Heart-beat Detection and Ranging Through a Wall

using Ultra Wide Band Radar

Shravan Shirodkar, Paramita Bara, Anuradha D and R. Kuloor
'A'Radar
LRDE
Bangalore, India
shravan.shirodkar@gmail.com, anuradha _ d3@rediffail.com
O8lrdcl~ Heart-beat detection has found many applications in
military and bio-medical areas. Many of these applications focus
on the use of impulse based ultra wide band (UWB) radars. This
in-turn requires expensive hardware and consumes more power
(for a given range) compared to stepped frequency continuous
wave (SFCW) radars. However, the micro-Doppler characteristic
of human body can be detected by SFCW radar at much lower
sampling rates and power. It can help in distinguishing a living
and a non-living target. In addition, SFCW radar can help
separate Doppler signatures in down-range, thus enabling it to
look for multiple human targets. UWB radars operate at a
bandwidth higher than .b GHz and have the beneft of high
range resolution. This paper focuses on the experimentation of a
technique to obtain the range and Doppler of a human body
using UWB-SFCW radar and moving target indicator (MTI)
flter, in the presence of an interfering wall.
Kwords-component L m UB through-wal; hear
beat detection; range-Doppler plane
I. INTRODUCTION
The idea of monitoring physiologic fnctions in humans
stared as ealy as the 1970 [1]. Curently, this has found a lot
of applications in the feld of healthcae, defense and rescue
operations. Most research papers have concentated on either
of the two following ways of achieving this: \ impulse
radas and continuous wave (CW) Doppler radars. SFCW
radas provide us with range and Doppler information unlike
CW radas, which canot give range information. A low cost
device using CW Doppler radar was described in M. Jelen ad
E. M. Biebl [2]. Reference [3] illustrated the use of blind
source sepaation to sepaate two heat-beats detected by
single-tone Doppler rada. This approach can be extended to
count the number of living people present along the range of
the rada. S. Jefemov and B. Levitas demonstrated the use of
impulse rada to detect heat-beat by employing a 30 ps pulse
[4]. The merits and the practical difculties encountered in
using impulse rada to detect heat beat were pointed out in [5].
Here, we have conducted an experiment to detect human
heart beat through a wall using SFCW radar using a set of hom
antennas and a network analyzer. The rest of the paper is
aranged as follows: Section II describes the experiment setup;
Section III briefy describes the principles involved; Section IV
describes the post-processing techniques used and the
interpretation of the results; all results are presented in Section
V, followed by a conclusion.
II. THROUGH THE WAL HUMAN HEART-BEAT DETECTION
AND RNGING MODEL
A. Human heart-beat and breathing model
The fequency of human breathing can range anywhere
fom 0.2 to 0.5 Hz and that of heart-beat can range fom 0.8 to
2.5 Hz [7]. Hence an average value of 0.3 Hz for breathing rate
and 1.5 Hz for heartbeat has been considered. According to [6],
the composite signal for heart-beat and breathing can be
represented as a bi-hamonic fnction expressed as,
where, T :0, ro is the average distance ad AH, AB,
W
<H and <H are amplitudes, angular fequencies and initial
phases of heart beating and breathing respectively. The human
being is assumed to be stationar. Hence, a signal with three
fequencies can be expected fom the human being: Oth
fequency coresponding to the stationa pa of the human
body and two Doppler fequencies related to breathing ad
hear beat. There is some attenuation at the air-skin bounda,
skin-heart boundar and back. A total of 30 d
(approximately) attenuation can be assumed [1, 2] in the
refected signal. The attenuation due to vaious layers of skin is
displayed in Fig. 1.
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Figure 1. Model predicted attenuaion of pulse-echo intensity travelling from
the transmitting atenna to the receiving atenna. Each step accounts for echo
at the boundary. Falling of the curve accounts for linear attenuation in the
tissue (imaginary part of refection coefcient and multiple refections are
ignored) [1]
978-1-4244-9799-71111$26.00 20 11 IEEE
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B. Stepped fequenc Continuous Wave
Stepped fequency continuous wave (SFCW) radas have
gained momentum since the availability of fast fequency
sweeping devices. The shif in position due to a minute
Doppler (such as heat beat) chages the phase of the
transmitted SFCW signal. Hence, the received voltage at the
receiver is a fnction of phase [2]. Therefore, there is no
necessity of operating the rada at fequencies higer tha 5
GHz, unlike many impulse radars [1, 3, 8]. More theoretical
information on SFCW signal is presented in [6]. Basically, in
SFCW tansmission, a series of single tone fequencies are
transmitted over a given time, in a given fequency range. Each
step corresponds to a single fequency. The fequency step size
deterines the maximum unambiguous range.
III. EXPERIMENT SETUP
The experiment was conducted using two double-ridged hom
antennas, connected to a network analyzer, Agilent PNA
(performance network analyzer) 8362B. Fig. 2 shows the
setup. The network analyzer was programmed to sweep fom
2 - 5 GHz, corresponding to a range resolution of 5 cm. Other
parameters are tabulated in Table 1. The sweep data was
acquired through MATLAB

7.0 using the component object
module (COM) interface. The time/fequency domain data
was collected for 250 sweeps, corresponding to lO s. The
antennas were placed 0.55- 0.60 m fom the wall. The subject
was made to stand at a distance of 0.50-0.60 m fom the other
side of the wall with instructions to be still. The 0.30 m thick
wall was composed of bricks and plaster coating.
IV. POST-PROCESSING
A. Processing raw data
The data was initially acquired in time-domain mode (an
option ofered by the PNA). However, later it was found that
fequency domain data covers the desired calculated range and
offers better control on post processing. The acquired data
matrix was frst converted to complex form (a ' ib). The data
array size was 250 rows x 399 columns, corresponding to 250
sweeps and 399 range bins amounting to 399 x 0.05 m of
maximum unambiguous range. The fequency domain data,
t:cem
human 8einq
i 8reathinq rate0.J hz
heartheatrate: !.5 Hz
cuk
Figure 2. Experiment setup
TABLE!. LXPERIMEN1SPECIFICA1IONS
Faramclcr Uccrpl0n
Source Agilent PNA 8362 B
Antenna Type Double-ridged Hor
Frequency range 2 - 5 GHz
Rage Resolution 0.05 m
Transmitted power OdBm
Number of points 399
Sweep period 40 ms
Number of sweeps 250
Maimum unambiguous range 20 m
Step duration 100 Is
Total Scan time 10 s
was converted into time domain by applying inverse fast
Fourier transform (lFFT) along downrange (399 point IFFT
along rows in our case). Further, fast Fourier transform (FFT)
was taken along the same range bins through 250 sweeps (250
point FFT along columns). This process is called Range
Doppler processing [6]. Hence, we end up with 250 Doppler
flters with a bandwidth of 0.1 Hz each. The post-processed
raw time domain data appeared to be spreading in range, since
the network analyzer interolates the data to ft the screen,
based on certain settings. In other words, a refection fom an
object took up more range cells than its dimensions. This can
be observed in Fig. 12. This effect can be avoided by
capturing the data in fequency domain (i.e. without using the
time domain option). However, heart-beat could be detected in
data acquired in time as well as fequency domain mode.
B. Moving Target Indicator
J
It was observed that the refections due to the wall were
very high compared to other objects. Thus, afer applying fast
Fourier transform (FFT), along columns, a peak can be
observed at the O
t
fequency and at range bins where a static
object is present. Static objects give a constant phase shif over
a period of time compared to moving objects, due to which a
high peak is formed at the O
t
fequency afer FFT. Since our
purpose was to detect living human beings in the presence of
non-living stationary things, we used MTI. In simple words,
the purose of an MTI flter is to suppress target-like returs
produced by clutter (wall refections, static part of human
body, etc. in our case), and allow rets fom moving targets
to pass through, with little or no degradation. Simple MTI can
be achieved by subtracting the data obtained for the i
t
sweep
fom the data obtained for the (i-I) sweep and so on. This is
also called Single delay line canceller.
Afer MTI processing, the Range-Doppler (R-D) plane
corresponding to the 0 Hz to 3 Hz fequency range and 0 to 4
m down-range was observed. The Doppler-shif due to heart
beat could be detected but that due to breathing was difcult
to conclude. Considerable leakage was observed fom the O
t
Doppler flter to the adjacent flters (0.1 Hz onwards). Due to
this reason, it was difcult to detect breathing (0.1-0.3 Hz)
even afer MTI fltering. It was also observed that single delay
line canceller MTI creates a modulation due to its curved pass
band. This can be solved by using recursive MTI [9], where, a
fat fequency response can be obtained in the bandwidth of
interest. The trasfer fnction of the recursive MTI flter can
be given as,
H(z) = (1- Z
I
) / (1- K Z
I
), (2)
where, H(z) = Y(z) / X(z). X(z) is the input to the MTI flter
where as Y(z) is the MTI flter output, K is the gain factor
which controls the fequency response. Fig. 3 shows the effect
of K on the shape of the pass band. We used a recursive MTI
flter with K=0.85 with a 3 dB cut-of fequency of 0.65 Hz.
The value of K was chosen empirically. Due to the cut-off
being at 0.65 Hz, the detection of breathing was fher
reduced. Choosing a higher value of K creates a fatter pass
band and a smaller transition band but may creates a peak in
the breathing fequency range. This is caused due to te
leakage fom the Ot Doppler flter into neighboring flters, as
seen in Fig. 5. The data corresponding to fequencies 1 Hz and
above were plotted while plotting the range-Doppler planes in
order to reduce the chances of a false peak (arifact of MTI)
being detected as breathing in the 0.1 - 0.65 Hz fequency
range. The entire signal processing and detection technique
can be summarized as follows:
1) Acquire M sweeps containing complex fequenc
domain data for N transmitted fequencies per sweep.
2) Stack them in a matrix such that each row corresponds
to a sweep.
3) Apply IFFT along each sweep.
4)
Apply Recursive MI as per (2).
5) Apply FFT along each column (ever value in a column
belongs to the same range bin).
6) Scale the range ais as r 2c(2xandidth), where r is
the range bin number (0 to N-1 in this case), c is the speed of
light in mis, Bandidth is the diference between the stop
fequenc and the start fequenc.
7) Scale the fequenc ais f `(l/sweep-time)lM where
f is the fequenc bin number rangingfom 0 to M-1.
8) Plot the R-D plane as a 2D plot for the desired
fequencies (1 to 3. 5 Hz for heartbeat-rate) and the desired
down-range (range gating is highly recommended) and check
i a peak human signature is detected (ote: It is lef to the
user to decide i a certain signature in the R-D plane
corresponds to a human being or not. )
2.5
_ .
1.5
- . . ' . ` - ' .
.
:/ - . ~ ~ ~
r
iI- -
I /
0.
5
1-,'
I
,
'

0 0.1 0,2 0.3 0.4 0.b 0.6 . 0.8 .9
Normalized Frequency flfr
Figure 3. Effect of decreasing K on MTI flter response. As K decreases
recursive MTI tends towards Single delay canceller [9].
c

7
V. RESULTS
x 1
1
.
Antenna Crosstalk
.

U.
Wall
.O
.
Human
.4
/
.3
.
.1

-1
-
0. b . 1 1. . 3 3. 4
Range without wall compensation (m)
Figure 4. Range profle showing wall and the huma subject. In this case,
the refection due to huma is difcult to conclude without actually
knowing the location.
O
7
.

0.012
0.01
0.00d
0.00
0.004
0.00
0
0
Leakage from the 0'" flter
/
1.6 2
Frequency (Hz)
2.6 3.6
Figure 5. Frequency spectrum (without MTI) at a rage where human
subject is positioned. The high intensity in the 0

flter due to the

stationary part of the human body, suppresses the display of other
fequencies.
J1

x 1
o

Z.O
Human
heart -beat at
l. Hz
__L__L__L__ __ __ __
U .O 1.O Z
Frequency (Hz)
Z.O o.O
Figure 6. With the help of MTI, the intensity at the 0

flter is reduced, but

some peaks are seen as residual artifacts. The high peak at 1.3 Hz
can be considered as the frequency for heart-beat.
1 Z
Range without wall compensation (m)
Figure 7. R-D plane without MTI showing high intensity in the 0

flter at
the wall-range due to the wall.
1.O

~
C

O
C
1
7
O
c
=
Z.O
o
U 1 Z o 4
Range without wall compensation (m)
Z.O
1.O
.O
U
Figure 8. R-D plane afer recursive MTI showing heart-beat (white). The
subject was positioned 0.25 m fom the other side of the wall.
1.O

C
O
c
Z.O =
o
U 1 o
Range without wall compensation (m)
4
1

b
4
Z
U
Figure 9. The subject positioned 1.0 m fom the other side of the wall. Note
how the pea intensity value has reduced

C
~
O
C
O
7
C
c
.
1.O
Z.O
o
U 1 Z o 4
Range without wall compensation (m)
Figure 10. The subject was positioned 2.25 m fom the other side of the wall.
1.O
+
C
Z
~
O
C
O
7
O
c
Z.O =
o
Note the pea intensity value has frther reduced. This may be due
to power supply units mounted adjacent to the wall. They are
showing up because the received intensity has gone down.
U 1 o
Range without wall compensation (m)
4
x 1

Z
1.
1.b
1.4
1.Z
.
.b
.4
.Z
U
Figure 11. Two human subjects separated in down-range (50 cm) and cross
range (50 cm). The distance between them can be verifed above
(-70 cm).
JZ
1.O

6
~
Z
O
C
O
L
O

Z.O
=
o
o.O
U .Z .4 .b . 1 1.Z 1.4 1.b
Range without wall compensation (m)
x 1

4.O
4
o.O
o
Z.O
1.O
.O
Figure 12. Huma heart-bea detection using the data acquired in time domain
mode of the PNA. The subject was made to sit such that his heart
was at the same level as the radar. Note the spreading in down
range.
U .Z .4 .b . 1 1.Z 1.4 1.b
Range without wall compensation (m)
Figure 13. Two huma subjects were separated in cross-rage (50 cm, center
to center, data acquired in time-domain mode) ad positioned at
the same down-range. Notice how the overall intensity has
reduced compared to the previous fgure.
JJ
VI. CONCLUSION
From the experiment, we can conclude that heart-beat rate
can be detected at much lower bandwidth and low power with
the use of SFCW Doppler radar and MTI flter. This way of
detection faces challenges in cases where a human may not be
stationary. In addition, Doppler due to another object can
dominate in cases where a human being is frther behind the
wall than another object. However, it can be combined with a
system that can image through a wall for better classifcation.
In addition, with a different setup, multiple human targets can
be detected and resolved in down-range and cross-range using
SFCW technique. Many other environment related factors
have to be considered before such a system can be put into
professional use.
REFERENCES
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Systems Magazine, IEEE, Volume 17, Issue I, Ja. 2002 Page(s)13 -
18.
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2006
[3] Nicolas Petrochilos, Meriam Rezk, Anders Host-Madsen, Victor
Lubecke, ad Olga Boric-Lubecke, "Blind separation of huma
heartbeats ad breathingby the use of a Doppler radar remote sensing,"
1LLL Interational conference on Acoustics, Speech ad Signal
Processing, ICASSP 2007, vol I, pages 1-333 - 1-336.
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a living object" 12
t
h Interational conference on Microwaves and Radar,
MIKON 1998,vol. , pages 765 -768.
[5] Victor M. Lubecke, Olga Boric-Lubecke, Anders Host-Madsen, and Aly
E. Fathy, "Through-the-wall radar life detection and monitoring",
[6] Zhou Yong-shun, Kong Ling-jiag, Cui Guo-long, Yag Jia-yu,
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wave," 3rd Interational Conference on Bioinformatics ad Biomedical
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[7] A.S. Bugaev, V.Y.Chapursky, S.l.Ivashov, "Through Wall Sensing of
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