Abstract: A method of ultrasonic testing comprising conditioning a radiation wave from a laser source by efficiently converting the radiation wave's wavelength to a mid-IR wavelength for enhanced ultrasonic testing of a composite. The method includes passing the radiation wave through a first optical frequency converter where the radiation wave is converted into a signal wave and an idler wave, where the idler wave is at a mid-IR wavelength. The method further includes directing the signal and idler waves to a second optical frequency converter where the signal wave wavelength is converted to a mid-IR wavelength which combines with the idler wave to form a generation wave. The generation wave is directed at a composite surface to be tested.

Abstract: A laser transmission system.

Abstract: A system and method for the analysis of composite materials. Structured light measurements are used to determine the 3-dimensional shape of an object, which is then analyzed to minimize the number of scans when performing laser ultrasound measurements.

Abstract: A laser transmission system.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and method for implementing process control for temperature of a semiconductor wafer using sonic NDE techniques. The system may, for example, generate ultrasound waves in a test object during the manufacturing process. A detector such as an interferometer may be used to detect the ultrasound waves. An interpreter or analyzer may determine the temperature of the semiconductor wafer from the waves. Then, a control system may determine and implement an appropriate control action on the process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compact optical probe assembly that measures ultrasound in materials. The probe uses angle-terminated optical fiber to direct illumination laser light at the surface of a remote target. Ultrasonic displacements at the surface scatter the illumination laser light. Angle-terminated optical fibers collect phase modulated light and direct the phase modulated light to an optical processor to produce a signal representative of the ultrasonic surface displacements. The probe may also incorporate angle-terminated optical fibers to direct generation laser light to the surface of a remote target to generate ultrasonic surface displacements. Optional shared beam forming element(s) may optically act on the illumination laser and collected phase modulated light.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and method for implementing process control for tubing thickness using sonic NDE techniques. The system may, for example, generate ultrasound waves in a test object during the manufacturing process. A detector such as an interferometer may be used to detect the ultrasound waves. An interpreter or analyzer may determine the tubing or sheet thickness from the waves. Then, a control system may determine and implement an appropriate control action on the process.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and method for implementing process control for paper elasticity and thickness using sonic NDE techniques. The system may, for example, generate ultrasound waves in a test object during the manufacturing process. A detector such as an interferometer may be used to detect the ultrasound waves. An interpreter or analyzer may determine the thickness and/or elastic properties of paper from the waves. Then, a control system may determine and implement an appropriate control action on the process.

Abstract: An ultrasonic non-destructive evaluation (NDE) system operable to inspect target materials is provided. This ultrasonic NDE system includes an articulated robot, an ultrasound inspection head, a processing module, and a control module. The ultrasound inspection head couples to or mounts on the articulated robot. The ultrasound inspection head is operable to deliver a generation laser beam, a detection laser beam, and collect phase modulated light scattered by the target materials. The processing module processes the phase modulated light and produces information about the internal structure of the target materials. The control module directs the articulated robot to position the ultrasound inspection head according to a pre-determined scan plan.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical filter assembly that reduces the phase and amplitude noise of a detection laser used to detect ultrasonic displacements. The filtered detection laser is directed to the surface of a remote target. Ultrasonic displacements at the surface scatter the filtered detection laser. Collection optics then gather phase modulated light scattered by the surface and direct the phase modulated light to an optical processor to produce a signal representative of the ultrasonic displacements with an improved SNR. Additional processors may determine the structure of the remote target.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting ultrasonic surface displacements at a remote target are disclosed, one embodiment of the system comprising: a first laser to generate a first laser beam. The first laser beam produces ultrasonic surface displacements on a surface of the remote target. A second laser generates a second laser beam operable to detect the ultrasonic surface displacements on the surface of the remote target and to provide a reference beam to an interferometer. The second laser beam is split, at a beam-splitter, into a pump beam and a probe beam. The pump beam is amplified by a first amplifier and the probe beam is amplified by a second amplifier. The pump beam is then provided to the interferometer as a reference beam and the probe beam is directed to the target to detect the ultrasonic surface displacements. The first and second amplifiers can be controlled independently of one another to control their respective laser beam's power.

Abstract: The present invention for detecting ultasonic displacements includes a detection laser to generate a first pulsed laser beam to generate the ultrasonic surface displacements on a surface of the target. A seocond pulsed laser beam to detect the ultrasonic surface displacements on a surface of the target. Collection optics to collect phase modulated light from the first pulsed laser beam either reflected or scattered by the target. An interferometer which processes the phase modulated light and generate at least one output signal. A processor that processes the at least one output signal to obtain data representative of the ultrasonic surface displacements at the target.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a laser system and method for the optical generation of ultrasound at a remote target. This involves generating a pump laser beam with a diode-pumped fiber laser. The diode pumped fiber laser is fiber-coupled with an optical fiber, either passive or diode pumped, to a generation laser head. The generation laser head generates a generation laser beam from the pump laser beam and directs the generation laser beam to the surface of the remote target. The interaction between generation laser beam and the surface of the remote target results in ultrasonic displacements at the remote target. These ultrasonic displacements may be sampled in order to assess and inspect the remote target.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to detect and generate ultrasonic displacements at a remote target for ultrasonic inspection. This method involves generating an ultrasonic wave at a first location on an upper surface of the remote target. This ultrasonic wave is reflected from interior surfaces within the remote target wherein the reflected ultrasonic wave produces ultrasonic displacement at a second location on the upper surface of the remote target. A detection laser beam is generated and directed to the second location on the upper surface of the remote target. Here, the detection laser beam is scattered by the ultrasonic displacements to produce phase-modulated light. This phase-modulated light is collected and processed to obtain data representative of the ultrasonic surface displacements. Further, these ultrasonic displacements, when processed, will yield inspection information associated with the interior of the remote target.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and method for implementing process control for paint thickness using sonic NDE techniques. The system may, for example, generate ultrasound waves in a test object during the manufacturing process. A detector such as an interferometer may be used to detect the ultrasound waves. An interpreter or analyzer may determine the thickness and or presence of a defect from the waves. Further, the interpreter may associate the thickness measurement and/or defect with a location about an object. Then, a control system may determine and implement an appropriate control action on the process. The control action may also be associated with the location about the object.

Abstract: A system and method for laser light amplification provides amplification of a laser light beam emitted from a laser light source as low-amplification seed laser light signal. The low-amplification seed laser light signal is transmitted to an amplification component. The amplification component amplifies the low-amplification seed laser light signal by stimulating emissions of the population inversion provided by a pumping diode to generate an amplified laser light signal. The system and method further directs the amplified laser light signal to an output destination. The destination may be an object undergoing laser ultrasound testing. The amplified laser light may reflect with a modulation characteristic of a sound energy wave about the object. The reflected laser light may be collected by an interferometer and used in the detection and characterization of the sound energy wave.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an ultrasonic testing system. The system tests a manufactured part for various physical attributes, including specific flaws, defects, or composition of materials. The part can be housed in a gantry system that holds the part stable. An energy generator illuminates the part within energy and the part emanates energy from that illumination. Based on the emanations from the part, the system can determined precisely where the part is in free space. The energy illumination device and the receptor have a predetermined relationship in free space. This means the location of the illumination mechanism and the reception mechanism is known. Additionally, the coordinates of the actual testing device also have a predetermined relationship to the illumination device, the reception device, or both.

Abstract: The present invention detects ultrasonic displacements includes a detection laser to generate a first pulsed laser beam to detect the ultrasonic surface displacements on a surface of the target. Collection optics to collect phase modulated light from the first pulsed laser beam either reflected or scattered by the target. An optical amplifier which amplifies the phase modulated light collected by the collection optics. An interferometer which processes the phase modulated light and generate at least one output signal. A processor that processes the at least one output signal to obtain data representative of the ultrasonic surface displacement at the target.

Abstract: A system for identifying ultrasonic displacements in a material under test utilizing a time-varying output pulse of a first laser beam. The system includes a seed laser light source for providing a laser beam, a modulating assembly in the path of propagation of the laser beam for time-varying of the laser beam, at least one optical isolation assembly placed in the path of propagation of the laser beam for preventing reflected laser light feedback into the seed laser light source, and at least one laser light amplification assembly placed in the path of propagation of the laser beam for amplifying the laser beam which passes the amplified time-varying output pulse of the laser beam.

Abstract: The invention provides for ultrasonically measuring the porosity in a sample composite material by accessing only one side of the sample composite material and includes the steps of measuring a sample ultrasonic signal from the sample composite material, normalizing the sample ultrasonic signal relative to the surface echo of the sample composite material, and isolating a sample back-wall echo signal from the sample ultrasonic signal. A sample frequency spectrum of the sample back-wall ultrasonic signal is then determined. Next, the method and system include the steps of measuring a reference ultrasonic signal from a reference composite material, normalizing the reference ultrasonic signal relative to the surface echo of the reference composite material; and isolating a reference back-wall echo signal from the sample ultrasonic signal. A reference frequency spectrum of the reference back-wall ultrasonic signal is then determined.