Patent ID: 9709443
Date: 2017-07-18
CPC Classifications: G01J,G01N,G06T

Claim:
1. A method, comprising: applying a burst of thermal energy to a surface of a plurality of uncured compacted composite layers; capturing at least one digital thermographic image of the surface of the uncured compacted composite layers after applying the burst of thermal energy; using a computer processor, analyzing at least one heat characteristic of regions of the uncured compacted composite layers in the at least one digital thermographic image to identify defect regions in which the at least one heat characteristic is different than surrounding regions, wherein the at least one heat characteristic of the uncured compacted composite layers comprises at least one of respective temperatures of the regions, respective first derivative rates of change of temperature of the regions over a plurality of digital thermographic images, and respective second derivative rates of change of temperature of the regions over a plurality of digital thermographic images, wherein the at least one heat characteristic of a subject region is different than surround regions if at least one of a peak of a second derivative rate of change of temperature for the subject region differs in time from a peak of a second derivative rate of change of temperature of at least one surrounding regions by more than a threshold amount or a peak in a first derivative rate of change of temperature for the subject region differs in time from a peak of a first derivative rate of change of temperature of at least one surrounding regions by more than a threshold amount; and upon identifying a defect region, outputting an alert.