DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for nondestructive testing and evaluation of wood and wooden structures for degradation and damage using microwave radiation. By wooden structures it is meant any structure made wholly or partially of wood, including, but not limited to, houses, building, bridges, other wooden structures, wooden frames, utility poles, piles, etc. Degradation and damage may be due to biological attack, such as fungus, borers, termites, or other insects. Degradation, damage and/or other deterioration is collectively referred to herein as damage. Detection of wood destroying insects is based on the conductivity and constant motion of the insects. Insects are comprised of electrolyte (conductive) material while wood is dielectric. This creates high contrast reflectivity for microwave radiation. Also, insects are living organisms in constant motion. The present invention detects very small movements (fraction of mm per second), thus allowing for detection of living (moving) organisms in static material. Damage evaluation is based on changes to the dielectric properties of wood caused by damage thereto such as by biological attacks.

[0020] As can be seen in FIG. 1 , the apparatus of the present invention, generally indicated at 10 , includes a microwave generator 20 , a receiver 30 , an antenna 40 for sending and receiving signals, a signal processor 50 for processing the received signals and a display 60 . Preferably, the apparatus is hand-held and is moved along the wooden structure 8 being tested. Microwave signals (radiation) are generated by generator 20 . The generator 20 does not have to be particularly strong; in testing it was found that a 10 mW generator was sufficient. The generated signal is constantly sent by the antenna 40 , which also constantly receives a reflected signal. The signals are received by receiver 30 and processed by signal processor 50 . Optionally, the apparatus 10 can include a display 60 for displaying the results. Alternatively, the apparatus 10 could merely emit an audio or visual alarm indicating the presence of insects.

[0021] The method includes generating and sending a microwave signal, receiving a reflected signal, and processing and evaluating the received signal. It has been found that a generated signal having a frequency of between 0.5 and 50 Ghz is suitable. The method could be employed with a hand-held unit wherein the unit is moved about a structure to be tested. Alternatively, the apparatus could be stationary and allowed to operate for a given time to cover a given area. In such a case, the apparatus could be attached to the wooden structure being tested for a short period of time, or left attached for a longer time for long term monitoring.

[0022] The apparatus 10 could additionally include a stimulator for stimulating insect movement to make detection easier. The stimulator could be based on vibration, ultrasound, electromagnetic radiation, heating, etc. Preferably, a stimulator would be used prior to or during the application of the microwave probe.

EXAMPLES

[0023] An examplary application of the invention was conducted. In the example, tests were performed with live ants contained within a plastic box and dead ants which were attached to an adhesive. The ants were placed beneath a wooden board.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2 , where there is no motion, i.e. dead ants, there is basically no output signal from the probe. However, slight motion of live insects resulted in appreciable output signals.

[0025] In another examplary case, live termites were put into a plastic container and one-inch wood board was used to separate the probe from the container. A significant output, similar to that shown in FIG. 2 , was achieved for live termites as opposed to the absence of termites.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention generally indicated at 110 . The device includes an antenna 140 having a transmitting portion 142 and a receiving portion 144 . The transmitting and receiving portions can be interconnected with a circulator, not shown. Alternatively, two separate transmitting and receiving antennas can be utilized. Transmitting antenna 142 radiates the tested wooden structure 8 with a probing microwave energy. The microwaves penetrate into the tested wooden structure 8 via matching media 146 having a similar properties to wood dielectric properties. Inhomogeneities in the wood, such as damage and conductive insects, cause reflection of the probing signal back to the receiving portion 144 of antenna 140 . The received signal is processed for damage evaluation and moving insect detection. A tunable microwave generator 120 is controlled by a microprocessor 170 . The tunable microwave generator 120 interconnects with power amplifier 122 to deliver a signal to the antenna 140 . The receiving portion 144 of antenna 140 outputs a signal to an amplitude and phase discriminator 132 which is interconnected with tunable microwave generator 120 . The signal is then sent to gain and offset control 134 which is interconnected with microprocessor 170 and then sent to analog-to-digital converter 136 and then to microprocessor 170 . Finally, the output is displayed in display 160 .

[0027] In the damage evaluation mode, the microprocessor 170 sweeps the frequency range of the generator 120 to find a frequency with maximum (strongest) received signal. The antenna is basically coupled to the wood and the received signal depends on the dielectric properties of the wood. Because damage to wood changes the dielectric properties of wood, the frequency deviation from a precalibrated value (which is determined using undamaged wood) indicates the presence and magnitude of damage in the structure 8 . The greater deviation the greater the damage.

[0028] In the detection mode, the microprocessor 170 sets the fixed frequency of the generator 120 . This frequency corresponds to the maximum received signal, for greatest sensitivity. If there are moving reflectors (insects) the received signal contains amplitude and phase variations due to the motion. These variations are extracted with the amplitude-phase discriminator 132 and sent to gain and offset control device 134 , which adjusts amplification and offset voltage for optimum evaluation of the signal sent to microprocessor 170 . The microprocessor 170 calculates the standard deviation of the received signal. When deviation exceeds a threshold level, predetermined during sensor calibration, the microprocessor 170 sends a live insect message to display 160 . The display can be a simple indicator, i.e. a red, green indicator, a sound indicator, or a more sophisticated LED or LCD display.

[0029] By evaluating damage and detecting insects the present invention provides an integrated approach with built in confirmation. For example, if there is a modest indication of insect presence, the presence of damage serves to confirm that insects are present. Similarly, sweeping the frequency for damage evaluation to find the maximum received signal allows for subsequent insect detection at the frequency having maximum sensitivity. Further detecting insects after finding damage serves to confirm damage.

[0030] Having thus described the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is not intended to limit the spirit and scope thereof. What is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.