System and method for minimizing background noise in a microwave image using a programmable reflector array
First Claim
1. A microwave imaging system for capturing a microwave image of a target, comprising:
- a microwave source for providing microwave radiation;
a microwave receiver for receiving microwave radiation;
a reflector antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements, each of said antenna elements being capable of being programmed with a respective phase shift to reflect the microwave radiation towards the target in a transmit beam and reflect a receive beam of microwave illumination reflected from the target towards said microwave receiver; and
a processor operable to program said plurality of antenna elements with respective first phase shifts to capture a first microwave image of the target and to program said plurality of antenna elements with respective second phase shifts to capture a second microwave image of the target, said first phase shifts and said second phase shifts of each of said respective plurality of antenna elements being different by 180 degrees;
wherein said processor is further operable to minimize noise from a combination of said first microwave image and said second microwave image.
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Abstract
A microwave imaging system captures a microwave image of a target and minimizes noise in the microwave image using phase differentiation. A reflector antenna array is provided including a plurality of antenna elements for reflecting microwave radiation towards the target and for reflecting microwave radiation reflected from the target towards a microwave receiver. A processor programs the antenna elements with respective first phase shifts to capture a first microwave image of the target, and programs the antenna elements with respective second phase shifts to capture a second microwave image of the target. The first phase shift of each antenna element is 180 degrees different than the second phase shift for that antenna element. The processor minimizes noise from a combination of the first microwave image and the second microwave image.
45 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A microwave imaging system for capturing a microwave image of a target, comprising:
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a microwave source for providing microwave radiation;
a microwave receiver for receiving microwave radiation;
a reflector antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements, each of said antenna elements being capable of being programmed with a respective phase shift to reflect the microwave radiation towards the target in a transmit beam and reflect a receive beam of microwave illumination reflected from the target towards said microwave receiver; and
a processor operable to program said plurality of antenna elements with respective first phase shifts to capture a first microwave image of the target and to program said plurality of antenna elements with respective second phase shifts to capture a second microwave image of the target, said first phase shifts and said second phase shifts of each of said respective plurality of antenna elements being different by 180 degrees;
wherein said processor is further operable to minimize noise from a combination of said first microwave image and said second microwave image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for minimizing noise in a microwave image of a target, comprising:
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providing an array including a plurality of antenna elements, each of said antenna elements being capable of being programmed with a respective phase shift to reflect microwave radiation towards the target in a transmit beam and reflect a receive beam of microwave illumination reflected from the target towards a microwave receiver;
programming said plurality of antenna elements with respective first phase shifts to capture a first microwave image of the target;
programming said plurality of antenna elements with respective second phase shifts to capture a second microwave image of the target, said first phase shifts and said second phase shifts of each of said respective plurality of antenna elements being 180 degrees apart; and
minimizing noise from a combination of said first microwave image and said second microwave image. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification