Taiji Hirasawa

Bio: Taiji Hirasawa is an academic researcher from Toshiba. The author has contributed to research in topics: Ultrasonic sensor & Ultrasonic testing. The author has an hindex of 11, co-authored 57 publications receiving 494 citations.

Ultrasonograph, ultrasonic transducer, examining instrument, and ultrasonographing device

Abstract: An ultrasonograph for carrying out examination simply and quickly while achieving high resolution and high-speed processing, an ultrasonic transducer, an examining instrument, and ultrasonographing device the subject matter are disclosed Piezoelectric layers constituting an ultrasonic transducer are made of barium titanate BaTiO3 or lead titanate zirconate PZT is used and the thickness of each piezoelectric layer is 01 to 100 microm The ultrasonograph comprises a drive unit for driving one of the piezoelectric layers, a sensing unit for sensing electric signals generated by piezoelectric layers receiving echos from the object subjected to ultrasonic wave transmitted by the driven piezoelectric layer, and a processing unit for visualizing the state of the subjected object by processing the sensed electric signal

Phased array ultrasonic testing apparatus and testing method therefor

Abstract: A phased array ultrasonic testing apparatus includes: an array probe for ultrasonic transmission and reception; a transmitter for sequentially exciting transducers of the probe in a predetermined order; a circuit for preparing a composite signal from reception output from the probe; and a circuit for preparing an image signal indicating an internal flaw of a tested body in synchronism with the composite signal in accordance with a transmission beam index point and a steered angle of an ultrasonic main beam.

Plant maintenanace method and apparatus

Abstract: Entered in a plant-maintenance apparatus are data on inspection, diagnosis, repair and operation histories for equipment that constitute a plant to be maintained. Failure-event tree breakdown is performed on failures to be expected for the equipment. Predicted is unreliability of at least one starting item in the failure-event tree breakdown. Unreliability of each item in the failure-event tree is calculated based on failure unreliability function. Unreliability and a cost of recovery from each failure event in the failure-event tree are multiplied and results of the multiplication are accumulated in accordance with the tree breakdown, thus obtaining a recovery cost. Preventive maintenance expenses are calculated for preventing failure events. Maintenance timing and technique are decided through comparison between the recovery cost and the preventive maintenance expenses. Instead of the failure-event tree breakdown, efficiency and operational-function decay event-tree breakdown may be performed on efficiency and operational-function decay factors to be expected for the equipment. Predicted in this case is unreliability of at least one starting item in the efficiency and operational-function decay event-tree breakdown. Unreliability of each item in the efficiency and operational-function decay-event tree breakdown is calculated based on failure unreliability function. Further calculated is efficiency and operational-function decay to be expected from the calculation based on the failure unreliability function. Unreliability and monetary loss due to efficiency and operational-function decay and a cost of recovery from the decay are multiplied and results of the multiplication are accumulated in accordance with the efficiency and operational-function decay-event tree breakdown. Preventive maintenance expenses are calculated for preventing the efficiency and operational-function decay.

Surface inspecting apparatus

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a surface inspecting apparatus capable of detecting the presence and dimension of the surface flaw of an object to be measured in a non-contact and non-destructive manner with high accuracy. SOLUTION: A surface inspecting apparatus is constituted of a surface wave transmitting means 10 for exciting surface waves in a non-contact state with respect to a certain part of an object to be measured, a surface wave detecting means 14 comprising one surface wave detecting element preliminarily arranged at a known position with respect to a transmission position and detecting surface waves or both of surface waves and flaw waves among the surface waves propagated through the surface of the object to be measured and flaw waves generated by the reflection, transmission, diffraction and scattering of the surface waves at a flaw place in a non-contact state, a flaw-detecting means 17 detecting one of the presence and depth of a flaw or both of them from the output signal of the surface wave detecting element, a flaw identifying means 17 adding the presence and depth of the flaw from the flaw wave component contained in the output signal of the surface wave detecting element to identify the position of the flaw and a sonic speed calibrating means 17 calibrating the sonic speed of surface waves from the propagation time of the surface wave component.

3d ultrasonographic device

Abstract: A three-dimensional ultrasonic inspection apparatus includes: a sensing device for ultrasonic inspection including an ultrasonic sensor as a transducer, in which a plurality of piezoelectric vibrators are disposed in a matrix or an array; a drive element selecting unit for selecting and driving a piezoelectric vibrator for producing an ultrasonic wave among the ultrasonic transducer; a signal detecting circuit for detecting the electric signal of the reflected echo by receiving the reflected echo from the joined area; a signal processing unit for subjecting the electric signal to signal processing and generating three-dimensional imaging data by causing the electric signals to correspond to mesh elements in a three-dimensional imaging region of the object to be inspected; and a display processing device for displaying the detection results and three-dimensional image data from the signal processing unit, while detecting the size and the position of the molten-solidified portion, and the size and the position of the weld defect of the joined area, from the intensity distribution of the three-dimensional imaging data generated by the signal processing unit.

Hvac system remote monitoring and diagnosis

Abstract: A monitoring system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a building includes a monitoring device installed at the building, a monitoring server located remotely from the building, and a review server. The monitoring device measures an aggregate current supplied to components of the HVAC system and transmits current data based on the measured aggregate current. The monitoring server receives the transmitted current data and, based on the received current data, assesses whether failures have occurred in first and second components of the HVAC components. The monitoring server generates a first advisory in response to determining that the failure has occurred in the first component. The review server provides the first advisory to a technician for review and, in response to the technician verifying that the failure has occurred, transmits a first alert.

Therapeutic ultrasound system

Abstract: An ultrasound system has a catheter including an elongate flexible catheter body having at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. The catheter further includes an ultrasound transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body, the ultrasound transmission member having a proximal end connectable to a separate ultrasound generating device and a distal end coupled to the distal end of the catheter body. The distal end of the catheter body is deflectable. The ultrasound system also includes a sonic connector that connects the ultrasound transmission member to an ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound system also provides a method for reverse irrigation and removal of particles.

Ultrasound catheter apparatus

Abstract: Ultrasound catheter devices and methods of the present invention generally provide for ablation and/or disruption of vascular occlusions. An ultrasound transmission member, such as a wire, transmits vibrational energy from an ultrasound transducer to a distal head of the catheter to disrupt vascular occlusions. At least one absorber member is disposed on or around the ultrasound transmission wire at a location adjacent the sonic connector of the catheter. The absorber member absorbs heat, vibrations, and/or the like from the ultrasound transmission wire at or near the area where the transmission wire is coupled with the sonic connector. The absorptive function typically slows the process of wear and tear on the transmission wire, thus extending the useful life of the ultrasound catheter.

Residential solutions hvac monitoring and diagnosis

Abstract: A monitoring system for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of a residence includes a monitoring device installed at the residence and a server located remotely from the residence. The monitoring device measures an aggregate current supplied to a plurality of components of the HVAC system and transmits current data based on the measured aggregate current. The server receives the transmitted current data and, based on the received current, assesses whether a failure has occurred in a first component of the plurality of components of the HVAC system and assesses whether a failure has occurred in a second component of the plurality of components of the HVAC system.