System and method for intrusion detection using a time domain radar array

• US 7,358,888 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2004
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Humatics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Time Domain
• Inventors: Richards, James L., Fullerton, Larry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor; John B
• Application Number:
  US10/806,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 342/21, 342/22, 342/27, 342/28, 342 57- 59, 342/107, 342/108, 342/113, 342/114, 342/125, 342/126, 342/133, 342/139, 342/146, 342/147
• US Class Current: 342/57
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/0209 Systems with very large relative bandwidth, i.e. larger than 10 %, e.g. baseband, pulse, carrier-free, ultrawideband
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/56 for presence detection presence detection using near field arrangements G01V3/00, e.g. G01V3/08, G01V3/12; burglar, theft or intruder alarms with electrical actuation G08B13/22 - G08B13/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/87 Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• 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 13/888 through wall detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4004 of parts of a radar system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1636 using pulse-type detection circuits

Abstract

A system and method for highly selective intrusion detection using a sparse array of time modulated ultra wideband (TM-UWB) radars. Two or more TM-UWB radars are arranged in a sparse array around the perimeter of a building. Each TM-UWB radar transmits ultra wideband pulses that illuminate the building and the surrounding area. Signal return data is processed to determine, among other things, whether an alarm condition has been triggered. High resolution radar images are formed that give an accurate picture of the inside of the building and the surrounding area. This image is used to detect motion in a highly selective manner and to track moving objects within the building and the surrounding area. Motion can be distinguished based on criteria appropriate to the environment in which the intrusion detection system operates.

Claims

1. An ultra wideband (UWB) apparatus, comprising:

an UWB radar that uses UWB radar signals to detect an object; and

an impulse radio that modulates UWB signals to communicate information, wherein the impulse radio uses UWB signals to perform range finding relative to another impulse radio for determining the location of the object.

2. The UWB apparatus of claim 1, wherein said UWB radar transmits the UWB radar signals.

3. The UWB apparatus of claim 1, wherein said UWB radar receives signal returns of UWB radar signals reflecting off said object.

4. The UWB apparatus of claim 3, wherein said signal returns correspond to at least one of forward scattering signal returns and back scattering signal returns.

5. The UWB apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a processor that processes said at least one of said back scattering returns and said forward scattering returns to determine the movement of said object.

6. The UWB apparatus of claim 5, wherein said processor triggers a condition when said object penetrates a boundary.

7. The UWB apparatus of claim 1, wherein said UWB radar and said impulse radio are combined into a single unit that performs integrated UWB radar, communications, and range finding functions.

8. The UWB apparatus of claim 1, wherein said location is used to determine the position of said object.

9. An UWB apparatus, comprising:

an UWB radar that transmits UWB radar signals and receives back scattering signal returns of said UWB radar signals reflecting off an object, and

an impulse radio that modulates UWB signals to communicate information, wherein the impulse radio uses UWB signals to perform range finding relative to another impulse radio for determining the location of the object.

10. The UWB apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a processor that processes said back scattering signal returns to determine the movement of said object.

11. The UWB apparatus of claims 10, wherein said processor triggers a condition when said object penetrates a boundary.

12. The UWB apparatus of claim 9, wherein said UWB radar receives forward scattering signal returns of UWB radar signals that are transmitted by another UWB radar.

13. The UWB apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a processor that processes at least one of said back scattering signal returns and said forward scattering signal returns to determine the movement of said object.

14. The UWB apparatus of claims 13, wherein said processor triggers a condition when said object penetrates a boundary.

15. The UWB apparatus of claim 9, wherein said UWB radar and said impulse radio are combined into a single unit that performs integrated UWB radar, communications, and range finding functions.

16. The UWB apparatus of claim 9, wherein said location is used to determine the position of said object.

17. An UWB apparatus, comprising:

a UWB radar that receives forward scattering signal returns of UWB radar signals reflecting off an object; and

an impulse radio that modulates UWB signals to communicate information, wherein the impulse radio uses UWB signals to perform range finding relative to another impulse radio for determining the location of the object.

18. The UWB apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a processor that processes said forward scattering signal returns to determine the movement of said object.

19. The UWB apparatus of claims 18, wherein said processor triggers a condition when said object penetrates a boundary.

20. The UWB apparatus of claim 17, wherein said UWB radar also receives back scattering signal returns reflecting off of the object.

21. The UWB apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

a processor that processes at least one of said back scattering signal returns and said forward scattering signal returns to determine the movement of said object.

22. The UWB apparatus of claims 21, wherein said processor triggers a condition when said object penetrates a boundary.

23. The UWB apparatus of claim 17, wherein said UWB radar and said impulse radio are combined into a single unit that performs integrated UWB radar, communications, and range finding functions.

24. The UWB apparatus of claim 17, wherein said location is used to determine the position of said object.

25. An UWB apparatus, comprising:

a first UWB radar that transmits first UWB radar signals,

a second UWB radar that receives forward scattering signal returns of said first UWB radar signals reflecting off an object; and

a first impulse radio and a second impulse radio that communicates with said first impulse radio using UWB signals, wherein said first impulse radio performs range finding to determine a range relative to said second impulse radio used for determining the location of the object.

26. The UWB apparatus of claim 25, further comprising:

a processor that processes said forward scattering signal returns to determine the movement of said object.

27. The UWB apparatus of claim 26 wherein said processor triggers a condition when said object penetrates a boundary.

28. The UWB apparatus of claim 25, wherein said second UWB radar transmits second UWB radar signals and receives back scattering signal returns of said second UWB radar signals reflecting off the object.

29. The UWB apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

a processor that processes at least one of said back scattering signal returns and said forward scattering signal returns to determine the movement of the object.

30. The UWB apparatus of claims 29, wherein said processor triggers a condition when said object penetrates a boundary.

31. The UWB apparatus of claim 25, wherein one of said first UWB radar and said second UWB radar is combined into a single unit with one of said first impulse radio and said second impulse radio to perform integrated UWB radar, communications, and range finding functions.

32. The UWB apparatus of claim 25, wherein said location is used to determine the position of said object.

33. A method of UWB signaling, comprising:

transmitting UWB radar signals;

receiving signal returns of said UWB radar signals reflecting off an object;

communicating information from a first impulse radio to a second impulse radio using UWB signals; and

performing range finding to determine a range between said first impulse radio and said second impulse radio used for determining the location of the object,

wherein said at least one of said transmitting and said receiving are performed by said first impulse radio.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said signal returns correspond to at least one of back scattering signal returns and forward scattering signal returns.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

processing at least one of said back scattering returns and said forward scattering returns to determine the movement of said object.

36. The method of claims 33, further comprising:

triggering a condition when said object penetrates a boundary.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein said location is used to determine the position of said object.

38. A method of UWB signaling, comprising:

receiving at an impulse radio at least one of back scattering signal returns and forward scattering signal returns of transmitted UWB radar signals that reflect off an object;

communicating information from said impulse radio to another impulse radio using UWB signals; and

performing range finding to determine a range between said impulse radio relative to said another impulse radio used for determining the location of the object.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

processing said at least one of back scattering signal returns and forward scattering signal returns to determine the movement of said object.

40. The method of claims 39, further comprising:

triggering a condition when said object penetrates a boundary.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein said location is used to determine the position of said object.

42. A method of UWB signaling, comprising:

transmitting at an impulse radio UWB radar signals that reflect off an object;

communicating information from said impulse radio to another impulse radio using UWB signals; and

performing range finding to determine a range between said impulse radio relative to said another impulse radio used for determining the location of the object.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising:

receiving signal returns of said transmitted UWB radar signals.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein said signal returns comprise at least one of back scattering signal returns and forward scattering signal returns.

45. The method of claim 42, further comprising:

triggering a condition when said object penetrates a boundary.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein said location is used to determine the position of said object.