Method and device for imaging test objects by means of millimeter waves, in particular for inspecting individuals for suspicious objects

• US 7,583,221 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2007
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smiths Heimann GmbH
• Original Assignee: Smiths Heimann GmbH
• Inventors: Jeck, Michael, Detlefsen, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): PIHULIC, DANIEL T
• Application Number:
  US11/869,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20080174476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 342/25.A, 342/179, 342/22
• US Class Current: 342/25.00A
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/87 Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/887 for detection of concealed objects, e.g. contraband or weapons
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/9088 Circular SAR [CSAR, C-SAR]
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 8/005 operating with millimetre waves, e.g. measuring the black losey radiation

Abstract

A method for imaging test objects by millimeter waves, especially for checking individuals for suspicious objects is provided, whereby the test object is gradually irradiated with millimeter waves along its circumference and the scattered waves are received and evaluated in order to display an image of the test object. A viewing direction of the transmitting area and a direction of reception of the receiving area extend at an angle of 15° to 70°, preferably 20° to 35° to the longitudinal axis of the test object. For evaluation of the scattered waves in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the test object, a pulse radar or FMCW radar technology is used, and for evaluation at an angle to the longitudinal axis, SAR technology is used.

Claims

1. A method for imaging at least one test object by millimeter waves, in particular for inspecting individuals for suspicious objects, the method comprising:

illuminating the test object successively with millimeter waves along a circumference of said test object; and

receiving and analyzing scattered waves to display an image of the test object,

wherein a direction of view of a transmitting antenna and a direction of reception of the receiving antenna are inclined at an angle of 15°

to 70°

to a longitudinal axis of the test object, and

wherein a pulse radar or FMCW radar principle is used to analyze radiation scattered in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the test object and the SAR principle is used for analysis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the test object extends vertically, and its successive illumination along the circumference takes place in a horizontal direction.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the illuminating device and the arrangement for scattered field sensing are moved around the test object to be imaged.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein two or more transmitting and receiving systems are used.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein a frequency offset that is present between the systems at a particular time is used to prevent mutual interference.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a transmitting and receiving system is used that covers two or more frequency ranges separated from one another by significantly more than a bandwidth, wherein better resolution is achieved by common processing or additional imaging information is obtained through analysis of the difference information.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one additional receiving device with an offset antenna for the scattered field is used, and wherein the additional information thus obtained is interferometrically analyzed in order to obtain information on the distance of the individual image point from the longitudinal axis.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein a direction of view of a transmitting antenna and a direction of reception of the receiving antenna are inclined at an angle of 20°

to 35°

to a longitudinal axis of the test object.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the test object is illuminated diagonally from above and diagonally from below.

8. A device comprising:

at least one transmitting and receiving system which successively illuminates a test object with millimeter waves along a circumference of said test object and which receives the scattered waves; and

an analysis system, which produces an image of the test object from the received waves,

wherein a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna of each transmitting and receiving system are oriented such that the direction of view of the transmitting antenna and the direction of reception of the receiving antenna are inclined at an angle of 15°

to 70°

to a longitudinal axis of the test object and

wherein a pulse radar or FMCW radar principle is used by the analysis system to analyze radiation scattered in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the test object and the SAR principle is used for analysis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein two or more transmitting and receiving systems have transmitting antennas arranged at an angle to and opposite one another.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein the transmitting and receiving system has an additional receiving device with an offset antenna for the scattered field in order to interferometrically analyze the scattered field information.

13. The device according to claim 8, wherein a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna of each transmitting and receiving system are oriented such that the direction of view of the transmitting antenna and the direction of reception of the receiving antenna are inclined at an angle of 20°

to 35°

to a longitudinal axis of the test object.

14. The device according to claim 8, further including spaced apart multiple transmitting and receiving antenna which are oriented at an angle toward each other from an upper position and a lower position.