US5608321A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for detecting target species having quadropolar muclei by stochastic nuclear quadrupole resonance
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1995-12-28
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Granted: 1997-03-04
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Expires: 2015-12-28
Abstract
Abstract One aspect of the present invention is a method for detecting a class of target species containing quadrupolar nuclei in a specimen by nuclear quadrupole resonance, comprising: (a) generating a random or pseudo-random train of rf pulses; (b) irradiating the specimen with the train of rf pulses; (c) detecting an NQR signal in response to irradiating the specimen; (d) cross-correlating the NQR signal with the random or pseudo-random train of rf pulses, thereby generating a free induction decay signal; and (e) converting the free induction decay signal into a frequency domain signal. Another aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention.
Inventors
- 👤 Allen N. Garroway
- 👤 Joel B. Miller
- 👤 David B. Zax
- 👤 Ming-Yuan Liao
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:50
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/44; G01R33/441
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A device for detecting a class of target species containing quadrupolar nuclei in a specimen by nuclear quadrupole resonance, comprising: (a) pulse generating means for generating a random or pseudo-random train of rf pulses; (b) irradiating means for irradiating said specimen with said train of rf pulses; (c) detecting means for detecting an NQR signal in response to irradiating said specimen; (d) coupling means for transmitting said train of rf pulses to said irradiating means; (e) coupling means for receiving said NQR signal from said detecting means; (f) cross-correlating means for cross-correlating said received NQR signal with said random or pseudo-random train of rf pulses, thereby generating a free induction decay signal; and (g) transform means for converting said free induction decay signal into a frequency domain signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
128 words
A device for detecting a class of target species containing quadrupolar nuclei in a specimen by nuclear quadrupole resonance, comprising: (a) pulse generating means for generating a random or pseudo-random train of rf pulses; (b) irradiating means for irradiating said specimen with said train of rf pulses; (c) detecting means for detecting an NQR signal in response to irradiating said specimen; (d) coupling means for transmitting said train of rf pulses to said irradiating means; (e) coupling means for receiving said NQR signal from said detecting means; (f) cross-correlating means for cross-correlating said received NQR signal with said random or pseudo-random train of rf pulses, thereby generating a free induction decay signal; and (g) transform means for converting said free induction decay signal into a frequency domain signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said irradiating means and said detecting means comprise a coil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said irradiating means comprises a first coil and said detecting means comprises a second coil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said pulse generating means are pulse generating means for generating a pseudo-random train of rf pulses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 4, wherein said target species are selected from the group consisting of narcotics and explosives.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 5, wherein said target species are selected from the group consisting of cocaine hydrochloride and trinitrotoluene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 4, wherein said cross-correlating means comprise means for computing a Hadamard transform.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 4, further comprising means for computing the width of a selected peak in said frequency domain signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 4, wherein said pseudo-random train of rf pulses has a preselected frequency distribution.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 9, wherein said preselected frequency distribution includes an NQR peak of said target species.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 9, wherein said preselected frequency distribution includes the full width at half maximum of an NQR peak of said target species.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for detecting a class of target species containing quadrupolar nuclei in a specimen by nuclear quadrupole resonance, comprising: (a) generating a random or pseudo-random train of rf pulses; (b) irradiating said specimen with said train of rf pulses; (c) detecting an NQR signal in response to irradiating said specimen; (d) cross-correlating said NQR signal with said random or pseudo-random train of rf pulses, thereby generating a free induction decay signal; and (e) converting said free induction decay signal into a frequency domain signal.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for detecting a class of target species containing quadrupolar nuclei in a specimen by nuclear quadrupole resonance, comprising: (a) generating a random or pseudo-random train of rf pulses; (b) irradiating said specimen with said train of rf pulses; (c) detecting an NQR signal in response to irradiating said specimen; (d) cross-correlating said NQR signal with said random or pseudo-random train of rf pulses, thereby generating a free induction decay signal; and (e) converting said free induction decay signal into a frequency domain signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said step of generating a random or pseudo-random train of rf pulses comprises generating a pseudo-random train of rf pulses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said target species are selected from the group consisting of narcotics and explosives.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14, wherein said target species are selected from the group consisting of cocaine hydrochloride and trinitrotoluene.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said step of cross-correlating comprises computing a Hadamard transform.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said step of generating a pseudo-random train of rf pulses comprised generating a pseudo-random train of rf pulses having a preselected frequency distribution.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said preselected frequency distribution includes an NQR peak of said target species.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said preselected frequency distribution includes an NQR peak of said target species.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-03-03 | 2000-09-02 | 2001-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-03 | 2004-09-02 | 2005-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-03 | 2008-09-02 | 2009-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |