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US 7,041,960 B2Granted
Bond separation inspection method using compressive thermal strain in optical sensor part
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorKeiichi Sato
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Abstract
A bond separation inspection method using an optical fiber sensor. The method includes a step of embedding a sensor part of an optical fiber sensor in an adhesive joining a plurality of members together. The sensor part is embedded in the adhesive in such a way that the sensor part undergoes a compressive strain. Separation of the bond is detected on the basis of an optical characteristic of the sensor part when light from a light source is directed into the optical fiber sensor.
Claims14
A bond separation inspection method comprising:
- joining together two members with an adhesive;
- embedding a sensor part of an optical fiber sensor in the adhesive;
- introducing light from a light source into one end of the optical fiber sensor and causing light from the sensor part to emerge from another end of the optical fiber sensor;
- and
- detecting separation of the bond of the two members on the basis of an optical characteristic of the light from the sensor part,
- wherein embedding the sensor part in the adhesive includes causing a compressive thermal strain to arise in the sensor part due to different thermal expansivities of the adhesive and the sensor part so a refractive index period of the sensor part is sufficiently reduced such that a wavelength of reflected light emerging from the another end of the optical fiber caused by a bond separation is separated from a wavelength of reflected light caused inherently by the sensor part.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.