TUTORIAL T8



Ultra Wideband Sensors - Applications and Principles
Lecturer: Jürgen Sachs, Technische Universität Ilmenau, Germany

Monday, 17 May 2004, 2:00PM-6:00PM



Sensors using electromagnetic sounding waves which spread their energy over a frequency band of hundreds of MHz or even some GHz are often summarised by the term UWB (Ultra Wideband)-Sensors. The sensors are capable of gathering a great deal of information on a test scenario due to the large bandwidth which for example results in their high spatial resolution. Furthermore, the stimulation band is usually placed at low central frequencies so that the waves can penetrate most materials.

These features - the high resolution and the good penetration - as well as new developments in electronics, progress in digital data processing and the effort in UWB radiation regulations evoke an increasing interest in UWB-sensing. Its continuous, non-destructive and remote operation opens up the possibility for many new applications in industry, medicine, surveillance, security, law enforcement, environmental protection and many others.

Based on a discussion of the basic sensor parameters, the first part of the tutorial will give an overview of typical applications of UWB-Sensors for example surface penetrating radar, through wall radar, indoor positioning, impedance spectroscopy, moisture sensing, microwave imaging, medical applications etc.

The second part of the tutorial will concentrate on technical aspects of implementation and principles of work. This includes aspects of the different solutions for UWB-electronics, antennas and measurement principles.