Method for monitoring the integrity of an eddy current inspection channel

摘要

An eddy current object testing system includes an EC probe and an acquisition channel which is configured to receive an EC signal from the EC probe and to generate a visual output, namely an impedance plane representation, of the output. A display is coupled to the acquisition channel to display the visual output. The at least one probe is provided with a test loop substantially surrounding it and has a series switch which can be selectively closed or opened to thereby cause the image plane to assume a state that is indicative of a fault, if any, in the EC probe.

主权项

1. An eddy current object testing system, comprising:
an eddy current probe array, configured for testing a test object, said eddy current probe array comprising more than two coils associated with different elements of more than two drive-sense channels; an acquisition unit coupled to the eddy current probe array for producing an impedance plane output for each of the channels, said acquisition unit is connected with each of the drive-sense channels; and at least one test loop provided on the eddy current probe array and at least one test loop switch in series with the at least one test loops, the at least one test loop switch being configured to selectively open or close the at least one test loops, to thereby cause the impedance plane output to assume a state that is indicative of a fault in one or more elements of the eddy current probe array; and wherein the acquisition unit is operative to selectively activate or deactivate selected ones of the drive-sense channels of the eddy current probe array.