Patent ID: 6765527
Filing Date: 2004-07-20
Classification: G01N,G01S

Abstract:
A system for detecting and characterizing man-made objects that possess nonlinear junctions in which incident signals are transmitted into free space, and upon contact with said man-made objects that possess nonlinear junctions, said man-made objects that possess nonlinear junctions will reflect new signals that can be received and characterized, said system comprising:a first signal generator that generates a first incident signal, f1; a second signal generator that generates a second incident signal, f2, wherein said first incident signal, f1, has a high frequency and said second incident signal, f2, has a low frequency; transmit circuitry that transmits said first signal, f1, and said second signal, f2; receive circuitry that is tuned to receive signals that are exact harmonic multiples of said incident signals, f1 and f2, and is also tuned to receive inter-modulation products that are reflected from said man-made objects that possess nonlinear junctions as a result of said man-made objects being illuminated by said incident signals f1 and f2; an antenna assembly coupled with said transmit and receive circuitry and including a high frequency directional array antenna that assists in the transmission of said first incident signal, f1, and a low frequency omni-directional array antenna that assists in the transmission of said second incident signal, f2, wherein said antenna assembly also assists in the reception of reflected signals from said man-made objects that possess nonlinear junctions; a signal processor that processes said received reflected signals from said man-made objects that possess nonlinear junctions such that the man-made objects can be characterized according to their composition; a master clock that synchronizes said first signal generator, said second signal generator, said receive circuitry, said transmit circuitry, and said signal processor; and a data bus that couples said master clock, said first signal generator, said second signal generator, said receive circuitry, said transmit circuitry, and said signal processor together.