Active imaging using satellite communication system

• US 7,633,427 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2006
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KinetX, Inc.
• Original Assignee: KinetX, Inc.
• Inventors: Nelson, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brainard; Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US11/398,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20070090990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: 342/25
• US Class Current: 342/25.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/003 Bistatic radar systems; Multistatic radar systems
• 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 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/87 Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar
• 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

Abstract

An active imaging system uses communication satellites to identify the location and physical attributes of a target. A transmitter emits a time-synchronized signal directed to a target. The transmitter radiates L-band RF signals. The transmitter can be positioned on an airborne or ground platform. A constellation of communication satellites receives and time stamps the time-synchronized signal reflected from the target to form an active image of the target. The constellation of communication satellites have multiple roles other than active imaging, such as providing voice and data communications. The time-synchronized signal reflected from the target can be received by multiple satellites within the constellation of communication satellites or by multiple antenna disposed on one satellite within the constellation of communication satellites.

Claims

1. An active imaging system using communication satellites, comprising:

a plurality of transmitters emitting time-synchronized signals directed to a target, the transmitters being configured to pan each of the time-synchronized signals across a surface of the target;

a database storing a plurality of known structure descriptions;

a constellation of communication satellites, each communication satellite receiving and time stamping each of the time-synchronized signals reflected from the target to form an active image of the target for determining a range to the target; and

a computer system for comparing the active image of the target to the plurality of known structure descriptions stored within the database to identify and locate the target and using the time stamp data to determine movement of the target.

2. The active imaging system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of transmitters radiates L-band RF signals.

3. The active imaging system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of transmitters is positioned on an airborne or space-borne platform.

4. The active imaging system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of transmitters is positioned on a ground platform.

5. The active imaging system of claim 1, wherein the constellation of communication satellites has multiple functional roles.

6. The active imaging system of claim 1, wherein the constellation of communication satellites provides voice and data communications.

7. The active imaging system of claim 1, wherein each of the time-synchronized signals reflected from the target is received by multiple antennae disposed on one satellite within the constellation of communication satellites.

8. An active imaging system using a plurality of satellites, comprising:

a transmitter emitting a signal directed to a target;

a database storing a plurality of known structure descriptions;

a plurality of satellites receiving the signal reflected from the target with temporal data to form an active image of the target; and

a computer system for comparing the active image of the target to the plurality of known structure descriptions stored within the database to identify and locate the target.

9. The active imaging system of claim 8, wherein the transmitter radiates L-band RF signals.

10. The active imaging system of claim 8, wherein the transmitter is positioned on an airborne or space-borne platform.

11. The active imaging system of claim 8, wherein the transmitter is positioned on a ground platform.

12. The active imaging system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of satellites provides voice and data communications.

13. The active imaging system of claim 8, wherein the signal reflected from the target is received by multiple satellites within the plurality of satellites.

14. The active imaging system of claim 8, wherein the signal reflected from the target is received by multiple antennae disposed on one satellite within the plurality of satellites.

15. A method of active imaging of a target using communication satellites, comprising:

emitting a time-synchronized signal from a transmitter directed to a target;

receiving and time stamping the time-synchronized signal reflected from the target through a constellation of communication satellites to form an active image of the target; and

comparing the active image of the target to a plurality of known structure descriptions to identify and locate the target.

16. The method of claim 15, further including radiating L-band RF signals from the transmitter.

17. The method of claim 15, further including positioning the transmitter on an airborne or space-borne platform.

18. The method of claim 15, further including providing multiple roles for the constellation of communication satellites other than active imaging.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the time-synchronized signal reflected from the target is received by multiple satellites within the constellation of communication satellites.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the time-synchronized signal reflected from the target is received by multiple antennae disposed on one satellite within the constellation of communication satellites.

21. An active imaging system using a plurality of satellites, comprising:

a plurality of transmitters disposed on a platform and emitting time-synchronized signals directed to a target; and

a plurality of satellites receiving the signals reflected from the target with temporal data to form an active image of the target with sufficient resolution to identify physical attributes and location of the target.

22. The active imaging system of claim 21, wherein the platform is airborne or space-borne.

23. The active imaging system of claim 21, wherein the time-synchronized signals reflected from the target are received by multiple satellites within the plurality of of satellites.

24. The active imaging system of claim 21, wherein the time-synchronized signals reflected from the target are received by multiple antennae disposed on one satellite within the plurality of satellites.