System and Method for Generating Three-Dimensional Density-Based Defect Map

• US 20080270043A1
• Filed: 07/02/2008
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard E. Jesmonth
• Original Assignee: Richard E. Jesmonth
• Inventors: Jesmonth, Richard E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,856,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/34
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/026 combined with devices for monitoring insect presence, e.g. termites bait stations A01M1/2005; detecting other animals in a given area A01M31/002
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0033 by determining damage, crack or wear
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0066 by exciting or detecting vibration or acceleration vibration testing of structures G01M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0238 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02818 Density, viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/044 Internal reflections (echoes), e.g. on walls or defects
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/11 by measuring attenuation of acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/348 with frequency characteristics, e.g. single frequency signals, chirp signals measuring frequency of mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in general G01H1/06, G01H3/04; measuring frequency or analysing frequency spectra G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/46 Wood
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 9/36 Analysing materials by measuring the density or specific gravity, e.g. determining quantity of moisture methods of measurement in general G01N9/02 - G01N9/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/06 Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements G01S5/12 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for mapping a condition of a structure that includes a plurality of support members covered by a wall is disclosed and includes a computer processor having a memory, a two-dimensional model of the structure stored in the memory and a three-dimensional model generator operatively associated with the computer. A density sensor that includes an ultrasonic transducer is operatively connected to the computer processor and provided with an ultra wideband transmitter. A position locating system is provided for determining the position of the ultra wideband transmitter, and hence the density sensor, in a frame of reference and communicating the position to the computer processor which displays indications of density on a three-dimensional model of the structure. A method for mapping a condition of a structure is also disclosed.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. A system for mapping a condition of a structure comprising a plurality of support members covered by a wall comprising:

a computer processor having a memory;

a position locating system for determining the position of a marker in a frame of reference and communicating said position to said computer processor;

a density sensor in communication with said computer processor; and

a marker associated with said density sensor.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said position locating system comprises a plurality of receivers located at known positions within said frame of reference.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said receivers comprise ultra wideband receivers.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said marker comprises a transmitter.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said marker comprises an ultra wideband transmitter.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein said density sensor comprises an ultrasonic transducer.

20. The system of claim 14 wherein said position locating system further includes a reference transmitter.

21. The system of claim 14 further including a two-dimensional representation of the structure stored in said memory.

22. The system of claim 21 including a three-dimensional model generator operatively associated with said computer.

34. The system of claim 14, wherein position locating system is a global positioning system.

23. (canceled)

24. A system for mapping a condition of a structure comprising a plurality of support members covered by a wall comprising:

processor means;

position locating means for determining the position of a marker in a frame of reference and communicating said position to said processor means;

density sensing means operatively connected to said processor means; and

a marker associated with said density sensing means.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein said position locating means comprises a plurality of receiver means.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said density sensing means comprises an ultrasonic transducer.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein said marker comprises an ultra wideband transmitter.

36. The system of claim 24, position locating means is a global positioning system.

28-33. -33. (canceled)

35. (canceled)