Apparatus and method for detection and thickness measurement of coatings over a surface
First Claim
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1. A system for determining the thickness of a material on a conductive surface, comprising:
- a generator for producing a Radio Frequency signal;
a first antenna for transmitting a polarized Radio Frequency signal;
a second antenna for receiving both components of a de-polarized reflected Radio Frequency signal after said signal is reflected from a conductive surface having a material thereon;
a vector analyzer and processor for producing an output vector signal indicative of the thickness and permittivity of the material on the conductive surface based upon the de-polarized reflected signal; and
a display for showing the location and thickness of the material on the conductive surface.
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Abstract
The invention is to a system and method for detecting materials on a conductive surface and measuring the thickness and permittvity of the material. A polarized Radio Frequency signal is reflected from a conduction surface having a material thereon. The reflected de-polarized signal is then processed to determine the thickness and permittivity of the material on the conductive surface.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for determining the thickness of a material on a conductive surface, comprising:
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a generator for producing a Radio Frequency signal; a first antenna for transmitting a polarized Radio Frequency signal; a second antenna for receiving both components of a de-polarized reflected Radio Frequency signal after said signal is reflected from a conductive surface having a material thereon; a vector analyzer and processor for producing an output vector signal indicative of the thickness and permittivity of the material on the conductive surface based upon the de-polarized reflected signal; and a display for showing the location and thickness of the material on the conductive surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A mobile system for determining the thickness of a material on a conductive surface, comprising:
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a generator for producing a Radio Frequency signal; a first antenna for transmitting a polarized Radio Frequency signal; a second antenna for receiving both components of a de-polarized reflected Radio Frequency signal after said signal is reflected from a conductive surface having a material thereon; a vector analyzer and processor for producing an output vector signal indicative of the thickness and permitivity of the material on the conductive surface based upon the de-polarized reflected signal; a display for showing the location and thickness of the material on the conductive surface; and a motor vehicle for transporting the system and for positioning the first and second antennas over a surface on which the thickness of a material is to be measured. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for determining the thickness of a material on a conductive surface, comprising the steps of:
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irradiating, at a known angle, a polarized Radio Frequency signal onto the conductive surface having a material thereon; detecting a de-polarized Radio Frequency signal reflected from the conductive surface; processing the de-polarized signal to produce an output vector signal indicative of the thickness of the material on the conductive surface. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for determining the thickness of ice on aircraft surfaces, comprising:
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a generator for producing a Radio Frequency signal; a first antenna for transmitting a polarized Radio Frequency signal; a second antenna for receiving both components of a de-polarized reflected Radio Frequency signal after said signal is reflected from an aircraft surface having ice thereon; a vector analyzer and processor for producing an output vector signal indicative of the thickness and permittivity of the ice on the aircraft based upon the de-polarized reflected signal; and a display for showing the location and thickness of the ice on the aircraft surface.
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Specification