3D acoustic imaging using sensor array, longitudinal wave and algebraic reconstruction
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for evaluating the health of a component comprising:
- a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters coupled to the component;
a plurality of sensors coupled to the component, the sensors configured to receive signals transmitted through the component from the transmitters; and
a circuit configured to collect and store signals received by the sensors, the circuit further configured to receive the stored signals and process the signals to form an image of a defect within the component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile platform is provided which has at least one component having an array of distributed piezoelectric transmitters and an associated array of distributed receivers. The receivers are configured to receive ultrasonic transmissions from the transmitters. Data from the receivers is stored in memory and processed through an algebraic reconstruction tomography algorithm which forms an image of the defect within the component. An algorithm is used to determine the position and size of the defect.
38 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A system for evaluating the health of a component comprising:
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a plurality of ultrasonic transmitters coupled to the component;
a plurality of sensors coupled to the component, the sensors configured to receive signals transmitted through the component from the transmitters; and
a circuit configured to collect and store signals received by the sensors, the circuit further configured to receive the stored signals and process the signals to form an image of a defect within the component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for analyzing the health of a reinforced composite structure, the system comprising:
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a plurality of transceivers coupled to the reinforced structure;
a switch circuit coupled to the transceivers;
a processor coupled to the switch circuit, wherein the switch circuit is configured to recursively enable single transceivers to individually transmit a broad band vibrational pulse while the remaining transceivers are configured to receive the vibrational pulse, said switch circuit further being configured to couple the transceivers to a processor, said processor being configured to receive the storage signals and process the signals to form an image of a defect within the component. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of detecting a defect within a thermoplastic composite structure comprising:
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operably coupling an array of ultrasonic transceivers to the thermoplastic structure, said array having a transmitting transceiver and a plurality of receiving transceivers;
recursively enabling each transceiver of the array to individually transmit a broad band vibrational pulse and record the transmitted pulse using the receiving transceivers;
providing a processor configured to run an algebraic reconstruction tomography algorithm on the recorded pulse to form an image of the defect within the component; and
running the algebraic reconstruction tomography algorithm to form a first image of the defect. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32)
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30. A system for evaluating the health of a component comprising:
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an array of ultrasonic transducers coupled to the component;
a means for coupling the ultrasonic transducers to processors;
a means for collecting and storing the signals received by the transducers; and
a means for analyzing the stored signals to produce data which corresponds to physical properties related to a defect within the component. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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Specification