Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar for Imaging of Buildings
First Claim
1. A mobile synthetic aperture radar comprising:
- a plurality of antenna elements that are arranged in a two-dimensional array and configured in or on a truck, the plurality of antenna elements operable to transmit a transmitted radio-frequency signal toward a building and receive a plurality of reflected radio-frequency signals comprising energy from the transmitted radio-frequency signal that is reflected from one or more internal features of the building, the plurality of antenna elements operable to step the transmitted radio-frequency signal through a range of frequencies extending from 500 to 1225 Mega-Hertz, at least a portion of the reflected radio-frequency signals received with a vertical aperture that differs from one another; and
an image processing application coupled to the plurality of antenna elements and operable to;
receive the reflected radio-frequency signals from the plurality of antenna elements as they are moved horizontally with respect to the building; and
generate imagery of the building according to phase variations in the plurality of received radio-frequency signals relative to one another, the imagery depicting vertical characteristics of the one or more internal features comprising a ground floor and an upper floor of the building.
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Accused Products
Abstract
According to one embodiment, a synthetic aperture radar includes multiple antenna elements coupled to an image processing application. The antenna elements have a differing vertical spatial separation relative to one another and are configured to transmit a radio-frequency signal toward a stationary object and receive multiple reflected radio-frequency signals from one or more internal features of the building. The image processing application receives the reflected radio-frequency signals as the antenna elements are moved horizontally with respect to the stationary object. From these reflected radio-frequency signals, the image processing application generates imagery of the stationary object according to phase variations in the plurality of received radio-frequency signals. The imagery depicting vertical characteristics of the one or more internal features of the building.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A mobile synthetic aperture radar comprising:
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a plurality of antenna elements that are arranged in a two-dimensional array and configured in or on a truck, the plurality of antenna elements operable to transmit a transmitted radio-frequency signal toward a building and receive a plurality of reflected radio-frequency signals comprising energy from the transmitted radio-frequency signal that is reflected from one or more internal features of the building, the plurality of antenna elements operable to step the transmitted radio-frequency signal through a range of frequencies extending from 500 to 1225 Mega-Hertz, at least a portion of the reflected radio-frequency signals received with a vertical aperture that differs from one another; and an image processing application coupled to the plurality of antenna elements and operable to; receive the reflected radio-frequency signals from the plurality of antenna elements as they are moved horizontally with respect to the building; and generate imagery of the building according to phase variations in the plurality of received radio-frequency signals relative to one another, the imagery depicting vertical characteristics of the one or more internal features comprising a ground floor and an upper floor of the building.
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2. A mobile synthetic aperture radar comprising:
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a plurality of antenna elements having a differing vertical spatial separation relative to one another, the plurality of antenna elements operable to transmit a transmitted radio-frequency signal toward a stationary object and receive a plurality of reflected radio-frequency signals comprising energy from the transmitted radio-frequency signal that is reflected from one or more internal features of the stationary object; and an image processing application coupled to the plurality of antenna elements and operable to; receive the reflected radio-frequency signals from the plurality of antenna elements as they are moved horizontally with respect to the stationary object; and generate imagery of the stationary object according to phase variations in the plurality of received radio-frequency signals relative to one another, the imagery depicting vertical characteristics of the one or more internal features. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19)
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12. A method comprising:
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providing a plurality of antenna elements that have a vertical spatial separation relative to one another; moving the plurality of antenna elements horizontally with respect to a stationary object; transmitting, using the plurality of antenna elements, a transmitted radio-frequency signal toward the stationary object; receiving, using the plurality of antenna elements, a plurality of reflected radio-frequency signals comprising energy from the transmitted radio-frequency signal that is reflected from one or more internal features of the stationary object; and generating imagery of the stationary object according to phase variations in the plurality of received radio-frequency signals relative to one another, the imagery depicting vertical characteristics of the one or more internal features. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 20)
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Specification