Systems and methods for detecting variations in composite structures
First Claim
1. A method for detecting changes in composite structures, comprising:
- detecting at least one RF signal transmitted from an RF transmitter located in a structure including at least one composite material or composite component;
compiling characteristics of the at least one detected RF signal;
generating a test RF pattern based on the characteristics of the at least one detected RF signal;
accessing at least one reference RF pattern related to the structure;
comparing the reference RF pattern with the test RF pattern to determine differences in the characteristics of the test RF pattern; and
identifying changes in the at least one composite material or composite component of the structure based on the pattern comparison.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method to detect changes in composite structures using RF signal pattern data interpretation. An RF signal is transmitted from a composite material manufactured structure and a plurality of sensors are employed to measure the RF signal. The measured RF signal is compared to a stored baseline RF signal for the particular structure. Deviations in the measured RF pattern for the structure, or for a structurally-similar composite structure, are automatically analyzed to detect non-visually-detectable defects or other changes in the composite structure. A baseline RF signature is developed for a structure by transmitting a reference RF signal from the composite structure. RF signals are detected by a variety of methods, and the detected signals are compiled and translated into reference and/or test RF signal patterns for the structure.
16 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for detecting changes in composite structures, comprising:
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detecting at least one RF signal transmitted from an RF transmitter located in a structure including at least one composite material or composite component; compiling characteristics of the at least one detected RF signal; generating a test RF pattern based on the characteristics of the at least one detected RF signal; accessing at least one reference RF pattern related to the structure; comparing the reference RF pattern with the test RF pattern to determine differences in the characteristics of the test RF pattern; and identifying changes in the at least one composite material or composite component of the structure based on the pattern comparison. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for establishing a reference RF pattern for a composite structure, comprising:
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detecting at least one RF signal transmitted from an RF transmitter located in a known baseline structure including at least one composite material or composite component; compiling characteristics of the at least one detected RF signal; generating a reference RF pattern for the at least one composite material or component in the known baseline structure based on the characteristics of the at least one detected RF signal.
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13. A system for detecting changes in composite structures, comprising:
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an RF receiver that receives at least one RF signal transmitted from an RF transmitter located in a structure including at least one composite material or composite component; a compiler device that compiles characteristics of the at least one detected RF signal and generates a test RF pattern based on the characteristics of the at least one detected RF signal; a storage unit that stores at least one reference RF pattern related to the structure; a comparator device that accesses the at least one reference RF pattern and compares the reference RF pattern and the test RF pattern to determine differences in the characteristics of the reference RF pattern and test RF pattern; and an identifying unit that identifies changes in the at least one composite material or composite component of the structure based on the pattern comparison. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification