Ultra-wide band pulse dispersion spectrometry method and apparatus providing multi-component composition analysis

• US 7,221,169 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2005
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rhino Analytics LP
• Original Assignee: Rhino Analytics LP
• Inventors: Daniewicz, John Lee, Jean, Buford Randall, Whitehead, Frederick Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): DEB, ANJAN K
• Application Number:
  US11/253,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20060091894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 324/638, 324/637, 324/639, 324/642, 324/710, 324/640, 324/643
• US Class Current: 324/639
• 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

Embodiments cause interaction of an ultra-wide band signal with a substance over a broad range of frequencies simultaneously to obtain a response signal whose distortion is indicative of a composition of the substance.

Claims

1. A method using electromagnetic energy for obtaining information concerning a property of a substance, comprising:

generating an ultra-wide band signal having a continuous, broad band frequency spectrum that includes a frequency range for which the substance is responsive to electromagnetic energy;

communicating the ultra-wide band signal to a waveguide containing the substance to enable electromagnetic energy to interact with the substance within the waveguide over a broad range of frequencies simultaneously;

receiving energy of at least one waveguide mode distribution interacting with the substance, the mode exhibiting a cutoff characteristic;

acquiring a response signal from the energy interacting with the substance; and

evaluating the acquired response signal to obtain information concerning a property of the substance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the response signal further comprises resolving samples of the received energy into a transform spectrum to determine information from individual ones of simultaneous modes of propagation of energy in the substance.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein evaluating of the acquired response signal is performed in the time domain.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein evaluating the acquired response signal comprises evaluating an attenuation of the response signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein evaluating the acquired response signal comprises evaluating a shape of the response signal.

6. An apparatus using electromagnetic energy for determining information concerning a property of a substance, comprising:

a generator to generate an ultra-wide band signal having a continuous, broad band frequency spectrum that includes a frequency range for which the substance is responsive to electromagnetic energy;

a transmitting element to communicate energy in the ultra-wide band signal to the substance within a waveguide to enable electromagnetic energy to interact with the substance over a broad range of frequencies simultaneously;

a receiver to acquire a response signal from the energy interacting with the substance, the response signal comprising at least one mode distribution, the mode having a cutoff frequency characteristic; and

signal processing electronics to evaluate the acquired response signal to obtain information concerning a property of the substance.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the signal processing electronics are adapted to perform a transformation of the response signal into a transform spectrum to determine information from individual ones of simultaneous modes of propagation of energy in the substance.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the signal processing electronics is adapted to evaluate cutoff characteristics in the time domain.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the signal processing electronics is adapted to evaluate cutoff characteristics by evaluating an attenuation of the response signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the signal processing electronics is adapted to evaluate cutoff characteristics by evaluating a shape of the response signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the signal processing electronics is adapted to evaluate cutoff characteristics by evaluating a broadening of a pulse in the response signal in comparison to a pulse in the communicated signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the signal processing electronics evaluates cutoff characteristics by evaluating change in cutoff frequency of one or more simultaneous modes of propagation of energy within the substance.

13. A method for using electromagnetic energy to determine information concerning a property of a substance, comprising:

communicating an ultra-wideband signal having a broad band frequency spectrum to a substance to enable electromagnetic energy to interact with the substance over a broad range of frequencies simultaneously;

acquiring a response signal comprising a reflected signal arising from energy scattered from the substance, and comprising a transmitted signal arising from energy transmitted through the substance; and

evaluating the acquired response signal to obtain information concerning a property of the substance.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein evaluating the response signal comprises comparing a time of arrival of a pulse in the response signal arising from energy scattered from the substance to a time of arrival of a different pulse in the response signal arising from energy transmitted through the substance.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein evaluating the acquired response signal comprises comparing an amplitude distribution of the transmitted signal to an amplitude distribution of the reflected signal.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein evaluating the acquired response signal comprises evaluating a distortion of the reflected signal and a distortion of the transmitted signal.