# US 9,437,923 B2 · Simultaneous imaging and precision alignment of two millimeter wave antennas based on polarization-selective machine vision > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,437,923 B2 - Document ID: US9437923B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/651,560 - Filed: 2012-10-15 - Published: 2014-04-17 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-15 - Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce, The National Institute of Standards and Technology - Applicants: Joshua A. Gordon - Inventors: Joshua A. Gordon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437923B2 ## CPC - H01Q 3/267: {Phased-array testing or checking devices} - H01Q 15/22: functioning also as polarisation filter - H01Q 19/062: {for focusing} - H01Q 19/195: wherein a reflecting surface acts also as a polarisation filter or a polarising device - H01Q 1/125: {Means for positioning} - H01Q 1/1257: {using the received signal strength} - H01Q 3/08: for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract A system and method for imaging and aligning antennas that includes an overlay imaging aligner composed of two or more antennas in association with a polarization gate, a polarization beam splitter, a non-polarizing beam splitter, a beam dump, one or more imaging lens and a common detector array. The overlay imaging aligner aligns the antennas by overlaying simultaneous digital images associated with the antennas on the common detector array. The antennas can be, for example, mm Wave antennas, waveguides, etc. The detector array generates real-time digital images the antennas. Such an approach of simultaneous imaging leverages the spatial resolution of digital optical imaging to aligning antenna components. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for imaging and aligning antennas, said system comprising: an overlay imaging aligner comprising: at least two antennas forming a straight line beam path with a polarization beam splitter therebetween; a polarization gate arranged perpendicularly to said straight line beam path; a non-polarizing beam splitter aligned with said polarization gate on an opposite side of said polarization beam splitter along a perpendicular straight line beam path; a beam dump and an alignment beam arranged on opposite sides of said non-polarizing beam splitter; and at least one imaging lens and a common detector array aligned along said perpendicular straight line beam path, wherein said overlay imaging aligner aligns said at least two antennas by overlaying simultaneous digital images associated with said at least two antennas on said common detector array. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said common detector array comprises an imaging detector array. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein said imaging detector array generates real-time digital images of said at least two antennas. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said at least two antennas comprise mm-Wave antennas. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein said imaging detector array generates real-time digital images of said at least two antennas. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein said at least two antennas comprise waveguides. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising at least two horns forming a beam path with said at least two lenses and said overlay imaging aligner, wherein said at least two lenses produce magnified images of respective apertures of said at least two horns to generate virtual horn images for use in aligning said at least two lenses to said at least two horns. ### Claim 8 An apparatus for imaging and aligning antennas, said apparatus comprising: at least two antennas forming a straight line beam path with a polarization beam splitter therebetween; a polarization gate comprising a retro-reflecting mirror and a quarter plate, arranged perpendicularly to said straight line beam path; a non-polarizing beam splitter aligned with said polarization gate on an opposite side of said polarization beam splitter along a perpendicular straight line beam path; a beam dump and an alignment beam arranged on opposite sides of said non-polarizing beam splitter; and at least one imaging lens and an imaging detector array, wherein said overlay imaging aligner aligns said at least two antennas by overlaying simultaneous digital images associated with said at least two antennas on said imaging detector array. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said at least two antennas comprise mm Wave antennas. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said imaging detector array generates real-time digital images of said at least two antennas. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising at least two horns forming a beam path with said at least two lenses and said overlay imaging aligner, wherein said at least two lenses produce magnified images of respective apertures of said at least two horns to generate virtual horn images for use in aligning said at least two lenses to said at least two horns. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said at least two antennas comprise waveguides. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said imaging detector array generates real-time digital images of said at least two antennas. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising at least two horns forming a beam path with said at least two lenses and said overlay imaging aligner, wherein said at least two lenses produce magnified images of respective apertures of said at least two horns to generate virtual horn images for use in aligning said at least two lenses to said at least two horns. ### Claim 15 A method for imaging and aligning antennas, said method comprising: configuring an overlay imaging aligner to include at least two antennas forming a straight line beam path with a polarization beam splitter therebetween, a polarization gate arranged perpendicularly to said straight line beam path, a non-polarizing beam splitter aligned with said polarization gate on an opposite side of said polarization beam splitter along a perpendicular straight line beam path, a beam dump and an alignment beam arranged on opposite side of said non-polarizing beam splitter, and at least one imaging lens and a common detector array; and aligning said at least two antennas via said overlay imaging aligner by overlaying simultaneous digital images associated with said at least two antennas on said common detector array by leveraging a spatial resolution of said digital optical images to align antenna components associated with said at least two antennas. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein said common detector array comprises an imaging detector array. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein said imaging detector array generates real-time digital images of said at least two antennas. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein said at least two antennas comprise mm Wave antennas. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein said at least two antennas comprise waveguides. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising: including in said beam path at least two horns with said at least two lenses and said overlay imaging aligner; and aligning said at least two lenses to said at least two horns by employing said at least two lenses to produce images of respective apertures of said at least two horns to generate virtual horn images for use in said aligning of said at least two lenses to said at least two horns.