Robotic sense-through-wall sensor with simplified control interface

• US 9,547,075 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2014
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Farrokh Mohamadi
• Original Assignee: Farrokh Mohamadi
• Inventors: Mohamadi, Farrokh
• Primary Examiner(s): Brainard, Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US14/465,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20150054671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 342/21, 342/22, 342/27
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/0209 Systems with very large relative bandwidth, i.e. larger than 10 %, e.g. baseband, pulse, carrier-free, ultrawideband
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/56 for presence detection presence detection using near field arrangements G01V3/00, e.g. G01V3/08, G01V3/12; burglar, theft or intruder alarms with electrical actuation G08B13/22 - G08B13/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/888 through wall detection

Abstract

A system includes a self-propelled robotic vehicle carrying an UWB sensor. The UWB sensor responds to binary transitions of a mode control signal to select for its modes of operation.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a self-propelled robotic vehicle comprising a wireless interface configured to receive a mode control signal wirelessly from a remote user; and

an UWB sensor configured to change operating modes responsive to successive binary transitions of the mode control signal, wherein the UWB sensor is configured to operate over a first range and over a second range shorter than the first range, and wherein the UWB sensor further comprises a microprocessor configured to control the UWB sensor to operate over the first range responsive to a single binary transition of the mode control signal and to operate over the second range responsive to two binary transitions of the mode control signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the robotic vehicle is a ground vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the robotic vehicle is a flying vehicle.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the flying vehicle is a rotary or fixed wing asset.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless interface is further configured to receive an on/off control signal wirelessly from the remote user, and wherein the UWB sensor is powered through a relay switch controlled by the on/off control signal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to control the UWB sensor to continually increase its sensitivity responsive to a first number of binary transitions of the mode control signal.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to control the UWB sensor to stop increasing its sensitivity responsive to a subsequent binary transition of the mode control signal after the first number of binary transitions.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to control the UWB sensor to continually decrease its sensitivity responsive to a second number of binary transitions of the mode control signal.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to control the UWB sensor to stop decreasing its sensitivity responsive to a subsequent binary transition of the mode control signal after the second number of binary transitions.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to control a display mode for the system responsive to a second number of binary transitions of the mode control signal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to change the display mode for the system responsive to the second number of binary transitions of the mode control signal to select for a cross-section display mode.

12. A method of controlling an UWB sensor on a self-propelled vehicle, comprising:

receiving a mode control signal wirelessly via a wireless interface from a remote user;

controlling operation of the UWB sensor using a microprocessor to operate the UWB sensor over a range that includes a first range and a second range as options wherein the second range is shorter than the first range;

controlling operation of the UWB sensor using a microprocessor to operate the UWB sensor at one of a plurality of sensitivities;

operating the UWB sensor over the first range or over the second range;

operating the UWB sensor at a first sensitivity of the plurality of sensitivities;

changing the range for the UWB sensor responsive to a first number of binary transitions for a mode control signal; and

changing the sensitivity for the UWB sensor responsive to second number of binary transitions of the mode control signal.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

changing a display mode for the UWB sensor to a cross-section display mode responsive to a third number of binary transitions of the mode control signal.