# US 2019/0101449 A1 · Automated thermographic inspection for composite structures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0101449 A1 - Document ID: US20190101449A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/190,436 - Filed: 2018-11-14 - Published: 2019-04-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-28 - Assignees: Amazon Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Amazon Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Prescott Gee Glynn; Robert Todd Marks; Steven McGinnis; Armando Medina Romero; Mark Gerald Munster, JR.; Adrian Timothy Wallace - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190101449A1 ## CPC - G01J 5/0003: {for sensing the radiant heat transfer of samples, e.g. emittance meter} - G01J 5/0896: {using a light source, e.g. for illuminating a surface} - G01N 25/72: Investigating presence of flaws - G01J 5/485: {Temperature profile} - G01J 2005/0077: {Imaging} - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract Methods for detecting irregularities in a composite structure can include obtaining temperature data from a surface of the composite structure while the composite structure undergoes a thermal change. An irregularity in the composite structure is detected based on the temperature data. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method to detect irregularities in a composite structure, the method comprising: inducing a temperature change on an exposed surface of a composite structure with respect to a substrate of the composite structure; after inducing the temperature change, generating temperature data for the exposed surface of the composite structure; and detecting an irregularity in the composite structure based on the temperature data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein inducing the temperature change on the exposed surface comprises applying heat thereto. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein inducing the temperature change on the exposed surface comprises bringing the exposed surface into contact with a cold fluid that is colder than the substrate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein inducing the temperature change on the exposed surface comprises moving the composite structure from a first environment at a first temperature to a second environment that is at a second temperature different from the first temperature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: comparing the temperature data to reference temperature data that corresponds to a reference composite structure; and detecting the irregularity by detecting a region on the structure having a different heat intensity than surrounding regions of the structure based on the thermographic data that is indicative of a local temperature that is different than a corresponding reference local temperature of the reference temperature data. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the composite structure comprises a composite vehicle component having a composite skin attached to a core. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein inducing the temperature change comprises directing an infrared heat source toward the composite structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein inducing the temperature change comprises transferring heat to or from the exposed surface of the composite structure via a convective flow of heated or chilled air. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein generating the temperature data from the composite structure comprises capturing a thermographic image via an infrared sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising bringing the composite structure to a substantially uniform first temperature state before inducing the temperature change on the exposed surface. ### Claim 11 A computer-implemented method, comprising: generating temperature data for a composite structure that is undergoing a thermal change, the temperature data being indicative of surface temperatures of the composite structure, and the thermal change corresponding to an outer layer of the composite structure changing temperature in response to transferring thermal energy to or from a substrate within the composite structure; and detecting an irregularity in the composite structure based on the temperature data by detecting an anomalous temperature at an exposed surface of the outer layer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein: the thermal change is driven by a difference between a first temperature of the composite structure and a second temperature of the composite structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein: the thermal change is driven by heat transfer between the exposed surface and the substrate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving reference temperature data indicative of surface temperatures of a reference composite structure; comparing the temperature data to the reference temperature data; and detecting the irregularity based on determining, by the comparing, that the temperature data contains the anomalous temperature at the exposed surface of the outer layer, the anomalous temperature not being indicated by the reference temperature data. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the irregularity is one of a void, air bubble, delamination, manufacturing defect, foreign object, or crack in a skin of the outer layer or between the skin and a core of the composite structure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising: storing the temperature data in a database; comparing the temperature data with previously stored temperature data; and detecting the irregularity based on determining, by the comparing, that the temperature data contains the anomalous temperature at the exposed surface of the outer layer, the anomalous temperature not being indicated by the previously stored temperature data. ### Claim 17 A system to detect irregularities in a composite structure, the system comprising: a heating or cooling mechanism operable to induce a temperature change on an exposed surface of a composite structure; a sensor operable to generate temperature data for the exposed surface of the composite structure; and a management component comprising a processor and memory containing instructions, the instructions executable by the processor to cause the management component to: cause the heating or cooling mechanism to induce a temperature change on the exposed surface of the composite structure with respect to a substrate of the composite structure; after the temperature change has been applied to the exposed surface of the composite structure, cause the thermographic sensor to generate the temperature data for the exposed surface of the composite structure; and process the temperature data to determine whether the composite structure includes an irregularity, the irregularity being indicative of damage and/or a manufacturing defect. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the management component is further configured to: generate a temperature map from the temperature data; and determine that the composite structure includes an irregularity based in part on detecting a region on the temperature map having a different heat intensity than a surrounding region. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the management component is further configured to: receive a reference image, the reference image corresponding to temperature data of a composite structure that does not have damage or defects; compare the reference image with the temperature map; and determine that the composite structure includes an irregularity based in part on detecting a region on the temperature map having a different heat intensity than a corresponding reference heat intensity included in the reference image. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein determining that the composite structure includes an irregularity comprises determining that a temperature at a spatial location of the temperature map is outside a predetermined threshold associated with the spatial location.