Tomographic imaging system for transparent material composite thin film

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11846587-B2
Application number	US-202217669823-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2022
Priority date	Jul 1, 2021
Publication date	Dec 19, 2023
Grant date	Dec 19, 2023

Abstract

A tomographic imaging system includes a light source, a light irradiation unit that irradiates light to a transparent material composite thin film sample and a reference mirror and acquires an interference signal between light reflected and scattered from the sample and light reflected from the reference mirror, a light measuring unit that measures the interference signal acquired by the light irradiation unit, a light transmission unit that transmits the light output from the light source to the light irradiation unit and transmits the interference signal of the light transmitted from the light irradiation unit to the light measuring unit; and a signal processing apparatus that converts the interference signal of the sample, outputs the converted interference signal as a tomographic image, and monitors the interference signal acquired by the light irradiation unit to modulate intensity and a polarization state of the light input to the light irradiation unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tomographic imaging system for a transparent material composite thin film, the tomographic imaging system comprising:
a light source;
a light irradiation unit that irradiates light from the light source to a transparent material composite thin film sample and a reference mirror and acquires an interference signal between light reflected and scattered from the sample and light reflected from the reference mirror;
a light measuring unit that measures the interference signal acquired by the light irradiation unit;
a light transmission unit that transmits the light output from the light source to the light irradiation unit and transmits the interference signal of the light transmitted from the light irradiation unit to the light measuring unit; and
a signal processing apparatus that controls to convert the interference signal of the sample detected by the light measuring unit, output the converted interference signal as a tomographic image, and monitor the interference signal acquired by the light irradiation unit to modulate intensity and a polarization state of the light input to the light irradiation unit,
wherein the light irradiation unit includes:
a sample lens that irradiates the light transmitted from the light source to the transparent material composite thin film sample;
a reference lens that irradiates the light transmitted from the light source to the reference mirror;
a collimator that straightens the light transmitted to the light irradiation unit;
an adaptive illuminance controller that modulates the intensity and polarization state of the light input to the light irradiation unit;
a pattern mask that extends a focal depth of the irradiated light by manipulating the intensity, a phase, and a path of the light input to the light irradiation unit for each spatial region; and
a beam scanner that is disposed in front of the sample lens, and reflects and scans the light passing through the pattern mask toward the sample lens.

2. The tomographic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the light source includes a sweep source laser, a supercontinuum laser, or a super luminescent diode.

3. The tomographic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the light transmission unit includes a wave guide including an optical fiber.

4. The tomographic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the pattern mask is reflective or transmissive, or reflective and transmissive.

5. The tomographic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the pattern mask transmits and reflects the light irradiated by the light irradiation unit to irradiate the transmitted light to the sample lens and irradiate the reflected light to the reference lens.

6. The tomographic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the pattern mask includes any one of a phase mask, an amplitude mask, a mirror, or a spatial light modulator.

7. The tomographic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the adaptive illuminance controller includes an optical semiconductor of any one of a spatial light modulator, an electro-optic modulator, an acousto-optic modulator, a variable retarder, or a digital mirror device.

8. The tomographic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the adaptive illumination controller is disposed between the collimator and the pattern mask.

9. The tomographic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the adaptive illuminance controller is disposed between the beam scanner and the sample lens.

10. The tomographic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein:
the light irradiation unit includes two adaptive illuminance controllers, and
one of the plurality of adaptive illuminance controllers is disposed between the beam scanner and the sample lens, and another of the plurality of adaptive illuminance controllers is disposed between the pattern mask and the reference lens.

11. The tomographic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the light irradiation unit further includes:
a beam splitter that is disposed at a rear end of the collimator to split the light transmitted to the light irradiation unit so that the transmitted light is irradiated to the sample lens and the reflected light is irradiated to the reference lens;
a first adaptive illuminance controller that is disposed at the rear end of the light splitter to irradiate the light transmitted from the light splitter; and
a second adaptive illuminance controller that is disposed at the rear end of the light splitter to irradiate the light reflected from the light splitter.

12. The tomographic imaging system of claim 11 , wherein:
the first pattern mask and the beam scanner are sequentially disposed between the sample lens and the first adaptive illuminance controller, and
a second pattern mask is disposed between the reference lens and the second adaptive illuminance controller.

13. The tomographic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the light irradiation unit receives the light from the light transmission unit formed of bifurcated optical fibers, respectively, and irradiates the light to the sample lens and the reference lens.

14. The tomographic imaging system of claim 13 , wherein the light irradiation unit includes:
a first collimator that straightens a first branch of light transmitted from the light transmission unit toward the sample lens;
a second collimator that straightens a second branch of light transmitted from the light transmission unit toward the reference lens;
a third adaptive illuminance controller that is disposed at the rear end of the first collimator and irradiated with the first branch of light transmitted from the light transmission unit; and
a fourth adaptive illuminance controller that is disposed at the rear end of the second collimator and irradiated with the second branch of light transmitted from the light transmission unit.

15. The tomographic imaging system of claim 14 , wherein:
a third pattern mask and a beam scanner are sequentially disposed between the sample lens and the third adaptive illuminance controller, and
a fourth pattern mask is disposed between the reference lens and the fourth adaptive illuminance controller.

16. The tomographic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the light measuring unit includes:
a light splitter that transmits the light irradiated from the light source to the light irradiation unit and reflects interference light induced by the light irradiation unit;
a spectrometer that receives the interference light reflected from the light splitter; and
a photodetector that detects the light transmitted from the spectrometer, and
the spectrometer includes a plurality of lenses and an image sensor sensing a shape of light transmitted from the plurality of lenses.

17. The tomographic imaging system of claim 16 , wherein, between the plurality of lenses and the image sensor, are provided:
a diffraction grating plate that diffracts the light transmitted from the plurality of lenses and converts the diffracted light into a plurality of lines; and
a lens that transmits the light converted from the diffraction grating plate to the image sensor.

18. The tomographic imaging system of claim 1 , wherein, between the light source and the light measuring unit, is further provided an optical filter that limits a bandwidth of a wavelength of the light irradiated from the light source.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp
• Yonsei Univ Univ—Industry Foundation Uif
• Yonsei Univ Univ Industry Foundatoin Uif

Inventors

• Han Jusung
• Hwang Jiseok
• Im Se Joon
• Joo Chulmin
• Song Seungri
• Seong Baek Cheon

Classifications

• G01N21/4795 Primary

  spatially resolved investigating of object in scattering medium (in vivo A61B) · CPC title

• G01B9/02001

  characterised by controlling or generating intrinsic radiation properties · CPC title

• G01B9/02044

  Imaging in the frequency domain, e.g. by using a spectrometer · CPC title

• G01B9/02091 Primary

  Tomographic interferometers, e.g. based on optical coherence · CPC title

• G01B9/02035 Primary

  Shaping the focal point, e.g. elongated focus · CPC title