Microwave camera
First Claim
1. A microwave camera system for imaging objects within a field-of-view comprising:
- a) an antenna means having a frequency dependent beam direction for collecting microwave radiation,b) a spectrum analyzer means for producing analysis of the spectrum of at least a portion of said collected radiation, said spectrum analyzer means comprising a Bragg cell and a laser,c) an imaging means for producing an image of said objects based on said analysis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A camera system in which microwave radiation from objects in a field-of-view is collected by an antenna having a beam direction which is a function of the beam frequency. The collected radiation is analyzed to produce an image of the objects in the field-of-view. In a simple embodiment of the invention a one dimensional image is produced. This one dimensional image can be converted to a two dimensional image by rotating the camera system or mounting the camera on a moving platform. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the microwave radiation collected by the antenna is converted into electronic acoustic signals which sets up a diffraction pattern in a Bragg cell to diffract a laser beam which is focused on a television camera to produce one dimensional image of the field-of-view. The antenna can be scanned to produce a two dimensional image. In another preferred embodiment an array of antennas and a multi-channel Bragg cell is used to produce a two dimensional real time image. The camera is capable of imaging objects through media such as wooden walls which are transparent to microwaves but are opaque to visible light.
70 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A microwave camera system for imaging objects within a field-of-view comprising:
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a) an antenna means having a frequency dependent beam direction for collecting microwave radiation, b) a spectrum analyzer means for producing analysis of the spectrum of at least a portion of said collected radiation, said spectrum analyzer means comprising a Bragg cell and a laser, c) an imaging means for producing an image of said objects based on said analysis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 13, 15)
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7. A camera system comprising:
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a. A detection means for detecting microwave radiation from sources within a field-of-view, b. a first conversion means for producing an electronic signal corresponding to at least a portion of said radiation detected by said detection means, c. a laser means for producing a laser beam, d. an acousto/optic laser diffraction means for diffracting a laser beam produced by said laser source, e. a second conversion means for converting said electronic signal to an acoustic signal suitable for driving said acousto/optic laser diffraction means, f. a light detection means for detecting a portion of said laser beam diffracted by said acousto/optic diffraction means, said microwave detection means, said laser sources said diffraction means, said first and second conversion means and said light detection means being arranged so that laser light detected by said light detection means corresponds to microwave radiation emanating from objects located within said field-of-view. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification