System and method for generating chaotic sound for sonic infrared imaging of defects in materials
US7122801B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 14, 2004 |
| Grant date | Oct 17, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 1, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2291/044
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A defect detection system for thermally imaging a structure that has been energized by 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 hard metal disk is positioned between the transducer and the structure to help couple the sound energy from the transducer into 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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.