Printed cavities for computational microwave imaging and methods of use

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for printed cavities for computational microwave imaging and methods or use. According to an aspect, an imaging system includes a printed cavity having a layer having a first surface and a second surface. The printed cavity defines multiple apertures that extend between the first surface and the second surface. The printed cavity also includes a substrate being attached to the first surface of the layer. The substrate is also configured to be fed a guided wave that excites the apertures to produce a radiation pattern for illuminating a scene. The imaging system also include one or more antennas configured to generate a signal for imaging based on the illuminated scene.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An imaging system comprising:
 a printed cavity comprising:
 a layer having a first surface and a second surface, and defining a plurality of apertures extending between the first surface and the second surface; and 
 a substrate being attached to the first surface of the layer, and being configured to be fed a guided wave that excites the apertures to produce a radiation pattern for illuminating a scene; and 
 at least one antenna configured to generate a signal for imaging based on the illuminated scene. 
   
     
     
         2 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the layer comprises copper. 
     
     
         3 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures are one of circular and rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         4 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures each have a diameter of a wavelength within the substrate divided by about 1.8. 
     
     
         5 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures each have a diameter of between about 2 millimeters and about 7 millimeters. 
     
     
         6 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is one of a dielectric substrate and an air-filled substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein a number of the at least one antenna is 4. 
     
     
         8 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures are arranged in one of a Mills-Cross pattern, a Fibonacci pattern, and a Golay pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , further comprising a coaxial probe and feed operably configured with the substrate. 
     
     
         10 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , further comprising a ground plane being attached to the substrate on a side of the substrate that opposes a side of the substrate attached to the layer. 
     
     
         11 . The imaging system of  claim 10 , further comprising a coaxial probe and feed operably configured with the substrate and the ground plane. 
     
     
         12 . The imaging system of  claim 10 , wherein the ground plane comprises copper. 
     
     
         13 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate has first and second surfaces and a plurality of edges between the first and second surface. 
     
     
         14 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , further including a metal layer covering the edges of the substrate. 
     
     
         15 . The imaging system of  claim 14 , wherein the metal layer comprises copper. 
     
     
         16 . A method for imaging, the method comprising:
 providing a printed cavity comprising:
 a layer having a first surface and a second surface, and defining a plurality of apertures extending between the first surface and the second surface; and 
 a substrate being attached to the first surface of the layer; and 
   feeding a guided wave into the substrate for exciting the apertures to produce a radiation pattern for illuminating a scene; and   using at least one antenna to generate a signal for imaging based on the illuminated scene.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the layer comprises copper. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the apertures are one of circular and rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the apertures each have a diameter of a wavelength within the substrate divided by about 1.8. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the apertures each have a diameter of between about 2 millimeters and about 7 millimeters.