Ever wished you had Superman's X-ray vision? Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas have developed an imaging chip that allows smartphones to "see" through walls.
Similar to security scanners in Philippine train stations and airports, this innovative chip is unique due to its compact size, making it suitable for nearly all mobile devices.
Crucially, it operates at a frequency safe for humans, opening up a range of potential uses, such as inspecting delivery packages without opening them.
How Does the X-Ray Vision Chip Work?
Dallas Innovates, a Texas-based innovation news website, reports that the device emits 300-GHz signals that penetrate walls and bounce off solid objects. The chip interprets these signals and converts them into images on a smartphone. This groundbreaking technology is the work of Kenneth K. O and his team at UTD's Texas Analog Center of Excellence (TxACE).
Building on a 2022 University of Texas at Dallas study, which introduced an early version of the chip for industrial use, the new chip was designed without lenses or optics to fit into mobile devices, according to Dr. Wooyeol Choi, a member of Dr. O's team.
"It took 15 years of research that improved pixel performance by 100 million times, combined with digital signal processing techniques, to make this imaging demonstration possible," said Dr. Brian Ginsburg, director of RF/mmW and high-speed research at Texas Instruments' Kilby Labs.
"This disruptive technology shows the potential capability of true THz imaging," Dr. Ginsburg added.
UTD envisions multiple applications for the X-ray vision chip, such as checking delivery packages without opening them, detecting faulty wiring without breaking walls, and potentially aiding in medical applications. Additionally, the chip only functions an inch from an object, which could deter thieves as they would need to be extremely close to scan someone's belongings.
No comments:
Post a Comment