SynView Company Presentation - Electronics Technology Network

All-electronic 3D Terahertz imaging 

for NDT and security 

KTN 3rd Annual Terahertz Conference 

London, UK, 21. Jan. 2010 

Torsten Löffler and Holger Quast 

SynView GmbH 

23 January 2010 proprietary www.synview.com

2 

Leadership Team 

CEO / Technology Development: Dr. Torsten Löffler 

Physics PhD with clear focus on application development 

Business experience as sales engineer and as researcher 

Entrepreneur for several years 

10 years experience in THz + mm-wave imaging 

> 50 scientific publications + 5 inventions / patents 

COO / Business Development: Dr. Holger Quast 

Physics PhD with minor in Business Administration 

Business experience as researcher and as COO of a start-up company 

Several years experience with THz + mm-wave technology 

Coordinator of several national and international R+D projects 


3 

What are Terahertz (THz) / mm-waves 

Terahertz / Millimeter Waves are 

electro-magnetic radiation 

(100 GHz – 10 THz) 

similar to radio waves 

fully harmless 

THz/mm-waves can look through: 

cloth 

paper, cardboard, most plastics, 

ceramics, … 

THz/mm-waves cannot penetrate: 

metal, liquids, human tissue, … 


4 

Why care about THz / mm-waves 

non-destructive testing (NDT) 

3D package inspection 

quality control 

surface / coating evaluation 

security applications 


5 

Why care about THz: Non-Destructive Testing 

Research and Development 

(Composite) material research 

Evaluation of Terahertz applications 

Relating technologies: visualization / image recognition / robotics 

Quality control in the production environment 

Example: Aerospace (protective foams of rockets, airplane wings) 

Lower material consumption 

Example: Measure the coating thickness while the coating is applied 

THz imaging solves many challenges in NDT 








12 

The SynView technology 

all-electronic, active, range imaging 


13 

SynView Range Measurement Head 

SynViewHead 

available at: 

0,1 THz 

and at 

0,3 THz 

other 

frequencies 

available 

on request 

Fast measurement (full range information) in 240 µs 


14 

FMCW Principle 

Frequency 

modulated 

source (Tx) 

Target 

coherent 

Receiver 

(Rx) 

=> difference between Tx and Rx frequency 

is proportional to the range 

=> signal intensity is proportional to the reflectivity 


15 

SynView’s 3D THz Bildgebung 

SynViewScan 3D THz Scanner für das QM Labor 


16 

Application Examples of the SynView Products 


220 

240 

260 

280 

300 

320 

340 

60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 

x [mm] 

60 

80 

100 

120 

140 

160 

180 

200 

220 

260 

270 

280 

290 

300 

310 

320 

330 

340 

350 

360 

240 260 280 300 320 340 

x [mm] 

240 250 260 270 280 290 300 310 320 

x [mm] 

y [mm] 

50 

60 

70 

80 

90 

100 

110 

120 

130 

140 

385 390 395 400 405 410 415 420 425 430 

x [mm] 

60 

80 

100 

120 

140 

160 

180 

200 

220 

440 460 480 500 520 540 560 

x [mm] 

17 

650 x 350 x 120 mm 3 measured in 15 minutes 

Package Inspection 

Reflection tomography signal: 

0 

-5 

y [mm] 

y [mm] 

-10 

-15 

-20 

y [mm] 

y [mm] 

-25 

*) at individually optimized heights 

THz allows the identification of packaged objects 

-30 


18 

View inside a Cardboard Box 

Single layer cross section 

without cardboard box: 

Single layer cross section 

within cardboard box: 

Most of the 

objects are 

still visible 

in the box! 


19 

Identify hidden defects in composite structures 

Quality Control (QC): Composites 

Photograph 

THz Picture 

THz allows the detection of manufacturing errors 

inside the object (holes, cracks, misplaced objects, etc.) 


20 

QC: Composites 

Extensive data evaluation allows to find specific defects 


21 

QC: 3D visualization 

3D visualization by www.arivis.com 

Excellent data base for 3D visualization techniques 


22 

5 cm 

55 cm 

QC: Fiber Epoxy Composite Structure 

Air-coupled 

Air-coupled 

Photo: THz/mm-wave in ultrasonic in 

reflection mode: 

transmission mode: 

THz waves can be applied in air-coupled reflection mode ! 


23 

QC: Fiber Epoxy Composite Structure 

Layers can be analyzed separately ! 


24 

QC: Ceramic Structures 

Many ceramics are 

transparent. 

A detailed 

evaluation is 

possible. 


25 

Application: Surface Topography 

Surface topography of rough surfaces can be measured 

with 10-20 µm resolution 


26 

Application: Hidden Surface Characterizaion 

CFRP surface under foam @ 300 GHz 

The CFRP surface can be characterised even under foam. 


27 

Defect map: 

Diameter [mm] 

0.2 0.5 1.0 

Application: Defects on Rough Surfaces 

Measurement: 

Depth [mm] 

0.2 0.5 1.0 

Depth [mm] 

0.2 0.5 1.0 

SynViewScan 300 

can detect: 

0.2 mm wide scratches 

and 

0.5 mm diameter holes 

with a dark-field geometry 

0.2 0.5 1.0 

Width [mm] 


28 

Application: Inspection of Coating Thickness 

THz allows the in-situ control of coatings 

The surface and the plastic coating thickness can be measured 


29 

Other Potential Applications 

3D measurement of water content / humidity 

Quality control of plastic tubes 

Many other we have not yet thought of… Proposals 


30 

Summary NDT 

Many NDT applications are possible 

The SynView tomographic imaging products provide: 

high-quality images with > 50dB (typ. 70dB) dynamic range 

AND 

extremely fast acquisition time (less than one second is possible) 


31 

Security Applications 


32 

Portal Screening 

Security Market: People Screening Portal 

Identify threats in a short distance, for instance at airports 


33 

Stands-Off Screening 

Security Market: Stands-off People Screening 

Identify threats in a distance of more than 10 meters 


34 

Object: Reflectivity: Range: Cross section: 

(THz images taken with 

hidden weapon) 

Achieve a High Dynamic Range of > 50 dB 

body 

cloth 

weapon 

Dynamic range is required to see all layers (cloth, body, etc.) 


35 

Implement Range Measurement Techniques 

Range imaging is required for a good image quality. 


36 

Implement Range Measurement Techniques 

Measured scene: 

Reflectivity (100 GHz) 

Range (100 GHz): 

Edge filtered data 

in video overlay: 

Range data enables advanced visualization options 


37 

Real Aperture Phased Array Phased Array 

Receiver Transmitter 

Achieve Real-Time Operation 

Rx’s 

Rx’s 

Rx’s 

Rx’s 

Rx’s 

Rx’s 

Tx’s 

Tx’s 

Tx’s 

Tx’s 

Tx’s 

Tx’s 

requires allows electronic allows electronic 

mechanical scanning of scanning of 

scanning detection spot illumination spot 

= increase speed, 

dynamic range, 

effective aperture 

The SynViewPro Synthetic ViewingTechnology 

SOLUTION: Synthetic Apertures and Phased Arrays 


Real-Time Synthetic Aperture System Simulation 

- based on experimental data 

38 

Measure scene 

with SynViewScan 

(at 100 GHz): 

Use experimental Simulated system performance for: 

3D THz data as 100 GHz / 1m 300 GHz / 10m 

input for simulation: 128 Rx+128 Tx 24 Tx+24 Rx+Scan 

Very reasonable image quality possible in VIDEO-RATE 


39 

Achievable Image Quality 

Image quality evaluation using the SynViewScan system 

Mannequin with hidden weapon: BW-photo with THz-data (red): THz-reflectivity / Range data: 

Image quality depending on the clothing 

Image quality depending on the viewing angle 

More evaluations necessary! Someone interested 


40 

Summary Security 

Active Imaging allows a good image quality 

Range (tomographic) information required 

Fast image acquisition necessary 

The SynView technology is a good platform 

for security applications and 

the exploration of security applications 


41 

SynView Products 


42 

Mobile Measurement: SynViewHead 

3D THz measurement head 

outstanding dynamic range 

measurement time of 240 µs 

first products sold 

THz Measurement Head 


43 

Table Top System: SynViewScan 

3D THz scanner 

outstanding image quality 

scan Time: ~ 10 min 

first products sold 

3D THz scanner for single-element evaluation 


44 

Industrial System: SynViewEdge 

SynViewEdge with 

Synthetic Viewing Technology 

for the production environment 

= 

several SynViewHead 

fast image refresh rate: 

close to real-time 

flexible architecture to 

allow application oriented setup 

ensure cost-efficient solutions 

Solution for the production environment 


45 

Summary 

Fastest 3D / tomographic 

THz / Millimeter wave imaging system on the market 

240 microseconds per range pixel 

AND 

> 50 dB (typ. 70 dB) dynamic range in the image 

(Evaluation of) NDT and security applications 

Many more applications 

Many more application specific questions to be answered 


46 

Acknowledgements 

Acknowledgements: 

Hartmut G. Roskos (Univ. Frankfurt); 

Viktor Krozer (DTU Copenhagen => Univ. Frankfurt); 

Peter de Maagt (ESA) 

ESA project GSTP-4 EE.05 07.1 

under Contract No. 21155/07/NL/ST 

„Terahertz Camera for Remote Detection of Material Defects 

and Biological and Chemical Substances“ 


47 

Thank you! 

SynView GmbH 

Glaskopfweg 17, D-61479 Glashütten, Germany 

Tel. +49 6174 259 74 74 | Fax. +49 6174 259 74 75 

info@synview.com | www.synview.com

SynView Company Presentation - Electronics Technology Network

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?