Cellphones may someday see through walls DALLAS, April 18 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they've developed an imaging chip that could turn cellphones into devices to see through walls, wood, plastics, paper and other objects. Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas say their research builds on two scientific advances; the ability to tap into an unused range in the electromagnetic spectrum, and a new microchip technology. The terahertz band of the electromagnetic spectrum, which falls between microwave and infrared, has not been accessible for most consumer devices, they said. "We've created approaches that open a previously untapped portion of the electromagnetic spectrum for consumer use and life-saving medical applications," Kenneth O, professor of electrical engineering, said in a UT release Wednesday. The terahertz range is full of unlimited potential that could benefit us all. Researchers have combined this capability with CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) technology that creates the microchips found in many consumer electronic devices used in daily life such as personal computers, smart phones, high definition TV and game consoles. "CMOS is affordable and can be used to make lots of chips," O said. The combination of CMOS and terahertz means you could put this chip and receiver on the back of a cellphone, turning it into a device carried in your pocket that can see through objects. Out of concerns of privacy, O and his team say they are focused on uses in the distance range of less than 4 inches. Applications could range from finding studs in walls to authentication of important documents or detecting counterfeit money, researchers said, and manufacturing companies could apply the technology to process control. Terahertz can also be used for imaging to detect cancer tumors, diagnosing disease through breath analysis, and monitoring air toxicity, they said. "There are all kinds of things you could be able to do that we just haven't yet thought about," O said.