System and method for detecting an intruder using impulse radio technology

• US 20050083199A1
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Humatics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Inventors: Hall, David J., Yano, Scott M., Schantz, Hans G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,129,886 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/552
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/003 Bistatic radar systems; Multistatic radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/0209 Systems with very large relative bandwidth, i.e. larger than 10 %, e.g. baseband, pulse, carrier-free, ultrawideband
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/42 Simultaneous measurement of distance and other co-ordinates indirect measurement G01S13/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/282 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/285 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/292 Extracting wanted echo-signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/187 by interference of a radiation field
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/6908 using time hopping

Abstract

An intrusion detection system and method are provided that can utilize impulse radio technology to detect when an intruder has entered a protection zone. In addition, the intrusion detection system and method can utilize impulse radio technology to determine a location of the intruder within the protection zone and also track the movement of the intruder within the protection zone. Moreover, the intrusion detection system and method can utilize impulse radio technology to create a specially shaped protection zone before trying to detect when and where the intruder has penetrated and moved within the protection zone.

Claims

1. A method of detecting an object, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a first ultra-wideband (UWB) signal;

receiving the first UWB signal;

generating a first waveform that indicates a multipath structure of a propagation channel of the transmitted first UWB signal;

transmitting a second UWB signal;

receiving the second UWB signal;

generating a second waveform that indicates a multipath structure of a propagation channel of the transmitted second UWB signal; and

comparing the first waveform and the second waveform to detect said object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said object is detected based upon a change between the first waveform and the second waveform caused by said object.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving at least one of the first UWB signal and the second UWB signal at two or more locations; and

determining a position of the object.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

sounding an alarm upon detection of said object.

5. A method of detecting an object, comprising the steps of:

generating a first waveform that indicates a multipath structure of a propagation channel of a transmitted first ultra-wideband (UWB) signal;

generating a second waveform that indicates a multipath structure of a propagation channel of a transmitted second UWB signal; and

comparing the first waveform and the second waveform to detect said object.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said object is detected based upon a change between the first waveform and the second waveform caused by said object.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

receiving at least one of the first UWB signal and the second UWB signal at two or more locations; and

determining a position of the object.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

sounding an alarm upon detection of said object.

9. A method of detecting an object, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a plurality of ultra-wideband (UWB) signals;

receiving the plurality of UWB signals;

generating a plurality of waveforms, each of the plurality of waveforms indicating a multipath structure of

a propagation channel of the corresponding one of the transmitted plurality of UWB signals; and

comparing two of said plurality of waveforms to detect said object.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said object is detected based upon a change between the first waveform and the second waveform caused by said object.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

receiving the plurality of UWB signals at two or more locations; and

determining a position of the object.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

sounding an alarm upon detection of said object.

13. A security system, comprising:

a transmitting impulse radio unit for transmitting a first ultra-wideband (UWB) signal and a second UWB signal;

a receiving impulse radio unit for receiving the first UWB signal and the second UWB signal;

said receiving impulse radio unit for generating a first waveform that indicates a multipath structure of a propagation channel of the transmitted first UWB signal;

said receiving impulse radio unit for generating a second waveform that indicates a multipath structure of a propagation channel of the transmitted second UWB signal; and

a processor for comparing the first waveform to the second waveform to detect an object.

14. The security system of claim 13, wherein said object is detected based upon a change between the first waveform and the second waveform caused by said object.

15. The security system of claim 13, further comprising at least two more receiving impulse radio units which generate waveforms that enable said processor to determine a current position of the object.

16. The security system of claim 13, wherein said processor is capable of sounding an alarm upon detection of said object.

17. The security system of claim 13, wherein said receiving impulse radio unit is an ultra-wideband scanning receiver.

18. A system for detecting an object, comprising:

a processor for generating a first waveform that indicates a multipath structure of a propagation channel of a transmitted first UWB signal;

said processor for generating a second waveform that indicates a multipath structure of a propagation channel of a transmitted second UWB signal; and

said processor for comparing the first waveform and the second waveform to detect said object.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said object is detected based upon a change between the first waveform and the second waveform caused by said object.

20. A security system comprising:

a transmitting impulse radio unit for transmitting a plurality of ultra-wideband (UWB) signals;

a first receiving impulse radio unit for receiving the plurality of UWB signals;

a processor for generating a plurality of waveforms, each of the plurality of waveforms indicates a multipath structure of a propagation channel of the corresponding one of the transmitted plurality of UWB signals; and

said processor for comparing two of said plurality of waveforms to detect an object.

21. The security system of claim 20, wherein said object is detected based upon a change between the first waveform and the second waveform caused by said object.

22. The security system of claim 20, further comprising:

a second receiving impulse radio unit for receiving the plurality of UWB signals;

a third receiving impulse radio unit for receiving the plurality of UWB signals; and

said processor for determining a position of the object by using waveforms generated by said first, second and third receiving impulse radio units.

23. The security system of claim 20, wherein said processor sounds an alarm upon detection of said object.

24. The security system of claim 20, wherein said first receiving impulse radio unit is an ultra-wideband scanning receiver.

25. The security system of claim 20, wherein said transmitting impulse radio unit further includes at least one directive antenna.