Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Charles Wynn

Sumanth Kaushik

Robert W Haupt

John J Zayhowski

Roderick Russell Kunz

Yaron Rachlin

Mordechai Rothschild

Ryan Sullenberger

Stephen T Palmacci

Adam Milstein

The ability to communicate with a specific subject at a prescribed location who lacks any communications equipment opens up many intriguing possibilities. Communications across noisy rooms, hail and warn applications, and localized communications directed at only the intended recipient are a few possibilities. We disclose and show localized acoustic communications, which we call photoacoustic communications, with a listener at long standoff distances using a modulated laser transmitted toward the receiver's ear. The optically encoded information is converted into acoustic messages via the photoacoustic effect. The photoacoustic conversion of the optical information into an audible signal occurs via the absorption of the light by ambient water vapor in the near area of the receiver's ear followed by airborne acoustic transmission to the ear. The recipient requires no external communications equipment to receive audible messages.

Methods and apparatus for acoustic laser communications

Hyperspectral imaging spectrometers have applications in environmental monitoring, biomedical imaging, surveillance, biological or chemical hazard detection, agriculture, and minerology. Nevertheless, their high cost and complexity has limited the number of fielded spaceborne hyperspectral imagers. To address these challenges, the wide field-of-view (FOV) hyperspectral imaging spectrometers disclosed here use computational imaging techniques to get high performance from smaller, noisier, and less-expensive components (e.g., uncooled microbolometers). They use platform motion and spectrally coded focal-plane masks to temporally modulate the optical spectrum, enabling simultaneous measurement of multiple spectral bins. Demodulation of this coded pattern returns an optical spectrum in each pixel. As a result, these computational reconfigurable imaging spectrometers are more suitable for small space and air platforms with strict size, weight, and power constraints, as well as applications where smaller or less expensive packaging is desired.

Computational reconfigurable imaging spectrometer

A system and method for noncontact ultrasound imagery capable of generating images in a manner that is safer for eyes and skin is provided. A photoacoustic excitation source may be employed to direct light signals with wavelengths of 1400-1600 nanometers into the patient to generate acoustic disturbances that induce propagating photoacoustic waves. The acoustic disturbances may be translated in defined directions to cause coherent summation of the propagating photoacoustic waves and, thereby, generate a resultant acoustic and/or elastic wave to probe structures within the patient. Vibrations created by the scatter of the resultant wave are detected at the surface of the patient and ultrasound images of the structures within the patient may be generated. Detection of the vibrations may be performed using a laser vibrometer. The excitation and detection systems may be used separately or in combination. Ultrasound images can be generated without physically contacting the patient.

System and method for non-contact ultrasound with enhanced safety

A system and method for generating ultrasound images of a subject without physically contacting the subject is provided. A photoacoustic excitation source may be employed that directed into a scanning mirror to transmit acoustic disturbances into a patient to induce propagating photoacoustic waves. The acoustic disturbances are translated along the patient in a defined direction to cause coherent summation of the propagating photoacoustic waves and, thereby, a resultant acoustic and/or elastic wave to probe structures within the patient. Vibrations created by the backscatter of the resultant wave are detected at the surface of the patient and ultrasound images of the structures within the patient are generated. Detection of the vibrations may be performed using a laser vibrometer. The excitation and detection systems may be used separately or in combination.

Systems and methods for generating non-contact ultrasound images using photoacoustic energy

A kit for detecting the presence of an explosive includes a pulsed focused energy source located at a target distance away from a substrate, the energy having a magnitude sufficient to release the internal energy of an explosive if present on the substrate and thereby generate an acoustic wave. The kit also includes a detector adapted to detect the acoustic wave at a detection distance away from the substrate.

Method and kit for stand-off detection of explosives

Methods and devices for detecting the presence of a NO forming material (e.g., a material that can form, or is, a nitrogen monoxide molecule) are disclosed based on detection of fluorescence exhibited by NO molecules in a first vibrationally excited state of a ground electronic state. Such excited NO molecules can be formed, for example, when small amounts of explosives are photodissociated. By inducing fluorescence of the material, a distinct signature of the explosive can be detected. Such techniques can be performed quickly and with a significant standoff distance, which can add to the invention's utility. In another aspection of the invention, methods and apparatus for generating electromagnetic radiation are disclosed. Such methods and apparatus can be used in conjunction with any detection method disclosed herein.

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Groton, MA, United States of America

Charles Wynn