Patent · US Expired

UWB dual tunnel diode detector for object detection, measurement, or avoidance

US6239741A · kind A · utility

60Cited by
11References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 20, 1998
Grant dateMay 29, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 20, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01S7/4078
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A highly sensitive, high-speed dual tunnel diode detector is described for use in Ultra Wideband (UWB) object detection systems, such as a radar. The extended capability of the detector to both extremely short (sub-foot) and long distance (tens of thousands of feet) ranges is unique and permits the application of low power UWB radar to a wide variety of applications including high resolution radar altimetry at altitudes exceeding 10,000 feet and for autonomous on-deck landing operations (e.g., one-foot altitudes), the detection of extremely low radar cross section (RCS) targets for such applications as suspended wire detection for helicopters and other manned and unmanned craft, etc. High noise and interference immunity of the detector permits co-location of a UWB radar sensor with other active systems. The invention has immediate and significant application to all areas, both military and commercial, of precision distance measurement, intrusion detection, targeting, etc. over a wide range of distances.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.