Person-borne improvised explosive device detection

• US 8,368,586 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2010
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiaLinx, Inc.
• Original Assignee: TiaLinx, Inc.
• Inventors: Mohamadi, Farrokh, Oijala, Mikko, Zolghadri, Mohsen, Strauch, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): GREGORY, BERNARR E
• Application Number:
  US12/852,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20100295718A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 342/21, 342/22, 342/27, 342/28, 342/52, 342/53, 342/55, 342/59, 342/175, 342/176, 342/179, 342/188, 342192-197, 342/61, 342/66, 342/89, 342/90, 342/104, 342/115, 342/147, 342158-164
• US Class Current: 342/66
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/888 through wall detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/026 involving the transmission of elliptically or circularly polarised waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/412 based on a comparison between measured values and known or stored values

Abstract

A system includes a multi-system approach to detecting concealed weapons and person borne improvised explosive devices (PBIED). A first and second radar system operate at different center frequencies to provide, respectively, isolation of a target of interest from clutter and fine detail information on the target, such as whether the target is a living person, whether a concealed object may be present, material composition of the object, and shape, size, and position of the target relative to the system. Circular polarized radar beam may be used to distinguish a suspect object from within a crowd of people. Radar image of the object may be overlaid on visual image of a person carrying the object. Radar tracking of the object is coordinated with visual tracking of the target provided by a camera system, with visual display and tracking of the target overlaid with the radar information.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first ultra-wideband (UWB) radar system configured to operate at a first center frequency;

a second ultra-wideband (UWB) radar system configured to operate at a second center frequency that is higher than the first center frequency;

a camera system configured to operate in conjunction with the second radar system; and

a processing unit for providing;

coarse analysis of clutter using data provided by the first radar system;

biorhythmic analysis using fine beam data provided by the second radar system; and

focusing the camera system based on the biorhythmic analysis.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the second radar system uses a circular polarized beam to distinguish whether the target includes a suspect object.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the second radar system uses a circular polarized beam to distinguish whether the target includes a suspect object; and

the processor includes a signal processing and imaging module configured to overlay a radar image of the suspect object on a visual image of the target.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor includes a signal processing and imaging module configured to:

extract target material composition data from radar pulse reflections of the fine beam data provided by the second radar system using frequency analysis applied directly to the radar pulse reflections.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor includes a signal processing and imaging module configured to:

extract target material composition data from radar pulse reflections of the fine beam data provided by the second radar system using frequency analysis applied directly to the radar pulse reflections for determining the presence of a suspect object; and

overlay a radar image of the suspect object on a visual image of the target.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor includes a signal processing and imaging module further configured to:

determine target movement;

display target movement tracking information on a display unit;

focus the camera system based on the target movement tracking information; and

provide a visual display from the camera system overlaid on the target movement tracking information display.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor includes a signal processing and imaging module further configured to:

receive scan data samples of a target;

extract biometric data from the scan data samples using frequency analysis; and

determine a type of the target based on a pre-determined radar signature profile using classification of amplitude peak frequencies that vary from species to species.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor includes a signal processing and imaging module further configured to:

receive scan data samples of a target;

extract biometric data from the scan data samples using frequency analysis; and

distinguish a human target as a type of target based on a heart rate profile.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor includes a signal processing and imaging module further configured to:

receive scan data samples of a target;

extract biometric data from the scan data samples using frequency analysis; and

distinguish a human target as a type of target based on a respiratory rate profile.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor includes a signal processing and imaging module further configured to:

receive scan data samples of a target;

extract biometric data from the scan data samples using frequency analysis; and

distinguish an inanimate object as a type of target based on a type of material signature profile.

11. A method comprising:

scanning an inhabitable area using a first ultra-wideband (UWB) radar system operating at a first center frequency;

performing coarse analysis using data provided by the first radar system to isolate a target of interest from clutter;

scanning the target using a second ultra-wideband (UWB) radar system operating at a second center frequency that is higher than the first center frequency;

performing fine analysis using narrow beam data provided by the second radar system; and

focusing a camera system on the target.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the scanning using the second radar system further comprises:

using a circular polarized beam to distinguish whether the target includes a suspect object.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the scanning using the second radar system further comprises using a circular polarized beam to distinguish whether the target includes a suspect object; and

further comprising;

overlaying a radar image of the suspect object on a visual image of the target.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

processing the narrow beam data provided by the second radar system to recover frequency profile information from the target and to extract biometric data using frequency analysis;

using frequency profile information recovered from the target to differentiate between a live person, an animal, or an object as a target type

displaying the target type and position on an image display; and

overlaying a visual image of the target from the camera system on the image display.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining target movement;

displaying target movement tracking information on an image display;

focusing the camera system based on the target movement tracking information; and

displaying a visual image of the target from the camera system overlaid on the display of target movement tracking information.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

extracting target material composition data from radar pulse reflections of the narrow beam data provided by the second radar system using frequency analysis applied directly to the radar pulse reflections.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving scan data samples of a target;

extracting biometric data from the scan data samples using frequency analysis; and

determining a type of the target based on a pre-determined radar signature profile using classification of amplitude peak frequencies that vary from species to species.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving scan data samples of a target;

extracting biometric data from the scan data samples using frequency analysis; and

distinguish a human target as a type of target based on a heart rate profile.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving scan data samples of a target;

extracting biometric data from the scan data samples using frequency analysis; and

distinguish a human target as a type of target based on a respiratory rate profile.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving scan data samples of a target;

extracting biometric data from the scan data samples using frequency analysis; and

distinguish an inanimate object as a type of target based on a type of material signature profile.