The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 28, 2007
Filed:
Aug. 17, 2005
Arthur H. Carrieri, Abingdon, MD (US);
Erik S. Roese, Baltimore, MD (US);
Arthur H. Carrieri, Abingdon, MD (US);
Erik S. Roese, Baltimore, MD (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
A Thermal Luminescent (TL) spectroscopy system and method for remote sensing and detection of surface chemical contamination involves irradiation of a target surface with energy from a near infrared pump beam, and measurement of TL liberated by that surface within a middle infrared (MIR) region. Fundamental molecular vibration modes of target contaminants present are briefly activated after the surface has been driven out of thermal equilibrium. An emissivity contrast between strata and target contaminant develops, peaks, and then subsides during a finite thermal window of detection opportunity in which detection of fingerprint identifiers for target contaminants is most probable. Target contaminant identification employs neural network models trained and tested against known molecular absorption frequencies of target contaminants. The use of a pump beam that radiates energy outside the MIR spectra of received TL reduces possible interference with the very weak MIR signals given off by target contaminants.