SPECIAL NOTICE
A -- LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY SEEKS TO LICENSE MAGNETO-RADAR/FIELD DISTURBANCE SENSOR AND METHODS, FOR METAL DETECTORS AND NON-METAL DETECTORS, DERIVED FROM MICROPOWER IMPULSE RADAR (MIR)
- Notice Date
- 4/6/2005
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 238990
— All Other Specialty Trade Contractors
- Contracting Office
- Department of Energy, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (DOE Contractor), Industrial Partnerships & Commercialization, 7000 East Avenue L-795, Livermore, CA, 94550
- ZIP Code
- 94550
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-FBO100-05
- Response Due
- 5/6/2005
- Archive Date
- 5/9/2005
- Description
- LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL LABORATORY SEEKS TO LICENSE MAGNETO-RADAR/FIELD DISTURBANCE SENSOR AND METHODS, FOR METAL DETECTORS AND NON-METAL DETECTORS, DERIVED FROM MICROPOWER IMPULSE RADAR (MIR) TECHNOLOGIES Announcement: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the University of California under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is seeking one or more licensees to commercialize LLNL's current patents and a newly allowed, soon to be published patent covering the Magneto-Radar/Field Disturbance Sensor and Methods, for metal detectors and non-metal detectors, derived from Micropower Impulse Radar (MIR) Technologies and Methods technology. ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION ON MICROPOWER IMPULSE RADAR (MIR) TECHNOLOGIES AND METHODS CAN BE OBTAINED AT: http://www.llnl.gov/IPandC/technology/profile/sensor/MicropowerImpulseRadar/index.php * The Magneto-Radar is a completely new approach to a motion and range detection sensor for conductive materials whether metal or non metal. * Materials may possibly be detected at greater depths and located with greater precision than present technology can achieve by detection at remote distances of very small vibrations such as from a turning fork induced in the targets. Ground balance problems are either eliminated or substantially reduced in most cases. * Low-cost potential applications exist in treasure hunting equipment, medical, industrial, mining, security and safety screening, and analytical equipment. * LLNL's licensed field disturbance technology with range gating has been the basis for other products and other applications such as range controlled radar motion sensor for security application products selling commercially for under seventy dollars ($70) in the quantity of one. * MIR and field disturbance sensors provide range to object information while screening out clutter and discriminating from other signals due to the environment, false positives or movement signals outside its range-gated region. * The MIR or field disturbance sensors can detect the source of small vibrations of target at signal levels such as from a tuning fork, or steel guitar strings at greater distances isolated from all unwanted signal returns which are zeroed out. * Varying frequencies and inter-modulation products of induced magnetic field targets or resonance including NQR in other targets, may possibly provide more information to distinguish and identify them from other materials or movements. These technologies and methods relate to employing a portable, low-power, battery operated radar to sense and locate (range to object) even microscopic mechanically excited motion or vibration in objects such as but not limited to conductive and nonconductive bio-materials, including ferrous and non ferrous metals, wherein the mechanical vibration and resonance may be the result of mechanical, acoustic, magnetic, optical or electromagnetic excitation. In many cases, the aforementioned materials can be detected at greater depths and located with greater precision than present technology can achieve. Ground balance problems are either substantially reduced by utilizing either the range gating and sensitive motion features of these technologies in combination or separately. The MIR and field disturbance sensors are range-gated radars, which provide range to object information while screening out clutter, false positives or movement signals outside its range-gated region. The MIR and field disturbance sensor can be used in three capacities: (1) non-magneto, (2) magneto, or (3) contrast. When used in the non-magneto capacity, the MIR and field disturbance sensor provides a substantially improved means of detecting stationary mechanically and/or acoustically (ex. for use in detection between walls in a building) induced vibrating and resonating objects and materials. In the magneto capacity, the magnetically or electromagnetically induced vibration and resonance of an object can be detected via a characteristic double harmonic frequency. Third, the radar can also detect the target object through microscopic movement resulting from changes in the size, image or contrast of the object. The Magneto-Radar using either LLNL's MIR or the field disturbance sensor is a completely new approach to motion and range detection sensor technology using a bipolar generator, which generates unique double harmonics detectable by MIR or the field disturbance sensor. The MIR and field disturbance sensors are a new low-cost implementation of a pulse echo radar. Conventional radar pulses travel at the speed of light and require an oscilloscope for high speed sweeps in even nanoseconds, but LLNL's MIR and field disturbance sensor uses a time expansion technology known as equivalent time allowing it to sweep a million times slower or on a millisecond scale. This range-gated radar operates as a pulse echo system that clocks the two way time of flight of a very short electrical pulse. It involves using a bipolar magnetic field to induce an eddy current in the target object generating a corresponding magnetic field and resulting vibration (the onset of this motion provides the same detectable phase shift information relied upon by traditional metal detectors for determining various materials based on conductivity), transmitting various radar frequency signals to the conductive object, receiving reflected radar signals resulting from motion in the object, and processing the receive radar signals to produce an output signal that corresponds to a harmonic and/or an inter-modulation product of the resonating target object in the magnetic field. The MIR radar transmits short, ultra-wideband electromagnetic pulses and the receiver is designed to only receive signals from a preset range(s) R. If there are no changes within or at range R, then the integrated return signal remains constant because stationary clutter signals are integrated as part of the constant return. However, if anything penetrates the shell, it will change the reflectivity in range R, which causes a change in the detectable return signal attributed to motion. Through doing this as well, the varying frequencies of the induced magnetic field targets can be more readily distinguished and identified from other materials or movements through harmonic analysis. For example, when the magnetic excitation varies sinusoidally at a frequency F, the resulting resonance of the conductive object may occur at, but is not limited to 2F, providing a unique harmonic signature that is detected by the motion sensing MIR radar (ex. a bipolar excitation frequency of 60 Hz would result in a harmonic frequency of 120 Hz). Since the magnetic field of a traditional metal detector must travel out to the object and then couple back to the generator, a sixth order decrease in signal strength versus range results, forming a formidable limitation in range. In fact, it is estimated that traditional metal detectors can only detect coins and jewelry at depths of only approximately 8 inches. In the case of the Magneto-Radar, however, induction of the target and magnetic field emanating from the target object can be obtained via use of the coil of a traditional metal detector or via a more powerful custom magnetic field generator. The strength of the induced magnetic field is usually directly proportional to the detection range. Significantly increased magnetic field strength can be obtained by generating short duration, high peak power, pulsed magnetic fields, even with traditional metal detector coils, without overheating the coil because of the extremely short duty cycle of the MIR or the field disturbance sensor needed to recognize movement of the target. LLNL's patented Ultra-Short Pulse Generator and High Voltage Mofset Switching Circuit may provide an inexpensive and small package means for this purpose (example: 100KW output from a 1W DC input). LLNL is seeking licensees with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. Note: THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT. Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's Magneto-Radar/Field Disturbance Sensor and Methods, for metal detectors and non-metal detectors, derived from Micropower Impulse Radar (MIR) Technologies and Methods should provide a written statement of interest and a description of corporate capabilities relevant to commercializing the technology. Written responses should be directed to: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Industrial Partnerships and Commercialization P.O. Box 808, L-795 Livermore, CA 94551-0808 Attention: FBO 100-05 Please provide your written statement within thirty (30) days from the date this announcement is published to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's Magneto-Radar/Field Disturbance Sensor and Methods, for metal detectors and non-metal detectors, derived from Micropower Impulse Radar (MIR) Technologies and Methods.
- Record
- SN00782812-W 20050408/050406211805 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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