Patent ID: 7333055

Claim:
A reflector array for use in a microwave imaging system to capture a microwave image of an object, comprising: a plurality of reflecting antenna elements capable of being programmed with respective phase-shifts in a first pattern to direct a first beam of microwave radiation towards a first target, and capable of being programmed with respective phase-shifts in a second pattern to direct a second beam of microwave radiation towards a second target; wherein said plurality of antenna elements are programmed with respective phase-shifts in an interleaved pattern including a portion of said first pattern and a portion of said second pattern to capture said microwave image of said object, wherein each of said plurality of antenna elements are quantized phase-shifted antenna elements, and wherein said phase-shifts of each of said plurality of antenna elements for said first pattern and said second pattern are selected based on an ideal phase, and wherein said portion of said first pattern and said portion of said second pattern in said interleaved pattern are each selected to minimize a quantization error based on a phase offset from said ideal phase for each of said plurality of antenna elements.