Apparatus and method to identify targets through opaque barriers
First Claim
1. A method that uses ultra-wideband RF energy to detect objects of interest that comprises in combination;
- (a) transmitting repetitive bursts of ultra-wideband RF impulses in the direction of a target area to search for objects of interest,(b) receiving and amplifying signals that are reflected from objects of interest and background clutter in the target area,(c) converting the said received and amplified signals into digital form,(d) performing signal processing functions on said converted signals to reduce noise in the digitized data,(e) incrementally analyzing each said signal processed radar return with a windowing function wherein said window function is moved and performed across the entirety of each processed radar return,(f) calculating any plurality of domain parameters from each said windowing function and using calculated values to extract target specific feature information that distinguishes objects of interest from background clutter,(g) outputting said target feature information into an automatic target recognition method that distinguishes objects of interest from background clutter in the feature information,(h) reporting object class output from said automatic target recognition method to a display device.
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Abstract
The present invention is a method and apparatus that provides detection, characterization, and intuitive dissemination of targets. This disclosure combines improvements to ultra-wideband (UWB) sensing and machine target characterization with a means to convey data in a format that is quickly and readily understood by practitioners of the technology. The invention is well suited for Situational Awareness (SA) support in areas that are occluded by rain, fog, dust, darkness, distance, foliage, building walls, and any material that can be penetrated by ultra-wideband RF signals. Sense Through The Wall (STTW) performance parameters including target range, stand-off distance, and probability of detection are improved herein by combining a dynamically positioned sliding windowing function with orthogonal feature vectors that include but are not limited to time amplitude decay, spectral composition, and propagation time position in the return signal data. This invention is particularly useful for STTW and SA applications including urban combat, law enforcement, fire protection, transportation security, and homeland security. The invention can also be used to detect objects that are concealed by clothing, debris, and other non-metallic materials.
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Citations
61 Claims
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1. A method that uses ultra-wideband RF energy to detect objects of interest that comprises in combination;
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(a) transmitting repetitive bursts of ultra-wideband RF impulses in the direction of a target area to search for objects of interest, (b) receiving and amplifying signals that are reflected from objects of interest and background clutter in the target area, (c) converting the said received and amplified signals into digital form, (d) performing signal processing functions on said converted signals to reduce noise in the digitized data, (e) incrementally analyzing each said signal processed radar return with a windowing function wherein said window function is moved and performed across the entirety of each processed radar return, (f) calculating any plurality of domain parameters from each said windowing function and using calculated values to extract target specific feature information that distinguishes objects of interest from background clutter, (g) outputting said target feature information into an automatic target recognition method that distinguishes objects of interest from background clutter in the feature information, (h) reporting object class output from said automatic target recognition method to a display device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 48)
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40. An apparatus that uses ultra-wideband RF energy to detect objects of interest that comprises in combination;
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(a) an electronic means to generate repetitive ultra-wideband pulses at a high pulse repetition frequency wherein said transmitter electronics are coupled to any plurality of antennae that are configured and positioned to direct energy in the direction of the target area, (c) radar receiver amplification electronics coupled to any plurality of antennae that are configured to detect signals that are reflected from the target area, (d) sampling electronics with sufficient dynamic range and sampling bandwidth to accurately digitize reflected signals from the target area that are amplified by said radar receiver, (e) a signal processor to perform noise reduction functions on said digitized reflected signals, (f) electronic firmware that is properly configured to incrementally analyze each said digitized reflected radar signal return with a windowing function wherein said windowing function is moved and performed across the entirety of each signal processed radar return, (g) electronic firmware that is properly configured to calculate transfer functions of data from each said windowing function and to use calculated values to extract target specific feature information that distinguishes objects of interest from background clutter, (h) electronic firmware that is properly configured to report feature vectors to an automatic target recognition method that distinguishes objects of interest from background clutter in the feature information, (i) electronic firmware that is properly configured to implement automatic target recognition, (j) electronic firmware that is properly configured to select and report display images based on automatic target recognition output, (k) an electronic apparatus to display target image information. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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Specification