Patent ID: 11397228

Abstract:
The present invention discloses imaging antenna and array by designing the system in the Ultra-high frequency (UHF) band 300 MHz-3 GHz with resolution comparable to high-frequency microwave imagers (i.e., super-resolution). To obtain high resolution at relatively low system cost and complexity, a novel modulated antenna array element design is disclosed. The antenna is basically small loop loaded with spiral resonator. The selection of the SR as a resonator provides for adequate miniaturization rate at the lower end of the microwave frequency range. A non-modulated version of this antenna has been conceived and yielded a resolution comparable to the 24 GHz antennas while operating at 426 MHz. The disclosed antenna element operating at 426 MHz produced images with very comparable attributes to the one obtained at 24 GHz. In fact, it has been established that proposed antenna element yield a resolution of around 5 mm (much less that the wavelength divided by 100), and hence it provides super-resolution as long as the diffraction limit is concerned. The present invention further discloses an imaging probe unit comprising a imaging sensor loaded with a PIN diode, an L-matching circuit and an LC resonant detuning circuit. The present invention further discloses a one-dimensional array, comprising a plurality of imaging probe units which are placed side by side in very close proximity of each other.