) | 0 to 10 dB/µs |
| Transmit Elements (Aperture) | 1 – 32 |
| Averaging | 1 – 16 |
| Pulse length | 5 – 635 ns (5ns increments) |
Coverage |
|
| Delay | 1 – 82 µs (delay between transmit and acquisition) |
| Depth | 1 – 120 mm @ 6000 m/s |
| Speed of Sound | 100 – 20.000 m/s (List of material Sound Speed) |
| Gates | 3 separate gates |
| Amplitude Threshold | The threshold for each gate |
| Capture Method (for C-Scan) | Max Absolute/Negative/Positive |
| A/B Scan Mode (RF) | Full, Absolute, Envelope |
| Colour Palettes | (jet, grey, grey-inv, autumn, bone, winter, rainbow, ocean, summer, spring, HSV, pink, hot) |
| Image Filter | none, Gaussian, median |
TRM Calibration |
|
| TRM Calibration | Amplitude Calibration Time-Of-Flight Calibration |
User Preference |
|
| Measurement Unit | Millimeters, Inches, Mils, |
Stitching |
|
| Manual Stitching | No accessories needed |
| GridTool Stitching | Used with Grid Tool |
| Encoder Stitching | X and Y – Used with any quadrature encoders |
VIEWS
ABC (T) – A-scan, B-scan and C-scan Time of Flight
ABC (A) – A-scan, B-scan and C-scan AMPLITUDE
ALL
B-scan (Vertical)
B-scan (HORIZONTAL)
C-scan (amplitude)
C-scan (time-of-flight)
C-scan (amplitude & time-of-flight)
3D TOF – Time of flight
3D amplitude
Stich
