Terahertz Camera Illumination Layout for Human Body Contours
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera systems using terahertz waves for hazardous material detection suffer from low irradiation efficiency and insufficient detection accuracy due to the illumination direction not aligning with the uneven shape of human bodies, leading to specular reflection issues.
Innovation Solution
The camera system employs a two-dimensional arrangement of illumination elements with varying angles between their optical axes to adapt to the uneven shape of the human body, ensuring proper irradiation and improved detection accuracy by using a plurality of illumination elements and substrates arranged to follow the body's contours.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single illumination element is used to irradiate the inspection target, then the device structure is simple, but the irradiation efficiency is low and detection accuracy is insufficient due to inability to follow the uneven shape of the human body
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination unit is divided into multiple illumination elements (first and second illumination elements) arranged in different directions. Each illumination element independently irradiates the inspection target from its specific direction, allowing the system to cover the uneven surface of the human body more effectively and improve detection accuracy without requiring a single complex adjustable structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different illumination elements are positioned at different locations and orientations to provide localized irradiation tailored to specific regions of the inspection target. The first illumination element irradiates from a direction different from the second illumination element, enabling each element to optimize its irradiation angle for its specific location on the human body surface.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the illumination direction is fixed, then the device operation is simple, but the irradiation efficiency is low when the inspection target has an uneven shape
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination function is segmented into multiple fixed illumination elements positioned at different angles. Instead of making a single illumination element adjustable, the system uses multiple elements with fixed but different illumination directions, achieving high irradiation efficiency across the uneven human body surface while maintaining simple fixed structures.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple illumination elements with different fixed illumination directions are combined into a single illumination unit. This merging of multiple fixed sources achieves the effect of adaptive illumination coverage without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms, as the combined output from multiple fixed directions covers the uneven surface effectively.
3Reliability
If the illumination element does not follow the uneven shape of the human body, then the device structure is simple, but the specular reflection prevents the terahertz wave from entering the camera unit
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination function is segmented into multiple elements positioned at different locations and angles relative to the camera unit. This segmentation allows at least one illumination element to achieve the proper reflection angle for specular reflection into the camera unit, ensuring reliable terahertz wave detection while adapting to the uneven human body surface.
Solution Approach 2:
Different illumination elements are positioned to provide locally optimized irradiation angles for different regions of the inspection target. This local optimization ensures that for each region of the human body, there is an illumination element positioned to achieve proper specular reflection into the camera unit, maintaining detection reliability across the entire inspection area.
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 configuration enhances irradiation efficiency and detection accuracy of hazardous materials, particularly in a walk-through type setup, allowing for effective imaging of moving subjects.
Implementation Method 1
The terahertz wave has a long wavelength and causes specular reflection on the surface of the inspection target
Data Source
AI summary
A camera system configured to inspect an inspection target moving in a first direction includes an illumination unit configured to irradiate the inspection target with a terahertz wave, and a camera unit disposed at a position which the terahertz wave reflected on the inspection target enters, and configured to acquire an image formed by the reflected terahertz wave. The illumination unit includes a plurality of illumination elements two-dimensionally arranged in the first direction and a second direction different from the first direction. Angles formed between directions of optical axes of the plurality of illumination elements arranged in the second direction projected onto a first plane that includes a straight line in the first direction and a straight line in the second direction and the first direction become smaller as a position approaches a center portion of the plurality of illumination elements arranged in the second direction.