Patent ID: 7236625
Filing Date: 2007-06-26
Classification: B29C,G01N

Abstract:
1. A system for identifying defects and foreign objects and debris during fabrication of a composite structure, the system comprising: at least one light source positioned to emit light for illuminating a portion of the composite structure with bright field illumination and another portion of the composite structure with dark field illumination, the bright field illumination being reflected differently by defects in the composite structure than from portions of the composite structure that are defect free, the dark field illumination being reflected differently by foreign objects and debris on the composite structure than from surfaces of the composite structure not having foreign objects and debris thereon; at least one camera for receiving images of the illuminated portions of the composite structure; the composite structure includes a plurality of adjacent composite strips positioned in a common direction; and the light source is positioned to emit light in a direction substantially perpendicular to the common direction of the composite strips.