Apparatus using continuous-wave radiation for detecting and locating targets hidden behind a surface

• US 7,535,407 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2008
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prairielands Energy Marketing, Inc. (MDU Resources Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Prairielands Energy Marketing, Inc. (MDU Resources Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Oehme, Delbert R., Cloutier, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lobo; Ian J
• Application Number:
  US12/076,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20080198063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 342/22, 342/127, 324/326, 324/329, 324/337, 324/637
• US Class Current: 342/127
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat

Abstract

Continuous-wave radiation is used to detect a target hidden behind a surface. In an embodiment, a transmitter directs a beam of continuous-wave microwave radiation from a transmitting location, and reflected radiation from the target is received at first and second receiving locations closer to the surface than the transmitting location. The transmitting and receiving locations have spatial relationships such that the phase of reflected radiation received at one receiving location is in quadrature with the phase of reflected radiation received at the other receiving location. In an embodiment, direct transmitted radiation is received at the receiving locations in quadrature.

Claims

1. Apparatus for detecting a target hidden behind a surface, comprising:

a transmitter that transmits a beam of continuous-wave radiation;

a first receiver disposed to receive such radiation reflected from a target; and

a second receiver disposed to receive such radiation reflected from the target, wherein

the receivers are spaced from the transmitter and are spaced from one another according to predetermined spatial relationships such that the electrical signal phase of reflected radiation received by the first receiver is in electrical signal quadrature with the electrical signal phase of reflective radiation received by the second receiver, and wherein the apparatus further comprises circuitry that combines signals derived from the receivers to produce an output.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output corresponds to the square root of the sum of two squared signals derived from the receivers.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spatial relationships are such that the receivers receive direct radiation from the transmitter before radiation reaches the target.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the electrical signal phase of direct radiation received by the first receiver is in electrical signal quadrature with the electrical signal phase of the direct radiation received by the second receiver.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the radiation is microwave radiation and each of the transmitter and the receivers includes an antenna with a directional beam pattern.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the spatial relationships are such that the beam patterns extend in substantially the same direction.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the microwave radiation has a predetermined frequency and the receivers are separated by a distance L/8, where L is the wavelength of the radiation.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the beam patterns of the receivers are substantially parallel and the beam pattern of the transmitter is inclined with respect to the beam patterns of the receivers.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the microwave radiation has a predetermined frequency, and the apparatus is constructed such that, in use, one of the receivers is a quarter wavelength closer to the surface than the other receiver.

10. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the transmitter and the receivers are mounted on an elongated support with the receivers adjacent to an end of the support and the transmitter spaced from the end of the support.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the support comprises a rod, the transmitter and the first receiver are mounted on a same side of the rod and the second receiver is mounted on an opposite side of the rod, and both receivers are the same distance from the transmitter.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus is constructed such that, in use, the rod is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the surface, with the end of the rod adjacent to the surface.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the rod has a handle constructed to permit an operator to hold the rod oriented substantially perpendicularly to the surface.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the rod has an electronics unit mounted thereon that includes a source of radiation energy, a readout device, a power supply, and controls.

15. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the transmitter and the receivers are supported on an elongated rod with the receivers adjacent to an end of the rod and the transmitter spaced from the end of the rod, the transmitter and the receivers are disposed at a same side of the rod, and the apparatus is constructed such that, in use, the receivers are adjacent to the surface, the transmitter is remote from the surface, and the rod is inclined to the surface.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the rod has a handle and has an electronics unit thereon between the handle and the transmitter.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the rod has a counter-weight adjacent to its opposite end.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the electronics unit has a source of radiation energy, a readout device, and controls, and the counter-weight is part of a power supply for the apparatus.