Patent ID: 7170442
Filing Date: 2007-01-30
Classification: G01V,H01Q

Abstract:
1. A video rate millimeter wave imaging device for producing video rate two-dimensional images, defining a first dimension and a second dimension comprising: A) an antenna for collecting millimeter wave radiation from a field of view and directing that radiation into a first plurality of channels to produce high-frequency signals for each of said first plurality of channels, B) a first array of low-noise MMIC amplifiers for amplifying the high-frequency signals, at frequencies higher than 60 GHz, in each of said first plurality of channels to produce a first plurality of amplified high-frequency signals, C) a phase processor for processing said first plurality of amplified signals to produce a second plurality of signals in a second plurality of channels, each signal in said second plurality of signals being representative of an angular direction in said first dimension, D) a second array of low-noise MMIC amplifiers for amplifying each of said second plurality of high-frequency signals, at frequencies higher than 60 GHz, in said second plurality of channels to produce a second plurality of amplified high-frequency signals, E) a plurality of frequency processors, one for each channel of said second plurality of channels for processing said second plurality of amplified high-frequency signals, each frequency processor of said plurality of frequency processors, producing a plurality of high-frequency signals each of said high-frequency signals in said second plurality of high-frequency signals corresponding to a separate angular direction in said second dimension, F) a plurality of detectors for detecting each of said plurality of high-frequency signals produced by each of said plurality of frequency processors, to produce a plurality of detector signals, and G) electronic circuitry for converting said plurality of detector signals to two-dimensional images of said field of view at rates of 10 Hz or greater.