Method and apparatus for identifying the distribution of the dielectric constants in an object
First Claim
1. A method for identifying the distribution of dielectric constants in an object in a scan of said object comprising the steps of:
- during said scan, emitting radiation directed at said object thereby causing said object to multiply scatter and transmit radiation attenuated by said object forming a three-dimensional attenuated and scattered radiation field;
defining a selected volume outside said object in said attenuated and scattered radiation field;
receiving said attenuated and scattered radiation within said selected volume;
measuring at each of a plurality of selected locations within said volume the received radiation in terms of amplitude and phase to obtain a data set for said scan;
calculating a three-dimensional distribution of the dielectric constants in said object from the amplitudes and phases of the radiation received within said selected volume in said data set based at least in part on the multiple scattering of said radiation within said object;
selecting a section of said three-dimensional distribution; and
visually displaying said section.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for identifying the distribution of the dielectric constants in an object employ radiation emitted by a microwave transmitter directed at the object, which radiation is received by a microwave detector array. The dielectric constant distribution is calculated in a computer from the output signal of the detector array, and is represented on a monitor. The transmitted and scattered radiation is acquired by the array in a prescribed volume in terms of amplitude and phase. For this purpose, the array has a surface with detector elements thereon which is linearly displaceable in a direction toward the microwave transmitter in steps along a selected path. At each step, the incoming radiation is identified in terms of amplitude and phase at a plurality of measuring locations, the number of measuring locations corresponding to the number of individual detector elements within the array. This measuring phase is thereafter combined with a calibration phase for further processing.
202 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for identifying the distribution of dielectric constants in an object in a scan of said object comprising the steps of:
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during said scan, emitting radiation directed at said object thereby causing said object to multiply scatter and transmit radiation attenuated by said object forming a three-dimensional attenuated and scattered radiation field; defining a selected volume outside said object in said attenuated and scattered radiation field; receiving said attenuated and scattered radiation within said selected volume; measuring at each of a plurality of selected locations within said volume the received radiation in terms of amplitude and phase to obtain a data set for said scan; calculating a three-dimensional distribution of the dielectric constants in said object from the amplitudes and phases of the radiation received within said selected volume in said data set based at least in part on the multiple scattering of said radiation within said object; selecting a section of said three-dimensional distribution; and visually displaying said section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for identifying the distribution of dielectric constants in an object in a scan of said object comprising:
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means for emitting radiation directed at said object during said scan thereby causing said object to multiply scatter and transmit radiation attenuated by said object forming a three-dimensional attenuated and scattered radiation field; means for defining a selected volume outside of said object in said attenuated and scattered radiation field; means for receiving said attenuated and scattered radiation within said selected volume; means for measuring at each of a plurality of selected locations within said volume the received radiation in terms of amplitude and phase to obtain a data set for said scan; means for calculating a three-dimensional distribution of the dielectric constants in said object from the amplitudes and phases of the radiation received within said selected volume in said data set based at least in part on the multiple scattering of said radiation within said object; means for selecting a section of said three-dimensional distribution; and means for visually displaying said section. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification