Patent ID: 7397421
Filing Date: 2008-07-08
Classification: B23Q,G01S

Abstract:
1. A method of determining information about an area comprising the steps of: flooding an area with a transmitted microwave radar signal; receiving reflected radar signal from the flooded area; generating an intermediate frequency signal based on differences between said microwave radar signal and said reflected radar signal; filtering said intermediate frequency signal to isolate signals associated with acoustic emissions, remove low-frequency signals of less than approximately 1 kHz associated with mechanical motion; measuring the filtered intermediate frequency signal; wherein said method further includes determining a characteristic associated with said area at least partially based on said filtered intermediate frequency signal; wherein said area includes at least one object that is dielectric or metallic, said reflected radar reflections are reflected off of said at least one object, and said characteristic is associated with said at least one object; and wherein said at least one object is a tool and said characteristic is wear of said tool.