Thermal imaging system for detecting defects
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A thermal imaging system for detecting defects in a structure, said system comprising:
- a sound source;
a thermal imaging camera directed towards the structure and generating thermal images of the structure; and
a controller electrically coupled to the sound source and the camera, said controller causing the sound source to transmit a series of sound pulses into the structure separated by a predetermined time period at a predetermined frequency, said controller causing the camera to generate sequential images of the structure, wherein vibrational energy from the pulses cause the defects in the structure to heat up and be visible in the images generated by the camera, and wherein the controller averages the images within a predetermined window in each pulse, where the window is provided at a same delay time in each pulse from when the pulse is initiated.
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Abstract
A thermal imaging system for detecting cracks and defects in a structure. An ultrasonic transducer is coupled to the structure through a malleable coupler. Ultrasonic energy from the transducer causes the defects to heat up, which is detected by a thermal camera. A control unit is employed to provide timing and control for the operation of the ultrasonic transducer and the camera.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A thermal imaging system for detecting defects in a structure, said system comprising:
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a sound source;
a thermal imaging camera directed towards the structure and generating thermal images of the structure; and
a controller electrically coupled to the sound source and the camera, said controller causing the sound source to transmit a series of sound pulses into the structure separated by a predetermined time period at a predetermined frequency, said controller causing the camera to generate sequential images of the structure, wherein vibrational energy from the pulses cause the defects in the structure to heat up and be visible in the images generated by the camera, and wherein the controller averages the images within a predetermined window in each pulse, where the window is provided at a same delay time in each pulse from when the pulse is initiated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A defect detection system for detecting defects in a structure, said system comprising:
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a sound source for directing at least one pulse of a sound signal into the structure for a predetermined period of time;
a coupler positioned in contact with the structure and the sound source, said coupler being malleable and being softer than an end of the sound source in contact with the coupler;
a thermal camera directed towards the structure and generating thermal images of the structure when the sound source emits the sound signal; and
a controller coupled to the sound source and the camera to provide timing signals therebetween, said controller being responsive to the images from the camera. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of detecting defects in a structure, said method comprising:
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providing a sound source;
providing a coupler in contact with an end of the sound source and the structure, said coupler being malleable and being softer than the end of the sound source;
emitting at least one pulse of a sound signal from the sound source into the structure to heat the defects; and
generating a sequence of thermal images of the structure prior to, during and after the emission of the sound signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification