Detecting apparatus, and detecting method

• US 20070235718A1
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ouchi, Toshihiko, Itsuji, Takeaki, Kasai, Shintaro
• Granted Patent: US 7,560,695 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/21
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0346 Capillary cells; Microcells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/035 Supports for sample drops
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/03 Cuvette constructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3577 for analysing liquids, e.g. polluted water
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3581 using far infrared light; using Terahertz radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 22/00 Investigating or analysing materials by the use of microwaves or radio waves, i.e. electromagnetic waves with a wavelength of one millimetre or more G01N3/00 - G01N17/00, G01N24/00 take precedence

Abstract

A detecting apparatus for detecting information of a liquid object or sample includes a transmission path, a THz wave supplying unit, a THz wave detecting unit, and an infiltrative holding member for infiltration and holding of a liquid object. The supplying unit supplies an electromagnetic wave in a frequency range between 30 GHz and 30 THz to the transmission path. The detecting unit detects the THz wave transmitted through the transmission path. The infiltrative holding member is set at a location containing at least a portion in which an electric field distribution of the THz wave propagating along the transmission path extends.

Claims

1. A detecting apparatus for detecting information of a liquid object, the detecting apparatus comprising:

a transmission path;

an electromagnetic-wave supplying unit for supplying an electromagnetic wave in a frequency range between 30 GHz and 30 THz;

an electromagnetic-wave detecting unit for detecting the electromagnetic wave transmitted through the transmission path; and

an infiltrative holding member for infiltration and holding of the liquid object, the infiltrative holding member being set at a location containing at least a portion in which an electric field distribution of the electromagnetic wave propagating along the transmission path extends.

2. The detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission path comprises a metal.

3. The detecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a non-infiltrative member, which is incapable of infiltrating the liquid object, and which is set partly or entirely surrounding the infiltrative holding member.

4. The detecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a spacing, whose size is less than the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave supplied by the electromagnetic-wave supplying unit, is present between the infiltrative holding member and the non-infiltrative member.

5. The detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a geometrically symmetric center line, or a geometrical gravity center line of the infiltrative holding member is aligned with a geometrically symmetric center line, or a geometrical gravity center line parallel with a propagation direction of the electric field distribution of the electromagnetic wave propagating along the transmission path.

6. The detecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a marker for setting the infiltrative holding member relative to the transmission path.

7. The detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the infiltrative holding member comprises one of a porous material, a fibrous material, and a needle structure.

8. A detecting method for detecting information of a liquid object, the detecting method comprising the steps of:

infiltrating and holding the liquid object in an infiltrative holding member of an apparatus;

supplying an electromagnetic wave in a frequency between 30 GHz and 30 THz into a transmission path of the apparatus under a condition in which the liquid object is infiltrated and held in the infiltrative holding member, which is set at a location containing at least a portion in which an electric field distribution of the electromagnetic wave propagating along the transmission path extends; and

detecting the electromagnetic wave transmitted through the transmission path to obtain information of the liquid object.

9. The detecting method according to claim 8, wherein a non-infiltrative member, which is incapable of infiltrating the liquid object, is set partly or entirely surrounding the infiltrative holding member.

10. The detecting method according to claim 8, wherein an injector is used to infiltrate and hold the liquid object in the infiltrative holding member.

11. The detecting method according to claim 8, wherein the infiltrating and holding step further comprises cooling and freezing the liquid object in the infiltrative holding member.