Microwave Tomography Using Rotating Conductive Enclosure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microwave tomography systems face challenges in obtaining accurate images due to modeling errors and reduced signal quality caused by the inclusion of antennas and assumptions of homogeneous unbounded domains, which affect the reconstruction of complex permittivity profiles.
Innovation Solution
The system uses a minimal antenna array and presents the object of interest with multiple boundary conditions by rotating a conductive enclosure, collecting scattering data under different conditions to reconstruct images, thereby minimizing antenna modeling errors and improving signal quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a large number of antennas are used to collect scattering data, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the boundary condition parameter by introducing a conductive enclosure that can be rotated to present different boundary conditions to the antennas. This allows the system to collect unique scattering data without increasing the number of antennas, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining manageable device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a rotatable conductive enclosure that dynamically changes the boundary conditions during data collection. By rotating the enclosure to different angular positions, the system obtains varied scattering data from the same antenna array, effectively increasing measurement capability without adding more antennas
2Measurement precision
If antennas are included in the system model, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to modeling errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the antennas from the complex forward model by using a perfect electric conductor (PEC) enclosure that dominates the boundary conditions. This eliminates the need to model antenna details and positioning errors in the forward problem, thereby reducing manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining measurement precision through the varied boundary conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive enclosure acts as an intermediary between the antennas and the object under test. It provides well-defined boundary conditions that simplify the forward model, eliminating the need for precise antenna modeling while still allowing accurate reconstruction of the object's electrical properties through the scattering data collected under different enclosure orientations
3Device complexity
If a homogeneous unbounded domain is assumed, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to modeling errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the domain boundary parameter from unbounded to bounded by introducing a finite-sized conductive enclosure. This provides well-defined boundary conditions that improve measurement precision while keeping the system model manageable, as the enclosure geometry is simple and the boundary conditions are well-established in electromagnetic theory
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for the construction of accurate images of the object's electrical properties using fewer antennas and reduces modeling errors, enhancing the reconstruction quality by utilizing unique scattering data from varied boundary conditions.
Implementation Method 1
delivering electromagnetic energy with each of the one or more antennas individually until each antenna has individually delivered electromagnetic energy to irradiate the object
Implementation Method 2
resulting in scattered electromagnetic energy for each of the plurality of different boundary conditions
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and/or systems are disclosed herein for use in imaging an object with microwave tomography using a plurality of different boundary conditions.