Mobile Apparatus Capable of Surface Measurements
First Claim
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1. A mobile apparatus for measuring thickness of a coating on a surface of a substrate comprising:
- a coating thickness monitor for measuring the thickness of at least a portion of the coating on the substrate, said coating thickness monitor including;
(i) at least one radiation source for providing radiation to be directed towards at least a portion of the coated substrate,(ii) at least one probe for directing said radiation at said at least a portion of the coated substrate and for capturing at least a portion of the radiation reflected and refracted by the coating on the coated substrate, the captured radiation being at least a portion of the radiation directed towards the coated substrate from said radiation source,(iii) at least one detector in communication with said at least one probe, said at least one detector capable of processing the captured radiation to allow a determination of at least the thickness of the coating on the substrate; and
(iv) an optical switching system capable of transmitting said provided radiation to said at least one probe and said captured radiation from said at least one probe to said at least one detectorwherein the mobile apparatus is portable.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a mobile apparatus and/or system that measures the thickness at one or more locations of a surface on at least a part of a substrate and methods of using the apparatus and/or system. The mobile apparatus and/or system in one embodiment includes an apparatus and/or system having a coating thickness monitor and, optionally, an apparatus and/or system for simultaneously regulating the coating thickness applied on a substrate. Under certain conditions, the apparatus and system has the ability to measure coating thickness subsequent to the coating'"'"'s formation.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A mobile apparatus for measuring thickness of a coating on a surface of a substrate comprising:
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a coating thickness monitor for measuring the thickness of at least a portion of the coating on the substrate, said coating thickness monitor including; (i) at least one radiation source for providing radiation to be directed towards at least a portion of the coated substrate, (ii) at least one probe for directing said radiation at said at least a portion of the coated substrate and for capturing at least a portion of the radiation reflected and refracted by the coating on the coated substrate, the captured radiation being at least a portion of the radiation directed towards the coated substrate from said radiation source, (iii) at least one detector in communication with said at least one probe, said at least one detector capable of processing the captured radiation to allow a determination of at least the thickness of the coating on the substrate; and (iv) an optical switching system capable of transmitting said provided radiation to said at least one probe and said captured radiation from said at least one probe to said at least one detector wherein the mobile apparatus is portable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for measuring a thickness of a coated substrate comprising the steps:
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(i) providing a coating thickness apparatus for measuring the thickness of at least a portion of a coating on a substrate, said coating thickness apparatus having at least one radiation source, at least one probe, at least one detector and at least one switching system; (ii) providing radiation via the at least one radiation source and directing said radiation towards the at least one probe, (iii) directing said radiation from said at least one probe to at least a portion of the coated substrate, (iv) capturing at least a portion of the radiation reflected and refracted by the coated substrate at the at least one probe, and transmitting said radiation reflected and refracted to said at least one detector, (v) processing said radiation reflected and refracted to determine a thickness of the coated substrate; (vi) moving said coating thickness apparatus to a new location; and (vii) repeating one or more of steps (ii)-(vi) wherein the coating thickness apparatus is portable. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification