Inspection devices with laser emitters and optical microphones, and related systems and methods
AssigneesNorthrop Grumman Systems Corporation, XARION Laser Acoustics GmbH
InventorsClint D. Thomson, Igor V. Ivakhnenko, Lukas Balthasar Fischer, Wolfgang Rohringer, Fabian Luecking
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Abstract
Methods, devices, and systems for detecting one or more discontinuities of a structure may include a laser emitter configured to generate and direct an ultrasonic signal into a structure and a receiver comprising an optical microphone. The optical microphone may comprise an array of optical microphones configured in a complementary manner to the emitter.
Claims19
An inspection device, comprising:
- a laser emitter configured to produce a laser signal configured to generate and direct an ultrasonic signal into a structure, the laser emitter comprising a beam adjustment feature configured to alter the laser signal produced by the laser emitter;
- and
- a receiver comprising an array of optical microphones configured to receive the ultrasonic signal generated by the altered laser signal after at least a portion of the ultrasonic signal has passed at least partially through the structure, and wherein each optical microphone of the array of optical microphones comprises at least two mirrors configured to reflect one or more light beams and detect the ultrasonic signal through interference with the one or more light beams.
An inspection device, comprising:
- a laser emitter configured to generate and direct a laser beam onto a structure to generate an ultrasonic signal in the structure;
- a beam adjustment feature configured to alter the laser beam generated by the laser emitter into an expanded laser beam having at least one dimension that is greater than a corresponding dimension of the laser beam before the laser beam is altered by the beam adjustment feature;
- and
- a receiver comprising at least one optical microphone, the receiver configured to receive the ultrasonic signal generated by the laser beam after at least a portion of the ultrasonic signal has passed at least partially through the structure,
- wherein the at least one optical microphone comprises at least two mirrors configured to reflect one or more light beams and detect the ultrasonic signal being a consequence of the expanded laser beam, through interference.
A method for identifying a presence of one or more discontinuities in an object with an inspection device, the method comprising:
- moving a laser emitter of the inspection device along a surface of the object;
- expanding a beam emitted by the laser emitter;
- generating ultrasonic signals traveling through the object with the beam emitted by the laser emitter;
- detecting the ultrasonic signals with a receiver of the inspection device comprising an array of optical microphones, wherein each optical microphone of the array of optical microphones comprises at least two mirrors and detecting the ultrasonic signals comprises:
- reflecting one or more light beams between the at least two mirrors of each optical microphone;
- and
- detecting interference with the one or more light beams;
- and
- determining the presence of the one or more discontinuities in the object from the detected ultrasonic signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.