Method and apparatus for terahertz tomographic imaging
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of providing a compositional image of an object in real time including the steps of:
- (a) illuminating the object with a waveform comprising pulses of electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz frequency range, and(b) measuring the relative time delays of pulses reflected by the object to determine the positions of discontinuities in the object.
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Abstract
Providing a compositional image of an object in real time is accomplished by illuminating the object with a waveform comprising pulses of electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz frequency range and measuring the relative time delays of pulses reflected by the object to determine the positions of dielectric interfaces in the object. According to a further embodiment, the waveform includes one or more pulses of terahertz radiation, each pulse having a duration in the range of approximately 10 to 10,000 femtoseconds.
216 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of providing a compositional image of an object in real time including the steps of:
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(a) illuminating the object with a waveform comprising pulses of electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz frequency range, and (b) measuring the relative time delays of pulses reflected by the object to determine the positions of discontinuities in the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of providing a compositional image of an object in real time including the steps of:
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(a) illuminating the object with a waveform comprising pulses of electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz frequency range, the object reflecting at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation as reflected pulses, the electromagnetic radiation traveling substantially along a direction of propagation defined by a set of parallel axes, (b) receiving the reflected pulses at a detector, (c) measuring the arrival times of each of a plurality of reflected pulses as received at the detector; and (d) from the arrival times, determining the location of dielectric interfaces in the object along the direction of propagation. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for providing a compositional image of an object in real time including:
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(a) a source of electromagnetic energy for illuminating the object with pulses of radiation in the terahertz frequency range, and (b) a measuring device for determining the positions of discontinuities in the object by measuring the relative time delays of pulses reflected by the object. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for providing a compositional image of an object in real time including:
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(a) a source of electromagnetic energy for illuminating the object with pulses of electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz frequency range, the object reflecting at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation as reflected pulses, the electromagnetic radiation traveling substantially along a direction of propagation defined by a set of parallel axes, (b) a detector for receiving the reflected pulses, (c) a measuring device coupled to the detector for measuring the arrival times of each of a plurality of reflected pulses as received at the detector; and (d) a calculating device for determining, from the arrival times, the location of dielectric interfaces in the object along the direction of propagation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of providing an image of an object in real time including the steps of:
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(a) illuminating the object with a waveform comprising pulses of electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz frequency range, the object reflecting at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation as reflected pulses, the electromagnetic radiation traveling substantially along a direction of propagation defined by a set of parallel axes, (b) receiving the reflected pulses at a detector, (c) measuring the arrival times of each of a plurality of reflected pulses as received at the detector; (d) signal processing and filtering the plurality of reflected pulses to obtain an approximation of an impulse response function for the object; (e) converting the measured arrival times into depth information for the object; and (f) obtaining one or more materials properties of the object from the impulse response function for the object. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification