Time and space resolved standoff hyperspectral IED explosives LIDAR detector

• US 8,054,454 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2008
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chemimage Corporation
• Original Assignee: Chemimage Corporation
• Inventors: Hubble, Hugh W. II, Nelson, Matthew P., Treado, Patrick I, Neiss, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Geisel; Kara E
• Application Number:
  US12/199,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20090128802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 356 72- 73, 356317-318, 356/417, 356/445, 356/301
• US Class Current: 356/73
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0221 the fibers defining an entry slit
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0264 Electrical interface; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/2823 Imaging spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/36 Investigating two or more bands of a spectrum by separate detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/44 Raman spectrometry; Scattering spectrometry ; Fluorescence spectrometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/1738 Optionally different kinds of measurements; Method being valid for different kinds of measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/174 either absorption-reflection or emission-fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/1744 either absorption or scatter
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/359 using near infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6456 Spatial resolved fluorescence measurements; Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/65 Raman scattering
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/718 Laser microanalysis, i.e. with formation of sample plasma

Abstract

A system and method for standoff detection of explosives and explosive residue. A laser light source illuminates a target area having an unknown sample producing luminescence emitted photons, scattered photons and plasma emitted photons. A first optical system directs light to the target area. A video capture device outputs a dynamic image of the target area. A second optical system collects photons, and directs collected photons to a first two-dimensional array of detection elements and/or to a fiber array spectral translator device which device includes a two-dimensional array of optical fibers drawn into a one-dimensional fiber stack. A spectrograph is coupled to the one-dimensional fiber stack of the fiber array spectral translator device, wherein the entrance slit of the spectrograph is coupled to the one dimensional fiber stack.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) surveying an area to identify a region of interest comprising an unknown material wherein said identification of said region of interest is based on at least one of size, shape and color of said region of interest;

(b) illuminating the region of interest with a plurality of photons to thereby produce photons reflected from different locations on or within the unknown sample in said region of interest;

(c) collecting said reflected photons using short wave infrared spectroscopy to produce at least one of the following;

a plurality of spatially resolved short wave infrared spectra and a plurality of wavelength resolved short wave infrared images;

(d) analyzing at least one of said a plurality of spatially resolved short wave infrared spectra and a plurality wavelength resolved short wave infrared images to thereby determine a target area;

(e) illuminating said target area with a plurality of photons to thereby produce Raman scattered photons and plasma emitted photons from the target area;

(f) collecting, via a fiber array spectral translator device, Raman scattered photons and plasma emitted photons produced by the target area, wherein said device comprises a two dimensional array of optical fibers drawn into a one dimensional fiber stack so as to effectively convert a two-dimensional field of view into a curvilinear field of view;

(g) analyzing the Raman scattered photons, produced by the target area, using Raman spectroscopy to produce a plurality of spatially resolved Raman spectra;

(h) analyzing the plasma emitted photons, produced by the target area, using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy to produce a plurality of spatially resolved atomic spectra; and

(i) applying a fusion algorithm to at least two of the following to identify one or more chemical compounds in the target area;

the plurality of spatially resolved infrared spectra, the plurality of spatially resolved Raman spectra and the plurality of spatially resolved atomic spectra, wherein steps (a)-(i) are performed at a standoff distance from said unknown material.

2. A method comprising:

(a) surveying an area to identify a region of interest comprising an unknown material wherein said identification of said region of interest is based, on at least one of size, shape and color of said region of interest;

(b) illuminating the region of interest with a plurality of photons to thereby produce photons reflected from different locations on or within the unknown sample in said region of interest;

(c) collecting said reflected photons using infrared spectroscopy to produce at least one of the following;

a plurality of spatially resolved infrared spectra and a plurality wavelength resolved infrared images;

(d) analyzing at least one of said a plurality of spatially resolved infrared spectra and a plurality wavelength resolved infrared images to thereby determine a target area;

(e) illuminating said target area with a plurality of photons to thereby produce Raman scattered photons and plasma emitted photons from the target area;

(f) collecting, via a fiber array spectral translator device, Raman scattered photons and plasma emitted photons produced by the target area, wherein said device comprises a two dimensional array of optical fibers drawn into a one dimensional fiber stack so as to effectively convert a two-dimensional field of view into a curvilinear field of view;

(g) analyzing the Raman scattered photons, produced by the target area, using Raman spectroscopy to produce a plurality of spatially resolved Raman spectra;

(h) analyzing the plasma emitted photons, produced by the target area, using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy to produce a plurality of spatially resolved atomic spectra; and

(i) applying a fusion algorithm to at least two of the following to identify one or more chemical compounds in the target area;

the plurality of spatially resolved infrared spectra, the plurality of spatially resolved Raman spectra and the plurality of spatially resolved atomic spectra, wherein steps (a)-(i) are performed at a standoff distance from said unknown material.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said area comprises at least one of:

an above ground area and a below ground area.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said unknown material comprises at least one of an explosive material, an explosive residue, and a chemical compound.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said surveying comprises using a video capture device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said video capture device outputs a dynamic image of said area.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein said a plurality of spatially resolved infrared spectra comprise short wave infrared spectra and said plurality wavelength resolved infrared images comprise short wave infrared images.

7. A method comprising:

(a) surveying an area to identify a region of interest comprising an unknown material wherein said identification of said region of interest is based on at least one of size, shape and color of said region of interest;

(b) illuminating the region of interest with a plurality of photons to thereby produce photons reflected from different locations on or within the unknown sample in said region of interest;

(c) collecting said reflected photons using short wave infrared spectroscopy to produce at least one of the following;

a plurality of spatially resolved short wave infrared spectra and a plurality of wavelength resolved short wave infrared images;

(d) analyzing at least one of said a plurality of spatially resolved short wave infrared spectra and a plurality wavelength resolved short wave infrared images to thereby determine a target area;

(e) illuminating said target area with a plurality of photons to thereby produce Raman scattered photons from the target area; and

(f) collecting said Raman scattered photons using Raman spectroscopy to produce at least one of the following;

a plurality of spatially resolved Raman spectra, a plurality of wavelength resolved Raman images, and combinations thereof, wherein steps (a)-(f) are performed at a standoff distance from said unknown material.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising analyzing at least one of said plurality of spatially resolved Raman spectra and said plurality of wavelength resolved Raman images to thereby identify said unknown materials.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising collecting said Raman scattered photons via a fiber array spectral translator device, wherein said device comprises a two dimensional array of optical fibers drawn into a one dimensional fiber stack so as to effectively convert a two dimensional field of view into a curvilinear field of view.