US 12,352,623 B2
Terahertz spectroscopy system and method
John F. Roulston, Edinburgh (GB); and Daniel Mandelik, Rehovot (IL)
Assigned to NOVATRANS GROUP SA, Vaumarcus (CH)
Filed by NOVATRANS GROUP SA, Vaumarcus (CH)
Filed on Aug. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/391,973.
Application 17/391,973 is a division of application No. 16/870,282, filed on May 8, 2020, granted, now 11,099,069.
Application 16/870,282 is a continuation of application No. 15/967,964, filed on May 1, 2018, granted, now 10,684,170, issued on Jun. 16, 2020.
Application 15/967,964 is a continuation of application No. 15/056,245, filed on Feb. 29, 2016, granted, now 9,964,442, issued on May 8, 2018.
Application 15/056,245 is a continuation of application No. 13/212,231, filed on Aug. 18, 2011, granted, now 9,279,723, issued on Mar. 8, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/375,203, filed on Aug. 19, 2010.
Prior Publication US 2021/0364353 A1, Nov. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. G01J 3/10 (2006.01); G01J 3/42 (2006.01); G01J 3/433 (2006.01); G01N 21/3581 (2014.01)
CPC G01J 3/108 (2013.01) [G01J 3/42 (2013.01); G01J 3/433 (2013.01); G01J 3/4338 (2013.01); G01N 21/3581 (2013.01); G01J 2003/4332 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A spectroscopic method for use in spectroscopic measurements in a sample, the method comprising:
irradiating the sample with an incident radiation having a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) in a THz-range with a frequency sweep rate to cause a radiation response of the sample;
detecting an electromagnetic signal caused by an interaction between the radiation response and reference radiation, wherein the reference radiation comprises the FMCW in the THZ range with a time delay compared to the incident radiation, wherein the electromagnetic signal comprises a beat frequency associated with a frequency difference between the radiation response and the reference radiation; and
using the beat frequency to measure a time delay between the radiation response and the reference radiation and determine a radial dimension associated with a depth profile of the sample, a resolution of the radial dimension being based on the frequency sweep rate.