Detecting apparatus, and detecting method

• US 7,560,695 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ouchi, Toshihiko, Itsuji, Takeaki, Kasai, Shintaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta; David P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim; Kiho
• Application Number:
  US11/727,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20070235718A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 2503381-3384
• US Class Current: 250/338.4
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0346 Capillary cells; Microcells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/035 Supports for sample drops
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/03 Cuvette constructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3577 for analysing liquids, e.g. polluted water
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3581 using far infrared light; using Terahertz radiation
• 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

A detecting apparatus for detecting information of a liquid object or sample includes a transmission path, a THz wave supplying unit, a THz wave detecting unit, and an infiltrative holding member for infiltration and holding of a liquid object. The supplying unit supplies an electromagnetic wave in a frequency range between 30 GHz and 30 THz to the transmission path. The detecting unit detects the THz wave transmitted through the transmission path. The infiltrative holding member is set at a location containing at least a portion in which an electric field distribution of the THz wave propagating along the transmission path extends.

Claims

1. A detecting apparatus for detecting information of a liquid object, the detecting apparatus comprising:

a transmission path;

an electromagnetic-wave supplying unit for supplying an electromagnetic wave in a frequency range between 30 GHz and 30 THz to the transmission path;

an electromagnetic-wave detecting unit for detecting the electromagnetic wave transmitted through the transmission path; and

an infiltrative holding member for infiltration and holding of the liquid object,

wherein the infiltrative holding member is set at a location containing at least a portion in which an electric field distribution of the electromagnetic wave propagating along the transmission path extends,

wherein a non-infiltrative member which is incapable of infiltrating the liquid object is set partly or entirely surrounding the infiltrative holding member,

wherein a spacing, whose size is less than a wavelength of the electromagnetic wave supplied by the electromagnetic-wave supplying unit, is present between the infiltrative holding member and the non-infiltrative member, and

wherein the spacing between the infiltrative holding member and the non-infiltrative member comprises a flow path for supplying the liquid object to the infiltrative holding member.

2. The detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission path comprises a metal.

3. The detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a geometrically symmetric center line, or a geometrical gravity center line of the infiltrative holding member is aligned with a geometrically symmetric center line, or a geometrical gravity center line parallel with a propagation direction of the electric field distribution of the electromagnetic wave propagating along the transmission path.

4. The detecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a marker for setting the infiltrative holding member relative to the transmission path.

5. The detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the infiltrative holding member comprises one of a porous material, a fibrous material, and a needle structure.

6. The detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-infiltrative member is set partly or entirely surrounding the infiltrative holding member at a position perpendicular to the electromagnetic wave transmitted through the transmission path and at a position where the liquid object is infiltrated.

7. The detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the infiltrative holding member is a granular structure or a sponge structure in which the liquid object infiltrates into the infiltrative holding member isotropically, and the infiltrative holding member is disposed such that the electromagnetic wave transmitted through the transmission path and the liquid object interact with each other.