volume | PIER Journals

Abstract

In passive millimeter-wave imaging systems used indoors, the radiometric temperature contrast is barely enough for coarse object detection, being usually insufficient for recognition due to the absence of cold sky. The image contrast results from a combination of emissivity and reflectivity which are dependent on the dielectric constant of objects, the angle of incidence, and the polarization direction. To improve the capability of target recognition, we proposed the linear polarization sum imaging method which is based on the combination of the different polarization images for increasing the intensity contrast between the target area and the background area. In order to capture the linear polarization sum images of a metal sphere, a metal and a ceramic cup, we designed W-band quasi-optical imaging system which can generate the polarization dependent images by manually changing the linear polarization direction of its radiometer receiver from 0 to π /2 by the step size of π/8. The theoretical and experimental results of the linear polarization sum imaging show that it is capable for achieving good image quality enough to recognize the target.

1. Yeom, S., D. S. Lee, H. Lee, J. Y. Son, and V. P. Guschin, "Distance estimation of concealed objects with stereoscopic passive millimeter-wave imaging," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 115, 399-407, 2011.

2. Wikner, D. A. and A. R. Luukanen, Passive Millimeter-wave Imaging Technology XIV, Orlando, Florida, United States, SPIE, Bellingham, Wash., Apr. 28, 2011.

3. Ulaby, F. T., R. K. Moore, and A. K. Fung, Microwave Remote Sensing: Active and Passive, Volume I: Fundamentals and Radiometry, Artech House Publishers, 1981.

4. Lynch, J. J., H. P. Moyer, J. H. Scha®ner, Y. Royter, M. Sokolich, B. Hughes, Y. J. Yoon, and J. N. Schulman, "Passive millimeter-wave imaging module with preamplified zero-bias detection," IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 56, 1592-1600, Jul. 2008.
doi:10.1109/TMTT.2008.924361

5. Zhang, G. F., X. G. Li, and G. W. Lou, "Research on passive MMW imaging based on an alternating current radiometer," Journal of Infrared and Millimeter Waves, Vol. 26, 461-464, Dec. 2007.

6. Qi, F., V. Tavakol, D. Schreurs, and B. Nauwelaers, "Limitations of approximations towards fourier optics for indoor active millimeter wave imaging systems," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 109, 245-262, 2010.
doi:10.2528/PIER10080510

7. Zhang, L. X., J. Stiens, A. Elhawil, and R. Vounckx, "Multispectral illumination and image processing techniques for active millimeter-wave concealed object detection," Applied Optics, Vol. 47, 6357-6365, Dec. 1, 2008.
doi:10.1364/AO.47.006357

8. Salmon, N. A., R. Appleby, and P. Coward, "Polarimetric passive millimetre wave imaging," International Conference on Microwave and Millimeter Wave Technology Proceedings, 540-543, Aug. 2002.

9. Duric, A., A. Magun, A. Murk, C. Matzler, and N. Kampfer, "The ully polarimetric imaging radiometer SPIRA at 91 GHz," IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Vol. 46, 2323-2336, Aug. 2008.
doi:10.1109/TGRS.2008.917212

10. Stahli, O., C. Matzler, A. Murk, and N. Kampfer, "Sky measurements with the imaging polarimeter SPIRA at 91 GHz," Microwave Radiometry and Remote Sensing of the Environment, 181-186, Mar. 2010.

11. Sugimoto, M. and K. Ouchi, "Extraction of laver cultivation area using SAR dual polarization data," PIERS Proceedings, 952-956, Moscow, Russia, Aug. 19-23, 2012.

12. Liao, S. L., N. Gopalsami, T. W. Elmer, E. R. Koehl, A. Heifetz, K. Avers, E. Dieckman, and A. C. Raptis, "Passive millimeter-wave dual-polarization imagers," IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, Vol. 61, 2042-2050.
doi:10.1109/TIM.2012.2183032

13. Shao, W. and R. S. Adams, "Multi-polarized microwave power imaging algorithm for early breast cancer detection," Progress In Electromagnetics Research M, Vol. 23, 93-107, 2012.
doi:10.2528/PIERM11082510

14. Teng, H. T., H. T. Ewe, and S. L. Tan, "Multifractal dimension and its geometrical terrain properties for classification of multiband multi-polarized SAR image," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 104, 221-237, 2010.
doi:10.2528/PIER10022001

15. Miller, D. A. and E. L. Dereniak, "Selective polarization imager for contrast enhancements in remote scattering media," Applied Optics, Vol. 51, 4092-4102, Jun. 20, 2012.
doi:10.1364/AO.51.004092

16. Sutkowski, M., P. Garbat, J. Parka, A. Walczak, E. Nowinowski-Kruszelnicki, and J. Woznicki, "Polarization difference imaging system with LC filter," Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, Vol. 495, 403-411, 2008.
doi:10.1080/15421400802430406

17. Jiang, X. Y., N. Zeng, Y. H. He, and H. Ma, "Investigation of linear polarization difference imaging based on rotation of incident and backscattered polarization angles," Progress In Biochemistry and Biophysics, Vol. 34, 659-663, 2007.

18. Thakur, J. P., W. G. Kim, and Y. H. Kim, "Large aperture low aberration aspheric dielectric lens antenna for W-band quasi-optics," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 103, 57-65, 2010.
doi:10.2528/PIER10022404

19. Kim, W. G., N. W. Moon, J. M. Kang, and Y. H. Kim, "Loss measuring of large aperture quasi-optics for W-band imaging radiometer system," Progress In Electromagnetics Research, Vol. 125, 295-309, 2012.
doi:10.2528/PIER12010502

20. Jaeger, I., L. Zhang, J. Stiens, H. Sahli, and R. Vounckx, "Millimeter wave inspection of concealed objects," Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, Vol. 49, 2733-2737, 2007.
doi:10.1002/mop.22870

Mr. Won-Gyum Kim

Dr. Nam-Won Moon

Dr. Hwang-Kyeom Kim

Prof. Yong-Hoon Kim