Rotating Antenna Panel for Virtual Array Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional array antenna systems for inspection devices are large, costly, and inefficient, requiring extensive time for inspections due to mechanical movement and backlash issues, which hinder high-definition imaging and walk-through inspections.
Innovation Solution
A rotating antenna panel with a linear array antenna configuration that forms a two-dimensional virtual array antenna through synthetic aperture processing, allowing for continuous inspection without mechanical movement in the return direction, reducing the number of physical antennas needed and minimizing size and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an area array antenna is used for high-definition imaging, then imaging quality is improved, but device size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual area array antenna by copying and processing signals from a linear array antenna through synthetic aperture technology. Instead of physically deploying multiple antennas in a two-dimensional array, the system uses signal processing to synthesize the equivalent of a virtual area array, achieving high-definition imaging with a simpler linear physical structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical complexity of a physical area array antenna structure with signal processing operations. By using synthetic aperture processing on linear array data, the system achieves the imaging capability of an area array without the mechanical complexity, size, and cost of physically implementing a two-dimensional antenna grid
2Area of stationary object
If a linear array antenna is mechanically moved for whole-body inspection, then inspection coverage is improved, but inspection time increases due to backlash
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical movement system with a signal processing system. Instead of physically moving the linear array antenna to achieve area coverage, the system uses synthetic aperture processing to computationally create the equivalent of area array data from linear array measurements, eliminating mechanical backlash and reducing inspection time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms one-dimensional linear array data into two-dimensional area array equivalent information through synthetic aperture processing. By processing signals in the spatial frequency domain and combining data from multiple linear array positions, the system achieves two-dimensional imaging capability without physical two-dimensional antenna movement
3Measurement precision
If distance between antennas is set to half wavelength for imaging, then imaging accuracy is improved, but number of antennas and device size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual antennas through signal processing, effectively copying the imaging capability of densely spaced physical antennas. By using synthetic aperture processing, the system achieves the imaging accuracy equivalent of half-wavelength spaced antennas without requiring the corresponding number of physical antenna elements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes a single linear array antenna perform multiple functions: it can operate at different positions, orientations, and effective spacings through mechanical movement combined with synthetic aperture processing. This universal approach allows the same physical antenna to achieve the imaging accuracy of multiple fixed antennas with half-wavelength spacing
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, an antenna device comprises an antenna panel including a first transmission antenna, a first reception antenna, and a second reception antenna, and a rotation device configured to rotate the antenna panel. A first radio wave is irradiated from the first transmission antenna when a rotation angle of the antenna panel is a first angle and a reflected radio wave of the first radio wave is received by the first reception antenna and the second reception antenna. A second radio wave is irradiated from the first transmission antenna when the rotation angle is a second angle and a reflected radio wave of the second radio wave is received by the first reception antenna and the second reception antenna.