Multistatic Radar Imaging With 3D Focusing for Concealed-Object Screening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging systems for detecting concealed weapons and explosives under clothing are computationally inefficient and require significant processing power, limiting their effectiveness in high-security screening applications.
Innovation Solution
A multistatic scanned aperture imaging system using a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) heterodyne transceiver with antenna arrays that employs a three-dimensional data focusing method, including range, vertical, and lateral focusing, to process radar data efficiently, reducing computational burden from O(N^6) to O(N^4) through pre-computed look-up tables and demodulation techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional imaging systems are used for detecting concealed weapons, then detection capability is provided, but computational efficiency is poor and processing time is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-computes and stores lookup tables containing focused radar data for various spatial locations and material properties before actual screening occurs. During screening, the system retrieves pre-processed data from these tables rather than performing complex computations in real-time, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates simplified representations (copies) of complex radar data processing results through lookup tables. Instead of repeatedly performing full 3D focusing computations, the system uses pre-computed simplified data structures that capture essential detection information, enabling rapid retrieval and analysis during actual screening operations.
2Reliability
If advanced radar imaging technology is used to penetrate clothing, then detection capability improves, but computational burden increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the complex 3D radar imaging problem into separate manageable components: range focusing, vertical focusing, and lateral focusing. Each dimension is processed independently through dedicated lookup tables, reducing the computational complexity of the overall system while maintaining the ability to detect concealed objects through comprehensive 3D analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-computes and stores focused radar data for various spatial locations and material properties in lookup tables before actual screening occurs. During screening, the system retrieves pre-processed data from these tables rather than performing complex computations in real-time, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining detection accuracy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves significant computational efficiency improvements, enabling rapid and accurate detection of concealed objects by reducing processing time and resource requirements while maintaining high image quality.
Implementation Method 1
Radar imaging technology has been shown to detect concealed weapons of individuals because these signals are able to penetrate common clothing materials
Implementation Method 2
these signals are able to penetrate common clothing materials
Implementation Method 3
frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) heterodyne transceiver
Implementation Method 4
frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) heterodyne transceiver
Implementation Method 5
amenable to precise mathematical focusing techniques
Data Source
AI summary
Imaging systems and associated methods are described. According to one aspect, an imaging system includes an antenna array having transmit and receive antennas, the transmit antennas emit electromagnetic energy from a plurality of different positions about a target imaging volume and the receive antennas receive reflections of the electromagnetic energy at the different positions, a transceiver configured to control the emission of the electromagnetic energy and to generate radar data that is indicative of the reflections of the electromagnetic energy received via the receive antennas; and processing circuitry configured to focus the radar data to provide first focused data in a first dimension, to focus the radar data in a second dimension to provide second focused data, and use the second focused data to focus the radar data in a third dimension to provide third focused data comprising an image of the target imaging volume.