# US 9,518,946 B2 · Thermographic inspection system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,946 B2 - Document ID: US9518946B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/097,143 - Filed: 2013-12-04 - Published: 2015-06-04 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-04 - Assignees: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company - Applicants: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company - Inventors: Mohammad Nosrati; Cal Swanson; Kevin Ptasienski; Kevin R. Smith; Louis P. Steinhauser - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518946B2 ## CPC - G01N 25/72: Investigating presence of flaws - G01N 25/18: by investigating thermal conductivity (by calorimetry G01N25/20; by measuring change of resistance of an electrically-heated body G01N27/18) - 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 A thermographic inspection system includes a heat source configured to be removably attached to an exterior surface of an object. A thermal imaging device obtains a thermal image of the object, and an analyzing device determines a location of a defect in the object based on the thermal image. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermographic inspection system comprising: a heat source configured to be removably attached to an exterior surface of an object; a thermal imaging device that obtains a thermal image of the heat source; and an analyzing device that determines a location of a defect in the object based on the thermal image, wherein the heat source is disposed between the object and the thermal imaging device, and wherein the analyzing device determines a surface temperature of the heat source to determine the location of the defect in the object when the heat source is attached to the object. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermographic inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the heat source is a heater having a sheet configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The thermographic inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the heat source generates heat and the heat is transmitted to the exterior surface of the object by thermal conduction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The thermographic inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the heat source is in direct contact with the exterior surface of the object. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The thermographic inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the heat source further comprises an adhesive film connecting the heater to the exterior surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The thermographic inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of heating elements are energized differently to provide different heat energy. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The thermographic inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of heating elements are energized simultaneously. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The thermographic inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the heat source includes a polyimide heater. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The thermographic inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing device determines the location of the defect based on a temperature rise on the exterior surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The thermographic inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the heat source includes a plurality of heating elements that are independently controllable. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The thermographic inspection system according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of heating elements are disposed along the exterior surface of the object. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The thermographic inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the thermal imaging device includes an infrared camera. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The thermographic inspection system according to claim 12, wherein the infrared camera continuously acquires a plurality of thermal images over a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 14 A method of inspecting an object, comprising: removably attaching a heat source to an exterior surface of an object; energizing the heat source to generate heat; transmitting the heat to the exterior surface of the object by thermal conduction; acquiring a thermal image of an exterior surface of the heat source when the heat source is attached to the exterior surface of the object; and determining a location of a defect in the object based on the thermal image. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, further comprising removably attaching the heat source to the exterior surface of the object using an adhesive film. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the heat source includes a plurality of resistive heating elements. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, further comprising independently controlling the plurality of resistive heating elements. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, further comprising arranging the plurality of resistive heating elements in an array and along the exterior surface of the object. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, further comprising analyzing the temperatures of the exterior surface at a plurality of locations corresponding to the plurality of resistive heating elements to determine the location of the defect. ### Claim 20 A method of inspecting an object comprising: removably attaching a heat source to an exterior surface of an object; injecting heat into the object from the heat source through the exterior surface of the object by thermal conduction; acquiring a thermal image of an exterior surface of the heat source when the heat source is attached to the exterior surface of the object; and determining a location of a defect in the object based on the thermal image.