USER’S MANUAL

Acquire 1.2 / M2M Panther/Pocket

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Table des matières

PART 1: Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 7
PART 2: General information ............................................................................................................................ 8
1. Start-up ........................................................................................................................................................... 8
2. Acquire Home page tabs .............................................................................................................................. 10
“About this version…” tab ................................................................................................................. 10
“Application” tab: supervisor/operator accounts ............................................................................. 10
First launch of Acquire .................................................................................................................. 10
Supervisor mode ........................................................................................................................... 11
Operator mode ............................................................................................................................. 15
Removal of all accounts ................................................................................................................ 15
Topology ............................................................................................................................................ 16
“Hardware” tab ................................................................................................................................. 17
Information and hardware tests tab ............................................................................................. 17
Options tab ................................................................................................................................... 18
“Options” tab ..................................................................................................................................... 20
Files and Folder ............................................................................................................................. 20
Keyboard shortcuts ....................................................................................................................... 21
Look and feel................................................................................................................................. 23
Data export ................................................................................................................................... 25
3. "Home", “Main toolbox” and "Exit" icons .................................................................................................... 26
3. Click on the gain button .................................................................................................................................... 29
4. Change the gain ................................................................................................................................................ 29
1. Activate the pause mode .................................................................................................................................. 29
2. Click on the main toolbar.............................................................................................................................. 29
4. Backup files ................................................................................................................................................... 30
Backup of a project ............................................................................................................................ 30
Backup options .................................................................................................................................. 31
Local backup ...................................................................................................................................... 33
5. Inspection steps ............................................................................................................................................ 34
PART 3: Configuration ..................................................................................................................................... 35
PART 4: Parameters ........................................................................................................................................ 36
1. UT setting...................................................................................................................................................... 37
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Multi-Salvoes setting ......................................................................................................................... 37

Multi-Salvoes setting creation ...................................................................................................... 37
Configuration panel ...................................................................................................................... 41
Independent parameters .............................................................................................................. 41
Data Source ................................................................................................................................... 44
Acquisition parameters ................................................................................................................. 46
2. Display .......................................................................................................................................................... 47
Data source ........................................................................................................................................ 47
Available graphics .............................................................................................................................. 50
Selection and positioning of graphics ................................................................................................ 54
Axes units........................................................................................................................................... 55
Cursors ............................................................................................................................................... 56
Zoom and pan .................................................................................................................................... 60
Graphic tools...................................................................................................................................... 61
Pop-up menu (right click) .............................................................................................................. 61
Graphic view toolbar .................................................................................................................... 63
Export to text ................................................................................................................................ 69
Cursor parameters ........................................................................................................................ 73
Zoom, pan and reset parameters ................................................................................................. 74
Full screen views ................................................................................................................................ 75
Color scale ......................................................................................................................................... 76
3. High speed modes (Panther only) ................................................................................................................ 79
1.1 Full parallel mode ....................................................................................................................................... 81
1.2 Mixed mode ................................................................................................................................................ 81
1.3 Set mixed mode and display parallel level.................................................................................................. 82
4. General parameters ...................................................................................................................................... 84
Transmission ...................................................................................................................................... 85
Digitizing ............................................................................................................................................ 86
Display rectified signal ....................................................................................................................... 87
Gains .................................................................................................................................................. 88
Local backup ...................................................................................................................................... 88
5. Detailed parameters ..................................................................................................................................... 89
Description of detailed parameters ................................................................................................... 90
Transmission part ......................................................................................................................... 90
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Reception parameters .................................................................................................................. 92

Selection and modification of detailed parameters: ......................................................................... 93
6. Units.............................................................................................................................................................. 95
7. Encoders ....................................................................................................................................................... 97
Information about encoders .............................................................................................................. 98
Scanner/Robot definition .................................................................................................................. 98
Local backup & reload ..................................................................................................................... 102
8. Gates ........................................................................................................................................................... 103
Add/remove gates: .......................................................................................................................... 103
Gates identity .................................................................................................................................. 104
Gates acquisition/storage ................................................................................................................ 105
Ascan gate position, width, height and customized options ........................................................... 108
Gate detection and synchronization options .................................................................................. 113
Local backup & reload ..................................................................................................................... 118
9. TCG ............................................................................................................................................................. 119
Analog DAC ...................................................................................................................................... 119
TCG parameters .......................................................................................................................... 119
Synchronized TCG ....................................................................................................................... 122
Edit DAC parameters ................................................................................................................... 124
Local backup & reload................................................................................................................. 126
Digital TCG ....................................................................................................................................... 126
Manual digital TCG...................................................................................................................... 126
Gate TCG ......................................................................................................................................................... 129
10. Filters .................................................................................................................................................... 130
Attenuators...................................................................................................................................... 130
FIR/IIR Filters.................................................................................................................................... 131
Band-Pass filter ........................................................................................................................... 131
Saving/loading of filter parameters ............................................................................................ 131
N shots average ............................................................................................................................... 132
Decimation Filters ............................................................................................................................ 132
11. Trajectories ........................................................................................................................................... 133
Definition of trajectories ................................................................................................................. 133
Inspection cartography .................................................................................................................... 136
12. Alarms .................................................................................................................................................. 143
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PART 5: Acquisition ....................................................................................................................................... 145

1. Acquisition information .............................................................................................................................. 145
1. Display ........................................................................................................................................................ 147
Data source ...................................................................................................................................... 147
Available Views ................................................................................................................................ 153
Selection and positioning of graphics .............................................................................................. 159
New screen ...................................................................................................................................... 161
Units of axis ..................................................................................................................................... 162
Cursors ............................................................................................................................................. 162
Zoom and pan .................................................................................................................................. 165
Graphic tools.................................................................................................................................... 166
Popup menu (right click) ............................................................................................................. 166
Graphic view toolbar .................................................................................................................. 169
Export to text .............................................................................................................................. 179
Cursor parameters ...................................................................................................................... 179
Zoom, pan and reset parameters ............................................................................................... 180
Full screen display............................................................................................................................ 181
Color scale ....................................................................................................................................... 182
Robot position ................................................................................................................................. 186
2. Acquisition .................................................................................................................................................. 187
3. Automatic report ........................................................................................................................................ 188
HTML report with data analysis ....................................................................................................... 188
Access ......................................................................................................................................... 188
Inspection identity ...................................................................................................................... 190
Preferences: Automatic options ................................................................................................. 191
Conditions of discard .................................................................................................................. 191
Options of report display ............................................................................................................ 192
Launch of analysis and edition of HTML report .......................................................................... 193
PDF report ....................................................................................................................................... 195
Access ......................................................................................................................................... 196
Selection of views to display in the report ................................................................................. 198
Selection of template .................................................................................................................. 198
Inspection identity ...................................................................................................................... 199
Definition of the parameters to be displayed in the report ....................................................... 200
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Definition of the acquisition zone to display in the report ......................................................... 201

Report Edition ............................................................................................................................. 202
PART 6: Remote Control ............................................................................................................................... 206
APPENDIX 1: Acquire GLOSSARY and DATA ARCHITECTURE .............................................................................. 207
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PART 1: INTRODUCTION

This manual refers to “Acquire” software version 1.0.

Concerning the “Configuration” panel which refers to “CIVA" software version 2019, please see the
CIVA’s help available by pressing the F1 key.
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PART 2: GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Start-up

The user starts the application by double-clicking on Acquire icon.

Figure 1: Acquire icon

The application starts and the following window appears:

Figure 2: Acquire launching window

Acquire software can work in 2 modes: a supervisor mode (defining specific interfaces of each operator) and
an operator mode.

Both can be accessed through personal accounts protected by login and password (cf. § 2.2). At the first launch
of the application, you must enter the supervisor login and password.

In most of the time, no password is used. Just press “Enter” to login.

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Figure 3:Acquire login window

After login, Acquire Home page window gives access to saved data file (cf. § 0), to different inspection
steps (cf. § 5) and to "Home", “configuration”, “Parameters”, “Acquisition”, "Accounts", “Load”,
“Save”, “Main Tools” and "General Settings" icons (cf. § 3). These icons are accessible from all
Acquire panels.
These panels are described in §2.

Figure 4:Acquire Home page

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2. Acquire Home page tabs

“About this version…” tab

“About this version…” tab displays information about the installed Acquire software version.

“Application” tab: supervisor/operator accounts

Two user modes are available on the Acquire software: the supervisor and the operator modes. The supervisor
can administrate the software. He can use all options of the software. He can create and manage operators’
accounts. These operators’ accounts are usually restricted in term of functionality to a given part of the user
interface and related applications.

The supervisor can interactively create and modify the operator screen by suppressing tabs, panels or icons, he
can increase (or decrease) the size of given areas of the software interface.

Operators and supervisors have access to their specific, restricted (or not) functionalities using their own
account. The “Application” tab allows managing supervisor’s and operator’s accounts of Acquire. Only the
supervisor can change operators’ names or their passwords.

First launch of Acquire

When first launching Acquire, no account is defined, only a supervisor account can be set using the following
dialog box:

Figure 5:Supervisor account login window

Neither supervisor name nor password is required here, but from this dialog box, the user will get access to
the full supervisor rights, including the management of operators’ accounts.
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Supervisor mode

If login and password are associated to a supervisor account, Acquire allows access to all functionalities of the
software, including the operator account creation that can be performed from the application tab, located in
the Home Page.

Figure 6: Supervisor management window

Figure 7:
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• Supervisor options
Modification of the name and password of the supervisor account

The supervisor can modify his own profile (name and password) by using the « Modify preparer account »
icon.

Figure 8: Supervisor account modification

- Name and password retrieval of the supervisor account

The name and password of a supervisor are stored in an encrypted file named « users.xml » located in the
C:\Acquire\desk\account directory. When loosing this information, a supervisor can send this file to the
Acquire support team who will retrieve the lost data.

• Operator account management

The operators’ accounts can be managed from the “Operator account table” which is available by clicking on
“Operators” in the supervisor management window.

Figure 9: Operator account table

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- The ‘New’ icon allows the creation of a new operator in the list.
- The ‘Delete’ icon deletes a selected operator in the list.
- The ‘Load’ icon loads customized screens associated to an operator account.
- The ‘Save’ icon allows to save the customized operator screens.

• Operator management
Once a supervisor has modified the interface, he can associate it to a given operator in the operator account
table by creating a new operator account.

Figure 10:Operator account creation

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Figure 11:Operator account table

Once an operator account has been created, both corresponding login and password are displayed in
the Operator account table (see example below for “operator 1”).

If the « operator1 » has already an account, the supervisor can just click on the account and then ‘save’. The
customized GUI will then automatically be associated to him.

• Assignment of a configuration to an operator account

The supervisor can assign a « configuration » to an operator. Doing this, when opening the application, this
configuration will be automatically loaded. It is done by using the “open” icon in the operator account window.
Next figure shows the association of the configuration “Configuration1.m2k” to operator1.

Figure 12:Assign a configuration to an operator account

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This dialog box allows the selection of a file (.m2k), in this example « configuration1.m2k ». This file name is
then listed in the account operator list.

Figure 13:Operator account table after assignment of “Configuration 1” to “Operator1” account

• Changing an operator’s name and/or password

The supervisor can modify an operator’s name and/or his password in the operator account list table by
double-clicking on the operator’s name or on the operator’s password.

Operator mode

In this mode, the user will only have access to the GUI and/or the configuration associated to his profile by the
supervisor.

Removal of all accounts

The removal of all accounts (both supervisor and operators) can be performed by deleting the users.xml file
located in C:\Acquire\desk\account, as well as the sub directories located in C:\Acquire\desk\users. The next
time Acquire is launched the new supervisor will be asked for a new login and a new password.
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Topology

When starting the software and connect some new hardware, topology configuration menu appears.

This menu enables to describe the architecture of the hardware and how they are linked together.

For Panther electronics, “Identify” button change front led status to help to visually identify the system.

The name of the device is useful to affect the salvo on the electronics independently of the serial number.

When replacing a device for maintenance issue, the software will propose automatically to exchange the old
replaced device by the new one with the same name.

Refer to specific documentation for more information if needed.

After the software has started, the “Topology” menu is accessible in the “Hardware” tab in Acquire.
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“Hardware” tab

Information and hardware tests tab

Information tab displays the number of channels linked to the system used. This tab displays the file's
name containing the channel offset calibration for the Acquire system.

Figure 14: Hardware Information panel

The user can check the number of channels installed and recognized by the system, as well as the
M2M electronic device number.
A USB dataflow test and a HDD writing speed test can also be performed from the “Tests and
Troubleshooting” tab. Both tests are performed automatically at the first setup of Acquire on a
computer.
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Options tab

Figure 15 : 'Options' panel of the Hardware tab

• Show Diagnostic Window

Show Diagnostic Window can be activated. This option shows a debug window tools that can be used
to check if there is an override of the system.

CPU Load tab give information about CPU load during acquisition
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Hardware monitor TAB shows internal auto-test features inside Panther (does not exist for Pocket) for
maintenance and remote diagnostics

• Enable acquisition size limitation

Enable acquisition size limitation can be activated. This option consists in limiting the size of
acquisition in deleting the data when displacement between two points are smaller than the value of
acquisition step defined in trajectories panel of Parameters panel.

This feature is designed for manual inspection where user can have very irregular inspection speed and
stop sometimes scanning. Activate this function is not recommended in fast industrial application where
inspection speed is near maximum value of the system. It can erase make acquisition step irregular.
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“Options” tab

Figure 16: Options tab

Files and Folder

• Working directory
- Browse: Define the default directory path for saving and loading the Acquire project. The user
selects the default directory thanks to the “Browse” button.
- Detect: Check the workspace availability.
- Test: This icon performs a test of the hard drive disk data flow. The resulting value is used to set
the maximum acquisition speed.

• Specific open and save paths

These options define specific paths for opening and save files. Thanks to the “directory” icon the user can
browse and select each default directory.

• Acquisition Data Options

o Prompt user to prevent data loss

When this feature is selected, a warning will pop up whenever an action leads to the loss of unsaved data.

• Extern software path

o Acrobat reader
This option defines the path of Adobe reader in order to open an automatic report in PDF format.
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o CIVA Analysis
This option defines the path for CIVA in order to open saved Acquire data files in CIVA automatically. When
this option is selected and the CIVA path correctly defined (for example C:\CIVA2019) the Analysis banner
appears and automatically launch the specified CIVA version.

This function can be managed through the network when specifying the server / username and password.

Keyboard shortcuts

The user can customize keyboard shortcuts for several functions:

- Switch from setting to acquisition

- Switch from acquisition to setting
- Start/suspend/resume acquisition
- Stop acquisition
- Encoders Reset
- Next data source
- Update all views
- Scroll right
- Scroll left
- Zoom in
- Zoom out
The authorized shortcuts are the function keys (F1 to F12) or combinations of the ALT key and any alphabetic
key.

Tick the “Enable customization” box to activate the shortcuts.

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Figure 17: Keyboard Shortcuts

Start/suspend/resume acquisition:

It’s possible to start acquisition thanks to a keyboard shortcut. If automated start/stop is required for the
application; use Remote access TCP/IP interface.
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Look and feel

The top hand of the panel allows to customize graphic parameters of the GUI.

The following panel that can be scrolled shows the ATFM profile drawing options and the brush options

Figure 18: Look and feel tab

• Informative popup
Enable/disable the help message in popup windows. The popup window appears when the mouse pointer
remains during a few seconds on some fields. Example with gain:
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Figure 19: Example of pop-up information

• Enable the acquisition even if the theoretical size of the full acquisition exceeds the storage
capacity
When selecting this option, the acquisition can be performed whatever the acquisition size value is.

• Hide plot grids

This option hides the grids of all views in Parameters and Acquisition panels.

• Filled Time of Flight dynamic echo graph

This option displays the time of flight echo dynamic view in the form of bar charts.
Several options are available in the “Look and feel” tab to customize Ascan, echo dynamic and TOFD
views.
Ascan view customization options:
- Curve color
- Background color
Echo dynamic view customization options:
- Time of flight echo dynamic color
- Values exceeded the threshold color
TOFD view customization options:
- 0mm TOFD grid color
- 0 mm TOFD cross color
- Thickness of the cross
- Size of the cross
- double TOFD arrow color
- Thickness of the TOFD arrow
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Data export

Figure 20: Export Data panel

All data from an acquisition file can be exported in .txt or .xml format through the Export Data panel.
The user may choose data to be exported and their specific structure in the export file (see figure
above).
Save the acquired data before save to be able to export data.
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Note: This export function exports the file coming from the selected salvoes and gates. Anyway, the
export file can be complex in some cases and it is recommended to proceed step by step (very basic
export first, then add more and more complexity).

3. "Home", “Main toolbox” and "Exit" icons

• "Home" icon: Go to the Acquire home page.

• "Main toolbox" icon: Display available main tools of every screen.

Figure 21 : Main Toolboxes

Main tools list:

• « Screen shot » icon: Catches a screen copy.

This screen shot is saved in the Acquire view file "C:\Acquire\desk\images\".
After the back-up, the screen shot is displayed automatically by the Windows viewer software.
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• « Full screen » icon: Displays all views in full screen, hiding scales and titles.

• « Hide banner » icon: Hides titles and icons of all views in Parameters and Acquisition panels.

• « Show/Hide Cursors of views » icon: Click on this icon to enable /disable cursors. This icon
has three states:

: Blue reference cursors for horizontal and vertical axes.

: Pink relative cursors with respect to reference cursors.

: No cursor displayed.

• « Freeze » icon: Freezes all views in Parameters Panel.

• « Synchronize and ‘unzoom’ all views » icon: synchronizes zoom of the selected view or
‘unzoom’ all views from one salvo. By default, zoom of all views from one salvo are
synchronized. This function is not available on corrected views.

• « Synchronize zoom of all views » icon: synchronizes zoom of all views of all salvoes. This
icon has two states: enable and disable.
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• « Speedometer view » icon: Displays a speedometer which indicates the current robot speed
and the maximum authorized speed in the acquisition panel.

• « Modification of the analogical gain during acquisition » icon: This icon is only available
in “Pause” mode. When you press this gain icon, a window is displayed to enter the new value.
The new gain is applied after restarting acquisition.
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2. Click on the main

toolbar

3. Click on the gain button

4. Change the gain

1. Activate the pause

mode

Figure 22: Gain modification during acquisition

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4. Backup files

Backup of a project

A complete project generally includes one Configuration, one UT Setting and one Acquisition. The project
backup contains all parameters necessary to create the Acquisition and all data recorded during the
Acquisition.

The three icons on the top left of the window are used to save/load configuration parameters and/or data file
all current configuration, parameters and acquired data.

Figure 23: Save, load and trash icon

• "Open" icon loads all parameters and related data saved in a file.

• "Save" icon saves all current parameters and acquired data.

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A left click on "Save" icon opens the following window:

Figure 24: Project's saving window

'Information' panel shows what part of the project to save:

- UT Setting, identified by its name.
- Acquisition according to the user's choice.
In the example illustrated in the above figure, the saved project contains UT Setting N°1, Configuration
whose UT Setting comes from and the Acquisition obtained from UT Setting N°1.

Backup options
Backup of Acquisition are optional. The user validates his choice as shown below.
By default, backup of Acquisition is validated.

Figure 25: Saving of acquisition.

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Warning! A project back-up must contain a UT Setting and the Configuration whose UT setting comes
from, identified by either a name or a number: UT Setting 1. Moreover a project back-up allows saving
only one UT Setting.

In the backup project, several cases may happen:

• Case 1
By default, after an acquisition, the saved project contains:
- Acquisition.
- UT Setting whose Acquisition comes from.
- Configuration whose UT Setting comes from (if Configuration exists).

If the project contains other Settings and Configurations before backup, they will be
deleted after backup. All modifications carried out in the Configuration panel without creating a
new Setting are not saved in the project. In the same way, all modifications in the Parameters
panel carried out after Acquisition are not saved in the project. When saving an Acquisition,
only the UT Setting, whose Acquisition comes from, are saved.

• Case 2
If the user does not carry out an Acquisition, the backup of project will contain:
- Current UT Setting.
- Configuration, whose UT Setting comes from (if Configuration exist).
In the same way as for case 1, if the project contains other Settings and other Configurations before
backup, they will be deleted after backup. Only the Configuration, whose UT Setting comes from, is
saved. All modifications carried out in the Configuration panel without creating a new Setting are not
saved in the project.
The acquisition menu will not include the graphical view settings (dropped views).
To store the setting views, start and stop the acquisition and save with the empty acquisition.
It is also possible to save configuration views by saving “screens” (bottom left of the Acquisition menu)
and then reload it later.

• Case 3
If only Configurations exist without Settings and without Acquisition, the backup of project is not
possible. The backup of project must contain a UT Setting.
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Local backup
Local backup allows the user to save specific parameters families.
In the Configuration part, all local backup are located in the index C:\Acquire\Civa2015aM2M_x64\
DATA.
In the Parameters and Acquisition parts, all local backup are located in the index C:\Acquire\desk.
Local backup are directly available from the related parameters panel.
For example, the figure below shows how to access to the local backup of DAC parameters.

Figure 26: Local backup of DAC parameters

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5. Inspection steps

Three icons give access to the main steps to define an inspection:

• Configuration: This step defines the inspection configuration (transducer, representative

samples, calculation of focal laws…). It allows ultrasonic field computation according to the
related configuration.

• Parameters: This step defines and adjusts UT parameters, acquisition parameters and
mechanical parameters.

• Acquisition: This step is used to launch the acquisition, to display real-time inspection and to
load and play acquired data files.

Figure 27: "Configuration", "Parameters" and "Acquisition" icons

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PART 3: CONFIGURATION

The configuration panel is directly extracted from NDT software CIVA. Get CIVA help by pressing “F1”.
Only the part “UT - Active Model Setup” is useful for Acquire user, see the picture below.

Figure 28 : CIVA help

Some parameters are not used for delay laws computation but are dedicated for simulation only.
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PART 4: PARAMETERS

The Parameters panel defines the UT parameters, mechanical parameters and acquisition parameters.
This panel is split into three main groups: visualization, general settings and specific parameters.
By default, visualization is composed of two types of windows: A-scan and B-scan representation.
These representations display, in real time, signals received according to focusing parameters.
The “General settings” relate to all active elements.
The “Specific parameters” apply to each of the channel. They allow the user to adjust elementary
channel parameters, DAC, acquisition time gate, visualization of the input, coders, acquisition
trajectories, filters and displayed units (Gates, DAC, Burst, Coders, Trajectories, Inputs, Alarms, Filters,
Units).

Figure 29: Setting panel

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1. UT setting

The Setting of UT parameters in Parameters panel include:

- Delay laws.
- General parameters: transmission, reception and digitizing.
- TCG (Time corrected Gain).
- Gates.
- Encoders’ information.
- Trajectories and mechanical parameters.
- Digital Alarms
- Filters.
- Units (units definition used for all views).

Multi-Salvoes setting

Multi-Salvoes setting creation

Multi-Salvoes setting allows making a UT setting made of several Salvoes or groups, i.e. one single
Acquire acquisition made of different configuration files. For example, with a matrix probe, the user can
make a multi-salvoes file made of one sectorial scanning in the incident plane and of one sectorial
scanning in the perpendicular plane of the probe.
Choosing this option by clicking on the button indicated below in the Parameter settings panel :
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a specific file box is opened where previous m2k configuration files can be selected.

Salvoes are selected from the left table below and, using the arrow sign , can be moved
to the right list to create the multi-salvo configuration. Salvoes can be
reorganized by using the up , down and trash icons. The creation of
the multi-salvoes is validated by clicking on the “Multi-Salvoes creation” icon.

If there are several electronic devices, the salvo must be affected to one of the electronics. Each
electronics will be able to run several salvoes.
The salvoes executed on several electronics will be executed at the same time.
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Figure 30: creation of a Multi-Salvoes

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Figure 31: Multi Salvo with several electronics

Figure 32: Multi-Salvoes « Parameters » Panel

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Configuration panel

When creating a multi-salvo, the configuration parameters of each individual salvo are stored and can be
reached by clicking on the associated button on the bottom left hand side of the screen.

Independent parameters

After a multi-salvo creation, the software switches to the Parameters panel. Some parameters can be adjusted
salvo by salvo. These so-called “independent” parameters are the following:

- Delay before digitizing

- Depth of digitizing
- Rectified signal
- Global gain (El. Signals)

- Gain 
- Analog DAC
- Digital DAC
- Filters
- N shots average
- Gates
- Detailed parameters
- Display synchronized with transmission (in Units panel)
- UT speeds
- TOFD Calibration

Gates:

Gates are independent per salvo. The user can configure easier the gate in using the “apply to all salvoes”
function. This function duplicates the current gate parameter to all the salvoes containing in the multi-Salvo.
This function is accessible by a right mouse click on the gate.
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Figure 33: "Apply to all salvoes" Option

Group of parameters:

The parameters are independent per salvo. The user can create a group of salvoes in order to have a common
parameters.

To create a group of salvoes (see figure below):

• Click on tools icon of general parameters

• Create a group by pressing “+” button.

• Select the group

• Select the salvoes you want in the group

• Select the parameters you want to group

When the group is created, the parameters of the modified salvo

will be copied to the linked salvoes.

The remote function are affected by linked salvoes.

The parameters which are link together will appear on a specific color.
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Example: analog gain linked in a group.

Lock icon: This button enables to lock settings for a specific salvo and avoid accidental
modification of the parameters.
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Data Source

In Parameters panel, when creating a Multi-Salvo, one data source is automatically created for each
salvo.
In Acquisition panel, when creating a Multi-Salvo, one data source is also automatically created for
each salvo and each gate.
Each data source is called with the name of the associated salvo (and _number of the gate for the data
source of panel) and is defined by one color. This color can be seen in the background of labels in the
Data source panel and in the rectangle located near the name of data sources (cf. following figure).
The name of the salvo can be changed.
A left mouse click on this rectangle, or on one view title, changes the current Data source. When the
user changes the Data source, the structure of available graphics, the set "salvo-sequence-shot-
channel" value, the color scale and detailed parameters panel are updated.
Each view (Electronic B-scan, A-scan...) of the same Data source is associated to the same color.

Figure 34: Multi-Salvo data source of Parameters and Acquisition panels

Moreover, the Acquire Graphic User Interface applies the same color to all independent parameters related to
a same salvo (see next figure).
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Figure 35: Independent parameters.

Integral data source:

When creating a multi-salvo, an added data source is automatically created. This data source is called “Integral
data source”. The Integral data source allows displaying the data of several salvoes into one view.

Figure 36: Example of view of the integral data source

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In Parameters panel, the integral data source allows to display several salvoes’ data in the B-scan 3D.

In Acquisition panel, the user can select the salvo’s data to include in the integral data source by ticking the
Integral box located in the data source panel (see next figure). The available views are B-scan 3D and C-scan.

Figure 37: Selection of the salvoes participating to the integral data source.

Acquisition parameters

When a Multi-Salvo including salvoes with different acquisition parameters (e.g. robot, acquisition trajectories)
is created, only acquisition parameters of the first salvo are saved. The user must redefine the acquisition
parameters afterward for all salvoes.
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2. Display

Data source
In the "Parameters" panel, real-time data to be visualized can be selected by the user, using the menu
contained in the "data source" panel. Using this menu, the user can choose signals to be displayed.

• Salvo: set of delay-laws applied one or several apertures. One salvo may include several
sequences and shots. One salvo defines one kind of control. Several salvoes (or control) can
be applied together (multi-salvo mode).

• Sequence: set of delay-laws applied for given electronic aperture. The electronic aperture is
defined by both the elements used for transmission (T) and reception (R). A sequence may
include several shots.

• Shot: A given electronic aperture corresponds to a selected delay law. One shot refers to both
transmission and reception delay-laws, which can be distinct from each other.

• Channel: for a given electronic aperture (sequence) and for a specific delay-law (shot),
corresponds to the elementary contribution of one element. The symbol  refers to the actual
sum of each elementary contribution contained in the selected (salvo, sequence, shot) trio. The
sum is the actual signal resulting from the application of the delay-law.

For a given salvo several data can be displayed. As seen earlier, for a given position, signals associated
to a specific (sequence, shot, channel) trio can be visualized. The "data source" concept allows the user
to define a source as a specific set of (salvo, sequence, shot, channel), to name it and to display it.
Example: Let us consider a salvo consisting in three sequences of n shots. The user can display a B-
scan "sequences" and a B-scan "shots". Using either the cursor on the B-scan "sequences" view, or
the "sequence" entry of the "data source" panel (see Figure 38), the user can select a different sequence
(electronic aperture) to be displayed. Doing so updates automatically the display of the B-scan "shots"
view, referring now the shots of the selected sequence. To simultaneously display signals associated
to each of the three sequences, the user is required to add two more "data sources", one for each
sequence. This feature allows the user to compare signals resulting from all sequences, in real-time.
The figure below represents the entries of the "data source" panel. Changing one entry of this panel
results in updating all graphic windows associated to the selected data source. All entries (salvo,
sequence, shot, channel) of the same data source are linked together.
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Figure 38: Entries of the "data source" panel.

• Add Data source

Click on the "+" icon to create/add a data source. You may edit the data source name (see below
“Rename data source”).

• Delete Data source

To suppress/delete a data source, first select the data source to be deleted and then click on the "-"
icon. To erase all data sources at once, click on the "trash" icon.

Figure 39: Add / Delete Data Source.

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• Switch data source

Each data source is associated to one background color. This color is visible on the right of the data
source label, in the "data source" panel (see figure above). The same color will be used as background
fill for the display of all data associated to this data source.
To select/switch a data source, click on the drop-down menu (top right, see figure above) and click on
the data source to be activated. Switching data source automatically updates the entries of the data
source panel (salvo, sequence, shot, channel) and their background color. Left click on colored square
right to data source label switch the data source.

• Rename Data source

To rename a data source, select the data source to be renamed (double click). When the name is
highlighted, you may enter the new name.

Figure 40: Rename Data Source

• The "link" option

The "link" option links cursors of distinct data sources. See section 2.5 for more details.

• The data source "toolbox"

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Click on the “Tool Box” icon , four features are available:

- To save data source, selected graphics and desktop arrangement, click on the save icon.
- To open a set of data source, graphics and desktop arrangement, click on the open icon and select
the file. To delete a set of data sources, graphics and desktop arrangement, click on the trash icon.
- To hide the title banner for each graphic window, click the hide icon (see next figure).

Figure 41: Data source toolbox

Available graphics
The parameters panel can contain several type of data representation like B-scan or A-scan. These
views are displayed in real time.
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Figure 42: Ascan (right) and Bscan (left) real-time display

In the data source panel, the icon gives access to several types of real-time data
visualizations, such as A-scan, B-scan, and views. To select the type of view to be dropped in the
workspace, click on the icon. A selection of available displays then pops up and the user can choose
from the available menus and sub-menus (see next figure). Simply move the mouse onto an item of the
list to let an eventual sub-menu pop up. When the type of display is chosen, click on the selected option,
drag (keep the mouse pressed) and finally drop the view into the workspace (release the mouse). For
positioning display windows with respect to one another, please refer to section 2.3.

Figure 43: Access to all views. When available, submenus are indicated by the presence of an arrow

Available types of data visualization are:

• A-scan: Displays the waveform (signal amplitude versus time) of the selected set of (salvo,
sequence, shot, channel).
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• Cumulated A-scan: Displays A-scans (sum signal) superposition of all sequences of one
salvo.

• FFT: Displays the fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of the selected set of (salvo, sequence, shot,
channel). The user can adjust the time boundaries of the FFT computation using the two green
cursors of the A-scan view.

Figure 44: Zone of the FFT computation

• Electronic B-scan

Clicking on the left icon selects a linear scanning view, clicking on the right icon selects an angular
scanning view. The electronic B-scan view (linear or angular) is now automatically selected when in
one of the following cases:
- the angular B-scan view is selected when the number of sequences is 1 and the number of shots
is >1,
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- the linear B-scan view is selected when the number of shots is 1 and the number of sequences is
>1,
If both numbers of sequences and shots are greater than 1, the user manually selects the type of
electronic B-scan. The electronic B-scan represents sequences, shots or channels as a function of time.

• Corrected B-scan: This view represents sequences or shots as a function of distance (e.g.
thickness). The corrected B-scan accounts for beam orientation and material velocity specified
in the configuration panel. This view projects the B-scan in the specimen geometry (also defined
in the configuration panel) for a more realistic display of ultrasonic data.

• B-scan channels: Displays all elementary channels for a given sequence and a shot according
to time of flight. For a given set of (salvo, sequence, shot), the "B-scan channels" represents
the signal amplitudes of each elementary channel included in the selected set, as a function of
time.

• B-scan FFT: Corresponds to the Fast Fourrier Transform of each signal of the current B-scan.
This view represents the FFT of each A-scan present in the selected B-scan.

• Horizontal Echodynamic curve: This view represents the maximum signal amplitude as a
function of time. The maximum amplitude is picked up over the number of sequences for an
electronic B-scan, over the number of positions for a mechanical B-scan. More generally, the
horizontal Echodynamic curve represents the maximum amplitude over the unit representing
the horizontal axis, as a function of the unit representing the vertical axis.

• Vertical Echodynamic curve: This view represents the maximum amplitude over time. The
maximum amplitude is displayed as a function sequence for an electronic B-scan, and as a
function of position for a mechanical B-scan. More generally, the vertical Echodynamic curve
represents the maximum amplitude over the unit representing the vertical axis, as a function of
the unit representing the horizontal axis.

• Corrected complete Salvo: This view displays the superposition of all electronic corrected B-
scans included in the selected salvo.

• CAD + 3D: This view displays the Corrected B-scan in 3D, along with the CAD specimen (if
present).

• CAD + 3D full salvo: This view displays all Corrected B-scan included in the selected salvo, in
3D, along with the CAD specimen (if present).

• Parameters summary view: Displays the data of electronic, probe, delays laws and UT
parameters used in the inspection.
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Figure 45: Parameters summary view.

Selection and positioning of graphics

To choose and organize data viewers in the workspace, the "drag and drop" process is used. To select
the type of view to be dropped in the workspace, click on the "windows" icon. A selection of available
displays then pops up and the user can choose from the available menus and sub-menus. Simply move
the mouse onto an item of the list to let an eventual sub-menu pop up. When the type of display is
chosen, click on the selected option, drag (keep the mouse pressed) and finally drop the view into the
workspace (release mouse). Before dropping the chosen view in the workspace, the user can choose
the position of the new display with respect the ones already present. Before releasing the mouse click,
the mouse icon changes as follows:

- «  » (inversely « → »): The new display will be located on the left (inversely on the right) side of
the existing view.

- «  » (inversely «  »): The new display will be located below inversely above) the existing view.
- « + »: The new display replaces the existing view if present.

- «  »: The position of the new display is not allowed.

Using drag and drop, many graphic types can be displayed at the same time (e.g., A-scan, electronic
B-scan, mechanical B-scan, Echodynamic curves, etc.). It is not possible however to display twice the
same view of the same data source.

• Move view
To change the position of the display, click on the "Move" icon (see next figure), then move the mouse
until the positioning icons show up (horizontal and vertical arrows), finally drop the view when satisfied
with the new position.

• Delete view
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To delete one view, click on the red cross icon (see Figure 46).

Figure 46 : Close and Move icon of graphic representation.

Axes units
The user can select/change units to be displayed for most of graphic types. To see available units, click
on the unit symbol, at the end of each axis.
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Figure 47: Selection of axes units

Cursors

Two sliding (horizontal and vertical) cursors are available for A-scan and B-scan views in the Parameter panel,
and for all graphic types on the Acquisition panel. The indication is given at the extremity of each cursor. To
move the two cursors simultaneously, click on the intersection of the two cursors, and maintain the mouse
click while moving. For the A-scan view displayed in next figure, the vertical cursor shows the time in
microseconds, and the horizontal cursor shows the amplitude in percent.
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Figure 48: Indicated values on A-scan representation

A right click on the graphic area enables an option menu. The different options of this menu are
presented in section 2.7.

• Cursors format
A right click on cursors opens a list, when selecting « format » option, the following window appears:

Figure 49: Format modification of cursors

The user can modify parameters. All parameters of cursors are saved with operator account.
The dynamic font is activated when the user selects cursors.
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• Hide labels
Right mouse click on cursors opens a list, when selecting « hide labels » option, the labels of cursors are
hidden.

• Hide cursors
A right click on cursors opens a list, when selecting « layers » option, the user can hide the cursors in selecting
“cursors”.

• Linked cursors
For graphics associated to the same data source, all cursors are linked. It means that moving one cursor
of one type of graphic will synchronize the position of cursors representing the same unit on all other
graphic views of the data source. For instance, moving the time cursor of the A-scan view will
automatically update the position of the time cursor on the B-scan.

To link graphic views associated to distinct data sources, tick the link box of data to be synchronized
on each data source.
Example: to link the B-scan (sequence) of two data sources, tick the link box next to the sequence
parameter in the data source panel. Once this done for each data source, the cursors are linked, i.e.
moving one will update accordingly the other one. Cursors can be linked for sequence, shot and
channel.
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Figure 50: Linked cursors of data source 1 and 2

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Zoom and pan

• Dynamic zoom
To enlarge a specific area of a graphic view, press the CTRL key and left click on the mouse. A green
rectangle follows the motion of the mouse and shows the area that will be blown up on release.

Figure 51: Dynamic zoom

• Automatic zoom
Right click on the background of the view, a popup menu will appear with a zoom option, under "action".
See section 2.7.5 for more details.

• Pan the zoomed area

To pan the zoomed area, press the SHIFT key and move the mouse. Keep the key pressed while
moving the mouse.

• Resume initial view

To reinitialize the view, double-click on the background of the graphic view.
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Graphic tools

Pop-up menu (right click)

Right click on the background of graphic views to pop up the menu showing available graphic tools.

Figure 52: List box available from view panel parameter

The pop-up menu shows the following options:

• Layers: Displays or hides the following items: DAC, Cursors, FFT cursors and Map cursors (for
A-scan view). Tick or un-tick the layers (DAC, cursors, FFT cursors, etc.) to have them
superimposed on the graphic view, to make them invisible.

• Clipboard: Copies the graphic view to clipboard.

• Save as: Saves the graphic view as an image.

Figure 53: Save the view.

• Action: Click on the “Action” menu to show select, zoom and pan tools. See section 2.7.5 for
details.
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• Add measurement: Click on “Add measurement” to activate the measurement tool. Using the
mouse, grab and stretch the measurement-box boundaries. Dimensions are shown on the
graphic view, next to the measurement box.

Figure 54: Measure box

• Suppress measure: To delete the measurement box, click on “Suppress measurement”.

• Isometric display: Click on "Isometric display" to display the graphic view in an orthonormal
basis. Both axes of the graphic view will be represented with the same scale.

• Export to text: Click on “Export to text” to export the data displayed in the graphic view as text.
See section 2.7.3 for more details.
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Graphic view toolbar

On the parameters screen, in the top of views, four specifics icons are available. The graphic view toolbar is
located at the top right corner of each graphic view.

Figure 55: The graphic view toolbar

• « Available views » icon: Click on this icon to show related available graphic views.

• « Freeze » icon: Click on this icon to freeze the graphic view.

• « Close » icon: Click on this icon to close the graphic view.

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• « Toolbox » icon: Click on this icon to show available display tools.

Figure 56: The display-toolbar menu depends on the graphic type

Available options list of the toolbox: Available menu of the graphic-view toolbar:

• « Full screen » icon: Click on this icon to display the graphic view without title and axes.

• « Juxtaposition » icon: Click on this icon to display side by side graphic views with a common
axis.

• « Show/Hide Amplitude Colormap cursors » icon: Click on this icon to enable the colour bar
cursors. The two white lines cursors displayed on the A-scan view are linked to the colour bar.
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These cursors set minimum and maximum thresholds for the colour coding (see effects on the
B-scan views).

• « Show/Hide Cursors of views » icon: Click on this icon to enable/disable cursors. This icon
has three states:

: Blue reference cursors for horizontal and vertical axes.

: Pink relative cursors with respect to reference cursors.

: No cursors displayed.

• « Show/Hide Gate » icon: Click on this icon to show or hide the gatess on the
graphic view (add or suppress the overlay).

• « Show/hide DAC curve » icon: Click on this icon to show or hide the damping
amplitude-curve on the graphic view (add or suppress the overlay).

• « Add measurement » icon: Click on this icon to enable the measurement tool.
Using the mouse, grab and stretch the measurement-box boundaries. Dimensions
are shown on the graphic view, next to the measurement box.
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• « Remove all measurements » icon: Click on this icon to disable the measurement
box.

• « Rotate » icons: Click on these icons to rotate the graphic view 90

degrees clockwise and anti-clockwise.

• « Flip » icon: Click on this icon to flip horizontally the graphic view.

• « Desynchronize/synchronize zoom » icon: Desynchronizes zoom of the selected view

or synchronizes the zoom of the view to all views of the same salvo. This icon has two
states. By default, zoom of all salvo views are synchronized. This function is not available
on corrected views.

• « Persistence» icon: Click on this icon (available for echodynamic views only) to keep
only the maximum values displayed on the graphic view, over the duration of the
measurement. For instance with this option activated, if the probe is moving, the
horizontal echodynamic curve will display the maximum amplitude over the probe displacement for
each time of flight.

• « Export to text » icon: Click on this icon to export the displayed data in a text file.

• « Amplitude and t-o-f » icon: Click on this icon to display amplitude and time-of-
flight measurements on the same vertical echodynamic curve. This icon enables the
time of flight curve only, or both the time of flight and the amplitude curves.
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• « Show / Hide gate editor » icon: Click on this icon to enable/disable the gate editor
on the corrected B-scan graphic view. Grab and distort the gate-by-shot contour
using the mouse. This tool simplifies the gate shot by shot settings described in
section 8.4.

• « Fit on screen » icon: Click on this icon to display the full UT signal and full CAD
profile in the graphic view.

• « Shear wave and Pressure wave » icons: Click on this icon to display B-scans
accounting for pressure-wave or for shear-wave sound velocity and direction. The
values of the sound speed are reminded in the "units" tab.

• « Sound-path view » icon: Click on this icon to display corrected B-scans including back-wall
reflections due to the bottom of the inspected material.
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• « Choice of sets to display »: Click on this icon to select the corrected B-scan you want to
display on the view.
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Export to text

The export to text function is accessible (only for some of the views):
• By a right-click on the graphic view background;

• From the "export to text" icon located in the graphic view toolbar.
Figure 57:"Export
to text" icon

To enable the graphic view tool bar, click on this icon .

Figure 58: Graphic view toolbar

The "export to text" function converts data displayed in the graphic view into text format.
The "export to text" function is available in Parameters and Acquisiton for the following graphic views:

• A-scan

• Electronic B-scan (shots and sequences)

• B-scan Channels

• All echodynamic curves

To export Cscan, use the “Export to text” feature in the home→option menu
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Save as
Clicking on the "export to text" creates a ".txt" text file and offers a "save as" menu. The default name is
suggested after the graphic view the signal is exported from. However, the user can edit and change the
suggested name, as well as the saving location (C:/Acquire/desk/images by default).

Figure 59: "Export to text" dialog box

Format of exported data

Data are exported in the form of a spreadsheet (Excel or Open Office compatible). Values are separated by a
semi colon ";". In the data matrix, all columns have got the same number of lines. This function works for
Ascan and Bscan only. To export other data, refer to Home→Option→Data export.

Most spreadsheet viewers have a limitation of 256 columns and 65536 lines. Hence, data are formatted so that
most of information fits vertically (filling up lines). For each ".txt" text file, the data structure is as follows:

• A-scan
- Data type: amplitudes

- Columns: always 1 (1 A-scan)

- Lines: as many lines as samples

- File name: set/acq/_Ascan.txt

- Lines: as many lines as samples

- File name: set/acq/_BscanElecEchoH.txt

− EchoH:

➢ Data type: amplitudes

➢ Columns: always 1
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➢ Lines: as many lines as samples

➢ File name: acq_DscanEchoH.txt

− EchoV:

➢ Data type: amplitudes

➢ Columns: always 1

➢ Lines: as many lines as entries for the overlapping axis

➢ File name: acq_DscanEchoV.txt

− Electronical Soundpath-C-scan, EchoH:

➢ Data type: distances

➢ Columns: always 1

➢ Lines: as many lines as shots or sequences

➢ File name: acq_CscanElecTimeEchoH.txt

• Exported values
Exported values are between [-32,768; +32,767].

During acquisition for a soundpath Cscan, exported data are the peak values taken with respect to the
beginning of the acquisition gate. Exception values for a soundpath Cscan are as follows:

➢ 32767: No measurement

➢ 32766: No echo

➢ 32765: Loss of synchronization

➢ 32764: Gate out of bounds of the gate ( in case of synchronized gate)

➢ 32763: Gate not enabled (Input TTL disabled)

During acquisition and for Amplitude views (A-, B- and C-scan), exported data are amplitude values. Exception
values for Amplitude views are as follows:

➢ 1: No measurement

➢ 2: No echo

➢ 3: Loss of synchronization
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➢ 4: Gate out of bounds ( in case of synchronized gate)

➢ 5: Gate not enabled (Input TTL not enabled)

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Cursor parameters

To make cursors visible, right-click on the display window, select cursors on the popup menu.

Figure 60: Opening the cursor menu

To edit cursor properties, right-click on the cursor:

• Format:
To modify the appearance of the cursor, right-click on the cursor and click "Format" on the popup menu.
In the format dialog box, the user may edit the color, the font and the line size of the cursor.

Figure 61: Dialog box of the cursor’s format

• Move labels: To move labels of positions cursors from one end to the other, click on the "move"
option of the popup menu.

• Hide labels: To hide the positions values of cursors, click on the "hide" option of the popup
menu.
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Zoom, pan and reset parameters

To enable the zoom function, right-click on the display window and select "zoom".

• Action

Figure 62: The zoom function

- Zoom: After selecting "zoom", the cursor becomes a magnifier. Simply click on the zone of
interest in the display window to zoom in. Press CTRL and click at the same time to zoom out.
- Move: Click on "Move" to pan the display window. Keyboard shortcut equivalent: press SHIFT
to enable the pan mode, and release the SHIFT key to disable it.
- Select: Click on "Select" to enable the select mode again and to inhibit "Move" and/or "Zoom"
modes.

• Shortcuts:
Whenever, by pressing the Shift key and moving the mouse, the ‘zoom’ can be moved.
Once the Shift key released, the ‘Move’ mode is disabled.
Press “ESC” to enable the mouse again and escape the “Zoom” and ‘Move’ modes enabled from the
“Action” menu.
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Full screen views

The user can hide some option panels to leave more room for the graphics display. There are two
textured bars on the GUI. One is located between the "data source" panel and the display workspace
(vertical), and the other one (horizontal) is located between the workspace and the "parameters" panel.
Click on the vertical textured bar to hide the "data source" panel. Click on the horizontal textured bar to
hide the "parameters" panel. Click again on the textured bars to come back to previous display options.

Figure 63: Full screen display

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Color scale
By default, two color scales are available: a color scale and a grayscale. The threshold can be edited
using the color bar cursors.

White or red

Upper cursor

Lower cursor

Black or blue

Non Symetric color scale Symetric color scale

Figure 64: Adjustment of dynamic range of color scale

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A right-click on the color bar enables the color bar popup menu.

Figure 65: Color scale menu

• Grayscale only: Change the current color scale to grayscale.

• Symmetrical / Not: Enable/disable the symmetry of the color bar.

• Threshold / No-Threshold: Maintain / not maintain the last color of the scale when the signal
is over the threshold.

• Load a color scale: Select this option to load a color scale (.xml file).

• Save the color scale as…: Select this option to save the current color scale.

• Copy palette: Select this option to copy the current color scale to the other data source.
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Select all data sources Unselect all data sources

Tick the color scale

of data source to
modify

Figure 66: Copy palette

• Link palette: Select this option to link the current color scale with other color scale of the other
data sources. If any modification in one of linked color scale occurs, it will automatically be is
applied to other linked color scales.

Select all data sources Unselect all data sources

Tick the color scale of

data sources to link it

Figure 67: Link palettes

• Palette editor: Select this option to create your own color bar.
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Save color map Load multi2000

colormap

Load color map

Definition of each colormap

threshold

Result of defined color

Tool bar map
Delete threshold
Add threshold

Color of specifics
values

Figure 68: Palette editor

3. High speed modes (Panther only)

For Panther, two types of high-speed modes are available

• Full Parallel mode (single shot, multiple reconstruction)

• Mixed mode (multiple beams in parallel)

The limitation of available modes depends on the Panther model you have (number of multiplexed channels or
full parallel).

Emission

Standard PA Mixed mode Full parallel mode

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Reception

Standard PA Mixed mode Full parallel mode

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1.1 Full parallel mode

To set full parallel mode, in Civa, select transmission/reception.

Set the emission as full aperture, and tick “Fixed Position”

Select your aperture and step in reception.

When applying, select “Fast”

1.2 Mixed mode

To set mixed mode, define the scanning as normal PA mode in CIVA.
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1.3 Set mixed mode and display parallel level

To display the level of parallelism and change a setting to mixed mode, select

This menu appears. In Salvoes tab, the temporal unfolding of salvoes is displayed. Two salvoes executed in
parallel are displayed one above the other.

For Panther only:

In the sequences tab, the user must select the salvo. The sequences of each salvo is displayed. Two sequences
executed in parallel are displayed one above the other.

When ticking Active in the Mixed mode area and choose the number of beams in parallel, the Acquire software
will select the sequences to be executed in parallel.

When ticking “Ping Pong”, the sequences will be mixed to try to reduce the phantom echoes.

When ticking the “User” mode, the user will be able to move the sequence position using the mouse.
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Two sequences executed at the same time must not use common sequences. Acquire will refuse the setting
when trying to apply the setting if it is the case.

The question mark will show the color code for the salvoes/sequences.

To check If parallel modes/ mixed mode are taken in account, it can be useful to see performance menu and
check maximum inspection speed computed by Acquire.

Fast modes have direct incidence on ultrasonic physics, can modify acoustic performances (beam
shape, acoustic artifacts…) and be incompatible with some NDT standards. Check if your application is possible
when these modes activated.
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4. General parameters

These applied parameters are identical on all channels. Limits of settings variation are summarized at
the end of the user's manual in "Specifications".
General parameters are:
- Transmission
- Digitizing
- Displayed signal
- Gains

Figure 69:General settings panel

Adjustable parameters (Voltage, pulse width, PRF, Delay, Depth and Gain) can be modified by clicking
on the area by:
- Directly typing the required value with the keyboard.
- Moving the mouse roll.
- Using the up and down keyboard arrows
- Type a formula (example: 5+3*0.75)

Limit values depends on the electronics connected and can depends on other parameters.
The user can stop the transmission pulse on the electronic system with the display icon in the figure
below:

: Transmission pulse enabled / sequencer paused. Click to disable.

: Transmission pulse disabled / sequencer restart. Click to enable.

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Transmission

• Voltage
This command adjusts transmission voltage applied to all channels.

Figure 70:Voltage
setting

• Burst
Let access to number of burst parameters.
Only possible to go from 1 to 10 on the Panther.

• Pulse width
This command adjusts the pulse width applied to transducer elements. Various units are available.

Figure 71: Pulse width setting

Note: From Detailed Parameters panel, the pulse width can be adjusted on each channel.

• PRF
Adjust the Pulse Rate Frequency (inverse of delay between two excitations of a group of elements).
Several units are available.
For example, considering one salvo of 2 sequences, 5 shots and a 8 elements aperture (8 active
elements) with a 10 KHz PRF: 8 channels are excited at 10 KHz and the salvo repeats at a 1 KHz PRF.
The PRF is calculated by the system after each modification of the parameters (change of digitizing
depth for example). The PRF is automatically limited by the testing configuration.
PRF is selectable by Salvo on the Panther.
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Figure 72: PRF setting

Digitizing

• Sampling
Define the sampling frequency of signals. The unit used is the MHz.
Sampling rate is selectable by Salvo on the Panther.

Figure 73: Sampling frequency setting

• Delay
This command adjusts the delay before starting digitizing the signal. Various units are available.
Note: Time axis scales always start from ultrasonic shot (A-scan, B-scan…).

Figure 74: Delay adjustment

• Digitizing depth
This command defines the digitizing depth, the number of sample of the signal. Several units are
available.
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Figure 75: Digitizing depth adjustment

Note: The digitizing depth is limited by the electronic of the system. Limited values are available at the
end of the user's manual in "Specifications".

Display rectified signal

The user can display the rectified signal (all amplitude values becomes positive) and save it when this
option is validated for Acquisition.

: The displayed signal is unrectified, the user must click on this icon to have the
rectified signal.

: The displayed signal is rectified, the user must click on this icon to have the
unrectified signal.

: True enveloppe; the Hilberg true enveloppe is only available on the Panther (computed in
real time in the Hardware).
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Gains
Two kinds of gain are available:

Figure 76: Gains

• Elementary gain
This analog gain is applied to all elementary channels on the hardware before digitizing (and also
before the sum producing the focused signal). Several units are available: % or dB.

•  gain

This gain is a digital coefficient applied to the digitized summed signal (). It is mainly used to improve
the signal representation (but not the signal to noise ratio).

Local backup
The user can save General Parameters files thanks to 'Save' icon located on the left side of General
Parameters panel.
The user loads a General Parameters file when clicking on 'Open' icon.

Figure 77: 'Save' and 'Open' icons of General parameters

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5. Detailed parameters

From the Detailed Parameters panel, the user can adjust independently specific parameters on each
elementary channel. Some parameters are common with General Parameters such as reception delay,
transmission delay, pulse width and gain. Other parameters are specific to Detailed Parameters.

All the values captured in the detailed parameters table are added to the related general parameters
(elementary gain and pulse width).

The detailed parameters panel is separated in two parts. The left part describes transmission parameters and
the right part describes reception parameters.

Delay laws computed in the Configuration panel and applied in the Parameters panel define the default values
for transmission delay, reception delay, transmission element and reception element.

Figure 78: Detailed parameters panel.

Detailed parameters of elementary channels are displayed in a table. Thanks to parameters (Sequence,
Shot and channel) in the current Salvo, user defines selected channels.
Other functions are available for all channels: Apodization Gain, Amp Trim, TOF Trim.
These functions are applied to all channels in a Salvo. Trim function aim at balancing summed signals
in a same salvo.

Figure 79: Parameters to select the channels.

The option "All" displays all elements of the related icon (Salvo, Sequence, Shot and Channel).
Example: Salvo 1, Sequence 1, shot 1 and "All" channels will display all channels of the shot 1 of the
sequence 1 of the salvo 1.
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Description of detailed parameters

• Amplitude Trim
This is an automatic function to have the same amplitude on all summed signals (shot) of the current salvo. A
gates and a reference echo are needed. The Trim function defines for each channel the complementary gain to
obtain the same amplitude on the reference echo for the entire current Salvo.

The selected reference echo must not be saturated. “Max echo” or “First echo” must be used for detection in
the gate.

• TOF Trim
This is an automatic function to have the same time of flight for a reference echo on all summed signals of the
current salvo. A gates and a reference echo are needed.

The Trim function defines for each channel the complementary delay at transmission.

The echo selected as a reference must not be saturated. “Max echo” or “First echo” must be used for
detection in the gate.

To cancel AMP/TOF Trim, click on the button and select “Cancel TRIM”

Transmission part

• Channel reference
Display the Salvo, Sequence, Shot and channel numbers that define a selected channel.

• Transmission delay
Define the delay at transmission in the focal law.
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• Voltage
Display the voltage for each transmission channel which is defined on probe calibration. As individual
channel voltage is not possible, this function is unavailable.

• Pulse width
Define the width of the exciting rectangular pulse.

• Transmission element number

Define the element number used for transmission (Position on the transducer array).

• Enable transmission element

Enable/disable transmission element.

• Shot delay
Define an additional delay at transmission for fast configuration only.
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Reception parameters

• Channel reference
Display the Salvo, Sequence, Shot and channel numbers that define a selected channel.

• Reception delay
Define the delay at reception in the focal law.

• Gain
Defines elementary gain applied on the analog signal (elementary signal before digitizing).

• Reception element number

Defines the elements number used for reception.

• Enable reception element

Enable/disable reception.
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Selection and modification of detailed parameters:

The user can select a group of parameters and modify their values with specifics tools.

• Parameters selection
By pressing on "Shift + left-click icon", the user selects a compact group of cells. Selected cells are
colored in gray.

Figure 80: Selection of cell's group

By pressing on "Ctrl + left-click icon", the user can select one cell at a time. This cell is then added to
the current selection.

Figure 81: Addition to a selection

Note: Selection from 'Channel reference' column is recommended.

• Modification of values
After selecting a group of cells, a right-click in the requested column opens an operating panel (see
below).
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Example: "Right mouse icon" on 'Gain' column opens Gain operating panel.

Figure 82: Modification of gain values.

Thanks to this panel, the user can select the type of operation and apply it to selected cells. These
operations are: Sum, subtraction, multiplication, division or input.
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6. Units

Units panel defines all the units used in all the windows of the “Setting” panel.

Figure 83: Units panel

• Dynamic Amplitude
Define the digitizing dynamic on the A-scan amplitude scale. The default value is 800%. Possible values
are 100, 200, 400, 800%.

Figure 84: Dynamic amplitude setting

When setting 800% dynamic amplitude, only a 1/8 of the digitizing dynamic is displayed as 100% of the
Amplitude on the Ascan. The advantage is that after acquisition, if the recorded signal is over 100%,
you will be able to do an amplitude measure.

For small defects detection needs high gain, Amplitude dynamic of 200 % is recommended to
improve signal/noise ratio.

• UT velocity

Figure 85: Wave Velocity Interface

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The user defines the ultrasonic wave velocity (Longitudinal or Transversal) in the related medium in
order to convert the time axis into distance axis inside the view panels.
The user selects one material in the list box ("Material type"). This library is defined from the
Configuration/Components/Material panel.
A new velocity not available in the library can be defined by selecting "New material", but it can’t be
saved from the Parameters panel. It will be saved at the general saving with the name of “New
Material” and available once loaded again.
This new velocity will be available from another configuration.
In order to enlarge the material library, the user must define a new material with the related waves
velocity in the Material section of the “Configuration” panel.
When the user applies focal laws calculated in the “Configuration” panel, the UT velocity is
automatically registered in the Units window of the Parameters panel.
By default, the velocity in the Units window matches the longitudinal waves velocity.
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7. Encoders

This panel is used to define encoder's parameters to be used for Acquisition. Two types of encoder
can be selected:
Internal encoder: time trigger
External encoder:

• Mechanical encoder
- Acquire, Panther : 3 encoder inputs
- Acquire pocket 16x64 and 8x32 pocket: 3 encoder inputs

• External trigger
- Acquire Pocket 16x64 with box: 1 external trigger
- No external trigger for Panther

• Automatic overlapping encoder

Figure 86: Encoders panel

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Information about encoders

When opening encoders’ panel, a reduced panel appears containing the following information:

• Encoder :
Display the encoder name according to the selected encoder axis.

• Position (Value)
Display the current encoder position according to encoder parameters.

• Clear
Reset the encoder value.
The reduced panel is also available above Data source panel (see figure below).

Figure 87: Reduced encoder panel

Scanner/Robot definition
To define a robot, the user must enable advanced mechanical parameters. The full encoder panel
appears to adjust parameters defining external encoders.
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Figure 88: Advanced mechanical parameters

Advanced mechanical parameters are:

• Encoder

Name the encoder axis.

• Resolution
The user must fill in this field with the encoder resolution value which allows conversion between the
encoder position in points and the desired unit on the mechanical axis. The resolution is equal to the
necessary number of points used to carry out a chosen reference unit (length or rotation).

• Coefficient
Coefficient shows a mechanical scale coefficient (for example: 0.1 in the case of 1/10 points per unit
resolution). This value is calculated from the resolution and the reference unit.

• Offset
Defines a start value for the encoder position during an acquisition process trigged on the encoder position.
Reset action will set the Offset value to the selected encoder.

• Value
Displays the current encoder position.

• Movement
Defines the mechanical axis movement as translation or rotation.

• Modulo
A “modulo” function can be applied on a given value in degree or in mm.
If “modulo” is not requested, the value “no” must be input.
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• Unit
Displays the unit of the mechanical axis.

• Input
Defines the type of encoder to be used for the mechanical axis (encoder input, external trigger or
automatic overlapping trigger).

• Add an encoder
Adds an encoder thanks to the "+" icon (cf. Figure 89).

• Delete encoder

Deletes the selected encoder thanks to "-" icon. Selected encoders are colored in gray. The user can
select several encoders by clicking left mouse icon + CTRL key. The "-" icon delete all selection.

Figure 89: "Add" and "Delete" encoder icons

• Reset mechanical encoders

Resets all mechanical encoders to the Offset value.

Figure 90: Reset encoders icon

• Disconnect
Deletes the content of the robot panel, all mechanical encoders and mechanical axes vanish.

Figure 91: Disconnect encoders icon

• Configuration
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Encoders configuration:
According to the technical specification of the electronic system, the user can define the mode of
encoder working. Two modes are available: quadrature mode and unidirectional mode.

Figure 92: Encoders configuration

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Coder 1 and 2 reset by coder 3 (Panther only):

Activate this option will make the Panther #1 encoder reset by input A of encoder #3 and encoder #2 reset by
input B of encoder #3.

This option is useful for rotating axis or other industrial applications.

Reading the encoder #3 value will send back information about actual input A and B state coded in binary.

Local backup & reload

"Save" icon saves Coders parameters in a robot dedicated library.

"Open" icon loads a robot parameters file.

Figure 93: "Save" and "Open" icons of encoder parameters

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8. Gates

The Gates panel is available by clicking on the "Gates" tab, located under the workspace signal display.

Figure 94: Gates panel

The "gate" tab gathers all information about user-created gate(s). In this tab, the user can specify/edit
all the gate parameters described in sections 8.2 to 8.5. When the gate overlay is selected, the gates
also appear on the display windows as overlays (available for A- and B-scans). Basic parameters of the
gates, such as beginning, end, length and threshold can be modified using the mouse directly on the
signal display.
When gates are present and the overlay is selected, the detected echo is shown on the A-scan display.
Please note that gatess can only be defined on summed signals.

Add/remove gates:
Click on the "+" icon at the bottom of the "Gate" tab to add a gate. To remove a gate, first select the
gate by clicking on its name or using the graphic display, then click on the "-" icon in the Gate" tab.

Figure 95: "Add" and "Delete" gate icon

To remove all gates in the same time, click on “Trash” icon.

Figure 96: "Trash" icon of Gates panel

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Gates identity
Each gate is identified by:

• Name
Name of the selected gates, also displayed on the A-scan display. Click on the name to edit it (e.g.
front-wall, back-wall, inside, etc...)

Figure 97: Name of the gate

• Color
Each gates is attributed a different color. To edit the color of a gates, click on the color of the selected
gate. The color menu pops up and the user can pick a color for the gate.

Figure 98: Selection of gate color

• State
To enable/disable a gates, simply tick/untick the checkbox in the "State" section of the selected gates.

Figure 99: State of gate

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Gates acquisition/storage
With this option, the user specifies the type of data to be recorded for the selected gate during
acquisition. In a gate, the following types of data can be saved:

• Peak: With this option, only peak values are saved. The amplitude/time-of-flight couples of
selected echoes (see threshold type in the next section) are stored during acquisition.

• Peak + : With this option, peak values are saved along with the summed signals. With this
option, the user doesn’t have access to the B-scan Channel.

• Peak + channels: With this option, peak values are saved along with all elementary- channel
signals.

• Peak +  + channels: With this option, peak values are saved along with all elementary-
channel signals and summed signals (all UT data contained in the gates are recorded).

• Display : This option does not save any data, but allows A-scan and electronic B-scan to be
displayed during acquisition.

Figure 100: Data storage options

Note: available graphic options might differ with respect of the "Acquisition-storage" option selected.
To refresh the display menu in the acquisition panel, click on the “Refresh” icon.

• Threshold of the Ascan gate

This option specifies the threshold trigger to record data. The user can specify the following rules:
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Figure 101: Options of threshold time gate

- Over: With this rule, A-scans will be saved when a peak is detected above the gates
threshold.
- Under: With this rule, A-scans will be saved when a peak is detected under the gates
threshold.
- Always: With this rule, A-scans will be saved whenever a peak is detected.

Warning! Gates only consider summed signals. For better results, it is important to adjust the threshold
on the summed signal, not on elementary signals.

Example below shows results of A-scan storage according to different conditions and threshold values.

Figure 102: Examples of threshold time gate

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• Ascan gate information in the Parameters panel

In the Parameters panel, current information of gates (amplitude, time of flight of the current summed
signal) is displayed thanks to the following icon:

When clicking on this icon, a window appears displaying the amplitude and time-of-flight of current
signal for each gate.

Figure 103: Information gates window

• Ascan gate information in the Acquisition panel

In the Acquisition panel, information about the gates content (detected/non detected echo,
synchronization, loss of synchronization) is provided. This information is located at the top right side of
A-scan and C-scan views and at the bottom-right side of B-scan views.
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Figure 104: Gate information in the Acquisition panel

Ascan gate position, width, height and customized options

The user can specify the following properties for each Ascan gate:

• Start
The "Start" parameter defines the beginning time of the gate with respect to the pulse time. This value
can be edited via the "Start" field or using the graphic overlay available on the A-scan view (grab and
stretch mouse functions).

Figure 105: Start position of gate

• Width
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The "width" of a gate defines its duration. This parameter can be edited via the "width" field or using the
graphic overlay available on the A-scan view (grab and stretch mouse functions). Editing this parameter
affects the "end" parameter (see below).

Figure 106: Gate width

• End
The "End" parameter of a gates defines the time at which it stops recording. This parameter can be
edited via the "end" field or using the graphic overlay available on the A-scan view (grab and stretch
mouse functions). Editing this parameter affects the "width" parameter (see below).

Figure 107: End position of gate

• Height
The "height" parameter defines the amplitude-threshold of a gates. This parameter can be edited via
the "height" field or using the graphic overlay available on the A-scan view (grab and stretch mouse
functions).

Figure 108: Height of gate, threshold value

• Customized options
Classic mode: This mode is the default mode for all gates. It applies the same gates parameters for all
shots and/or sequences.
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Shot by shot setting mode: The advanced user may use this mode to specify gates properties that vary
with the shot/sequence number.

The user can specify the gate properties using the gate panel for each shot or use the graphic tool of the B-
scan view described below. To edit gate properties for each shot/sequence via the gate panel, first select the
shot/sequence number of interest then edit the gate properties (A-scan graphic tool or gate panel). This
operation will refresh the gate overlay on the B-scan view and show the results of the gates edits.

To use the graphic tool available on the B-scan view, first click on the toolbar icon (top-right menu of the
corrected B-scan view (see Figure 109). When the toolbar pops up, click on the following icon:

A four-point shape is now overlaid on the B-scan view. The extremities of this shape can be grabbed with a left
click and stretched in moving the mouse. Release the left-click when satisfied with the gate settings. Repeat
this operation for all extremities until satisfied with the gate settings. Finally click "apply" on the "gate edition
by shot" popup window to validate your settings.
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Figure 109: Shot by shot gate editor

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Figure 110: Advanced mode for gate settings using the graphic tool
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Gate detection and synchronization options

• Detection mode

Figure 111:Detection modes

The user can choose from a list of detection modes. To trigger data recording in a gates, the user can
specify the type of detection algorithm to be used. One echo is defined either as a global or local
extremum (maximum or minimum) of the summed-signal under consideration. It is defined by a couple
(amplitude, time-of-flight) also called a peak. The different available detection options are as follows:
- Echo max abs: This option triggers data recording if the absolute (positive or negative) maximum
peak detected within the gate width is above the gate threshold. The returned value is the maximum
peak.
- First echo abs: This option triggers data recording if one absolute (positive or negative) local
extremum detected within the gate width is above the gate threshold. The returned value is the first
peak in the gate. This option uses the "delta" parameter described later in this section.
- Threshold abs: This option triggers data recording if the absolute (positive or negative) value of
one point detected within the gate width is above the gate threshold. The returned value is the first
point above threshold in the gate.
- Last echo abs: This option triggers data recording if one absolute (positive or negative) local
extremum detected within the gate width is above the gate threshold. The returned value is the last
peak in the gate. This option uses the "delta" parameter described later in this section.
- Echo max: This option triggers data recording if one detected extremum peak within the gate width
is above the gate threshold. If the threshold is positive the extremum is searched among positive
values. If the threshold is negative, the extremum is searched among negative values. The returned
value is the extremum peak.
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- First echo: This option triggers data recording if one local extremum detected within the gate width
is above the gate threshold. If the threshold is positive the first local extremum is searched among
positive values. If the threshold is negative, the first local extremum is searched amongst negative
values. The returned value is the first peak in the gate. This option uses the "delta" parameter
described later in this section.
- Threshold: This option triggers data recording for the first point within the gate width above the
gate threshold. The returned value is the first point above the threshold.
- Last echo: This option triggers data recording if one local extremum detected within the gate width
is above the gate threshold. If the threshold is positive the last local extremum is searched among
positive values. If the threshold is negative, the last local extremum is searched amongst negative
values. The returned value is the last peak in the gate. This option uses the "delta" parameter
described later in this section.
- Multi echo: This option triggers data recording if a specified number of local extrema detected
within the gate width is above the gate threshold. If the threshold is positive, local extrema are
searched among positive values. If the threshold is negative, local extrema are searched amongst
negative values. The returned values are the specified number of local peaks in the gate. This
option uses the "delta" parameter described later in this section.
- Multi echo Sym: This option triggers data recording if a specified number of local extrema detected
within the gate width is above the gate threshold. The gate threshold is symmetric with respect to
zero amplitude. The returned values are the specified number of local peaks in the gate regardless
of their sign. This option uses the "delta" parameter described later in this section.
- Multi echo MaxFirst: This reproduces Multi echo and sorts the local extrema. The first returned
value is the global extremum detected within the gate width.
- Multi echo MaxF Sym: This reproduces Multi echo Sym and sorts the local extrema. The first
returned value is the global extremum detected within the gate width.
Several Hardware gates are also available depending on the plugged hardware. These gates are
applied at the hardware level (inside the electronics). The interest of the hardware gates is to
dramatically reduce the amount of data to transfer from the electronics to the SW.
The Panther includes new generation hardware gates. These hardware gates are a massive Ascan
compression retrieving the “n” higher amplitude echoes of the Ascan. These echoes are then
selected in the software in function of the requirement of the user (fist echo or higher amplitude echo)

- Hard echo max: This option triggers data recording if one detected extremum peak within the gate
width is above the gate threshold. If the threshold is positive the extremum is searched among
positive values. If the threshold is negative, the extremum is searched amongst negative values.
The returned value is the extremum peak. This gate is applied at the hardware level.
- Hard first echo: This option triggers data recording if one local extremum detected within the gate
width is above the gate threshold. If the threshold is positive the first local extremum is searched
among positive values. If the threshold is negative, the first local extremum is searched amongst
negative values. The returned value is the first peak in the gate. This option uses the "delta"
parameter described later in this section. This gate is applied at the hardware level.
- Multi echo Max: This reproduces Multi echo and sorts the local extrema. The gates return all pics
within the gate width. This gate is applied at the hardware level.
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The default gate option is the absolute maximum echo detection “Echo max (abs)”.

As a security, if no echo with an amplitude lower than the threshold of the gate is detected,
an amplitude of 100% and TOF of 0 is returned.
In the A-scan display of the summed signal, returned values of the gate settings are displayed (when
the gate overlay is activated). Please bear in mind that returned values are not displayed for A-scan of
elementary channels.
- HR icon: The HR icon enables High Resolution measurement of time .When HR signal processing
is enabled, the time measurement is enhanced a thousand times. The HR extraction mode is
performed in real time by the software. It allows extremely precise thickness measurement.
The HR extraction is enabled by clicking on the HR icon located in the gate detection mode options. It
is only available for software gates detection modes and not for hardware gates detection modes.

• Number of echoes
This parameter specifies the number of local extrema to be searched within the gate width. The user
can specify up to 20 echoes to be searched.
For the hardware gates, the number of echoes depends on the FW revision (48 or 64 peaks).

• Delta time
The "delta" parameter consists in a sliding window in which local extreme values are discarded. The
width of this sliding window is user-specified. Local extreme values will be considered valid only if the
time between two peaks is larger than the Delta parameter. This parameter is enabled with "First
echo", "Last echo" and "Multi echo" detection.
The default value of the Delta time parameter is half of the signal period.
This parameter is critical for multi-peak gates because it helps to reduce the number of echoes in the
Ascan and do not saturate the maximum number of echoes.
Delta time is independent of gate and of salvo (except Pocket 8x32).

• Synchronization start
The user can select from two synchronization modes to specify the beginning time of gate. When
clicking on the “synchro start” tab, the user can pick from:
- Transmission: The gates is synchronized with respect to the transmission signal.
- Time gate: The selected gates is synchronized with respect to another user-specified gate.
- Synchro DAC num: The selected Hardware gate is synchronized with respect to the numerical
DAC curve. This option is available only for Hardware gates on MultiX and Acquire systems.
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Amplitude

Gate 1: Gate of Synchronization

1 5 7

Gate 2: Synchronized Gate

-2 0 4

Time (µs)
0 5 10

Figure 112: Example of synchronization start

Please be aware when using hardware gates:

- The only gate that can be synchronized is a “hard first echo” gate and the position of this gate must
be the first in the gate panel.
- This “hard first echo” gate and only this gate can be define out of the digitizing signal when the user
checks the option “synchronized with transmission pulse” available in the Units panel.
- Synchronization end:
The user can also synchronize the end of a gate (variable-width gate). This feature is accessed from
the “synchro end” list box. Using this option, the user can specify the ending of gate to be synchronized
with respect to another user-specified gate. If both the start and the end of a gate are synchronized with
respect to other gates, the duration (width) of the selected gate is variable.

Only peak data can be stored a gate synchronized on end (due to gate width changing). Please
be aware that, at this time, the variable-width gates can only store peak data (no waveforms).
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In the example below, Gate 1 is start-synchronized with respect to the transmission pulse (fixed width).
Gate 2 is start-synchronized with respect to the transmission pulse and is also end-synchronized with
respect to Gate 1, using the Max echo option. When the time of flight of the maximum echo varies within
Gate 1, Gate 2 is accordingly stretched (see Figure 113).

Gate 1
Gate of Synchronisation
(width 10µs)

a) t0
Gate 2
Synchronised gate
(width 7µs)

Gate 1
Gate of Synchronisation
(width 10µs)

b) t0 + t
Gate 2
Synchronised gate
(width 7+4=11µs)
Time of flight
(µs)
8 12
4µs

Figure 113: Example of synchronization end

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• Synchro B function
When selecting the synchronization, Synchro B menu is available.

The Synchro B function give possibility to synchronize the gate of all the salvo
on another salvo/gate.

This function is useful for angle SW inspection to synchronize SW gate on a

different shot measured in 0° LW.

Figure 114:Synchro B
menu
New: Synchronization persistence:
When synchronization echo is lost, the synchronized gate stays active for a specified time or indefinitely
at the last measured TOF.
This parameter is possible to set in the toolbox on the bottom of the gate menu.

Local backup & reload

Press the "Save" icon to save Gates parameters as a file.

Press the "Open" icon to load a Gates parameters file.

Figure 115: Save and open icon of Gates parameters

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9. TCG

The user can specify the Time Corrected Gain (analog and digital) in the TCG tab of the Acquire.

Figure 116:DAC
list box

Analog DAC
When the analog DAC option is selected, the DAC curve is applied to all elementary analog signals
(before digitization).
Remark 1:

For all M2M systems, the DAC curve can only be used to amplify the signal. In Pocket 8x32 systems,
the DAC curve can also be used as an attenuator.
Remark 2:

In Panther electronic, you can define a DAC curve per salvo in multi-Salvo configuration.

Figure 117:Analog DAC panel

TCG parameters

To enable the TCG, tick the “enable” checkbox under the TCG tab. The default TCG curve is a straight
segment made of two points. The user can edit these points, add and suppress segments to the TCG
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curve. Editing the TCG points can be done by typing in the (time, gain) values for each point or using
the mouse. To edit TCG points with the mouse, simply left click on a TCG point, maintain the click and
drag the point where needed, and then release the click. The initial point of the TCG is at the bottom-
left of the A-scan at -100% of Amplitude.
Analog TCG explanation:
The M2M TCG name refers to international term which is TCG (Time Corrected Gain).
The TCG segments are linear in dBs
The limitation for Pocket M2M electronics is 16 different TCG for all the salvoes. The Salvoes over 16th
position will have the same TCG curve than the 16th salvo.
For Panther there is no limitation.

To specify the TCG curve, the following parameters are available:

• Color
To change the TCG plot color, click on the green square located next the TCG label. The following
popup window will appear.

Figure 118: TCG color modification

• Index point
The TCG curve is created using segments. The extremities of each segment are numbered in the “index
point” column.
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Figure 119: Index point

• Position
The user can specify each TCG point coordinates (time, gain). Using the column labeled “Position”, the
user can edit the position in time to be associated with the gain value specified in the “gain” column
(see below). This parameter can also be edited using the graphic tool available on the A-scan window.
Simply drag and drop the DAC curve to edit its parameters.

Figure 120: Position of DAC points

• Gain
The user can specify each TCG point coordinates (time, gain). The user can edit the gain in dB to be
associated with the position in time specified in the “position” column using the column labeled “Gain”
(see below). This parameter can also be edited using the graphic tool available on the A-scan window.
Simply drag and drop the DAC curve to edit its parameters.

Figure 121: Gain of DAC points

• Add point
To add a point to the TCG curve, simply click on the “+” sign located under the DAC curve table.

Figure 122: Add DAC point

• Insert point
To insert a point to the TCG curve, simply click on the sign below. This function offers the choice to
insert a point before or after the selected point of the DAC curve.
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Figure 123: Insertion of a TCG point

• Delete points
To suppress TCG points, first select the points to be deleted. If only 1 point is to be deleted, simply click on the
point. To select several points, maintain the CTRL key and press while clicking on the points to delete. To
remove the selected point(s), click on the “-“ icon.

Figure 124: Delete DAC points

Synchronized TCG

The TCG curve can be synchronized with respect to an elementary signal threshold. To enable the
synchronization of a TCG curve, tick the “synchronized” checkbox. The user specifies the amplitude
threshold in the “synchronized TCG” tab, the position in time it should start searching for values
exceeding the threshold. If the user synchronizes with elementary channel, the user can finally choose
the channel(s) number as a reference for the TCG parameters. The synchronization is achieved using
the detection channel(s) specified in the “detection channel id” column. When the signal amplitude of
the detection channel exceeds the threshold, the TCG curve is enabled using this point as the beginning
of the DAC.

Figure 125: Synchronized DAC panel

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Several synchronization options are available:

- Common DAC: The same synchronization parameters are used for all shots of all sequences. The
TCG curve can be synchronized to an elementary channel only.

Figure 126: DAC common panel

- TCG by shots: Use this option to specify shot-dependent TCG parameters.

Figure 127: DAC by shots panel

- Advanced TCG: use this option to specify sequence AND shot-dependent TCG parameters.
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Figure 128: DAC advanced panel

Note: Switching back and forth between synchronization modes (common, by shot, advanced) will reset
your DAC synchronization parameters.
By default, the elementary channel used for the DAC synchronization is taken at the middle of the
related active aperture (or sequence). The user may select another channel. For each synchronization
mode, the DAC parameters are as follows:

• Shot reference
This parameter identifies the current shot and sequence.

• Begin
This parameter defines the position in time the synchronization process should start searching for
values exceeding the threshold. The user can edit this value in the “Begin” column or using the graphic
tool (drag and drop) available on the A-scan display.

• Amplitude threshold
This parameter defines the amplitude threshold value. This threshold is the synchronization condition.
When the elementary or summed signal amplitude exceeds the threshold value, the DAC is applied.
The value can be modified directly from the A-scan view panel using the left mouse icon or edited in
the “Amplitude threshold” column.

• Detection channel identity

Using this parameter, the user specifies the reference elementary channel used for DAC
synchronization.

Edit DAC parameters

• Selection tools
To select a group of consecutive lines, press the SHIFT key along with the left-click selection of the
lines. The selected lines are colored.
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Figure 129: Selection of cell's group in DAC panel

To select a group of non-consecutive lines, press the CTRL key when selecting (with a left-click) the
lines under interest.

Figure 130: Addition to a selection in DAC panel

• Edition of selected parameters

To edit the selected line or group of lines, right click on the selected zone. A specific window will pop
up. Clicking on a specific column will open the associated menu.
For example: A right-click on the 'Detection channel Id' column opens the "Detection channel id" popup
menu.

Figure 131: Modification of detection channel id

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Using this panel, the user can achieve basic calculator operations on the selected parameter and then
apply the modification to the selected or unselected rows.

Local backup & reload

Press the "Save" icon to save DAC-parameters as a file.

Press the "Open" icon to load a DAC-parameters file.

Note: Only the DAC points are saved with this backup. DAC synchronization parameters are not saved.

Figure 132: Save and open icon of DAC parameters

Digital TCG
The digital TCG is applied to the summed signal.

Manual digital TCG

To enable the manual digital TCG, tick the “enable” checkbox under the TCG tab. The default TCG
curve is a straight segment made of two points. The user can edit these points, add and suppress
segments to the TCG curve. Editing the TCG points can be done by typing in the (time, gain) values for
each point or using the mouse. To edit TCG points with the mouse, simply left click on a DAC point,
maintain the click and drag the point where needed, and then release the click.
To specify the DAC curve, the following parameters are available:

• Color
To change the TCG plot color, click on the purple square located next the TCG label. The following
popup window will appear.
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Figure 133: Digital DAC color modification

• Index point
The TCG curve is created using segments. The extremities of each segment are numbered in the “index
point” column.

Figure 134: Index point

• Position and Gain

The user can specify each TCG point coordinates (time, gain). Using the column labeled “Position”, the
user can edit the position in time to be associated with the gain value specified in the “gain” column
(see below). These parameters can also be edited using the graphic tool available on the A-scan
window. Simply drag and drop the TCG curve to edit its parameters.

Figure 135: Position of TCG points Figure 136: Gain of TCG points

• Add point
To add a point to the TCG curve, simply click on the “+” sign located under the TCG curve table.
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Figure 137: Add point of DAC

• Insert point
To insert a point to the TCG curve, simply click on the sign below. This function offers a choice to insert
a point before or after the selected point of the TCG curve.

Figure 138: Insertion of a DAC point

• Delete points
To delete TCG points, first select the point(s) to be deleted. If only one point is to be deleted, simply click on
the point. To select several points, maintain the CTRL key pressed while clicking on the points to delete. To
remove the selected point(s), click on the “-“ icon.

Figure 139: DAC points deletion

• Synchronized
The manual digital TCG curve can be synchronized with respect to the summed signal threshold. To
enable the synchronization of a TCG curve, tick the “synchronized” checkbox. The user specifies the
amplitude threshold in the “synchronized TCG” tab or moves the amplitude threshold in the A-scan
view, the position in time it should start searching for values exceeding the threshold.
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Figure 140: Manual digital DAC panel

Gate TCG
The TCG gate is a software computed TCG.
To work, this TCG requires to the Ascan to be retrieved in the PC; It means that a SW gate must be set
on the Ascan (see Gates tab).
The user must select the gate where the TCG will be
applied.
This TCG is only applied inside the Ascan gate area. It
means that if the beginning and/or the end is
synchronized, the start of the TCG will be applied at the
start of the gate and at the end of the gate, the TCG will
be stopped. After the gate, the “Gain after” value will be
applied.
The main goal of this gate is to do “Backwall monitoring”
when thickness is not constant. Figure 141: Gate TCG Menu

The TCG Gate will be active only for gates after the TCG gate (including the TCG gate himself).
HW gates are not affected by Gate TCG. TCG Gate have incidence on CPU load.
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10. Filters

Figure 142: Filters panel

The following Signal processing tools are available from the “Filter” panel:

- Attenuators (available on MultiX system)

- FIR (Finite Impulse Response) filters
- Subtraction
- N shots average
- Decimation Filter

The filter panel is also available in the “calibration” panels (Probe and wedge).

Attenuators

The attenuator function is only available for MultiX generation. This analog attenuator directly applies the
gain on the channel-boards.

Two states are available:

- 0 dB (disabled attenuators),
- -12 dB (enabled attenuators).
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Figure 143: Attenuator state

FIR/IIR Filters

Digital hardware FIR/IIR filters are available for all systems but implementation can be different in function of
the HW (FIR or IIR and number of coefficients). FIR/IIR filters are applied on the summed signal after digitizing.
The filter template is associated from 16 to 64 weighting coefficients adapted to raw data signal only
depending of the device performance.

Band-Pass filter

Two parameters are editable for this filter: the lower and higher limits of the band-pass.

Figure 144: Band pass filter

All frequency components outside the editable frequency bracket will be decreased.

Saving/loading of filter parameters

To save or load a filter, press the “save” or “load” icons located under the FIR filter tab. The default saving
location is the C:\Acquire\desk\fir_filters directory.
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Figure 145: Filters save/load icons

N shots average
The N shots average option is used to reduce the digital noise on the signal applying averaged values
on several shots (up to 64).
On Panther, average is computed at the elementary channel level, enabling faster inspection for parallel
modes.

Figure 146: N shots average panel

Decimation Filters
Decimation is a data compression algorithm used to reduce the number of sample in the A-scan. Some
samples are vanished but an algorithm keeps maximum and minimum. The number of vanished
samples depends of decimation factor.
Example:
Decimation factor = 1/4. For each group of 8 samples, the minimum and maximum are extracted.
Decimation factor = 1/8. For each group of 16 samples, the minimum and maximum are extracted.
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Figure 147: Decimation filter panel

11. Trajectories

This panel defines the transducer trajectories for an acquisition according to available encoders.

Figure 148: Trajectories panel

Definition of trajectories
A trajectory is defined by a name, an encoder, a start position, an end position and an acquisition step.
Default trajectories are time axis, with encoder axis defined in the Encoders panel. These trajectories
cannot be deleted. Name, image axis and unit of the time axis cannot be modified.

• Name
Define a trajectory name.

Figure 149: Names of the Trajectories

• Image axis
Select encoder axis associated to the trajectory axis.
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Figure 150: Coder Axis of the Trajectories

• Unit
Define the unit of the trajectory.

Figure 151: Unit of the Trajectories

• Movement speed
Indicate the transducer displacement speed. This speed value is used to evaluate the system load
according to the data flow during Acquisition.

Figure 152: Movement speed of Trajectories

• Start
Define the start position of the trajectory.

Figure 153: Start of the Trajectories

• End
Define the end of the trajectory. This value is proportional to the step value.

Figure 154: End of the Trajectories

• Step
Define the acquisition step on the current trajectory.
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Figure 155: Step of the Trajectories

• Position
Display the current encoder position.

Figure 156: Current coder position

• Add and delete a trajectory

The user can add and delete a trajectory thanks to the two icons shown below:
A click on the "+" icon adds a trajectory.
A click on the "-" icon deletes the selected trajectory.

Figure 157: "Add" and "Delete" icons of trajectory

By clicking on "Shift + left click", the user can select a group of cells. Selected cells are colored in
blue.

Figure 158: Selection of cell's group in Trajectories panel

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By clicking on "Ctrl + left click", the user can select new cells and adds them to the current selection.

Figure 159: Addition of a selection in Trajectories panel

Inspection cartography
Inspection cartography panel defines the UT data storage and the mechanical axis used for Acquisition
in case of a motorized scanning.

• Mechanical parameters
Mechanical parameters define acquisition axis, like scanning axis and eventually index (or overlapping)
axis.

- Scanning Axis:
The user selects a scanning axis from a list box. Available scanning axes are trajectories defined by
the user in the Trajectories panel.

Figure 160: Scanning axis selection.

- Overlapping axis:
The user selects an overlapping axis thanks to the box below:
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The available overlapping axes are trajectories defined in the Trajectories panel.

Note: the acquisition with an overlapping axis will be possible if only the 'overlapping axis' option is
validated.

- Auto stop ending:

This option must be validated to automatically stop an acquisition trigged on mechanical encoder. This
option is automatically validated in case of time encoder.

- Trigger Coder:
The user selects which encoder will be used as a trigger for acquisition amongst time and mechanical
encoder.

Trigger selection at this level define trigger source but not trigger
method. To select trigger method, refers to Home→Hardware section.

• Storage
The "Storage" icon indicates mechanical positions stored during the Acquisition. User can select other
axes to be stored during Acquisition.
Storage can be mandatory for some application like using “Sinus Arm” scanner.
A left click on the "Storage" icon opens the box below.
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Figure 161: Information about data storage

• Cartographic Offsets
A left click on the « Offsets » icon opens a window. This window contains the parameters of a mechanical
general offset for the scanning axis and the overlapping axis. This offset will be used into the representation of
B-scan or C-scan of the acquisition.

Figure 162: Cartographic Offset’s Icon

In the case of Multi-Salvoes using several probes, the mechanical offsets between the positions of various
probes will be used into the B-scan and C-scan representations of the Acquisition panel. These mechanical
offsets are calculated from the initial position of probes defined into the Configuration panel.

The cartographic offsets panel allows to define:

- The offsets linked at the cartographic axis (acquisition axis),

- And the offsets linked at the probe positioning.
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Figure 163: Cartographic Offsets panel.

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- Mechanical direction:

Figure 164: Scanning axis

Figure 165: Overlapping axis

The drop-down menu allows to define the scanning axis and the overlapping axis among the 3
cartographic axis of Configuration panel (X, Y, Z), defining the initial position of probe.

- CIVA/Mechanical offset:
Allows to define one general offset for all salvoes, which will be applied in the scanning axis and the
overlapping axis.

Figure 166: CIVA/Mechanical offsets panel

- Init icon
“Init” icon reinitializes the cartographic offsets according to probes positioning defined in the
Configuration panel.
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Figure 167: “Init” icon

- Example of cartographic offsets in case of multi-salvoes:

Salvo 1

The positions of probe defined in the Configuration panel are the following:

X = 10mm

Y = 50 mm

Salvo 2

The positions of probe defined in the Configuration panel are the following:

X = 50mm

Y = 100 mm

This following picture shows the relative position of both probes, the wished scanning axis and the wished
overlapping axis in C-scan view of Acquisition panel with the same origin between mechanical reference frame
and reference frame of the Configuration panel.

(50,100)

probe 2
Overlapping axis

(10,50)
Scanning axis

probe 1

(0,0)
Scanning axis

Figure 168: Probes positions

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For the consideration of these different parameters in the Acquisition panel displays, the user must define the
cartographic offsets in the following way:

Figure 169: Cartographic offsets of the multi-salvoes example

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12. Alarms

The TAB alarms is dedicated to define alarms parameters.

These alarms are computed by the software in function of the gate results and some user’s defined
parameters like counts before alarm to reduce false alarm.

The alarm array is associated to a Salvo. Before set an alarm, user must select the salvo.

To define an alarm, press the “+” button. To delete an alarm, select it and press “-“ button.

When alarm is added, define its name.

Then to be active, gate source must be selected.

The base threshold of the alarm is the threshold of the gate. A second threshold can be
set with a relative value of the gate threshold.

Then user must define how much count for an echo over the threshold will set the
alarm.

To be set, the amplitude of the signal must be “low count” over low threshold and
“high count” over high threshold.

This feature is useful to differentiate a defects where amplitude is increasing gradually from an electric spike
which appear and disappear from one shot to another one.

The proximity setting will define the sequence where the count will be taken in account.
With trigger, the alarm will be set if consecutive triggers on the same
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salvo/sequence/shot detect a defect. With sequence, the alarm will be set if consecutive sequences on the
same trigger detect a defects…

Other settings available in the same logic (shot, trigg+sequence, trigg+shot).

Detection mode setting to choose if alarm is set when echo appear or disappear.

Sound alarm will generate sound on the PC when alarm is set

Screen and sound alarm will extend the display and sound of alarms to be visible even
very short.

Specific area activation is useful to disable the alarms when the probe is outside of the
inspected area.

The Acquire software compute if the probe in inside or outside of the inspected area in function of the probe
offset (see “trajectory” tab) and alarm area configuration.

By selecting the “Configuration”, the user can set the inspection area which is different
from the begin/end of trajectory because one is the encoder area, other is individual probe
area.

The alarms can be displayed on the screen by dropping the view on parameter tab or on Acquisition tab.

It can also be read dynamically in real time by an external PC or PLC using remote interface to sort or to mark
the part. See remote documentation.
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PART 5: ACQUISITION

The Acquisition panel allows to define acquisition view panels and to display acquired data in real
time.
The user can customize the Acquisition panel thanks to different available views (A-scan, B-scan, C-
scan, D-scan…). Data displayed in each view come from several sources, defined by the user. One
acquisition can produce various sources equivalent to several acquisitions.

Figure 170: Acquisition panel

1. Acquisition information

"Acquisition" icon gives access to Acquisition panel.

Colored icons placed on the left of the "Acquisition" icon display the different steps in order to perform
an acquisition according to current parameters:

• Green: the acquisition is possible.

• Orange: the acquisition is possible, but close to the limit: problem can occur.

• Red: The acquisition is not allowed: the system is overload.

A click on colored icon displays information about the system workload for the acquisition process (Cf.
next figure). The workload depends on electronic device and computer capacities. Another limit comes
from the maximum time of flight of ultrasonic signals to limit signal overlap. If the system is overloaded
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(Red icon) some parameters must be modified (P.R.F, time gate length, step…) to reduce the load. The
user knows what parameter must be changed to reduce the load thanks to information contained in the
Storage panel.

Figure 171:Information about system load for acquisition

“Limit val.” Display the value can be achieved with current parameters or the minimum value needs to achieve
the required performances.

Examples:

- 2420 Hz is the minimum PRF to achieve the 0,05 S step required.

- 0.024 S is the minimum step possible with actual parameters

Several parameters can influence the performance. Minimum step will depends on PRF but also number of
sequences, maximum data throughput…
Ask for specific procedure for more information.
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1. Display

Acquisition display is similar to Parameters display: same views are proposed and same tools are
used to select and arrange the views.

Data source
Data acquired in gates by multi channels phased array system are identified thanks to focalization
parameters and acquisition gates:

• Acquisition gates: The UT data are included in the time zone defined by the gate and depend
on the type of the gate.

• Data produced by phased array techniques are organized with the structure and the quantities
below:
- Salvo: Set of delay-laws applied for one or several apertures. One salvo may include
several sequences and shots. One salvo defines one kind of control. Several salvoes (or
control) can be applied together (multi-salvoes mode).
- Sequence: Set of delay-laws applied for given electronic aperture. The electronic aperture
is defined by both the elements used for transmission (T) and reception (R). A sequence
may include several shots.
- Shot: For a given electronic aperture, corresponds to the selected delay-law. One shot
refers to both transmission and reception delay-laws, which can be distinct from each other.
- Channel: For a given electronic aperture (sequence) and for a specific delay-law (shot);
corresponds to the elementary contribution of one element. The symbol  refers to the
actual sum of each elementary contribution contained in the selected trio (i.e. salvo,
sequence, shot). The sum is the actual signal resulting from the application of the delay-
law.
Thus, UT data resulting from one setting (salvo) can correspond to several testing methods. Data
sources allow to define and to display testing methods separately. Different data representations,
related to defined methods and time gates, can be associated to each Data source.

Example 1: We consider a salvo made of three sequences of n shots. With one data source, the user
can display one B-scan sequences and one B-scan shots. The B-scan shots update carries out
automatically as soon as sequence is modified with cursor or in the Data source panel. It isn't possible
to display three B-scans shots of three different sequences in the same screen with only one data
source. In adding two data sources, one sequence is defined on each data source. It is also possible
to display three B-scan shots of three different sequences in the same screen (one B-scan shot is
displayed by one data source). So, user can see evolution of three sequences in only one screen and
in real time.
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Example 2: Acquisition containing three time gates and one Configuration of one sequence of n
shots is considered. With one data source, the user can display one B-scan shots of one gate. B-scan
shots updates by changing gate index. So, it's not possible to display three B-scans shots of the three
time gates in the same screen with only one data source, but it's possible by adding two other data
source. With this two other data sources, each gate is attributed to one data source. So, user can see
evolutions of three time gates content with the three B-scan shots in the same screen.

Figure 172: Selection of current focusing parameters in Acquisition panel

When modifying one of these parameters such as gate, salvo, sequence, shot, or channel, all graphics
views resulting from the same data source are automatically updated. Furthermore, cursors and "salvo-
sequence-shot-channel" parameters are linked in all graphics of the same data source.
Note: In Multi-salvoes configuration, one data source per salvo and per gate is automatically created.
In multi-salvoes, the user can’t add or delete data source.

• Add Data source

Add Data source by clicking on the "+" icon (cf. next figure). Addition of data source makes easier the
display of all UT data.

• Delete Data source

Delete Data source by clicking on the "-" icon.
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Figure 173: Add or remove data sources in Acquisition panel

• Change Data source

Each data source is associated to a color. This color fills the background of labels in the Data source
panel and the rectangle located near the name of data sources (cf. figure above). When user changes
the Data source, the tree structure of available graphics, the set "sequence-shot-channel" value, the
gates and the color map are updated.
To change the current data source, user can:
- Click on the rectangle beside the source drop down icon. The next source in the list will be selected.
- Select another source from the source drop down icon.
- Click on the title of a view; the related source will be selected.
The frame of all views wears color of the related Data source.

• Rename Data source

Select data source text with a click in the source box. The selected text is colored in blue and the user
can enter the new name.
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Figure 174: Rename Data source

• “Link” option
“Link” option links cursors of different data sources. Each parameter of each source must be validated
to be linked. This option is explained in the 2.5 Cursors paragraph.

• The data source "toolbox"

The “Tool Box” icon gives access to the several features:

- To save data source, selected graphics and desktop arrangement, click on the save icon.
- To open a set of (data source, graphics and desktop arrangement), click on the open icon and
select the file.
- To delete a set of (data sources, graphics and desktop arrangement), click on the trash icon.
- To hide the title banner for each graphic window, click the hide icon
- To regenerate the data source (copy the data source from parameters panel to acquisition panel,
in multi-salvoes configuration), click the refresh icon.
- To modify the cartographic offsets after acquisition, click the cartographic offsets icon.
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Figure 175: Data source toolbox

• “Advanced properties” icon

This option consists in selecting UT data displayed on A-scan and B-scan when there are several data at the
same probe position (cumulated data coming from several going past).

Figure 176: Advanced properties window

Several criteria of mechanical B-scan display are available:

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- Max amplitude (default criteria): all UT data are considered and the maximum value of data is
displayed.
- First/last pass per cell: for each step, the data of the first/last pass is displayed.
- First/last pass: in all the views, data of the first/last pass are displayed.
- Single pass: the user selects the pass to display on the Mechanical Pass selection panel.

Figure 177: Single pass selection

- Multipass: Using print syntax, the user can select several pass to display on the multiple pass
selection panel:
o 1-3: display the pass 1, 2 and 3.
o 1; 3; 7: display the pass 1, 3 and 7.
o 1-3; 5-6; 8: display the pass from 1 to 3, from 5 to 6 and the pass 8.

Figure 178: Multi pass selectio

- About C-scan view, it is possible to display the last pass in ticking the corresponding option (see
next figure).

Figure 179: C-scan display criteria

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Available Views
Acquisition panel contains 4 basic types of representations: A-scan, B-scan, C-scan and D-scan.
The available view depends on acquired data and acquisition mode. For example, Ascan/Bscan are
only available when Ascan are stored in a gate; concatenated Cscan is only available when incremental
Axis exists.
When data is already acquired and some modification are done in the settings (adding a gate,
adding incremental axis…), the available views will remain the views for existing acquired data.
To activate a new view, reset the data of redo an acquisition before.

Figure 180: B-scan (left) and A-scan (right) representations

The Data source panel displays all views available in the Acquisition panel according to the data
source parameters. Views are presented with a dynamic tree structure form (cf. next figure). To select

the type of view to be dropped in the workspace, click on the icon: .

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Figure 181: Representations of available Views in Acquisition panel

Views are proposed according to acquisition Trajectories and type of data. For each source, various
views can be available:

• A-scan: display the amplitude of current signal versus time of flight.

• FFT: frequency representation (Fast Fourrier Transform - FFT) of the current A-scan. Two
green cursors limit the FFT computation area on the A-scan.
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Figure 182: Zone of the FFT computation

• Electronic B-scan:

Clicking on the left Icon selects a linear scanning view, clicking on the right icon selects an angular
scanning view. The electronic B-scan view (linear or angular) is now automatically selected when in
one of the following cases:
- The angular B-scan view is selected when the number of sequences is 1 and the number of shots
is >1.
- The linear B-scan view is selected when the number of shots is 1 and the number of sequences is
>1.
If both numbers of sequences and shots are greater than 1, the user manually selects the type of
electronic B-scan. The electronic B-scan represents sequences, shots or channels as a function of time.

• Corrected B-scan: This view represents sequences or shots as a function of distance (e.g.
thickness). The corrected B-scan accounts for beam orientation and material velocity specified
in the configuration panel. This view projects the B-scan in the specimen geometry (also defined
in the configuration panel) for a more realistic display of ultrasonic data.
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• B-scan channels: Displays all elementary channels for a given sequence and a shot according
to time of flight. For a given set of (salvo, sequence, shot), the "B-scan channels" represents
the signal amplitudes of each elementary channel included in the selected set, as a function of
time.

• B-scan FFT: Correspond to the Fourrier Transform of each signal of the current B-scan. This
view represents the FFT of each A-scan present in the selected B-scan.

• CAD + 3D B-scan: This view displays the Corrected B-scan in 3D, along with the CAD
specimen (if present).

• Combined corrected B-scan: Displays the corrected B-scan containing all cumulated data of
all scanning positions. This view is available if the scanning axis is perpendicular to the probe
electronic axis.

• Mechanical B-scan: Displays signals versus scanning axis, for fixed value of sequence, shot
and channel.

• D-scan: Displays signals versus overlapping axis, for fixed value of sequence, shot and
channel.

• Horizontal Echodynamic curve: This view represents the maximum signal amplitude as a
function of time. The maximum amplitude is picked up over the number of sequences for an
electronic B-scan, over the number of positions for a mechanical B-scan. More generally, the
horizontal Echodynamic curve represents the maximum amplitude over the unit representing
the horizontal axis, as a function of the unit representing the vertical axis.

• Vertical Echodynamic curve: This view represents the maximum amplitude over time. The
maximum amplitude is displayed as a function sequence for an electronic B-scan, and as a
function of position for a mechanical B-scan. More generally, the vertical Echodynamic curve
represents the maximum amplitude over the unit representing the vertical axis, as a function of
the unit representing the horizontal axis.

• Scrolling view: During acquisition this view represents a part of the original view (mechanical
B-scan or Mechanical C-scan). Data scroll with the encoder position.

• Electronical C-scan (Ampl): Displays the amplitude of the echo detected in the selected gate
versus scanning axis and electronic scanning. The scanning axis depends on the selection of
linear (sequence) or angular (shot) scanning.

• Electronical C-scan (Time): Displays the time of flight of the echo detected in the selected
gate versus scanning axis and electronic scanning.
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• Corrected C-scan: The corrected C-scan accounts for beam orientation and material velocity
specified in the configuration panel. This view projects the electronical C-scan in the specimen
geometry (also defined in the configuration panel) for a more realistic display of ultrasonic data.
Corrected Cscan can be unavailable for some scanning modes where CIVA is not able to
compute UT path.

• Mechanical C-scan (Ampl): Displays the amplitude of the echo detected in the selected gate
versus the position (X, Y) of the transducer, for given sequence and shot.

• Mechanical C-scan (Time): Displays the time of flight of the detected echo versus the position
(X, Y) of the transducer, for given sequence and shot.

• C-scan concatenated (Ampl): Displays several corrected C-scan (in amplitude) versus the
position (X, Y) of the transducer. (cf. next figure). To be available, incremental axis is
mandatory.

• C-scan concatenated (Time): Displays several corrected C-scan (in time) versus the position
(X, Y) of the transducer. (cf. next figure). To be available, incremental axis is mandatory.

Note: In case of overlap, concatenated C-scan displays maximum of amplitude of superimposed

signals.
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Figure 183: Concatenated C-scan

• Parameters summary view: displays the data of electronic, probe, delays laws and UT
parameters used in the inspection.
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Figure 184: Parameters summary view

Selection and positioning of graphics

The representation display uses a "Drag and drop" system as for Parameters panel.
The user selects one view in the tree structure of available graphics and slides it by pressing a left click
up to the requested place. During the displacement, icons indicate to the user the position view:

- «  » (and at opposite « → »): The view comes in the left side of the screen (and at opposite in the
right side) cutting the screen vertically.

- «  » (and at opposite «  »): The view comes in the underside of the screen (and at opposite in
the top side) cutting the screen horizontally.
- « + »: The view replaces an existing view or an empty site.
- «  »: The position is not allowed.
With the "Drag and Drop" process, it is possible to display as many graphic representations as the user
wants, but it is not possible to display twice the same view of the same data source. For example, it is
not allowed to display two A-scans of the same data source but it is possible to display the A-scan of a
first data source and the A-scan of a second data source.

• Move view
"Move" icon allows to move the view to a new site (cf. next figure).

• Delete view
"Close" icon deletes the view (cf. next figure).
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Figure 185: "Close" and "Move" icons of graphic representation in Acquisition panel

• Change Data source

The frame of all views matches color of the related Data source. By clicking on the name of the view,
Data source panel is updated.

• Information on Acquisition gate content

In the Acquisition panel, information about the gates content (detected echo or not, synchronization,
no synchronization) are provided. This information is located on the top right side of A-scan and C-scan
views and at the bottom of B-scan views.
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Figure 186: Information about gates in the Acquisition panel

New screen
Below view panels, a tab "new screen" opens a list box to manage screens.

Figure 187: New screen menu

Thanks to this list box the following tasks are possible:

- Add a new screen in the panel.
- Rename the current screen.
- Delete the current screen.
- Load a screen saved.
- Save the current screen.
- Save the current screen with a new name.
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Units of axis
Different X-axis and Y-axis units can be selected from list boxes. These list boxes are located at the
end of X-axis and Y-axis.

Figure 188: Selection of axis units in Acquisition panel

Cursors
Two cursors allow measurements on views.
Measured values are displayed at the bottom of cursors in same units as the axis units.
By left clicking close to the cursors intersection, it is possible to move both cursors together.
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Figure 189: The measured values by two cursors on Ascan representation

A right click on cursors opens a list box. Different options of this list box are detailed in paragraph 1.8.1.

• Amplitude and depth:

The A-scan view panel displays amplitude and depth values on the cursor as shown on the above
figure.

• Cursors format:
Right clicking on a cursor opens an action list. Selecting the “format” option opens the window below.

Figure 190: Modification of cursors format

All listed parameters can be adjusted from this table and saved with a User mode.
Dynamic font is enabled only when selecting a cursor: the related cursors will take the predefined font
size.
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• Hiding cursors:
By right clicking on a cursor opens an action list. Selecting the “Layers” option allows to hide the cursors
by validating “cursors” option.

• “Link” option:
Link or synchronize cursors of different data sources.
Link is available for the following parameters:
- Scanning axis
- Overlapping axis
- Salvo
- Sequence
- Shot
- Channel

Figure 191: Link option

Cursors are linked for all views of a same data source. By default, cursors of different data sources are
not linked.
For example, to link sequence cursors of data source 1 and data source 2, the user must validate “Link”
box located on the right side of sequence label of data source 1 and data source 2 (cf. next figure).
Similarly, if the user validates “Link” box located on the right side of shot label in the data source 2 and
3, shots cursors will be linked in views of data source 2 and 3.
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Warning! In order to link cursors of two different data sources, the “Link” box must be validated in both
options of the two data sources.
It is possible to link scanning axis, overlapping axis, salvo, sequences, shots and channels of different
data sources. The “Link” option is available in the Parameters panel too.

Figure 192: Linked sequences cursors of the data source 1 and data source 2

Zoom and pan

• Dynamic zoom
To enlarge a specific area of a graphic view, press the CTRL key and left click. A green rectangle follows
the motion of the mouse and shows the area that will be blown up on release.
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Figure 193: Dynamic zoom

• Automatic zoom
Right click on the background of the view, a popup menu will appear with a zoom option, under "action".
See section 2.7.5 for more details.

• Pan the zoomed area

To pan the zoomed area, press the SHIFT key and move the mouse. Keep the key pressed while
moving the mouse.

• Resume initial view

To reinitialize the view, double-click on the background of the graphic view.

Graphic tools
By right clicking on views (or on cursors) specific list opens box for views, cursors and zooms.

Popup menu (right click)

By right clicking on the graphic views’ background, a menu showing available graphic tools pops up.
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Figure 194: List box available from view panel parameters

The popup menu shows the following options:

• Layers: Displays or hides, the following items: DAC, Cursors, FFT cursors and Map cursors
(for A-scan)

• Tick / un-tick the layers (DAC, cursors, FFT cursors, etc.) to have them superimposed on the
graphic view / to make them invisible.

• Clipboard: Copy the graphic view to clipboard.

• Save as: Save the graphic view as an image.

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Figure 195: Save the view

• Action: Click on the action menu to show select, zoom and pan tools. See section 1.8.5 for
details.

• Add measurement: Click on Add measure to enable the measurement tool. Using the mouse,
grab and stretch the measurement-box boundaries. Dimensions are shown on the graphic view,
next to the measurement box.

Figure 196: Measurement box

• Suppress measure: To delete the measurement box, click on suppress measurement.

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• Isometric display: Click on "isometric display" to display the graphic view in an orthonormal
basis. Both axes of the graphic view will be represented with the same scale.

• Display: This option is only available in the C-scan box menu.

- Fit: Same scales are applied on both X and Y axis when validated.
- Real: Displays a "real C-scan". Scale on X and Y axis show realistic dimensions: scale
1:1. In the other case, X and Y axis scales can be different producing a non-proportional
display.

Figure 197: Display options of C-scan

Figure 198: Examples of different display

Graphic view toolbar

On the parameters screen, in the top of views, four specific icons are available.

The graphic view toolbar is located at the top right corner of each graphic view.
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Figure 199: the graphic view toolbar

• « Available views » icon: Click on this icon to show related available graphic views.

• « Freeze » icon: Click on this icon to freeze the graphic view.

• « Close » icon: Click on this icon to close the graphic view.

• « Toolbox » icon: Click on this icon to show available display tools.

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Figure 200: The display-toolbar menu depends on the graphic type

Available menu of the graphic-view toolbar:

• « Full screen » icon: Click on this icon to display the graphic view without title and axes.

• « Juxtaposition » icon: Join views along a common axis.

• « Show/Hide Amplitude Colormap cursors » icon: Click on this icon to enable the color bar
cursors. The two white lines cursors displayed on the A-scan view are linked to the color bar.
These cursors set minimum and maximum thresholds for the color coding (see effects on the
B-scan views).
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• « Show/Hide Cursors of views » icon: Click on this icon to enable/disable cursors. This icon
has three states:

: Blue reference cursors for horizontal and vertical axes.

: Pink relative cursors with respect to reference cursors.

: No cursors displayed.

• « Add measure » icon: Click on this icon to enable the measurement tool. Using the mouse,
grab and stretch the measurement-box boundaries. Dimensions are shown on the graphic view,
next to the measurement box.

• « Remove all measures » icon: Click on this icon to disable the measurement tool (suppress
all measurements displayed on the graphic view).

• « Rotate » icons: Click on these icons to rotate the graphic view 90 degrees clockwise and
anti-clockwise.
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• « Flip » icon: Click on this icon to flip horizontally the graphic view.

• « Desynchronize/synchronize zoom » icon: desynchronize zoom of the selected view or

synchronize the zoom of the view with all the views of the same salvo. This icon has two states.
By default, zoom of all salvo views are synchronized

• « Persistence» icon: Click on this icon (available for echodynamic views only) to keep only the
maximum values displayed on the graphic view, over the duration of the measurement. For
instance with this option activated, if the probe is moving, the horizontal echodynamic curve will
display the maximum amplitude over the probe displacement for each time of flight.

• « Amplitude and t-o-f » icon: Click on this icon to activate amplitude and time-of-flight
measurements on the vertical echodynamic curve. "Strip-chart" like view of a waveform. This
icon activates the time of flight curve only, or both the time of flight and the amplitude curves.

• « Fit on screen » icon: Click on this icon to display the full UT signal and full CAD profile in the
graphic view.

• « Shear wave and Pressure wave » icons: Click on this icon to display B-scans accounting
for pressure-wave or for shear-wave sound velocity. The values of the sound speed are recalled
in the "units" tab.
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• « Sound-path view » icon: Click on this icon to display the sound path accounting for back-wall
reflections. Valid for corrected B-scans.

• « Choice of sets to display »: Click on this icon to select the corrected B-scan you want to
display on the view.

• « Combined B-scan » icons:

: Refresh the combine B-scan view.

: Displays the full combine view.

: Displays the combine B-scan view corresponding to the current scrolling area.
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: Refresh all the view displayed on the screen (Combine Bscan, mechanical C-scan,
concatenated C-scan…)

• « Add gain on data »: Click on this icon to add a numerical gain to the UT acquired data of the
selected view.

• « Show/hide attenuation mode »: Click on this icon to apply a gain attenuation value on the
selected C-scan.

Figure 201: Attenuation mode of C-scan view

The attenuated C-scan view has a specific and independent color scale.
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Figure 202: Attenuated C-scan view

• « M2M analysis »: Displays a histogram view. This view counts the data of the selected view.

The following figure describes the M2M analysis tool:

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Figure 203: Analysis window access

Parameters Results
setting Mode visualisation mode

Select the view and the

box to analyze

Delete measurement box

Add measurement box

Selection of Analysis Adjust the measurement Results Visualisation

treatments box to the dimensions of
the selected view Histogram view access

Parameters Results Visualisation

setting Mode Mode

Figure 204: Analysis parameters panel

• « Data loss view» icon: Click on this icon to display the Data loss view. During the acquisition,
this view indicates the eventual loss of data.
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• « Peak thickness »: Adjust the thickness of the displayed data in the corrected C-scan.

• « Modification of the scrolling window »: Opens windows to define the dimension of the
scrolling area of Mechanical B-scan scrolling view, electronic C-scan scrolling view. The
dimension can also be defined directly on the Mechanical B-scan view and electronic C-scan
view thanks to the magenta cursors positionning. During acquisition the data is displayed in
real time and the view is scrolled according to the scanning displacement.

Figure 205: Definition of the scrolling view dimensions

• « Zoom glissant or scrolling 2D »: Opens windows to define the dimension of the scrolling
area of concatenated C-scan scrolling view. The dimension can also be defined directly on the
concatenated C-scan view thanks to the magenta cursors positionning. During acquisition the
data is displayed in real time and the view is scrolled according to the scanning and overlapping
displacement.
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Figure 206: Definition of the scrolling 2D view

Export to text

In the 6.9.X and the next versions, a new data export function was developed to replace the images export
function in the 6.7.15 version and the previous ones. The new function exports all the data from a Acquire file
(.m2k). You can find out more by referring to the Data export notice explanatory note1.

Cursor parameters

When right-clicking on cursors, the user opens a list box specific to views and cursors.
Cursors options are the following:

• Format
To modify the appearance of the cursor, right-click on the cursor and click on "Format" in the popup
menu. In the format dialog box, the user may edit the color, the font and the line size of the cursor.

1 Contact M2M technical support team ([email protected]) to get this document.

 Page: 180/210

Figure 207: Dialog box of cursor format

• Move labels: Moves the labels to the cursors extremities

• Hide labels: Hides the labels

Zoom, pan and reset parameters

Zoom, pan and reset parameters are available via the “Action” submenu of the “Available graphic tools”
menu.

Figure 208: Zoom function

First, right click on the background or on the cursors of a view to access the “Available graphic tools”
menu. Then move the mouse over the “Action” item. A submenu appears giving access to the following
actions:

• Zoom: Enables an automatic zoom in. The view is zoomed at each click. When the user keeps
pressing the CTRL key, the automatic zoom in becomes an automatic zoom out.

• Move: Click on "move" to pan the display window. Keyboard shortcut equivalent: press SHIFT
to enable the pan mode, and release the SHIFT key to disable it.
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• Select: Reactivates the select mode and inhibits 'Move' and 'Zoom' modes.

• Shortcuts:
Press "ESC" to escape zoom and pan modes.

Double-click on the display window to reset default parameters.

Full screen display

By clicking on granular bars located near data source panel, data source menu and Acquisition icons
are hidden in order to display views in full screen.
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Figure 209: Full screen display in Acquisition panel

Color scale
By default, two color scales are available: Color scale and grey scale. The user can change the range
of the color scale thanks to two horizontal cursors representing minimum and maximum thresholds.
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White or red

Upper cursor

Lower cursor

Black or blue

Non Symmetric color scale Symmetric color scale

Figure 210: Adjustment of dynamic range of color scale

Lower cursor and upper cursor can be adjusted automatically at 0% level and 100% level for amplitude
scale and at minimum time of flight value and maximum time of flight value for time scale thanks to the
following icon:

The dropdown Color scale menu is available by right clicking on the Color scale.
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Figure 211: Color scale menu

Several options are available in the scale menu:

• Greayscale scale only: Change the current color scale to gray scale.

• Symmetric / not: Enable/disable the symmetry of the color bar.

• Threshold / no-threshold: Maintain / not maintain the last color of the scale when the signal
is over the threshold.

• Load a color scale: Select this option to load a color scale (.xml file).

• Save the color scale as…: Saves the current color scale.

• Copy palette: Select this option to copy the current color scale to the other data source.
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Select all data sources Unselect all data sources

Tick the color scale

of data source to
modify

Figure 212: Copy palette

• Link palette: Select this option to link the current color scale with other color scales of the other
data sources. Modification in one of linked color scales is applied to other linked color scales.

Select all data sources Unselect all data sources

Tick the color scale of

data sources to link it

Figure 213: Link palettes

• Palette editor: Select this option to create your own color bar.
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Save color map Load multi2000

colormap

Load color map

Definition of each colormap

threshold

Result of defined color

Tool bar map
Delete threshold
Add threshold

Color of specifics
values

Figure 214: Palette editor

Robot position
A figure displays the transducer position versus inspected area. Inspected area is defined by trajectories
limits. Four arrows indicate when the transducer is out of the inspected area. The rectangular shows
that the transducer is inside the inspected area.

Inspected area

Figure 215: Position of the robot during acquisition

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2. Acquisition

Figure 216: Acquisition control icons

Three icons control the acquisition:

• Start

- Launch the acquisition

- Enable the suspend mode

- Enable the restart of acquisition

• Stop

- Stop the acquisition

An acquisition can be stopped and saved before the end (Considering the mechanical displacement).
Acquisition on mechanical displacement must be stopped by user once the displacement is over and if
the option “automatic ending” was not validated.
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Acquisition trigged on time stops automatically.

• Refresh Acquisition panel

This command cancels the last acquisition, refreshes acquisition views and updates acquisition
parameters.
It is important to refresh the Acquisition panel after a round trip in Parameters panel in order to consider
the last modifications (UT parameters). By refreshing Acquisition panel, all Acquisition data are
suppressed. If needed, the user must save data before refreshing the panel.

3. Automatic report

In Acquire software, two types of automatic reports are available:

• HMTL report with data analysis.

• PDF report

HTML report with data analysis

Acquired data are analyzed in order to diagnose the inspected specimen using criterions defined by the
user. The results of this analysis are displayed on a HTML report.

Access

In the Acquisition panel, the icon report gives access to two types of reports: HTML and PDF. The icon
“Treatments and report preferences” gives access to the HTML report (see next figure).
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Figure 217: “Treatments and HTML report preferences” access

To generate an HTML report, the following steps must be completed:

1. Load a UT data file (.m2k) or wait for the end of acquisition.
2. Click on “treatments and report preferences”.
3. Enter the identity of the inspection (controller name, specimen reference).
4. Choose the condition to start analysis and report edition.
5. Define the sorting parameters.
6. Start analysis and report edition.
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1. inspection identity

2. Preferences of start
analysis and report edition

3. Sorting parameters

4. Displayed information in the report

5. Button start of analysis/report

Figure 218: Parameters panel of analysis and report edition

Inspection identity

Figure 219: Identity of HTML report

The heading of HTML report contains the following information:

• Name of the inspected specimen or reference.

 Page: 191/210

• Name of the operator.

Preferences: Automatic options

Figure 220: Automatic option of HTML report

Preferences panel allows validating several automatic options:

• Automatic saving of acquisition UT data (.m2k file) at the end of the acquisition.

• Automatic start of analysis at the end of the acquisition.

• Automatic display of the report at the end of the analysis.

Conditions of discard

UT acquired data are analyzed. The result of this analysis is the diagnosis of the inspected specimen. The
sorting is achieved using a threshold value defined by the user.

With the “Threshold exceed” panel; the user may define the value of the threshold. This threshold can be
single or double.

In single mode, the acquired data is considered as a defect indication if the amplitude value is over (or under)
the threshold with respect of the condition of the count number. The count number is the number of time that
the amplitude value is over (or under) the threshold value.

Figure 221: Definition of the simple threshold mode

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In double mode, the user defines two thresholds:

• Threshold 1: Warning threshold.

• Threshold 2: Threshold of discard.

A specimen is discarded if one acquired data is over the discard threshold (X > threshold 2).

If acquired data is over the warning threshold and under the discard threshold, data is considered as potential
defect but the specimen isn’t discarded.

When data is over (or under) the threshold 1 or 2, the number of count is a condition to validate this data as a
potential defect.

Figure 222: Definition of double threshold mode

Options of report display

Several information can be displayed in the report:

• Electronical C-scan view. To be displayed in the report, the C-scan view must be dropped in
back-left position in Acquisition panel.

• Value of data (%) < discard threshold, Value of data (%) > discard threshold.

• Total surface of defects indications (data > discard threshold).

Figure 223: Options of report display

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Launch of analysis and edition of HTML report

In case of Multi-salvoes configuration, the analysis parameters can be independent per salvo or can be applied
to all salvoes.

The analysis can be launched on the current salvo or on all salvoes.

Go to the next salvo

Parameters of Go to the above salvo

Multisalvo analysis

Apply current analysis parameters

to all salvoes

Start analysis to all salvoes

Launch analysis
Start analysis to the current salvo

Parameters of Launch analysis

Multisalvo analysis

Figure 224: Launch of analysis icons

• Example of HTML report

The created HTML report has the following form:
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 Page: 195/210

PDF report
The PDF report function automatically creates a report of acquisition with screenshots displaying one
or several parts of this acquisition. No data analysis is included.
The PDF report can be customized. The user may specify:

• Specimen reference

• Name of operator

• Company logo

• Acquisition views

• UT parameters…
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Access

The first step to create a PDF report is to specify the path of Acrobat reader access (see next figure) in
the “options” panel
Note: PDF report is compatible with Acrobat reader v9.0 and later.

Figure 225: Definition of the Acrobat reader path

In Acquisition panel, the icon report gives access to two types of report HTML and PDF. The icon « PDF
report » gives access to the PDF report (see next figure).
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Figure 226: Access of the PDF report

To generate a PDF report, the following steps must be completed:

1. Load a UT data file (.m2k) or wait for the end of acquisition
2. Click on « PDF report ».
3. Select views to be displayed in the report
4. Select a template
5. Enter the identity of the inspection (operator name, specimen reference, title of the report…) to
be displayed in the report header
6. Specify the parameters to be displayed in the report (UT parameters, company logo…)
7. Specify the acquisition area to be displayed in the report
8. Start report edition
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Figure 227: Parameters panel of pdf report

Selection of views to display in the report

After clicking on «PDF report », a specific screen pops up in the Acquisition panel: the report screen. The user
may drop in this screen all the views to be displayed in the report.

By default, the ‘report’ screen contains all views of the last current screen.

Selection of template

The template allows saving in a file the specific parameters of the user report:
- Parameters selected via a click on “option”.
- The dimension of the acquisition area to be displayed in the report.
- The report screen (all views to be displayed in the report).

Several types of template are available:

- Configuration: this option saves the template in the .m2k file (xxx.m2k/reportpdf).
 Page: 199/210

- Application: this option save the template in Acquire directory

(c:/Acquire/reportingCatalogModel/reportpdf).
- Windows: this option save the template on the hard disk (C:/m2m/reportM2M).
It’s possible to create several templates and to save them under specific names.

click

click

Figure 228: Template creation

The saved template may be opened from a drop -down menu (see next figure).

Figure 229: Selection of existing template

Inspection identity

The header of PDF report contains the following information:

- Name of the inspected specimen or reference
- Name of the operator
- Date of the report edition
- Date of the acquisition if existing (this date is automatically read in the .m2k file, it’s not possible to
modify it)
- Title of the report
In the inspection identity panel, the user may also specify the name of the PDF report file.
 Page: 200/210

Figure 230: Configuration of the report’s header

Definition of the parameters to be displayed in the report

« Options » icon gives access to the following parameters:

- Definition of the saving report path.
- Selection of the company logo.
- Selection of UT parameters display: probe, wedge, focal laws, gain, voltage, PRF…).
- In Multi-Salvoes configuration, selection of the Integral data source display.
- Selection of several options concerning the scrolling views.

Select the default path to save the .pdf file

Customize the company logo

Select the displayed configuration

parameters in the report

click

Display or not the data source in

the pdf report
Rotate the print screen in the pdf
Show or not the cursors in the print screen
Adjust the number of Adjust the dimensions of the
decimal value of scrolling last scrolling according to the
zone dimensions selected zone
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Figure 231: Options panel

Definition of the acquisition zone to display in the report

The user may display a part of the acquisition in the report (for inspection with a large robot
displacement for example); this is the selection zone option.
If the report screen contains “scrolling” views, acquisition is scrolled automatically according to the
dimension of the “scrolling” view from the initial position of the selection zone (scanning start) to the
final position of the selection zone (scanning stop). For each scrolling, screen shot of the report screen
is displayed automatically in the PDF report.

Figure 232: Definition of the selection zone

There are two possibilities to specify the selection zone:

• 1st solution: With cursors (see figure above).

1) Put the positioning blue cursor to the initial position (scanning start).
2) Then, validate this position by clicking on the « validate » icon (see figure above).
Make the step 1 and 2 to specify the final position of the selection zone (scanning stop)

• 2e solution: With fix values of position

1) Enter the value of the initial position (scanning start) and press “enter”.
2) Enter the value of the final position (scanning stop) and press “enter”.
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By clicking on «Reset» icon, the dimension of the selection area is adjusted to the dimension of the
acquisition.

Report Edition

Click on « Generate report » icon to create the PDF report. After the creation, the PDF report will be opened
automatically with Acrobat program.

Figure 233: PDF report edition

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• Example of PDF report:

The created PDF report has the following form:
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PART 6: REMOTE CONTROL

Remote Control documentation is found inside the Acquire installation folder here :
C:\Acquire\plugins\fr.Acquire.plugins.acquisition_server_socket_1.0.0\Doc
 Page: 207/210

APPENDIX 1: Acquire GLOSSARY and DATA ARCHITECTURE

Eddyfi/M2M vocabulary is mainly based on the norm NF EN 16018.

Shot:
Single excitation of transmitting element(s) and acquisition of the signal(s)

Sequence:
Series of shots carried out in one acquisition cycle with the same active aperture (group of active elements
when transmitting and/or receiving)

Salvo:
Series of acquisition sequences carried out with the array in one position dedicated to one application

Trigger:
Event (internal time event, encoder input, input signal) that causes the beginning of the first salvo firing

Trigger Trigger

time

Salvo1 Salvo N Salvo1

Sequence 1 Sequence N Sequence 1 Sequence N Sequence 1 Sequence N

Shot 1 Shot N Shot 1 Shot N Shot 1 Shot N Shot 1 Shot N Shot 1 Shot N Shot 1 Shot

Figure 234 : Data structure

Example: 32 elements probe; 5 sequences; 3 shots for each sequence; aperture of 4 elements; scanning step : 6
elements.

probe aperture delay law

Figure 235 : sequence 1, shot 2 Figure 236 : sequence 1 , shot 3

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Figure 237 : sequence 1, shot 1

Figure 239 : sequence 3, shot 1 Figure 238: sequence 5, shot 2

Channel:
Electronic device of the test instrument for transmitting (transmitting channel) and/or receiving a signal
(receiving channel)

Elementary signal / channel signal A-scan:

A-scan presentation of the ultrasonic signal received by one element:

- x-axis corresponds to the digitalization time expressed in points or time unit. The step between
two points depends on the digitalization frequency. At 100MHz, the time duration between two
points is 0.01µs.

- y-axis corresponds to the amplitude of the signal expressed in bin or %. The relation between
bin and percent is given below:
o -100% → -32768 bin
o +100% → +32767 bin

Through the Remote Control API, Ascans are retrieved as a short array (little endian format).

Figure 240 : Ascan in bin / pts

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Figure 241 : Ascan in % / µs

Sum of signals:
Result of the operation of summing the received signals of the elements after applying a delay law

Summed A-scan:
A-scan presentation of the sum of ultrasonic signals received by an aperture.

Multiple reconstruction of the received signals:

Technique used to control an ultrasonic beam by combining each elementary signal several times to get several
reconstructions or summations

Delay law:
Set of settings used to control the set of delays for transmission and/or reception to shape the beam

Figure 242 : example of delay law utilisation

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Gate:

Time of Flight and amplitude

computed by the gate Height = 40 pts

Start = 40 pts Width = 20 pts

Figure 243: gate

Portion of the digitalized area where the Time of Flight and the Amplitude of a detected echo are extracted. A
gate is defined by :

- Index (identification of the gate)

- Start position (relative or not to the result of another gate with a lower index)
- Width
- Threshold height
- Detection type (please refer to the Multi2000_USER_MANUAL for more information)
Several gates could be set for one shot.

A gate is applied for all the sequence but the configuration (threshold) could be different for each shot.

TCG (Time Corrected Gain)

A TCG Curve represents the variation of the gain along the time of the digitalization. The TCG can be applied to
the analog and/or the digital gain.

Usually, this functionality is used to provide equal amplitude from equal reflectors at different depths.

Figure 244 : Analog DAC