Patents by Inventor Morteza Safai

Morteza Safai has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20200371049
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems are disclosed for generating X-ray backscatter images of a target by employing a flexible, deformable and flexible X-ray backscatter detector comprising a scintillating material layer comprising a scintillating jet print ink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventor: Morteza Safai
  • Publication number: 20200355637
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a thermal protection system coupled to a structural component is provided. The thermal protection system includes a thermally insulative body and at least one layer of thermochromatic material applied thereon such that the at least one layer is positioned between the thermally insulative body and the structural component. The method includes determining a value of a thermochromatic property of the at least one layer of thermochromatic material, wherein the value of the thermochromatic property is responsive to an amount of heat applied to the at least one layer of thermochromatic material, comparing the value to a baseline value of the thermochromatic property, and determining degradation of the thermal protection system when the value of the thermochromatic property deviates from the baseline value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Gary Georgeson, Morteza Safai
  • Patent number: 10830714
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for making and using a non-destructive inspection apparatus comprising a portable X-ray backscatter detection apparatus having predetermined electromagnetic radiation cancelling features in the form of deflection yokes in communication with photomultiplier tubes to improve imaging contrast in non-destructively inspecting target substrates in situ and in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Morteza Safai
  • Publication number: 20200343070
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for electromagnetic x-ray control. The apparatus comprises a thermionic filament, positioned at a first end of a micro-focus x-ray tube and configured to generate an electron stream. The apparatus also comprises an x-ray generation target, positioned within the micro-focus x-ray tube at a second end of the micro-focus x-ray tube, opposite the first end, to receive the electron stream and to generate x-rays in response to the electron stream impinging on the x-ray generation target. The apparatus further comprises an electromagnetic field element, configured to generate an electromagnetic field that receives the electron stream and operable to vary the electromagnetic field to redirect the electron stream, within the micro-focus x-ray tube, to impinge on the x-ray generation target at variable locations on the x-ray generation target. Each one of the variable locations corresponds to a different one of multiple variations of the electromagnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventor: Morteza Safai
  • Patent number: 10801836
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for ultrasonic imaging of composite parts. One embodiment is a method that includes providing an object having multiple layers of fibers and resin, inducing ultrasonic waves at locations along the object, and attenuating the ultrasonic waves at the regions due to regions interspersed among the layers that each exhibit an elastic modulus distinct from an elastic modulus of the fibers and distinct from an elastic modulus of the matrix. The method further includes receiving the attenuated ultrasonic waves, and analyzing the attenuated ultrasonic waves to determine depths of the regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Keith D. Humfeld, Morteza Safai
  • Patent number: 10801973
    Abstract: An X-ray inspection system is presented. The X-ray inspection system comprises an X-ray source, an X-ray scintillator, a light detector, a first objective lens, and a second objective lens. The first objective lens is positioned between the X-ray scintillator and the light detector. The second objective lens is positioned between the first objective lens and the light detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Morteza Safai
  • Patent number: 10800553
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for Non-Destructive Inspection of craft operating in high-atmosphere or outer space, by positioning a scintillating detector array leeward to a structural element of the craft relative to the Sun; collecting, by the detector array while the craft is in flight, solar radiation passing through the structural element; and outputting a radiographic image based on the solar radiation collected to an image analyzer. The image analyzer may composite several images taken over a period of time or decomposite images of intervening structural elements from the radiographic images. Automated alerts for non-conformances between the radiographic images and earlier-taken or architectural images are provided to users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Morteza Safai
  • Publication number: 20200321515
    Abstract: Systems and methods of providing power to high-voltage sensors in power-limited environments through environmental energy harvesting are disclosed. The systems and methods are configured to intermittently power high-voltage sensors by repeatedly releasing stored energy in bursts. An environmental energy harvesting device generates a low-voltage power supply and is coupled to one or more capacitors to charge the capacitors to a high-voltage threshold. After such high-voltage threshold has been reached, the capacitors are discharged to provide a high-voltage power burst to a high-voltage sensor configured to inspect a component and generate an inspection result signal. The inspection result signal is received by an output module, which may further store or transmit to an external receiver a data signal indicating the inspection results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventor: Morteza Safai
  • Publication number: 20200300759
    Abstract: An example system for inspecting a surface includes a laser, an optical system, a gated camera, and a control system. The laser is configured to emit pulses of light, with respective wavelengths of the pulses of light varying over time. The optical system includes at least one optical element, and is configured to direct light emitted by the laser to points along a scan line one point at a time. The gated camera is configured to record a fluorescent response of the surface from light having each wavelength of a plurality of wavelengths at each point along the scan line. The control system is configured to control the gated camera such that an aperture of the gated camera is open during fluorescence of the surface but closed during exposure of the surface to light emitted by the laser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Keith D. Humfeld, Morteza Safai
  • Patent number: 10780658
    Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a laser unit and a controller. The laser unit is configured to generate a number of laser beams. The controller is configured to operate the laser unit to generate the number of laser beams resulting in a desired level of heating of a composite patch that cures the composite patch on a composite structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Morteza Safai, Kimberly D. Meredith
  • Patent number: 10768128
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a thermal protection system coupled to a structural component is provided. The thermal protection system includes a thermally insulative body and at least one layer of thermochromatic material applied thereon such that the at least one layer is positioned between the thermally insulative body and the structural component. The method includes determining a value of a thermochromatic property of the at least one layer of thermochromatic material, wherein the value of the thermochromatic property is responsive to an amount of heat applied to the at least one layer of thermochromatic material, comparing the value to a baseline value of the thermochromatic property, and determining degradation of the thermal protection system when the value of the thermochromatic property deviates from the baseline value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Gary Georgeson, Morteza Safai
  • Publication number: 20200277463
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing pre-impregnated composite fiber materials, and methods for determining the suitability of a pre-impregnated composite fiber material for incorporation into a composite structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Morteza Safai
  • Publication number: 20200271623
    Abstract: A composite material joined with a curable phenolic resin adhesive, with the phenolic resin adhesive comprising a stiffening agent precursor, and with the stiffening agent precursor selected to react with reaction by-products of the phenolic resin adhesive during curing to produce a reaction product stiffening agent in a cured bonding layer that is detectable by ultrasound, resins comprising the stiffening agent precursor, bonding layers comprising the reaction product stiffening agent, and methods for making the composite material joints and inspecting the composite material joints are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Keith D. Humfeld, Eileen O. Kutscha, Morteza Safai
  • Patent number: 10753909
    Abstract: An example laser system includes a laser, a plurality of pulse stretchers coupled together in series, a pulse amplifier, a feedback module, and a lens assembly. The plurality of pulse stretchers is configured to stretch pulse widths of the laser pulses and output stretched laser pulses. The pulse amplifier is positioned between a first pulse stretcher and a second pulse stretch of the plurality of pulse stretchers, and is configured to amplify the laser pulses. The feedback module includes a pulse delay comparator configured to compare a first laser pulse of the laser pulses to a corresponding first stretched laser pulse of the stretched laser pulses. The feedback module also includes a computing device configured to determine an adjustment to a pulse stretcher of the plurality of pulse stretchers, and apply the adjustment to the pulse stretcher so as to modify a shape of a second stretched laser pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Morteza Safai
  • Patent number: 10755403
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for shot peening evaluation are disclosed herein. An example apparatus for evaluating a surface that has undergone a shot peening process includes a camera to generate first image data of a first portion of the surface. The example apparatus includes a processor to determine an impact coverage value for the first portion based on the first image data and determine an effectiveness of the shot peening process for the surface based on the impact coverage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Morteza Safai
  • Patent number: 10748735
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for a multi-spectral X-ray target and source are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a disclosed method comprises emitting, by a source of the X-ray generator, electrons towards a section of a multi-spectral X-ray target of the X-ray generator. In one or more embodiments, the multi-spectral X-ray target is rotatable and comprises a plurality of sections, which each comprise an X-ray generating material and at least two of the sections comprise a different X-ray generating material. The method further comprises generating a set of X-rays, when the electrons impinge on the section of the multi-spectral X-ray target. The method further comprises rotating the multi-spectral X-ray target such that the source is in position to project the electrons towards another section of the multi-spectral X-ray target. Further, the method comprises repeating the above method steps for all of the remaining sections of the multi-spectral X-ray target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Morteza Safai, Gary Georgeson, Barry R. Fox
  • Patent number: 10746670
    Abstract: An inspection system for detecting defects in a workpiece can include an illumination source for illuminating a first section of the workpiece with a patterned light, wherein the illumination source does not illuminate a second section of the workpiece. The inspection system further includes a feedback camera for imaging the first section and producing a first output, and a background camera for imaging the second section and producing a second output. A processor compares the first output with the second output, and a controller alters the patterned light that is output by the illumination source based on the comparison. This feedback control continues until the background is suitably homogeneous or camouflaged compared to the defect, such that the visibility and/or detectability of the defect is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Morteza Safai
  • Publication number: 20200234430
    Abstract: An example system includes a sensor housing defining a plurality of horizontal layers and a controller. The sensor housing includes a plurality of light-emitted diode (LED) light sources, a plurality of cameras, and a plurality of optical devices. Each camera of the plurality of cameras is positioned within a respective horizontal layer of the plurality of horizontal layers and configured to detect a respective range of wavelengths of light. The plurality of optical devices is configured to receive light reflected by the surface through a common input lens and direct the light to one of the cameras of the plurality of cameras depending on a wavelength of the light. The controller is configured to receive signals from the plurality of cameras indicative of the light reflected by the surface and determine whether there is any foreign object debris material on the surface using the signals from the plurality of cameras.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventor: Morteza Safai
  • Patent number: 10710615
    Abstract: An example system for inspecting railcar axles includes a flash source, an infrared camera, and a trigger sensor. The flash source is configured to apply a thermal pulse toward a surface of a railcar axle of a railcar wheelset, while the railcar wheelset is on a track. The infrared camera is configured to capture infrared data indicative of a thermal response of the surface of the railcar axle to the thermal pulse. The trigger sensor is configured to trigger the flash source to apply the thermal pulse based on a position of the railcar wheelset on the track. The example system can also include a processor configured to determine whether the captured infrared data is indicative of a crack on the surface of the railcar axle, and a vision camera configured to capture an image of the surface of the railcar axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gary E. Georgeson, Morteza Safai, Tyler M. Holmes, Scott W. Lea, Jyani Vaddi
  • Patent number: 10714299
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for x-ray backscatter inspection. The system comprises an interior cavity. The system also comprises a non-conductive fluid contained within the interior cavity. The system additionally comprises a power source within the interior cavity and submerged in the non-conductive fluid. The system further comprises an x-ray cathode within the interior cavity, submerged in the non-conductive fluid, and coupled to the power source. The system also comprises an x-ray anode within the interior cavity, submerged in the non-conductive fluid, and positioned to receive an electron emission from the x-ray cathode to generate an x-ray emission. The system additionally comprises a thermoelectric cooler surrounding the interior cavity and operable to draw heat from the non-conductive fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Morteza Safai