Patents Examined by Thomas H. Tarcza
  • Patent number: 7986265
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods determine the rotational position of a spinning object. A satellite positioning system can be used to determine the spatial position of an object, which in turn can be used to guide the object. However, when the object is spinning, such as an artillery shell, then the rotational orientation should be known in order to properly actuate the control surfaces, such as fins, which will also be spinning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Interstate Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Steven B. Alexander, Richard Redhead
  • Patent number: 7986266
    Abstract: A system and method for determining one or more satellites in view of a wireless device. A request for satellite assistance data may be received from a requesting entity and a reference location determined as a function of the request. A set of satellites may be determined as a function of the reference location. Subsequent cached information may be determined for each satellite in the set of satellites if cached information already existing for each satellite in the set of satellites has been cached for greater than a predetermined time period. This subsequent cached information may then replace the previously existing cached information for the reference location. One or more satellites in view of the wireless device may then be determined as a function of either the subsequent cached information or previously existing cached information, and assistance data may be provided to the requesting entity to determine an estimated location of the wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Andrew, LLC
    Inventor: Neil Harper
  • Patent number: 7986262
    Abstract: A radar tracking apparatus and method are provided. The radar tracking apparatus includes an ?-? tracking filter, wherein the ?-? tracking filter includes: a tracking index unit calculating a tracking index for obtaining ? and ? filter gains of an ?-? tracking filter, based on changes in the measurement error covariance of a radar-measured value that occur when the measured value of target is converted from a polar coordinate system to a rectangular coordinate system; and a filter gain update unit calculating the variations of ? and ? filter gains, based on the partial differential coefficient of the changing rate of the ? and ? filter gains with respect to the changing rate of the tracking index and the variations of the tracking index, and updating the ? and ? filter gains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Byung-Doo Kim, Seong-Yun Cho, Young-Su Cho, Wan-Sik Choi, Jong-Hyun Park
  • Patent number: 7982670
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for determining the direction of arrival of one or multiple radio or acoustic waves and, more particularly, to such a method and system especially advantageous in situations where the number of available observations is small and/or the available observations are received with low power. The method significantly improves the performance of traditional subspace signal processing algorithms in the low sample size regime. The algorithm is specifically designed to provide consistent estimates even when the observation dimension has the same order of magnitude as the number of observations. This guarantees a good behavior in finite sample size situations, where the number of sensors or antennae and the number of samples have the same order of magnitude or in scenarios where the received signal power is not sufficiently high to guarantee detection via conventional one-dimensional search methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Fundacio Privada Centre Technologic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya
    Inventor: Francesc Xavier Mestre Pons
  • Patent number: 7982668
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for processing multiple navigation signal components received from multiple global navigation satellite systems (GNSS?). In a particular implementation, a code phase in a first navigation signal component may be detected based, at least in part, on information in a second navigation signal component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Rizwan Ahmed, Rayman Wai Pon, Paul A. Conflitti
  • Patent number: 7982863
    Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a laser anemometry probe for optical homodyne detection of frequency offset by Doppler effect, comprising two devices (DERF1, DERF2) for transmitting/receiving beams in two different directions, avoiding duplicating a plurality of elements of a mono-axial laser anemometry probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Philippe Rondeau, Jean-Pierre Schlotterbeck
  • Patent number: 7982663
    Abstract: The digital signal processor is for correcting a DC output at an output terminal of an internal circuit of an analog circuit device. The digital signal processor includes a digital register for storing a digital value, a D/A converter for converting the digital value stored in the digital register into an analog voltage and applying the converted analog voltage to the output terminal as the DC output, a polarity determining circuit which outputs a first signal when an analog DC voltage at a reference correction point different from the output terminal in the internal circuit is higher than a predetermined threshold value and otherwise outputs a second signal, and an updating function configured to monotonously increase or decrease the digital value stored in the digital register while a predetermined one of the first and second signals is outputted from the polarity determining circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Miyake, Hisanori Uda
  • Patent number: 7982667
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing of data from GNSS receivers are presented. (1) A real-time GNSS rover-engine, a long distance multi baseline averaging (MBA) method, and a stochastic post-processed accuracy predictor are described. (2) The real-time GNSS rover-engine provides high accuracy position determination (decimeter-level) with short occupation time (2 Minutes) for GIS applications. The long distance multi baseline averaging (MBA) method improves differential-correction accuracy by averaging the position results from several different baselines. This technique provides a higher accuracy than any single baseline solution. It was found, that for long baselines (more than about 250 km), the usage of non-iono-free observables (e.g. L1-only or wide-lane) leads to a higher accuracy with MBA compared to the commonly used iono-free (LC) combination, because of the less noisy observables and the cancellation of the residual ionospheric errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Ulrich Vollath, Soeren Ulf Klose
  • Patent number: 7982658
    Abstract: Dynamic weather model systems and methods are operable to assess weather in proximity to an airborne aircraft. An exemplary embodiment receives a radar return from the weather, determines reflectivity information from the received radar return, retrieves a weather model from a weather model data base, compares the weather with the retrieved weather model and the determined reflectivity information, predicts a characteristic of the weather based upon the comparison of the weather and the weather model, and determines if the predicted characteristic is potentially hazardous to the airborne aircraft. The weather model is defined by at least one weather modeling algorithm, and is defined by at least one of a parameter and a variable parameter range residing in a weather characteristics database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Donald C. Kauffman, Brian P. Bunch
  • Patent number: 7982659
    Abstract: A system for preventing light pollution includes one or more radar units that monitor for vehicles in a volume surrounding or containing one or more obstructions having one or more obstruction lights. A master radar detection processing unit receives sensed radar detection information from the one or more radar units with associated radar signal processing units and determines whether a vehicle is present within the monitored volume. A plurality of obstruction light controller units are interconnected in a network, such as a wireless network. Each obstruction light controller unit turns on an obstruction light when a vehicle enters the monitored volume or a failure condition exists, and turns off the obstruction light when the vehicle has vacated the monitored volume and no failure condition exists. The one or more radar units can transmit sensed radar detection information to a master radar detection processing unit via the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Laufer Wind Group LLC
    Inventor: Eric David Laufer
  • Patent number: 7982859
    Abstract: According to the invention, a light signal is emitted to one or several targets in order to derive geodetic distance data therefrom. Apparatus components such as transmitters (1?) and receivers (4?) are modeled along with the targets (3a and 3b) as a linear, time-invariant system which is excited by means of a signal s(t) and the system response y(t) of which is recorded. Unlike in delay meters or phase meters, the distance data is derived from both the delay and the signal form of the system response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG
    Inventors: Jurg Hinderling, Paul Benz, Martin De Lange
  • Patent number: 7982866
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a surveying instrument is disclosed, the survey instrument comprising a base element and a camera with an image sensor, the camera being rotatable about a vertical axis fixed with respect to said base element and being rotatable about a tilting axis, the tilting axis being rotated about the vertical axis with rotation of the camera about the vertical axis. In the method, data associated with calibration points and images of the calibration points on the image sensor captured in different faces are used, the data for each of said calibration points comprising distance data and the data for each of the images of each said calibration point comprising image position data and orientation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Jena GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Vogel
  • Patent number: 7982657
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed technology comprise a ground penetrating radio device and methods of use for obtaining greater resolution. This is achieved by measuring the composition/reflection off a homogeneous material (e.g., metal plate), determining coefficients to correct the measured/reflection in order to make the measurements look like an idealized reference signal, and then using these coefficients in a digital filter to correct measurements/a reflection off a heterogeneous material, such as a road surface. In this manner, the composition of the heterogeneous material is determined with greater accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey R Feigin, Alan E Schutz
  • Patent number: 7982660
    Abstract: A measuring device , e.g., a measuring device for a motor vehicle, is for measuring a distance between the measuring device and at least one object and/or measuring a difference in speed between the measuring device and the at least one object. The measuring device includes an emitting apparatus for transmitting a transmission signal encompassing at least two sequences of signal portions, a first sequence of signal portions and a second sequence of signal portions with two respective temporally alternating signal portions. The frequency of at least two signal portions of a sequence of signal portions differs by one respective difference frequency, the difference frequency of the first sequence of signal portions being different from the difference frequency of the second sequence of signal portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, S.M.S. Smart Microwave Sensors GmbH
    Inventors: Marc-Michael Meinecke, Ralph Mende, Marc Behrens, Thanh-Binh To
  • Patent number: 7982672
    Abstract: A reception device includes a receiver, a direction detector, a location information acquisition component and a location calculator. The receiver receives broadcast signals sent from transmission towers, respectively. The direction detector detects reception directions of the broadcast signals. The location information acquisition component acquires location information indicating locations where the transmission towers are installed, respectively. The location calculator selects at least three of the transmission towers, estimate at least two estimated areas in which the reception device is located with each of the at least two of the estimated areas being estimated based on the reception directions of the broadcast signals of two of the at least three of the transmission towers and the location information of the two of the at least three of the transmission towers, and calculate a location of the reception device based on the at least two of the estimated areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masato Fuimoto
  • Patent number: 7982671
    Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for using a wireless local area network (WLAN) phase shifter for smart antenna beam steering are presented. Aspects of the system may enable determination of an angle of arrival (AOA) for signals received at a receiving station in a wireless network. Based on the AOA value, the receiving station may enable orientation of antenna in a smart antenna system. In a switched beam smart antenna system, antenna element(s) may be selected, which are most closely oriented toward the AOA. In an adaptive array smart antenna system, antenna beam may be steered, or reoriented, based on the AOA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Gonikberg
  • Patent number: 7982665
    Abstract: The present invention provides a GPS-installed all-azimuth camera, comprising at least a pair of GPS antennas (29a and 29b) disposed on up and down in parallel to each other, a plurality of cameras (28a-28f) which are disposed on a plane running in parallel to the GPS antennas and are capable of obtaining images in all azimuths, and a case (27) for accommodating the cameras and the GPS antennas, wherein a reference position of the GPS antennas is concurred with an image reference position of the cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON
    Inventors: Kaoru Kumagai, Fumio Ohtomo
  • Patent number: 7982860
    Abstract: The invention is based on a distance-measuring device having a transmission unit (20) for generating a transmission signal (42) having at least one measurement frequency (f1, f2) which is desired for detecting distance information. It is proposed that the transmission unit (20) comprises a means (60) for generating an evaluation signal (62) having an evaluation frequency (fA) which is desired for evaluating the distance information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Wolf, Joerg Stierle, Bjoern Haase, Kai Renz
  • Patent number: 7982669
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptive beam-steering are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises performing adaptive beam steering using multiple transmit and receive antennas, including iteratively performing a pair of training sequences, wherein the pair of training sequences includes estimating a transmitter antenna-array weight vector and a receiver antenna-array weight vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Sibeam, Inc.
    Inventors: Karim Nassiri-Toussi, Jeffrey M. Gilbert, Chuen-Shen Shung, Dmitry M. Cherniavsky
  • Patent number: 7982664
    Abstract: A radar system with an array antenna includes various signal paths, including beamformers, extending between an exciter, a receiver, and the array antenna. The signal paths are calibrated by a method that includes frequency modulation of the exciter signals that reach the “antenna” and additional amplitude modulation of signals just as they enter the receiver. Leakage paths directly from the exciter to the receiver are unmodulated, those extending from the exciter through the beamformer are amplitude modulated, and only those reaching the “antenna” and returning to the receiver are both amplitude and frequency modulated. The receiver is tuned to receive only the “doubly-modulated” signals, which tends to reject leakage signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Michael B. Uscinowicz