Applying Millimeter-Wave Correlation Radiometry to the Detection of Self-Luminous Objects at Close Range

The novel application of correlation radiometer theory to the detection of self-luminous objects at close range is presented in the context of human presence detection. Modifications and additions to techniques developed in radio astronomy and remote sensing for close-range terrestrial situations are developed and discussed. To demonstrate the new techniques, a Ka-band correlation radiometer is presented, which detects the presence of a stationary human in an outdoor environment. The correlation radiometer fringe frequency is analyzed in the context of the scanning beam detection system and is estimated using MUSIC and ESPRIT. The visibility, sensitivity, spatial resolution, and dwell time of the system are analyzed. Finally, the correlation response is included in a statistical classifier in conjunction with responses from total power radiometers. Experimental results show improved detection capability over using the total power sensors alone.