Imaging system for detecting underground objects and associated method
First Claim
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1. A method for detecting visually inaccessible objects, comprising:
- disposing a plurality of electromechanical transducers including at least one electroacoustic pressure wave generator and at least one acoustoelectric sensor above a ground structure;
determining locations of said transducers relative to one another;
energizing said pressure wave generator to produce an outgoing pressure wave;
transmitting said outgoing pressure wave towards said ground structure;
sensing incoming pressure waves reflected by hidden surfaces in response to said outgoing pressure wave; and
analyzing said incoming pressure waves to determine multiple surfaces of a hidden object at least proximate to said ground structure and to construct a three-dimensional shape of said hidden object from the determined surfaces thereof.
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Abstract
In a method for detecting objects hidden underground, a plurality of electromechanical transducers including at least one electroacoustic pressure wave generator and at least one acoustoelectric sensor are disposed above a ground structure. Locations of the transducers relative to one another are determined. The pressure wave generator is energized to produce an outgoing pressure wave which is transmitted into the ground structure. Incoming pressure waves reflected by underground surfaces in response to the outgoing pressure wave are sensed and analyzed to determine three-dimensional shapes of underground objects disposed in the ground structure.
43 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for detecting visually inaccessible objects, comprising:
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disposing a plurality of electromechanical transducers including at least one electroacoustic pressure wave generator and at least one acoustoelectric sensor above a ground structure; determining locations of said transducers relative to one another; energizing said pressure wave generator to produce an outgoing pressure wave; transmitting said outgoing pressure wave towards said ground structure; sensing incoming pressure waves reflected by hidden surfaces in response to said outgoing pressure wave; and analyzing said incoming pressure waves to determine multiple surfaces of a hidden object at least proximate to said ground structure and to construct a three-dimensional shape of said hidden object from the determined surfaces thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for detecting visually inaccessible objects, comprising:
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a carrier movable over a land surface; a plurality of electromechanical transducers mounted to said carrier, said electromechanical transducers including at least one electroacoustic pressure wave generator and at least one acoustoelectric sensor; means operatively connected to said electromechanical transducers for determining locations of said transducers relative to one another; a source of alternating electrical current operatively connected to said pressure wave generator for energizing said generator to produce an outgoing pressure wave transmittable to an effective extent through upper layers of a ground formation; a wave analyzer operatively connected to said sensor for analyzing incoming pressure waves reflected by underground surfaces in response to said outgoing pressure wave, to determine multiple surfaces of a hidden object and to construct a three-dimensional shape of said hidden object from the determined surfaces thereof; and a propulsion mechanism operatively connected to said carrier for moving said carrier over said land surface. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for detecting visually inaccessible objects, comprising:
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disposing a plurality of electromechanical transducers including at least one electroacoustic pressure wave generator and at least one acoustoelectric sensor above a ground structure; determining locations of said transducers relative to one another; energizing said pressure wave generator to produce an outgoing pressure wave; transmitting said outgoing pressure wave towards said ground structure; sensing incoming pressure waves reflected by hidden surfaces in response to said outgoing pressure wave; analyzing said incoming pressure waves to determine three-dimensional shapes of hidden objects at least proximate to said ground structure; and generating, from the determined three-dimensional shape of one of said hidden objects, a video signal encoding an image of said one of said hidden objects and transmitting said video signal to a video monitor to display said image thereon.
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25. A method for detecting visually inaccessible objects, comprising:
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disposing a plurality of electromechanical transducers including at least one electroacoustic pressure wave generator and at least one acoustoelectric sensor above a ground structure; determining locations of said transducers relative to one another; energizing said pressure wave generator to produce an outgoing pressure wave; transmitting said outgoing pressure wave towards said ground structure; sensing incoming pressure waves reflected by hidden surfaces in response to said outgoing pressure wave; and analyzing said incoming pressure waves to determine three-dimensional shapes of hidden objects at least proximate to said ground structure, wherein the analyzing of said incoming pressure waves includes determining shapes of said underground objects and comparing said shapes with a reference library of possible underground objects.
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26. A system for detecting visually inaccessible objects, comprising:
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a carrier movable over a land surface; a plurality of electromechanical transducers mounted to said carrier, said electromechanical transducers including at least one electroacoustic pressure wave generator and at least one acoustoelectric sensor; means operatively connected to said electromechanical transducers for determining locations of said transducers relative to one another; a source of alternating electrical current operatively connected to said pressure wave generator for energizing said generator to produce an outgoing pressure wave transmittable to an effective extent through upper layers of a ground formation; a wave analyzer operatively connected to said sensor for analyzing incoming pressure waves reflected by underground surfaces in response to said outgoing pressure wave, to determine three-dimensional shapes of hidden objects; a video signal generator operatively connected to said wave analyzer for generating, from the determined three-dimensional shape of one of said hidden objects, a video signal encoding an image of said one of said hidden objects; a video monitor operatively coupled to said video signal generator for receiving said video signal therefrom and for displaying said image; and a propulsion mechanism operatively connected to said carrier for moving said carrier over said land surface.
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Specification