US6937182B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Millimeter wave imaging system
Assignee: Trex Enterprises Corp
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Filing: 2003-08-12
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Granted: 2005-08-30
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Expires: 2023-08-12
Abstract
Abstract A millimeter wave imaging system that includes at least one millimeter wave frequency scanning antenna for collecting frequency dependent beams of millimeter wave radiation from a narrow one-dimensional field of view. The collected radiation is amplified at the collected frequencies and the amplified signals are separated into frequency dependent bins with a tapped-delay beam-former. These bins are then sampled to produce a one-dimensional image of the antenna field of view. A two dimensional image of a target may be obtained by moving the target across the field of view of the scanning antenna. In a preferred embodiment the antenna is only 4.5 inches in length and constructed from WR-10 waveguide with inclined slots cut in one of the narrow walls at 79 mil spacings. This geometry creates a frequency-scanned antenna spanning a 20 degree vertical field of view over a 75.5-93.5 GHz operational band of the sensor, starting at approximately 1 degree below horizontal at 93.5 GHz and ranging to approximately 21 degrees below horizontal at 75.5 GHz. In this embodiment 64 of these antenna elements are arranged in four stacks of 16 antennas focused at about 18 inches to construct a portal contraband screener.
Inventors
- 👤 John A. Lovberg
- 👤 Vladimir Kolinko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 03:20
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V8/00; G01V8/005; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/887; H; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/12; H01Q1/125; H01Q19/00; H01Q19/10; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/22; H01Q3/26; H01Q3/2682; H04; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/38; H04B1/3805; H04B10/00; H04B10/11; H04B10/112; H04B10/1123; H04B10/114; H04B10/1149; G01S13/02; G01S13/06; G01S13/42; G01S13/44; H04B7/00; H04B7/02; H04B7/04; H04B7/0408
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A millimeter wave imaging system comprising: A) at least one millimeter wave frequency scanning antenna for collecting frequency dependent beams of millimeter wave radiation from a narrow one-dimensional field of view; B) a millimeter wave amplifier for amplifying at the collected frequencies said millimeter wave radiation; C) a beamformer for separating said amplified collected radiation to produce frequency dependent signals corresponding to said frequency dependent beams, said beamformer comprising: 1) a plurality of delay lines, 2) a millimeter wave lens, and 3) a plurality of millimeter wave power detectors; and D) a sampling circuit for reading out frequency dependent signals to produce a one-dimensional image of the antenna field of view.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A millimeter wave imaging system comprising: A) at least one millimeter wave frequency scanning antenna for collecting frequency dependent beams of millimeter wave radiation from a narrow one-dimensional field of view; B) a millimeter wave amplifier for amplifying at the collected frequencies said millimeter wave radiation; C) a beamformer for separating said amplified collected radiation to produce frequency dependent signals corresponding to said frequency dependent beams, said beamformer comprising: 1) a plurality of delay lines, 2) a millimeter wave lens, and 3) a plurality of millimeter wave power detectors; and D) a sampling circuit for reading out frequency dependent signals to produce a one-dimensional image of the antenna field of view.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The imaging system as in claim 1 and also comprising a focusing means for focusing said frequency-scanning antenna.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The imaging system as in claim 2 wherein said focusing means comprises a cylindrical reflector and a cylindrical lens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The imaging system as in claim 1 wherein said millimeter wave amplifier comprises three MMIC amplifiers fabricated on an indium phosphate substrate and a band pass filter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The imaging system as in claim 4 wherein said amplifier comprises a co-planar waveguide design.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The imaging system as in claim 4 wherein said amplifier provides gains of at least 50 dB.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The imaging system as in claim 1 wherein said delay lines are comprised of etched copper to create circuit patterns of varying lengths.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The imaging system as in claim 7 wherein said delay lines define copper surfaces having surface roughness less than 300 nanometers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
125 words
A portal contraband screener comprising a plurality of millimeter wave sensors, each of said plurality of millimeter wave sensors comprising: A) at least one millimeter wave frequency scanning antenna for collecting frequency dependent beams of millimeter wave radiation from a narrow one-dimensional field of view; B) a millimeter wave amplifier for amplifying at the collected frequencies said millimeter wave radiation; C) a beamformer for separating said amplified collected radiation to produce frequency dependent signals corresponding to said frequency dependent beams, said beamformer comprising: 1) a plurality of delay lines, 2) a millimeter wave lens, and 3) a plurality of millimeter wave power detectors; and D) a sampling circuit for reading out frequency dependent signals to produce a one-dimensional image of the antenna field of view.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
125 words
A portal contraband screener comprising a plurality of millimeter wave sensors, each of said plurality of millimeter wave sensors comprising: A) at least one millimeter wave frequency scanning antenna for collecting frequency dependent beams of millimeter wave radiation from a narrow one-dimensional field of view; B) a millimeter wave amplifier for amplifying at the collected frequencies said millimeter wave radiation; C) a beamformer for separating said amplified collected radiation to produce frequency dependent signals corresponding to said frequency dependent beams, said beamformer comprising: 1) a plurality of delay lines, 2) a millimeter wave lens, and 3) a plurality of millimeter wave power detectors; and D) a sampling circuit for reading out frequency dependent signals to produce a one-dimensional image of the antenna field of view.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The screener as in claim 9 wherein each of said plurality of millimeter wave sensors also comprises a focusing means for focusing said frequency-scanning antenna.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The screener as in claim 10 wherein said focusing means comprises a cylindrical reflector and a cylindrical lens.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The screener as in claim 11 wherein each of said millimeter wave amplifiers comprises three MMIC amplifiers fabricated on an indium phosphate substrate and a band pass filter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The screener as in claim 12 wherein said amplifier comprises a co-planar waveguide design.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The screener as in claim 12 wherein said amplifier provides gains of at least 50 dB.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The screener as in claim 9 wherein each of said delay lines are comprised of etched copper to create circuit patterns of varying lengths.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The screener as in claim 15 wherein said delay lines define copper surfaces having surface roughness less than 300 nanometers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
157 words
A portal contraband screener comprising a plurality of millimeter wave sensors, each of said plurality of millimeter wave sensors comprising: A) at least one millimeter wave frequency scanning antenna for collecting frequency dependent beams of millimeter wave radiation from a narrow one-dimensional field of view; B) a fast switch for calibration; C) a millimeter wave amplifier for amplifying at the collected frequencies said millimeter wave radiation, said amplifier comprising at least three MMIC amplifiers fabricated on an indium phosphate substrate and a band pass filter; D) a beamformer for separating said amplified collected radiation to produce frequency dependent signals corresponding to said frequency dependent beams, said beamformer comprising: 1) a plurality of delay lines, 2) a millimeter wave lens, and 3) a plurality of millimeter wave power detectors; and E) a sampling circuit for reading out frequency dependent signals to produce a one-dimensional image of the antenna field of view, F) focusing means for focusing the sensor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
157 words
A portal contraband screener comprising a plurality of millimeter wave sensors, each of said plurality of millimeter wave sensors comprising: A) at least one millimeter wave frequency scanning antenna for collecting frequency dependent beams of millimeter wave radiation from a narrow one-dimensional field of view; B) a fast switch for calibration; C) a millimeter wave amplifier for amplifying at the collected frequencies said millimeter wave radiation, said amplifier comprising at least three MMIC amplifiers fabricated on an indium phosphate substrate and a band pass filter; D) a beamformer for separating said amplified collected radiation to produce frequency dependent signals corresponding to said frequency dependent beams, said beamformer comprising: 1) a plurality of delay lines, 2) a millimeter wave lens, and 3) a plurality of millimeter wave power detectors; and E) a sampling circuit for reading out frequency dependent signals to produce a one-dimensional image of the antenna field of view, F) focusing means for focusing the sensor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The screener as in claim 17 wherein said focusing means comprises a cylindrical reflector and a cylindrical lens.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The screener as in claim 17 wherein said amplifier comprises a co-planar waveguide design.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The screener as in claim 17 wherein said amplifier provides gains of at least 50 dB.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The screener as in claim 17 wherein each of said delay lines are comprised of etched copper to create circuit patterns of varying lengths.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The screener as in claim 21 wherein said delay lines define copper surfaces having surface roughness less than 300 nanometers.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The screener as in claim 17 wherein said plurality of sensors is arranged in four stacks each stack comprising at least 16 sensors.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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