Signal Processing - September 2016 - 109

SIGNAL PROCESSING FOR
COMPUTATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND DISPLAYS

Vishal M. Patel, Joseph N. Mait,
Dennis W. Prather, and Abigail S. Hedden

Computational Millimeter Wave Imaging
Problems, progress, and prospects

I

maging using millimeter waves (mmWs) has many advantages and applications in the defense, security, and aviation
markets. All terrestrial bodies emit mmW radiation, and
these wavelengths are able to penetrate smoke, blowing
dust or sand, fog/clouds/marine layers, and even clothing.
However, there are many obstacles to imaging in this spectrum that have to be overcome before mmW imaging systems can be successfully realized for surveillance and
defense applications. Recent developments in computational imaging have the potential to significantly
improve capabilities of mmW imaging systems.
Our article provides an overview of computational imaging and its implication to mmW imaging
in various operation modes. We discuss the merits and drawbacks of available computational
mmW imaging approaches and identify avenues
of research in this rapidly evolving field.

Introduction

©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/YAKOBCHUK

Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MSP.2016.2581206
Date of publication: 2 September 2016

1053-5888/16©2016IEEE

In the past several years, interest in imaging at millimeter wavelengths has been driven primarily by their
ability to penetrate poor weather and other obstacles
such as clothes and polymers [1], [2]. Within the electromagnetic spectrum, mmWs are historically defined in the
30-300 GHz range with corresponding wavelengths between
10 and 1 mm, respectively. Radiation at these frequencies is nonionizing and is, therefore, considered safe for human exposure.
Applications of this technology include the detection of concealed weapons, explosives, and contraband (see Figure 1). Furthermore, unlike visible and infrared systems, passive mmW
imaging systems are not significantly hindered by atmospheric
obscurants, such as cloud cover, fog, smoke, rain and dust storms
and may reduce or even eliminate the impact of low-visibility
atmospheric conditions [3]. Figure 2 shows atmospheric attenuation of naturally emitted black-body radiation through 1 km of
fog, illustrating how low-loss bands within the mmW region
allow passive imaging in adverse weather conditions.

IEEE SIgnal ProcESSIng MagazInE

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September 2016

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signal Processing - September 2016

Signal Processing - September 2016 - Cover1
Signal Processing - September 2016 - Cover2
Signal Processing - September 2016 - 1
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Signal Processing - September 2016 - Cover3
Signal Processing - September 2016 - Cover4
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