US 11,754,670 B2
Stepped frequency radar systems with spectral agility
Michael A. Leabman, San Ramon, CA (US)
Assigned to MOVANO INC., San Ramon, CA (US)
Filed by MOVANO INC., San Ramon, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 13, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/683,136.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/886,642, filed on Aug. 14, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/781,523, filed on Dec. 18, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0191945 A1, Jun. 18, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01S 13/76 (2006.01); G01S 13/32 (2006.01); G01S 7/292 (2006.01); G01S 13/26 (2006.01); A61B 5/021 (2006.01); A61B 5/05 (2021.01); G01S 7/282 (2006.01); G01S 13/88 (2006.01); G01S 13/10 (2006.01); G01S 13/89 (2006.01); G01S 7/02 (2006.01); G01S 7/41 (2006.01); G01S 13/04 (2006.01); G01S 13/02 (2006.01); G01S 7/35 (2006.01); G01S 7/34 (2006.01); G01S 13/22 (2006.01); G01S 13/42 (2006.01); G01S 13/34 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 7/2925 (2013.01) [A61B 5/021 (2013.01); A61B 5/05 (2013.01); G01S 7/0232 (2021.05); G01S 7/0234 (2021.05); G01S 7/282 (2013.01); G01S 7/412 (2013.01); G01S 13/04 (2013.01); G01S 13/106 (2013.01); G01S 13/26 (2013.01); G01S 13/32 (2013.01); G01S 13/76 (2013.01); G01S 13/88 (2013.01); G01S 13/887 (2013.01); G01S 13/89 (2013.01); G01S 7/023 (2013.01); G01S 7/34 (2013.01); G01S 7/35 (2013.01); G01S 7/354 (2013.01); G01S 13/0209 (2013.01); G01S 13/227 (2013.01); G01S 13/343 (2013.01); G01S 13/347 (2013.01); G01S 13/42 (2013.01); G01S 13/426 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A stepped frequency radar system, the system comprising:
components for:
performing stepped frequency scanning across a frequency range using frequency steps of a step size, the stepped frequency scanning performed using at least one transmit antenna and a two-dimensional array of receive antennas;
changing at least one of the step size and the frequency range; and
performing stepped frequency scanning using the at least one transmit antenna and the two-dimensional array of receive antennas and using the changed at least one of the step size and the frequency range;
wherein the at least one of the step size and the frequency range is changed using digital frequency control signals in which each discrete frequency in the frequency range is individually and uniquely identifiable by a range scale number that is communicated as a digital frequency control signal;
wherein each digital frequency control signal is an N-bit binary value that corresponds to a digitally addressable frequency in a range scale, wherein the range scale is a function of an addressable frequency range of the stepped frequency radar system divided by a total number of discrete frequencies such that each discrete frequency in the addressable frequency range of the stepped frequency radar system is separated from its nearest discrete frequency by a fixed step size and such that each N-bit binary value corresponds to discrete frequency in the range scale;
wherein the frequency range is changed from a first frequency range to a second frequency range, wherein the first frequency range and the second frequency range are separated by a third frequency range in which interfering radio frequency (RF) energy exists;
wherein the third frequency range in which interfering RF energy exists is learned by first conducting a learning scan that involves scanning a frequency range that includes the first, the second, and the third frequency ranges with a power amplifier corresponding to the at least one transmit antenna deactivated during the entire learning scan; and
wherein discrete frequency pulses are distributed throughout the stepped frequency radar system during the learning scan except that amplified frequency pulses are not transmitted from the at least one transmit antenna because the power amplifier corresponding to the at least one transmit antenna is deactivated during the entire learning scan.