Ground penetrating radar with multiple correlators

• US 10,088,563 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2015
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novatek IP, LLC
• Original Assignee: Novatek IP, LLC
• Inventors: Hall, David R., Wahlquist, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brainard, Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US14/873,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20160025851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 342 22
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/088 Rotary tools, e.g. milling drums for forming recesses to receive marking materials E01C23/0946
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/103 particularities of the measurement of the distance G01S13/12, G01S13/14, G01S13/16, G01S13/18 and G01S13/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/885 for ground probing prospecting or detecting using electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/28 Details of pulse systems

Abstract

A subsurface detection system may be capable of sensing a buried feature and providing an estimate of the feature'"'"'s depth. Such a subsurface detection system may comprise a signal generator transmitting at least one signal toward a buried feature and at least one signal along a plurality of various length paths. Each of a plurality of correlators may be associated with one of the various length paths and receive both a signal reflected by the feature and a signal transmitted along one of the various length paths. Each of the correlators may correspond to a distance to the buried feature. As the reflected signal reaches each correlator it may identify a time offset between the arrival of the reflected signal and the signal transmitted along one of the various length paths. By so doing, a distance to the buried feature may be estimated by detecting the correlator with the shortest time offset.

Claims

1. A subsurface detection system, comprising:

a signal generator transmitting one or more signals, the one or more signals having;

at least one of the one or more signals directed toward a feature for reflection by the feature as at least one reflected signal; and

at least one of the one or more signals transmitted along a plurality of various length paths; and

a plurality of correlators each receiving;

the at least one reflected signal reflected by the feature; and

a received signal of the at least one of the one or more signals transmitted along the plurality of the various length paths, the received signal having been transmitted along one of the various length paths.

2. The subsurface detection system of claim 1, wherein each of the various length paths corresponds to a distance to the feature.

3. The subsurface detection system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of correlators identifies a time offset between arrival of the at least one reflected signal and the received signal transmitted along one of the various length paths.

4. The subsurface detection system of claim 3, wherein a correlator of the plurality of correlators identifying the shortest time offset corresponds to an approximate distance to the feature.

5. The subsurface detection system of claim 3, wherein the time offset of each of the plurality of correlators is used to approximate a distance to the feature.

6. The subsurface detection system of claim 1, wherein the various length paths are formed by a number of sections connected in series.

7. The subsurface detection system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the one or more signals directed toward the feature for reflection by the feature as the at least one reflected signal and the at least one of the one or more signals transmitted along the plurality of various length paths are substantially identical.

8. The subsurface detection system of claim 7, wherein the at least one of the one or more signals directed toward the feature for reflection by the feature as the at least one reflected signal and the at least one of the one or more signals transmitted along the plurality of various length paths are random.

9. The subsurface detection system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the one or more signals directed toward the feature for reflection by the feature as the at least one reflected signal and the at least one of the one or more signals transmitted along the plurality of various length paths are generated concurrently.

10. The subsurface detection system of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter for transmitting the at least one signal directed toward the feature for reflection by the feature as the at least one reflected signal and a receiver for receiving the at least one reflected signal.

11. The subsurface detection system of claim 10, wherein the transmitter and receiver comprise a single antenna.

12. The subsurface detection system of claim 1, further comprising at least one delay incorporated into one of the various length paths to alter a length of the various length path.

13. The subsurface detection system of claim 1, wherein each of the various length paths comprises at least one delay to alter a length of that various length path.

14. The subsurface detection system of claim 1, secured to a vehicle.

15. The subsurface detection system of claim 14, wherein the vehicle comprises a degradation drum wherein a height of the degradation drum is adjustable to avoid engaging the feature.

16. The subsurface detection system of claim 14, wherein a height of the vehicle is adjustable to avoid engaging the feature.

17. The subsurface detection system of claim 1, secured to a handheld frame.

18. The subsurface detection system of claim 1, further comprising electronic storage to hold correlator data.

19. The subsurface detection system of claim 18, wherein the electronic storage also holds positioning data corresponding to the correlator data.