Patent Description:
The approaches described in this section could be pursued, but are not necessarily approaches that have previously been conceived or pursued.

Electrical impedance, electrical capacitance, and microwave tomography have the potential to become powerful tools in the fields of medicine, security, and manufacturing and other fields that would benefit from the wealth of diagnostic information that can be gleaned from materials' dielectric properties. Unlike X-ray or ultrasound measurements that primarily indicate materials' density, dielectric properties can be unique to individual materials and can be used to, for example, identify specific tissues or tumors, or distinguish between explosives and foodstuffs. To date, these dielectric imaging techniques have found limited use in boutique diagnostics or in specific situations that permit dielectric measurements to be made.

Materials' dielectric properties are not readily resolved to specific spatial regions because dielectric structures can bend, contort, reflect, and diffract the propagation of electromagnetic fields in non-linear ways, which obscures both their spatial position and underlying dielectric characteristics.

The path of electric and magnetic fields through a subject (i.e. specimen) under study will vary according to the frequency or, more generally, the rate of change of the field. In static conditions, or where wavelengths are an order of magnitude or more longer than the dielectric structures under investigation, the impedance characteristics of the subject under study will determine the paths of the current-fields will be drawn into the material of lowest impedance. As the frequency increases, however, propagation will take on more ray-like behaviors, and propagation will be dominated by the material of highest propagation velocity.

Traditionally, these two regimes are approached differently. Low-frequency or static techniques like electrical impedance tomography (EIT) or electrical capacitance tomography (ECT)-often called soft-field tomography because the bending and curving of the fields contrasts with the hard-field or straight line of X-rays through an object-apply an array of electrodes to the surface of an object under study and sequentially apply currents through pairs of electrodes to map out equipotential lines. A computer algorithm then iterates through the possible impedances of regions to match the equipotential curves measured in the data.

Low-frequency or static EIT/ECT fields can greatly obscure internal detail, especially at appreciable distance from a dielectric structure, because the fields tend to smooth out with distance. Static techniques also struggle with multi-layer structures-a key reason why EIT/ECT electrodes are directly applied to an object under study because an air gap would add a high impedance layer and impedance boundaries can obscure field structures within.

At much higher frequencies, techniques such as microwave tomography (MWT) use wavelengths similar to the size of the dielectric structures under study. At these frequencies, waves freely propagate and take on more ray-like characteristics. Although microwave paths can be more linear through some structures, they typically do not deeply penetrate subjects (i.e. specimens) of interest-such as the human body-and can dramatically diffract, reflect, and scatter around dielectric structures, creating a more dynamic inverse scattering problem than EIT/ECT, which can be more computationally demanding.

Although the scattering behaviors are different in the low-frequency/static and microwave regimes, both generate ill-posed scattering data that cannot be definitively inverted to resolve the spatial and electrical characteristics of the scattering dielectric structure. The data generated in both regimes can be cumbersome and time consuming to solve and may have multiple mathematically possible solutions or no solution at all.

Thus, two key problems have limited broad use of dielectric impedance tomography in three-dimensional, inhomogeneous, or complex high dielectric constant structures, such as the human body. The first is the significant mismatch between the dielectric characteristics of these structures and the surrounding air. The second is solving the inverse of multi-path or scattered electromagnetic waves through complex structures-a mathematically ill-posed problem.

The impedance mismatch between differing dielectric materials severely limits non-contact measurements because the majority of measuring electromagnetic waves will reflect or refract from the specimen of interest, and wavelengths that provide reasonable spatial resolution in air (typically GHz and above) are extremely dissipative in many materials. This limitation is currently addressed by either measuring impedances through direct contact with the specimen or performing measurements in a dielectric matching media. Such constraints are not practical in many situations where throughput and disruption are concerns, such as medical trauma, security, or manufacturing applications.

Even when spatially diverse data is obtained, solving the internal structure of inhomogeneous specimens can prove intractable when the probing electromagnetic waves are free to propagate, resonate, and interfere with each other. Although much literature has been devoted to studying this mathematical problem, significant computational resources may be required to develop even cursory solutions.

Several techniques have been proposed for tackling the inherent issues in dielectric impedance tomography. For example, several issued U. patents detail methods requiring a probe or array of probes to come into full contact with a patient or specimen. For example, see <CIT>,<CIT>, and <CIT>.

Electrical impedance tomography methods that do not require specimen contact either require intermediate media or use very short wavelengths and high powers. Electrical impedance tomography methods that do not require specimen contact but require intermediate media are described, for example, in several issued <CIT>, <CIT>,<CIT>, and<CIT>. For example, electrical impedance tomography methods that do not require specimen contact but use very short wavelengths and high powers are described, for example, in several issued <CIT>, <CIT>, and<CIT>.

Capacitance measurement techniques or electrical capacitance tomography can offer advantages over impedance methods using freely propagating fields by completing a circuit between capacitor electrodes applied to the specimen. For example, methods that inherently use lower frequencies by constraining their propagation to the capacitor circuit for capacitive tomographic techniques are described, for example, in several issued <CIT> and<CIT>. Although these techniques can reduce multi path complexity and attenuation of high frequencies, they require direct specimen contact and perform poorly in large or complex structures because electric fields are drawn to regions of a highest dielectric constant, looping around low dielectric constant regions or inhomogeneities, and potentially obscuring features of interest.

Where the dielectric profile to be studied extends only along a single dimension, transmission line methods have been successfully used. For example, in <CIT>, and <CIT>. See also, non-patent literature: <NPL>; <NPL>); and <NPL>.

Finally, in Magnetic Induction Tomography (MIT) conductivity changes within a target region can be detected by magnetically generating eddy currents with a coil. For example, <CIT>, and <CIT>. However, like EIT and ECT methods, MIT suffers from unpredictable curving and warping of fields.

There exists a need, therefore, for new systems and methods for tomographing inhomogeneous impedances within specimens which generates spatially solvable data and does not require excessively high frequencies, intermediate media, or intimate contact with the specimen under test.

Electromagnetic fields with linear or hard field characteristics would address these problems because they would yield tomographic data from a known and defined region. It is known that in a wave propagating in transverse electric (TE) or transverse electric and magnetic (TEM) modes, the electric fields are orthogonal to the direction of propagation. Therefore, if an electromagnetic field is propagating in a known direction and its propagation is determined to be in TE or TEM mode, linearity and direction of the electric fields can be assumed, creating a hard-field-like condition.

It is also known that in TE or TEM modes propagating through a media, propagation speed (Vprop) and impedance (Z) are related by the media's relative permittivity or dielectric constant (εr) as a component of its electric permittivity (ε = εr ε<NUM>), such that: <MAT>.

However, in an inhomogeneous dielectric with larger structures, speed and impedance may be dominated by the ε of certain constituent physical elements of the structure. For example, if the traversal time through constituent dielectric structures differs by more than a small fraction of the probing frequency's period, the geometries and orientation of the constituent dielectric structures must be taken into account and the above mix equation is no longer accurate. Analytic equations for complex structures of significant frequency fractions in traversal time or more are complex, not readily solved, and often do not have unique solutions.

The above relationships (<NUM>, and <NUM>) can also be formulated in the magnetic domain for waves propagating in TEM or transverse magnetic (TM) modes, e.g. <MAT>. Such formulations can also further incorporate lossy materials as formulated with either conductivity or complex permittivities and permeabilities. For simplicity, the discussion will continue assuming a simple, lossless dielectric.

A practical example of this phenomenon is a foamed polyethylene (PE) coaxial cable: a homogenous foamed PE dielectric creates a transmission line (such as an RG-<NUM> cable) of <NUM> Ohms and propagation velocity (Vprop) of <NUM>% the speed of light. Whereas the same structure containing the same volume of air and PE, but concentrated into regions of pure PE and pure air, will have regional characteristics of <NUM> Ohms and <NUM>% Vprop for pure PE and <NUM> Ohms and <NUM>% Vprop for air. If these bifurcated regions are aligned along the direction of propagation, the differing propagation velocities will disrupt TEM behavior and the wave will encounter significant dispersion between the slower and faster dielectric components. From a measurement perspective, the line's impedance (or composite εeff) and propagation velocity will be a complex function of the probing frequencies and the PE and air constituent geometries.

If, in the above example, the line could be restored to TE mode, the effective dielectric constant εeff can again become a linear function of the fraction of the constituent components such as Eq. <NUM> despite their bifurcation. This could be accomplished by inductively loading the center conductor of the coaxial cable to slow its velocity to match the slower solid PE constituent.

Various embodiments of the present technology include a method for determining characteristics of a specific region within an inhomogeneous specimen by guiding propagation of electric or magnetic fields through the inhomogeneous specimen, the method comprising: (a) generating electromagnetic waveforms, the electromagnetic waveforms propagating along a prescribed path, the prescribed path defining a series of spatial regions through which fields of the electromagnetic waveforms propagate along a field of propagation; (b) guiding the field of propagation through an inhomogeneous specimen in the prescribed path; and (c) determining a measurement of the fields of the electromagnetic waveforms propagating along the prescribed path, the measurement of the fields of the electromagnetic waveforms used to determine regional characteristics of the inhomogeneous specimen and characteristics of a specific region within the inhomogeneous specimen.

In some embodiments the guiding the field of propagation through the inhomogeneous specimen in the prescribed path uses a plurality of conductors, the plurality of conductors comprising a first conductor parallel to a second conductor.

In various embodiments the guiding the field of propagation through the inhomogeneous specimen in the prescribed path uses a plurality of conductors, the plurality of conductors comprising an array of parallel conductor pairs. In some embodiments each pair of the array of parallel conductor pairs are opposed on opposite sides of the inhomogeneous specimen.

In various embodiments each pair of the array of parallel conductor pairs are adjacent to each other on a same side of the inhomogeneous specimen.

In various embodiments the guiding the field of propagation through the inhomogeneous specimen in the prescribed path uses a plurality of conductors. In some embodiments the method further comprises sequencing the electromagnetic waveforms along the prescribed path across the plurality of conductors; and creating a dynamic prescribed propagation path and a dynamic rate of electric field propagation using the sequenced electromagnetic waveforms.

In some embodiments the guiding the field of propagation through the inhomogeneous specimen in the prescribed path uses a plurality of conductors, the plurality of conductors comprising an array of discrete conductors.

In some embodiments the method further comprises sequencing the electromagnetic waveforms along the prescribed path across pairs of the array of discrete conductors; and creating a dynamic prescribed propagation path and a dynamic rate of field propagation using the sequenced electromagnetic waveforms.

In various embodiments the method further comprises modulating the field of propagation through the inhomogeneous specimen in the prescribed path using field modulating elements, the field modulating elements comprising physical delay structures, the physical delay structures slowing a rate of the field of propagation along the prescribed path and decreasing a speed of electromagnetic waves along the prescribed path.

In some embodiments the method further comprises modulating the field of propagation through the inhomogeneous specimen in the prescribed path using field modulating elements, the field modulating elements comprising electronic components, the electronic components controlling a rate of the field of propagation along the prescribed path and controlling a speed of electromagnetic waves along the prescribed path.

In various embodiments the method further comprises modulating the field of propagation through the inhomogeneous specimen in the prescribed path using field modulating elements, the field modulating elements comprising active electronic components, the active electronic components generating fields to screen against parasitic effects.

In various embodiments the determining the measurement of the fields of the electromagnetic waveforms propagating along the prescribed path measures one or more of: voltage, current, phase, and strength of the fields of the electromagnetic waveforms propagating along the prescribed path.

In various embodiments the method further comprises determining an effective dielectric constant or relative magnetic permeability-an effective constant-of the specific region within the inhomogeneous specimen; determining whether the effective constant of the specific region within the inhomogeneous specimen is consistent with a rate of the field of propagation along the prescribed path; modulating the field of propagation along the prescribed path when the effective constant of the specific region within the inhomogeneous specimen is not consistent with the rate of the electric field propagation along the prescribed path; measuring waveforms using the field of propagation through the specific region within the inhomogeneous specimen; and determining features of the specific region within the inhomogeneous specimen using the waveforms.

In various embodiments the method further comprises generating a tomograph of the inhomogeneous specimen using the features of the specific region within the inhomogeneous specimen.

In some embodiments the method further comprises measuring an air gap between a plurality of conductors and the inhomogeneous specimen in the prescribed path.

In some embodiments the method further comprises adjusting the determining the effective constant of the specific region within the inhomogeneous specimen using the measuring the air gap to increase accuracy of the determining the effective constant.

The accompanying drawings, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed disclosure, and to explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments.

The methods and systems disclosed herein have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

While the present technology is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail several specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the present technology and is not intended to limit the technology to the embodiments illustrated.

The present invention creates TE, TEM, or TM-like field propagation within an inhomogeneous region under study so that an effective permittivity (ε) and/or permeability (µ) of the region can be accurately determined. It accomplishes this by measuring the impedance encountered by fields propagating through a region while also measuring or determining the speed at which fields propagate through the region. Thus, the effective permittivity or permeability of a region is derived from two measurements: an impedance, and a propagation velocity at which the impedance was measured.

In various embodiments the present technology uses a transmission line-like apparatus that spatially and temporally guides propagation of electromagnetic fields through an inhomogeneous specimen while providing external measurements points that reveal the dielectric's internal structure.

In various embodiments the present technology involves systems and methods to bring tractability to the dielectric impedance tomography problem by using external structures to guide the spatial propagation of electromagnetic fields, regulate their temporal velocity through a specimen, and provide a structure for external measurement on which internal dielectric features will manifest. When the electromagnetic field propagation is guided by a guiding external structure-such as a transmission line -the same impedance mismatches that complicate tomographic methods using freely propagating fields reveal and characterize different dielectric features of the specimens because perturbations induced by these internal dielectric features are externally measured along the guiding structure.

In various embodiments the present technology includes a pair of conductors or an array of conductor pairs along which an electric field propagates, with the conductors so arranged that the propagating fields between them pass through the specimen under test. The transmission line is driven by a radio frequency (RF) or pulse probing signal source as shown, and may or may not be terminated with a known impedance. In various embodiments, a field guiding system includes delay means for retarding the propagation of the probing signal so that the speed of propagation of the probing signal matches the speed of electromagnetic propagation within the specimen under test.

The present technology creates TE-like propagation within an inhomogeneous dielectric region under study so that the effective dielectric constant (εeff) of the region can be accurately determined. It accomplishes this by measuring the impedance between two conductive elements defining a region while also measuring and/or modulating the speed at which fields propagate through the region. Thus, the εeff of a region is derived from two measurements: an impedance, and a propagation velocity at which the impedance was measured.

A spatial region for study is typically defined as a columnar region between two conducting plates as shown in <FIG>. Impedance will be measured between the two plates, and the velocity of electromagnetic propagation through the region is determined either passively, as in transmission line-based embodiments, or in active embodiments, modulated to a prescribed value. Regions may be aligned along lengths of parallel transmission lines, as shown in <FIG>, to spatially define the path for propagation from one region to the next, or they may be physically separate elements with a dynamically determined propagation pathway, as shown in <FIG>. Propagation from region to region may be a passive process as in the case of a transmission line, or an active process where phased drive circuits propagate fields from one region to the next. Regions in either active or passive embodiment may be defined over a single ground plane as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, with opposing elements as shown in <FIG>, or along a single side of a specimen as shown in <FIG>.

In either the passive or active embodiments, the present technology determines the εeff within the region by calculating a value from the impedance as measured by electronics probing voltage, current, and/or phase information for a specific region. Where the impedance is measured by a displacement current through a region, the εreff of the region can be calculated as: <MAT>.

Where I(ω) is the measured current at a frequency (ω) for an excitation E(ω) across a region of A area and d length. Alternative measurements of voltage across a region or current between regions will yield similar formulations with the premise of deriving the dielectric constant of the region based on voltage and current measurements made.

Likewise, the Vprop can be taken as a function of the region's length in the direction of propagation and the field's transit time: <MAT>.

Where Δt is the propagation time from region to region, either as measured or as actively modulated by the system, and Δd is the length of the region in the direction of propagation.

The impedance measured within a region will vary depending on the speed at which the probing field traverses it, as illustrated in <FIG>. At the characteristic speed of the εeff, the impedance will be at a minimum. However, if the propagation speed is faster than εeff, impedance will increase, because the fields will not have time to fully interact with the slower, low-impedance dielectric components. Likewise, if the speed of propagation from region to region is too slow, impedance will also increase, because the fields from previous regions will race out from their intended region and undercut into the region ahead. In general, a region's impedance will be at a minimum when its speed is properly matched to the intrinsic velocity of electromagnetic propagation of the region.

To obtain an accurate value for a region's εeff, it must be measured at multiple propagation speeds. This can be done by slowing the Vprop by adding inductive, electronic, or other slowing mechanisms so that the Vprop matches that of a region's slowest dielectric component, as shown in <FIG>, to establish a TE mode. Additionally, slow wave or metamaterial structures such as electronic band-gap structures can be used to delay field propagation.

In one sense, these slowing mechanisms alter the fast dielectric components to form a virtual dielectric whose speed matches that of the slow dielectric component, thereby enabling a TE-like mode of propagation through the region. <FIG> illustrate diagrammatic views <NUM> of propagation of electric fields at different velocities according to embodiments of the present technology. <FIG> shows propagation of an electric field through a transmission line running faster than a velocity of propagation in a dielectric under examination <NUM> (i.e., specimen), having dielectric constant εsp, thus obscuring an internal feature of the specimen <NUM>, having dielectric constant ε < εsp. In contrast, <FIG> shows propagation of an electric field when a transmission line is slowed to accommodate an effective dielectric constant of a specimen, an internal feature of the specimen, and a surrounding air gap, thus, allowing the electric field a representative interaction with the dielectric. In more detail shown in <FIG>, the wave front through a specimen is slowed by distributed inductive elements <NUM> to accommodate the εeff of the specimen, an internal feature, and a surrounding air gap <NUM>, thereby creating a TE-like propagation mode and gaining a more fulsome and representative field interaction with the dielectric.

The velocity or propagation through a transmission line is a function of the per unit length capacitance (Ctl0) and inductance (Ltl0) such that: <MAT>.

A transmission line's Ctl<NUM> is a function of line geometry and the ε of its internal dielectric. The above formulation of transmission line velocity of propagation equation (<NUM>) mirrors that of the intrinsic velocity of a dielectric's electromagnetic propagation in equation (<NUM>), with the exception that per unit length characteristics of transmission line propagation are determined by physical structures and can therefore be manipulated. Therefore, by adding a per unit length inductive load or resistance LL<NUM> so that: <MAT>
where Vprops is the speed of electromagnetic propagation in the specimen region of interest, a TE-like mode can be obtained as shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates diagrammatic views <NUM> of electric fields and regions measured for various screened and unscreened transmission lines according to embodiments of the present technology. <FIG> shows an unscreened transmission line, <FIG> shows an unscreened transmission line with an outside high εr feature <NUM>, <FIG> shows a screened central transmission line, and <FIG> shows a screened central transmission line with an inside high εr feature <NUM>, according to embodiments of the present technology. In more detail, the diagrammatic views <NUM> of <FIG> show electromagnetic waves propagating on lines parallel to either side of a given line, which provide fields that screen or restrict the x-axis spread of a central line's fields, thereby creating a narrower or more focused region in the central line's x-axis. <FIG> shows an electric field (and equivalently the region measured) in an unscreened line. <FIG> shows an unscreened line with the outside high εr feature <NUM>. <FIG> shows fields in a central line screened by parallel counterparts. <FIG> shows unperturbed fields of a central line screened by parallel counterparts, one of which contains the inside high εr feature <NUM> between the parallel counterparts.

In various embodiments of the present technology a line's sensitivity may also be directed, for example, on a single line or to limit fields' z-axis spread above or below the specimen region - through the use of active screening elements as shown in <FIG> illustrates a diagrammatic view of a system <NUM> that includes a transmission line with screening plates driven by active followers according to embodiments of the present technology. <FIG> shows system <NUM> comprising a guide structure <NUM> and screening plates driven by active followers. For example, screening plate <NUM> driven by active voltage follower <NUM>. In this case, active components (e.g., active voltage follower <NUM>) measure the voltage along the line as it changes with the propagation of a wave, and drive a plate (e.g., screening plate <NUM>) or other radiating element to oppose fields radiating from the line in an undesirable direction. For example, in some embodiments the electric field modulating elements that determine the rate of electric field propagation along the prescribed path may comprise electronic components, the electronic components controlling the rate of electric field propagation along the prescribed path and controlling a speed of electromagnetic waves along the prescribed path. For example, in various embodiments the electric field modulating elements that determine the rate of electric field propagation along the prescribed path comprise active electronic components, the active electronic components also generating electric fields to screen against parasitic effects.

<FIG> illustrates a diagrammatic view of a system <NUM> that includes a parallel transmission line structure applied to a single surface of a specimen according to embodiments of the present technology. As in configurations where the parallel transmission lines are on opposing sides of the specimen, a region of characterization exists between the parallel conductors, but also extends both into the top layers of the specimen and air above the parallel lines. For example, each pair of the array of parallel conductor pairs may be adjacent to each other on a same side of the inhomogeneous dielectric specimen. <FIG> further shows active screening plates <NUM> and <NUM> and driving elements <NUM> and <NUM> applied to a parallel stripline <NUM> and <NUM> to screen the extent of the region of characterization from extending into the air above the parallel lines. Such an embodiment is used where only one side of the specimen is accessible or only a thin or top layer of an inhomogeneous dielectric need be characterized.

Because the present technology may not involve contact with the specimen under study in various embodiments, accuracy may be further improved by incorporating ancillary sensors to determine the amount of air gap above or below the specimen within the region, as shown in <FIG>. An air gap space (e.g., air gap <NUM>) within a region but external to the specimen appears essentially the same if it were internal to the specimen. Advantageously, since a surrounding air space can be readily measured through other means (e.g., physical, optical, acoustical, etc.) its impact can be readily calculated out of the region's εeff using mix equations like those of equation <NUM>.

A procedure for measurements to determine the εeff of a region is described in <FIG> according to embodiments of the present technology. Propagation speed and propagation pattern can be passively, programmatically, or actively varied to fulfill the procedure described in <FIG>. The procedure first determines a candidate εeff through measurements and calculations like those of equation <NUM>. The candidate εeff is then evaluated as to whether it is consistent with the Vprop;
i.e. whether the candidate <MAT>.

If Vprop <MAT> the candidate εeff is too low and Vprop is decreased to obtain a more accurate candidate εeff. The temporal and spatial pattern may be varied to optimally arrive at an optimal candidate εff. Alternatively, a procedure might execute all possible combinations of speed and propagation pattern and then later evaluate the totality of data for the best candidate εeff.

In a passive embodiment, several transmission lines are arrayed in parallel, as shown in <FIG>, in order to laterally define rows of regions across the span of parallel transmission lines as shown in <FIG> according to various embodiments. Regions are defined in the direction of propagation by points of measurement along the length of each line. The lines are driven by a radio frequency (RF) or pulse source probing signal and may or may not be terminated with a known impedance. As the RF or pulse signal propagates down the line, impedance changes will be revealed via voltage or current measurements on the surface of the line as shown in <FIG>. Although these impedance changes will reveal the spatial location of dielectric structures, they may not fully reveal the εeff of a specific region because the structures may have induced a non-TEM mode within the line, such as that shown in <FIG>. Obtaining measurements at points along the surface of the line which reveal impedance changes may be important to resolving the spatial uncertainty that arises from merely time domain reflectometry methods, where measurements made through an end port cannot disambiguate a short section of slow velocity dielectric from a long section of high velocity dielectric.

Passive line data at additional speeds can be obtained by inductively loading or altering an array of lines with slow wave structures as shown in <FIG> and equation <NUM>. A further embodiment of <FIG> that affords a variety of propagation speeds is the array of parallel transmission lines shown in <FIG>. Each line is structured to have a slightly different propagation velocity. The array is mechanically passed over the specimen and impedance data for each region is gathered when scanned by each line of different velocity. Comparing impedance data from lines of various speeds as they passed over the same physical region of the specimen can identify the minimum impedance value that matches a propagation velocity per equation <NUM> above.

Impedance is measured from each region of the passive embodiment via a voltage and/or current probe within the region according to various embodiments.

Impedance is then calculated via Ohm's law by knowing the drive signal or signal from the previous adjacent region. The candidate εeff is then calculated from the impedance of the line based on the physical bounds of the region and any added inductive or slowing structures. <FIG> shows the hardware of a preferred embodiment using a current sensor between regions. <FIG> shows a process for operation using a current sensor between regions as orchestrated by a controlling computer. The speed and impedance data generated by a single-speed line, as illustrated in <FIG>, may be stored by the computer for comparison against speed and impedance data from varying speed lines, such as those from <FIG>, to determine the optimal fit for εeff.

An extension of the passive embodiment is a programmable embodiment where the inductive or delay elements between regions along a line can be altered or programmed to tune the line to a different speed, as illustrated in <FIG>. A delay element, such as an inductor or programmable delay line, may be switched on or its characteristics altered as instructed by the control computer. For example, the electric field modulating elements that determine the rate of electric field propagation along the prescribed path may comprise physical delay structures, the physical delay structures slowing the rate of electric field propagation along the prescribed path and decreasing a speed of electromagnetic waves along the prescribed path.

In an active embodiment, field propagation from region to region is controlled by electronics and not free propagation as in the passive embodiment. Each region contains its own probing signal source controllable by a control and analyzing computer, as well as mechanisms for impedance measurement and/or waveform capture. In the active embodiment, the rate and direction of propagation from region to region is determined by a control and analyzing computer and may be dynamically or iteratively altered to determine a regions' εeff.

Active regions may be defined by plates in a grid, hexagonal, arcs, or other repeating pattern as suited to the application. The propagation from region to region may likewise be altered to suit the application. Detection of boundaries between dielectric structures can be clearer when propagating from lower ε to higher ε, and propagation paths are normal to boundaries. Thus, a sophisticated active embodiment dynamically alters propagation paths and patterns to discern finer detail. For example, regions could propagate in one direction and then back, propagate radially or concentrically, diagonally across the scanning plane, or alternated or phased in a checkerboard pattern as shown in <FIG>. In an active embodiment, propagation may be originated and terminated at various points. Active propagation also eliminates the need for mechanical operations, such as sweeping the varied speed lines embodiment of <FIG> or reorienting the specimen, to gather full tomographic data.

All embodiments generate an εeff of a columnar region which may still contain multiple dielectric components in the axis of the column. To resolve this uncertainty and generate a full tomographic rendering, data must be gathered from an orthogonal axis. In passive embodiments, this can be done by reorienting either the specimen or passive lines. In a two-sided active embodiment, alternate region axes can be obtained by tilting the regions through slight phasing of the top and bottom plates of the cell and/or creating a screening field though adjacent region plates as shown in <FIG>, so long as the tilted region still approximates TE in the direction of propagation.

<FIG> illustrate the concept of a region within which the present technology measures an effective dielectric constant (εeff). Impedance through the region is indicated by currents passing vertically while fields are propagating to the right as depicted in <FIG> illustrate this conceptual region within transmission line structures in two dimensions and three dimensions, respectively. For example, the plurality of conductors for guiding the electric field propagation through the inhomogeneous dielectric specimen in the prescribed path may comprise a first conductor parallel to a second conductor.

<FIG> illustrates an array of transmission line structures that define linear rows of regions along the path of propagation of each line. For example, the plurality of conductors for guiding the electric field propagation through the inhomogeneous dielectric specimen in the prescribed path may comprise an array of parallel conductor pairs. In some embodiments each pair of the array of parallel conductor pairs are opposed on opposite sides of the inhomogeneous dielectric specimen.

<FIG> shows a grid of metallic squares over a ground plane, each square defining a region through a dielectric specimen, illustrating a grid pattern of regions. The grid of <FIG> depicts a lumped or segmented version of the continuous lines of <FIG>. Adding connective elements between the squares in the vertical direction would allow electromagnetic fields to propagate from region to region vertically. Adding horizontal connective elements would allow fields to propagate horizontally, akin to the lines in <FIG>.

<FIG> notionally illustrates the impedance measured through a region of inhomogeneous dielectric as measured at various propagation speeds. Where the propagation from region to region is too slow relative to the intrinsic speed of the dielectric, the impedance of the measured region is high due to undercutting of fields from earlier, adjacent regions. Where the propagation is fast, the impedance is again high because the fields do not have time to penetrate slower dielectric components.

<FIG> illustrate the field behavior of an electromagnetic wave passing through an inhomogeneous dielectric. In <FIG>, the wave is moving at a velocity in excess of the propagation velocity of the slower dielectric component. In <FIG>, the transmission line structure has been slowed to allow the wave to propagate in a transverse electric (TE) mode.

In <FIG>, propagation of an electric field through a transmission is line running faster than a velocity of propagation in a dielectric under examination, thus obscuring an internal feature of the specimen. In contrast, <FIG> shows propagation of an electric field when a transmission line is slowed to accommodate an effective dielectric constant (εff) of the dielectric under examination <NUM> (i.e., specimen), an internal feature of the specimen <NUM>, and a surrounding air gap <NUM>, thus allowing the electric field a representative interaction with the dielectric.

<FIG> illustrates four auxiliary sensors <NUM> positioned to measure air space between the region-defining structures and the subject <NUM> (i.e., specimen) under study. The auxiliary sensors may operate by radar, infrared, ultrasound, or optical/video means to quantify the amount of air space between the specimen and the region-defining structures. In various embodiments, the auxiliary sensors measure an air gap between the plurality of conductors and the inhomogeneous dielectric specimen in the prescribed path.

<FIG> illustrates a procedure to iteratively determine the εeff of a specific region from a measured impedance and propagation velocity.

<FIG> illustrates the current through a transmission line structure as a pulse moves from region to region as measured by current-sensing elements <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a diagrammatic view of measured pulse current waveforms in a system according to embodiments of the present technology. <FIG> shows pulse current waveforms <NUM> as measured at points along the length of a first conductor <NUM> and second conductor <NUM>. The first conductor <NUM> and the second conductor <NUM> encompass a specimen <NUM> undergoing test that includes features of a lesser dielectric constant <NUM> and features of a greater dielectric constant <NUM> relative to a dielectric constant of the specimen <NUM>.

<FIG> also shows pulse current waveforms <NUM> that have a lower current illustrating a valley <NUM> on the pulse current waveforms <NUM> corresponding with the features of lesser dielectric constant <NUM>. In contrast, pulse current waveforms <NUM> have a higher voltage illustrating a peak <NUM> on the pulse current waveforms <NUM> corresponding with the features of greater dielectric constant <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an array of transmission line structures each inductively loaded or designed to propagate at a different speed and thereby measure the impedance of a region at a different speed. Such an array is passed over a specimen <NUM> (i.e., specimen) under study as shown by direction <NUM> to measure the same region of the specimen under lines of different speeds. For example, the electromagnetic waveforms along the prescribed path are sequenced across each pair of the array of parallel conductor pairs, the sequenced electromagnetic waveforms may be used to create a dynamic prescribed path for electric field propagation.

<FIG> illustrates the conceptual layout of hardware along the length of a single passive transmission line. Each region is defined by current sensing elements, and each current sensing element is multiplexed with a multiplexing device (MUX) into an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) which then transmits the data into a controlling and analyzing computer.

<FIG> shows a notional sequencing that the control and analysis computer of <FIG> would issue. It first selects a region to be acquired with a multiplexing device, then instructs the RF source to issue the drive signal, then acquires both the signal and drive, then analyzes the data.

<FIG> illustrates the conceptual layout of hardware along the length of a single programmable transmission line, similar to the passive line, but incorporating a programmable element for each region.

<FIG> illustrates the conceptual layout of hardware of a two-dimensional section for fully active sequencing of field propagation.

<FIG> illustrates the conceptual propagation of fields across a two-dimensional section of an active embodiment as the regional fields sources are sequenced from left to right.

<FIG> illustrates the conceptual propagation of fields in a two-dimensional section of an active embodiment as the regional fields sources are sequenced in outward or radial patterns.

<FIG> illustrates the concept of region tilting by adjusting the field producing elements in an active embodiment such that the regions are angled from the lower left to upper right as they propagate into the page in direction <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a graph <NUM> of topographic data from a specimen of solid wax (εr = <NUM>) generated using a system according to embodiments of the present technology. In contrast to <FIG>, no valley or peak is shown as pulse voltage is measured in regions spanning the specimen of solid wax. The slight upward ramping of successive pulse heights is due to instrumentation error.

<FIG> illustrates a graph <NUM> of topographic data from a specimen of wax containing an embedded water cavity (εr = <NUM>) generated using a system according to embodiments of the present technology. As described in <FIG>, pulse current waveforms are measured at points along the length of a first conductor <NUM> and second conductor <NUM>. <FIG> also shows pulse current waveforms <NUM> that have a lower current illustrating the valley <NUM> on the pulse current waveforms <NUM> corresponding with the features of lesser dielectric constant <NUM>. Similarly, the pulse voltage waveforms of <FIG> show a valley <NUM> indicating a water cavity of higher dielectric in the specimen for the same reasons of the valley <NUM> of <FIG>.

<FIG> is a diagrammatic representation of an example machine in the form of a computer system <NUM>, within which a set of instructions for causing the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein may be executed. For example, programming a propagation velocity or pattern to iteratively refine data. In various example embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client machine in a server-client network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine may be a personal computer (PC), an embedded computer, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a tablet PC, a cellular telephone, a portable media device (e.g., a portable hard drive audio device such as an Moving Picture Experts Group Audio Layer <NUM> (MP3) player), a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. Further, while only a single machine is illustrated, the term "machine" shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

The example computer system <NUM> includes a processor or multiple processor(s) <NUM> (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both), and a main memory <NUM> and static memory <NUM>, which communicate with each other via a bus <NUM>. The computer system <NUM> may further include a video display <NUM> (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD)). The computer system <NUM> may also include an alphanumeric input device(s) <NUM> (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device (e.g., a mouse), a voice recognition or biometric verification unit (not shown), a drive unit <NUM> (also referred to as disk drive unit), a signal generation device <NUM> (e.g., a speaker), a network interface device <NUM>, and dielectric measurement hardware <NUM>. The computer system <NUM> may further include a data encryption module (not shown) to encrypt data.

The disk drive unit <NUM> includes a computer or machine-readable medium <NUM> on which is stored one or more sets of instructions and data structures (e.g., instructions <NUM>) embodying or utilizing any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. The instructions <NUM> may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory <NUM> and/or within the processor(s) <NUM> during execution thereof by the computer system <NUM>. The main memory <NUM> and the processor(s) <NUM> may also constitute machine-readable media.

The instructions <NUM> may further be transmitted or received over a network via the network interface device <NUM> utilizing any one of a number of well-known transfer protocols (e.g., Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP)). While the machine-readable medium <NUM> is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the term "computer-readable medium" should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term "computer-readable medium" shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that causes the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present application, or that is capable of storing, encoding, or carrying data structures utilized by or associated with such a set of instructions. The term "computer-readable medium" shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, optical and magnetic media, and carrier wave signals. Such media may also include, without limitation, hard disks, floppy disks, flash memory cards, digital video disks, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), and the like. The example embodiments described herein may be implemented in an operating environment comprising software installed on a computer, in hardware, or in a combination of software and hardware.

One skilled in the art will recognize that the Internet service may be configured to provide Internet access to one or more computing devices that are coupled to the Internet service, and that the computing devices may include one or more processors, buses, memory devices, display devices, input/output devices, and the like. Furthermore, those skilled in the art may appreciate that the Internet service may be coupled to one or more databases, repositories, servers, and the like, which may be utilized in order to implement any of the embodiments of the disclosure as described herein.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium produce an image, tomograph, or analytic product derived from said image or tomograph, or constituent data thereof including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

In the description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth, such as particular embodiments, procedures, techniques, etc. in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present technology. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present technology may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details.

While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the system are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the system, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, while processes or steps are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments may perform routines having steps in a different order, and some processes or steps may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified to provide alternative or sub-combinations. Each of these processes or steps may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes or steps are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or steps may instead be performed in parallel, or may be performed at different times.

Claim 1:
A method for determining characteristics of a specific region within an inhomogeneous specimen by guiding propagation of electric or magnetic fields through the inhomogeneous specimen, the method comprising:
generating electromagnetic waveforms, the electromagnetic waveforms propagating along a prescribed path, the prescribed path defining a series of spatial regions through which fields of the electromagnetic waveforms propagate as a field of propagation;
guiding the field of propagation through an inhomogeneous specimen in the prescribed path; and
determining a measurement of the fields of the electromagnetic waveforms propagating along the prescribed path, the measurement of the fields of the electromagnetic waveforms used to determine regional characteristics of the inhomogeneous specimen and characteristics of a specific region within the inhomogeneous specimen.