ECE Seminar Speaker: Dr. Thomas Williams, Entrepreneur
Topic: Passive Millimeter Wave Imaging for Concealed Contraband Detection
Abstract: Millimeter wave technology has been steadily advancing and is employed in a variety of applications, including communications, remote sensing, RADAR, medical and many more. One of them is the security area to scan people for concealed contraband objects. Although active methods, effectively employing RADAR and reflectometer techniques are relatively straightforward, passive techniques where the person being scanned is subjected to less EM radiation than when not being scanned is both interesting and challenging. Dr. Williams will describe the technology and challenges faced during the development of a practical body scanners operating in the 80 to 100 GHz region of the spectrum.
Biography: Thomas Williams received his PhD from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in Computer and Information Science in 1981 His topic was “Computer Interpretation of a Dynamic Image from a Moving Vehicle”. Dr. Williams has work experience at Digital Equipment Corporation Corporate Research where he ran the Robotics and Manufacturing Automation group, and subsequently formed four high technology start-ups with products in the area of real-time graphical displays, image processing and understanding, passive millimeter wave concealed contraband detection and autonomous drones. Dr. Williams also has Millimeter wave components and systems engineering experience with EHF communications and RF atmospheric interactions in the 10 to 100 GHz frequency range, much of which he has researched personally and developed components for use by Radio Amateurs for use at 47 and 78 GHz. Among Dr. Williams publications are “A Compact Low-Cost Passive Millimeter Wave Camera”, SPIE Vol. 5894-17 Passive Millimeter Wave Technology VIII, SPIE Bellingham, WA, 2005 and “A novel approach to automated threat detection in MMW imagery of people scanned in portals”, SPIE Vol. 6948-0F Passive Millimeter Wave Technology XI, SPIE Bellingham, WA, 2005. Dr. Williams also is the primary inventor of US Patents 4891767, 7631261, 7447380, 8497477, 8835849, 10338556, 11853082 and 12093060. He operates a small microwave lab in his home.
The Seminars is open to the public free of charge.
*For further information, please contact Dr. Yifei Li
Dion Building (DION), Room 109 / Zoom Link: https://umassd.zoom.us/j/98707991791 Meeting ID: 987 0799 1791 Passcode: 552408
: 285 Old Westport Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747
Yifei Li
508.999.8841
yifei.li@umassd.edu