Patent ID: 7222514

Claim:
A method for evaluating damage to a laminate structure having a front-surface and a back-surface, the method comprising: calibrating a diagnostic device using an undamaged portion of the laminate structure to determine a plurality of calibration parameters in response to a transducer being pressed against the undamaged portion of the laminate structure and only a calibration button being pressed, wherein the calibration parameters include a return calibration pulse amplitude and a return calibration pulse timing; performing one or more test cycles to a suspect portion of the laminate structure using the one or more of the calibration parameters in response to the transducer being pressed against the suspect portion of the laminate structure and only an activation button being pressed, wherein the one or more test cycles includes transmitting a pulse into the laminate structure and sensing a plurality of test parameters, the test parameters including a return testing pulse amplitude and a return testing pulse timing; comparing the return calibration parameters to the test parameters; and activating a damage indicator in response to the comparison of the return calibration parameters to the test parameters exceeding a predetermined acceptable difference.