SYSTEMS, APPARATUS, AND METHODS FOR DATA ACQUISITION AND IMAGING

• US 20140368378A1
• Filed: 06/20/2014
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sadar 3D, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sadar 3D, Inc.
• Inventors: Crain, Stephen B., Paiva, Joseph V.R., Cowdrick, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US14/310,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20140368378A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/25.A
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/75 using transponders powered from received waves, e.g. using passive transponders , or using passive reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/767 Responders; Transponders teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying using reflecting targets or active targets F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/885 for ground probing prospecting or detecting using electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/888 through wall detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/90 using synthetic aperture techniques , e.g. synthetic aperture radar [SAR] techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/9089 SAR having an irregular aperture
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/466 by Trilateration, i.e. two antennas or two sensors determine separately the distance to a target, whereby with the knowledge of the baseline length, i.e. the distance between the antennas or sensors, the position data of the target is determined
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/468 by Triangulation, i.e. two antennas or two sensors determine separately the bearing, direction or angle to a target, whereby with the knowledge of the baseline length, the position data of the target is determined
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/02 of systems according to group G01S13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/026 involving the transmission of elliptically or circularly polarised waves
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/14 Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures electromagnetic shields H01Q1/526
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00

Abstract

A scanning system uses synthetic aperture radar and photography. The system is capable of conjoint use of image data developed by these and other scanning apparatus to form a model of a zone. In some versions, the model includes subsurface image information. Methods for use to scan and for implementation of images and models developed by the scan are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a radar structure including;

a radar transmitter for transmitting a radio wave toward a target; and

a radar receiver for receiving a reflection radio wave of the radio wave reflected by the target and converting the reflection radio wave into a radar reflection signal;

a digital camera adjacent to the transmitter for receiving light from the target and converting the received light into a light signal; and

a processor having a non-transitory memory including instructions for processing the radar reflection signal and the light signal to generate an image of the target which is a function of both the radar reflection signal and the light signal, said processor configured to execute said instructions.

31. The system of claim 1 wherein said instructions comprise instructions for generating a three-dimensional image of the target.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the transmitter transmits an additional radio wave toward a subsurface adjacent to the target, wherein the receiver receives a subsurface reflection radio wave of the additional radar radio wave reflected by the subsurface and converts it to a subsurface radar reflection signal, and wherein the processor generates the three-dimensional image as a function of the radar reflection signal, the light signal, and the subsurface radar reflection signal.

33. The system of claim 32 at least one of the following:

wherein the target has a modular feature and the processor generates the three-dimensional image as a function of the radar reflection signal, the light signal, the subsurface radar reflection signal, and the known modular feature;

wherein the memory includes a plurality of templates of modular features and/or elements, when the processor compares the templates to the target and identifies a known modular feature of the target and the processor generates the three-dimensional image as a function of the radar reflection signal, the light signal, the subsurface radar reflection signal, and the known modular feature; and

wherein the user identifies a known modular feature of the target and the processor generates the three-dimensional image as a function of the radar reflection signal, the light signal, the subsurface radar reflection signal, and the known modular feature.

35. The system of claim 31 wherein the processor processes the radar reflection signal to identify a plurality of corner signatures of framing members of the target and determines a spacing of the framing members based on the identified corner signatures, and wherein the three-dimensional image is a function of the determined spacing.

36. The system of claim 31 wherein the processor processes the radar reflection signal to identify a plurality of fasteners of framing members of the target generally along a center-line of the framing members and determines a spacing of the framing members based on the identified fasteners, and wherein the three-dimensional image is a function of the determined spacing.

37. The system of claim 31 wherein the processor processes the radar reflection signal to identify a plurality of fasteners of framing members of the target positioned along front or rear sides of the framing members and determines a spacing of the framing members based on the identified fasteners, and wherein the three-dimensional image is a function of the determined spacing.

38. The system of claim 31 wherein the processor processes the radar reflection signal to determine a modular construction of the subsurface of the target and determines a dimension of the target based on the modular construction, and wherein the processor adjusts a dimension of the three-dimensional image as a function of the determined dimension.

39. The system of claim 31 wherein the processor processes the radar reflection signal to determine a modular construction of the subsurface of the target and determines a dimension of the target based on the modular construction, and wherein the processor adjusts a perspective of the three-dimensional image as a function of the determined dimension.

40. The system of claim 31 wherein the processor processes the radar reflection signal to determine a modular construction of the subsurface of the target and determines a perspective of the target based on the modular construction, and wherein the processor adjusts a perspective of the three-dimensional image as a function of the determined perspective.

41. The system of claim 31 wherein the processor processes the radar reflection signal to determine a modular construction of the subsurface of the target and determines a perspective of the target based on the modular construction, and wherein the processor adjusts a dimension of the three-dimensional image as a function of the determined perspective.

42. The system of claim 31 wherein the processor processes the radar reflection signal to determine a modular construction of the subsurface of the target and determines a reference of the target based on the modular construction, and wherein the processor adjusts the three-dimensional image based on different perspectives of the target as a function of the determined reference.

43. The system of claim 31 wherein the transmitter transmits a circularly polarized radio wave toward a subsurface adjacent to the target and toward a surface of the target, wherein the receiver receives a subsurface and surface reflection radio waves of the circularly polarized radio wave reflected by the subsurface and surface and converts them into subsurface radar reflection signals and surface reflection signals, and wherein the processor generates reference points of the three-dimensional image as a function of the radar reflection signal, the light signal, the subsurface radar reflection signal and the surface radar reflection signal.

44. The system of claim 32 wherein at least one of the following:

the target has a modular feature and the processor generates the three-dimensional image as a function of the radar reflection signal, the light signal, the subsurface radar reflection signal, the surface radar reflection signal, and the known modular feature;

an element adjacent to the target has a modular feature and the processor generates the three-dimensional image as a function of the radar reflection signal, the light signal, the subsurface radar reflection signal, the surface radar reflection signal, and the known modular feature;

an element of the target has a modular feature and the processor generates the three-dimensional image as a function of the radar reflection signal, the light signal, the subsurface radar reflection signal, the surface radar reflection signal, and the known modular feature;

the memory includes a plurality of templates of modular features and/or elements, when the processor compares the templates to the target and identifies a known modular feature of the target and the processor generates the three-dimensional image as a function of the radar reflection signal, the light signal, the subsurface radar reflection signal, the surface radar reflection signal, and the known modular feature; and

the user identifies a known modular feature of the target and the processor generates the three-dimensional image as a function of the radar reflection signal, the light signal, the subsurface radar reflection signal, the surface radar reflection signal, and the known modular feature.

45. The system of claim 32 wherein the processor processes the radar reflection signal to determine elements of the subsurface of the target and/or elements of the surface of the target and determines a dimension of the target based on element size and/or spacing, and wherein the processor adjusts the dimensions of the three-dimensional image as a function of the determined dimensions.

46. The system of claim 32 wherein the processor processes the radar reflection signal to determine elements of the subsurface of the target and/or elements of the surface of the target and determines a dimension of the target based on element size and/or spacing, and wherein the processor adjusts a perspective of the three-dimensional image as a function of the determined dimensions.

47. The system of claim 32 wherein the processor processes the radar reflection signal to determine elements of the subsurface of the target and/or elements of the surface of the target and determines a perspective of the target based on element size and/or spacing, and wherein the processor adjusts the dimensions of the three-dimensional image as a function of the determined perspective.

48. The system of claim 32 wherein the processor processes the radar reflection signal to determine elements of the subsurface of the target and/or elements of the surface of the target and determines a perspective of the target based on element size and/or spacing, and wherein the processor adjusts a perspective of the three-dimensional image as a function of the determined perspective.

49. The system of claim 32 wherein the processor processes the radar reflection signal to determine elements of the subsurface of the target and/or elements of the surface of the target and determines a dimension of the target based on element size and/or spacing, and wherein the

processor adjusts the three-dimensional image based on different perspectives of the target as a function of the determined dimensions.

2-30. -30. (canceled)

34. The system of 33 wherein the known modular feature comprises at least one of the following:

a known dimension of a component of the target;

sheathing fasteners of the target;

width and/or depth of framing members of the target;

length, width and/or thickness of sheathing of the target;

a known spacing of components of the target; and

a known spacing of framing members of the target.

50-95. -95. (canceled)