IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,397,241
Granted Patent B2
US 11,397,241 · App. 17/076,769 · Granted Jul 26, 2022

Radio frequency life detection radar system

Inventors: Hossein Ghaffari Nik (Fairfax, VA); Desmond A. Fraser (Oak Hill, VA); Nathalia Peixoto (Fairfax, VA)
G01S7/415A61B5/0205G01S13/885G01S13/887G01S13/9076G01S13/9082H01Q3/10H01Q15/246
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,397,241
App. No.
17/076,769
Granted
Jul 26, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Trapped or confined individuals may be located and rescued by detecting their vital signs (e.g., chest movement or heart beat) using reflected, radio frequency signals over a range of multiple antenna polarities.

Claims (34)

1. A method for detecting vital signs of a trapped or confined individual using one or more neural networks comprising:

rotating a co-located antenna of a receiver and rotating a co-located antenna of a transmitter to a plurality of different antenna positions and antenna polarities;

transmitting a first set of modulated, radio frequency (RF) signals towards the trapped or confined individual from the transmitter connected to the transmitting, rotating antenna at a first antenna position of the plurality of antenna positions using the antenna polarities and a first RF signal profile comprising different modulation types;

receiving reflected signals from the trapped or confined individual at the rotating receiver connected to the receiving, rotating antenna corresponding to the first set of modulated RF signals;

further transmitting one or more next sets of modulated, RF signals towards the trapped or confined individual from the transmitter connected to the transmitting, rotating antenna at the first antenna position using the antenna polarities, and a next, different RF signal profile comprising the different modulation types;

receiving reflected signals from the trapped or confined individual at the rotating receiver connected to the receiving, rotating antenna corresponding to each next set of modulated RF signals;

repeating the transmission and reception steps for each next antenna position of the plurality of antenna positions;

receiving signals from a thermal imaging sensor and a camera to further detect the vital signs of a trapped or confined individual;

combining all of the received reflected signals from the first and each next antenna position, and vital signs detected by the thermal imaging sensor and camera; and

completing an analysis using all of the reflected signals from the first and each next antenna position, including a phase and frequency analysis, and vital signs detected from the thermal imaging sensor and camera to detect movement of the trapped or confined individual using the one or more neural networks based on: (1) changes in the phase and frequency differences of the reflected, received signals at each of the plurality of different antenna positions and polarities; and (2) the detected vital signs.

2. The method as in claim 1 where the different modulation types comprise pulse modulation, continuous wave modulation and frequency modulation.

3. The method as in claim 1 wherein the antenna positions of the rotating, co-located antenna of the fixed, rotating receiver and the rotating, co-located antenna of the fixed, rotating transmitter comprise from 0 to 360 degrees.

4. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

rotating the co-located antenna of the receiver and rotating the co-located antenna of the transmitter to the same antenna position and antenna polarity.

5. A method for detecting vital signs of a trapped or confined individual using one or more neural networks comprising:

rotating an antenna of a receiver to a plurality of different antenna positions and antenna polarities and fixing an antenna of a transmitter at an antenna position and antenna polarity;

transmitting a first set of modulated, radio frequency (RF) signals towards the trapped or confined individual from the transmitter using a first RF signal profile comprising different modulation types;

receiving reflected signals from the trapped or confined individual corresponding to the first set of modulated RF signals at the rotating receiver connected to the receiving, rotating antenna at a first antenna position of the plurality of antenna positions, each reflected signal corresponding to the one of the modulated, transmitted signals;

further transmitting one or more next sets of modulated, RF signals towards the trapped or confined individual from the transmitter using a next, different RF signal profile comprising the different modulation types;

receiving reflected signals from the trapped or confined individual at the rotating receiver connected to the receiving, rotating antenna corresponding to each next set of modulated RF signals;

repeating the transmission and reception steps for each next antenna position of the plurality of antenna positions of the antenna of the receiver;

receiving signals from a thermal imaging sensor and a camera to further detect the vital signs of a trapped or confined individual;

combining all of the received reflected signals from the first and each next antenna position, and vital signs detected by the thermal imaging sensor and camera; and

completing an analysis using all of the reflected signals from the first and each next antenna position, including a phase and frequency analysis, and vital signs detected from the thermal imaging sensor and camera to detect movement of the trapped or confined individual using the one or more neural networks based on: (1) changes in the phase and frequency differences of the reflected, received signals at each of the plurality of different antenna positions and polarities; and (2) the detected vital signs.

6. A method for detecting vital signs of a trapped or confined individual using one or more neural networks comprising:

rotating an antenna of a transmitter to a plurality of different antenna positions and antenna polarities and fixing an antenna of a receiver at an antenna position and antenna polarity;

transmitting a first set of modulated, radio frequency (RF) signals towards the trapped or confined individual from the transmitter connected to the transmitting, rotating antenna at a first antenna position of the plurality of antenna positions using the antenna polarities and a first RF signal profile comprising different modulation types;

receiving reflected signals from the trapped or confined individual corresponding to the first set of modulated RF signals at the receiver, each reflected signal corresponding to the one of the modulated, transmitted signals;

further transmitting one or more next sets of modulated, RF signals towards the trapped or confined individual from the transmitter connected to the transmitting, rotating antenna at the first antenna position using the antenna polarities, and a next, different RF signal profile comprising the different modulation types;

receiving reflected signals from the trapped or confined individual at the receiver corresponding to each next set of modulated RF signals;

repeating the transmission and reception steps for each next antenna position of the plurality of antenna positions of the antenna of the transmitter;

receiving signals from a thermal imaging sensor and a camera to further detect the vital signs of a trapped or confined individual;

combining all of the received reflected signals from the first and each next antenna position, and vital signs detected by the thermal imaging sensor and camera; and

completing an analysis using all of the reflected signals from the first and each next antenna position, including a phase and frequency analysis, and vital signs detected from the thermal imaging sensor and camera to detect movement of the trapped or confined individual using the one or more neural networks based on: (1) changes in the phase and frequency differences of the reflected, received signals at each of the plurality of different antenna positions and polarities; and (2) the detected vital signs.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2024
From: FRASER, DESMOND A; GHAFFARI NIK, HOSSEIN
To: RHEIN TECH LABORATORIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 069187/0724 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62924110 · Oct 21, 2019
Related Publication 20210181307A1 · Jun 17, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,222,417