Patents by Inventor Xavier Maldague

Xavier Maldague 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).

  • Device for subsurface flaw detection in reflective materials by thermal transfer imaging
    Patent number: 4996426
    Abstract: Apparatus for nondestructive detection of subsurface defects in a continuously moving workpiece of sheet material by using an infrared thermal imager. The temperature of a portion of the surface of sheet material is altered and the presence of subsurface flaws is indicated by development of discontinuities in the surface temperature distribution above the defects. In order to avoid problems due to changes in the infrared emissivity of the surface of sheet material, such as caused by grease patches or oxidized areas as well as errors caused by reflections of other sources of infrared radiation from the surface, the thermal image of the portion is first transferred by contact to a surface of a thermal transfer device whose surface has a high infrared emissivity and a low infrared reflectivity. Then the thermal image of the portion is obtained from the surface of the thermal transfer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventors: Paolo G. Cielo, Xavier Maldague, Jean C. Krapez