Method and apparatus for detecting hidden features disposed in an opaque environment
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- selecting an excitation signal;
transmitting said excitation signal;
receiving a signal which contains information produced by a remote object in response to said excitation signal;
evaluating said information for the purpose of identifying said remote object;
adjusting said excitation signal based on said evaluating of said information;
repeating said transmitting, receiving and evaluating using said adjusted excitation signal;
transmitting a probe signal; and
wherein said received signal is a reflection of said probe signal.
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Abstract
An excitation signal is selected and transmitted, and a signal is received containing information produced by a remote object in response to the excitation signal. The information is evaluated to attempt to identify the object, the excitation signal is adjusted on the basis of the evaluation, the adjusted excitation signal is transmitted, and a resulting signal is received and evaluated. A variation involves transmitting an excitation signal, transmitting an optical probe signal, receiving an optical signal which is a reflection of the probe signal and which contains information produced by a remote object in response to the excitation signal, and evaluating the information for the purpose of identifying the object.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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selecting an excitation signal;
transmitting said excitation signal;
receiving a signal which contains information produced by a remote object in response to said excitation signal;
evaluating said information for the purpose of identifying said remote object;
adjusting said excitation signal based on said evaluating of said information;
repeating said transmitting, receiving and evaluating using said adjusted excitation signal;
transmitting a probe signal; and
wherein said received signal is a reflection of said probe signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
causing said excitation signal to impinge on a remote material which has said remote object therein;
causing said remote object to respond to energy from said excitation signal by generating vibrations; and
causing said probe signal to impinge on and be reflected by said remote material, said information in said received signal corresponding to said vibrations produced by said remote object.
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3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting of said excitation signal is carried out using a laser.
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4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said transmitting of said probe signal is carried out using a laser.
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5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said receiving of said received signal is carried out using a vibration sensor module.
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6. A method according to claim 4, wherein said receiving of said received signal includes converting said received signal from an optical wavefront to a plane wave, and extracting said information from said plane wave by optically detecting characteristics in said plane wave which represent physical vibrations of a remote material that reflected said probe signal.
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7. An apparatus comprising:
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an excitation source which transmits an excitation signal;
a receiver which receives a signal that contains information produced by a remote object in response to said excitation signal;
a circuit coupled to said excitation source and said receiver, said circuit being operative to;
cause said excitation source to transmit said excitation signal in a selected form;
thereafter evaluate said information corresponding to said selected form of said excitation signal for the purpose of identifying said remote object;
thereafter determine an adjusted form for said excitation signal based on said evaluation of said information;
thereafter cause said excitation source to transmit said excitation signal in said adjusted form;
thereafter evaluate said information corresponding to said adjusted excitation signal for the purpose of identifying said remote object; and
a probe source which transmits a probe signal, said received signal being a reflection of said probe signal, said excitation signal impinging on a remote material which has said remote object therein, said remote object responding to energy from said excitation signal by generating vibrations, said probe signal impinging on and being reflected by said remote material, and said information in said received signal corresponding to said vibrations produced by said remote object.
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8. An apparatus, comprising:
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an excitation source which transmits an excitation signal;
a receiver which receives a signal that contains information produced by a remote object in response to said excitation signal;
a circuit coupled to said excitation source and said receiver, said circuit being operative to;
cause said excitation source to transmit said excitation signal in a selected form;
thereafter evaluate said information corresponding to said selected form of said excitation signal for the purpose of identifying said remote object;
thereafter determine an adjusted form for said excitation signal based on said evaluation of said information;
thereafter cause said excitation source to transmit said excitation signal in said adjusted form;
thereafter evaluate said information corresponding to said adjusted excitation signal for the purpose of identifying said remote object; and
a probe source which transmits a probe signal, said received signal being a reflection of said probe signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method, comprising:
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transmitting an excitation signal;
transmitting an optical probe signal;
receiving an optical signal which is a reflection of said probe signal and which contains information produced by a remote object in response to said excitation signal;
evaluating said information for the purpose of identifying said remote object; and
adjusting said excitation signal based on said evaluating of said information. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
causing said excitation signal to impinge on a remote material which has said remote object therein;
causing said remote object to respond to energy from said excitation signal by generating vibrations; and
causing said probe signal to impinge on and be reflected by said remote material, said information in said received signal corresponding to said vibrations produced by said remote object.
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18. An apparatus, comprising:
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a first transmitter that transmits an excitation signal;
a second transmitter that transmits an optical probe signal;
a receiver that receives an optical signal which is a reflection of said probe signal and which contains information produced by a remote object in response to said excitation signal;
a circuit that evaluates said information for the purpose of identifying said remote object; and
wherein said control circuit adjusts said excitation signal based on said evaluation of said information. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeRaytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
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Original AssigneeRaytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
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InventorsSumida, David S., Dunning, Gilmore J., Pepper, David M.
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Primary Examiner(s)Lobo, Ian J.
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Application NumberUS10/348,650Time in Patent Office644 DaysField of Search367/149, 735/94, 736/20, 736/27, 736/43, 736/49, 736/55, 736/56US Class Current367/149CPC Class CodesG01H 9/00 Measuring mechanical vibrat...
