Patent US3510782A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
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System and method for minimizing background noise in a microwave image using a programmable reflector array
Assignee: Agilent Technologies Inc
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Filing: 2005-03-24
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Granted: 2008-02-05
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Expires: 2025-03-24
Abstract
Abstract A microwave imaging system captures a microwave image of a target and minimizes noise in the microwave image using phase differentiation. A reflector antenna array is provided including a plurality of antenna elements for reflecting microwave radiation towards the target and for reflecting microwave radiation reflected from the target towards a microwave receiver. A processor programs the antenna elements with respective first phase shifts to capture a first microwave image of the target, and programs the antenna elements with respective second phase shifts to capture a second microwave image of the target. The first phase shift of each antenna element is 180 degrees different than the second phase shift for that antenna element. The processor minimizes noise from a combination of the first microwave image and the second microwave image.
Inventors
- 👤 Izhak Baharav
- 👤 Robert C. Taber
- 👤 Gregory S. Lee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 06:13
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N22/00; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/89; G01S7/00; G01S7/02; G01S7/41; G01S7/414
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A microwave imaging system for capturing a microwave image of a target, comprising: a microwave source for providing microwave radiation; a microwave receiver for receiving microwave radiation; a reflector antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements, each of said antenna elements being capable of being programmed with a respective phase shift to reflect the microwave radiation towards the target in a transmit beam and reflect a receive beam of microwave illumination reflected from the target towards said microwave receiver; and a processor operable to program said plurality of antenna elements with respective first phase shifts to capture a first microwave image of the target and to program said plurality of antenna elements with respective second phase shifts to capture a second microwave image of the target, said first phase shifts and said second phase shifts of each of said respective plurality of antenna elements being different by 180 degrees; wherein said processor is further operable to minimize noise from a combination of said first microwave image and said second microwave image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A microwave imaging system for capturing a microwave image of a target, comprising: a microwave source for providing microwave radiation; a microwave receiver for receiving microwave radiation; a reflector antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements, each of said antenna elements being capable of being programmed with a respective phase shift to reflect the microwave radiation towards the target in a transmit beam and reflect a receive beam of microwave illumination reflected from the target towards said microwave receiver; and a processor operable to program said plurality of antenna elements with respective first phase shifts to capture a first microwave image of the target and to program said plurality of antenna elements with respective second phase shifts to capture a second microwave image of the target, said first phase shifts and said second phase shifts of each of said respective plurality of antenna elements being different by 180 degrees; wherein said processor is further operable to minimize noise from a combination of said first microwave image and said second microwave image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of antenna elements are binary phase-shifted antenna elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said receive beam includes double-reflected microwave radiation reflected by said array from said microwave source to the target and from the target to said microwave receiver and single-reflected microwave radiation reflected by said array to said microwave receiver without first being reflected by said array from said microwave source to the target.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system of claim 3 , wherein the phase of said double-reflected microwave radiation in said first microwave image is the same as the phase of said double-reflected microwave radiation in said second microwave image, and wherein the phase of said single-reflected microwave radiation in said first microwave image is 180 degrees different than the phase of said single-reflected microwave radiation in said second microwave image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system of claim 4 , wherein said processor is further operable to add said first microwave image and said second microwave image to produce a final microwave image including only said double-reflected microwave radiation of both said first microwave image and said second microwave image, said double-reflected microwave radiation of both said first microwave image and said second microwave image corresponding to a signal component.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 5 , wherein said processor is further operable to remove said single-reflected microwave radiation from said final microwave image by adding said first microwave image and said second microwave image, said single-reflected microwave radiation removed from said final microwave image corresponding to a noise component.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 6 , wherein said processor is further operable to determine said noise component during a calibration of said microwave imaging system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein said array includes logic for each of said plurality of antenna elements configured to switch between said first phase shift and said second phase shift.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein a total exposure time for a combination of said first microwave image and said second microwave image is substantially equivalent to an integration time of said microwave receiver.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for minimizing noise in a microwave image of a target, comprising: providing an array including a plurality of antenna elements, each of said antenna elements being capable of being programmed with a respective phase shift to reflect microwave radiation towards the target in a transmit beam and reflect a receive beam of microwave illumination reflected from the target towards a microwave receiver; programming said plurality of antenna elements with respective first phase shifts to capture a first microwave image of the target; programming said plurality of antenna elements with respective second phase shifts to capture a second microwave image of the target, said first phase shifts and said second phase shifts of each of said respective plurality of antenna elements being 180 degrees apart; and minimizing noise from a combination of said first microwave image and said second microwave image.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for minimizing noise in a microwave image of a target, comprising: providing an array including a plurality of antenna elements, each of said antenna elements being capable of being programmed with a respective phase shift to reflect microwave radiation towards the target in a transmit beam and reflect a receive beam of microwave illumination reflected from the target towards a microwave receiver; programming said plurality of antenna elements with respective first phase shifts to capture a first microwave image of the target; programming said plurality of antenna elements with respective second phase shifts to capture a second microwave image of the target, said first phase shifts and said second phase shifts of each of said respective plurality of antenna elements being 180 degrees apart; and minimizing noise from a combination of said first microwave image and said second microwave image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein each of said plurality of antenna elements are binary phase-shifted antenna elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein said receive beam includes double-reflected microwave radiation reflected by said array from said microwave source to the target and from the target to said microwave receiver and single-reflected microwave radiation reflected by said array from said microwave source to said microwave receiver without first being reflected by said array from said microwave source to the target.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the phase of said double-reflected microwave radiation in said first microwave image is the same as the phase of said double-reflected microwave radiation in said second microwave image, and wherein the phase of said single-reflected microwave radiation in said first microwave image is 180 degrees different than the phase of said single-reflected microwave radiation in said second microwave image.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein said minimizing the noise further includes adding said first microwave image and said second microwave image to produce a final microwave image including only said double-reflected microwave radiation of both said first microwave image and said second microwave image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein said minimizing the noise further includes adding said first microwave image and said second microwave image to determine a noise component.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein said minimizing the noise further includes calibrating a microwave imaging system including said array to determine the noise component.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 10 , further comprising: switching between said first phase shift and said second phase shift within said array to capture said second microwave image.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein a total exposure time for both said first microwave image and said second microwave image is substantially equivalent to an integration time of said microwave receiver.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2011-02-04 | 2011-08-06 | 2012-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2015-02-04 | 2015-08-06 | 2016-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2019-02-04 | 2019-08-06 | 2020-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |