Passive millimeter-wave camera images: current and future
Author(s): Lee Mirth; Al Pergande; Dayton D. Eden; Lawrence Y. Chu
Lockheed Martin and Intelligent Machine Technology are working to build a demonstration system for the Department of Justice and the Air Force Research Laboratory that can be extended to take advantage of rapidly moving semiconductor improvements. Our current radiometer modules use a PIN switch for the Dicke calibration function followed by multiple low noise amplifier stages, a Schottky detector and a video amplifier. Sensitivity of such modules is primarily a function of the insertion loss and noise figure of the front end MMIC circuits. Processing improvements at Lockheed Martin and refined chip design will result in a 3 dB improvement in the effective noise figure within the next year. Imaging is also greatly improved by achieving greater effective bandwidth and higher operating frequency. Whereas present modules operate from 80 to 90 GHz, MMIC improvements will provide for operation up to 140 GHz with a doubling of the bandwidth in the near term. Receiver operation up to 540 GHz has also been demonstrated at other labs.
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 3703, Passive Millimeter-Wave Imaging Technology III, (14 July 1999); doi: 10.1117/12.353005
Lee Mirth, Lockheed Martin Electronics & Missiles (United States)
Al Pergande, Lockheed Martin Electronics & Missiles (United States)
Dayton D. Eden, Intelligent Machine Technology Corp. (United States)
Lawrence Y. Chu, Sanders, A Lockheed Martin Co. (United States)
Passive Millimeter-Wave Imaging Technology III
Roger M. Smith, Editor(s)