RF Imaging Motion Compensation via Movement Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional millimeter wave security scanners suffer from motion blurring due to moving body parts, limiting throughput and threat detection performance, as they require individuals to stand still during scans.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for RF imaging that captures raw measurement data and reconstructs images using movement data to reduce motion blurring, allowing for improved imaging quality by determining movement velocities of body parts and objects, and selecting the most effective movement data to minimize blurring through a cost function, without requiring additional sensors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the person walks through the scanner at higher speed to increase throughput, then productivity is improved, but motion blurring increases and image quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethroughputVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by capturing movement data (velocity, acceleration, position) of body parts during the scanning process, and uses this information to dynamically adjust the imaging parameters or reconstruct images with motion compensation, thereby maintaining image quality at higher walking speeds

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies dynamics by adapting the imaging process to the actual motion state of the person. It captures movement data in real-time and adjusts the reconstruction algorithm dynamically based on the detected velocity and acceleration of different body parts, allowing the system to optimize between throughput and image quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If the person stands still during scanning to avoid motion blurring, then image quality is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to reduced throughput

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidthroughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the mechanical constraint of requiring the person to stand still with a computational solution. Instead of physically restricting motion, it uses movement data capture and advanced image reconstruction algorithms to compensate for motion effects, allowing natural walking motion while maintaining image quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If the maximum walking speed is limited to avoid motion blurring, then image quality is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to reduced throughput

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidthroughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of maximum allowed walking speed from a fixed limitation to a dynamically adjusted value based on detected motion characteristics. By monitoring velocity and acceleration of body parts, the system can adaptively determine the optimal scanning speed that maintains image quality while maximizing throughput

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4224212A1Method and system for RF imaging
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 ROHDE & SCHWARZ GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4224212A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4224212A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4224212A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to method (10, 10') for radio frequency, RF, imaging, comprising the steps of: capturing (11) a series of raw measurement data (41) of a person (31) and/or object, wherein at least a part of the person and/or object moves during the capturing of the series of raw measurement data (41); and reconstructing (13) RF images based on the raw measurement data and on movement data, wherein the movement data are used to reduce a motion blurring caused by the movement of the at least one part of the person and/or object in at least one of the reconstructed RF images.