Non-destructive probing system and a method thereof

• US 20020130805A1
• Filed: 03/14/2002
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Sugiyama, Kentaro, Abe, Atsushi
• Granted Patent: US 6,661,367 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/22
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/2927 by deriving and controlling a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/41 using analysis of echo signal for target characterisation; Target signature; Target cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/411 Identification of targets based on measurements of radar reflectivity G01S7/415 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/414 Discriminating targets with respect to background clutter
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/12 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005

Abstract

A signal processor includes a unit for forming designated groups from radar reflection signals, a memory unit for storing the designated groups of radar reflection signals individually, a first calculator for calculating a standard background signal SB from each of the designated groups of radar reflection signals stored individually. The signal processor further includes a second calculator for calculating differential signals between the individual radar reflection signals and the standard background signal SB separately for each of the designated groups and a unit for identifying the signal reflected from a search object out of the differential signal.

Claims

1. A non-destructive probing system for non-destructively probing for a search object buried in a matrix containing dielectric material by radiating electromagnetic waves to said matrix, comprising:

a probe which is disposed in opposing relation to a surface of said matrix, radiates electromagnetic waves to said matrix, and detects radar reflection signals formed by reflection of said electromagnetic waves; and

a signal processor for calculating the signal reflected by the search object from said radar reflection signals,

wherein said signal processor comprises;

a unit for forming designated groups from said radar reflection signals;

a storage for storing said designated groups of radar reflection signals individually,

a first calculator for calculating a standard background signal from each of said designated groups of radar reflection signals stored individually,

a second calculator for calculating a differential signal between each of said radar reflection signals and said standard background signal separately for each of said designated groups, and

a unit for identifying the signal reflected from said search object out of said differential signal.

2. The non-destructive probing system according to claim 1, wherein the designated groups of radar reflection signals are formed in accordance with the distance between said probe and said matrix surface.

3. The non-destructive probing system according to claim 1, wherein the designated groups of radar reflection signals are formed using peak intensities of said radar reflection signals.

4. The non-destructive probing system according to claim 1, wherein said standard background signal is generated as the average, median, maximum value, or minimum value of the radar reflection signals classified into the same group among said designated groups.

5. The non-destructive probing system according to claim 1, wherein said matrix is soil.

6. The non-destructive probing system according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic waves have a frequency of 10 GHz or less.

7. A method for non-destructively probing for a search object buried in a matrix containing dielectric material by disposing a probe with respect to said matrix and radiating electromagnetic waves from said probe to said matrix, comprising the steps of:

disposing an antenna in opposing relation to a surface of said matrix;

radiating electromagnetic waves from said probe to said matrix and detecting radar reflection signals;

forming designated groups from said radar reflection signals;

storing said radar reflection signals by dividing them into said designated groups;

determining a standard background signal for each of said designated groups;

calculating a differential signal between each of said radar reflection signals belonging to said selected group and said standard background signal; and

extracting the signal reflected by said buried search object from said differential signal.

8. The non-destructive probing method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of forming the designated groups of radar reflection signals in accordance with the distance between said probe and said matrix surface.

9. The non-destructive probing method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of forming the designated groups of radar reflection signals using peak intensities of said radar reflection signals.

10. The non-destructive probing method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of calculating said standard background signal as the average, median, maximum value, or minimum value (whichever is selected) of the radar reflection signals classified into the same group among said designated groups.

11. The non-destructive probing method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of providing said matrix as a soil.

12. The non-destructive probing method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of providing said electromagnetic waves having a frequency of 10 GHz or less.

14. The program according to claim 13, further comprising a step of forming the designated groups of radar reflection signals in accordance with the distance between said probe and said matrix surface.

15. The program according to claim 13, further comprising a step of forming the designated groups of radar reflection signals using peak intensities of said radar reflection signals.

16. The program according to claim 13, further comprising a step of calculating said standard background signal as the average, median, maximum value, or minimum value (whichever is selected) of the radar reflection signals classified into the same group among said designated groups.

17. The program according to claim 13, further comprising the step of providing said electromagnetic waves having a frequency of 10 GHz or less.

19. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 18, which causes the execution of a step of forming the designated groups of radar reflection signals in accordance with the distance between said probe and said matrix surface using peak intensities of said radar reflection signals.

20. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 18, which causes the execution of a step of calculating said standard background signal as the average, median, maximum value, or minimum value (whichever is selected) of the radar reflection signals classified into the same group among said designated groups.

13. A program for executing a non-destructive probing method comprising a step of disposing a probe in opposing relation to a surface of a matrix which contains dielectric material, a step of radiating electromagnetic waves from said probe to the matrix and detecting radar reflection signals, and a step of processing radar reflection signals which contain reflection from a search object by using a signal processor, wherein said program makes said signal processor execute the steps of:

radiating electromagnetic waves from said probe to the matrix and detecting radar reflection signals;

forming designated groups from said radar reflection signals;

storing said radar reflection signals by dividing them into said designated groups;

determining a standard background signal for each of said designated groups;

calculating a differential signal between each of said radar reflection signals belonging to said selected group and said standard background signal; and

extracting the signal reflected by said buried search object from said differential signal.

18. A computer-readable storage medium that records a program for executing a non-destructive probing method comprising a step of disposing a probe in opposing relation to a surface of a matrix which contains dielectric material, a step of radiating electromagnetic waves from said probe to the matrix and detecting radar reflection signals, and a step of processing radar reflection signals which contain reflection from a search object by using a signal processor, wherein said storage medium makes said signal processor execute the steps of:

radiating electromagnetic waves from said antenna to the matrix and detecting radar reflection signals;

forming designated groups from said radar reflection signals;

storing said radar reflection signals by dividing them into said designated groups;

determining a standard background signal for each of said designated groups;

calculating a differential signal between each of said radar reflection signals belonging to said selected group and said standard background signal; and

extracting the signal reflected by said buried search object from said differential signal.