Patent ID: 9506879
Filing Date: 2016-11-29
CPC Classification: G01B,G01N

Claim Text:
1. A method for non-destructively evaluating a workpiece hidden by a first overlying structure, the method comprising: interrogating the workpiece hidden by the first overlying workpiece with x-ray radiation that propagates through the first overlying structure; collecting data representative of x-ray radiation backscattered from the workpiece, wherein collecting data comprises collecting data representative of x-ray radiation backscattered from the workpiece along a plurality of sampling lines; receiving an indication of an area of the workpiece; identifying the data that has been collected along the plurality of sampling lines that extend across the area of the workpiece; for each sampling line, determining at least one of a maximum value of the data representative of x-ray radiation backscattered from the workpiece, a minimum value of the data representative of x-ray radiation backscattered from the workpiece or a delta value representing a difference between the maximum and minimum values of the data representative of x-ray radiation backscattered from the workpiece; based upon a thickness and material of the first overlying structure, comparing, with a processor, the data that has been collected from the workpiece with reference data representative of x-ray radiation backscattered from a standard comprised of different respective material loss indicators hidden by a reference overlying structure of the same thickness and material as the first overlying structure, each material loss indicator being a physical representation of a different known amount of material loss, wherein comparing the data that has been collected from the workpiece with the reference data representative of x-ray radiation backscattered from the standard comprised of different respective material loss indicators comprises separately comparing, for each respective sampling line, at least one of the maximum value, the minimum value or the delta value that has been collected along and determined for each respective sampling line with with a corresponding maximum value of the data representative of the x-ray radiation backscattered from the standard, a corresponding minimum value of the data representative of the x-ray radiation backscattered from the standard or a corresponding delta value representing a difference between the corresponding maximum and the corresponding minimum values of the data representative of x-ray radiation backscattered from the standard; and as a result of the comparing, calculating, with the processor, an estimated amount of a material loss of the workpiece.