Patent ID: 8248293

Claim:
A method for spatially resolved detection and reconstruction of at least one objects with microwaves, in which the at least one object to be detected is subjected to microwaves that are generated by a plurality n of microwave antennas and fractions of microwaves reflected by the at least one object are detected and converted into microwave signals that can be analyzed, based on which an analysis for the spatially resolved detection of the at least one objects is carried out, comprising: a) providing n microwave antennas in a spatial distribution about the at least one object to be detected, in which a distance between each microwave antenna and a respective adjacent microwave antenna is greater than wavelengths of the microwaves and is spaced apart at least 10 cm; b) selecting and activating a first microwave antenna for transmitting frequency-modulated microwaves at frequencies from 10 to 200 GHz; c) receiving the microwaves reflected from the at least one object with m microwave antenna units, where m≦n, by generating microwave signals; d) storing values of the microwave signals; e) selecting and activating another microwave antenna for transmitting microwaves and carrying out steps c) and d); f) carrying out step e) repeatedly, with selection of another microwave antenna which is not the same antenna as any microwave antennas that have been selected previously; and g) defining a reconstruction zone in which the at least one object to be reconstructed contains a plurality of voxels, calculating and storing distances from each antenna to each voxel, and after all microwave antennas have been activated, performing a reconstruction of the at least one object with a reconstruction algorithm utilizing the plurality of voxels during processing of the stored microwave signals and the stored distances.