Handheld Fluorescence Probe for Composite Thermal Degradation

The patent replaces the mechanical/optical system of FTIR spectrometer with a fluorescence-based detection system. The UV LED excites fluorescent molecules in the composite material, and a camera captures the emitted fluorescence. This substitution enables portable, handheld testing while maintaining detection capability for thermal degradation through fluorescence ratio analysis.

The patent uses a camera to capture optical information (fluorescence emission) from the composite material instead of requiring complex spectral analysis equipment. The camera creates a visual copy of the fluorescence distribution, which can be processed to detect thermal degradation, simplifying the equipment while preserving measurement capability.

The patent employs inexpensive components such as UV LEDs, standard cameras, and simple optical elements to create a low-cost testing device. These affordable components replace expensive FTIR spectrometers, making the technology accessible for widespread use in detecting thermal degradation of composite materials.

The patent replaces the complex and expensive FTIR spectrometer system with a simpler fluorescence-based system using UV LEDs and cameras. This substitution dramatically reduces equipment cost while maintaining the ability to detect thermal degradation through fluorescence ratio measurements.

The patent divides the testing system into a handheld probe that can be manually positioned in difficult-to-reach areas, separated from the data processing and analysis functions. This segmentation enables the probe to access confined spaces while maintaining detection capability through the camera-based fluorescence imaging system.

The camera captures optical information from the composite material surface, creating a visual record that can be analyzed to detect thermal degradation. This optical copying method works effectively in hard-to-reach areas where physical contact or complex instrumentation would be difficult, providing adaptability while maintaining measurement precision.

The camera captures fluorescence emission across the entire inspection area simultaneously, creating a complete visual map of the material surface in a single measurement. This eliminates the need for multiple sequential measurements at different spots, as the entire area is recorded at once, significantly reducing inspection time while maintaining reliability through comprehensive coverage.

The fluorescence imaging system provides continuous information about the entire inspection area simultaneously, allowing for rapid assessment of thermal degradation across multiple locations in one measurement. This continuous capture method replaces discrete, sequential measurements, improving efficiency while maintaining the statistical reliability needed for accurate degradation detection.