Acoustic apparatus and inspection methods

Abstract

The invented apparatus includes at least one acoustic sensor, a mapping unit, a controller, and a transducer. The sensor is coupled to an object to be inspected for damage, and generates a sensed signal based on acoustic signal occurring in the object under an applied load, which signal may or may not be the sound of damage occurring in the object. The mapping unit is coupled to receive the sensed signal from the sensor, and generates damage data based thereon. The controller is coupled to receive the damage data from the mapping unit. Initially, the apparatus is in a passive mode in which the apparatus senses an acoustic signal from the object. If the damage data indicates that the object has incurred possible damage in the passive mode, the controller switches to active mode and outputs induced signal data. The transducer is coupled to the object as well as the controller, and induces acoustic signal in the object, based on the induced signal data. The induced acoustic signal is detected by the sensor, mapped by the mapping unit, and supplied as damage data to the controller, after which the controller returns the apparatus to passive mode. If the damage data resulting from the induced acoustic signal indicates that the object has incurred actual damage, the controller can generate an alarm, a display of the damage, and/or store the damage data in a memory to provide a record of damage incurred by the object. The invention also includes related methods.