Method and apparatus for detecting and measuring laps and gaps in composite materials
US5963660A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 26, 1996 |
| Grant date | Oct 5, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 26, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2021/8472
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An electronic scanner having a light source and a light sensitive head is connected via a cable to a computer. The scanner head detects reflected light from the surface of the composite material and generates an electronic representation of the surface. A conventional software driver interprets the scanner output to produce an electronic bit-mapped image. The electronic image is then displayed so that gaps are readily visible. The electronic representation is also analyzed to determine the presence of laps and gaps, to measure gap widths, to measure the distance between points on the display, and to determine the percentage of the surface covered by fiber material. The electronic representation may also be stored for later analysis.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.