ABOUT PSI

Phase Sensitive Innovations (PSI) is a small, high-technology company specializing in RF Photonic devices, components, and systems, with a particular focus on the millimeter wave (mmW) region of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Beam Forming at the Speed of Light!

Beam forming on a large scale is “imaging” and PSI has developed element-level beam forming for millimeter-wave systems that operate as real-time video cameras and offer the potential to penetrate through atmospheric obscurants, various garments, and structures to create high-resolution “see-through” images. In pursuit of this goal, we have developed and demonstrated prototype passive imaging systems based on our patented optical upconversion technique.

In addition, we have also developed state-of-the-art RF imaging systems that can “see” the electromagnetic environment and detect/recover signals over massive operational bandwidths. Current systems have been flight and field-tested and demonstrated to perform communications (5G), FMCW radar and surveillance capabilities.

MISSION

PSI’s produces high quality and high-performance RF Photonic devices, components, and systems. Applications include millimeter wave imaging and wireless communications systems such as 5G/B5G Cellular, Communications, Radar and Vision Enhancement markets.

 F.A.Q.

What are Millimeter waves?

Millimeter waves (mmWs) are electromagnetic signals with frequencies between 30 GHz (10 mm wavelength) and 300 GHz (1 mm wavelength). They are longer in wavelength than infrared and Terahertz signals and shorter than radio waves.   Most objects naturally emit weak amounts of millimeter waves much like infrared radiation, or heat.  While our eyes cannot “see” this energy, PSI has developed sensitive imaging systems capable of capturing images and videos in the Q–band (33 – 50 GHz) and W-band (75 – 110 GHz) mmW regimes.

What are the advantages of Millimeter Waves?

While normal visible light is reflected off of most particles and surfaces, millimeter waves are able to pass through many materials like fabric and most building materials, and obscurants such as fog, dust clouds, and smoke.  Unlike x-rays, mmWs are completely safe and non-ionizing and can therefore be used to detect both metallic and non-metallic contraband on people.

Atmospheric Attenuation

Atmospheric attenuation in dB/km the mmW spectrum for several atmospheric conditions, courtesy of mmW Concepts, LLC.

Active and Passive imaging, what is the difference?

Imaging systems can be active or passive.  An active mmW imager bounces waves off of the scene and images with the reflected energy while a passive system uses the energy naturally emitted by the scene.  Emissive objects will emit black-body mmWs in proportion to their temperature. Passive imaging systems can discretely capture images in all weather conditions using the naturally emitted black body mmW radiation given off, or reflected, by objects.

Black Body Radiation

Naturally emitted black body radiation and radiation through 1 km of fog for an emissive object at 77K, 300K, and 6000K

What is a distributed aperture imaging system?

PSI uses a distributed aperture imaging (DAI) approach over a standard focal plane array (FPA). An FPA requires a lens, larger volume, and an expensive mmW detector for each pixel. A DAI system captures the mmW signal field amplitude and phase at discrete points.  Since no lens is needed the imager can be flat or conformal and achieve higher resolution without the volumetric scaling of size and weight. In addition, a lower number of expensive millimeter wave components is needed.

Focal Plane Area

 

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