IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,222,417
Granted Patent B2
US 12,222,417 · App. 17/873,608 · Granted Feb 11, 2025

Radio frequency life detection radar system

Inventors: Hossein Ghaffari Nik (Fairfax, VA); Desmond A. Fraser (Oak Hill, VA)
G01S13/88G01S7/415G01S13/584
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,222,417
App. No.
17/873,608
Granted
Feb 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Trapped or confined individuals may be located and rescued by detecting their movement using reflected, radio frequency signals over a range of multiple antenna polarities.

Claims (38)

1. A method for detecting movement of a trapped or confined individual 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;

combining all of the received reflected signals from the first and each next antenna position; and

completing an electronic analysis using all of the reflected signals from the first and each next antenna position, including a phase and frequency analysis, to detect movement of the trapped or confined individual based on changes in the phase and frequency differences of the reflected, received signals at each of the plurality of different antenna positions and polarities.

2. The method as in claim 1 where the 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. The method as in claim 1 further comprising removing or reducing electrical noise from the received, reflected signals.

6. A method for detecting movement of a trapped or confined individual 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;

combining all of the received reflected signals from the first and each next antenna position; and

completing an electronic analysis using all of the reflected signals from the first and each next antenna position, including a phase and frequency analysis to detect movement of the trapped or confined individual based on changes in the phase and frequency differences of the reflected, received signals at each of the plurality of different antenna positions and polarities.

7. The method as in claim 6 where the modulation types comprise pulse modulation, continuous wave modulation and frequency modulation.

8. The method as in claim 6 wherein the antenna positions of the rotating receiver comprise from 0 to 360 degrees.

9. The method as in claim 6 further comprising removing or reducing electrical noise from the received, reflected signals.

10. A method for detecting movement of a trapped or confined individual 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;

combining all of the received reflected signals from the first and each next antenna position; and

completing an analysis using all of the reflected signals from the first and each next antenna position, including a phase and frequency analysis to detect movement of the trapped or confined individual based on changes in the phase and frequency differences of the reflected, received signals at each of the plurality of different antenna positions and polarities.

11. The method as in claim 10 where the modulation types comprise pulse modulation, continuous wave modulation and frequency modulation.

12. The method as in claim 10 wherein the antenna positions of the rotating antenna comprise from 0 to 360 degrees.

13. The method as in claim 10 further comprising removing or reducing electrical noise from the received, reflected signals.

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 (3)
Continuation In Part 17076769 · Oct 21, 2020
Provisional Application 62924110 · Oct 21, 2019
Related Publication 20230029235A1 · Jan 26, 2023
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