Hardware Architectures for Compact Microwave and Millimeter Wave Cameras
General Material Designation
[Thesis]
First Statement of Responsibility
Horst, Matthew Jared
Subsequent Statement of Responsibility
Zoughi, Reza
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
2019
GENERAL NOTES
Text of Note
140 p.
DISSERTATION (THESIS) NOTE
Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree
Ph.D.
Body granting the degree
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Text preceding or following the note
2019
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
Millimeter wave SAR imaging has shown promise as an inspection tool for human skin for characterizing burns and skin cancers. However, the current state-of-the-art in microwave camera technology is not yet suited for developing a millimeter wave camera for human skin inspection. Consequently, the objective of this dissertation has been to build the necessary foundation of research to achieve such a millimeter wave camera. First, frequency uncertainty in signals generated by a practical microwave source, which is prone to drift in output frequency, was studied to determine its effect on SAR-generated images. A direct relationship was found between the level of image distortions caused by frequency uncertainty and the product of frequency uncertainty and distance between the imaging measurement grid and sample under test. The second investigation involved the development of a millimeter wave imaging system that forms the basic building block for a millimeter wave camera. The imaging system, composed of two system-on-chip transmitters and receivers and an antipodal Vivaldi-style antenna, operated in the 58-64 GHz frequency range and employed the ω-k SAR algorithm. Imaging tests on burnt pigskin showed its potential for imaging and characterizing flaws in skin. The final investigation involved the development of a new microwave imaging methodology, named Chaotic Excitation Synthetic Aperture Radar (CESAR), for designing microwave and millimeter wave cameras at a fraction of the size and hardware complexity of previous systems. CESAR is based on transmitting and receiving from all antennas in a planar array simultaneously. A small microwave camera operating in the 23-25 GHz frequency was designed and fabricated based on CESAR. Imaging results with the camera showed it was capable of basic feature detection for various applications.