Systems and methods for inspecting coatings, surfaces and interfaces
First Claim
1. A method for detecting defects in coatings comprising the steps of:
- a) applying a first coating to a surface;
b) modifying the temperature of the surface and coating;
c) creating a thermal profile for said surface and said first coating by measuring a temperature parameter at each of a plurality of localized areas;
d) for each localized areas, calculating a change parameter for the particular localized area by comparing the temperature parameter for the particular localized area to at least one value corresponding to the temperature parameters of localized areas surrounding the particular localized area, wherein the surrounding localized areas correspond to less than the entire thermal profile such that the at least one value changes dependent upon the particular localized area; and
e) locating at least one defect by identifying at least one change parameter deviating from an acceptable level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for detecting defects in paint coatings includes a temperature manipulation apparatus configured to change the temperature of a surface and a coating applied to the surface. The system may further include an infrared sensor for measuring the change in temperature (over time) of the surface and coating and a processor to compare the measured change in temperature of the surface and coating to an expected change of temperature (over time) in order to determine anomalies in the coatings. A self-referencing method of determining defects is also disclosed, wherein surrounding pixels are utilized as a reference in the detection process for calculating the change in temperature of each pixel. In addition, application of the inventive aspects to inspection of adhesion interfaces is also disclosed.
88 Citations
5 Claims
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1. A method for detecting defects in coatings comprising the steps of:
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a) applying a first coating to a surface; b) modifying the temperature of the surface and coating; c) creating a thermal profile for said surface and said first coating by measuring a temperature parameter at each of a plurality of localized areas; d) for each localized areas, calculating a change parameter for the particular localized area by comparing the temperature parameter for the particular localized area to at least one value corresponding to the temperature parameters of localized areas surrounding the particular localized area, wherein the surrounding localized areas correspond to less than the entire thermal profile such that the at least one value changes dependent upon the particular localized area; and e) locating at least one defect by identifying at least one change parameter deviating from an acceptable level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification