Patent ID: 7855368

Claim:
An acoustic thermography system, comprising: a housing configured for thermal, acoustic and infrared radiation shielding, said housing having an open side adapted to be sealingly coupled to a surface region of a structure wherein an enclosed chamber filled with air is defined by said housing and the surface region; at least one acoustic source supported by said housing and positioned to direct, when activated, an acoustic wave therefrom through the air in said enclosed chamber and towards the surface region; a signal controller, coupled to each said acoustic source, for generating a pulsed signal to activate and control each said acoustic source, said pulsed signal being defined by a time series of pulses having specified frequency, amplitude and phase; an infrared imager focused on the surface region and spaced apart therefrom detecting a thermal image of the surface region; and a data recorder coupled to said signal controller and said infrared imager for recording said thermal image in synchronicity with each of said pulses of said pulsed signal wherein a time series of thermal images is generated.