Device and method for the detection of buried objects

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention relates generally to a system and method for detection of buried objects. More particularly, this system and method utilizes down-looking infrared (DLIR) sensors with or without ground penetrating radar (GPR) and metal detectors (MD) to locate landmines buried beneath ground level.

#2. Discussion of the Related Art

#The foregoing and a better understanding of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments and the claims when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, all forming a part of the disclosure of this invention. While the foregoing and following written and illustrated disclosure focuses on disclosing example embodiments of the invention, it should be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and the invention is not limited thereto. The spirit and scope of the present invention are limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

#The following represents brief descriptions of the drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a side view of the Close-In Detection (CID) System vehicle utilizing a sensor array and a forward looking infrared (FLIR) camera;

#Before beginning a detailed description of the subject invention, mention of the following is in order. When appropriate, like reference numerals and characters maybe used to designate identical, corresponding or similar components in differing figure drawings. Further, in the detailed description to follow, exemplary sizes/models/values/ranges may be given, although the present invention is not limited to the same.

#FIG. 5 is a side view diagram of a vehicle having a sensor array 30 with a down looking infrared (DLIR) field 100 projected in an example embodiment of the present invention. DLIR detectors 140 and 150, further detailed in FIG. 7A through FIG. 8, are physically located on the underside of the sensor array 30. The sensor array 30 would be permanently affixed to vehicle 10 utilizing permanent supports or hydraulic lifts (not shown). As will be discussed further in FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C, the sensor array may also contain GPR 70 sensors as well as EMI coil sensors 80. By placing DLIR detectors 140 and 150 in the sensor array 30 looking downward to generate DLIR field 100 a significant reduction in cost is realized since a FLIR 20 camera with its associated lenses is no longer required. The precise configuration of the DLIR detectors 140 and 150 will be discussed further detailed in reference to FIG. 8. As will be discussed in further detailed in reference to FIG. 9, the sensor array 30 may be connected to a processor-based system 130 and a ground positioning satellite system 210. The DLIR detectors 140 and 150 generating the DLIR field 100 would be used to detect buried objects 40 positioned in the ground 60

#FIG. 6 is a side view diagram of a pushcart 110 having a sensor array 30 with DLIR detectors 140 in an example embodiment of the present invention. This push cart 110 is further detailed in CAMPANA et al., “Downward Looking Infrared for Vehicle Mounted Mine Detection”, SPIE AeroSense Conference 4394: Detection & Remediation Technologies for Mines and Minelike Targets VI, Apr. 16, 2001, incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. The pushcart 110 would be grasped by handles 120 by an operator (not shown). A processor based system 130, such as but not limited to a laptop, would be visible to the operator. A sensor array having at least DLIR detectors 140 would be positioned in front of the pushcart 110 so that the DLIR detectors 140 would be approximately 12 inches above ground 60. As will be discussed in further detailed ahead the sensor array 30 would be utilized to detect buried objects 40 in ground 60, such as land mines. As would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art the distance between the sensor array 30 and ground 60 would vary dependent upon the nature of the sensors utilized.