Sensor Head

• US 20130082865A1
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Published: 04/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: L-3 Communications Security & Detection Systems, Inc. (Leidos Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: L-3 Communications CyTerra Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Duvoisin, Herbert III, Carlson, Douglas O., Holman, Glen A., Johnson, Kevin L., Scott, Waymond, Trishaun, Marquette, Solomon, Geoffrey, Tabony, Joshua L., Sentelle, Christopher Gary, Torres-Rosario, Juan Antonio
• Application Number:
  US13/249,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20130082865A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/22
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/347 using more than one modulation frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/885 for ground probing prospecting or detecting using electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/027 Constructional details of housings, e.g. form, type, material or ruggedness
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/354 Extracting wanted echo-signals Doppler systems G01S13/50
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/17 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/27 Spiral antennas

Abstract

An apparatus includes a sensor head including a continuous wave metal detector (CWMD), a radar, and a transceiver electrically connected to the radar. The radar includes a transmit antenna configured to transmit electromagnetic radiation, and a receive antenna configured to sense electromagnetic radiation. The transceiver is enclosed in a metal housing.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a sensor head comprising a continuous wave metal detector (CWMD), a radar, and a transceiver electrically connected to the radar, wherein

the radar comprises a transmit antenna configured to transmit electromagnetic radiation, and a receive antenna configured to sense electromagnetic radiation, and

the transceiver is enclosed in a metal housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an extendable wand coupled to the sensor head.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmit antenna comprises an elongated spiral antenna, and the receive antenna comprises an elongated spiral antenna.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the transmit antenna or the receive antenna is oriented at an angle relative to a normal of a bottom of the sensor head, and the angle is greater than zero.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein both the transmit antenna and the receive antenna are oriented at the angle relative to the normal of the bottom of the sensor head.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the angle is between five and twenty degrees.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receive antenna comprises a first receive antenna and a second receive antenna separate from the first receive antenna.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is positioned between the receive antenna and the transmit antenna.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the CWMD comprises a transmit coil and a receive coil, and at least a portion of the transmit and receive coil is positioned along a perimeter region of the sensor head.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the GPR and the transceiver are encircled by the transmit coil winding.

11. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein, when the wand is collapsed, the wand and the sensor head collapse to fill a volume that is smaller than a volume filled by the sensor head and the wand when the wand is extended.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radar comprises a ground penetrating radar.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cover configured to enclose at least a portion of the transmitter, the radar and the CWMD.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a processor and electronic storage in communication with the sensor head, the electronic storage comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:

access data from the CWMD and from the radar, and

determine a signature of an object detected by one or more of the CWMD or the radar based on the accessed data.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an output device configured to provide an indication of a detection of an object made by one or more of the CWMD or the radar.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the CWMD transmits and receives radiation at twenty-one or more different frequencies.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a support that receives the radar and the transceiver.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the support comprises a plastic grid.

19. A kit comprising:

a radar comprising a transmit antenna configured to transmit electromagnetic radiation, and a receive antenna configured to sense electromagnetic radiation;

a continuous wave metal detector (CWMD);

a transceiver enclosed in a metal housing, the transceiver comprising an interface configured to electrically connect the transceiver to the transmit antenna and the receive antenna; and

a support structure configured to receive the transmit antenna, the receive antenna, the CWMD, and the transceiver, the support structure comprising a connector configured to electrically connect the transceiver to an electronic processor.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a sensor head comprising a continuous wave metal detector (CWMD), a radar, and a transceiver electrically connected to the radar, wherein

the radar comprises a transmit antenna configured to transmit electromagnetic radiation, and a receive antenna configured to sense electromagnetic radiation,

each of the transmit and receive antennas comprises an elongated spiral antenna, and

the transceiver is positioned between the transmit antenna and the receive antenna.