Abstract: A support request processing system using GPS data for locating a person requesting a support. The system is supplemented with a mobile terminal to be carried by the person separately from a GPS terminal left in the vehicle. The mobile terminal transmits a support request signal by way of a radio communication to the GPS terminal which responds to receive the GPS data from the GPS satellite and transmits the data to a message center. Upon receiving the GPS data, the message center calculates the position of the GPS terminal and notifies a warning message for rescue of the person. With the inclusion of the mobile terminal, the system can estimate the location of the person around the GPS terminal or the vehicle even when the person is within buildings where the GPS data from the GPS satellites is not available.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hyper-scanning digital beam former, which includes a plurality of digitizing units (N) having respective inputs for receiving a respective signal from a plurality of elements of an antenna. The digitizing units are operably configured to digitally convert the element antenna signals at a first clock rate; a summing circuit having an input for receiving the digital signals from respective outputs of the digitizing units and operably configured to generate a plurality of output signals (M) by summing ones of the digital signals; and a channel processor having an input for receiving the M output signals and operably configured to process the M output signals at a second clock rate in which the second clock rate is at least M times faster than the first clock rate.

Abstract: A satellite navigational receiver landing system having retrofit compatibility with integrated landing system (ILS) receivers, in accordance with the invention, includes radio frequency circuitry which converts satellite signals into intermediate signals. A first processing channel coupled to the radio frequency circuitry generates a first position, velocity and time (PVT) solution as a function of the intermediate signals, and provides a PVT data output. A second processing channel coupled to the radio frequency circuitry generates a second PVT solution as a function of the intermediate signals. Monitor circuitry provides monitor output signals as a function of the first and second PVT solutions. Shutdown circuitry provides the first PVT solution to the PVT data output under the control of a shutdown signal from the monitor circuitry.

Abstract: An imaging system (10) that includes a passive millimeter-wave camera (14)employing a focal plane array (60) of millimeter-wave integrated circuitry receivers (32). The camera (14) images a scene (58) that may include one or more beacons (12). The beacons (12) transmit millimeter-wave radiation signals (16) that are modulated by a modulator (24) so that the beacons (12) can be distinguished, and possibly provide communications in addition to beacon location. The receivers (32) in the camera (14) employ a demodulator (40) to demodulate the detected millimeter-wave signals from the scene (58). Therefore, not only does the camera (14) image the beacons (12) in the scene (58), but also can separate and decipher communications signals from the beacons (12).

Abstract: A satellite provides a time signal that is adjusted for position of a receiver on the surface of the Earth. A receiver determines appropriate local time from the time signal, and can adjust a local clock accordingly, the satellite time signal in the form of a rotating beam containing angular information to determine the position of the satellite transmitter for proper synchronization. A fixed receiver can also measure the radiation angle of the transmitted beam.

Abstract: A relatively small phased array antenna is formed at a low cost even if the number of radiating elements increases in order to improve the gain. The phased array antenna has a multilayered structure in which a number of radiating elements (15), a phase shift unit (16) for changing the phase of an RF signal transmitted/received at each radiating element, and a distribution/synthesis unit (14) are formed on different layers. Signal lines (X1-Xm) and scanning lines (Y1-Yn) are wired on a phase control layer (35) to connect phase shift units to each other in a matrix. The signal lines and the scanning lines are matrix-driven by selection units (12X, 12Y) so that desired phase shift amounts are set to phase shift units located at the intersections of the signal and scanning lines. In addition, switches (17S) of a phase shifter (17) are formed at once on the phase control layer.

Abstract: A method for distributing locating-relevant information includes providing a GPS position of a client to a server on a data network, and returning location-relevant information by the server based on the specified GPS position. Such location-relevant information include travel or tourist information (e.g., locations of tourist attractions, hotels, or restaurants). Commercial information such as discount coupons or advertising selected based on the Client's GPS position can also be provided. Financial or business transactions can be conducted using the GPS position for authentication or identification.

Abstract: A method of using altitude information to arrive at a more accurate GPS position. A 3D GPS position is used as an initial estimate. The latitude and longitude of the initial estimate are used to retrieve an altitude from a database. This altitude is used to calculate a 2D GPS position. The 2D GPS position is then used to retrieve another altitude from the database, and the calculate-retrieve process is continued until the calculation converges.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for providing data originating from an aircraft to a ground-based device using a satellite communications link. The system includes an aircraft-based transceiver to transmit the data to a satellite. The data is associated with the operation of a particular aircraft. Also included is a ground-based receiver to receive the data transmitted from the aircraft-based transceiver through a communications link established by the satellite.

Abstract: A system is provided for communicating location and other related information of a field unit to a remote base station. The field unit generates position signals based on signals received from communication with a plurality of GPS satellites. These position signals are transmitted to a remote base station, where they are processed and displayed. The field unit includes an environmental circuit having devices for determining an environmental condition and producing an environmental signal representative of the environmental condition. The environmental signal is also transmitted to the remote base station for processing and display. The field unit is also provided with a cellular link circuit for transmitting the position signals and the environmental signal to the remote base station via a cellular link.

Abstract: In a radar antenna system comprising antenna elements arranged in an active array, the elements are located in predetermined groups such that an individual group can be selected electronically from within the whole array aperture, the said selection being effected by variable attenuator means. This produces a phase difference between direct and multipath reflections so that the radar information from a direct reflection can be distinguished from multipath information.

Abstract: An antenna controller comprises an antenna beam control unit for controlling the direction of an antenna beam of an antenna, an inertial navigation system for acquiring motion information on a motion of the mobile body, an antenna beam direction calculation unit for calculating the direction of the antenna based on the motion information from the inertial navigation system to direct the antenna beam toward the geostationary satellite, a motion information acquisition unit for separately acquiring motion information on the motion of the mobile body, and a motion estimation unit for estimating a delay of the motion information acquired by the inertial navigation system based on the motion information acquired by the inertial navigation system and the motion information acquired by the motion information acquisition unit, and for estimating motion information to be sent to the antenna beam direction calculation unit in consideration of the estimated delay.

Abstract: An aperture synthesis radiometer operating in fully polarimetric mode. The measuring receivers are connected selectively to the polarization ports of the array elements following selected switching sequences thereby to provide the required cross-correlations that allow fully polarimetric operation. The polarization switching scheme used enable measurements to be performed with a minimum degradation in sensitivity using single channel receivers.

Abstract: A method for distributing locating-relevant information includes providing a GPS position of a client to a server on a data network, and returning location-relevant information by the server based on the specified GPS position. Such location-relevant information include travel or tourist information (e.g., locations of tourist attractions, hotels, or restaurants). Commercial information such as discount coupons or advertising selected based on the Client's GPS position can also be provided. Financial or business transactions can be conducted using the GPS position for authentication or identification.

Abstract: An object location monitoring system tracks the locations of portable transceivers that attach to movable objects, such as patients within a hospital. The system preferably tracks the locations of the transceivers by combining a signal strength based locating process with a topological tracking process. Beacons that intermittently transmit unique ID codes are mounted to walls or other structures throughout a building, and are maintained in synchronization using the 60 Hz cycle of a standard 120V AC power signal, either directly or by monitoring flicker of fluorescent lighting. The transceivers receive the transmissions of nearby beacons, determine the signal strengths of such transmissions, and forward associated data to a server. The server uses this data to determine the location of each transceiver, and uses expected travel times between specific locations to resolve ambiguities.

Abstract: A method for directly extracting carrier frequency offsets (CFOs) from positioning signals received at a ranging receiver is provided. The positioning signals comprise a plurality of samples. The method includes, for each of a previously determined number of decimated samples, accumulating a specified number of samples into the decimated sample. A determination is made regarding whether to apply rate correction to the decimated samples. A particular number of rate corrections are applied to each decimated sample to generate a set of results when rate correction is to be applied. Each set of results is stored. A determination is made regarding whether a minimum number of significant carriers exists in the sets of stored results. The CFOs are determined based on the significant carriers when the minimum number of significant carriers exists in the sets of stored results.

Abstract: A method of despreading a GPS spread spectrum signal received at a mobile unit MSl with assistance from a base station BS1 includes (a) receiving and despreading GPS signals at the base station and deriving GPS signal information therefrom; (b) estimating the location of the mobile unit; (c) modifying the OPS signal information so as reflect the GPS signal characteristics as would be observed at the estimated location of the mobile unit; (d) transmitting the GPS signal information from the base station to the mobile unit; (e) generating replica signals containing PRN codes corresponding to those of the GPS signal using the modified GPS signal information; and (f) performing a correlation of the GPS signal and the replica signals in order to acquire the GPS signal.

Abstract: A phased array antenna may include a substrate and at least one phased array antenna element carried thereby, at least one element controller for controlling the at least one phased array antenna element based upon desired compensation data, and a central controller for supplying to the at least one element controller a current value of a quick control parameter and a block of current compensation data. The block of current compensation data may be based upon a current value of a slow control parameter and a range of possible values for the quick control parameter. Further, the quick control parameter may vary more quickly than the slow control parameter. Additionally, the at least one element controller may determine the desired compensation data based upon the supplied block of current compensation data and the current value of the quick control parameter.

Abstract: A compact GPS receiver includes a GPS antenna composed of a patch and a ground plane to receive high frequency satellite signals, an analog circuit which processes the high frequency satellite signals into a digital signal, a digital circuit which processes the digital signal to compute positional coordinates of the GPS antenna, and an interface connector which outputs the positional coordinates to an external device. A substrate is provided to support the GPS antenna, the analog circuit, the digital circuit, and the interface connector. An EMI (electromagnetic interference) shield is provided to shield at least the digital circuit to block a noise developing at the digital circuit from interfering with the GPS antenna. The GPS antenna is mounted on the EMI shield to share the ground plane with the EMI shield, while keeping the patch insulated electrically from the EMI shield.

Abstract: A phased array antenna may include a substrate, a plurality of phased array antenna elements carried by the substrate, and a central controller for providing beam steering commands and beam shaping commands. Furthermore, the phased array antenna may also include a plurality of element controllers connected to the phased array antenna elements and the central controller. Each element controller may store at least one position related value based upon physical positioning of the associated phased array antenna element on the substrate, and determine a beam shaping offset based upon the stored at least one position related value and a received beam shaping command from the central controller. Each element controller may also determine at least one phased array antenna element control value based upon a received beam steering command and the beam shaping offset.