Patents Assigned to Propulsion Systems, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20240159875
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques relating to a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system that includes a first optical array including a first active area, a second optical array including a second active area, wherein the first active area and the second active area are separated by a distance, and at least one optical component configured to laterally-shift a virtual image corresponding to at least one of the first optical array or the second optical array, thereby reducing a gap in a field of view (FOV) of the LiDAR system. The at least one optical component may be reflective, refractive, diffractive, or a combination of reflective, refractive, and/or diffractive. The at least one optical component may include one or more prisms and/or one or more mirrors. The optical arrays can be emitter arrays (e.g., lasers) or detector arrays (e.g., photodiodes). The techniques described herein can be used to combine more than two optical arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Applicant: Neural Propulsion Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel M. BROWN
  • Publication number: 20240125906
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are optical systems (e.g., LiDAR systems) and methods with improved eye safety. In some embodiments, a system includes a first light emitter configured to illuminate a first field of view (FOV) using light emitted at a first wavelength and a second light emitter configured to illuminate a second FOV using light emitted at a second wavelength. The second FOV is wider than the first FOV, and the first FOV extends to a further distance from the system than the second FOV. The system also includes a sensor configured to detect reflections off of targets within the second FOV, and at least one processor configured to execute one or more machine executable instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Neural Propulsion Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Daryoosh REJALY, Oguzhan TEKE, Daniel M. BROWN, Babak HASSIBI, Behrooz REZVANI
  • Publication number: 20230333206
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for estimating target ranges, angles of arrival, and speed using optimization procedures. Target ranges are estimated by performing an optimization procedure to obtain a denoised signal, performing a correlation of a transmitted waveform and the denoised signal, and using a result of the correlation to determine an estimate of a distance between the sensor and at least one target. Target angles of arrival are estimated by determining ranges at which targets are located, and, for each range, constructing an array signal from samples of received echo signals, and using the array signal, performing another optimization procedure to estimate a respective angle of arrival for each target of the at least one target. Doppler shifts may also be estimated using another optimization procedure. Certain of the optimization procedures use atomic norm techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: Neural Propulsion Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Babak HASSIBI, Behrooz REZVANI
  • Publication number: 20230168359
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, devices, and methods that may be used for autonomous driving and/or in autonomous vehicles. Some embodiments use an integrated wide-aperture multi-band radar subsystem and leverage the unique propagation properties of multiple bands and/or multiple sensor technologies to significantly improve detection and understanding of the scenery and, in particular, to see around corners to identify non-line-of-sight targets. In some embodiments, at least one processor of the system is capable of jointly processing return (reflected) signals in multiple bands to provide high accuracy in a variety of conditions (e.g., weather). The disclosed radar subsystem can be used alone or in conjunction with another sensing technology, such as, for example, LiDAR and/or cameras.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Applicant: Neural Propulsion Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Behrooz REZVANI, Babak HASSIBI, Fredrik BRÄNNSTRÖM, Oguzhan TEKE
  • Patent number: 11592521
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for estimating target ranges, angles of arrival, and speed using optimization procedures. Target ranges are estimated by performing an optimization procedure to obtain a denoised signal, performing a correlation of a transmitted waveform and the denoised signal, and using a result of the correlation to determine an estimate of a distance between the sensor and at least one target. Target angles of arrival are estimated by determining ranges at which targets are located, and, for each range, constructing an array signal from samples of received echo signals, and using the array signal, performing another optimization procedure to estimate a respective angle of arrival for each target of the at least one target. Doppler shifts may also be estimated using another optimization procedure. Certain of the optimization procedures use atomic norm techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Neural Propulsion Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Babak Hassibi, Behrooz Rezvani
  • Publication number: 20210325537
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) LiDAR systems in which the fields of view of multiple illuminators (e.g., lasers) overlap and/or fields of view of multiple detectors (e.g., photodiodes) overlap. Some embodiments provide for illuminators that transmit substantially white pulse sequences that are substantially uncorrelated with each other so that they can be distinguished from one another when detected by a single detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: Neural Propulsion Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Babak HASSIBI, Behrooz REZVANI
  • Patent number: 11047982
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) LiDAR systems in which the fields of view of multiple illuminators (e.g., lasers) overlap and/or fields of view of multiple detectors (e.g., photodiodes) overlap. Some embodiments provide for illuminators that transmit pulse sequences that are substantially white and substantially uncorrelated so that they can be distinguished from one another when detected by a single detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Neural Propulsion Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Babak Hassibi, Behrooz Rezvani
  • Publication number: 20210041562
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) LiDAR systems in which the fields of view of multiple illuminators (e.g., lasers) overlap and/or fields of view of multiple detectors (e.g., photodiodes) overlap. Some embodiments provide for illuminators that transmit pulse sequences that have substantially white autocorrelation and are substantially uncorrelated so that they can be distinguished from one another when detected by a single detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: Neural Propulsion Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Babak HASSIBI, Behrooz REZVANI
  • Patent number: 10866304
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for estimating target ranges, angles of arrival, and speed using optimization procedures. Target ranges are estimated by performing an optimization procedure to obtain a denoised signal, performing a correlation of a transmitted waveform and the denoised signal, and using a result of the correlation to determine an estimate of a distance between the sensor and at least one target. Target angles of arrival are estimated by determining ranges at which targets are located, and, for each range, constructing an array signal from samples of received echo signals, and using the array signal, performing another optimization procedure to estimate a respective angle of arrival for each target of the at least one target. Doppler shifts may also be estimated using another optimization procedure. Certain of the optimization procedures use atomic norm techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Neural Propulsion Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Babak Hassibi, Behrooz Rezvani
  • Patent number: 10598119
    Abstract: A control system for an aero compression combustion drive assembly, the aero compression combustion drive assembly having an engine member, a transmission member and a propeller member, the control system including a sensor for sensing a pressure parameter in each of a plurality of compression chambers of the engine member, the sensor for providing the sensed pressure parameter to a control system device, the control system device having a plurality of control programs for effecting selected engine control and the control system device acting on the sensed pressure parameter to effect a control strategy in the engine member A control method is further included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Engineered Propulsion Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Weinzierl, Michael J. Fuchs, Alexander Seybold-Epting
  • Patent number: 9611790
    Abstract: A control system for an aero compression combustion drive assembly, the aero compression combustion drive assembly having an engine member, a transmission member and a propeller member, the control system including a sensor for sensing a pressure parameter in each of a plurality of compression chambers of the engine member, the sensor for providing the sensed pressure parameter to a control system device, the control system device having a plurality of control programs for effecting selected engine control and the control system device acting on the sensed pressure parameter to effect a control strategy in the engine member. A control method is further included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Engineered Propulsion Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Weinzierl, Michael J. Fuchs
  • Patent number: 9447729
    Abstract: The present invention is an aero engine that is provided with compression combustion and weighs less than 725 lbs. The present invention is further a method of forming the aero engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Engineered Propulsion Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Weinzierl, Michael J. Fuchs
  • Patent number: 9181868
    Abstract: The present invention is an aero engine that is provided with compression combustion and weighs less than 725 lbs. The present invention is further a method of forming the aero engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Engineered Propulsion Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Weinzierl, Michael J. Fuchs
  • Publication number: 20130291550
    Abstract: A control system for an aero compression combustion drive assembly, the aero compression combustion drive assembly having an engine member, a transmission member and a propeller member, the control system including a sensor for sensing a pressure parameter in each of a plurality of compression chambers of the engine member, the sensor for providing the sensed pressure parameter to a control system device, the control system device having a plurality of control programs for effecting selected engine control and the control system device acting on the sensed pressure parameter to effect a control strategy in the engine member. A control method is further included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: Engineered Propulsion Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Weinzierl, Michael J. Fuchs
  • Publication number: 20130112158
    Abstract: The present invention is an aero engine that is provided with compression combustion and weighs less than 725 lbs. The present invention is further a method of forming the aero engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: ENGINEERED PROPULSION SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Engineered Propulsion Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7509936
    Abstract: An engine with a hybrid crankcase includes the crankcase being a composite construction having an exoskeleton formed of a non-ferrite material having no defined endurance limit as a material, the non-ferrite exoskeleton encapsulating a load bearing skeleton formed of a ferrite material, the ferrite material having a well defined endurance limit, whereby the skeleton acts to carry the highest engine loadings. A method of forming such an engine is further included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Engineered Propulsion Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Weinzierl, Michael J. Fuchs
  • Patent number: 5713338
    Abstract: A redundant ignition system for an internal combustion engine is provided. When the internal combustion system is a waste spark system, opposite ends of first and second secondary windings of first and second coils, are coupled, respectively, to first and second sparkplugs, for igniting first and second cylinders. In one embodiment, a diode or similar structure prevents feedback from one coil to another coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: N.S.I. Propulsion Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Lance Wheeler
  • Patent number: 4869212
    Abstract: An engine for rotating a main drive shaft (14) from a plurality of power modules (18) arranged in a concentric circumferentially spaced relation about a main drive gear (12) secured to the main drive shaft (14). Each power module (18) has a pair of parallel cylinders (50) with associated pistons (52) therein connected to rocker arms (62) and Z-crank convertors (68) for rotating a power input gear (20) engaging the main gear (12) for rotating the main drive shaft (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: Automated Marine Propulsions Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Anatoly Sverdlin
  • Patent number: D880982
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: PROPULSION SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Scott Morehead
  • Patent number: D903595
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: PROPULSION SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Scott Morehead