Modular inspection system handset

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9638553-B2
Application number	US-201314010068-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2013
Priority date	Aug 26, 2013
Publication date	May 2, 2017
Grant date	May 2, 2017

Abstract

A handset for inspecting a target object with a sensor in an inspection module is disclosed. The handset includes a housing having a grip portion adapted to be held by a person, the housing adapted to selectively mechanically engage with the inspection module, a handset interface on the housing adapted to exchange signals with the inspection module, a handset processor, a user input interface accessible to the person gripping the grip portion and adapted to provide a control signal to the handset processor, and a user output interface responsive to the handset processor to display the data transmitted by the handset processor about the target object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A handset for inspecting a target object with an inspection modality not found in the handset using an inspection module having a sensor, the inspection module comprising a modality-specific inspection component having a modality-specific hardware, modality-specific processing functions, modality-specific configuration information, and modality-specific sensor information, and the handset comprising:
a handset interface configured to exchange signals with the inspection module;
a handset processor, the handset processor configured to receive information for supporting the inspection modality not found in the handset from the inspection module, including the handset processor being configured to:
receive the modality-specific configuration information and the modality-specific sensor information from the modality-specific hardware of the inspection module; and
control the modality-specific processing functions of the inspection module, wherein the modality-specific configuration information of the inspection module includes data formatting information for the inspection modality not found in the handset;

a user input interface configured to provide a control signal to the handset processor to control the modality-specific hardware of the inspection module; and
a user output interface responsive to the handset processor to display the modality-specific sensor information about the target object using the modality-specific processing functions and the modality-specific configuration information including the data formatting information for the inspection modality not found in the handset.

2. The handset of claim 1 , further comprising a housing having a grip portion configured to be held by a person, the housing configured to selectively mechanically engage with the inspection module, wherein the grip portion is arranged as one of a hammer grip or a pistol grip.

3. The handset of claim 1 , wherein the handset interface comprises a handset connector.

4. The handset of claim 3 , wherein the handset connector comprises one of a pogo pin or a conductive pad for receiving a pogo pin.

5. The handset of claim 1 , wherein the control signal is at least one of a steering mode or a joystick position, and the handset processor is configured to provide an articulation control signal to the inspection module.

6. The handset of claim 1 , wherein the control signal is a light control signal, and the handset processor is configured to provide a light source command to the inspection module.

7. The handset of claim 1 , wherein the control signal is a stop acquiring data from the sensor control signal, and the handset processor is configured to provide a command to the inspection module to reduce power in the inspection module.

8. The handset of claim 1 , wherein the handset processor is configured to automatically receive the control signal from the user input interface, in response to the received control signal, provide a modality specific control signal via the handset interface to the inspection module, receive the modality-specific sensor data via the handset interface from the inspection module; and automatically provides the received modality-specific sensor information to the user output interface.

9. The handset of claim 1 , wherein the handset is configured to provide electrical power to the sensor.

10. The handset of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an image sensor and the handset does not include an articulation driver configured to move the sensor.

11. The handset of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an image sensor and the handset does not include a light source configured to illuminate the target object.

12. The handset of claim 1 , wherein the handset is configured to selectively mechanically engage with a battery.

13. The handset of claim 1 , wherein the user input interface comprises a touchscreen interface.

14. The handset of claim 1 , wherein the user input interface comprises one or more of a joystick and a button.

15. The handset of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless network interface.

16. The handset of claim 1 , further comprising one or more of input ports and output ports.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Coombs Kevin Andrew
• Bendall Clark Alexander
• Scott Joshua Lynn
• Hournbuckle Jr Bobby Dale

Classifications

• G01N29/226

  Handheld or portable devices · CPC title

• G01N21/88

  Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination · CPC title

• G01D11/24 Primary

  Housings {; Casings for instruments} · CPC title

• G01D11/30 Primary

  Supports specially adapted for an instrument; Supports specially adapted for a set of instruments · CPC title

• G01N21/84

  Systems specially adapted for particular applications · CPC title