Patent ID: 8291744

Claim:
A differential ultrasonic waveguide cure monitoring probe for in situ ultrasonic monitoring of a material undergoing a cure process, the probe comprising: an ultrasonic transducer; a waveguide having a proximal end in contact with the ultrasonic transducer and a distal end for contacting the material undergoing the cure process, the waveguide comprising: a first portion extending from the proximal end; a reference of the waveguide; a second portion extending from the reference to a tip at the distal end of the waveguide; wherein the tip further comprises a lip located on the circumference of the tip; wherein an ultrasonic signal can be generated by the ultrasonic transducer and transmitted into the waveguide; thereby generating an interface signal by a portion of the ultrasonic signal reflecting back from the interface of the probe and the material undergoing a cure, the interface signal reflecting back to the ultrasonic transducer, the interface signal being used to directly sense the mechanical modulus change of the curing material; and thereby generating a reference signal by a portion of the ultrasonic signal reflecting back from the reference, the reference signal reflecting back to the ultrasonic transducer, the reference signal being used to recalibrate the probe and account for non-cure related signal variances during the cure process; wherein a quantitative assessment of a cure level of the material undergoing the cure process is determined in a non-cure related signal variances independent calibrated response manner using the reference signal to correct/recalibrate the interface signal.