A portable sensing system device and method for providing microwave or RF (radio-frequency) sensing functionality for a portable device, the device comprising: a portable device housing configured to be carried by a user; and a sensing unit within said housing con-figured to characterize an object located in proximity to the portable system, said sensing unit comprising: a wideband electromagnetic transducer array said array comprising a plurality of electromagnetic transducers; a transmitter unit for applying RF signals to said electromagnetic transducer array; and a receiver unit for receiving coupled RF signals from said electromagnetic transducers array.