Millimeter Wave Imaging - IMAGINE project

The current threat of terrorist attacks at airports, arenas and other public places has created a demand for security systems for citizen protection. Mm-wave camera imaging can be utilized to detect concealed objects on a person, such as explosives and weapons, and is therefore expected to provide improved citizen protection in the future. Mm-wave imaging, in fusion with other imaging technologies, such as IR imaging, increases the performance and probability for detection of threatening objects.

However, the mm-wave imagers available today are highly expensive, bulky and complex products that are not readily available. The development of compact, low cost, high performance mm-wave cameras will help enable the availability for widespread, low cost, portable security systems that can cope with a high walk by rate, at a safe distance, to help protect citizens from the threat of terrorism.

The IMAGINE project aims to find low-cost, high performance and highly integrated solutions for the mm-wave camera front-end. The main innovation areas concern: development of a zero-biased diode detector; development of a low noise amplifier (LNA) and radiometer chip set at 94 GHz; integration of the zero-biased diode onto the LNA; development of a compact high performance broadband mm-wave antenna; integration of the front-end components into a compact, low cost module based on a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) carrier.

Acreo is responsible for the technical management of the project as well as the integrated antenna design. Acreo are also highly involved in the module integration work package, performing the design of waveguide transitions and interconnections, and by proposing new antenna and front-end integration concepts.

Please use this link for further information regarding the IMAGINE project.

Example of the simulated return loss and E-field gain for the antenna design

Project summary:

Objective: To perform research and development for a compact, low cost, highly integrated mm-wave camera front-end, operating in the 94 GHz region.

Results (Acreo): 94 GHz broadband antenna design, mm-wave interconnection design, antenna to waveguide transition design, mm-wave front-end integration concept.

Project leader: GATE

Project partners: GATE (Spain), Dyconex (Switzerland), TECS (Italy), Rogers Corp. (Belgium), RHe (Germany), OMMIC (France), Chalmers (Sweden) and Acreo (Sweden).

Project Duration: 2½ years, ending May. 2012

Project Sponsors: EU FP7 Research for SME program

Acreo contact: Duncan Platt: Tel. +46 (0)8 632 7854, e-mail: duncan.platt(at)acreo.se