Circular polarization millimeter wave SAR imaging using 3D-printed helix antennas

Ingrid Ullmann; Konstantin Root; Konstantin Lomakin; Gerald Gold; Michael Gottinger; Klaus Helmreich; Martin Vossiek

doi:10.1117/12.2573952

20 September 2020 Circular polarization millimeter wave SAR imaging using 3D-printed helix antennas

Ingrid Ullmann, Konstantin Root, Konstantin Lomakin, Gerald Gold, Michael Gottinger, Klaus Helmreich, Martin Vossiek

Proceedings Volume 11541, Millimetre Wave and Terahertz Sensors and Technology XIII; 1154108 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2573952
Event: SPIE Security + Defence, 2020, Online Only

Abstract

We propose the use of 3D-printed helix antennas for millimeter-wave radar imaging. This concept is promising for a number of reasons: Additive manufacturing involving 3D-printing is a relatively cost efficient fabrication technique and offers increased geometrical freedom of design compared to conventional manufacturing processes. From an imaging point of view, using helix antennas is advantageous because of the circular polarization the antennas emit. That way, imaging thin dipole-like structures is possible regardless of their orientation. In contrast, imaging systems using linearly polarized antennas are unable to image dipoles orientated orthogonally to their polarization direction. Radar systems using circular polarization additionally enable polarimetric imaging and decomposition. In security screening this can achieve a higher classification accuracy in discriminating threat objects and reduce false alarms. Furthermore, the thin helix antennas (typical coil diameter: ca. 1.5 mm) can be mounted very closely to each other, which is interesting for array design. A security screening example was investigated for demonstration: A cardboard box with metallic and dielectric threat objects was screened at 70 GHz – 90 GHz by a quasi-monostatic synthetic aperture radar consisting of two 3D-printed helix antennas, one right-hand and one left-hand circularly polarized. As a reference, the same object was screened with split-block linearly polarized horn antennas. With the proposed setup, the resolution of the reconstruction images was comparable to that of the reference system. However, the circular polarization was able to depict thin structures in a better fashion than the linearly polarized reference system.

Citation Download Citation

Ingrid Ullmann, Konstantin Root, Konstantin Lomakin, Gerald Gold, Michael Gottinger, Klaus Helmreich, and Martin Vossiek "Circular polarization millimeter wave SAR imaging using 3D-printed helix antennas", Proc. SPIE 11541, Millimetre Wave and Terahertz Sensors and Technology XIII, 1154108 (20 September 2020); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2573952

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
8 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Antennas

Synthetic aperture radar

Additive manufacturing

Polarization

Radar imaging

Dielectric polarization

Millimeter wave imaging

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years