System and method for generating three-dimensional density-based defect map

• US 7,506,547 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2004
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard E. Jesmonth
• Original Assignee: Richard E. Jesmonth
• Inventors: Jesmonth, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAINT SURIN, JACQUES M
• Application Number:
  US10/763,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20050165576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,884 Days
• Field of Search: 736/18, 736/25, 736/28, 600/424, 600/427, 600/429, 600/426, 606/130
• US Class Current: 73/618
• 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. A method for detecting damage to a structure comprising a plurality of support members disposed between a first wall and a second wall comprising:

providing a scanning device comprising an ultrasonic transducer and a detector for detecting ultrasonic energy;

locating a first support member behind the first wall;

placing the scanning device adjacent the first wall in alignment with the first support;

moving the scanning device over the first wall while directing ultrasonic energy toward the first support member and detecting reflected ultrasonic energy;

analyzing the reflected ultrasonic energy to determine the relative density of the first support member in relation to a known density; and

recording the position of the scanning device when the reflected ultrasonic energy indicates a density different from the known density.

2. The method of claim 1 further including calibrating the scanning device against a reference to determine the known density.

3. The method of claim 1 further including generating a representation of the first support member and an indication of the relative density of the first support member at each of a plurality of locations on the first support member.

4. The method of claim 3 further including detecting the presence of fasteners in the first support member and generating a representation of the fasteners on the generated representation of the first support member.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said recording the position of the scanning device comprises providing a position locating system for determining the position of a marker and associating a marker with the scanning device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said marker comprises an ultra wideband transmitter and wherein said providing a position locating system comprises providing a plurality of ultra wideband receivers, connecting the ultra wideband receivers to a processor and calculating the time of arrival of a signal from said ultra wideband transmitter at a subset of said plurality of ultra wideband receivers.

7. The method of claim 1 further including detecting the presence of fasteners in the first support member.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said generating a representation of the first support member comprises the steps of providing a two-dimensional representation of the structure and providing a program for generating a three-dimensional representation of the structure based on the two-dimensional representation of the structure.

9. The method of claim 1 further including wirelessly transmitting a signal indicative of the reflected ultrasonic energy to a computer having a processor.

10. A method for mapping a condition of a structure including a plurality of support members covered by at least one wall comprising:

storing a representation of a structure in a computer;

detecting support member density at a plurality of sites on a plurality of support members;

identifying the location of each of the plurality of sites;

mapping the plurality of sites onto the representation of the structure; and

indicating on the representation of the structure the support member density at each of the sites.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said measuring support member density at a plurality of sites on a plurality of support members comprises providing an ultrasonic transducer and transmitting an ultrasonic pulse through the at least one wall and each of the plurality of sites on each of the plurality of members and detecting reflection of the ultrasonic pulse.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said identifying the location of each of the sites comprises providing a position locating system for determining the position of a marker in a frame of reference, associating a marker with the ultrasonic transducer, and recording the position of the marker in the frame of reference when the ultrasonic transducer is located at each of the plurality of sites.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said indicating on the representation of the structure the support member density at each of the sites comprises displaying one of a plurality of colors associated with a plurality of predetermined density ranges at a location on the representation corresponding to one of the plurality of sites.

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

a computer processor;

a two-dimensional model of the structure operatively associated with said computer processor;

a three-dimensional model generator operatively associated with said computer processor;

a position locating system for determining the position of a marker in a frame of reference and communicating said position to said computer processor, said position locating system comprising a plurality of ultra wideband receivers;

a density sensor comprising an ultrasonic transducer in communication with said computer processor; and

an ultra wideband transmitter associated with said density sensor.

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

16. A method for detecting damage to one of a first wall and a second wall facing one another and enclosing a plurality of support members:

providing a scanning device comprising an ultrasonic transducer and a detector for detecting ultrasonic energy;

locating a first support member behind the first wall;

placing the scanning device adjacent the first wall laterally displaced from the first support;

moving the scanning device over the first wall while directing ultrasonic energy toward the second wall and detecting reflected ultrasonic energy;

analyzing the reflected ultrasonic energy to determine the relative density of the second wall in relation to a known density; and

recording the position of the scanning device when the reflected ultrasonic energy indicates a density different from the known density.

17. A method according to claim 16, further comprising locating a second support member behind the first wall, wherein the placing the scanning device adjacent the first wall laterally displaced from the first support places the scanning device at a position aligned between said first support member and said second support member.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said recording the position of the scanning device comprises providing a position locating system for determining the position of a marker and associating a marker with the scanning device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said marker comprises an ultra wideband transmitter and wherein said providing a position locating system comprises providing a plurality of ultra wideband receivers, connecting the ultra wideband receivers to a processor and calculating the time of arrival of a signal from said ultra wideband transmitter at a subset of said plurality of ultra wideband receivers.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said recording the position of the scanning device comprises providing a position locating system for determining the position of a marker and associating a marker with the scanning device.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said marker comprises an ultra wideband transmitter and wherein said providing a position locating system comprises providing a plurality of ultra wideband receivers, connecting the ultra wideband receivers to a processor and calculating the time of arrival of a signal from said ultra wideband transmitter at a subset of said plurality of ultra wideband receivers.