High-resolution three-dimensional imaging radar

US7773205B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · US

Inventors

• Ken B. Cooper · Orange, US
• Goutam Chattopadhyay · Pasadena, US
• Peter H. Siegel · Tustin, US
• Robert Dengler · Diamond Bar, US
• Erich T. Schlecht · Pasadena, US
• Imran Mehdi · South Pasadena, US
• Anders J. Skalare · Pasadena, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 6, 2008
• Grant date: Aug 10, 2010
• Expiry date: Jan 23, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01S13/34
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A three-dimensional imaging radar operating at high frequency e.g., 670 GHz, is disclosed. The active target illumination inherent in radar solves the problem of low signal power and narrow-band detection by using submillimeter heterodyne mixer receivers. A submillimeter imaging radar may use low phase-noise synthesizers and a fast chirper to generate a frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) waveform. Three-dimensional images are generated through range information derived for each pixel scanned over a target. A peak finding algorithm may be used in processing for each pixel to differentiate material layers of the target. Improved focusing is achieved through a compensation signal sampled from a point source calibration target and applied to received signals from active targets prior to FFT-based range compression to extract and display high-resolution target images. Such an imaging radar has particular application in detecting concealed weapons or contraband.