Optical microresonator array device for ultrasound sensing
Inventors
Zhu, Jiangang • Yang, Lan • Miller, Scott A. • Zhao, Guangming
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12392753-B2
Publication Date
2025-08-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus may include one or more optical fibers, one or more optical waveguides, and multiple resonator nodes arranged in an array of sensing locations. Each resonator node may include an optical coupling between an optical waveguide and an optical fiber having a set of resonant frequencies at a respective sensing location. Each resonator node may be further configured to communicate a set of signals corresponding to at least one shift in the set of resonant frequencies in the optical fiber at the respective sensing location.
Core Innovation
The described system provides an optical microresonator array ultrasound sensing approach in which a plurality of optical fibers and a plurality of optical waveguides form a plurality of resonator nodes arranged in an array of sensing locations. Each resonator node includes an optical coupling between an optical waveguide and an optical fiber, and the optical fibers and waveguides enable excitation of whispering gallery modes that propagate along corresponding circumferences of the optical fibers at respective sensing locations.
One or more light sources emit one or more light inputs into the plurality of optical waveguides, and the light inputs excite whispering gallery modes at the resonator nodes. The resonator nodes communicate a set of signals corresponding to at least one shift in the set of resonant frequencies induced by ultrasound echoes in the optical fiber at the respective sensing location, supporting ultrasound sensing across the array of sensing locations.
In related embodiments, ultrasound sensing is performed by exciting a first set of whispering gallery modes and receiving a first set of signals, then receiving a second set of signals corresponding to a second set of whispering gallery modes propagating in response to the plurality of optical fibers receiving a plurality of ultrasound echoes. A set of differences between the first set of signals and the second set of signals is detected, and the resulting differences correspond to ultrasound-echo-induced effects at the resonator nodes.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims cover 5 inventive features directed to ultrasound sensing apparatus and methods using resonator nodes arranged in an array of sensing locations, with whispering gallery modes in optical fibers that produce signals corresponding to ultrasound-echo-induced changes, and optionally detecting differences between first and second signal sets. The independent claim set includes 4 apparatus claims and 1 method claim.
Array of resonator nodes with fiber-waveguide coupling for WGM ultrasound signal communication
A plurality of optical fibers and a plurality of optical waveguides arranged with a plurality of resonator nodes in an array of sensing locations, each resonator node comprising an optical coupling between an optical waveguide and an optical fiber, wherein one or more light sources excite a set of whispering gallery modes at the resonator nodes to propagate along corresponding circumferences of the optical fibers, and each resonator node communicates a set of signals corresponding to at least one shift in the set of resonant frequencies induced by ultrasound echoes in the optical fiber at the respective sensing location.
Ultrasound-induced differences between first and second WGM signal sets
Exciting a first set of whispering gallery modes and receiving a first set of signals corresponding to the first set of whispering gallery modes, then receiving a second set of signals corresponding to a second set of whispering gallery modes propagating in response to the plurality of optical fibers receiving a plurality of ultrasound echoes, and detecting a set of differences between the first set of signals and the second set of signals.
WGM-excited signals propagated to optical detector via resonator nodes
A plurality of optical fibers configured to propagate a set of whispering gallery modes along a circumference of a corresponding optical fiber, and a plurality of optical waveguides optically coupled to form a plurality of resonator nodes, with one or more light sources exciting the set of whispering gallery modes at the resonator nodes, the plurality of optical fibers communicating to the plurality of optical waveguides a set of signals corresponding to the set of whispering gallery modes, wherein the plurality of optical waveguides are configured to propagate the set of signals to at least one optical detector.
Distributed WGM ultrasound sensing using a single optical fiber with resonator node array
An optical fiber with a plurality of resonant frequencies at a respective sensing location, and a plurality of resonator nodes arranged in an array of sensing locations, each resonator node comprising an optical coupling between an optical waveguide and the optical fiber, wherein one or more light sources emit light inputs into the plurality of optical waveguides coupled to the optical fiber to excite a set of whispering gallery modes at the plurality of resonator nodes to propagate along corresponding circumferences of the optical fiber at respective sensing locations, and each resonator node communicates a set of signals corresponding to at least one shift in the set of resonant frequencies induced by ultrasound echoes in the optical fiber at the respective sensing location.
WGM ultrasound sensing using an optical waveguide coupled to resonator node array
A plurality of optical fibers and an optical waveguide, with a plurality of resonator nodes arranged in an array of sensing locations, each resonator node comprising an optical coupling between the optical waveguide and an optical fiber, wherein the plurality of optical fibers have a set of resonant frequencies at a respective sensing location, a light source emits a light input into the optical waveguide coupled to the plurality of optical fibers to excite a set of whispering gallery modes at the plurality of resonator nodes to propagate along corresponding circumferences of the plurality of optical fibers, and each resonator node communicates a set of signals corresponding to at least one shift in the set of resonant frequencies induced by ultrasound echoes in the optical fiber at the respective sensing location.
Across the independent claims, the core claim coverage centers on resonator nodes formed by optical coupling between optical waveguides and optical fibers, excitation and propagation of whispering gallery modes along fiber circumferences, and communication of signals corresponding to ultrasound-echo-induced shifts in resonant frequencies. The independent method claim adds detection of differences between first and second signal sets corresponding to different sets of whispering gallery modes.
Stated Advantages
High sensitivity via high-Q whispering-gallery modes.
Mass-producible via uniform bulk-produced optical fibers.
Potential for single-frequency interrogation.
Documented Applications
Ultrasound sensing using an optical microresonator array ultrasound sensing system with an ultrasound probe architecture using piezoelectric crystal arrays and phased array operation.
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