This paper gives an overview of recent progress in radar polarimetry and radar polarimetric interferometry. Both techniques are of special importance for the inversion of physical scatterer parameters from radar remote sensing data. A unified treatment of polarisation effects in radar polarimetry and polarimetric interferometry based on eigenvalue processing is addressed providing a link between signal processing techniques and coherent electromagnetic models for random media scattering. In this context, the main applications of polarimetry in radar remote sensing such as single and multi-frequency polarimetric classification, the estimation of surface roughness and moisture content and vegetation structure estimation are reviewed.

Complex-valued region-based-coupling image clustering (continuous soft segmentation) neural networks are proposed for interferometric radar image processing. They deal with the amplitude and phase information of radar data as a combined complex-amplitude image. Thereby, not only the reflectance but also the distance (optical length) are consistently taken into account for the clustering process. A continuous complex-valued label is employed whose structure is the same as that of input raw data and estimation image. Experiments demonstrate successfully the clustering operations for interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) images. The method is applicable also to future radar systems for image acquisition in, e.g., invisible fire smoke places and intelligent transportation systems by generating a processed image more recognizable by human and automatic recognition machine.

In this paper, we examine the polarimetric characteristics and the potential of the coherent decomposition in polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry. Coherent scattering decomposition based on the coherence optimization can separate effective phase center of different scattering mechanisms and can be used to generate canopy digital elevation model (DEM). This decomposition is applied to a simplified stochastic scattering model such as forest canopy. However, since the polarimetric characteristics are not well understood when the decomposition is carried out, we investigate its characteristics and potential using polarimetric entropy-alpha and three-component scattering matrix decomposition. The results show that the first and third components correspond to the lower and upper layer, respectively, in ideal case. In this investigation, SIR-C/X-SAR data of the Tien Shan flight-pass are used.

In this letter, we describe the conditions for measuring the nonlinear refractive index n2 when using the self-phase modulation-based cw dual-frequency method. We clarify the appropriate measurement conditions for dispersion-shifted and conventional single-mode fibers both numerically and experimentally. We also show experimentally that the evaluated n2 values for conventional single-mode fiber depend on the signal wavelength separation.

The smart vision chip has a large potential for application in general purpose high speed image processing systems. In order to fabricate smart vision chips including photo detector compactly, we have proposed the application of three dimensional LSI technology for smart vision chips. Three dimensional technology has great potential to realize new biologically inspired systems inspired by not only the biological function but also the biological structure. In this paper, we describe our three dimensional LSI technology for biologically inspired circuits and the design of smart vision chips.

Synthetic aperture radar interferometry have been established in the past two decades, and used extensively for many applications including topographic mapping of terrain and surface deformation. Vegetation analysis is also a growing area of its application. In this paper, we propose an polarimetric SAR interferometry technique for interferometric phase extraction of each local scatterer. The estimated position of local scattering centers has an important information for effective tree height estimation of forest. The proposed method formulated for local scattering center extraction is based on the ESPRIT algorithm which is known for high-resolution capability of closely located incident waves. The method shows high-resolution performance when local scattered waves are uncorrelated and have different polarization characteristics. Using the method, the number of dominant local scattering centers and interferometric phases in each image pixel can be estimated directly. Validity of the algorithm is demonstrated by using examples derived from SIR-C data.

The VHF broadband radio interferometry operated from 25 MHz to 250 MHz has been developed for observing lightning discharge progression. The lightning images are derived by sensing the electromagnetic-waves which are radiated during the discharges. The perpendicular baseline geometry provides the angular locations (azimuth and elevation) of lightning radiation sources. The lightning observations have been conducted in the Hokuriku District in 1999. The station consisted of three broadband antennas and an electric field antenna as well as a GPS receiver. The system was able to reconstruct lightning discharge channels in two-spatial dimensions and in time sequence. As one of the observation results, an upward negative cloud-to-ground lightning flash will be presented.

Fiber-optic MEMS which is fabricated by combining direct photo-lithography of optical fiber and silicon micro-machining is proposed. Preliminary results of micro-machining of optical fiber and variable telecommunication devices are presented.

A Fourier-optics based imaging system for electromagnetic interference (EMI) sources is presented. It is necessary to decrease undesired emissions in order to meet EMI requirements. To investigate this problem, a visualization of electromagnetic (EM) emitting fields is very useful. In this paper, we propose a passive imaging system of EM emitting fields based on Fourier optics. Amplitude and phase values of diffracted fields on an entrance pupil are acquired by using a six-port interferometer. The measured EM fields are then processed on a computer, and an image is retrieved using an inverse Fresnel transform. Experiments are presented, which demonstrate the potential of the proposed method. The proposed system is useful not only in the field of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), but also for scientific elucidation to discuss the optics and microwave theory of the same viewpoint.

A multi-grid finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method was applied for numerical dosimetry analysis in the human head for 5 GHz band portable terminals. By applying fine FDTD grids to the volumes in the human head where the highest electromagnetic (EM) absorption occurs and coarse grids to the remaining volumes of the head, the spatial peak specific absorption rate (SAR) assessment was achieved with a less computation memory and time. The accuracy of applying the multi-grid FDTD method to the spatial peak SAR assessment was checked in comparison with the results obtained from the usual uniform-grid method, and then the spatial peak SARs for three typical situations of a person using a 5.2 GHz band portable terminal were calculated in conjunction with an anatomically based human head model.

This paper describes an electromagnetically coupled microstrip divider that provides high output port isolation and DC cutting. The device consists of a parasitic resonator placed above microstrip patch resonators, achieving tight coupling for both input and output ports. FDTD simulation and measurements reveal that the device has a high isolation between output ports. Equal and unequal 2-way and 3-way power dividers are presented in this paper.

We propose a three-dimensional structure on a planar substrate employing micromachining technology. A low-loss suspended structure incorporating a BCB membrane employing deep trench etching technology has been newly proposed. A micromachined suspended line structure using BCB membrane film enables us to realize a low loss planar resonator, which achieved an unloaded quality factor (Q-factor) of more than 280 at 60 GHz. We design low-loss filters and antennas built into silicon in a 60 GHz band. A low-loss filter realizes an insertion loss of 1.0 dB at 60 GHz and a patch antenna obtains a 3% bandwidth. In addition, we demonstrate a 60 GHz receiver front-end IC incorporating the planar filter and the antenna, and obtain good results. These techniques enable us to integrate various functions into a compact package even in millimeter-wave bands.

The boundary integral equation (BIE) on interior walls with surface impedance conditions is implemented to the iterative physical optics method and how to treat the singularities involved in the BIE of an impedance cavity is described. Singular integrals over a rectangular region can be represented by simple elementary functions.

Most of the current research is focused on the row-column scanning keyboard interface for English letter and number input. At the present time, there are insufficient methods to control the computer mouse effectively. In this study, a categorized row-column scanning computer interface is developed to improve the conventional single key-in row-column scanning method. The beneficial developments include: speed enhancement by categorizing radicals of keyboard, input control of mouse, and multiple selection of input methods such as surface electromyographic (SEMG) control, breath pressure sensibility control with puff, force sensibility control, infrared sensibility control and single key-in control. Meanwhile, an enhancement software package is developed to increase the row-column scanning keyboard capabilities and to upgrade the completeness of the computer mouse for the disabled persons to control the operation of data entry and the associated implementation better.

This paper presents a fast inversion method for electromagnetic imaging of cylindrical dielectric objects with the optimal regularization parameter used in the Levenberg-Marquardt method. A novel procedure for choosing the optimal regularization parameter is proposed. The method of moments with pulse-basis functions and point matching is applied to discretize the equations for the scattered electric field and the total electric field inside the object. Then the inverse scattering problem is reduced to solving the matrix equation for the unknown expansion coefficients of a contrast function, which is represented as a function of the relative permittivity of the object. The matrix equation may be solved in the least-squares sense with the Levenberg-Marquardt method. Thus the contrast function can be reconstructed by the minimization of a functional, which is expressed as the sum of a standard error term on the scattered electric field and an additional regularization term. While a regularization parameter is usually chosen according to the generalized cross-validation (GCV) method, the optimal one is now determined by minimizing the absolute value of the radius of curvature of the GCV function. This scheme is quite different from the GCV method. Numerical results are presented for a circular cylinder and a stratified circular cylinder consisting of two concentric homogeneous layers. The convergence behaviors of the proposed method and the GCV method are compared with each other. It is confirmed from the numerical results that the proposed method provides successful reconstructions with the property of much faster convergence than the conventional GCV method.

For on-chip matching Si-MMIC fabricated on a conventional low resistivity Si substrate, the loss of on-chip inductors is quite high due to the dielectric loss of the substrate. In order to reduce the loss of on-chip matching circuit, the use of high resistivity Si substrate is quite effective. By using electro-magnetic simulation, the relationship between coplanar waveguide (CPW) transmission line characteristics and the resistivity of Si substrate is discussed. Based on the simulated results, the resistivity of Si substrate is designed to achieve lower dielectric loss than conductor loss. The effectiveness of high resistivity Si substrate is evaluated by the extraction of equivalent circuit model parameters of the fabricated on-chip spiral inductors and the measurement of the fabricated on-chip matching Si-MMIC LNA's.

As the capacity of a personal computer and workstation increases rapidly, many electromagnetic simulators solving antenna problems are widely used. In this paper, the IE3D electromagnetic simulator, which is a commercial software product, is applied to the analysis of handset antennas in the vicinity of the human body. Firstly, basic characteristics of popular handset antennas such as whip and planar inverted-F antennas are obtained by the IE3D electromagnetic simulator and calculated results are compared with measured results quoted from the referenced paper. Secondly, on the basis of newly considered design concept for a handset antenna, a loop antenna system for the handset, which we have proposed in order to reduce the influence of human body, is taken as an example of a balance-fed antenna and is analyzed theoretically and experimentally including the influence of the human body. In a result, calculated results by the IE3D electromagnetic simulator are in good agreement with measured results and it is confirmed that the simulator is very effective in analyzing the handset antenna in the vicinity of the human body.

Although Maxwell's equations have been known for over 100 years, it was not until the last decade that they have seen regular use in applied high frequency design. The availability of sufficient computer processing capability is only part of the reason Maxwell's equations now enjoy regular application. Other developments requiring considerable effort are needed as well. These include increased attention to robustness, software testing, ease of use, portability, integration with other tools, and support. These developments are detailed in this paper.

We propose the architecture of efficiently and flexibly extensible solver system for electromagnetic wave simulations, that can load multi kinds of schemes such as Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) scheme, Finite Element Method (FEM), and a circuit simulator, with various boundary conditions in the system. Object-oriented approach is a promising method for efficient development of the flexible simulator. The primary object in the architecture is found through our object-oriented analysis as decomposed "region" from whole the simulation space. The decomposed region is considered to be the stage on which the electromagnetic fields play under the local rules. Developers who will extend the functionality of the system can add new classes inherited from the abstract classes in our design depending on the grid structure, the scheme, or the boundary processing method.

This paper presents a novel concept of a Two-Dimensional (2-D) Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) formulation for the numerical analysis of electromagnetic fields. FDTD method proposed by Yee is widely used for such analysis, although it has an inherent problem that there exist half-cell-length and half-time-step distances between electric and magnetic field components. To dissolve such distances, we begin with the finite-difference approximation of the wave equation, not Maxwell's equations. Employing several approximation techniques, we develop a novel algorithm which can condense all field components to equidistant discrete nodes. The proposed algorithm is evaluated in comparison with several conventional algorithms by computer simulations.