A -- Real-time Acoustic Imaging Device for Read Out of Sensor Arrays

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has developed a Laser Ultrasonic Microscope, which allows for rapid full field real-time imaging of micro sized devices, including arrays of sensors or surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices. These micro arrays include arrays of quartz crystal microbalances, surface acoustic wave transducers, and thin film bulk linear and/or torsional acoustic resonators wherein the factor that causes a response may be biological, chemical, physical, material, thermal, acoustic, electromagnetic and/or combinations thereof. INL?s acoustic imaging technique utilizes a laser to illuminate the entire surface of a vibrating object and a camera to read information about the vibration amplitude and phase everywhere on the surface of the object. This is accomplished when a reflected laser light is combined with a reference beam to perform dynamic holographic image processing in a photorefractive material such as Bismuth Silicon Oxide (BSO). The interaction between the light and the photorefractive material demodulates the vibration information, and displays this information as a gray scale image. Each point or pixel on the image corresponds to a point on the surface of the vibrating surface of the object and the pixel intensity is directly proportional to the amplitude of the vibration at that point. Thus, a image is produced of the distribution of vibrational amplitudes everywhere on the surface, all at once, without scanning. When the vibrating object is a collection of individual vibrating structures the INL technology displays a complex vibration distribution where one or more pixels is assigned to each vibrating subunit. If these subunits are individual sensors in an array of micro-vibratory chemical sensors, then one can directly detect the individual resonant frequencies. This information can be recorded by a video camera, digitized and displayed, stored or used for further analysis. The INL is soliciting interest from qualified industrial firms interested in participating in projects and commercializing this technology. It is anticipated that the project will be carried out through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with funding support being provided by the participant(s). The INL has several patents on the process. See U.S. Patent Nos. 5,827,971, 6,134,006, 6,175,411, 6,486,962, and 6,401,540. See also published U.S. Patent Application Nos. 10/267,320, 10/267,237, and 11/130,853. These patents may be licensed exclusively or non-exclusively. The INL invites interested parties to contact us regarding the details of licensing and implementing this technology into an operation. Interested parties should respond on or before within 90 days from the date of posting. For questions regarding this technology, licensing, and working with the INL, please contact Jason Stolworthy: BUSINESS POINT OF CONTACT: Jason C. Stolworthy, J.D., M.S. (ChE) Telephone: +1 (555) 000-0000 E-Mail: contact@example.gov