An Active Microwave Imaging Technique Using Spatial Frequency Sampling

We present theory and measurements for a new active microwave imaging method that uses incoherent transmission signals and spatial frequency sampling. The 4.95 GHz transmitter consists of two noise generators, while the receive array is a linear array with elements placed in 1λ increments with widest spacing of 15λ. We show that Fourier-based image reconstruction techniques traditionally used in passive imaging methods can be used to generate images using active noise transmitters. We demonstrate the reconstruction of three one-dimensional scenes consisting of cylindrical reflecting targets.