Systems and methods for microwave sensing of object properties

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016018264-A1
Application number	US-201414333340-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 16, 2014
Priority date	Jul 16, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A thermal sensing device can include an electromagnetic radiation source configured to generate electromagnetic radiation, a first antenna configured to direct electromagnetic radiation generated by the radiation source toward a target, and a second antenna configured to receive microwave radiation emitted from an internal portion of the target. The thermal sensing device can also include a microwave sensor coupled to the second antenna and configured to acquire sensor data regarding the microwave radiation emitted from an internal portion of the target. A processing device, included in the thermal sensing device, can be configured to produce thermal data based on the sensor data.

First claim

1 .- 51 . (canceled)

52 . A microwave thermal sensing device, comprising:
a microwave source configured to generate microwave radiation and direct the microwave radiation toward a target; a microwave sensor configured to acquire sensor data based on detecting and measuring microwave radiation emitted from an internal portion of the target; and a processing device configured to produce thermal data based on the sensor data.

53 . The device of claim 52 , wherein the microwave sensor is configured to acquire sensor data corresponding to a plurality of internal target locations based on detecting and measuring microwave radiation emitted from the plurality of internal target locations.

54 . The device of claim 53 , wherein the processing device is configured to produce thermal data corresponding to the plurality of internal target locations.

55 .- 60 . (canceled)

61 . The device of claim 52 , wherein the microwave source is configured to produce microwave radiation pulses having selectably variable pulse widths.

62 . The device of claim 52 , wherein the microwave source is configured to produce microwaves of selectably variable wavelengths.

63 . (canceled)

64 . The device of claim 52 , further comprising a microwave antenna coupled to at least one of the microwave source and the microwave sensor.

65 . (canceled)

66 . The device of claim 64 , wherein the microwave antenna is configured to be physically scanned.

67 . The device of claim 64 , wherein the microwave antenna is configured to be electronically scanned.

68 . (canceled)

69 . The device of claim 64 , wherein the microwave antenna is configured to preferentially receive microwave radiation from a specified internal target location.

70 . The device of claim 64 , wherein the microwave source, the microwave antenna and the processing device are collectively configured to image the target using compressive imaging.

71 .- 74 . (canceled)

75 . The device of claim 52 , wherein the microwave sensor and the microwave source are configured to emit microwave radiation at a first set of time values and to sense microwave radiation at a second set of time values.

76 . The device of claim 75 , wherein the first set of time values and the second set of time values define mutually exclusive and alternating time periods.

77 . The device of claim 52 , wherein the microwave sensor and the microwave source are configured to emit microwave radiation at a first set of frequency values and to sense microwave radiation at a second set of frequency values.

78 . The device of claim 52 , wherein the microwave sensor and the processing device are collectively configured to measure a time-dependent thermal response of the target using microwave thermometry.

79 .- 81 . (canceled)

82 . The device of claim 52 , wherein the internal portion of the target comprises an object in a body cavity.

83 . The device of claim 82 , wherein the processing device is configured to characterize the object as a threat object.

84 .- 86 . (canceled)

87 . The device of claim 52 , wherein the processing device is configured to determine a heat capacity of at least a portion of the target.

88 . The device of claim 52 , wherein the processing device is configured to determine a thermal diffusivity of at least a portion of the target.

89 . The device of claim 52 , wherein the processing device is configured to determine a material of at least a portion of the target.

90 . (canceled)

91 . The device of claim 52 , wherein the processing device is configured to categorize an object detected inside a body cavity.

92 .- 98 . (canceled)

99 . An imaging thermal sensing device, comprising:
a microwave source configured to generate microwave radiation; a microwave detector, wherein the microwave detector is configured to acquire sensor data based on detecting and measuring microwave radiation emitted from an internal portion of a target; an antenna coupled to the microwave source and to the microwave detector and configured to emit microwaves at a first set of time values and receive microwaves at a second set of time values, wherein the first set of time values and the second set of time values define mutually exclusive and alternating time periods; and a processing device configured to provide thermal data of the target based on the sensor data.

100 .- 119 . (canceled)

120 . The device of claim 99 , wherein the microwave detector and the processing device are collectively configured to measure a time-dependent thermal response of the target using thermometry.

121 . The device of claim 120 , wherein the microwave detector is configured to distinguish between a temperature of the target and an increased temperature of the target resulting from irradiation of the target.

122 . (canceled)

123 . (canceled)

124 . The device of claim 99 , wherein the single antenna is configured to be physically scanned.

125 . The device of claim 99 , wherein the single antenna is configured to be electronically scanned.

126 . The device of claim 99 , wherein the antenna is configured to preferentially transmit microwave radiation to a specified internal target location.

127 . The device of claim 99 , wherein the antenna is configured to preferentially receive microwave radiation from a specified internal target location.

128 . The device of claim 99 , wherein the microwave source, the antenna and the processing device are collectively configured to image the target using compressive imaging.

129 .- 139 . (canceled)

140 . The device of claim 99 , wherein the processing device is configured to categorize an object detected inside a body cavity.

141 .- 144 . (canceled)

145 . The device of claim 99 , wherein the processing device is configured to selectably produce at least one of a two dimensional image of the target and a three dimensional image of the target.

146 . The device of claim 99 , wherein the processing device is configured to produce an image of a cavity of the target.

147 . (canceled)

148 . A method for thermal sensing of a target using microwaves, comprising:
directing electromagnetic radiation towards a target; sensing microwaves emitted from an interior portion of the target; applying an algorithm to microwave data generated by sensing the microwaves from the target; and generating thermal data corresponding to the interior portion of the target, wherein the thermal data is generated based on application of the algorithm to the microwave data.

149 .- 154 . (canceled)

155 . The method of claim 148 , further comprising generating thermal data corresponding to a plurality of time delays following the direction of electromagnetic radiation towards the target.

156 . The method of claim 155 , further comprising determining a thermal time response of a portion of the target based on the thermal data.

157 . The method of

Assignees

• Elwha Llc

Inventors

• Bowers Jeffrey A
• Driscoll Tom
• Hyde Roderick A
• Kare Jordin T
• Smith David R
• Tegreene Clarence T
• Wood Jr Lowell L

Classifications

• G01V8/005 Primary

  operating with millimetre waves, e.g. measuring the black losey radiation · CPC title

• G01K11/006

  using measurement of the effect of a material on microwaves or longer electromagnetic waves, e.g. measuring temperature via microwaves emitted by the object (G01K17/003, G01J5/00 take precedence; measuring the effect of a material on X-, gamma- or particle radiation G01K11/30) · CPC title

• G01J5/0025 Primary

  Living bodies (ear thermometers G01J5/0011; detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00) · CPC title

• G01J2005/0077

  Imaging · CPC title

• G01J5/48

  Thermography; Techniques using wholly visual means · CPC title