# US 12,007,471 B2 · Continuous-wave radar system for detecting ferrous and non-ferrous metals in saltwater environments > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,007,471 B2 - Document ID: US12007471B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/200,930 - Filed: 2023-05-23 - Published: 2023-09-21 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-18 - Assignees: HG Partners, LLC - Applicants: HG Partners, LLC - Inventors: Carlos Alberto Fonts; Carlos Ernesto Fonts; Mark Allen O'Hair; John Richard O'Hair; Richard Dolan Randall - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007471B2 ## CPC - G01S 13/88: Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications (electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00) - G01S 13/89: for mapping or imaging - B63B 21/56: Towing or pushing equipment (tugs B63B35/66; towing arrangements for water sports use B63B34/60) - B63B 35/00: Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for - G01S 7/025: {involving the transmission of linearly polarised waves} - G01S 7/04: Display arrangements - G01S 13/32: using transmission of continuous waves, whether amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated, or unmodulated - G01V 9/00: Prospecting or detecting by methods not provided for in groups G01V1/00 - G01V8/00 - B63B 21/20: Adaptations of chains, ropes, hawsers, or the like, or of parts thereof - B63B 21/66: Equipment specially adapted for towing underwater objects or vessels, e.g. fairings for tow-cables ({paravanes for dragging fishing nets A01K73/02; } salvaging underwater vessels or objects B63C7/00; towed underwater vessels B63G8/42) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) - G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02) ## Abstract The present invention includes systems and methods for a continuous-wave (CW) radar system for detecting, geolocating, identifying, discriminating between, and mapping ferrous and non-ferrous metals in brackish and saltwater environments. The CW radar system generates multiple extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic waves simultaneously and uses said waves to detect, locate, and classify objects of interest. These objects include all types of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as changing material boundary layers (e.g., soil to water, sand to mud, rock to organic materials, water to air, etc.). The CW radar system is operable to detect objects of interest in near real time. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An antenna system for detecting metals in an underwater environment, comprising: at least one signal generator, at least one transmitter (Tx) antenna, at least one receiver (Rx) antenna, and at least one signal processor; wherein the at least one Tx antenna and the at least one Rx antenna are fixed in a cross-polarized orientation with each other; wherein the at least one signal generator is operable to emit at least one transmission signal to a target area through the at least one Tx antenna; wherein the at least one transmission signal is an extremely low frequency (ELF) signal; wherein the at least one Rx antenna is operable to receive at least one return signal from the target area; wherein the at least one signal processor is operable to analyze the at least one return signal; wherein the at least one signal processor is operable to detect at least one target object in the target area based on the at least one return signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a graphical user interface (GUI), wherein the GUI is operable to display a visualization of the at least one target object in the target area. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one Rx antenna is substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of at least one towing vessel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one transmission signal is a plurality of transmission signals, and wherein the plurality of transmission signals have different frequencies. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one signal processor is operable to identify at least one constructive interference zone and at least one destructive interference zone in the target area. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one signal processor uses a baseline signal to normalize the at least one return signal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna system is operable to emit at least one additional transmission signal to the target area through the at least one Tx antenna, and wherein an amplitude of the at least one additional transmission signal is based on the at least one return signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one signal processor is operable to distinguish between different types of metal comprising the at least one target object. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the underwater environment is a saltwater environment. ### Claim 10 An antenna system for detecting metals in an underwater environment, comprising: at least one signal generator, at least one transmitter (Tx) antenna, at least one receiver (Rx) antenna, and at least one signal processor; and a geolocation system; wherein the at least one Tx antenna and the at least one Rx antenna are fixed in a cross-polarized orientation with each other; wherein the at least one signal generator is operable to emit at least one transmission signal to a target area through the at least one Tx antenna; wherein the at least one transmission signal is an extremely low frequency (ELF) signal; wherein the at least one Rx antenna is operable to receive at least one return signal from the target area; wherein the at least one signal processor is operable to determine a relative geolocation and/or an absolute geolocation of at least one target object using the geolocation system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the geolocation system includes a plurality of signal reflectors in the underwater environment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the underwater environment is a saltwater environment. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the geolocation system is located on a floatation device, and wherein the floatation device is connected to at least one towing vessel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one Rx antenna is substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of at least one towing vessel. ### Claim 15 A method for detecting ferrous and non-ferrous metals in an underwater environment, comprising: at least one signal generator emitting at least one transmission signal to the target area through at least one transmitter (Tx) antenna; at least one receiver (Rx) antenna receiving at least one return signal from the target area; at least one signal processor analyzing the at least one return signal; and the at least one signal processor detecting at least one target object in the target area based on the at least one return signal; wherein the at least one transmission signal is an extremely low frequency (ELF) signal; and wherein the at least one Tx antenna and the at least one Rx antenna are fixed in a cross-polarized orientation with each other. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the underwater environment is a saltwater environment. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one transmission signal is a plurality of transmission signals, wherein the plurality of transmission signals have different frequencies. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one Rx antenna is substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of at least one towing vessel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising the at least one signal processor identifying at least one constructive interference zone and at least one destructive interference zone in the target area. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising the at least one signal processor identifying at least one metal comprising the at least one target object.