Surface scattering antenna array

• US 9,448,305 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2014
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Bowers, Jeffrey A., Brady, David Jones, Driscoll, Tom, Hunt, John Desmond, Hyde, Roderick A., Landy, Nathan Ingle, Lipworth, Guy Shlomo, Mrozack, Alexander, Smith, David R., Tegreene, Clarence T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr
• Application Number:
  US14/226,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20150276926A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 342 1- 12, 343834-840, 343/893
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/887 for detection of concealed objects, e.g. contraband or weapons
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/10 using reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/34 by electrical means active lenses or reflecting arrays H01Q3/46

Abstract

An array of scattering and/or reflector antennas are configured to produce a series of beam patterns, where in some embodiments the scattering antenna and/or the reflector antenna includes complementary metamaterial elements. In some embodiments control circuitry is operably connected to the array to produce an image of an object in the beam pattern.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a scattering antenna having a first plurality of scattering elements, each of the scattering elements in the first plurality of scattering elements having an individual electromagnetic response to an incident electromagnetic wave, and wherein the scattering antenna is configured to produce a first radiation field responsive to the incident electromagnetic wave;

a reflector antenna arranged to receive at least a portion of the first radiation field, the reflector antenna having a second plurality of scattering elements, wherein the reflector antenna is responsive to reflect a portion of the first radiation field to produce a second radiation field different from the first radiation field;

a detector configured to receive at least a portion of the second radiation field; and

wherein the scattering antenna includes a waveguide supportive of a discrete set of modes, and wherein the scattering antenna is configured to produce a first set of radiation field patterns corresponding to the set of modes.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each scattering element in the first plurality of scattering elements has an adjustable individual electromagnetic response, and further comprising:

circuitry operably connected to the first plurality of scattering elements to provide a first set of adjustments.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first set of adjustments is selected to produce a set of beam patterns corresponding to the first radiation field.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each scattering element in the second plurality of scattering elements has an adjustable individual electromagnetic response, and further comprising:

circuitry operably connected to the second plurality of scattering elements to provide a second set of adjustments.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first and second set of adjustments are selected to produce a set of beam patterns corresponding to the second radiation field.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:

a source configured to produce the incident electromagnetic wave, the incident electromagnetic wave having a frequency; and

circuitry is operably connected to the source to provide a third set of adjustments, wherein the third set of adjustments are configured to vary the frequency of the incident electromagnetic wave.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first, second, and third set of adjustments are selected to produce a set of beam patterns corresponding to the second radiation field.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each scattering element in the second plurality of scattering elements has an adjustable individual electromagnetic response, and further comprising:

circuitry operably connected to the second plurality of scattering elements to provide a set of adjustments.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the set of adjustments is selected to produce a set of beam patterns corresponding to the second radiation field.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a source configured to produce the incident electromagnetic wave, the incident electromagnetic wave having a frequency; and

circuitry operably connected to the source to provide a set of adjustments, wherein the set of adjustments are configured to vary the frequency of the incident electromagnetic wave to produce a set of beam patterns corresponding to the first and second radiation fields.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a scattering antenna having a first plurality of scattering elements, each of the scattering elements in the first plurality of scattering elements having an individual electromagnetic response to an incident electromagnetic wave, and wherein the scattering antenna is configured to produce a first radiation field responsive to the incident electromagnetic wave;

a reflector antenna arranged to receive at least a portion of the first radiation field, the reflector antenna having a second plurality of scattering elements, wherein the reflector antenna is responsive to reflect a portion of the first radiation field to produce a second radiation field different from the first radiation field;

a detector configured to receive at least a portion of the second radiation field; and

circuitry operably connected to the detector and configured to reconstruct an image of a scene that is substantially within at least one of the first and second radiation fields using a compressive imaging algorithm.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each scattering element in the first plurality of scattering elements has an adjustable individual electromagnetic response, and wherein the circuitry is operably connected to the first plurality of scattering elements to provide a set of adjustments selected according to the compressive imaging algorithm.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each scattering element in the second plurality of scattering elements has an adjustable individual electromagnetic response, and wherein the circuitry is operably connected to the second plurality of scattering elements to provide a set of adjustments selected according to the compressive imaging algorithm.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a source configured to produce the incident electromagnetic wave, the incident electromagnetic wave having a frequency, and wherein the circuitry is operably connected to the source to vary the frequency of the incident electromagnetic wave according to the compressive imaging algorithm.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each scattering element in the first plurality of scattering elements has an adjustable individual electromagnetic response, and further comprising:

circuitry operably connected to the first plurality of scattering elements to provide a first set of adjustments.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first set of adjustments is selected to produce a set of beam patterns corresponding to the first radiation field.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein each scattering element in the second plurality of scattering elements has an adjustable individual electromagnetic response, and further comprising:

circuitry operably connected to the second plurality of scattering elements to provide a second set of adjustments.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first and second set of adjustments are selected to produce a set of beam patterns corresponding to the second radiation field.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:

a source configured to produce the incident electromagnetic wave, the incident electromagnetic wave having a frequency; and

circuitry is operably connected to the source to provide a third set of adjustments, wherein the third set of adjustments are configured to vary the frequency of the incident electromagnetic wave.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the first, second, and third set of adjustments are selected to produce a set of beam patterns corresponding to the second radiation field.

21. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each scattering element in the second plurality of scattering elements has an adjustable individual electromagnetic response, and further comprising:

circuitry operably connected to the second plurality of scattering elements to provide a set of adjustments.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the set of adjustments is selected to produce a set of beam patterns corresponding to the second radiation field.

23. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

a source configured to produce the incident electromagnetic wave, the incident electromagnetic wave having a frequency; and

circuitry operably connected to the source to provide a set of adjustments, wherein the set of adjustments are configured to vary the frequency of the incident electromagnetic wave to produce a set of beam patterns corresponding to the first and second radiation fields.

24. An apparatus comprising:

a source configured to produce an incident electromagnetic wave;

a reflector antenna arranged to receive the incident electromagnetic wave, the reflector antenna having a first plurality of scattering elements, wherein the reflector antenna is responsive to reflect a portion of the incident electromagnetic wave to produce a first radiation field;

a scattering antenna configured to receive at least a portion of the first radiation field, the scattering antenna having a second plurality of scattering elements, each of the scattering elements in the second plurality of scattering elements having an individual electromagnetic response to an incident electromagnetic wave; and

wherein the scattering antenna includes a waveguide supportive of a discrete set of modes, and wherein the scattering antenna is configured to produce a first set of radiation field patterns corresponding to the set of modes.

25. An apparatus comprising:

a source configured to produce an incident electromagnetic wave;

a reflector antenna arranged to receive the incident electromagnetic wave, the reflector antenna having a first plurality of scattering elements, wherein the reflector antenna is responsive to reflect a portion of the incident electromagnetic wave to produce a first radiation field;

a scattering antenna configured to receive at least a portion of the first radiation field, the scattering antenna having a second plurality of scattering elements, each of the scattering elements in the second plurality of scattering elements having an individual electromagnetic response to an incident electromagnetic wave;

a detector operably connected to the scattering antenna; and

circuitry operably connected to the detector and configured to reconstruct an image of a scene that is substantially within the first radiation field using a compressive imaging algorithm.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein each scattering element in the first plurality of scattering elements has an adjustable individual electromagnetic response, and wherein the circuitry is operably connected to the first plurality of scattering elements to provide a set of adjustments selected according to the compressive imaging algorithm.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein each scattering element in the second plurality of scattering elements has an adjustable individual electromagnetic response, and wherein the circuitry is operably connected to the second plurality of scattering elements to provide a set of adjustments selected according to the compressive imaging algorithm.

28. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the incident electromagnetic wave has a frequency, and wherein the circuitry is operably connected to the source to vary the frequency of the incident electromagnetic wave according to the compressive imaging algorithm.