Transceiver assembly for detecting objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11249177-B2
Application number	US-201916443279-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2019
Priority date	Jun 17, 2019
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

A transceiver assembly is configured to detect an object. The transceiver assembly includes a first transmit antenna array configured to transmit a first signal at a first frequency, a second transmit antenna array configured to transmit a second signal at a second frequency that differs from the first frequency, and a receive antenna array configured to receive a third signal at a third frequency that is a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency. The transceiver assembly detects the object in response to reception of the third signal by the receive antenna array.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transceiver assembly for detecting an object, the transceiver assembly comprising:
a first transmit antenna array configured to transmit a first signal at a first frequency;
a second transmit antenna array configured to transmit a second signal at a second frequency that differs from the first frequency;
a receive antenna array configured to receive a third signal at a third frequency that is a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency, wherein the transceiver assembly is configured to detect the object in response to reception of the third signal by the receive antenna array; and
a housing that retains the first transmit antenna array, the second transmit antenna array, and the receive antenna array, wherein the housing comprises:
a base panel;
an electronics panel attached to the base panel;
a spacer panel attached to the electronics panel, wherein the electronics panel is sandwiched between the base panel and the spacer panel; and
an antenna panel attached to the spacer panel, wherein the spacer panel is sandwiched between the electronics panel and the antenna panel, and wherein the first transmit antenna array, the second transmit antenna array, and the receive antenna array are secured to the antenna panel.

2. The transceiver assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a handle attached to or part of the housing.

3. The transceiver assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one transmitter coupled to the first transmit antenna array and the second transmit antenna array.

4. The transceiver assembly of claim 3 , wherein the at least one transmitter comprises a single transmitter coupled to both the first transmit antenna array and the second transmit antenna array.

5. The transceiver assembly of claim 3 , wherein the at least one transmitter comprises:
a first transmitter coupled to the first transmit antenna array; and
a second transmitter coupled to the second transmit antenna array.

6. The transceiver assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a receiver coupled to the receive antenna array.

7. The transceiver assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a display coupled to the receiver.

8. The transceiver assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first signal and the second signal are within a common frequency band.

9. The transceiver assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first signal and the second signal are within a W-band, and wherein the third signal is within an X-band.

10. A method of detecting an object by a transceiver assembly, the method comprising:
retaining a first transmit antenna array, a second transmit antenna array, and a receive antenna array within a housing that includes a base panel, an electronics panel attached to the base panel, a spacer panel attached to the electronics panel, wherein the electronics panel is sandwiched between the base panel and the spacer panel, and an antenna panel attached to the spacer panel, wherein the spacer panel is sandwiched between the electronics panel and the antenna panel, and wherein the first transmit antenna array, the second transmit antenna array, and the receive antenna array are secured to the antenna panel;
transmitting, by the first transmit antenna array, a first signal at a first frequency;
transmitting, by the second transmit antenna array, a second signal at a second frequency that differs from the first frequency;
receiving, by the receive antenna array, a third signal at a third frequency that is a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency; and
detecting the object via said receiving.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein at least one transmitter is coupled to the first transmit antenna array and the second transmit antenna array.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein a receiver is coupled to the receive antenna array.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein a display is coupled to the receiver.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first signal and the second signal are within a common frequency band.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first signal and the second signal are within a W-band, and wherein the third signal is within an X-band.

16. A transceiver assembly for detecting an object, the transceiver assembly comprising:
a housing including a base panel, an electronics panel attached to the base panel, a spacer panel attached to the electronics panel, wherein the electronics panel is sandwiched between the base panel and the spacer panel, and an antenna panel attached to the spacer panel, wherein the spacer panel is sandwiched between the electronics panel and the antenna panel;
a first transmit antenna array secured to the antenna panel, wherein the first transmit antenna array is configured to transmit a first signal at a first frequency;
a second transmit antenna array secured to the antenna panel, wherein the second transmit antenna array is configured to transmit a second signal at a second frequency that differs from the first frequency;
at least one transmitter retained by the housing, wherein the at least one transmitter is coupled to the first transmit antenna array and the second transmit antenna array;
a receive antenna array secured to the antenna panel, wherein the receive antenna array is configured to receive a third signal at a third frequency that is a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency, and wherein the transceiver assembly is configured to detect the object in response to reception of the third signal by the receive antenna array;
a receiver retained by the housing, wherein the receiver is coupled to the receive antenna array; and
a display coupled to the receiver.

17. The transceiver assembly of claim 16 , further comprising a handle attached to or part of the housing, wherein the display is retained by one or both of the housing or the handle.

18. The transceiver assembly of claim 16 , wherein the at least one transmitter comprises a single transmitter coupled to both the first transmit antenna array and the second transmit antenna array.

19. The transceiver assembly of claim 16 , wherein the at least one transmitter comprises:
a first transmitter coupled to the first transmit antenna array; and
a second transmitter coupled to the second transmit antenna array.

20. The transceiver assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first signal and the second signal are within a common frequency band.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Rogers John E
• Smith Robert Alan

Classifications

• H01Q21/28

  Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems {(multiple beam H01Q25/00)} · CPC title

• G01S13/887 Primary

  for detection of concealed objects, e.g. contraband or weapons · CPC title

• G01S13/04 Primary

  Systems determining presence of a target (based on relative movement of target G01S13/56) · CPC title

• G01S13/003

  Bistatic radar systems; Multistatic radar systems · CPC title

• G01S7/027

  Constructional details of housings, e.g. form, type, material or ruggedness · CPC title