US7283085B2 — System and method for efficient, high-resolution …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 148 words

A scanning panel for use in a microwave imaging system to capture a microwave image of a target, comprising: a plurality of antenna elements, each capable of being programmable with a respective phase delay to direct a transmit beam of microwave illumination toward the target, and each being capable of receiving reflected microwave illumination reflected from the target in a receive beam, said plurality of antenna elements including: a first array of antenna elements arranged to direct the transmit beam of microwave illumination in a transmit beam pattern, and a second array of antenna elements arranged to receive the receive beam in a receive beam pattern complementary to said transmit beam pattern; wherein the microwave image of the target is formed at an intersection of said transmit beam and said receive beam, and wherein said intersection is the volume-integrated cross-product of said transmit beam and said receive beam.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 148 words

A scanning panel for use in a microwave imaging system to capture a microwave image of a target, comprising: a plurality of antenna elements, each capable of being programmable with a respective phase delay to direct a transmit beam of microwave illumination toward the target, and each being capable of receiving reflected microwave illumination reflected from the target in a receive beam, said plurality of antenna elements including: a first array of antenna elements arranged to direct the transmit beam of microwave illumination in a transmit beam pattern, and a second array of antenna elements arranged to receive the receive beam in a receive beam pattern complementary to said transmit beam pattern; wherein the microwave image of the target is formed at an intersection of said transmit beam and said receive beam, and wherein said intersection is the volume-integrated cross-product of said transmit beam and said receive beam.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

The scanning panel of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of antenna elements is a reflecting antenna element.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 50 words

The scanning panel of claim 2 , wherein each said reflecting antenna element in said first array is configured to receive microwave illumination from a microwave source and reflect the microwave illumination based on the respective programmed phase delays to direct the transmit beam of microwave illumination toward the target.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 50 words

The scanning panel of claim 3 , wherein each said reflecting antenna element in said second array is configured to receive the receive beam and reflect the receive beam towards a microwave receiver based on an additional respective phase delay associated with said reflecting antenna elements in said second array.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 31 words

The scanning panel of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of antenna elements are binary phase-shifted antenna elements, continuous phase-shifted antenna elements or variable capacitor loaded patch antenna elements.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 40 words

The scanning panel of claim 5 , wherein each of said binary phase-shifted antenna elements includes a non-ideal switching device in electrical signal communication with a patch antenna configured as a function of the impedance of said non-ideal switching device.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 19 words

The scanning panel of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of antenna elements are active antenna elements.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 33 words

The scanning panel of claim 1 , wherein said transmit beam pattern and said receive beam pattern are orthogonal elliptical beam patterns and said first array and said second array are complementary arrays.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 29 words

The scanning panel of claim 8 , wherein said first array and said second array intersect near a midpoint of each of said first array and said second array.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 33 words

The scanning panel of claim 1 , wherein one of said transmit beam pattern and said receive beam pattern is a coarse-spot single-lobed beam pattern and the other is a fine-spot multi-lobed pattern.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 37 words

The scanning panel of claim 10 , wherein said first array has an area less than an area of said second array and said first array has a density greater than a density of said second array.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 29 words

The scanning panel of claim 1 , wherein said transmit beam pattern and said receive beam pattern are cross-shaped beam patterns rotated 45 degrees with respect to each other.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 165 words

A microwave imaging system, comprising: a microwave source for providing microwave illumination; a reflector antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements, each of said antenna elements being capable of being programmed with a respective phase delay to reflect the microwave illumination towards a target in a transmit beam, said antenna elements being further capable of receiving reflected microwave illumination reflected from the target in a receive beam, said reflector antenna array including: a first array of antenna elements arranged to reflect said transmit beam in a transmit beam pattern, and a second array of antenna elements arranged to receive said receive beam in a receive beam pattern complementary to said transmit beam pattern; and a processor operable to measure an intensity of the reflected microwave illumination in said receive beam to form the microwave image of the target at an intersection of said transmit beam and said receive beam, wherein said intersection is the volume-integrated cross-product of said transmit beam and said receive beam.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 165 words

A microwave imaging system, comprising: a microwave source for providing microwave illumination; a reflector antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements, each of said antenna elements being capable of being programmed with a respective phase delay to reflect the microwave illumination towards a target in a transmit beam, said antenna elements being further capable of receiving reflected microwave illumination reflected from the target in a receive beam, said reflector antenna array including: a first array of antenna elements arranged to reflect said transmit beam in a transmit beam pattern, and a second array of antenna elements arranged to receive said receive beam in a receive beam pattern complementary to said transmit beam pattern; and a processor operable to measure an intensity of the reflected microwave illumination in said receive beam to form the microwave image of the target at an intersection of said transmit beam and said receive beam, wherein said intersection is the volume-integrated cross-product of said transmit beam and said receive beam.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system of claim 13 , wherein said transmit beam pattern and said receive beam pattern are orthogonal elliptical beam patterns and said first array and said second array are complementary arrays.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 14 , wherein said first array and said second array intersect near a midpoint of each of said first array and said second array.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 38 words

The system of claim 15 , further comprising a microwave receiver capable of receiving said receive beam reflected from said second array, and wherein said microwave receiver has an aperture different from an aperture of said microwave source.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system of claim 13 , wherein one of said transmit beam pattern and said receive beam pattern is a coarse-spot single-lobed beam pattern and the other is a fine-spot multi-lobed pattern.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 51 words

The system of claim 17 , further comprising a microwave receiver capable of receiving said receive beam reflected from said second array, and wherein one of said microwave receiver and said microwave source associated with said fine-spot multi-lobed pattern includes a diffractive optical element configured to produce said fine-spot multi-lobed pattern.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 142 words

A method for capturing a microwave image of a target, comprising: providing a scanning panel including a plurality of antenna elements, each of said antenna elements being programmable with a respective phase delay; directing a transmit beam of microwave illumination in a transmit beam pattern towards the target from a first away of said plurality of antenna element based on the phase delay of each of the antenna elements therein; receiving a receive beam of reflected microwave illumination reflected from the target in a receive beam pattern at a second away of said plurality of antenna elements, said receive beam pattern being complementary to said transmit beam pattern; and capturing the microwave image of the target at an intersection of said transmit beam and said receive beam, wherein said intersection is the volume-integrated cross-product of said transmit beam and said receive beam.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 142 words

A method for capturing a microwave image of a target, comprising: providing a scanning panel including a plurality of antenna elements, each of said antenna elements being programmable with a respective phase delay; directing a transmit beam of microwave illumination in a transmit beam pattern towards the target from a first away of said plurality of antenna element based on the phase delay of each of the antenna elements therein; receiving a receive beam of reflected microwave illumination reflected from the target in a receive beam pattern at a second away of said plurality of antenna elements, said receive beam pattern being complementary to said transmit beam pattern; and capturing the microwave image of the target at an intersection of said transmit beam and said receive beam, wherein said intersection is the volume-integrated cross-product of said transmit beam and said receive beam.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 19 , wherein said directing further includes reflecting the microwave illumination from a microwave source towards the target from said first array.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 19 , wherein said receiving further includes reflecting the reflected microwave illumination from said second array to a microwave receiver.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 180 words

A scanning panel for use in a microwave imaging system to capture a microwave image of a target, comprising: a plurality of antenna elements, each capable of being programmable with a respective phase delay to direct a transmit beam of microwave illumination toward the target, and each being capable of receiving reflected microwave illumination reflected from the target in a receive beam, said plurality of antenna elements including: a transmit array of antenna elements arranged to direct the transmit beam of microwave illumination in a transmit beam pattern, and a receive array of antenna elements arranged to receive the receive beam in a receive beam pattern complementary to said transmit beam pattern; wherein the microwave image of the target is formed at an intersection of said transmit beam and said receive beam; wherein said intersection is the volume-integrated cross-product of said transmit beam and said receive beam; and wherein one of said arrays has an area less than an area of the other of said arrays, and has a density greater than a density of the other of said arrays.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 180 words

A scanning panel for use in a microwave imaging system to capture a microwave image of a target, comprising: a plurality of antenna elements, each capable of being programmable with a respective phase delay to direct a transmit beam of microwave illumination toward the target, and each being capable of receiving reflected microwave illumination reflected from the target in a receive beam, said plurality of antenna elements including: a transmit array of antenna elements arranged to direct the transmit beam of microwave illumination in a transmit beam pattern, and a receive array of antenna elements arranged to receive the receive beam in a receive beam pattern complementary to said transmit beam pattern; wherein the microwave image of the target is formed at an intersection of said transmit beam and said receive beam; wherein said intersection is the volume-integrated cross-product of said transmit beam and said receive beam; and wherein one of said arrays has an area less than an area of the other of said arrays, and has a density greater than a density of the other of said arrays.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2010-10-15	2011-04-16	2011-10-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2014-10-15	2015-04-16	2015-10-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2018-10-15	2019-04-16	2019-10-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System and method for efficient, high-resolution microwave imaging using complementary transmit and receive beam patterns

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