Abstract: Herein disclosed is a method for radar detection of a valid target within a monitored zone with disturbing elements passing therethrough, e.g. process scraps of a machine on which the radar system is installed. The method includes transmitting, receiving and processing radar signals to locate and track the movement of a moving potential target. The method discriminates whether the potential target is valid or not, by checking whether the potential target has an initial position within a disturbance zone and whether it is detected for an overall detection time period that is less than the assessment time interval. If a target is not valid, it will be assimilated to background after it stops.

Abstract: A radar system is described comprising a transceiver configured to cyclically transmit a first radar signal in a field of view and to cyclically receive a second radar signal from the field of view, and a processing unit configured to process the second radar signal to generate a detection track and detect the presence of a target in the field of view from the detection track. The radar system comprises a marker that can be placed in the field of view and is configured to emit a predetermined reflection signal when impinged upon by said first radar signal and send said predetermined reflection signal to the transceiver. The processing unit is further configured to store a predetermined diagnostic trace, and check whether the predetermined diagnostic track is present in the detection track to thereby determine whether the second radar signal contains the predefined reflection signal and, if not, to indicate a malfunction in the radar system.

Abstract: A method of estimating a radar cross section of a target in an environment using a detection device, wherein the detection device is configured to transmit transmission signals into a field of view and to receive reception signals, may include: generating a calibration curve that provides signal amplitude values as a function of positions in the field of view; detecting a reception signal, obtaining a corresponding detection profile, and analyzing the detection profile to identify the target, having a target signal amplitude and a target position corresponding thereto; and estimating the radar cross section of the target by comparing the target signal amplitude with a signal amplitude base value, provided by the calibration curve at the target position. The generating of the calibration curve may include: generating a combined profile as a function of position; and optionally, generating a filtered profile by applying a filter to the combined profile.

Abstract: A method of detecting objects in an environment using coexisting radar devices is disclosed. According to the method, the transmission intervals of the devices are spaced apart by a wait time given by the sum of a base time, common to all the radar devices, and respective time delays, differing between devices and shorter than the base time. For each pair of devices the difference between the time delays is less than the transmission time but is at least twice a risk time in which a collision between the signals of different radar devices can be confused for an object to be detected. Given a sequence of detection cycles, a radar device is determined to have detected a target if the result of the detection is positive for a number of consecutive detections which is at least equal to the number of radar devices.

Abstract: A system for detecting objects in an environment, comprising a measuring system and a processing unit in signal communication with the measuring system, wherein: the measuring system comprises macro-components formed of respective subcomponents, wherein the macro-components comprise: a waveform generator configured to provide an electrical signal to be transmitted with a predetermined waveform, transmitting and receiving means configured to transmit a first electromagnetic signal matching the electrical signal to be transmitted and to receive from the environment a second electromagnetic signal generated by a reflection of the first electromagnetic signal, thereby providing a received signal matching the second electromagnetic signal, an analog conditioning circuit configured to provide a baseband electrical signal by baseband converting the received signal, and an analog-to-digital converter configured to provide a digital signal which is a discrete sequence of values obtained by sampling the baseband el

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting tampering of a target detection system, comprising a control unit is in signal communication with a set of present tamper detection sensors, which are associated with a detection member. The method includes setting an overall sensor coordination logic for determining a tamper state of the system based on tamper detection data from a predetermined set of sensors, wherein the set of present sensors is a subset. Then, the control unit controls the operating state of each sensor of the set of present sensors and defines a reduced sensor coordination logic, excluding those sensors of the predetermined set that are missing and/or non-working from the overall logic. Thus, the present and working sensors cyclically acquire tamper detection data, and the control unit determines the tamper state of the system by processing the data acquired based on the reduced logic.

Abstract: A method of radar detection of targets in an environment, comprising cyclically obtaining a detection profile that associates with each position in the protected area an amount of radar signal that has been reflected, and detecting targets from the detection profile in different modes. A base mode is used for a first series of cycles and is insensitive to motionless targets and sensitive to dynamic targets that move between different locations in the protected area. When the base mode detects a target, two additional modes are started, which are active in different areas. In first areas, a fine movement detection mode is used, which also neglects motionless targets and may be more sensitive than the base mode. In second areas, a presence mode detects both dynamic and motionless targets. When neither the presence mode nor the fine movement mode detects any target for a sufficient time, no people in danger are deemed to be present in the area and the base mode may be restored.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a method for radar detection of a valid target within a monitored zone with disturbing elements passing therethrough, e.g. process scraps of a machine on which the radar system is installed. The method includes transmitting, receiving and processing radar signals to locate and track the movement of a moving potential target. The method discriminates whether the potential target is valid or not, by checking whether the potential target has an initial position within a disturbance zone and whether it is detected for an overall detection time period that is less than the assessment time interval. If a target is not valid, it will be assimilated to background after it stops.

Abstract: A method for detecting motion may include: performing at least one scanning cycle on a monitored space using a radar apparatus; detecting and identifying at least one moving object in the monitored space, including detecting an actual displacement value for each moving object detected inside the monitored space between a detection cycle and a subsequent detection cycle; providing a threshold value of maximum allowable displacement associated with every moving object detected inside the monitored space between the detection cycle and the subsequent detection cycle; locating at least one semi-static zone in the monitored space, the at least one semi-static zone corresponding to a portion of the monitored space that surrounds at least one semi-static object; and generating an alarm signal only when, in the monitored space, at least one moving object situated outside the at least one semi-static zone is detected.

Abstract: A radar system is described comprising a transceiver configured to cyclically transmit a first radar signal in a field of view and to cyclically receive a second radar signal from the field of view, and a processing unit configured to process the second radar signal to generate a detection track and detect the presence of a target in the field of view from the detection track. The radar system comprises a marker that can be placed in the field of view and is configured to emit a predetermined reflection signal when impinged upon by said first radar signal and send said predetermined reflection signal to the transceiver. The processing unit is further configured to store a predetermined diagnostic trace, and check whether the predetermined diagnostic track is present in the detection track to thereby determine whether the second radar signal contains the predefined reflection signal and, if not, to indicate a malfunction in the radar system.

Abstract: In a radar system, a marker is placed in the field of view of a transceiver. The marker receives the radar signal transmitted by the transceiver and retransmits, as a function of this radar signal, a diagnostic radar signal, for example originating from reflections of the collected signal inside the marker. Then, the transceiver, while collecting and processing the signal from the field of view to detect the targets therein, checks whether the diagnostic radar signal, interpreted as a target with characteristic position and amplitude, is present. If this does not match the expected signal, a malfunction is indicated. The marker may be activated periodically, for example only when system diagnostics is required. A variety of internal configurations of the marker can change the characteristic position, to create a movable and easily identifiable dummy target.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying an object in one space monitored by at least one radar transceiver. The method comprises storing intervals of critical distance values (10) associated with the position of a fixed object upon which a time-varying radio signal shadow may be generated, which may be confused with a moving object. Through successive radar detections, the signals are processed and generate a measurement range profile (40), from which a background range profile (41) is extracted to obtain an object range profile (50). The distance of a possible detected object (60) is determined from the analysis of the object range profile. If the distance of the object (4) is external to the critical intervals (51), the object is classified as valid (55). If the distance is internal to the intervals, the detected object may be a shadow and unless further checks are performed, its presence is not indicated.

Abstract: A method of detecting break-ins in an intrusion-detection barrier which includes an array of sensors in signal communication with one another and connected to a control unit may include: calibrating at least one of the sensors of the array, the calibrating including: applying mechanical stress to the barrier to cause the barrier to resonate at characteristic frequencies; and creating a digital filter, for the at least one of the sensors, configured to identify the characteristic frequencies; and/or detecting external forcing applied to the barrier, the external forcing having oscillation-forcing frequencies, the detecting including: applying the filter to identify the oscillation-forcing frequencies applied to the barrier, and discriminating the oscillation-forcing frequencies from the characteristic frequencies of the barrier; selecting at least one energy threshold value; calculating an energy value for each of the oscillation-forcing frequencies; and comparing each of the energy values with the at least on

Abstract: A method of detecting objects in an environment using coexisting radar devices is disclosed. According to the method, the transmission intervals of the devices are spaced apart by a wait time given by the sum of a base time, common to all the radar devices, and respective time delays, differing between devices and shorter than the base time. For each pair of devices the difference between the time delays is less than the transmission time but is at least twice a risk time in which a collision between the signals of different radar devices can be confused for an object to be detected. Given a sequence of detection cycles, a radar device is determined to have detected a target if the result of the detection is positive for a number of consecutive detections which is at least equal to the number of radar devices.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting tampering of a target detection system, comprising a control unit is in signal communication with a set of present tamper detection sensors, which are associated with a detection member. The method includes setting an overall sensor coordination logic for determining a tamper state of the system based on tamper detection data from a predetermined set of sensors, wherein the set of present sensors is a subset. Then, the control unit controls the operating state of each sensor of the set of present sensors and defines a reduced sensor coordination logic, excluding those sensors of the predetermined set that are missing and/or non-working from the overall logic. Thus, the present and working sensors cyclically acquire tamper detection data, and the control unit determines the tamper state of the system by processing the data acquired based on the reduced logic.

Abstract: A method of detecting a target using a detection device that is calibrated to adapt to its environment, by placing a calibration target in a location of the environment and by moving it toward or away from the detection device. The calibration includes acquiring a succession of reception signals as the calibration target moves, and processing and combining the reception signals together to generate a combined profile as a function of the distance. Thus, the combined profile contains information about the typical distance-dependent attenuation values of the specific environment to be monitored. After calibration, each cycle includes deriving a detection profile based on the current acquired reception signal and applying a correction curve substantially corresponding to the combined profile to the detection profile, to normalize the variable distance- and environment-dependent attenuation effects.

Abstract: A system (1) and a method for finding the direction (?) of a target (6) in a detection plane, e.g. the azimuthal plane. The system comprises a plurality of transceivers (2a, 2b, 2c) which transmit continuous-wave radio signals (4) oriented in distinct main directions of transmission (5a, 5b, 5c) and receive a return radio signal (7) reflected from a target (6), wherein the transceivers have partially overlapping angular fields of view. A controller (9) analyzes the transmitted and return signals by calculating signal amplitudes associated with the return signals and determining the direction (?) of the target as a direction of a mean signal vector obtained from signal vectors having as a modulus the signal amplitudes of respective transceivers.

Abstract: A system (1) for detecting objects (1) in an environment with self-diagnostic features is disclosed herein. The detection system (1) comprises a measuring system (2) having components for generating a signal to be transmitted, transmitting it into the environment, receiving the reflected signal, analog conditioning such signal and sampling to obtain a digital signal. A processing unit (3), besides carrying out common object detection tasks (4), whereby a position-related signal amplitude profile is obtained from the digital signal, monitors parameters of the raw digital signal and generates alarms indicative of various types of anomalies that affect specific components of the measuring system (2). Preferred ones of these parameters are mean, maximum peak-to-peak amplitude, maximum and minimum values and the number of zero values of the digital signal and the mean of the derivative of the digital signal.

Abstract: Method of detecting break-ins in an intrusion-detection barrier which comprises an array of sensors in signal communication with one another and connected to a control unit; said method comprising the steps of: calibrating at least one sensor of the array, detecting an external forcing having oscillation forcing frequencies applied to the intrusion-detection barrier, generating an alarm signal when the external forcing is detected; the method being characterized in that the step of calibrating comprises the sub-steps of: applying mechanical stress to said intrusion-detection barrier to cause said intrusion-detection barrier to resonate at its characteristic frequencies; creating a digital filter for the sensor configured to identify the characteristic frequencies; the step of detecting comprising the sub-steps of: applying the filter to identify the forcing frequencies applied to the intrusion-detection barrier, selecting at least one energy threshold value, calculating an energy value for each of the forcing

Abstract: A method of detecting motion by way of a motion detection system comprising a radar apparatus (1) in signal communication with a monitoring and control unit (2), the radar apparatus (1) being configured to generate an electromagnetic signal for illuminating a predetermined monitored space (5); the method comprising the steps of: i) performing (8) at least one scan cycle on the monitored space (5) by means of the radar apparatus (1); (ii) detecting and identifying (9) at least one moving object (6, 7) in the monitored space (5); (iii) locating (10) at least one semi-static zone (S) in the monitored space (5); and (iv) generating (11) an alarm signal only upon detection of at least one moving object (6, 7) in the monitored space, outside the at least one semi-static zone (S).