This thesis demonstrates the further development of an ultra-wideband (UWB)
pulse generator and of an UWB antenna. Custom prototypes of these devices were
initially developed for an ongoing research project. The project topic is a compact and
portable concealed weapons detection (CWD) radar system to find objects such as
firearms, knives, and grenades hidden on persons as they pass by. The system uses the
UWB pulse generator as a transmitter, while the UWB antenna radiates the pulse and
receives the corresponding backscatter from targets and other objects. Initial device
prototypes do not perform adequately according to project specifications. A key
specification is of adequate operation over the entire 0.5 GHz to 5 GHz frequency band,
where adequate operation is defined distinctly for the antenna and pulse generator.
In this work, empirical investigations of both devices are performed using techniques
such as simulation, fabrication, and measurement. Through these investigations, the
designs of the devices have been incrementally modified. Measured performance data
suggest that the research has yielded designs with substantially improved bandwidth
as a result. Bandwidth increases from 3.31 GHz to 4.36 GHz (31.7%) for the pulse
generator and from 0.46 GHz to 4.98 GHz (983%) for the antenna are demonstrated.
Future work is needed to establish the effects of fabrication tolerance, component
tolerance, and human error on the variation of the observed device performance. / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc) / This thesis is about the improvement of a radio antenna and a transmitter. These
are ultimately intended as components in a system for detecting weapons (such as
firearms, knives, etc.) concealed within the clothing or bags of nearby persons. The
detection happens by transmitting specific radio signals which interact harmlessly
with a person being scanned, and then are received back by the system. This is a
form of radio detection and ranging (RADAR). The research on these devices has
consisted of computer simulations and real-life measurements. As a result, it appears
that the transmitter and radio antenna have been improved to be more suitable for
the desired application than they were originally.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/25589 |
| Date | January 2020 |
| Creators | Eveleigh, Eric Andrew |
| Contributors | Nikolova, Natalia Koleva, Electrical and Computer Engineering |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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