Method for calibrating and enhancing flaw detection of an acoustic thermography system
US7064331B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 19, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jun 20, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 12, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2291/02881
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for calibrating an acoustic thermography system 10 and/or enhancing the flaw detection abilities of such a system is provided. The method allows applying a material (e.g., 103) to a specimen 12 undergoing acoustic thermography inspection. The material is thermally responsive to acoustic energy transmitted to the specimen by the acoustic thermography system. In one aspect thereof, a thermal response of the material applied to the specimen when subjected to acoustic energy is processed to determine whether the level of acoustic energy applied by the acoustic thermographic system appropriately meets a desired amount of acoustic energy for inspecting the specimen. In another aspect thereof, the thermal response of the specimen in combination with the applied material may be processed to determine whether certain types of flaws (e.g., relatively wide flaws) are actually present in the specimen or to enhance the detectability of other flaws that would only faintly show up on the infrared images.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.