Researchers from The University of Texas at Dallas and Seoul National University have developed a novel imager chip inspired by Superman’s X-ray vision. This chip, designed for use in mobile devices, enables detection of objects within packages or behind walls. With this technology, chip-enabled smartphones could potentially identify wooden beams, wiring, or even cracks in pipes, as well as discern the contents of envelopes and packages. It also has potential medical applications.
The researchers first introduced this imaging technology in a 2022 study. Their latest paper, featured in the March issue of IEEE Transactions on Terahertz Science and Technology, details their success in overcoming a major challenge: miniaturizing the technology for handheld devices while enhancing image quality.
Dr. Kenneth K. O, director of the Texas Analog Center of Excellence (TxACE) and a distinguished university chair at the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, compared the technology to Superman’s X-ray vision. However, instead of X-rays, which can be harmful, the device uses signals in the 200 to 400 gigahertz range.
The research, funded by the Texas Instruments Foundational Technology Research Program and the Samsung Global Research Outreach Program, represents a significant advancement. Dr. Brian Ginsburg from TI’s Kilby Labs highlighted that 15 years of research and innovation were required to achieve this breakthrough, improving pixel performance by 100 million times and integrating digital signal processing techniques.
To address privacy concerns, the technology is designed for close-range use, approximately 1 inch from an object. This ensures that any attempt to use it for unauthorized scanning would be noticeable. Future versions of the chip aim to extend the range to 5 inches and improve visibility of smaller objects.
The imager emits 300-GHz signals in the millimeter-wave band, which is safe for human exposure and not visible to the human eye. This is akin to the technology used in large, stationary airport security scanners.
Dr. Wooyeol Choi from Seoul National University explained that the chip was designed without lenses or optics, allowing it to be compact enough for mobile devices. The pixels, each about the size of a grain of sand (0.5 mm square), detect signals reflected from objects to create images.
This breakthrough in miniaturization follows nearly two decades of research led by Dr. O and his team at TX ACE. Walter Sosa Portillo, an electrical engineering graduate student who joined Dr. O’s lab as an undergraduate, expressed his enthusiasm for the research, particularly its potential medical applications.