SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR APPARATUS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. A synthetic aperture radar pod adapted for movement along a scan path for scanning material in a volume beneath a surface of the volume at a scan area, the synthetic aperture radar pod including:
- a support structure;
a radar system mounted on the support structure, the radar system including;
a radar transmitter for providing an electromagnetic wave signal;
antenna structure operatively connected to the radar transmitter for receiving the electromagnetic wave signal from the radar transmitter and producing a radar signal in response to receiving the electromagnetic wave signal; and
a radar receiver operatively connected to the antenna structure for receiving reflected radar signals from the antenna structure, the reflected radar signals indicating distance of the material beneath the surface of the volume from the antenna structure in time delay from production of the radar signal; and
a position indicating system mounted on the support structure adapted to generate information indicative of a position of the radar system corresponding to transmitted and received radar signals.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Synthetic aperture radar apparatus and methods provide for a compact and usable system to scan behind and underneath surfaces. A synthetic aperture radar pod can be portable and self contained for low cost and ease of transportation. The synthetic aperture radar system may be used at close range to the target area without a fixed and predetermined scan pattern and still provide usable three dimensional images of a surface and/or what is behind or beneath the surface. In some embodiments, the synthetic aperture radar apparatus may be used with common vehicles not dedicated to scanning to provide a useful three dimensional image.
69 Citations
62 Claims
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1. A synthetic aperture radar pod adapted for movement along a scan path for scanning material in a volume beneath a surface of the volume at a scan area, the synthetic aperture radar pod including:
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a support structure; a radar system mounted on the support structure, the radar system including; a radar transmitter for providing an electromagnetic wave signal; antenna structure operatively connected to the radar transmitter for receiving the electromagnetic wave signal from the radar transmitter and producing a radar signal in response to receiving the electromagnetic wave signal; and a radar receiver operatively connected to the antenna structure for receiving reflected radar signals from the antenna structure, the reflected radar signals indicating distance of the material beneath the surface of the volume from the antenna structure in time delay from production of the radar signal; and a position indicating system mounted on the support structure adapted to generate information indicative of a position of the radar system corresponding to transmitted and received radar signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 17, 22, 23, 25, 28, 31, 34, 37)
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4. (canceled)
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7-9. -9. (canceled)
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11-16. -16. (canceled)
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18-21. -21. (canceled)
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24. (canceled)
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26-27. -27. (canceled)
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29-30. -30. (canceled)
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32. (canceled)
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35-36. -36. (canceled)
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38-51. -51. (canceled)
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52. A method of operating a radar unit capable of providing data for generating a three-dimensional image, the method comprising:
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emitting a radar signal from the radar unit toward the scan area as the radar unit moves; receiving reflected radar signals from the scan area with the radar unit as the radar unit moves; generating in real time information indicative of the position of the radar unit; and correlating the position of the radar unit with the emitted and received reflected radar signals. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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53-56. -56. (canceled)
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62-94. -94. (canceled)
Specification