Three-dimensional underground imaging radar system
First Claim
1. A system for investigating a subsurface area of interest, comprising:
- a radar platform circumscribing the subsurface area of interest;
a radar antenna including a transmitter and a receiver provided on said radar platform for transmitting an interrupted frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) directed to the subsurface area of interest and receiving a reflected wave from the subsurface are of interest, said FMCW being transmitted as said vehicle circumscribes the subsurface area of interest, and said reflected wave being received by said radar antenna when said vehicle circumscribes the subsurface area of interest;
processing device in communication with said radar antenna for processing said reflected wave;
memory device in communication with said processing device including a library of known characteristics of underground objects and ground characteristics, said processing device providing an output based upon a comparison of said reflected wave and said library of known characteristics of underground objects and ground characteristics; and
a first display device for displaying said output produced by said processing device.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ultra-wide band ground penetrating radar (GPR) system providing non-invasive detection and three-dimensional mapping of underground objects and voids. The performance of this radar provides improved underground object detection, location and identification over existing radars through the use of a novel interrupted, frequency modulated, continuous wave (FMCW) signal waveform. A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technique known as spotlight mode focused (SAR) operation is used to collect data for the underground area of interest, by circumscribing this area with a radar beam provided on an airborne or ground based vehicle. Near-Brewster angle illumination of the ground is used to reduce losses.
261 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for investigating a subsurface area of interest, comprising:
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a radar platform circumscribing the subsurface area of interest; a radar antenna including a transmitter and a receiver provided on said radar platform for transmitting an interrupted frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) directed to the subsurface area of interest and receiving a reflected wave from the subsurface are of interest, said FMCW being transmitted as said vehicle circumscribes the subsurface area of interest, and said reflected wave being received by said radar antenna when said vehicle circumscribes the subsurface area of interest; processing device in communication with said radar antenna for processing said reflected wave; memory device in communication with said processing device including a library of known characteristics of underground objects and ground characteristics, said processing device providing an output based upon a comparison of said reflected wave and said library of known characteristics of underground objects and ground characteristics; and a first display device for displaying said output produced by said processing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for investigating a subsurface area of interest, comprising:
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irradiating the subsurface area of interest with an interrupted frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) from an antenna, as said antenna circumscribes the subsurface area of interest; receiving a reflected wave from the subsurface area of interest, said reflected wave received by said antenna, said reflected wave containing information relating to said subsurface area of interest; processing said reflected wave to provide output data; determining the location of an object in the subsurface area of interest by comparing said output data to stored data relating to ground characteristics of the subsurface area of interest and underground objects; and providing a three-dimensional output display based upon said determining step. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification