Detection and imaging of objects in scattering media by light irradiation
First Claim
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1. A method for detecting and imaging objects surrounded by a scattering medium comprising:
- illuminating the scattering medium with a collimated light beam incident upon and penetrating said medium;
scanning the collimated light beam through a region of the scattering medium and at successive positions along a scanning path across a selected scanning area;
detecting the back scattered light in the scattering zone around the locus of incidence of the collimated light beam on the scattering medium and measuring the intensity of the back scattered light from the scattering zone at successive positions along the scanning path across said scanning area;
registering the measured intensity of light from the scattering zone at said successive positions along the scanning path; and
associating differential measurements registered along the scanning path with the possible presence of an object.
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Abstract
A method and system are described for the detection and imaging of objects and structures in scattering media using light radiation. The medium is scanned with a strongly collimated light beam (2). The light power (Pb) scattered backward from the medium is detected by a receiver (17) and plotted along the scanning path. Objects (4) buried in the medium (9) are detected by the differential variation of the received light power. Information as to the size, location and depth of the objects can be obtained. The illumination by strongly collimated laser light at one or several wavelengths is preferred.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for detecting and imaging objects surrounded by a scattering medium comprising:
- illuminating the scattering medium with a collimated light beam incident upon and penetrating said medium;
scanning the collimated light beam through a region of the scattering medium and at successive positions along a scanning path across a selected scanning area;
detecting the back scattered light in the scattering zone around the locus of incidence of the collimated light beam on the scattering medium and measuring the intensity of the back scattered light from the scattering zone at successive positions along the scanning path across said scanning area;
registering the measured intensity of light from the scattering zone at said successive positions along the scanning path; and
associating differential measurements registered along the scanning path with the possible presence of an object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
- illuminating the scattering medium with a collimated light beam incident upon and penetrating said medium;
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4. An apparatus for detecting and imaging objects in a scattering medium by light irradiation, comprising:
- light source means delivering a collimated light beam incident upon and penetrating said scattering medium in a scattering zone;
optical scanning means operatively arranged relative to said light source means and said scattering medium for deflecting the light beam through a region of the scattering medium at successive positions along a scanning path across a specified scanning area;
photodetector means operatively arranged for receiving and detecting substantially the full angular distribution of backscattered light returning from said scattering zone around the locus of incidence of the light beam, said photodetector means further comprising means for measuring the intensity of said backscatter light received from the scattering zone; and
register means for registering the values of said intensity measurements at said successive positions along the scanning path, said apparatus further comprising first polarization filter means placed in the path of said collimated light beam incident on the scattering medium for linear polarization of said incident light beam, and second polarization filter means having a polarization direction perpendicular to the first polarization filter means, said second polarization filter means being interposed in the path of the backscattered light received from the scattering zone. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- light source means delivering a collimated light beam incident upon and penetrating said scattering medium in a scattering zone;
Specification