Computational microwave imaging using 3D printed conductive polymer frequency‐diverse metasurface antennas. Issue 14 (2nd November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yurduseven, Okan; Flowers, Patrick; Ye, Shengrong; Marks, Daniel L.; Gollub, Jonah N.; Fromenteze, Thomas; Wiley, Benjamin J.; Smith, David R.
• Is Part Of: IET microwaves, antennas & propagation. Volume 11:Issue 14(2017)
• Page Start: 1962
• Page End: 1969
• Publication Date: 2017-11-02
• Subjects: microwave imaging -- metamaterial antennas -- image reconstruction -- polymers -- microwave antennas; computational microwave imaging -- 3D printed conductive polymer frequency‐diverse metasurface antennas -- frequency‐diverse computational imaging system -- three‐dimensional fabrication -- polylactic acid polymer material -- conductive polymer material -- Electrifi conductivity -- machine milling -- photolithography -- laser‐etching -- composite aperture design -- K‐band frequency regime -- mechanical scanning -- active circuit component -- diffraction limit -- image reconstruction -- frequency 17.5 GHz to 26.5 GHz; Microwaves -- Periodicals; Microwave antennas -- Periodicals; Antennas (Electronics) -- Periodicals; Radio wave propagation -- Periodicals; Microwave communication systems -- Periodicals; 621.381305
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-map.2017.0104
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-8725

Abstract

Abstract : A frequency‐diverse computational imaging system synthesised using three‐dimensional (3D) printed frequency‐diverse metasurface antennas is demonstrated. The 3D fabrication of the antennas is achieved using a combination of polylactic acid (PLA) polymer material and conductive polymer material (Electrifi), circumventing the requirement for expensive and time‐consuming conventional fabrication techniques, such as machine milling, photolithography, and laser‐etching. Using the 3D printed frequency‐diverse metasurface antennas, a composite aperture is designed and simulated for imaging in the K‐band frequency regime (17.5–26.5 GHz). The frequency‐diverse system is capable of imaging by means of a simple frequency‐sweep in an all‐electronic manner, avoiding mechanical scanning and active circuit components. Using the synthesised system, microwave imaging of objects is achieved at the diffraction limit. It is also demonstrated that the conductivity of the Electrifi polymer material significantly affects the performance of the 3D printed antennas and therefore is a critical factor governing the fidelity of the reconstructed images.