US 12,761,468 B2 · System and method using surface scanning pattern/protocol based on modified electrical waves to produce a wide and dynamic time interval between scans

Abstract

A method of data acquisition and image generation over a wide and dynamic time interval between surface scans using modified electrical waves is disclosed. It is also disclosed that generating altered electrical waveforms that drive a scanner using conventional waves such as sinusoidal or triangle or sawtooth can enhance the method. Systems for A-scan, B-scan, and C-scan imaging include surface scan setups using a one-dimensional and a two-dimensional scanner, respectively. Three different arrangements of conventional waves enable modified waveforms that drive scanners to produce a wide and dynamic interscans time interval on both the fast and slow scan axes. (i) At a constant peak-to-peak voltage, the instantaneous voltage of the electrical sinusoidal wave shifts in time with the amplitude of the electrical signal in the ramp waveform within a range. (ii) The frequency of a waveform continuously increases (up-chirp) as a function of time in the form of a positive ramp sawtooth or continuously decreases as a function of time in the form of a negative ramp sawtooth. (iii) The frequency of a waveform is modulated as a function of time in a 90-degree phase retarded sinusoidal form within a deviation range of the +/−peak frequency.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A surface scanning system to generate a wide and dynamic interval between scans to be used in a point imaging process of surface scan patterns, comprising

a collimator (101) that transforms a light or an electromagnetic radiation generated from a light source (100) into collimated light or light beam (102),
at least one scanning mirror (103) that moves in one or two dimensions and allows the incident collimated light or light beam (102) to be reflected,
at least one electrical signal generator (106) that generates electrical signals in different waveforms calculated using numerical model, determines a rotation angle of the scanning mirror (103) with a voltage of the generated electrical signals, drives the scanning mirror (103), and performs unidirectional or bidirectional surface scans with the collimated light or light beam (102) by the scanning mirror (103) it drives, and
a focusing lens 104 that enables scanning a target surface (105) by focusing the collimated light or light beam (102) to different points with the scanning mirror (103) driven by the electrical signal generator (106).

1 more element

A surface scanning method in which a wide and dynamic interscan time interval is generated to be used in a point imaging process of surface scanning patterns, the method comprising the steps of:

a. driving a scanning mirror (103) or two-dimensional scanning mirror (201) by an electrical signal generator (106), which provides electrical signal in a hybrid wave (503) form depending on varying a direct current (DC) offset voltage of an electrical sinusoidal wave (501) linearly in time as a function of a positive ramp sawtooth wave with a single duty cycle (502) or as a function of the electrical signal in the ramp waveform,
b. creating bidirectional and unidirectional surface scans on any axis of a target surface (105) or a combination of an x-axis and y-axis with a light or light beam (102) directed by the scanning mirror (103) or the two-dimensional scanning mirror (201) driven by the electrical signal generator (106).

A surface scanning method for generating wide and dynamic time intervals between surface scans, wherein the method comprises one of the following surface scan patterns/protocols:

Hybrid waveform-based surface scan pattern/protocol, comprising:
generating a hybrid wave by varying a direct current (DC) offset voltage of an electrical sinusoidal signal linearly in time as a function of a positive ramp sawtooth waveform,
shifting an instantaneous voltage of the electrical sinusoidal signal in time relative to an amplitude of an electrical ramp waveform while maintaining a constant peak-to-peak voltage,
equalizing a varying speed of the DC offset voltage to a repetition rate of the electrical ramp waveform, and driving one of:
a one-dimensional scanner for B-scanning along an x-axis and a z-axis consisting of a series of A-scans, or a two-dimensional scanner for C-scanning along x-, y-, and z-axes comprising a series of B-scans,
Chirped waveform-based surface scan pattern/protocol, comprising:
generating an up-chirp triangle waveform by increasing frequency as a function of time using a positive ramp sawtooth waveform,
generating a down-chirp triangle waveform by decreasing frequency as a function of time using a negative ramp sawtooth waveform,
defining a width of time intervals between scans based on sweeping range
dynamically defining variation in time intervals based on frequency change rate, and driving one of:
a one-dimensional scanner for B-scanning, or a two-dimensional scanner for C-scanning,
Frequency-modulated waveform-based surface scan pattern/protocol, comprising:
generating a frequency modulated triangle waveform by modulating an electrical triangle waveform using frequency deviation as a function of time in a 90-degree phase shifted sinusoidal form,
defining a width of time intervals between scans by a deviation range of a peak frequency,
dynamically defining a variation of a time interval between scans by a modulation rate,
dynamically defining variation in time intervals based on modulation rate, and driving one of:
a one-dimensional scanner for B-scanning, or a two-dimensional scanner for C-scanning.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method using surface scanning pattern/protocol based on modified electrical waves to produce a wide and dynamic time interval between scans

Life of this patent

System and method using surface scanning pattern/protocol based on modified electrical waves to produce a wide and dynamic time interval between scans

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36