2-D scanning antenna and method for the utilization thereof
First Claim
1. An imaging antenna comprising:
- a spindle assembly defining a rotation axis, said spindle assembly including;
a first rotational mounting for attachment to a platform so as to permit rotational motion about said rotation axis;
a shaft attached to said rotational mounting, said shaft being capable of rotational motion about said rotation axis;
a drive gear attached to said shaft;
a pinion gear attached to said drive gear; and
a first motor attached to said pinion gear;
a waveguide assembly rotatably connected to said shaft so as to permit said waveguide assembly to rotate about said rotation axis, said waveguide assembly including;
a first dielectric waveguide defining a first axis that is substantially perpendicular to said rotation axis;
a first elongated cylindrical lens that i) is electromagnetically coupled to said first dielectric waveguide and ii) defines a lens axis that is substantially perpendicular to said rotation axis;
a second dielectric waveguide defining a second axis that is substantially parallel to said first axis; and
a second elongated cylindrical lens that i) is electromagnetically coupled to said second dielectric waveguide and ii) defines a lens axis that is substantially perpendicular to said rotation axis; and
a grating assembly rotatably connected to said shaft with a second rotational mounting so as to permit said grating assembly to rotate about said rotation axis independently of said waveguide assembly, said grating assembly including;
a substrate that i) is substantially normal to said rotation axis and ii) has a thickness a;
a reflective layer connected to said substrate, said reflective layer defining a plane that is substantially normal to said rotation axis, wherein
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">a=λ
cos φ
/(4.di-elect cons..sub.d .sup.1/2) where φ
is a center of an angular scanning range, λ
is the wavelength of an electromagnetic source and .di-elect cons.d is a dielectric constant of said substrate; and
a plurality of sectors connected to said substrate, each of said plurality of sectors including a varying period conductive grating pattern of separated strips,wherein a varying period of said varying period conductive grating pattern of separated metal strips is a function of an angle defined by a rotational position of said grating assembly with regard to said rotation axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for two dimensional millimeter wave imaging are described. A system includes a spindle assembly defining a rotation axis; a waveguide assembly connected to the spindle assembly, the waveguide assembly including a first dielectric waveguide defining a first axis; and a grating assembly connected to the spindle assembly, the grating assembly including a plurality of sectors, each of the plurality of sectors including a varying period conductive grating pattern. A varying period of the varying period conductive grating pattern is a function of an angle defined by a rotational position of the grating assembly with regard to the rotation axis. The systems and methods provide advantages in that an image can be scanned quickly using an inexpensive system.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. An imaging antenna comprising:
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a spindle assembly defining a rotation axis, said spindle assembly including; a first rotational mounting for attachment to a platform so as to permit rotational motion about said rotation axis; a shaft attached to said rotational mounting, said shaft being capable of rotational motion about said rotation axis; a drive gear attached to said shaft; a pinion gear attached to said drive gear; and a first motor attached to said pinion gear; a waveguide assembly rotatably connected to said shaft so as to permit said waveguide assembly to rotate about said rotation axis, said waveguide assembly including; a first dielectric waveguide defining a first axis that is substantially perpendicular to said rotation axis; a first elongated cylindrical lens that i) is electromagnetically coupled to said first dielectric waveguide and ii) defines a lens axis that is substantially perpendicular to said rotation axis; a second dielectric waveguide defining a second axis that is substantially parallel to said first axis; and a second elongated cylindrical lens that i) is electromagnetically coupled to said second dielectric waveguide and ii) defines a lens axis that is substantially perpendicular to said rotation axis; and a grating assembly rotatably connected to said shaft with a second rotational mounting so as to permit said grating assembly to rotate about said rotation axis independently of said waveguide assembly, said grating assembly including; a substrate that i) is substantially normal to said rotation axis and ii) has a thickness a; a reflective layer connected to said substrate, said reflective layer defining a plane that is substantially normal to said rotation axis, wherein
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">a=λ
cos φ
/(4.di-elect cons..sub.d .sup.1/2)where φ
is a center of an angular scanning range, λ
is the wavelength of an electromagnetic source and .di-elect cons.d is a dielectric constant of said substrate; anda plurality of sectors connected to said substrate, each of said plurality of sectors including a varying period conductive grating pattern of separated strips, wherein a varying period of said varying period conductive grating pattern of separated metal strips is a function of an angle defined by a rotational position of said grating assembly with regard to said rotation axis. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An apparatus, comprising:
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a spindle assembly defining a rotation axis; a waveguide assembly connected to said spindle assembly, said waveguide assembly including a first dielectric waveguide defining a first axis; and a grating assembly comprising a rotatable disk connected to said spindle assembly, said grating assembly including a plurality of sectors, each of said plurality of sectors including a varying period conductive grating pattern, wherein a varying period of said varying period conductive grating pattern is a function of an angle defined by a rotational position of said grating assembly with regard to said rotation axis, and wherein said waveguide assembly and said grating assembly independently rotate coaxially relative to each other so as to provide two-dimensional scanning. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41)
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17. An apparatus, comprising:
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a spindle assembly defining a rotation axis; a waveguide assembly connected to said spindle assembly, said waveguide assembly including a first dielectric waveguide defining a first axis; a grating assembly connected to said spindle assembly, said grating assembly including a plurality of sectors, each of said plurality of sectors including a varying period conductive grating pattern; and wherein said spindle assembly includes a grating mounting for rotatably attaching said grating assembly to said spindle assembly so as to permit said grating assembly to rotate about said rotation axis, and wherein said grating assembly includes a substrate having a thickness a and reflective layer connected to said substrate, said reflective layer defining a plane that is substantially normal to said rotation axis, wherein
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">a=λ
cos φ
/(4.di-elect cons..sub.d .sup.1/2)where φ
is a center of an angular scanning range, λ
is the wavelength of an electromagnetic source and .di-elect cons.d is a dielectric constant of said substrate, and wherein a varying period of said varying period conductive grating pattern is a function of an angle defined by a rotational position of said grating assembly with regard to said rotation axis.
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29. An apparatus, comprising:
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a spindle assembly defining a rotation axis; a waveguide assembly connected to said spindle assembly, said waveguide assembly including a plurality of waveguides; a grating assembly connected to said spindle assembly, said grating assembly including a plurality of microstrip patches, each of said microstrip patches including a conductive grating pattern; and wherein said grating assembly includes a substrate having a thickness a and reflective layer connected to said substrate, said reflective layer defining a plane that is substantially normal to said rotation axis, wherein
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">a=λ
cos φ
/(4.di-elect cons..sub.d.sup.1/2)where φ
is a center of an angular scanning range, λ
is the wavelength of an electromagnetic source and .di-elect cons.d is a dielectric constant of said substrate.
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38. An apparatus, comprising:
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a spindle assembly defining a rotation axis; a waveguide assembly connected to said spindle assembly, said waveguide assembly including; a plurality of waveguides; a load electromagnetically connected to each of said plurality of waveguides; and a plurality of transceivers, each of said plurality of transceivers being electromagnetically connected to one of said plurality of waveguides; a grating assembly connected to said spindle assembly, said grating assembly including; a substrate having a thickness a and reflective layer connected to said substrate, said reflective layer defining a plane that is substantially normal to said rotation axis, wherein
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">a=λ
cos φ
/(4.di-elect cons..sub.d.sup.1/2)where φ
is a center of an angular scanning range, λ
is the wavelength of an electromagnetic source and .di-elect cons.d is a dielectric constant of said substrate;a plurality of microstrip patches connected to said substrate, each of said microstrip patches including a conductive grating pattern, said plurality of microstrip patches being grouped in a plurality of spirally distributed sets, each of said spirally distributed sets including a plurality of narrow band resonator emitters; and a grating mounting for rotatably attaching said grating assembly to said spindle assembly so as to permit said grating assembly to rotate about said rotation axis; and a zone plate that is optically coupled to each of said plurality of waveguides, said zone plate defining a plate plane that is substantially perpendicular to said rotation axis.
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42. A method of two-dimensional imaging, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an imaging antenna comprising, a waveguide assembly connected to a spindle assembly, said waveguide assembly including a first dielectric waveguide defining a first axis; a grating assembly comprising a rotatable disk connected to said spindle assembly, said grating assembly including a plurality of sectors, each of said plurality of sectors including a varying period conductive grating pattern, and wherein a varying period of said varying period conductive grating pattern is a function of an angle defined by a rotational position of said grating assembly with regard to said rotation axis, and wherein said waveguide assembly and said grating assembly independently rotate coaxially relative to each other so as to provide two-dimensional scanning; rotating said grating assembly at a first angular velocity to produce a line scan; rotating said waveguide assembly at a second angular velocity to produce a circular scan, said second angular velocity being less than said first angular velocity; and combining said line scan and said circular scan to produce a signal indicative of a two-dimensional image.
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Specification