Methods and apparatus for contactless orthographic imaging of aerosol particles
AssigneeKansas State University Research Foundation
InventorsMatthew J. Berg, Jesse Laning
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described herein are apparatus and methods for orthographic imaging of particles. Particularly, a method to obtain contact-free images of aerosol particles with digital holography from three orthogonal directions is described and demonstrated. Diode lasers of different wavelengths simultaneously illuminate free flowing particles to form holograms on three sensors. Images of the particles are reconstructed from the holograms and used to infer the three-dimensional structure of single spherical particles or clusters of sphere-like particles. The apparatus employs inexpensive components and requires no lenses to achieve the imaging, which gives it a large sensing volume and simple design.
Claims18
An imaging apparatus for creating a three-dimensional image of particles suspended within a gas comprising:
- a housing configured to receive a flow of the gas containing the particles;
- first, second, and third lasers configured to emit respective first, second, and third laser beams into the housing,
- wherein each of the first, second, and third lasers are oriented such that each of the first, second, and third laser beams are directed into the housing at an angle that is substantially orthogonal to each of the other laser beams;
- first, second, and third optical sensors coupled to the housing and positioned opposite the first, second, and third lasers, respectively, each of the first, second, and third optical sensors being operable to simultaneously record a hologram interference pattern of the particles passing through the housing;
- wherein the imaging apparatus does not comprise lenses through which the respective laser beams are passed during operation of the imaging apparatus.
A method of forming a three-dimensional image of particles suspended within a gas, the method comprising:
- introducing the gas comprising the particles to an imaging apparatus;
- illuminating the particles by simultaneously emitting first, second, and third laser beams from first, second, and third lasers, respectively, into the imaging apparatus, wherein the first, second, and third laser beams do not pass through a lens,
- wherein the illuminating simultaneously forms a hologram interference pattern on each of first, second, and third optical sensors positioned opposite the first, second, and third lasers, respectively;
- and
- forming the three-dimensional image using the hologram interference patterns.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.