Detection system and image forming apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed are a detection system and an image forming apparatus. A detection system includes a plurality of terahertz light sources, and a plurality of terahertz wave detection devices that detect terahertz waves, wherein the plurality of terahertz light sources includes a first terahertz light source that outputs terahertz waves in a first on / off pattern having a first period, and a second terahertz light source that outputs terahertz waves in a second on / off pattern having a second period different from the first period.

Claims

1. A detection system, comprising: Multiple terahertz light sources; as well as Multiple terahertz wave detection devices, wherein the multiple terahertz wave detection devices detect terahertz waves. The plurality of terahertz light sources include a first terahertz light source and a second terahertz light source. The first terahertz light source outputs terahertz waves in a first on / off mode with a first period, and the second terahertz light source outputs terahertz waves in a second on / off mode with a second period different from the first period. The plurality of terahertz wave detection devices includes a first terahertz wave detection device and a second terahertz wave detection device. The first terahertz wave detection device detects terahertz waves synchronously with a first on / off mode, and the second terahertz wave detection device detects terahertz waves synchronously with a second on / off mode. Among them, the plurality of terahertz wave detection devices perform: The first operation maintains the first voltage signal generated in the first time period; and A second operation involves generating a second voltage signal generated in the second time period and accumulating the storage voltage determined from the differential voltage signal between the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal.

2. The detection system according to claim 1, wherein, At least one of the plurality of terahertz wave detection devices is capable of switching between operation that detects terahertz waves synchronously with a first on / off mode and operation that detects terahertz waves synchronously with a second on / off mode.

3. The detection system according to claim 1, wherein, The first period is not an integer multiple of the second period, and the second period is not an integer multiple of the first period.

4. The detection system according to claim 1, wherein, In one of the plurality of terahertz wave detection devices, the first time period is the period during which the light emission of the first terahertz light source is turned off, and the second time period is the period during which the first terahertz light source emits light; as well as In another of the plurality of terahertz wave detection devices, the first time period is the period during which the light emission of the second terahertz light source is turned off, and the second time period is the period during which the second terahertz light source emits light.

5. The detection system according to claim 1, wherein, The plurality of terahertz wave detection devices perform integration operations by repeatedly accumulating stored voltages by repeating the first and second operations.

6. The detection system according to claim 1, wherein, The plurality of terahertz wave detection devices include a terahertz wave detection unit, a signal amplification unit, and a signal accumulation unit. The signal amplification section amplifies the signal generated by the terahertz wave detection section to generate a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal. The signal accumulation section stores the accumulated voltage.

7. The detection system according to claim 6, in, The signal accumulation section includes clamping capacitors and storage capacitors. In this process, either a first voltage signal or a second voltage signal is applied to one end of the clamping capacitor. In the first operation, the other end of the clamping capacitor is fixed to a fixed voltage, and In the second operation, the other end of the clamping capacitor is connected to the storage capacitor.

8. The detection system according to claim 6, wherein, The terahertz wave detection unit includes an antenna and a diode.

9. The detection system according to claim 6, wherein, The multiple terahertz wave detection devices reset the signal amplification section simultaneously with the execution of the first operation.

10. The detection system according to claim 6, wherein, In the plurality of terahertz wave detection devices, a plurality of pixels having at least a terahertz wave detection unit, a signal amplification unit, and a signal accumulation unit are deployed in a matrix state, and the output signal of the pixel is read out for each row of the matrix.

11. The detection system according to claim 10, wherein, The length of one scan period of the first terahertz wave detection device, which detects terahertz waves synchronously with the first on / off mode of the first terahertz light source, is the same as the length of one scan period of the second terahertz wave detection device, which detects terahertz waves synchronously with the second on / off mode of the second terahertz light source.

12. The detection system according to claim 11, wherein, The number of scan periods per line in a frame is the same for both the first and second terahertz wave detection devices.

13. The detection system according to claim 11, wherein, The number of one-line scan intervals in a frame time period differs between the first terahertz wave detection device and the second terahertz wave detection device, and the one with a smaller cumulative number of one-line scan intervals has a larger number of one-line scan intervals in a frame time period.

14. The detection system according to claim 11, wherein, In both the first and second terahertz wave detection devices, a single scan period begins synchronously.

15. The detection system according to claim 11, wherein, In the first and second terahertz wave detection devices, a 1-frame time period begins synchronously.

16. The detection system according to claim 11, wherein, Set a blank period in a 1-line scan period or a 1-frame period.

17. The detection system according to claim 10, wherein, The length of one scan period of the first terahertz wave detection device, which detects terahertz waves synchronously with the first on / off mode of the first terahertz light source, is different from the length of one scan period of the second terahertz wave detection device, which detects terahertz waves synchronously with the second on / off mode of the second terahertz light source. At least one of the following equations 1, 2, and 3 is satisfied: Equation 1: (A-1)×M = (B-1)×N Formula 2: A<B,M> N Equation 3: A>B, M <N A: The number of scan periods in one line of a frame in the first terahertz wave detection device; B: The number of scan periods in one line of a frame in the second terahertz wave detection device; M: The number of on / off modes with a first cycle in one scan period of the first terahertz wave detection device; and N: The number of on / off modes with a second cycle in one scan period of the second terahertz wave detection device.

18. An image forming apparatus, comprising: Multiple terahertz light sources; as well as Multiple terahertz wave detection devices, wherein the multiple terahertz wave detection devices detect terahertz waves, The plurality of terahertz light sources includes a first terahertz light source and a second terahertz light source. The first terahertz light source outputs terahertz waves in a first on / off mode with a first period, and the second terahertz light source outputs terahertz waves in a second on / off mode with a second period different from the first period. Each of the plurality of terahertz wave detection devices has at least a terahertz wave detection unit, a signal amplification unit, and a signal accumulation unit, and is arranged in a matrix as a plurality of pixels. The plurality of terahertz wave detection devices include a first terahertz wave detection device and a second terahertz wave detection device. The first terahertz wave detection device detects terahertz waves synchronously with a first on / off mode, and the second terahertz wave detection device detects terahertz waves synchronously with a second on / off mode. Among them, the plurality of terahertz wave detection devices perform: The first operation maintains the first voltage signal generated in the first time period; and A second operation involves generating a second voltage signal generated in the second time period and accumulating the storage voltage determined from the differential voltage signal between the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal.

Images