Active imaging using satellite communication system

• US 20070090990A1
• Filed: 04/04/2006
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KinetX, Inc.
• Original Assignee: KinetX, Inc.
• Inventors: Nelson, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,633,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/25.00R
• 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 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/87 Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations

Abstract

An active imaging system uses communication satellites to identify the location and physical attributes of a target. A transmitter emits a time-synchronized signal directed to a target. The transmitter radiates L-band RF signals. The transmitter can be positioned on an airborne or ground platform. A constellation of communication satellites receives and time stamps the time-synchronized signal reflected from the target to form an active image of the target. The constellation of communication satellites have multiple roles other than active imaging, such as providing voice and data communications. The time-synchronized signal reflected from the target can be received by multiple satellites within the constellation of communication satellites or by multiple antenna disposed on one satellite within the constellation of communication satellites.

Claims

1. An active imaging system using communication satellites, comprising:

a transmitter emitting a time-synchronized signal directed to a target; and

a constellation of communication satellites receiving and time stamping the time-synchronized signal reflected from the target to form an active image of the target.

2. The active imaging system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter radiates L-band RF signals.

3. The active imaging system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is positioned on an airborne or space-borne platform.

4. The active imaging system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is positioned on a ground platform.

5. The active imaging system of claim 1, wherein the constellation of communication satellites have multiple functional roles.

6. The active imaging system of claim 1, wherein the constellation of communication satellites provides voice and data communications.

7. The active imaging system of claim 1, wherein the location and identity of the target can be determined by the active imaging system.

8. The active imaging system of claim 1, wherein the time-synchronized signal reflected from the target is received by multiple satellites within the constellation of communication satellites.

9. The active imaging system of claim 1, wherein the time-synchronized signal reflected from the target is received by multiple antenna disposed on one satellite within the constellation of communication satellites.

10. An active imaging system using a plurality of satellites, comprising:

a transmitter emitting a signal directed to a target; and

a plurality of satellites receiving the signal reflected from the target with temporal data to form an active image of the target.

11. The active imaging system of claim 10, wherein the transmitter radiates L-band RF signals.

12. The active imaging system of claim 10, wherein the transmitter is positioned on an airborne or space-borne platform.

13. The active imaging system of claim 10, wherein the transmitter is positioned on a ground platform.

14. The active imaging system of claim 10, wherein the constellation of communication satellites provides voice and data communications.

15. The active imaging system of claim 10, wherein the location and identity of the target can be determined by the active imaging system.

16. The active imaging system of claim 10, wherein the time-synchronized signal reflected from the target is received by multiple satellites within the constellation of communication satellites.

17. The active imaging system of claim 10, wherein the time-synchronized signal reflected from the target is received by multiple antenna disposed on one satellite within the constellation of communication satellites.

18. A method of active imaging of a target using communication satellites, comprising:

emitting a time-synchronized signal from a transmitter directed to a target; and

receiving and time stamping the time-synchronized signal reflected from the target through a constellation of communication satellites to form an active image of the target.

19. The method of claim 18, further including radiating L-band RF signals from the transmitter.

20. The method of claim 18, further including positioning the transmitter on an airborne or space-borne platform.

21. The method of claim 18, further including providing multiple roles for the constellation of communication satellites other than active imaging.

22. The method of claim 18, further including locating and identifying the target.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the time-synchronized signal reflected from the target is received by multiple satellites within the constellation of communication satellites.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the time-synchronized signal reflected from the target is received by multiple antenna disposed on one satellite within the constellation of communication satellites.

25. An active imaging system using a plurality of satellites, comprising:

a transmitter disposed on a platform and emitting a signal directed to a target; and

a plurality of satellites receiving the signal reflected from the target with temporal data to form an active image of the target with sufficient resolution to identify physical attributes and location of the target.

26. The active imaging system of claim 25, wherein the platform is airborne or space-borne.

27. The active imaging system of claim 25, wherein the time-synchronized signal reflected from the target is received by multiple satellites within the constellation of communication satellites.

28. The active imaging system of claim 25, wherein the time-synchronized signal reflected from the target is received by multiple antenna disposed on one satellite within the constellation of communication satellites.