Motion detection apparatus and method

A motion-monitoring system comprising:

• at least one sensor set including:
• an antenna configured to transmit a plurality of radio-frequency signals through a barrier into a volume and receive a plurality of signals reflected from an object in the volume,
• a sensing circuit configured to sense the plurality of reflected signals;
• a processor configured to receive output signals from the sensing circuit, compare a successive output signal to a previous output signal to at least one of:
• estimate at least one characteristic of the object, and distinguish at least one characteristic of the object, the at least one characteristic including a motion of the object;
• a monitoring station configured to monitor the at least one characteristic;
• and
• a visual display device configured to provide a visual output representative of the at least one characteristic.

A method of monitoring motion, comprising:

• transmitting at least one radio-frequency signal through a barrier into a volume;
• receiving at least one radio-frequency signals resulting from a reflection of the transmitted signal from an object in the volume;
• generating output signals related to the plurality of reflected signals;
• comparing a successive output signal to a previous output signal to estimate at least one characteristic of the object, the at least one characteristic including a motion of the object;
• and
• monitoring the at least one characteristic.