MULTI-DIMENSIONAL IMAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS
First Claim
1. Method for determining a position in space for a reflection point, using a transmitter antenna and a plurality of receiver antennas spaced apart perpendicular to a main line of sight, comprising the steps of:
- transmitting a coherent electromagnetic wave signal towards the reflection point;
detecting a phase difference between the transmitted signal and a reflected signal from the reflection point received in a receiver antenna;
repeating the steps of transmitting and receiving in a plurality of frequency steps over a frequency band;
determining a distance (r) to the reflection point by measuring variation in phase difference dependent on signal frequency; and
identifying an angle (φ
,θ
) between a line of sight from the receivers to the reflection point, and the main line of sight, dependent on a delay between reception of reflected signals from the reflection point in at least two receiver antennas and a known spacing between said at least two receiver antennas.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, an antenna, and a system for determining positions for reflection points using microwaves. An electromagnetic wave signal is generated at a defined frequency, and transmitted by an antenna unit the antenna unit includes a transmitter antenna and a plurality of receiver antennas, separated by a known spacing perpendicular to a main line of sight and devised to receive reflected portions of the transmitted wave. Phase comparator means are connected to the transmitter antenna and the receiver antennas, and a control unit connected to the phase comparator means is operable to calculate an angle to a reflection point from detected phase difference between at least two receiver antennas and the spacing between said at least two receiver antennas, and to calculate a distance to the reflection point from detected phase difference between the transmitter antenna and a receiver antenna dependent on the frequency.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. Method for determining a position in space for a reflection point, using a transmitter antenna and a plurality of receiver antennas spaced apart perpendicular to a main line of sight, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting a coherent electromagnetic wave signal towards the reflection point;
detecting a phase difference between the transmitted signal and a reflected signal from the reflection point received in a receiver antenna;
repeating the steps of transmitting and receiving in a plurality of frequency steps over a frequency band;
determining a distance (r) to the reflection point by measuring variation in phase difference dependent on signal frequency; and
identifying an angle (φ
,θ
) between a line of sight from the receivers to the reflection point, and the main line of sight, dependent on a delay between reception of reflected signals from the reflection point in at least two receiver antennas and a known spacing between said at least two receiver antennas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 34)
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30. Apparatus for determining a position in space for a reflection point, comprising:
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a signal generator, devised to generate a electromagnetic wave signal at a defined frequency, an antenna unit, including a transmitter antenna devised to transmit a generated coherent electromagnetic wave, and a plurality of receiver antennas separated by a known spacing perpendicular to a main line of sight and devised to receive reflected portions of the transmitted wave, phase comparator means connected to the transmitter antenna and the receiver antennas, a control unit connected to the phase comparator means, operable to calculate an angle to a reflection point from detected phase difference between at least two receiver antennas and the spacing between said at least two receiver antennas, and to calculate a distance to the reflection point from detected phase difference between the transmitter antenna and a receiver antenna dependent on the frequency. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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- 52. Antenna unit, devised for transmission of a coherent electromagnetic wave signal at a defined frequency and reception of a reflected signal from a point of reflection at a position in space, comprising a support structure carrying a transmitter antenna and a plurality of receiver antennas spaced apart perpendicular to a main line of sight of the antenna unit.
Specification