Handheld microwave imaging device
First Claim
1. A handheld microwave imaging device, comprising:
- an antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements, each capable of being programmed with a respective direction coefficient to direct microwave illumination toward a target associated with an object, said antenna elements being further capable of being programmed with a respective additional direction coefficient to receive reflected microwave illumination reflected from the target;
a processor operable to measure an intensity of said reflected microwave illumination to determine a value of a voxel within a microwave image of said object constructed by said processor; and
a support structure including a first portion within which said antenna array is compliantly mounted and a second portion defining a handle for enabling a user to control movement of said device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A handheld microwave imaging device provides screening of objects, such as persons and other items. The imaging device includes an antenna array of antenna elements, each capable of being programmed with a respective direction coefficient to direct microwave illumination toward a target associated with the object, and each capable of being programmed with a respective additional direction coefficient to receive reflected microwave illumination reflected from the target. The imaging device further includes a processor operable to measure an intensity of the reflected microwave illumination to determine a value of a voxel within a microwave image of the object. The antenna array is compliantly mounted in a first portion of a support structure, while a second portion of the support structure defines a handle for enabling a user to control movement of the device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A handheld microwave imaging device, comprising:
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an antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements, each capable of being programmed with a respective direction coefficient to direct microwave illumination toward a target associated with an object, said antenna elements being further capable of being programmed with a respective additional direction coefficient to receive reflected microwave illumination reflected from the target;
a processor operable to measure an intensity of said reflected microwave illumination to determine a value of a voxel within a microwave image of said object constructed by said processor; and
a support structure including a first portion within which said antenna array is compliantly mounted and a second portion defining a handle for enabling a user to control movement of said device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for screening an object using a handheld microwave imaging device including an array of programmable microwave antenna elements, said method comprising:
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positioning the array with respect to the object to capture a microwave image of a volume associated with the object;
programming each of the microwave antenna elements with a respective direction coefficient to direct microwave illumination towards a target within the volume;
measuring the intensity of reflected microwave illumination reflected from the target to determine a voxel value in the microwave image of the object;
repeating said programming and said measuring for a plurality of targets associated with the object to construct the microwave image of the object; and
enabling manual movement of the array with respect to the object to obtain successive microwave images of the object. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification