OBJECT DETECTION USING ACOUSTIC IMAGING
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for providing an acoustic image of terrain, the terrain including a target object, the apparatus comprising:
- an acoustic energy source, adapted to provide acoustic energy to the terrain;
an acoustic imaging device, adapted to receive acoustic signals from the terrain and to provide image signals;
an electronic circuit, adapted to receive the image signals from the acoustic imaging device and to provide display signals; and
a display, adapted to receive display signals from the electronic circuit and to show an acoustic image, the acoustic image being a visual representation of the acoustic signals,whereby the target object is locatable using the acoustic image.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention include methods and apparatus for the detection of objects using acoustic imaging. Vibrational resonance characteristics of man-made objects may be significantly different from those of the surrounding natural materials, allowing an acoustic image to highlight the position of the object, even if the object is concealed from visual imaging.
34 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing an acoustic image of terrain, the terrain including a target object, the apparatus comprising:
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an acoustic energy source, adapted to provide acoustic energy to the terrain; an acoustic imaging device, adapted to receive acoustic signals from the terrain and to provide image signals; an electronic circuit, adapted to receive the image signals from the acoustic imaging device and to provide display signals; and a display, adapted to receive display signals from the electronic circuit and to show an acoustic image, the acoustic image being a visual representation of the acoustic signals, whereby the target object is locatable using the acoustic image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of detecting a target object, the target object being located within terrain, the method comprising:
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directing acoustic energy towards the terrain; receiving an acoustic signal from the terrain, the acoustic signal including a contribution from the target object; forming an acoustic image using the acoustic signal, the acoustic image being a visual representation of a spatial distribution of acoustic signal strength received from the terrain; and locating the target object using the acoustic image. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification