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

• US 7,856,882 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2008
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• 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): SAINT SURIN, JACQUES M
• Application Number:
  US12/166,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20080270043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 736/18, 736/25, 736/28, 600/424, 600/426, 600/427, 600/429, 606/130, 342/22, 342/27, 342/329, 324/326, 324/329
• 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 system for mapping a condition of a structure comprising a plurality of support members covered by a wall comprising:

a computer processor having a memory;

a position locating system for determining the position of a marker in a frame of reference and communicating said position to said computer processor;

a density sensor in communication with said computer processor and, wherein said marker is associated with said density sensor and wherein said density sensor is operatively connected to a signal processor for processing a signal received from said sensor and determining the density of a material that said signal has traversed relative to a known reference density.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said position locating system comprises a plurality of receivers located at known positions within said frame of reference.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said receivers comprise ultra wideband receivers.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said marker comprises a transmitter.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said marker comprises an ultra wideband transmitter.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said density sensor comprises an ultrasonic transducer.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said position locating system further includes a reference transmitter.

8. The system of claim 1 further including a two-dimensional representation of the structure stored in said memory.

9. The system of claim 8 including a three-dimensional model generator operatively associated with said computer.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein position locating system is a global positioning system.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the density sensor determines the density of a material and the density is an actual density of the material.

17. the system of claim 1, wherein the density sensor determines the density of a material and the density is a relative density of the material.

10. A system for mapping a condition of a structure comprising a plurality of support members covered by a wall comprising:

processor means;

position locating means for determining the position of a marker in a frame of reference and communicating said position to said processor means;

density sensing means operatively connected to said processor means and, wherein said marker is associated with said density sensing means and wherein said density sensing means comprises a signal processor for processing a signal received from said sensor and determining the density of a material that said signal has traversed relative to a known reference density.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said position locating means comprises a plurality of receiver means.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said density sensing means comprises an ultrasonic transducer.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said marker comprises an ultra wideband transmitter.

15. The system of claim 10, position locating means is a global positioning system.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the density sensing means determines the density of a material and the density is an actual density of the material.

19. the system of claim 10, wherein the density sensing means determines the density of a material and the density is a relative density of the material.