Holographic imaging of natural-fiber-containing materials

US7855673B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Battelle Memorial Institute · CH

Inventors

• Kyle J. Bunch · Richland, US
• Brian J. Tucker · Pasco, US
• Ronald H. Severtsen · Richland, US
• Thomas E. Hall · Fort Wayne, US
• Douglas L. McMakin · Richland, US
• Wayne M. Lechelt · West Richland, US
• Jeffrey W. Griffin · Kennewick, US
• David M. Sheen · Richland, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 10, 2008
• Grant date: Dec 21, 2010
• Expiry date: Jan 22, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01Q21/22
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The present invention includes methods and apparatuses for imaging material properties in natural-fiber-containing materials. In particular, the images can provide quantified measures of localized moisture content. Embodiments of the invention utilize an array of antennas and at least one transceiver to collect amplitude and phase data from radiation interacting with the natural-fiber-containing materials. The antennas and the transceivers are configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation at one or more frequencies, which are between 50 MHz and 1 THz. A conveyance system passes the natural-fiber-containing materials through a field of view of the array of antennas. A computing device is configured to apply a synthetic imaging algorithm to construct a three-dimensional image of the natural-fiber-containing materials that provides a quantified measure of localized moisture content. The image and the quantified measure are both based on the amplitude data, the phase data, or both.