UWB dual tunnel diode detector for object detection, measurement, or avoidance

A radar altimeter utilizing ultra wideband pulses comprising:

• an ultra wideband pulse source,
• a first ultra wideband detector that detects a primary pulse transmitted directly from said source,
• a second ultra wideband detector that detects a reflected pulse from a surface, and
• processing circuitry that controls said first detector to detect said primary pulse during a transmit interval and that controls said second detector to detect reflected pulses during a receive interval that is determined based on detection of said primary pulse during said transmit interval, and or determining a time difference between detection of said primary and reflected pulses whereby to ascertain a distance-to-surface measurement.

An object detection system for ascertaining a distance measurement, said system comprising:

• an ultra wideband pulse source,
• a first ultra wideband detector that detects a primary pulse transmitted directly from said source,
• a second ultra wideband detector that detects a reflected pulse from an object, and
• a controller that controls said first detector to detect said primary pulse during a transmit interval and that controls said second detector to detect said reflected pulse during a receive interval that commences in response to detection of said primary pulse during said transmit interval, and for determining a time difference between detection of said primary and reflected pulses whereby to ascertain a distance measurement.

An object avoidance system comprising:

• an ultra wideband pulse source,
• a first ultra wideband detector that detects a primary transmit pulse transmitted directly from said source,
• a second ultra wideband detector that detects a reflected pulse from an object, and
• a digital processor that controls said first detector to detect said primary pulse during a transmit interval and that controls said second detector to detect said reflected pulse during an adjustable receive interval following detection of said primary pulse during the transmit interval, said digital processor generating an alarm upon detection of an objection within said adjustable receive interval.

An object detection system using ultra wideband pulses for measuring the range of an object, said detector comprising:

• an ultra wideband pulse transmitter including a transmit antenna,
• an ultra wideband receiver having a receive antenna and an RF module that amplifies signals received by said receive antenna,
• a dual tunnel diode detector module that receives amplified signals from said RF module, said dual tunnel diode module including a transmit tunnel diode that receives a transmit pulse transmitted directly from said pulse transmitter to said receive antenna and a receive tunnel diode that receives a reflected pulse from said object, and a switch that routes signals received by said RF module either to said transmit tunnel diode or to said receive tunnel diode, and
• a digital processor that controls the operation of said pulse transmitter and said dual tunnel diode detector module by generating timing pulses that initiate transmission of ultra wideband pulses from said pulse source and that activate the transmit tunnel diode to receive a transmit pulse and the receive tunnel diode to receive a reflected pulse during mutually exclusive transmit and receive intervals, respectively, each of said receive intervals being initiated according to detection of said transmit pulse during a transmit interval, said digital processor further performing operations to calculate the range of the object according to the time-difference between detection of said transmit and reflected pulses.