Synchronized Phased Array and Infrared Detector System for Moisture Detection
First Claim
1. A moisture detection system comprising:
- a phased array configured to emit a pulse of an electromagnetic radiation beam, wherein the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam has a number of wavelengths that is absorbed by water molecules;
an infrared detector system configured to detect an amount of infrared radiation; and
a controller in communication with the phased array and the infrared detector system, wherein the controller is configured to control the phased array to beam steer the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam emitted by the phased array;
synchronize timing of the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam with a time window used by the infrared detector system to detect the amount of infrared radiation; and
control the infrared detector system to detect the amount of infrared radiation within the time window.
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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.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A moisture detection system comprising:
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a phased array configured to emit a pulse of an electromagnetic radiation beam, wherein the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam has a number of wavelengths that is absorbed by water molecules; an infrared detector system configured to detect an amount of infrared radiation; and a controller in communication with the phased array and the infrared detector system, wherein the controller is configured to control the phased array to beam steer the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam emitted by the phased array;
synchronize timing of the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam with a time window used by the infrared detector system to detect the amount of infrared radiation; and
control the infrared detector system to detect the amount of infrared radiation within the time window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for detecting moisture in a composite sandwich panel for an aerospace vehicle, the method comprising:
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beam steering a pulse of an electromagnetic radiation beam to the composite sandwich panel, wherein the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam has a number of wavelengths that is absorbed by water molecules; synchronizing timing of the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam to heat the composite sandwich panel with a time window in an infrared detector system to detect an amount of infrared radiation; and detecting the amount of infrared radiation in the composite sandwich panel 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. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A moisture detection system comprising:
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a phased array configured to emit a pulse of an electromagnetic radiation beam, wherein the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam has a number of wavelengths that is absorbed by water molecules; an infrared detector system configured to detect an amount of infrared radiation, wherein the amount of infrared radiation indicates a level of moisture in a porous material; and a controller configured to control the phased array to beam steer the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam to an area on the porous material;
synchronize timing of the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam to heat the porous material with a time window in the infrared detector system to detect the amount of infrared radiation; and
control the infrared detector system to detect the amount of infrared radiation in the area on the porous material within the time window when the porous material is heated by the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for detecting moisture in a porous material, the method comprising:
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beam steering a pulse of an electromagnetic radiation beam into an area on the porous material, wherein the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam has a number of wavelengths that are absorbed by water molecules; synchronizing timing of the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam; and detecting an amount of infrared radiation in the area on the porous material within a time window for an infrared detector system when the area on the porous material is heated by the pulse of the electromagnetic radiation beam, wherein the amount of infrared radiation indicates a level of moisture in the porous material. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification