Systems and methods for concealed radar imaging

• US 9,322,908 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Driscoll, Tom, Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Smith, David R., Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bythrow, Peter
• Application Number:
  US14/139,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20150177374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 342/22
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/887 for detection of concealed objects, e.g. contraband or weapons
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/02 of systems according to group G01S13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/027 Constructional details of housings, e.g. form, type, material or ruggedness
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/04 Display arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/425 comprising a metallic grid
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/02 using mechanical movement of antenna or antenna system as a whole
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence

Abstract

A concealed radar imaging system includes a visible light mirror, a radar device positioned behind the visible light mirror, and a processing circuit coupled to the radar device. The visible light mirror includes a reflective layer configured to reflect visible light, and allow a radar signal to pass therethrough. The radar device is configured to transmit the radar signal, receive a reflection of the radar signal, and generate reflection data based on the reflected radar signal. The processing circuit is configured to control operation of the radar device, receive the reflection data from the radar device, and generate imaging data based on the transmitted radar signal and the reflection data.

Claims

1. A concealed radar imaging system, comprising:

an OLED display comprising an electroluminescent layer of an organic compound, wherein the electroluminescent layer is configured to;

emit light to display an image; and

allow a radar signal to pass therethrough;

a radar device positioned behind the OLED display, wherein the radar device is configured to;

transmit the radar signal;

receive a reflection of the radar signal; and

generate reflection data based on the reflected radar signal; and

a processing circuit coupled to the radar device, wherein the processing circuit is configured to;

control operation of the radar device;

receive the reflection data from the radar device; and

generate imaging data based on the transmitted radar signal and the reflection data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the radar signal is a millimeter wave signal.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the radar device is a non-moving flat panel radar device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the flat panel radar device is coupled to the OLED display.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the flat panel radar device includes a phased array of antennas.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the flat panel radar device includes a metamaterial surface antenna.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the radar device is a physically moving radar scanning device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is configured to control the operation of the radar device to facilitate compressive imaging, and wherein generating the imaging data is based on a compressive imaging algorithm.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the displayed image includes at least one of an advertisement, entertainment programming, a map, and news programming.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the displayed image is one of a plurality of images in a video image sequence.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to detect a presence of a viewer, and wherein the image is displayed in response to the detected viewer.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor includes an infrared sensor.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor includes an ultrasonic sensor.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor includes a microwave sensor.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor includes a camera.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to detect a presence of a viewer based on the reflection data, and wherein the image is displayed in response to the detected viewer.