IP Library Granted Patent US 8,368,586
Granted Patent B2
US 8,368,586 · App. 12/852,440 · Granted Feb 5, 2013

Person-borne improvised explosive device detection

Inventors: Farrokh Mohamadi (Newport Beach, CA); Mikko Oijala (Newport Beach, CA); Mohsen Zolghadri (Newport Beach, CA); Paul Strauch (Newport Beach, CA)
Assignee: Tialinx, Inc.
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 8,368,586
App. No.
12/852,440
Granted
Feb 5, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system includes a multi-system approach to detecting concealed weapons and person borne improvised explosive devices (PBIED). A first and second radar system operate at different center frequencies to provide, respectively, isolation of a target of interest from clutter and fine detail information on the target, such as whether the target is a living person, whether a concealed object may be present, material composition of the object, and shape, size, and position of the target relative to the system. Circular polarized radar beam may be used to distinguish a suspect object from within a crowd of people. Radar image of the object may be overlaid on visual image of a person carrying the object. Radar tracking of the object is coordinated with visual tracking of the target provided by a camera system, with visual display and tracking of the target overlaid with the radar information.

Claims (78)

1. A system comprising:

a first ultra-wideband (UWB) radar system configured to operate at a first center frequency;

a second ultra-wideband (UWB) radar system configured to operate at a second center frequency that is higher than the first center frequency;

a camera system configured to operate in conjunction with the second radar system; and

a processing unit for providing:

coarse analysis of clutter using data provided by the first radar system;

biorhythmic analysis using fine beam data provided by the second radar system; and

focusing the camera system based on the biorhythmic analysis.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the second radar system uses a circular polarized beam to distinguish whether the target includes a suspect object.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the second radar system uses a circular polarized beam to distinguish whether the target includes a suspect object; and

the processor includes a signal processing and imaging module configured to overlay a radar image of the suspect object on a visual image of the target.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor includes a signal processing and imaging module configured to:

extract target material composition data from radar pulse reflections of the fine beam data provided by the second radar system using frequency analysis applied directly to the radar pulse reflections.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor includes a signal processing and imaging module configured to:

extract target material composition data from radar pulse reflections of the fine beam data provided by the second radar system using frequency analysis applied directly to the radar pulse reflections for determining the presence of a suspect object; and

overlay a radar image of the suspect object on a visual image of the target.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor includes a signal processing and imaging module further configured to:

determine target movement;

display target movement tracking information on a display unit;

focus the camera system based on the target movement tracking information; and

provide a visual display from the camera system overlaid on the target movement tracking information display.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor includes a signal processing and imaging module further configured to:

receive scan data samples of a target;

extract biometric data from the scan data samples using frequency analysis; and

determine a type of the target based on a pre-determined radar signature profile using classification of amplitude peak frequencies that vary from species to species.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor includes a signal processing and imaging module further configured to:

receive scan data samples of a target;

extract biometric data from the scan data samples using frequency analysis; and

distinguish a human target as a type of target based on a heart rate profile.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor includes a signal processing and imaging module further configured to:

receive scan data samples of a target;

extract biometric data from the scan data samples using frequency analysis; and

distinguish a human target as a type of target based on a respiratory rate profile.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor includes a signal processing and imaging module further configured to:

receive scan data samples of a target;

extract biometric data from the scan data samples using frequency analysis; and

distinguish an inanimate object as a type of target based on a type of material signature profile.

11. A method comprising:

scanning an inhabitable area using a first ultra-wideband (UWB) radar system operating at a first center frequency;

performing coarse analysis using data provided by the first radar system to isolate a target of interest from clutter;

scanning the target using a second ultra-wideband (UWB) radar system operating at a second center frequency that is higher than the first center frequency;

performing fine analysis using narrow beam data provided by the second radar system; and

focusing a camera system on the target.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the scanning using the second radar system further comprises:

using a circular polarized beam to distinguish whether the target includes a suspect object.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein:

the scanning using the second radar system further comprises using a circular polarized beam to distinguish whether the target includes a suspect object; and further comprising:

overlaying a radar image of the suspect object on a visual image of the target.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

processing the narrow beam data provided by the second radar system to recover frequency profile information from the target and to extract biometric data using frequency analysis;

using frequency profile information recovered from the target to differentiate between a live person, an animal, or an object as a target type

displaying the target type and position on an image display; and

overlaying a visual image of the target from the camera system on the image display.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining target movement;

displaying target movement tracking information on an image display;

focusing the camera system based on the target movement tracking information; and

displaying a visual image of the target from the camera system overlaid on the display of target movement tracking information.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

extracting target material composition data from radar pulse reflections of the narrow beam data provided by the second radar system using frequency analysis applied directly to the radar pulse reflections.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving scan data samples of a target;

extracting biometric data from the scan data samples using frequency analysis; and

determining a type of the target based on a pre-determined radar signature profile using classification of amplitude peak frequencies that vary from species to species.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving scan data samples of a target;

extracting biometric data from the scan data samples using frequency analysis; and

distinguish a human target as a type of target based on a heart rate profile.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving scan data samples of a target;

extracting biometric data from the scan data samples using frequency analysis; and

distinguish a human target as a type of target based on a respiratory rate profile.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving scan data samples of a target;

extracting biometric data from the scan data samples using frequency analysis; and

distinguish an inanimate object as a type of target based on a type of material signature profile.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 20, 2011
From: MOHAMADI, FARROKH; OIJALA, MIKKO; ZOLGHADRI, MOHSEN; STRAUCH, PAUL
To: TIALINX, INC.
Reel/Frame 025671/0143 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation In Part 12732163 · Mar 25, 2010
Provisional Application 61324264 · Apr 14, 2010
Provisional Application 61164855 · Mar 30, 2009
Provisional Application 61239752 · Sep 3, 2009
Provisional Application 61163742 · Mar 26, 2009
Related Publication 20100295718A1 · Nov 25, 2010