System and method for acoustic chaos and sonic infrared imaging

US6998616B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Wayne State University · US

Inventors

• Lawrence D. Favro · Huntington Woods, US
• Robert L. Thomas · Huntington Woods, US
• Xiaoyan Han · Beijing, CN
• Max Rothenfusser · Munich, DE
• Joachim Baumann · Dortmund, DE
• Robert E. Shannon · Oviedo, US
• Paul J. Zombo · Cocoa, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 25, 2003
• Grant date: Feb 14, 2006
• Expiry date: Mar 25, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2291/044
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A defect detection system for thermally imaging a structure that has been energized by a sound energy. The system includes a transducer that couples a sound signal into the structure, where the sound signal causes defects in the structure to heat up. In one embodiment, a non-linear coupling material is positioned between the transducer and the structure to couple the sound energy from the transducer to the structure. A predetermined force is applied to the transducer and a pulse duration and a pulse frequency of the sound signal are selected so that the sound energy induces acoustic chaos in the structure, thus generating increased thermal energy. A thermal imaging camera images the structure when it is heated by the sound signal.