Patents Examined by Marcus Windrich
  • Patent number: 9583829
    Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing low profile SATCOM antenna panels affixed to a moving vehicle. An elongated SATCOM antenna panel has a narrow azimuth beam optionally having a typical width of no more than a 2-degree angle while the SATCOM antenna panel is maintained parallel to the motion trajectory of a carrying vehicle. An actuation unit rotates the SATCOM antenna panel about three orthogonal axes: a longitudinal axis (Roll rotation), a vertical axis (Yaw rotation) and a lateral axis (Elevation rotation). The actuation unit actuates the antenna panel so it is maintained aligned with the Earth's equatorial plane and the narrow azimuth beam optionally having a typical width of no more than 2-degree angle eliminates adjacent satellite illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Avionics Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Engel, Brinder Bhatia
  • Patent number: 9581687
    Abstract: In a method of detecting an underground object which is at least partially under a surface of ground, a first view of the object determined by transmitting a first radar signal from a first known geolocation. A second view of the object is determined by transmitting a second radar signal from a second known geolocation. The respective first and second trajectories of the first and second radar signals are oblique with respect to the surface of the ground and the respective first and second trajectories are at a first angle with respect to each other. A position of the object is estimated by maximizing a correlation between the first view and the second view by adjusting an estimated dielectric constant associated with medium between the object and the surface of the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Bruce Peetz
  • Patent number: 9581691
    Abstract: An object detection system (24) is disclosed having a transducer (40, 40?) for detecting buried objects (26). The transducer is encapsulated within a robust, electromagnetically transparent construction (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignees: Deere & Company, Louisiana Tech University Research Foundation, A Division Of Louisiana Tech University Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Neven Simicevic, Arun Jaganathan, James L. Montgomery, Jay H. Olson
  • Patent number: 9581698
    Abstract: Systems and methods to monitor for false alarms from ionosphere gradient monitors are provided. In one embodiment, a method for mitigating false gradient alarms in a satellite navigation Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS) ground station comprising a plurality of satellite navigation system reference receivers comprises: generating an alarm signal with an ionosphere gradient monitor (IGM) at the GBAS ground station; determining whether the alarm signal is a false alarm based on data derived from carrier phase measurements received from the plurality of satellite navigation system reference receivers; and blocking the alarm signal for at least a first duration of time based on the determining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Weed, Randy J. Reuter
  • Patent number: 9581692
    Abstract: A ground obstacle collision-avoidance system includes a plurality of radar sensor modules that each receive at a radar detector radar return signals corresponding to reflections of the emitted signal from a ground obstacle, and transmits radar information associated with the received radar signal reflections reflected from the ground obstacle, wherein each of the plurality of radar sensor modules are uniquely located on a surface of an aircraft that is at risk for collision with a ground obstacle if the aircraft is moving; a gateway unit that receives the radar information transmitted from the radar sensor module and transmits information associated with the received radar information; a processing system configured to determine a distance from the installation aircraft to a detected ground object detected; and a display configured to present a plan view indicating an aircraft icon and a graphical ground obstacle icon that is associated with the detected ground obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Fannon Lamkin, Jeffrey W. Starr, Duke Buster
  • Patent number: 9581681
    Abstract: A radar system in which Coded Aperture Radar processing is performed on received radar signals reflected by one or more objects in a field of view which reflect a transmitted signal which covers a field of view with K sweeps and each sweep including Q frequency changes. For Type II CAR, the transmitted signal also includes N modulated codes per frequency step. The received radar signals are modulated by a plurality of binary modulators the results of which are applied to a mixer. The output of the mixer, for one acquisition results in a set of Q·K (for Type I CAR) or Q·K·N (for Type II CAR) complex data samples, is distributed among a number of digital channels, each corresponding to a desired beam direction. For each channel, the complex digital samples are multiplied, sample by sample, by a complex signal mask that is different for each channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan J. Lynch, Zhiwei A. Xu, Yen-Cheng Kuan
  • Patent number: 9581688
    Abstract: A pulse radar apparatus is disclosed. The pulse radar apparatus includes a pulse generation unit, a receiver unit, a synchronization unit, and a switch unit. The pulse generation unit generates a pulse based on a transmission trigger signal having a transmission pulse repetition period, and sends the pulse to a target via a transmission antenna. The synchronization unit generates the transmission trigger signal using an external reference clock, provides the transmission trigger signal to the pulse generation unit, and generates a plurality of clock signals having a time delay with respect to the transmission pulse trigger signal using the external reference clock. The switch unit selects any one clock signal from the plurality of clock signals in response to an external selection signal, and provides the selected clock signal to a receiver unit which utilizes a sampler with provided sampling clocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Pil-Jae Park, Cheon-Soo Kim, Seong-Do Kim, Sung-Chul Woo
  • Patent number: 9583830
    Abstract: Apparatus and method improving the performance and allowing increased directionality and bandwidth via display-like software defined antenna. A surface is composed of an array of interconnected pixels which are capable of either becoming conducting or resistive allowing arbitrarily sized and shaped antenna structures. Each pixel is controlled by biasing the base which alters the conductivity on the top portion of the pixel. The specific pattern which is active on the display style antenna is based on the desired direction, frequency range, and waveform necessary for a required transmit and receive function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Daniel W. Stambovsky
  • Patent number: 9577343
    Abstract: A method and apparatus configures a beamforming coefficient based on the signal strength information without collecting channel information by adjusting the phase of the antennas through random perturbation. An antenna control method of a base station in a wireless communication system using a beamforming technique includes measuring nth received signal strength at nth phase of at least one receive antenna, measuring (n+1)th received signal strength at (n+1)th phase shifted randomly from the nth phase in one of forward and backward directions, and configuring a beamforming coefficient with the phase at which the received signal strength is greatest through comparison of received signal strengths. The random perturbation-based beamforming method and apparatus of the present disclosure is capable of configuring the beamforming coefficient appropriate for the normal cellular environment using a plurality analog array antenna without channel estimation overhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jeongho Park, Jiyun Seol, Yonghoon Lee, Minhyun Kim, Sungjin Kim, Uitae Hwang
  • Patent number: 9575168
    Abstract: A radar apparatus is disclosed which includes: a distance detecting part configured to detect, among plural bins, an existence distance bin in which the target object exists, a direction detecting process executing part configured to execute a process of detecting a direction in which the target object exists, with respect to a distance bin other than the existence distance bin detected by the distance detecting part, among plural bins from which relative distances to the target object can be calculated, if a predetermined criterion is met; an existence area detecting part configured to detect, based on an execution result of the direction detecting process executing part, an area in which the target object exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ichiro Aizawa
  • Patent number: 9574929
    Abstract: A coupling device for impedance matching a probe of a guided wave radar (GWR) system. A feed-through is for connecting to a coaxial cable or other transmission line connector that includes an inner conductor which connects to an output of a transceiver and an outer conductor that connects to an outer metal sleeve. A subwavelength coaxial transmission line (CTL) having a length from ?/5 to ?/2 is coupled to the feed-through including an inner conductor connected to the inner conductor of the feed-through and an outer conductor connected to the outer metal sleeve. A mode converter (MC) having a plurality of metal fingers (7) of length 2?± twenty percent is connected to the outer conductor of the subwavelength CTL, where the MC includes a dielectric coating on its inner conductor connected to the inner conductor of the subwavelength CTL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Cornel Cobianu, Ion Georgescu, Michael Kon Yew Hughes, Stuart James Heath, Frank Martin Haran
  • Patent number: 9575175
    Abstract: Systems and methods for protecting an airborne platform against collisions are provided. One system includes FMCW radar sensors including transmitting antennae, means for receiving signals from echoes and for processing and digitizing same, and means for sending a central unit data representing said digital signals via a dedicated point to point link. The central unit includes means for processing said data to detect obstacles, means for calculating parameters for each obstacle including its radial velocity, distance range and azimuth, and means to transmit an avionic system of said platform data representing said detected obstacles and parameters. The system further includes means for guaranteeing that said emitted signals are shifted in time to create a shift in frequency guaranteeing that the radar sensors operate in the whole frequency band without perturbing each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: Rockwell Collins France, Nederlandse Organisatic Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzock TNO
    Inventors: Reindert Grooters, Arnoldus Petrus Maria Maas, Pascal Olive, Sébastien Mazuel, Didier Marchetti, Eric Itcia
  • Patent number: 9575170
    Abstract: In an in-vehicle radar device, as a vertical azimuth which is an azimuth of a target in a direction perpendicular to a ground surface, a real image vertical azimuth which is an azimuth of a real image existing above ground is calculated from a reflected wave generated when a transmission signal transmitted from a transmission antenna is reflected from the target, and a virtual image vertical azimuth which is an azimuth of a virtual image existing underground is calculated from a reflected wave generated when the transmission signal transmitted from the transmission antenna is reflected from the target and reflected again from the ground surface. Next, in the in-vehicle radar device, an angle difference between the real image vertical azimuth and the virtual image vertical azimuth is calculated, and a height of the target from the ground surface is calculated using the calculated angle difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignees: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED, FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kurono, Kazuo Shirakawa, Yoji Ohashi
  • Patent number: 9577344
    Abstract: Apparatus for improving the performance and allowing increased directionality of reflecting-type antenna systems by varying the geometry of the reflecting surface. A reflecting surface is composed of an array of actuated pins which are capable of extending or retracting to alter the overall pattern. An actuator controlling unit has the address of each actuator and is able to extend or retract the pins to the desired degree. The specific pattern which the actuator control unit realizes is determined by the iterative position calculator which utilizes directional inputs from the user and/or inputs from a system which determines the effectiveness of previous pin movements. The apparatus attempts to maximize the received signal by assessing amplitude changes over time and utilizing that information to direct alteration in the reflecting surface for optimal performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of Americ as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Daniel W. Stambovsky
  • Patent number: 9575176
    Abstract: The target detecting device comprises a radar sensor, an imaging sensor, and an ECU. The target detected by the radar sensor is selected under certain conditions, for example, i) a reception intensity of the reflected radar waves is equal to or more than a predetermined value, or ii) the target is moving, to be outputted externally. When a stopped vehicle is detected on a road by the sensor, and a target, for example a pedestrian, present behind the stopped vehicle is detected from the image acquired by the imaging sensor by performing image recognition using predetermined patterns of a target, the ECU makes the selection condition less restrictive than the selection condition for targets other than the target present behind the stopped vehicle, or unconditionally selects the target present behind the stopped vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Baba
  • Patent number: 9575045
    Abstract: In some aspects, the disclosure is directed to signal processing methods and systems for identifying a material on a body of a person using electromagnetic radiation. A radar system may measure a first reflection of radiation incident on a body of a person. The first reflection may be from a surface of the body. The radar system may measure a second reflection of the radiation. The second reflection may be from a first material residing on or proximate to the surface of the body. An analyzer may determine, relative to the first reflection, a delay in the second reflection due to propagation of a portion of the radiation through the first material. The analyzer may determine, based on the delay, at least one of: the first material and a dielectric constant of the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Northeastern University
    Inventors: Carey Rappaport, Jose Angel Martinez-Lorenzo
  • Patent number: 9575167
    Abstract: There is provided a radar apparatus capable of emitting a transmission wave relating to a transmitting signal which is frequency-modulated, and receiving a reflection wave coming from a target at which the transmission wave is reflected as a receiving signal, to derive at least position information of the target based on the receiving signal. A deriving unit derives a fluctuation value of a signal level relating to the receiving signal for a stationary target among the targets. A calculating unit calculates a fluctuation integrated value integrated by the fluctuation value. A judging unit judges the stationary target as a target other than a control subject if the fluctuation integrated value is below a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Hisateru Asanuma, Hiroyuki Ishimori
  • Patent number: 9575160
    Abstract: A radar sensing system for a vehicle includes transmit and receive pipelines. The transmit pipeline includes transmitters able to transmit radio signals. The receive pipeline includes receivers able to receive signals. The received signals are transmitted signals that are reflected from an object. The transmit pipeline phase modulates the signals before transmission, as defined by a first binary sequence. The receive pipeline comprises an analog to digital converter (ADC) for sampling the received signals. The transmit pipeline includes a pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS) generator for outputting a second binary sequence of bits with an equal probability of 1 and 0. The first binary sequence is defined by least significant bit (LSB) outputs from the ADC and the second binary sequence of bits. The first binary sequence comprises a truly random unbiased sequence of bits with an equal probability of 1 and 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: UHNDER, INC.
    Inventors: Curtis Davis, Manju Hegde, Wayne E. Stark, John Lovberg
  • Patent number: 9575171
    Abstract: A radio altimeter with at least one transmitting antenna and at least one receiving antenna in a single housing reduces coupling with antennae housings shaped to deflect electromagnetic signals, and spacing between the antennae based on the phase of the transmitting signal. Coupling of less than ?40 dB is filtered by software using adaptive leakage cancelling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard Tetrault
  • Patent number: 9575174
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing improved situational awareness for an aircraft while taxiing. An exemplary method generates reflectivity data based on an associated emission at a transceiver located on an aircraft. At a processor, targets are determined if a portion of the generated reflectivity data is greater than a predefined threshold. Then, the analyzed targets are determined as to whether they are within a dynamically defined three-dimensional envelope. The envelope is based on wingtip light module speed and trajectory. On a display device, an indication of the nearest target is presented at the associated range to the nearest target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jiri Vasek, Pavel Kolcarek, Olukayode Olofinboba