Apparatus and method for rapid detection of objects with time domain impulsive signals
AssigneeITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
InventorDonald P. McLemore
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system are disclosed for detecting objects of interest in a target area using ultra wide band (UWB) RF signals. A transmitter and antenna array generate ultra wide band RF impulsive signals that are used to probe a target area that may include an object of interest. An antenna and a signal processor receive return signals from the target area and process the return signal to generate a set of coordinates. The coordinates of the processed return signals are compared to coordinates of known objects in a pre-existing database to determine whether there is a match between the return signal and a known object. When there is an indication of a match, the existence of the known object is displayed to an operator of the system.
Claims14
A method for detecting objects of interest in a target area using ultra wide band (UWB) RF impulsive signals, comprising the steps of:
- a) probing the target area with the ultra wide band RF impulsive signals;
- b) receiving return signals from the target area;
- c) processing the return signals by decomposing the return signals into time slice feature data;
- d) designating coordinates of a known object of interest whose preexisting profile has been stored in a database;
- e) determining the probability of detection of a known object of interest based upon the magnitude of a vector which represents the distance between the time slice feature data and the coordinates of a known object of interest having a preexisting profile;
- and
- f) displaying the existence of the known object, when the magnitude of the vector is less than a predetermined amount.
An apparatus for detecting objects of interest in a target area using ultra wide band (UWB) RF impulsive signals, comprising the steps of:
- a) a transmitter for probing the target area with the ultra wide band RF impulsive signals;
- b) a receiver for receiving return signals from the target area;
- c) a signal processor for processing the return signals by decomposing the return signals into time slice feature data;
- d) means for designating coordinates of a known object of interest whose preexisting profile has been stored in a database;
- e) means for determining the probability of detection of a known object of interest based upon the magnitude of a vector which represents the distance between the time slice feature data and the coordinates of a known object of interest having a preexisting profile;
- and
- f) a display for displaying the existence of the known object, when the magnitude of the vector is less than a predetermined amount.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.