Multi-pixel high-resolution three-dimensional imaging radar

US8144052B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · US

Inventors

• Ken B. Cooper · Orange, US
• Robert Dengler · Diamond Bar, US
• Peter H. Siegel · Tustin, US
• Goutam Chattopadhyay · Pasadena, US
• John S. Ward · Roanoke, US
• Nuria Llombart Juan · Alboraia / Alboraya, ES
• Tomas E. Bryllert · Handen, SE
• Imran Mehdi · South Pasadena, US
• Jan A. Tarsala · Arcadia, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 15, 2009
• Grant date: Mar 27, 2012
• Expiry date: Sep 16, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01Q19/195
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A three-dimensional imaging radar operating at high frequency e.g., 670 GHz radar using low phase-noise synthesizers and a fast chirper to generate a frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) waveform, is disclosed that operates with a multiplexed beam to obtain range information simultaneously on multiple pixels of a target. A source transmit beam may be divided by a hybrid coupler into multiple transmit beams multiplexed together and directed to be reflected off a target and return as a single receive beam which is demultiplexed and processed to reveal range information of separate pixels of the target associated with each transmit beam simultaneously. The multiple transmit beams may be developed with appropriate optics to be temporally and spatially differentiated before being directed to the target. Temporal differentiation corresponds to a different intermediate frequencies separating the range information of the multiple pixels. Collinear transmit beams having differentiated polarizations may also be implemented.