Significance and Use
The primary use of this guide is to provide a standardized approach for the data file to be used for the transfer of digital ultrasonic data from one user to another where the two users are working with dissimilar ultrasonic systems. This guide describes the contents, both required and optional, for an intermediate data file that can be created from the native format of the ultrasonic system on which the data was collected and that can be converted into the native format of the receiving ultrasonic or data analysis system. The development of translator software to accomplish these data format conversions is being addressed under a separate effort; this will include specific items needed for the data transfer, for example, language used, memory requirements and intermediate specification, including detailed data formats and structures. Ths guide will also be useful in the archival storage and retrieval of ultrasonic data as either a data format specifier or as a guide to the data elements that should be included in the archival file.
Although the recommended field listing includes more than 120 items, only about one third of those are regarded as essential and marked with Footnote C in Table 1. Fields so marked must be addressed in the data base. The other recommended fields provide additional information that a user will find helpful in understanding the ultrasonic examination result. These header field items will, in most cases, make up only a very small part of an ultrasonic examination file. The actual stream of ultrasonic data that make up the image will take up the largest part of the data base. Since an ultrasonic image file will normally be large, the concept of data compression will be considered in many cases. Compressed data should be noted, along with a description of the compression method, as indicated in Field No. 122.
This guide describes the structure of a data file for all of the ultrasonic information collected in a single scan. Some systems record multiple inspection results during a single scan. For example, through transmission attenuation data as well as pulse echo thickness data may be recorded at the same time. These data may be stored in separate image planes; see Field No. 102. In other systems, complete digitized waveforms may be recorded at each inspection point. It is recognized that the complete examination record may contain several files, for example, for the same examination method in different object areas, with or without image processing, for different examination methods (through-transmission, pulse-echo, radiologic, infrared, etc.) collected during the same or during different scan sessions, and for variations within a single method (frequency change, etc.). Information about the existence of other images/examination records for the examined object should be noted in the appropriate fields. A single image plane may be one created by overlaying or processing results for multiple examination approaches, for example data fusion. For such images, the notes sections must clearly state how the image for this file was created.
TABLE 1 Field Listing
Field NumberA | Field Name and Description | Data Type/UnitsB | |
---|---|---|---|
Header Information: | |||
1C | Intermediate file name | Alphanumeric stringD | |
2C | Format revision code | Alphanumeric string | |
3C | Format revision date | yyyy/mm/ddD | |
4C | Source file name | Alphanumeric string | |
5 | Examination file description notes | Alphanumeric string | |
6C | Examining company and location | Alphanumeric stringD | |
7C | Examination date | yyyy/mm/dd | |
8C | Examination time | hh:mm:ss | |
9C | Type of examination | Alphanumeric stringD | |
10C | Other examinations performed | Alphanumeric stringD | |
11 | Operator Name | Alphanumeric string | |
12C | Operator identification code | Alphanumeric string | |
13C | ASTM, ISO, or other applicable standard inspection specification | Alphanumeric string | |
14 | Date of applicable standard | yyyy/mm/dd | |
15C | Acceptance criteria | Alphanumeric string | |
16C | System of units | Alphanumeric stringD | |
17 | Notes | Alphanumeric string | |
Examination System Description: | |||
18 | Examination system manufacturer(s) | Alphanumeric stringD | |
19C | Examination system model | Alphanumeric string | |
20 | Examination system serial number | Alphanumeric string | |
Pulser Description: | |||
21 | Pulser electronics manufacturer | Alphanumeric string | |
22 | Pulser electronics model number | Alphanumeric string | |
23 | Pulser type | Alphanumeric stringD | |
24 | Pulse repetition frequency | Real number, kiloHertz | |
25 | Pulse height | Alphanumeric stringD | |
26 | Pulse width | Real number, nsec | |
27 | Last calibration date | yyyy/mm/dd | |
28 | Notes on pulser section | Alphanumeric string | |
Receiver Description: | |||
29 | Receiver electronics manufacturer | Alphanumeric string | |
30 | Receiver electronics model | Alphanumeric string | |
31 | Receiver electronics response center frequency | Real number, MHzD | |
32 | Receiver bandwidth | Real number, MHzD | |
33 | Fixed receiver gain | Real number, dB | |
34 | User selected receiver gain | Real number, dB | |
35 | Last calibration date | yyyy/mm/dd | |
Notes on receiver section | Alphanumeric string | ||
Gate Description: | |||
37 | Number of gates | Integer | |
38 | Gate type | Alphanumeric stringD | |
39 | Gate synchronization | Alphanumeric string | |
40 | Gate start delay | Alphanumeric string | |
41 | Gate width | Alphanumeric string | |
42 | Gate threshold level | Alphanumeric string | |
43 | Notes on gate section | Alphanumeric string | |
Search Unit Description: | |||
44 | Transmit search unit manufacturer | Alphanumeric string | |
45 | Transmit search unit model | Alphanumeric string | |
46 | Transmit search unit serial number | Alphanumeric string | |
47 | Transmit search unit element diameter | Real number | |
48 | Measured beam diameter of the Transmit search unit at the examination surface | Real number | |
49 | Location of measurement of beam diameter of the transmit search unit | Alphanumeric stringD | |
50 | Transmit search unit focal length | Real numberD | |
51 | Transmit search unit nominal frequency | Real number, MHz | |
52 | Transmit search unit response center frequency | Real number, MHz | |
53 | Transmit search unit response bandwidth | Real number, MHz | |
54 | Transmit search unit cable type | Alphanumeric string | |
55 | Transmit search unit cable length | Real number | |
56 | Number of values for Transmit search unit digitized waveform | IntegerD | |
57 | Transmit search unit waveform values | Real number | |
58 | Notes on Transmit search unit waveform | Alphanumeric string | |
59 | Transmit search unit coupling technique and medium | Alphanumeric string | |
60 | Receive search unit manufacturer | Alphanumeric string | |
61 | Receive search unit model number | Alphanumeric string | |
62 | Receive search unit serial number | Alphanumeric string | |
63 | Receive search unit element diameter | Real number | |
64 | Measured beam diameter of the “receive” search unit at the examination surface | Real number | |
65 | Location of measurement of beam diameter of the receive search unit | Alphanumeric stringD | |
66 | Receive search unit focal length | Real numberD | |
67 | Receive search unit nominal frequency | Real number, MHz | |
68 | Receive search unit response center frequency | Real number, MHz | |
69 | Receive search unit response bandwidth | Real number, MHz | |
70 | Receive search unit cable type | Alphanumeric string | |
71 | Receive search unit cable length | Real number | |
72 | Number of values for “receive” search unit digitized waveform | IntegerD | |
73 | Receive search unit waveform values | Real number | |
74 | Notes on Receive search unit waveform | Alphanumeric string | |
75 | Receive search unit coupling technique and medium | Alphanumeric string | |
Examined Sample Description: | |||
76C | Examined sample identification | Alphanumeric string | |
77C | Examined sample name | Alphanumeric string | |
78 | Examined sample description | Alphanumeric string | |
79C | Examined sample material | Alphanumeric string | |
80 | Examined sample notes (history, use, etc.) | Alphanumeric stringD | |
81C | Number of scan segments for this part | Integer | |
82 | Reference sample identification | Alphanumeric string | |
83 | Reference sample description | Alphanumeric string | |
84 | Reference sample file name/location | Alphanumeric string | |
85 | Reference sample notes (use, etc.) | Alphanumeric stringD | |
Coordinate System and Scan Description Machine Coordinate System: | |||
86 | Machine scan axis | Alphanumeric stringD | |
87 | Machine index axis | Alphanumeric string | |
88 | Machine third axis | Alphanumeric string | |
89 | Reference for machine coordinate system | Alphanumeric string | |
Part Coordinate System: | |||
90 | First part axis | Alphanumeric stringD | |
91 | Second part axis | Alphanumeric string | |
92 | Third part axis | Alphanumeric string | |
93 | Reference for part coordinate system | Alphanumeric string | |
Object Target Points: | |||
94C | Number of target points | Integer | |
95C | Description of target point | Alphanumeric string | |
96C | Coordinate of target point in first part axis | Real number | |
97C | Coordinate of target point in second part axis | Real number | |
98 | Coordinate of target point in third part axis | Real number | |
Data Plane: | |||
99 | Description of the plane onto which data will be projected | Alphanumeric string | |
100 | Coordinate system notes | Alphanumeric string | |
Examination Parameters: | |||
101C | Coordinate location number | Integer | |
102C | Number of data values per coordinate location | IntegerD | |
103C | Minimum value of test data range or resolution | IntegerD | |
104C | Maximum value of test data range or resolution | IntegerD | |
105C | Engineering units for minimum legal data value | Alphanumeric stringD | |
106C | Engineering units for maximum legal data value | Alphanumeric stringD | |
107C | Number of bits to which the original data was digitized | Integer | |
108C | Type of data scale | Alphanumeric stringD | |
109C | Size of data step | Real numberD | |
110C | Format of data recording | Alphanumeric stringD | |
111C | Number of colors or gray levels used | Integer | |
112C | Distribution of colors or gray levels | Alphanumeric string | |
Examination Results: | |||
113C | Scan segment number | IntegerD | |
114C | Scan segment description | Alphanumeric string | |
115 | Scan segment location on part | Alphanumeric string | |
116 | Scan segment orientation | Alphanumeric string | |
117C | Scan pattern description | Alphanumeric string | |
118 | Annotation | Alphanumeric stringD | |
119C | Distance between data sample points | Real number | |
120C | Interval between data locations in index direction | Real number | |
121 | Notes on data intervals | Alphanumeric string | |
122 | Notes on data format including notes on any compression techniques used | Alphanumeric string | |
123C | Total number of data points | IntegerD | |
124C | Actual stream of ultrasonic data | Real numbersD |
A Field numbers are for reference only. They do not imply a necessity to include all those fields in any specific database nor do they imply a requirement that fields be used in this particular order.
B Units listed first are SI; secondary units are inch-pound (English); see Field No. 16.
C Denotes essential field for computerization of test results.
D See Section 5 for further explanation.
Scope
1.1 This guide provides a listing and description of the fields that are recommended for inclusion in a digital ultrasonic examination data base to facilitate the transfer of such data. This guide is prepared for use particularly with digital image data obtained from ultrasonic scanning systems. The field listing includes those fields regarded as necessary for inclusion in the data base (as indicated by Footnote C in Table 1); these fields, so marked, are regarded as the minimum information necessary for a transfer recipient to understand the data. In addition, other optional fields are listed as a remainder of the types of information that may be useful for additional understanding of the data, or applicable to a limited number of applications.
1.2 It is recognized that organizations may have in place an internal format for the storage and retrieval of ultrasonic examination data. This guide should not impede the use of such formats since it is probable that the necessary fields are already included in such internal data bases, or that the few additions can be made. The numerical listing indicated in this guide is only for convenience; the specific numbers carry no inherent significance and are not a part of the data file.
1.3 The types of ultrasonic examination systems that appear useful in relation to this guide include those described in Practices E 114, E 214 and E 1001
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.