US 12,332,335 B2
Synthetic ultrawideband integrated millimeter-wave imager
Amir Mirbeik-Sabzevari, Hoboken, NJ (US); and Negar Tavassolian, Hoboken, NJ (US)
Assigned to The Trustees of the Stevens Institute of Technology, Hobokan, NJ (US)
Filed by THE TRUSTEES OF THE STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Hoboken, NJ (US)
Filed on Jun. 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/838,033.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/209,244, filed on Jun. 10, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0397660 A1, Dec. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. G01S 13/90 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/05 (2021.01); G01S 7/03 (2006.01); G01S 13/02 (2006.01); G01S 13/34 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 13/0209 (2013.01) [A61B 5/05 (2013.01); A61B 5/444 (2013.01); G01S 7/03 (2013.01); G01S 13/347 (2013.01); G01S 13/9011 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for imaging tissue, said method comprising the steps of:
transmitting, from each of a plurality of sub-band imaging elements to a targeted tissue, output signals operating in a corresponding one of a plurality of predetermined sub-bands of a range of millimeter-wave frequencies, wherein each sub-band imaging element of the plurality of sub-band imaging elements is configured to operate only in its corresponding sub-band which is different from the sub-band of each and every other one of the plurality of sub-band imaging elements;
scanning the targeted tissue using electronic beam-forming;
controlling, via a respective programmable delay or phase shifter line for each sub-band imaging element of the plurality of sub-band imaging elements, individual timing of radiation for electronic beam-forming to perform low-loss signal distribution and coherent combination of broadband pulses of associated elements;
receiving, at each sub-band imaging element, respective return signals reflected from the targeted tissue in response to the performance of the transmitting step for each of the plurality of sub-band imaging elements;
wherein the transmitting and receiving steps are performed sequentially as a cycle for each sub-band imaging element of the plurality of sub-band imaging elements at each of a plurality of scanning locations;
wherein each sub-band imaging element of the plurality of sub-band imaging elements is sequentially positioned at a distinct position in each of the plurality of scanning locations for the performance of the transmitting and receiving steps;
combining, at a processor, said respective return signals to form an integrated signal covering the range of millimeter-wave frequencies; and
using the integrated signal to generate an image of the targeted tissue.