Signal Power Mapping For Detection Of Buried Objects And Other Changes To The RF Environment

• US 20100097182A1
• Filed: 10/17/2008
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiaLinx, Inc.
• Original Assignee: TiaLinx, Inc.
• Inventors: Niktash, Afshin, Mohamadi, Farrokh
• Granted Patent: US 8,604,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/0056 for use in interrogation, identification or read/write systems record carriers G06K7/00, G06K19/00; for railways B61L3/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/02 using transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/48 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

In one embodiment, an RF disturbance detection system is provided that includes: an RF interrogator configured to transmit an RF interrogation signal; and a plurality of RF transceiver modules configured to respond to the RF interrogation signal by transmitting unique RF response signals, wherein the RF interrogator is further configured to periodically interrogate the RF transceiver modules to detect the power of the corresponding response signals so as to detect any changes in the response signal powers over time.

Claims

1. An RF disturbance detection system, comprising:

an RF interrogator configured to transmit an RF interrogation signal; and

a plurality of RF transceiver modules configured to respond to the RF interrogation signal by transmitting unique RF response signals, wherein the RF interrogator is further configured to periodically interrogate the RF transceiver modules to detect the power of the corresponding response signals so as to detect any changes in the response signal powers over time.

2. The RF disturbance detection system of claim 1, wherein the RF interrogator comprises an RF reader and wherein the RF transceiver modules comprise RFID tags.

3. The RF disturbance detection system of claim 2, wherein the RFID tags are passive RFID tags.

4. The RF disturbance detection system of claim 2, wherein the RFID tags are active RFID tags.

5. The RF disturbance detection system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver modules are distributed across a ground surface.

6. The RF disturbance detection system of claim 1, wherein the RF interrogator is a wireless access point and the RF transceiver modules are wireless client devices.

7. A method of detecting disturbances, comprising:

distributing a plurality of RF transceiver modules in a monitored area, wherein each RF transceiver module is configured to transmit a unique response signal in response to an interrogation;

interrogating the plurality of RF transceiver modules at a first time;

receiving the unique response signals at a reception point to determine power levels for the received response signals at the first time;

interrogating the plurality of RF transceiver modules at a subsequent second time;

receiving the unique response signals at the reception point to determine power levels for the received response signals at the second time; and

comparing the power levels from the first and second times to detect a presence of an RF disturbance in the monitored area.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein comparing the power levels comprises comparing signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs).

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising continuing to monitor power levels times subsequent to the second time.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein distributing the RF transceiver modules comprises placing the RF transceiver modules on a ground surface.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the RF disturbance results from a buried object.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the buried object is an improvised explosive device (IED).