Determining material category based on the polarization of received signals

A method for detecting an object, the method comprising:

• causing transceiver circuitry to transmit radar signals having a first polarization type towards the object;
• causing an antenna array of the transceiver circuitry to receive radar signals having the first polarization type reflected from the object;
• causing the antenna array of the transceiver circuitry to receive radar signals having a second polarization type reflected from the object, the second polarization type being different than the first polarization type;
• interleaving a first operating mode and a second operating mode;
• determining reflectivity values for the radar signals having the first polarization type reflected from the object in the first operating mode;
• determining reflectivity values for the radar signals having the second polarization type reflected from the object in the second operating mode;
• and
• determining a material category of the object based on the reflectivity values for the radar signals having the first polarization type reflected from the object and the reflectivity values for the radar signals having the second polarization type reflected from the object.

A radar device configured to detect an object, the radar device comprising:

• transceiver circuitry configured to:
• transmit radar signals having a first polarization type towards the object;
• receive radar signals having the first polarization type reflected from the object;
• and
• receive radar signals having a second polarization type reflected from the object, the second polarization type being different than the first polarization type;
• and
• processing circuitry configured to:
• determine a power ratio of the radar signals having the first polarization type reflected from the object and the radar signals having the second polarization type reflected from the object;
• determine a material category of the object based on the power ratio at least in part by:
• determining a conductive material category for the object in response to determining that the power ratio of the radar signals exceeds a first threshold ratio;
• and
• determining an insulative material category for the object in response to determining that the power ratio of the radar signals does is less than a second threshold ratio.