MILLIMETER WAVE IMAGING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A millimeter wave imaging system comprising:
- 1) at least one millimeter wave frequency scanning antenna for collecting frequency dependent beams of millimeter wave radiation from a narrow one-dimensional field of view;
2) millimeter wave amplifier components for amplifying at the collected frequencies said millimeter wave radiation;
3) a beam-former for separating said amplified collected radiation to produce frequency dependent signals corresponding to said frequency dependent beams, said beam-former comprising;
1) a plurality of delay lines,2) a millimeter wave lens, and3) a plurality of millimeter wave power detectors; and
4) a sampling circuit for reading out frequency dependent signals to produce a one-dimensional image of the antenna field of view.
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Abstract
A millimeter wave imaging system. The system includes at least one millimeter wave frequency scanning antenna for collecting frequency dependent beams of millimeter wave radiation from a narrow one-dimensional field of view; a millimeter wave amplifier for amplifying at the collected frequencies said millimeter wave radiation. A beam-former separates the amplified radiation to produce frequency dependent signals corresponding to the frequency dependent beam. The beam-former includes delay lines, a millimeter wave lens, and an array of millimeter wave power detectors for detecting the power in each frequency dependent beam. A sampling circuit reads out the frequency dependent signals to produce a one-dimensional image of the antenna field of view. A two dimensional image of a target may be obtained by moving the target across the field of view of the scanning antenna or by moving the antenna in order to scan its line of focus over the target. In preferred embodiments a 2×2 Dicke switch is provided to permit sampling a reference thermal source for gain control while continuing to collect image information. This 2×2 Dicke switch provides a square root of 2 improvement in temperature sensitivity over a single receiver version. Preferred embodiments also include features for focusing the antenna within a range of about 5 feet to infinity.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A millimeter wave imaging system comprising:
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1) at least one millimeter wave frequency scanning antenna for collecting frequency dependent beams of millimeter wave radiation from a narrow one-dimensional field of view; 2) millimeter wave amplifier components for amplifying at the collected frequencies said millimeter wave radiation; 3) a beam-former for separating said amplified collected radiation to produce frequency dependent signals corresponding to said frequency dependent beams, said beam-former comprising; 1) a plurality of delay lines, 2) a millimeter wave lens, and 3) a plurality of millimeter wave power detectors; and 4) a sampling circuit for reading out frequency dependent signals to produce a one-dimensional image of the antenna field of view. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A portal concealed weapon and contraband imaging and detection system comprising:
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A) a portal metal detector, and B) a portal contraband screener comprising a plurality of millimeter wave sensors, each of said plurality of millimeter wave sensors comprising; 1) at least one millimeter wave frequency scanning antenna for collecting frequency dependent beams of millimeter wave radiation from a narrow one-dimensional field of view; 2) millimeter wave amplifier components for amplifying at the collected frequencies said millimeter wave radiation; 3) a beam-former for separating said amplified collected radiation to produce frequency dependent signals corresponding to said frequency dependent beams, said beam-former comprising; a) a plurality of delay lines, b) a millimeter wave lens, and c) a plurality of millimeter wave power detectors; and 4) a sampling circuit for reading out frequency dependent signals to produce a one-dimensional image of the antenna field of view.
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Specification