Patents Assigned to Thales North America, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7148843
    Abstract: A method of and computer-readable medium containing instructions for high accuracy, reliable position determination. A high precision GPS-RTK system using the present novel techniques is initialized instantaneously or near instantaneously. To improve the computational efficiency and to improve the reliability of the procedure, advances in data functional and stochastic modeling, validation criteria, adaptation and system design were achieved. A position estimate using an integrated method is determined. Ambiguity resolution of the position estimate is enhanced by applying a quality control procedure using derived validation criteria. A second position estimate based on the enhanced ambiguity resolution is derived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Thales North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Shaowei Han, Kevin Xinhua Chin
  • Publication number: 20060106502
    Abstract: A circuit to monitor ac line current through resistors employed to provide a ‘step start’ in a power supply, including means to monitor the current flowing through the step start resistors, comprising a peak detector, a sample and hold circuit, an analog to digital convertor and a microprocessor. The output of the current monitoring circuit may be employed to abort starting if abnormalities are sensed. The circuit may also be used to identify when the step start resistors need longer cooling time, and to continuously monitor current at times other than during starting. A timing circuit is also incorporated, which senses zero crossings of the voltage input to the power supply, so as to control the timing of the current monitoring circuit. The discrete circuits employed may be replaced by either a digital signal processor integrated circuit or a general-purpose computer implementing the same steps in a suitable algorithm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: THALES NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Alvin See, Paulo Correa
  • Patent number: 7042390
    Abstract: A method of and computer-readable medium containing instructions for high accuracy, reliable position determination. A high precision GPS-RTK system using the present novel techniques is initialized instantaneously or near instantaneously. To improve the computational efficiency and to improve the reliability of the procedure, advances in data functional and stochastic modeling, validation criteria, adaptation and system design were achieved. A position estimate using an integrated method is determined. Ambiguity resolution of the position estimate is enhanced by applying a quality control procedure using derived validation criteria. A second position estimate based on the enhanced ambiguity resolution is derived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Thales North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Shaowei Han, Kevin Xinhua Chin
  • Patent number: 7006897
    Abstract: A circuit to monitor AC line current through resistors employed to provide a ‘step start’ in a power supply, including means to monitor the current flowing through the step start resistors, comprising a peak detector, a sample and hold circuit, an analog to digital convertor and a microprocessor. The output of the current monitoring circuit may be employed to abort starting if abnormalities are sensed. The circuit may also be used to identify when the step start resistors need longer cooling time, and to continuously monitor current at times other than during starting. A timing circuit is also incorporated, which senses zero crossings of the voltage input to the power supply, so as to control the timing of the current monitoring circuit. The discrete circuits employed may be replaced by either a digital signal processor integrated circuit or a general-purpose computer implementing the same steps in a suitable algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Thales North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Alvin B. See, Paulo Correa
  • Patent number: 6943728
    Abstract: A method of, apparatus for, and computer-readable medium for rapid, real time kinematics determination requiring lowered information transmission for position updates than traditional RTK systems. Position signals are received from a base station and roving system and a compressed position signal is received from the base station. A position estimate using an integrated method is determined using the received position signals from the base station and the roving system and the compressed position signal from the base station. Ambiguity resolution of the position estimate is enhanced by applying a quality control procedure using derived validation criteria. A second position estimate is derived based on the enhanced ambiguity resolution. Because of the use of the compressed position signal smaller transmissions may be performed at a more rapid rate providing a higher position update rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Thales North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Shaowei Han, Kevin Xinhua Chin
  • Publication number: 20050088337
    Abstract: A system includes an antenna array consisting of a plurality of antenna elements, a plurality of receivers to process the signals from the antenna elements of the antenna array, and a combiner to combine receiver outputs so as to minimize the effect of undesirable signals such as multipath or interference while maintaining a nominal gain in the direction of the desired signal. The combiner takes into account variation or uncertainty in the assumed antenna array response, such as imprecise knowledge of the angle of arrival and uncertainty in the array manifold and multiplicative uncertainties due to gain variations between receivers, as well as non-uniformity in the response due to coupling between elements and coupling with the antenna structure. This system is applicable to antenna arrays with non-uniform responses, such as closely spaced arrays in which the coupling between elements is significant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Applicant: THALES NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Robert Lorenz
  • Patent number: 6748323
    Abstract: A technique for displaying topographical data, for example, on a screen of a portable hand-held device includes: optionally receiving GPS (Global Positioning System) signals and generating a digital output indicative of a position location of the display device in response to the received GPS signals or inputting location data manually to produce an image on a display screen of the device in response to the digital output; and storing true digital elevation data as compressed cells and decompressing on-the-fly only data needed to provide elevation data for an image area displayed on the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Thales North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Anatole Lokshin, Sergey V. Portnov, Yuriy A. Panov, Mikhail V. Koroteev
  • Publication number: 20040019910
    Abstract: A system, method, computer program product, and apparatus for automatically ensuring consistency between program and system information protocol (PSIP) tables and program specific information (PSI) tables in a digital television (DTV) stream, for example, in ATSC DTV stream. Encoders generate MPEG streams including PSI tables. A PSIP generator generates PSIP information from program information. A remultiplexer combines the MPEG information and the PSIP information while resolving any conflicts between the PSI tables and the PSP tables based on a set of rules. The transport stream output by the remultiplexer includes consistent information in both the PSI tables and the PSIP tables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicant: THALES NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Frederic Bernard Grenier, Jean Macher