Synchronized phased array and infrared detector system for moisture detection
First Claim
1. A moisture detection system comprising:
- an electromagnetic radiation system;
an infrared detector system; and
a controller in communication with the electromagnetic radiation system and the infrared detector system, wherein the controller is configured to select a number of frequencies for a pulse of an electromagnetic radiation beam based on a desired depth at which the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam penetrates a composite sandwich panel;
control the electromagnetic radiation system to transmit the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam in which the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam has the number of frequencies that are absorbed by water molecules; and
control the infrared detector system to detect an amount of infrared radiation in response to transmitting the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam using a time window, wherein the amount of infrared radiation indicates a level of moisture.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for detecting moisture in a composite sandwich panel for an aerospace vehicle. A pulse of an electromagnetic radiation beam is beam steered to the composite sandwich panel. The pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam has a number of wavelengths that is absorbed by water molecules. The timing of the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam is synchronized to heat the composite sandwich panel with a time window in an infrared detector system to detect an amount of infrared radiation. The amount of infrared radiation in the composite sandwich panel is detected within the time window for the infrared detector system when the composite sandwich panel is heated by the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam, wherein the amount of infrared radiation indicates a level of moisture in the composite sandwich panel.
53 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A moisture detection system comprising:
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an electromagnetic radiation system; an infrared detector system; and a controller in communication with the electromagnetic radiation system and the infrared detector system, wherein the controller is configured to select a number of frequencies for a pulse of an electromagnetic radiation beam based on a desired depth at which the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam penetrates a composite sandwich panel;
control the electromagnetic radiation system to transmit the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam in which the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam has the number of frequencies that are absorbed by water molecules; and
control the infrared detector system to detect an amount of infrared radiation in response to transmitting the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam using a time window, wherein the amount of infrared radiation indicates a level of moisture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for detecting moisture in a composite sandwich panel for an aerospace vehicle, the method comprising:
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selecting a number of frequencies for a pulse of an electromagnetic radiation beam based on a desired depth at which the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam penetrates the composite sandwich panel; transmitting the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam into the composite sandwich panel such that the composite sandwich panel is heated above an ambient temperature; and detecting an amount of infrared radiation generated in the composite sandwich panel in response to transmitting the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam into the composite sandwich panel using a time window selected to detect the amount of infrared radiation when the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam heats the composite sandwich panel, wherein the amount of infrared radiation detected indicates a level of moisture in the composite sandwich panel. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A moisture detection system comprising:
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an electromagnetic radiation system; an infrared detector system configured to detect an amount of infrared radiation; and a controller configured to select a number of frequencies for a pulse of an electromagnetic radiation beam based on a desired depth at which the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam penetrates a composite sandwich panel;
control the electromagnetic radiation system to transmit the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam into a porous material in which the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam has the number of frequencies that are absorbed by water molecules;
control the infrared detector system to detect the amount of infrared radiation in the porous material in response to transmitting the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam into the porous material using a time window that captures when the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam heats the porous material such that the infrared detector system detects the amount of infrared radiation in the porous material when the porous material is heated by the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam; and
identify a level of moisture in the porous material using an amount of energy in the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam transmitted and the amount of infrared radiation detected. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for detecting moisture in a porous material, the method comprising:
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selecting a number of frequencies for a pulse of an electromagnetic radiation beam based on a desired depth at which the electromagnetic radiation beam penetrates a composite sandwich panel; transmitting the electromagnetic radiation beam into the porous material, wherein the electromagnetic radiation beam has the number of frequencies that are absorbed by water molecules; detecting an amount of infrared radiation in the porous material in response to transmitting the electromagnetic radiation beam into the composite sandwich panel using a time window selected to detect the amount of infrared radiation when the electromagnetic radiation beam heats the porous material; and identifying a level of moisture in the porous material using an amount of energy in the electromagnetic radiation beam transmitted and the amount of infrared radiation detected. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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Specification