Patents Examined by Marcus Windrich
  • Patent number: 9832545
    Abstract: A distributed directional aperture (DDA) system provides the capability to receive and/or transmit signals, limiting that reception or transmission to a 3-dimensional beam. The DDA system includes sensing and/or emitting array subsystems which comprise sensors and/or emitters distributed across, within, or under the skin of an aircraft, ship, ground vehicle, or fixed installation. The sensors receive energy, convert the received signals to digital information, and transmit that information via a telemetry subsystem to a beamformer subsystem. The beamformer subsystem analyzes the received signals from the sensors and/or emitters in order to determine the signal content from a specific direction. The emitters transmit energy, converting signals received from the beamformer subsystem via the telemetry subsystem into energy emissions. Methods of providing the DDA system including subsystems thereof are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter B. Houser, Suzanna J. LaMar, Bayne R. Bunce, Jinous Valizadeh
  • Patent number: 9829568
    Abstract: The systems and methods use Hermetic Transform processing to achieve higher resolution in space, time, and frequency measurements, leading to enhanced object detection, localization, and classification, and can improve several aspects of RADAR, including: phased-array beamforming, Doppler filter processing, pulse compression/replica correlation, and in the creation of higher resolution ambiguity function measurements for both multi-static active and passive RADAR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: VertoCOMM, Inc.
    Inventor: Harvey C. Woodsum
  • Patent number: 9823347
    Abstract: A hazard warning system can be utilized in an aircraft. The hazard warning system can include a processing system for determining a high altitude ice crystal (HAIC) condition and causing a warning of the HAIC condition to be displayed. An avionic display can be used to display the warning of the HAIC condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Koenigs, Jeffery A. Finley
  • Patent number: 9817114
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a radar-radiometric imaging method is disclosed that includes cyclical observation, with a time period T, of a selected space section due to antenna beam rotation with a period Ta (Ta?T) around a rotation axis misaligned with the antenna's beam axis, along with the simultaneous change of the spatial orientation of this rotation axis using an antenna positioning device to ensure survey of the selected space domain for the time T without gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Radio Physics Solutions Ltd.
    Inventors: Sergiy Shylo, Yuriy Sydorenko, Dana Wheeler, Douglas Dundonald
  • Patent number: 9810771
    Abstract: An adaptive finite impulse response (FIR) filter for filtering an I/Q data stream having a sample period. The FIR filter comprises at least one sample-period tap delay configured to delay the I/Q data stream by an integer multiple of the sample period of the I/Q data stream, and at least one sub-sample-period tap delay configured to delay the I/Q data stream by a non-integer multiple of the sample period of the I/Q data stream. A set of adaptive weights is provided and configured to weight samples of the delayed I/Q data stream. An adder is responsive to the weighted samples and configured to combine the weighted samples of the delayed I/Q data streams to generate a filtered I/Q data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Wasiewicz
  • Patent number: 9798002
    Abstract: An object detection apparatus mounted in a vehicle, includes a first domain definition unit, a second domain definition unit, and a determination unit. The first domain definition unit defines a first object domain including a first detection point which is indicative of a position of a first object detected by using a vehicle-mounted radar. The second domain definition unit defines a second object domain including a second detection point which is indicative of a position of a second object detected on the basis of an image captured by a vehicle-mounted monocular camera. The determination unit determines whether or not an overlapping domain of the first and second object domains is present, and when it is determined that an overlapping domain of the first and second object domains is present, then determines that the first and second objects are the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Baba
  • Patent number: 9778346
    Abstract: A constant false alarm rate (CFAR) device for a signal detection system is disclosed herein. The CFAR device includes a first signal selection unit and a second signal selection unit. The first signal selection unit receives a last signal of a lagging sorting array and signals of one or more lagging guard cells, selects any one of the last signal of the lagging sorting array and the signals of the one or more lagging guard cell as a test signal based on a received guard cell size, and outputs the test signal. The second signal selection unit receives the test signal and signals of one or more leading guard cells, selects any one of the test signal and the signals of the one or more leading guard cells based on the guard cell size, and transfers this selected signal to the leading sorting array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Mi-Young Lee, Bon-Tae Koo
  • Patent number: 9778357
    Abstract: A method of collecting data using a polarimetric phased array antenna is described. The method includes directing electromagnetic signals to selected panels of an array of panels so as to transmit a dual H and V polarized electromagnetic beam (1) having the same beam width in all azimuth directions and (2) maintaining cross-polarization isolation via orthogonal dual-polarizations in all beam pointing directions. The panels include antennas having a horizontally (H) polarized array element and a vertically (V) polarized array element arranged to form two orthogonally polarized horizontal and vertical radiating fields which together form the dual H and V polarized electromagnetic beam. The array of panels is arranged so as to form a substantially cylindrical configuration on a support system. Reflection signals sensed by the selected panels formed by scattering of said dual H and V polarized electromagnetic beam are received and have a reflection frequency spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
    Inventors: Guifu Zhang, Robert D. Palmer, Dusan S. Zrnic, Richard J. Doviak
  • Patent number: 9772402
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a ground moving target (GMTI) radar that can detect targets, including dismounts, with very small minimum detectable velocities by combining signals from antennas on different spatially separated platforms in a main beam clutter-suppressing spatially adaptive process without requiring that the relative positions of the antenna phase centers be accurately tracked. The clutter nulling is in addition to that provided by the Doppler filters. The spatial displacement provides a narrow main beam clutter null reducing undesired target suppression. The clutter-suppressing spatially adaptive structure is used in both the sum and delta channels of the monopulse processor so that the beam distortion caused by the spatial nulling is compensated for, and the monopulse look-up process is preserved to maintain angle accuracy. Noncoherent integration is employed to recover signal to noise loss resulting from the uncertain relative locations of the platforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: SRC, INC.
    Inventors: Harvey K. Schuman, Ping G. Li
  • Patent number: 9772403
    Abstract: Methods and computer-readable media are described herein for providing an automated validation of vehicle positioning and corresponding error notification. According to various aspects, a first position of a vehicle may be determined using a first positioning system. A second position of the vehicle may be determined using a second positioning system. An offset between the first and second positions of the vehicle may be determined. If the offset exceeds a threshold offset, a notification may be provided to indicate a potential error in the position of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Philip J. Ballou
  • Patent number: 9772397
    Abstract: A radar sensing system for a vehicle includes at least one transmitter, at least one receiver, and a processor. The at least one transmitter is operable to transmit a radio signal at one of a plurality of carrier frequencies. The at least one receiver is operable to receive a radio signal which includes a reflected radio signal that is the transmitted radio signal reflected from an object. The at least one receiver is operable to receive an interfering radio signal transmitted by a transmitter of another radar sensing system. The processor is operable to control the at least one transmitter to selectively transmit radio signals on one of the plurality of carrier frequencies. The processor is further operable to at least one of select a carrier frequency with reduced interference and avoid interference from the other radar sensing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: UHNDER, INC.
    Inventors: Jean P. Bordes, Curtis Davis, Wayne E. Stark, Otto A. Schmid, Raghunath K. Rao
  • Patent number: 9766330
    Abstract: A speed sensor which aligns a normal direction of one patch antenna which is disposed on a mounted board, and an optical axis of a dielectric lens uses a frame for inclining a sensor module, in order to obtain a component cos ? in a traveling direction when the speed sensor is installed on a horizontally vertical surface of an automobile or a railway car. When beams are condensed by using the one patch antenna and the cannonball-shaped dielectric lens, the dielectric lens is inclined and a bottom surface portion of the lens is cut with a plane parallel with a surface of the antenna-mounted board. The one patch antenna is configured by one patch and a GND electrode and the gain center of radiation characteristics is a normal direction of the antenna board. However, the radiation characteristics have a substantially hemisphere surface wave shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Nagaishi, Takafumi Matsumura
  • Patent number: 9753120
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a radar apparatus fur estimating a distance of the one or more obstacles in a range of interest. The radar apparatus includes a local oscillator that generates a first ramp segment having a first start frequency. A frequency shifter receives the first ramp segment and generates a transmit signal and a mixer signal. The transmit signal is scattered by a one or more obstacles in the range of interest to generate the scattered signal. A mixer mixes the scattered signal and the mixer signal to generate a non-zero IF signal which is filtered to generate a filtered non-zero IF signal. An ADC (analog to digital converter) samples the filtered non-zero IF signal to generate a valid data. A DSP (digital signal processor) processes the valid data for estimating the distance of the one or more obstacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Karthik Ramasubramanian, Sandeep Rao
  • Patent number: 9753130
    Abstract: A target detection apparatus includes a first target detection section which detects a target which exists ahead of a vehicle and has a height sufficient to strike against the vehicle; a second target detection section which detects the target in an area different from an area in which the target is detected by the first target detection section, and a reliability degree setting section which sets a target reliability degree indicating probability that the target exists. When the target is detected only by the first target detection section or the second target detection section, and after the target is detected by both the first and the second target detection sections, the reliability setting section sets the target reliability degree based on an overlap detection time which is a period of time during which both the first and the second target detection sections continuously detect the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryo Takaki
  • Patent number: 9746545
    Abstract: Systems and method for detecting and removing an arbitrary phase difference between a sum channel signal and a difference channel signal in a monopulse system. A sum channel signal is received from a sum channel signal source and a difference channel signal is received from a difference channel signal source. The difference channel signal is shifted according to various potential arbitrary phase differences ?i and ?i+? (where ?i is from 0 to ? radians, i=0, 1, . . . , n; ?i+? going from ? to 2? radians) between the sum and difference channel signals to thereby generate difference channel signals each having a different phase. The difference channels having a different phase are combined with the sum channel signal to generate a plurality of sum+difference signals and sum?difference signals. Based on the plurality of sum+difference signals and sum?difference signals, maximum in-phase and out-of-phase correlations are determined from the ?i and ?i+? pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: L3 Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sy Prestwich, Jeffrey B Bench, Richard A McNamee, Scott M. Lyon
  • Patent number: 9748643
    Abstract: An identification or messaging system is provided that has embodiments including a embodiment with a structure with different faces and a base with reflective or resonance panels which are positioned at different receiving angles to detect direct signals and amplify them including in a sequence to be detected by an active emitter that emits electromagnetic radiation that is reflected and steered or resonated off or with the panels. An emitter can be an aerial platform with the emitter and a library of reflected or resonated signals that are associated with a particular sequence of panels on the structure which are associated with a particular entity identification or message. Thermal patterned and/or magnetic patterned panels (e.g., for backplane beamforming) and return signal steering can also be provided. Embodiments with secondary signaling systems can also be provided. A variety of various embodiments and methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Gerry Miller, James Stewart
  • Patent number: 9739873
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for receiving a signal. In one implementation, the system includes a receiver, a correlator, and a range sidelobe envelope generator. The receiver receives the signal. The correlator compresses the signal with a reference signal. The range sidelobe envelope generator generates a range sidelobe envelope function based on the compressed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventors: Lindsay Lilburn, Roger Phillips
  • Patent number: 9739891
    Abstract: A system and method to opportunistically use measurements on a priori unknown radio signals, not intended for radio navigation or geolocation, to improve navigation/geolocation position estimation yield accuracy and efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Echo Ridge LLC
    Inventors: Joseph P. Kennedy, John P. Carlson
  • Patent number: 9739877
    Abstract: For determining the topology of a bulk material surface, a series of echo curves are detected in different primary radiation directions of the antenna. Subsequently, for each distance cell of the echo curves, the maximum of all of the echo curves is determined and the distance thereof is plotted as a function of the coordinates thereof so as to obtain an image of the topology of the bulk material surface in two or three dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: VEGA GRIESHABER KG
    Inventors: Josef Fehrenbach, Karl Griessbaum, Roland Welle
  • Patent number: 9733347
    Abstract: A radar transmitter Txs (s=1) generates a baseband transmission signal by modulating a first code sequence having a prescribed code length on the basis of a first transmission timing signal and gives a first transmission phase shift corresponding to each transmission cycle to the transmission signal. A radar receiver Txs (s=2) generates a baseband transmission signal by modulating a second code sequence having the prescribed code length on the basis of a second transmission timing signal and gives, to the transmission signal, a second transmission phase shift that correspond to each transmission cycle and opposite to the first transmission phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Kishigami, Hirohito Mukai