Wide area time domain radar array

• US 6,218,979 B1
• Filed: 06/14/1999
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Inventors: Fullerton, Larry W., Barnes, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sotomayor, John B.
• Application Number:
  US09/332,503
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 342/22, 342/27, 342/28, 342/21, 342/57, 342/58, 342/59, 342/60, 342/176, 342/179, 342/190, 342/191, 342/195, 342/197, 342/194
• US Class Current: 342/28
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/003 Bistatic radar systems; Multistatic radar systems
• 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 13/87 Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/888 through wall detection
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2682 Time delay steered arrays

Abstract

A system and method for high resolution radar imaging using a sparse array of time modulated ultra wideband (TM-UWB) radars. Two or more TM-UWB radars are arranged in a sparse array. Each TM-UWB radar transmits ultra wideband pulses that illuminate a target, and at least one receives the signal returns. The signal return data is processed according to the function being performed, such as imaging or motion detection. The TM-UWB radar array operates in several modes. In a first mode, each TM-UWB radar transmits and receives back scattering returns, and at least one TM-UWB radar receives forward scattering returns. In a second mode, each TM-UWB radar transmits but only one of the radars receives signal returns, both back and forward scattering. In a third mode, each TM-UWB radar transmits and receives back scattering signal returns, but neither receives forward scattering returns. TM-UWB radios can be used to perform other functions, such as handling communications between the radars and determining the distance separating one radar from another.

Claims

1. A radar system comprising:

a first time modulated ultra wideband (TM-UWB) radar, wherein said first TM-UWB radar is adapted to transmit UWB pulses toward a target and receive first signal returns, adapted to provide a wireless communications link with a second TM-UWB radar, and adapted to determine a distance between said first TM-UWB radar and said second TM-UWB radar, and wherein said UWB pulses have a wavelength corresponding to the center frequency of said UWB pulses,

said second TM-UWB radar, spaced said distance from said first TM-UWB radar, wherein said second TM-UWB radar is adapted to transmit further UWB pulses toward said target and receive second signal returns, and adapted to provided a wireless communications link with said first TM-UWB radar, wherein said further UWB pulses have said wavelength,

wherein said second TM-UWB radar transmits said second signal returns to said first TM-UWB radar via said wireless communications link that is provide by said first and second TM-UWB radars; and

a processor in communications with said first TM-UWB radar, wherein said processor generates an image of said target based on said first and second signal returns and said distance between said first TM-UWB radar and said second TM-UWB radar.

2. The radar system of claim 1, wherein said processor detects motion of said target based on said first and second signal returns.