Microwave Signal Imaging via Diamond NV Center Resonance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spectral analysis of microwave signals is slow, expensive, and voluminous due to scanning requirements, and lacks 100% interception probability, especially for wide-band signals, with limitations in analog-digital converters and data management.
Innovation Solution
A system using a solid material with optical properties that change when exposed to a microwave signal and a varying magnetic field, allowing for simultaneous imaging of the entire spectrum without scanning, utilizing a diamond substrate with NV centers to spatially encode frequency information, enabling direct imaging of the microwave signal spectrum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a scanning process is used to analyze microwave signal spectrum, then frequency components can be identified, but the analysis speed becomes inherently slow
Solution Approach 1:
The spectrum is segmented into multiple frequency bands, each mapped to a specific spatial region in the material. By applying a magnetic field gradient, different frequency components resonate at different locations, allowing simultaneous detection of the entire spectrum rather than sequential scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the frequency domain problem into a spatial domain problem. Frequency information is encoded in the spatial position within the material, converting a temporal scanning process into a simultaneous spatial measurement, thereby achieving fast spectral analysis without scanning.
2Measurement precision
If commercial spectrum analyzers are used, then spectral analysis can be performed, but the device becomes complex, expensive and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electronic scanning systems with a physical material system that naturally separates frequency components in space. The magnetic field gradient and material resonance properties substitute for electronic signal processing, dramatically simplifying the device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters from electronic frequency sweeping to static magnetic field application with spatially varying resonance frequencies. This parameter transformation enables simultaneous spectral measurement using simple optical detection instead of complex electronic scanning.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wideband signal monitoring is attempted with current technology, then complete spectrum capture is possible, but the data rate becomes prohibitively large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts spectral information directly from the physical resonance positions in the material, obtaining only the essential frequency and amplitude data. This eliminates the need to process and transmit massive raw time-domain data streams, reducing data volume while maintaining complete spectral coverage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for fast, cost-effective, and compact spectral analysis of broadband microwave signals, achieving 100% interception probability and providing a complete spectrum image without the need for scanning or complex calculations.
Implementation Method 1
when the region is simultaneously exposed to an optical or electrical excitation and a microwave signal having at least one frequency coinciding with a resonance frequency of the material
Implementation Method 2
a value of said resonance frequency varies as a function of the amplitude of a magnetic field
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a system (10) for analysis of a microwave frequency signal (HF) by imaging, comprising: - a solid material (M) having at least one optical property that is modifiable in at least one zone (Zo) of said material when said zone is simultaneously in the presence of an optical excitation (Eo) or electrical excitation (Ee) and a microwave frequency signal having at least one frequency coincident with a resonance frequency (fR) of the material, said material also having the property that a value of said resonance frequency (fR(B)) varies as a function of the amplitude of a magnetic field, - a magnetic field generator (GB) configured to generate a magnetic field (B) having, inside a part of said zone, a spatial amplitude variation (B(x)) along a direction X, said material therefore having a resonance frequency (fR(x)) function of a position (x) along said direction X, and - a detector (D) configured to receive an image (Im) of said zone (Zo) along said direction X.