Nqr detection from continuous rabi transitions
AssigneeAMI Research & Development, LLC
InventorsJohn T. Apostolos, Judy Feng, William Mouyos, Benjamin McMahon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Nuclear quadrupole resonance measurement using two or more wire loop(s) within a space to define a portal, and driving the wire loop(s) with a baseband digital transmitter generating a chirped or stepped signal, to create a corresponding varying electromagnetic field within the portal. Coherent emissions reflected thereby are detected through a directional coupler feeding the transceiver. The detected coherent emissions are processed with a matched filter to determine presence of a target object within the portal.
Claims25
A method for detecting a substance comprising:
- disposing at least one conductive surface to define a space;
- disposing two or more wire loops within the space adjacent the conductive surface;
- driving the wire loops with a baseband chirped or stepped radio frequency transmitter through a directional coupler to create a time varying electromagnetic field within the space, the time varying electromagnetic field stimulating continuous transitions between two power states in the nucleus of the substance;
- receiving resulting coherent radio frequency emissions from the substance through the same directional coupler through which the transmitter is coupled;
- and
- processing the coherent emissions to determine characteristics of the substance.
An apparatus for detecting a substance comprising:
- at least one conductive surface defining a space;
- two or more wire loops located within the space adjacent the conductive surface;
- a directional coupler;
- a chirped or stepped radio frequency transmitter coupled to the wire loops through the directional coupler to create a time varying electromagnetic field within the space, the time varying electromagnetic field stimulating continuous transitions between two states in the nucleus of the substance;
- a radio frequency receiver for receiving resulting coherent radio frequency emissions from the substance through the directional coupler.
An apparatus for detecting a substance comprising:
- at least four conductive surfaces spaced apart from one another to define a rectangular cavity;
- two or more wire loops located within the cavity, each of the two or more wire loops disposed adjacent one of the conductive surfaces;
- a radio frequency transmitter coupled to the wire loops, to create a time varying electromagnetic field within the cavity, the time varying electromagnetic field stimulating continuous transitions between two energy states in the nucleus of a substance disposed within the cavity;
- and
- a radio frequency receiver for receiving resulting coherent radio frequency emissions from the substance through the directional coupler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.