System and method for radiating RF waveforms using discontinues associated with a utility transmission line

• US 8,164,509 B1
• Filed: 08/14/2007
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Humatics Corporation
• Original Assignee: TDC Acquisition Holdings, Inc (Humatics Corporation)
• Inventors: Fullerton, Larry W., Roberts, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): BYTHROW, PETER M
• Application Number:
  US11/889,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20120092207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• Field of Search: 342/22, 342/27, 342/28, 340/541, 340/545.3, 340/552, 340/573.1, 340/573.4
• US Class Current: 342/28
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/003 Bistatic radar systems; Multistatic radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/888 through wall detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/414 Discriminating targets with respect to background clutter
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1636 using pulse-type detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

A method for processing radio frequency reflections is provided. The method applies an RF waveform to a transmission line that is a conductor used for providing a utility service. The method uses a RF waveform generator to transmit UltraWideband (UWB) RF waveforms through the conductors of a building. The RF waveforms are emitted at emission points that can be impedance discontinuities along the transmission line or impulse radios. The emitted RF waveforms reflect off of objects in the building and are received at reception points that can be impedance discontinuities or impulse radios. These reflections are processed to determine movement of objects within or near the building. Based on the reflections of the RF waveforms, the position of the objects within or near the building can be determined.

Claims

1. A method for determining an RF profile of an environment, comprising:

generating an RF waveform;

emitting the generated RF waveform from one or more emission points;

receiving one or more RF reflections of the emitted RF waveform at one or more reception points, at least one of said one or more emission points or said one or more reception points being at one or more impedance discontinuities coupled to a utility transmission line intended to provide a utility service; and

determining said RF profile of said environment based upon said one or more RF reflections.

2. A system for determining an RF profile of an environment, comprising:

a generator that generates an RF waveform;

one or more emission points that emit the generated RF waveform;

one or more reception points that receive one or more RF reflections of the emitted RF waveform, at least one of said one or more emission points or said one or more reception points being at one or more impedance discontinuities coupled to a utility transmission line intended to provide a utility service; and

a processor that determines said RF profile of said environment based upon said one or more RF reflections.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more RF reflections are received by at least one of a radio receiver distal to the utility transmission line or a Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) receiver that is coupled to the utility transmission line.