Firearm threat detection, classification, and location using wideband radar
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- transmitting radio frequency signals towards a zone of interest from a first location, the zone of interest comprising at least one weapon, the transmitted frequency signals covering a range of frequencies that are propagated down at least one type of weapon barrel;
receiving radio frequency signals reflected from the zone of interest;
comparing, by at least one programmable processor, the received radio frequency signals to a library of data characterizing a plurality of different weapons;
determining, by at least one programmable processor, based on the comparing, whether one or more weapons in the zone of interest are aimed at the first location or whether they are aimed at a different location; and
providing, by at least one programmable processor, data characterizing at least one weapon in the zone of interest based on the comparison.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An aimed or aiming firearm can be detected before it is able to shoot. Wideband radar signals can be used to identify the barrel of a firearm when the radar antenna and barrel are aiming at or near each other. Signal processing correlates reflected signals to the characteristics of specific firearms of interest, and alerts the user when someone is pointing such a firearm at them. Modern wideband radar systems with fast signal processing speed can enable real-time detection of firearm threats in crowded and cluttered areas before they shoot, which has never before been possible. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and articles are also described.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
transmitting radio frequency signals towards a zone of interest from a first location, the zone of interest comprising at least one weapon, the transmitted frequency signals covering a range of frequencies that are propagated down at least one type of weapon barrel; receiving radio frequency signals reflected from the zone of interest; comparing, by at least one programmable processor, the received radio frequency signals to a library of data characterizing a plurality of different weapons; determining, by at least one programmable processor, based on the comparing, whether one or more weapons in the zone of interest are aimed at the first location or whether they are aimed at a different location; and providing, by at least one programmable processor, data characterizing at least one weapon in the zone of interest based on the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A weapon threat detection system comprising:
-
an outbound antenna apparatus that transmits, from a first location, an outbound radio frequency signal toward a potential threat in a zone of interest; an inbound antenna that receives an inbound reflected radio frequency signal from the potential threat; and at least one processor coupled to a data store, the data store storing a library of data characterizing a plurality of different weapons; wherein the processor is configured to analyze the inbound reflected radar signals to determine whether the potential threat includes a weapon barrel pointed in the direction of the first location or whether the potential threat includes a weapon barrel pointed at a different location by comparing the inbound reflected radio frequency signal to the library of data characterizing the plurality of different weapons. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A non-transitory computer program product storing instructions, which when executed by at least one data processor of at least one computing system, result in operations comprising:
-
initiating transmission of radio frequency signals towards a zone of interest from a first location, the zone of interest comprising at least one weapon, the transmitted frequency signals covering a range of frequencies that are propagated down at least one type of weapon barrel; comparing received radio frequency signals reflected from the zone of interest to a library of data characterizing a plurality of different weapons; determining, based on the comparing, whether one or more weapons in the zone of interest are aimed at the first location or whether they are aimed at a different location; and providing data characterizing at least one weapon in the zone of interest based on the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
-
-
23. A system comprising:
-
means for transmitting radio frequency signals towards a zone of interest from a first location, the zone of interest comprising at least one weapon, the transmitted frequency signals covering a range of frequencies that are propagated down at least one type of weapon barrel; means for receiving radio frequency signals reflected from the zone of interest; means for comparing the received radio frequency signals to a library of data characterizing a plurality of different weapons; and means for determining, based on the comparing, whether one or more weapons in the zone of interest are aimed at the first location or whether they are aimed at a different location; and means providing data characterizing at least one weapon in the zone of interest based on the comparison.
-
Specification