Radar system and method for detecting and discriminating targets from a safe distance

A method of detecting the presence of an object within a target area from a probing location that is a prescribed stand-off distance away from the target area, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) producing a frequency adjustable continuous wave signal over a range of frequencies in prescribed increments;
• (b) modulating the continuous wave signal to produce short duration radar pulses to be transmitted;
• (c) transmitting the short duration radar pulses from the probing location towards the target area;
• (d) receiving the plurality of return pulses reflected from the target area at two spaced-apart locations, the two spaced-apart locations having a prescribed orientation relative to the probing location;
• (e) detecting In-phase and Quadrature signals within each return pulse at each of the two spaced-apart locations;
• (f) conditioning the In-phase and Quadrature signals for each returned pulse;
• (g) digitizing the conditioned In-phase and Quadrature signals for each return pulse;
• (h) reducing system noise and clutter present in the digitized signals to produce output signals;
• (i) adjusting the continuous wave signal frequency by the preselected increment;
• (j) processing the output signals to determine the presence and location of the object;
• and
• (k) repeating steps (b) through (j) until the range of frequencies have been transmitted.

A radar system comprising:

• frequency-agile transmitting means for transmitting an incident pulse of microwave power having an adjustable frequency;
• receiving means for receiving a return pulse of the microwave power from a target area, the return pulse representing the reflection of the incident pulse of microwave power from at least one object located within the target area, the receiving means including means for receiving the return pulse at a plurality of spaced-apart locations relative to the location of the transmitting means;
• first processing means for processing the return pulse received at each of the plurality of spaced-apart locations in respective processing channels, and for producing output signals based on said processing;
• and
• second processing means responsive to the output signals for indicating the presence and location of a particular type of object within the target area.

Detection apparatus for detecting the presence of an object within a target area from a probing location located a prescribed stand-off distance away from the target area comprising:

• irradiating means for irradiating the target area with an incident pulse of microwave power from the probing location, the pulse having a prescribed waveform signature;
• receiving means for receiving a return pulse signal of microwave power reflected from the target area at two spaced-apart locations, the two spaced-apart locations having a prescribed orientation relative to the probing location;
• receiving circuitry means for processing the return pulse received at each of the plurality of spaced-apart locations in respective processing channels, and for producing output signals therefrom;
• and
• processing means responsive to the output signals for statistically determining whether the return pulse signal thus received indicates the presence of an object within the target area, and if so, the location of the object.