Detecting and imaging using dielectric tomography

A method for operating and calibrating a dielectric tomography system, comprising:

• receiving one or more control signals to generate radio frequency signals and to configure one or more transceivers;
• synthesizing and distributing the radio frequency signals, the radio frequency signals including radio frequency source signals, local oscillator signals, and clock signals;
• configuring at least a portion of a transceiver to send or receive radio frequency signals;
• determining phase and amplitude information for one or more received radio frequency signals;
• and
• applying correction information to the phase and the amplitude information, wherein the correction information is determined based at least in part on a comparison between measured radio frequency signals and expected radio frequency responses.

A transceiver in a dielectric tomography system, comprising:

• at least one memory;
• at least one oscillator;
• a dual-gain reflectometer including an antenna;
• a radio frequency measurement sampler;
• at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one memory, the at least one oscillator, the dual-gain reflectometer, and the radio frequency measurement sampler, and configured to:
• distribute radio frequency signals including radio frequency source signals, local oscillator signals, and clock signals;
• determine phase and amplitude information for one or more received radio frequency signals;
• and
• apply correction information to the phase and the amplitude information.

A dielectric tomography system comprising:

• a radio frequency signal source configured to provide a radio frequency source signal at one or more frequencies within the range of 10 MHz and 300 GHz, inclusive;
• one or more antennas coupled to the radio frequency signal source and configured to transmit outgoing radio frequency signals based at least in part on the radio frequency source signal, and to receive incoming radio frequency signals responsive to interaction of the outgoing radio frequency signals with an object disposed in an electromagnetic field generated by the one or more antennas;
• a dual-gain reflectometer coupled to the one or more antennas, the dual-gain reflectometer including a first signal path and a second signal path, the first signal path having a first gain and the second signal path having a second gain different from the first gain, wherein an incoming radio frequency signal is selectively routable through either the first signal path or the second signal path;
• and
• measurement circuitry configured to determine phase and amplitude information for the incoming radio frequency signal based at least in part on a signal output from the dual-gain reflectometer, the phase and amplitude information usable to determine permittivity information associated with the object.