Abstract: An apparatus for determining fiber orientation parameters of a sheet of material during a production process includes a polarized radiation generating system operable for providing polarized radiation having a frequency of at least 1×108 Hz. The radiation is aligned to be incident on a sheet material to be characterized. A polarimeter is aligned to receive the radiation transmitted by the sheet material. A photodetector is provided for measuring radiation received after polarization processing by the polarimeter. A processor is coupled to the photodetector for calculating Stokes parameters of the sheet material based upon intensities of the radiation received and determines at least one parameter relating to fiber orientation of the sheet material based upon the Stokes parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining fiber orientation parameters of a sheet of material during a production process includes a polarized radiation generating system operable for providing polarized radiation having a frequency of at least 1×108 Hz. The radiation is aligned to be incident on a sheet material to be characterized. A polarimeter is aligned to receive the radiation transmitted by the sheet material. A photodetector is provided for measuring radiation received after polarization processing by the polarimeter. A processor is coupled to the photodetector for calculating Stokes parameters of the sheet material based upon intensities of the radiation received and determines at least one parameter relating to fiber orientation of the sheet material based upon the Stokes parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus (200) for determining fiber orientation parameters of a sheet of material during a production process includes a polarized radiation generating system (201, 202) operable for providing polarized radiation having a frequency of at least 1×108 Hz. The radiation is aligned to be incident on a sheet of material to be characterized (203). A polarimeter (204, 205) is aligned to receive the radiation transmitted by the sheet of material (203). A photodetector (206) is provided for measuring radiation received after polarization processing by the polarimeter. A processor (207) is coupled to the photodetector (206) for calculating Stokes parameters of the moving sheet (203) based upon intensities of the radiation received and determines at least one parameter relating to fiber orientation of the moving sheet based upon the Stokes parameters.

Abstract: A material measurement system (500) includes a THz generator including at least one laser source (111) for emitting optical pulses, the optical pulses coupled to a THz emitter (51) operable for emitting pulsed THz radiation at a sample location on material while being processed (14) by a manufacturing system. A receiver (52) is operable to receive the optical pulses and to detect reflected or transmitted THz radiation from the sample location (14) synchronously with the optical pulses and provide electrical detection signals. Synchronizing optics (112, 113, 114) is operable to receive the optical pulses from said laser and provide the optical pulses to both the receiver (52) and the THz emitter (51).

Abstract: A material measurement system (500) includes a THz generator including at least one laser source (111) for emitting optical pulses, the optical pulses coupled to a THz emitter (51) operable for emitting pulsed THz radiation at a sample location on material while being processed (14) by a manufacturing system. A receiver (52) is operable to receive the optical pulses and to detect reflected or transmitted THz radiation from the sample location (14) synchronously with the optical pulses and provide electrical detection signals. Synchronizing optics (112, 113, 114) is operable to receive the optical pulses from said laser and provide the optical pulses to both the receiver (52) and the THz emitter (51).

Abstract: An optical translation technique for moving the interrogation spot at which a triangulation system measures the displacement of a target is disclosed. In normal operation of the laser triangulation sensor, an incident laser beam is projected from a sensor head onto a surface of a web that is facing the sensor head. Radiation is reflected from the surface and detected by the sensor. The distance from the sensor head to the web surface is calculated by triangulation. With optical translation, both the incident ray path and the captured ray path are translated with a plurality of high refractive index geometries such that the nominal functioning of the triangulation sensor remains undisturbed. The optimal position on the sheet wherein the interrogation spot will be located can be ascertained.

Abstract: An apparatus (200) for determining fiber orientation parameters of a sheet of material during a production process includes a polarized radiation generating system (201, 202) operable for providing polarized radiation having a frequency of at least 1×108 Hz. The radiation is aligned to be incident on a sheet of material to be characterized (203). A polarimeter (204, 205) is aligned to receive the radiation transmitted by the sheet of material (203). A photodetector (206) is provided for measuring radiation received after polarization processing by the polarimeter. A processor (207) is coupled to the photodetector (206) for calculating Stokes parameters of the moving sheet (203) based upon intensities of the radiation received and determines at least one parameter relating to fiber orientation of the moving sheet based upon the Stokes parameters.

Abstract: An optical translation technique for moving the interrogation spot at which a triangulation system measures the displacement of a target is disclosed. In normal operation of the laser triangulation sensor, an incident laser beam is projected from a sensor head onto a surface of a web that is facing the sensor head. Radiation is reflected from the surface and detected by the sensor. The distance from the sensor head to the web surface is calculated by triangulation. With optical translation, both the incident ray path and the captured ray path are translated with a plurality of high refractive index geometries such that the nominal functioning of the triangulation sensor remains undisturbed. The optimal position on the sheet wherein the interrogation spot will be located can be ascertained.