METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OBSERVING SUBSURFACES OF A TARGET MATERIAL

摘要

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for generating from a light source a light signal operating in a region of the light spectrum, modifying the light signal with a first polarization device having a first polarization state to generate a polarized light signal directed to a target, modifying a substantially specular reflection and a substantially diffused reflection of the polarized light signal generated from the target with a second polarization device having a second polarization state to generate mixed polarized light signals having a mixed polarization state, and adjusting the mixed polarization state to modify an observable range of subsurfaces of the target. Other embodiments are disclosed.

主权项

1. A device, comprising:
a light source that facilitates emitting a light signal; a first polarizer incident with the light signal, wherein the first polarizer has a first polarization state that facilitates polarizing the light signal to generate a polarized light signal directed to a target; a second polarizer incident with a first reflection of the polarized light signal emitted from a top surface of the target and incident with a second reflection of the polarized light signal emitted from subsurfaces of the target, wherein the second polarizer has a second polarization state, and wherein a combination of the first polarization state and the second polarization state creates a mixed polarization state for generating mixed polarized light signals from the first reflection and second reflection; a mechanical control that facilitates adjusting the mixed polarization state to generate adjusted mixed polarized light signals; a controller that performs operations comprising:
obtaining configuration information for adjusting the mixed polarization state according to a type of target; andcontrolling the mechanical control to adjust the mixed polarization state according to the configuration information by performing a first sweep of wavelengths of light from the light source and a second sweep of mixed polarization states.