Identification and mapping of underground facilities
First Claim
1. A method of creating a map of voids in the ground based on reflected electromagnetic signal, comprising:
- traversing a metamaterial electrically small antenna receiver/probe in a near field above a target area;
generating a signal from a signal transmitter located above the target area, the signal having a predetermined wavelength λ
of between 10 kHz to 500 kHz;
receiving a reflected signal with the metamaterial electrically small antenna receiver/probe, the reflected signal including indications of subsurface variations via reflection of the generated signal; and
detecting components of the reflected signal to provide a predetermined resolution.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system or method of creating a map of voids in the ground based on a scattered electromagnetic signal includes traversing a receiver/probe in a near field above a target area; generating a signal from a signal transmitter, the signal having a predetermined wavelength λ; receiving a scattered signal with the receiver/probe, the scattered signal including indications of subsurface variations via reflection of the generated signal; and detecting evanescent components of the scattered signal to provide a predetermined resolution. The method includes the use of an electrically small antenna for resolution of subwavelength features. The metamaterial-based antenna is on the order of meters and has an efficient transmit/receive capability. The ESA is 1/10 of the length of the equivalent dipole length, and may be scaled down to 1/10,000. Such an antenna may include phase sensitive current injection in the metamaterial resonant structures for loss-compensation.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of creating a map of voids in the ground based on reflected electromagnetic signal, comprising:
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traversing a metamaterial electrically small antenna receiver/probe in a near field above a target area; generating a signal from a signal transmitter located above the target area, the signal having a predetermined wavelength λ
of between 10 kHz to 500 kHz;receiving a reflected signal with the metamaterial electrically small antenna receiver/probe, the reflected signal including indications of subsurface variations via reflection of the generated signal; and detecting components of the reflected signal to provide a predetermined resolution. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of creating a map of voids in the ground based on a reflected electromagnetic signal, comprising:
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traversing in an aircraft having a metamaterial electrically small antenna receiver/probe and signal transmitter, in a near field above a target area; generating a signal from a signal transmitter located above the target area, the signal having a predetermined wavelength λ
of between 10 kHz to 500 kHz;receiving a reflected signal with the metamaterial electrically small antenna receiver/probe, the reflected signal including indications of subsurface variations via reflection of the generated signal; and detecting components of the reflected signal to provide a predetermined resolution. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification