Electromagnetic scanning imager
First Claim
1. An imaging system, comprising:
- a source of electromagnetic radiation capable of generating radiation with one or more frequencies in a range of about 1 GHz to about 2000 GHz, an optical system optically coupled to said source so as to focus radiation received therefrom onto an object plane, said optical system directing at least a portion of the focused radiation propagating back from the object plane onto an image plane, a scan mechanism coupled to said optical system for controlling thereof so as to move the focused radiation over the object plane, a detector optically coupled to said optical system at the image plane to detect at least a portion of the radiation propagating back from a plurality of scanned locations in the object plane, thereby generating a time-dependent detection signal, and a processor in communication with the detector to generate an image of at least a portion of the object plane based on said detection signal
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one aspect, the present invention provides an imager, preferably portable, that includes a source of electromagnetic radiation capable of generating radiation with one or more frequencies in a range of about 1 GHz to about 2000 GHz. An optical system that is optically coupled to the source focuses radiation received therefrom onto an object plane, and directs at least a portion of the focused radiation propagating back from the object plane onto an image plane. The imager further includes a scan mechanism coupled to the optical system for controlling thereof so as to move the focused radiation over the object plane. A detector optically coupled to the lens at the image plane detects at least a portion of the radiation propagating back from a plurality of scanned locations in the object plane, thereby generating a detection signal. A processor that is in communication with the detector generates an image of at least a portion of the object plane based on the detection signal.
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Citations
72 Claims
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1. An imaging system, comprising:
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a source of electromagnetic radiation capable of generating radiation with one or more frequencies in a range of about 1 GHz to about 2000 GHz, an optical system optically coupled to said source so as to focus radiation received therefrom onto an object plane, said optical system directing at least a portion of the focused radiation propagating back from the object plane onto an image plane, a scan mechanism coupled to said optical system for controlling thereof so as to move the focused radiation over the object plane, a detector optically coupled to said optical system at the image plane to detect at least a portion of the radiation propagating back from a plurality of scanned locations in the object plane, thereby generating a time-dependent detection signal, and a processor in communication with the detector to generate an image of at least a portion of the object plane based on said detection signal - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 27, 28)
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33. A portable imager, comprising
a source for generating electromagnetic radiation with one or more frequency components in a range of about 1 GHz to about 2000 GHz, means for directing radiation from the source to an object plane and directing at least a portion of the radiation propagating back from the object plane to an image plane, means coupled to the radiation-directing means for controlling thereof so as to scan the radiation over at least a portion of the object plane, means for detecting radiation propagating back from a plurality of scanned locations in the object plane and generating a detection signal, and means for analyzing said detection signal so as to generate an image of at least a portion of the object plane.
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34. An imaging system, comprising
a handheld housing, comprising a source of electromagnetic radiation capable of generating radiation having one or more frequencies in a range of about 1 GHz to about 2000 GHz, a focusing system for directing radiation generated by the source onto an object plane and directing at least a portion of the radiation propagating back from the object plane onto an image plane, a scan mechanism coupled to said focusing system for controlling thereof so as to provide a one-dimensional scan of the radiation over the object plane, a detector optically coupled to said focusing system at the image plane to detect at least a portion of said back-propagating radiation to generate a time-dependent detection signal, and a processor coupled to the detector to receive said detection signal, wherein said housing is adapted for movement so as to scan the radiation, in combination said one-dimensional scan, over a plurality of locations in a two-dimensional region of the object plane.
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44. An imaging system, comprising:
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a housing adapted for movement over a surface located at a distance from an object plane, a transmit/receive module disposed in said housing for generating and detecting electromagnetic radiation, an optical system optically coupled to the transmit/receive module to focus radiation received therefrom onto the object plane, said lens directing at least a portion of radiation propagating back from the object plane onto the transmit/receive module, a scanning mechanism coupled to the lens for rotating a focusing element of the optical system about a rotation axis thereby moving said focused radiation over a region of the object plane, a position sensor in communication with said scanning mechanism to generate signals indicative of position of the lens relative to a reference position, a subsystem disposed in said housing for generating signals indicative of location of said housing on the surface as the housing is moved over that surface, and a processor in communication with said transmit/receive module, said position sensor and said subsystem, wherein said processor generates an image of at least a portion of said object plane based on said detected back-propagating radiation and signals generated by said position sensor and said subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 54, 55)
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68. A method of imaging, comprising
providing a source of electromagnetic radiation capable of generating radiation with one or more frequency components in a range of about 1 GHz to about 2000 GHz, focusing radiation from the source onto an object plane, scanning the focused radiation over at least a portion of the object plane, detecting at least a portion of the radiation propagating back from the object plane thereby generating a time-dependent detection signal, and analyzing said detection signal to form an image of the scanned portion of the object plane.
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Specification