Patent ID: 8174430
Filing Date: 2012-05-08
Classification: G01S,G01V

Abstract:
1. A method for detecting an object within a defined region having a longitudinal axis, the method comprising: disposing first and second conductive lines substantially parallel to the axis for a specified length and separated from each other by a specified width, the length and width bounding the defined region; connecting the first and second conductive lines with an oscillator and a shunt respectively disposed at opposite ends of the length; transmitting an electromagnetic signal from the oscillator through the first line at a set frequency; returning the transmitted signal through the second line; measuring power from a reflected signal by the shunt through the first line; adjusting the set frequency based on the measured power; extracting an appropriate parameter from the reflected signal to obtain a reflected characteristic; comparing the reflected characteristic to an established characteristic that lacks the object to obtain a characteristic differential; and analyzing the characteristic differential to obtain a position of the object along the length.