(19)
(11) EP 1 582 867 A8

(12) CORRECTED EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
Note: Bibliography reflects the latest situation

(15) Correction information:
Corrected version no 1 (W1 A2)

(48) Corrigendum issued on:
23.06.2010 Bulletin 2010/25

(88) Date of publication A3:
27.01.2010 Bulletin 2010/04

(43) Date of publication:
05.10.2005 Bulletin 2005/40

(21) Application number: 05013144.0

(22) Date of filing: 25.08.2003
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
G01N 29/00(1968.09)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB IT

(30) Priority: 28.08.2002 US 407207 P
10.03.2003 US 453431 P

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
03791778.8 / 1532433

(71) Applicant: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
Orlando, FL 32826 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Shannon, Robert E.
    Oviedo, FL 32766 (US)
  • Baumann, Joachim F.
    81925 München (DE)
  • Rothenfusser, Max J.
    81377 München (DE)
  • Zombo, Paul
    Cocoa FL 32926 (US)

(74) Representative: Schmidt, Steffen J. 
Wuesthoff & Wuesthoff Patent- und Rechtsanwälte Schweigerstrasse 2
81541 München
81541 München (DE)

 
Remarks:
This application was filed on 17 - 06 - 2005 as a divisional application to the application mentioned under INID code 62.
 


(54) System and method for multi-frequency sonic excitation in infrared imaging


(57) A defect detection system (10) for thermally imaging a structure (12) that has been energized by a sound energy. The system (10) includes a transducer (14) that couples a sound signal into the structure (12), where the sound signal causes defects in the structure (12) to heat up. In one embodiment, the sound signal has one or more frequencies that are at or near an eigen-mode of the structure (12). In another embodiment, a non-linear coupling material (16) is positioned between the transducer (14) and the structure (12) to couple the sound energy from the transducer (14) to the structure (12). A predetermined force (26) is applied to the transducer (14) and a pulse duration and a pulse frequency of the sound signal are selected so t hat the sound energy induces acoustic chaos in the structure (12), thus generating increased thermal energy. A thermal imaging camera (22) images the structure (12) when it is heated by the sound signal.