US 4,733,079 AGranted

Method of and apparatus for thermographic identification of parts

AssigneeLockheed Corporation

InventorsMark J. Adams, Elton M. Crisman, Jr., Asrar A. Khan

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the non-destructive identification of coated and uncoated metal parts employing infrared thermography. The apparatus comprises a means for directing infrared radiation onto the surface of a part; a means for scanning the part surface for reflected infrared radiation; a means for capturing the reflected radiation and converting it into a signal representative of variations in radiation reflected from the surface of the part; means for etching an identifying code into the surface of the part; and means for displaying the signal as a video image. The method comprises altering the surface reflective characteristics of a part to produce an identifying code, irradiating the part with infrared radiation of a specific wavelength and detecting differences in the amount and intensity of radiation reflected from the part.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A thermographic method of identifying bodies (objects) having a coating to be applied to at least a portion of the surface thereof, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a body having a substantially constant reflectance;
(b) treating the surface of said body to alter the infrared reflectance of a portion of the surface of said body in an identifiable pattern;
(c) applying a coating to the surface of said body, said coating covering at least a portion of said identifiable pattern;
(d) directing infrared radiation from a source including at least one wavelength, from about three to about twenty micrometers, onto the surface of said body;
(e) scanning the surface of said body with an infrared sensing device to detect infrared sensing device to detect infrared radiation reflected by said body, as well as through said coating, and to generate a signal representative of reflected radiation;
and
(f) creating a video image from said signal so that said identifiable pattern may be visually observed.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.