Apparatus for collecting ground radar data with polarization information

• US 20060097905A1
• Filed: 12/09/2003
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mala GeoScience Forvaltnings AB
• Original Assignee: Mala GeoScience Forvaltnings AB
• Inventors: Johansson, Bernt, Friborg, Johan, Leijon, Tommy
• Granted Patent: US 7,345,617 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/22
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/885 for ground probing prospecting or detecting using electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat

Abstract

The present invention concerns an apparatus for collecting ground radar data with polarization information comprising a main body exhibiting structure for moving the apparatus along the ground, a part that rotates in relation to the main body supporting a pair of antennas of transmitter and receiver type, a power source with connected control unit for controlling and governing the ground radar, a transmitter unit electrically connected to one of the pair of antennas for generating and transmitting radar pulses and a sampler unit electrically connected to the other antenna for receiving the reflected radar pulses. To improve signal quality and reduce sensitivity to interference, the rotating pair of antennas support the transmitter unit, sampler unit and A/D converter contained in the sampler unit, the power source and the control unit are located in the main body and are electrically connected to the transmitter unit and sampler unit via a slip-ring arrangement, in which the radar signals are conveyed digitally via the slip ring arrangement.

Claims

1. Apparatus for collecting ground radar data with polarization information comprising a main body (2) exhibiting a means of moving the apparatus (1) along the ground, a part (3) that rotates in relation to the main body supporting a pair of antennas of transmitter and receiver type (7, 8), a power source (5) with connected control unit (4) for controlling and governing the ground radar, a transmitter unit (9) electrically connected to one of the pair of antennas (7) for generating and transmitting radar pulses and a sampler unit (10) electrically connected to the other antenna (8) for receiving the reflected radar pulses, characterized in that the rotating pair of antennas (7,8) supports the transmitter unit (9), sampler unit (10) and the A/D converter (11) included in the sampler unit, that the power source (5) and control unit (4) are located in the main body (2) and is electrically connected to the transmitter unit and sampler unit via a slip-ring arrangement (6), in which radar signals in digital form are conveyed via the slip-ring arrangement.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, whereby the transmitter unit (9) is supported by one (7) of the pair of antennas (7,8) that is used as the transmitter antenna.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, whereby the sampler unit (10) and the A/D converter (11) is supported by one (8) of the pair of antennas (7,8) that is used as the receiver antenna.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, whereby the transmitter unit (9) comprises analogue high frequency equipment.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, whereby the antennas (7, 8) are contained inside a housing (12).