By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Computer Weekly News -- According to news reporting originating from Washington, D.C. , by VerticalNews journalists, a patent application by the inventor TOMIOKA, Hiroto (Chino-shi, JP), filed on February 19, 2014 , was made available online on September 25, 2014 .
The assignee for this patent application is Seiko Epson Corporation .
Reporters obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: "The present invention relates to a terahertz wave detection device, camera, imaging device, and measuring device.
"In recent years, a terahertz wave, which is an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of 100 GHz or higher and 30 THz or lower, has attracted attention. Examples of applications where the terahertz wave can be used include imaging, various measurements such as a spectroscopic measurement, nondestructive inspection, and the like.
"Japanese Patent Application No. JP-A-2009-141661 describes a detection device which detects a terahertz wave, the detection device including a bolometer, in which a resistance value of a resistor is changed according to temperature. Specifically, JP-A-2009-141661 describes a configuration where if terahertz waves are radiated to an antenna element, a power received by the antenna element is supplied to the bolometer, which acts as a detection element. More specifically, the resistance value of the bolometer is changed, voltages of both ends of the bolometer are changed by applied current, and thus, the received power of the terahertz waves can be output as detected voltages of the bolometer.
"However, in the terahertz wave detection device described in JP-A-2009-141661, a current is applied to the bolometer to detect the terahertz waves, and accordingly, noise occurs, and detection sensitivity with respect to the terahertz waves may be decreased."
In addition to obtaining background information on this patent application, VerticalNews editors also obtained the inventor's summary information for this patent application: "An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a terahertz wave detection device which suppresses a decrease of detection sensitivity due to electric noise. Another advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a camera, an imaging device, and a measuring device which include the above-described terahertz wave detection device.
"An aspect of the invention is directed to a terahertz wave detection device including an absorption portion which absorbs a terahertz wave and generates heat, and a conversion portion which converts the heat generated in the absorption portion into an electric signal. Moreover, the absorption portion includes a dielectric layer, a plurality of metal structures which are provided on one surface of the dielectric layer and are arranged to be separated from one another by an interval having a predetermined length, and a metal layer which is provided on the other surface of the dielectric layer. In addition, the predetermined length of the interval is shorter than a wavelength of the terahertz wave which is absorbed by the absorption portion.
"According to the terahertz wave detection device, a decrease of detection sensitivity due to electric noise can be suppressed.
"According to the terahertz wave detection device with this configuration, reflectance of the terahertz wave on a contact surface of the metal structure with the dielectric layer and a contact surface of the metal layer with the dielectric layer in the terahertz wave detection device can be 90% or greater (the details will be described below). Accordingly, the terahertz wave is securely multiply-reflected between the metal structure and the metal layer, and thus, a resonance phenomenon can be generated.
"According to the terahertz wave detection device with this configuration, a decrease of detection sensitivity due to electric noise can be suppressed.
"Another aspect of the invention is directed to a terahertz wave detection device including an absorption portion which absorbs a terahertz wave, generates heat, and includes a metamaterial, and a conversion portion which converts the heat generated in the absorption portion into an electric signal.
"According to the terahertz wave detection device, a decrease of detection sensitivity due to electric noise can be suppressed.
"Still another aspect of the invention is directed to a camera including a terahertz wave generation portion which generates a terahertz wave, the terahertz wave detection device described above which detects the terahertz wave which is emitted from the terahertz wave generation portion and transmitted through an object, or the terahertz wave which is reflected by the object, and a storage portion which stores a detection result of the terahertz wave detection device.
"According to the camera, since the camera includes the terahertz wave detection device according to the aspect of the invention, a decrease of detection sensitivity due to electric noise can be suppressed.
"Yet another aspect of the invention is directed to an imaging device including a terahertz wave generation portion which generates a terahertz wave, the terahertz wave detection device described above which detects the terahertz wave which is emitted from the terahertz wave generation portion and transmitted through an object, or the terahertz wave which is reflected by the object, and an image forming portion which generates an image of the object based on a detection result of the terahertz wave detection device.
"According to the imaging device, since the imaging device includes the terahertz wave detection device according to the aspect of the invention, a decrease of detection sensitivity due to electric noise can be suppressed.
"Still yet another aspect of the invention is directed to a measuring device including a terahertz wave generation portion which generates a terahertz wave, the terahertz wave detection device described above which detects the terahertz wave which is emitted from the terahertz wave generation portion and transmitted through an object, or the terahertz wave which is reflected by the object, and a measuring portion which measures the object based on a detection result of the terahertz wave detection device.
"According to the measuring device, since the measuring device includes the terahertz wave detection device according to the aspect of the invention, a decrease of detection sensitivity due to electric noise can be suppressed.
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