Portable corrosion detection apparatus

• US 7,902,524 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2009
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Safai, Morteza, Georgeson, Gary E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta; David P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim; Kiho
• Application Number:
  US12/390,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20100213387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 250/458.1, 250/372
• US Class Current: 250/458.1
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 17/006 of metals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/88 Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0221 Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held

Abstract

A method and apparatus comprising a housing, an excitation unit, and a detector. The housing is portable and capable of being positioned relative to a location on an object. Quantum dots are present in the location. The excitation unit is mounted to the housing. The excitation unit is capable of sending energy into the location in which the energy is capable of causing a response from the quantum dots. The detector is mounted to the housing. The detector is capable of detecting the response from the quantum dots in the location.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing, wherein the housing is portable and capable of being positioned relative to a location on an object, wherein quantum dots are present in the location;

an excitation unit mounted to the housing, wherein the excitation unit is capable of sending energy into the location in which the energy is capable of causing a response from the quantum dots; and

a detector mounted to the housing, wherein the detector is capable of detecting the response from the quantum dots exposed to hydrogen+ in the location.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a processor unit, wherein the detector is in communication with the processor unit and wherein the processor unit is capable of determining whether corrosion is present in the location.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the excitation unit is selected from at least one of a light source, a light-emitting diode, and a laser diode.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector is selected from at least one of a photo sensor, a camera, and a light intensifying camera.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector generates an image of the response.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector generates an identification of a wavelength for the response.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector comprises:

optics; and

a photo sensor capable of detecting the response.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing has a cavity and further comprising:

a vacuum unit connected to the housing, wherein the vacuum unit is capable of creating a vacuum in the cavity.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the location is associated with the quantum dots exposed to hydrogen+ present in the location by at least one of being attached to a surface of the location, being located within a coating on the location, being located on the surface of the location, and being embedded within a material comprising the object.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object is selected from one of a mobile platform, a stationary platform, a land-based structure, an aquatic-based structure, a space-based structure, an aircraft, a surface ship, a tank, a personnel carrier, a train, a spacecraft, a space station, a satellite, a submarine, an automobile, a power plant, a bridge, a dam, a manufacturing facility, a building, a cargo bay, a door sill, a landing gear bay, an insulation blank, a bilge, a seat track, a leading edge of a wing, a trailing edge of a wing, a trailing edge of a stabilizer, and a fuel tank.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen+ is attached to the quantum dot.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the attachment of hydrogen+ to the quantum dot configures the quantum dot to emit light when exposed to energy.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen+ is attracted to the quantum dot.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector is configured to detect an intensity of the response from the quantum dot.

15. A method for detecting corrosion on an object, the method comprising:

positioning a portable corrosion detection apparatus relative to a location on the object, wherein quantum dots are present in the location;

sending energy into the location; and

detecting the response from the quantum dots exposed to hydrogen+ in the location.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

drawing a vacuum in a cavity within a housing.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

placing the quantum dots in the location.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the placing step comprises:

applying a coating containing the quantum dots to a surface of the object.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

determining whether corrosion is present to form a result.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

associating the result with the location.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

storing the result associated with the location.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

performing a maintenance operation based on the result.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the portable corrosion detection apparatus comprises:

a housing, wherein the housing is portable and capable of being positioned relative to the location on the object, wherein the quantum dots exposed to hydrogen+ are present in the location;

an excitation unit mounted to the housing, wherein the excitation unit is capable of sending energy into the location in which the energy is capable of causing a response from the quantum dots; and

a detector mounted to the housing, wherein the detector is capable of detecting the response from the quantum dots in the location.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the excitation unit is selected from at least one of a light source, a light-emitting diode, and a laser diode.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the detector is selected from at least one of a photo sensor, a camera, and a light-intensifying camera.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the housing has a cavity and further comprising:

a vacuum unit connected to the housing, wherein the vacuum unit is capable of creating a vacuum in the cavity.

27. The method of claim 15 further comprising detecting a response from the quantum dot exposed to hydrogen+.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the attachment of hydrogen+ to the quantum dot configures the quantum dot to emit light when exposed to energy.

29. The method of claim 27 further comprising detecting an intensity of the response from the quantum dot.