System and method for inspecting transportable items using microwave imaging
First Claim
1. A microwave inspection system for inspecting transportable items, comprising:
- a transmit scanning panel including a transmit array of transmit antenna elements, each of the transmit antenna elements being programmably controllable to implement a respective phase delay to direct a transmit beam of microwave radiation toward a target of the transportable item for transmission therethrough;
a receive scanning panel including a receive array of receive antenna elements, each of the receive antenna elements being programmably controllable to implement a respective phase delay to receive a receive beam of microwave radiation from the target; and
a processor operable to measure an amplitude and phase of the microwave radiation in the receive beam to determine a relative value of a pixel within an image of the transportable item based on a reference value of the pixel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inspection system uses microwave radiation to capture a microwave image of a transportable item. The system includes a transmit scanning panel including a transmit array of transmit antenna elements, each being programmable with a respective phase delay to direct a transmit beam of microwave radiation toward a target of the transportable item for transmission of the microwave radiation through the target. The system further includes a receive scanning panel including a receive array of receive antenna elements, each being programmable with a respective phase delay to receive a receive beam of microwave radiation from the target. A processor measures the amplitude and phase of the microwave radiation in the receive beam to determine a relative value of a pixel within the microwave image of the transportable item based on a reference value of the pixel.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A microwave inspection system for inspecting transportable items, comprising:
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a transmit scanning panel including a transmit array of transmit antenna elements, each of the transmit antenna elements being programmably controllable to implement a respective phase delay to direct a transmit beam of microwave radiation toward a target of the transportable item for transmission therethrough; a receive scanning panel including a receive array of receive antenna elements, each of the receive antenna elements being programmably controllable to implement a respective phase delay to receive a receive beam of microwave radiation from the target; and a processor operable to measure an amplitude and phase of the microwave radiation in the receive beam to determine a relative value of a pixel within an image of the transportable item based on a reference value of the pixel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for inspection of transportable items, comprising:
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providing a transmit array including a plurality of transmit antenna elements and a receive array including a plurality of receive antenna elements, each of the transmit antenna elements and the receive antenna elements being programmably controllable to implement a respective phase delay; directing a transmit beam of microwave radiation towards a target of a transportable item for transmission therethrough based on the phase delay of each of the transmit antenna elements; receiving a receive beam of microwave radiation from the target at the receive array based on the phase delay of each of the receive antenna elements; measuring an amplitude and phase of the microwave radiation in the receive beam to determine a current value of the pixel; and determining a relative value of the pixel based on the current value and a reference value of the pixel measured without the presence of the transportable item. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification