Combined With Determining Direction (i.e., Bearing) Patents (Class 342/113)
  • Patent number: 8031107
    Abstract: An object detection device for a vehicle includes a transmitting-receiving unit, a reflection point computation unit, an object width computation unit, a representative point setting unit, a lateral relative velocity computation unit, a memory unit, and a lateral relative velocity correction unit. The transmitting-receiving unit transmits an electromagnetic wave. The object width computation unit computes a width of the object. The lateral relative velocity computation unit computes a lateral relative velocity. The memory unit records the object as a width-widening static object when the object is a static object and an amount of increase in the width of the object is greater than a predetermined value, based on a detection history of the object detected at each of the predetermined cycle. The lateral relative velocity correction unit corrects the lateral relative velocity, when the object recorded as the width-widening static object is detected at a left end part or a right end part of a detection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoji Sasabuchi, Hiroyuki Koike
  • Patent number: 7994969
    Abstract: A radar system is disclosed, which comprises an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modem and a frequency scanning antenna. In transmit, the OFDM modem modulates radar waveforms and the frequency scanning antenna radiates the OFDM modulated radio frequency (RF) energy. In receive mode, the frequency scanning antenna captures the echoes and the OFDM modem demodulates the echoes. Directionality of the frequency scanning antenna is dependent upon RF carrier frequency. In other features, the radar system further comprises a transmit/receive (T/R) module that up-converts and amplifies the OFDM modulation, and outputs the amplified signal to the frequency scanning antenna. The T/R module amplifies and down-converts a received RF echo from the frequency scanning antenna and outputs the down-converted echo to the OFDM modem. A plurality of scanning angles are measured simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: The Regents of The University of Michigan
    Inventors: Koen Van Caekenberghe, Karl Brakora, Kamal Sarabandi
  • Publication number: 20110156947
    Abstract: An electronic scanning radar apparatus includes a transmission unit configured to transmit a transmission wave, a receiving unit including a plurality of antennas receiving an incoming wave coming from a target, a beat signal generation unit configure to generate beat signals in response to the transmission wave and the incoming wave, a frequency resolution processing unit obtaining complex number data calculated from beat frequencies having signal levels obtained by performing a frequency resolution for the beat signals based on a predetermined frequency width, a peak detector detecting an existence of a present target by detecting peak signal levels of the beat frequencies, a target link unit associating between the present target detected in a present detecting cycle and a past target detected in past detecting cycles; and a direction detecting unit calculating a direction of the incoming wave based on the weighted averaging process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA ELESYS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Junji KANAMOTO
  • Patent number: 7961139
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for angular determination and/or for increasing the angular resolution or a detectable angular range when operating antenna groups using the technique of digital beam forming (DBF), as well as a device for carrying out the method. In the method, a measurement signal with a carrier signal and a frequency-modulated signal component are received via at least one antenna group directly or after reflection on one or several objects. The angle, at which the measurement signal is received, is determined by evaluating a phase difference in the received measurement signal which occurs between adjacent antenna elements of the antenna group. The method is characterized in that for determining the phase difference the frequency-modulated signal component is also evaluated, exclusively or additionally to an evaluation of the carrier signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Werner Wiesbeck, Karin Schuler, Denis Becker
  • Patent number: 7924213
    Abstract: A method of tracking an object including the steps of: collecting N measurements of range Ri and Doppler velocity Di associated with the object from a plurality M of radar sensors Si each measurement being assigned a time stamp ti; time aligning each Range Ri measurement to a common time stamp tN to provide a corresponding time aligned range Pi for each of the N measurements; using each time aligned Range measurement Pi to define a corresponding spherical equation such that N spherical equations are defined; and deriving analytical solutions from three of the N spherical equations to determine the position vector of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Thales Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Huub De Waard, Piet Griffioen, Henk Regtop, Gert Van De Brug
  • Publication number: 20110068970
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicular radar device which is capable of reducing an operation resource quantity necessary for a process of estimating an axis deviation angle in a radar measurement coordinate system, to thereby reduce a device size. The vehicular radar device includes: a measurement unit that measures an azimuth angle and a relative Doppler velocity; an extraction/accumulation unit that extracts target information satisfying conditions related to the relative Doppler velocity, a travel speed and a turning velocity, and accumulates the azimuth angle and a velocity ratio obtained by dividing the relative Doppler velocity by the travel speed of the subject vehicle among the extracted target information; and an axis deviation angle estimate unit that reads the target information accumulated in the extraction/accumulation unit, and estimates an axis deviation angle of the measurement coordinate system of a radar based on a second-order polynomial expression of the azimuth angle of the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi MITSUMOTO
  • Patent number: 7880669
    Abstract: To provide a radar apparatus capable of rapidly detecting an object at the end of a detecting range. The present invention provides a radar apparatus comprising a radar sensor that transmits a transmitting wave to a predetermined angular range and receives a reflected wave reflected by an object and a processing unit that obtains a peak of strength from a distribution of strength for angle of the received reflected wave and determines the direction of the object based on the peak. The processing unit detects the reflected wave at the end of the angular range and, when the peak is not detected, determines whether the object exists in the direction of the end of the angular range, based on the distribution of strength of the detected reflected wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventors: Tokio Shinagawa, Shinichi Shibata
  • Patent number: 7782246
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting a target from radar data according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with a real-time data source and a countermeasure system. The real-time data source provides tracking information for at least one potential target from which a lead track associated with one target meeting a predetermined threshold requirement may be selected for engagement by the countermeasure system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Patric M. McGuire
  • Patent number: 7760134
    Abstract: A radar apparatus capable of determining the position of targets at a high accuracy even when plural objects of an identical relative velocity are present in a detection view field of the radar, using signal processing of obtaining an effect which is similar with that of virtually increasing the number of antennas along the moving direction of the radar by determining the change of intensity of reception signals using data in the past in which an identical antenna was positioned at a slightly different place (T1) and data at present (T1+?T) as a unit data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi Morinaga, Hiroto Mitoma
  • Publication number: 20100171649
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method enabling precise determination of the elevation of a projectile following a ballistic trajectory by use of a conventional Doppler surveillance radar. The method includes calculating first the estimate {circumflex over (?)}? of the value of the radial component ?? of the acceleration of the projectile from the quantities {dot over (d)} and {umlaut over (d)}, respectively representing the first derivative and the second derivative with respect to time of the Doppler velocity d of the projectile, then calculating the estimate {circumflex over (V)} of the speed V of the projectile from d , {dot over (d)} and {circumflex over (?)}?, and finally calculating the estimate Ê of its angle of elevation E from d and {circumflex over (V)}. The method according to the invention may apply to the protection of sensitive areas against the firing of ballistic projectiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: Thales
    Inventors: Bernard Durand, Christian Cavallan, Odile Adrian
  • Patent number: 7719461
    Abstract: The invention, called “ORSE Track Fusion”, combines sensor tracks from dispersed sites, when limited communication bandwidth does not permit sharing of individual measurements. Since estimation errors due to maneuver biases are not independent for each sensor, optimal fusion of tracks produced by Kalman filters requires transmission of all the filter gain matrices used to update each sensor track prior to the fusion time. For this reason, prior art has resorted to suboptimal designs. ORSE Track Fusion according to aspects of the invention overcomes this disadvantage by propagating, transmitting, and fusing separately calculated covariance matrices for random and bias estimation errors. Furthermore, with ORSE, each sensor can have its own criteria in forming its track, and track fusion can be performed with different criteria at each processing site. Thus, ORSE Track Fusion has the unique flexibility to optimize track fusion simultaneously for multiple criteria to serve multiple users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Purusottam Mookerjee, Frank J. Reifler
  • Patent number: 7688251
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for monitoring the surface flow velocity and volume discharge of rivers and channels using a VHF/UHF radar located in operative relationship with a riverbank. This frequency region allows precise estimation and removal of the Bragg wave velocity; it also is matched to the short wind-wave roughness periods existing on river surfaces so that operation is possible nearly all the time. Methods of bearing determination are also disclosed. Up/downriver surface velocity profiles vs. distance across the river may be constructed from maps of the radial velocity component from a single radar at thousands of points within the radar's coverage. Methods to compensate for Doppler aliasing under high flow conditions are also shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: CODAR Ocean Sensors, Ltd
    Inventors: Donald E. Barrick, Calvin C. Teague, Peter M. Lilleboe
  • Patent number: 7626534
    Abstract: A target tracking method uses sensor(s) producing target signals subject to positional and/or angular bias, which are updated with sensor bias estimates to produce updated target-representative signals. Time propagation produces time-updated target states and sensor positional and angular biases. The Jacobian of the state dynamics of a target model produces the state transition matrix for extended Kalman filtering. Target state vector and bias covariances of the sensor are time propagated. The Kalman measurement residual is computed to produce state corrections, which are added to the time updated filter states to thereby produce (i) target state updates and (ii) sensor positional and angular bias updates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey B. Boka, Purusottam Mookerjee, Naresh R. Patel
  • Patent number: 7626533
    Abstract: A processor operatively coupled to a speed sensor adapted to generate a measure of a longitudinal speed of a vehicle on a roadway, and to a source of a measure of yaw rate of the vehicle, provides for selecting a most likely roadway model of a plurality of different roadway models and for outputting a corresponding associated at least one curvature parameter as an estimate of curvature of the roadway, wherein the processor incorporates a plurality of curvature estimators associated with the corresponding plurality of different roadway models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Shan Cong, Shi Shen, Lang Hong
  • Patent number: 7610150
    Abstract: A route data base generating system avoids GPS satellite signals sources for land based vehicle azimuth and heading determinations in areas where reception of the satellite signals is unavailable or impaired and relies on vehicle part movements that are equitable to the heading and azimuth changes of the vehicle for determining such vehicle orientations. Part movements equitable to the heading changes are found in the vehicle wheel assemblies. A route data base founded on interconnecting linear route segments that are arranged in and end-to-end serial order is advocated and wherein the angular deviation between connecting segments in the order is predetermined. Various uses of the generating systems and related procedures are advocated for both on-the-road and off-road usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Rothar Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger L. Martin, Thurman Sasser
  • Patent number: 7605747
    Abstract: A method for determining or compensating for the positional errors of a sensor tracking a target comprises the steps of operating the sensor to generate sensed information relating to the target and adding any sensor positional bias update information to produce updated sensed information. The target state is propagated to produce time updated state estimates. The Jacobian of the state dynamics and the state transition matrix for the extended Kalman filter algorithm are computed. The covariance of a state vector is time propagated using the state transition matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Purusottam Mookerjee, Jeffrey B. Boka
  • Patent number: 7598904
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for determining a relative velocity between a host (100) and a target (102). The present invention relates in particular to a method of the type that can be used in motor vehicle radar systems and specifically in radar systems of the type that detect obstacles in a blind spot of a motor vehicle. In the method according to the invention the following steps are carried out: substantially simultaneously determining a value for a radial velocity and a bearing with regard to a predefined spatial direction for a large number of measurement points (106) on the target (102); calculating a large number of quotients from the radial velocity and the cosine of the associated bearing, a quotient being calculated for each of the measurement points (106); determining an estimated relative velocity between the host (100) and the target (102) by forming an average of the large number of quotients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Dirk Klotzbuecher, Wolfgang Lauer
  • Patent number: 7592944
    Abstract: A system and method for highly selective intrusion detection using a sparse array of ultra wideband (UWB) radars. Two or more UWB radars are arranged in a sparse array around an area to be protected. Each UWB radar transmits ultra wideband pulses that illuminate the area to be protected. Signal return data is processed to determine, among other things, whether an alarm condition has been triggered. High resolution radar images are formed that give an accurate picture of the area to be protected. This image is used to detect motion in a highly selective manner and to track moving objects within the protected area. Motion can be distinguished based on criteria appropriate to the environment in which the intrusion detection system operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Time Domain Corporation
    Inventors: Larry W. Fullerton, James L. Richards, Mark D. Roberts, Brandon S. Dewberry
  • Patent number: 7576688
    Abstract: Moving objects are detected with a radar by collecting samples of a received signal over an integration period. The terms of a match function contain a product of a sample of said received signal and a delayed-in-time, Doppler-shifted replica of a transmission and depend on parameters that describe an object that caused a reflection of the transmission. The most probable values of the parameters are found by maximizing the match function through Fourier transforming a vector consisting of terms of the match function. Those of said products that contain a non-zero contribution of said delayed-in-time, Doppler-shifted replica of a transmission are actually computed while the others of said products are zero Only non-zero blocks of the products count as final terms to the vector to be Fourier transformed that have nonzero value while intermittent blocks that have zero value are left out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Eigenor Oy
    Inventor: Markku Sakari Lehtinen
  • Publication number: 20090195437
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for monitoring the surface flow velocity and volume discharge of rivers and channels using a VHF/UHF radar located in operative relationship with a riverbank. This frequency region allows precise estimation and removal of the Bragg wave velocity; it also is matched to the short wind-wave roughness periods existing on river surfaces so that operation is possible nearly all the time. Methods of bearing determination are also disclosed. Up/downriver surface velocity profiles vs. distance across the river may be constructed from maps of the radial velocity component from a single radar at thousands of points within the radar's coverage. Methods to compensate for Doppler aliasing under high flow conditions are also shown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Donald E. Barrick, Calvin C. Teague, Peter M. Lilleboe
  • Publication number: 20090121916
    Abstract: A vehicle-installed direction detection apparatus is controlled in accordance with the vehicle speed, to detect respective directions of one or more target objects by selectively applying high-resolution detection processing or low-resolution detection processing to received signals obtained from the elements of an array antenna of a radar apparatus, with the selection being determined in accordance with whether the speed attains a predetermined threshold value. The high-resolution detection processing is based on correlation between the received signals, utilizing an null scan type of algorithm such as MUSIC, while the low-resolution detection processing is based for example on digital beam forming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuyuki MIYAKE
  • Patent number: 7532154
    Abstract: The frequency modulation radar device includes a transmitting unit (5), M receiving units for receiving a reflected signal as M channels, a mixing unit (7) for mixing the transmitting signal with the M received signals to obtain beat signals for the M channels, a frequency analyzing unit (9) for analyzing the beat signals for the M channels in frequency, and a calculating unit (1) for calculating a distance to a target object and an orientation angle based on frequency analysis results. The calculating unit (1) calculates a noise level from the frequency analysis result, extracts a peak signal of a subject target object in each of the channels based on the calculated noise level to generate a covariance matrix, discriminates between a signal eigenvalue and a noise eigenvalue among M eigenvalues of the covariance matrix, and estimates the number of incident signals based on the number of signal eigenvalues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Shinsaku Noda
  • Publication number: 20090073027
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for selecting a target from radar data according to various aspects of the present invention operate in conjunction with a real-time data source and a countermeasure system. The real-time data source provides tracking information for at least one potential target from which a lead track associated with one target meeting a predetermined threshold requirement may be selected for engagement by the countermeasure system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventor: Patric M. McGuire
  • Patent number: 7501976
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a position of a vehicle within a field of view using a traffic sensor are provided. This involves (a) mounting the traffic sensor at a fixed location relative to a road; (b) modulating a microwave signal to produce a periodic time-varying modulated signal; (c) radiating the periodic time-varying modulated microwave signal in a radiation beam at a vehicle on a road to generate a reflected modulated microwave signal, wherein the reflected periodic time-varying modulated microwave signal induces a first received signal at a first receiver antenna and a second received signal at a second receiver antenna, the second receiver being spaced from the first receiver; and, (d) determining the position of the vehicle on the road within the field of view based on the periodic time-varying modulated signal, the first received signal, and the second received signal, wherein the position of the vehicle is determinable during a single period of the periodic time-varying modulated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Inventor: Dan Manor
  • Publication number: 20090009382
    Abstract: A method for determining the direction of an incoming signal is provided in which each of a plurality of receivers arranged in a linear array is sampled in sequence to simulate a single receiver moving along an aperture defined by the linear array at a simulated speed. This generates a simulated time series data from which a simulated Doppler shift in the incident angle is measured. The simulated Doppler shift is used to determine the incident angle between the incident signal and the linear array of receivers. By adjusting the simulated speed to eliminate artifacts in the power spectral density of the data obtained from the receivers, the incident angle can be obtain from the expression of the simulated Doppler shift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventor: ANTHONY A. RUFFA
  • Patent number: 7474962
    Abstract: A method for guiding the approach and landing of an aircraft is provided. The method involves receiving navigation information from the aircraft, receiving navigation information from an aircraft carrier, integrating the navigation information from the aircraft with the navigation information from the aircraft carrier to determine a relative velocity and a relative position between the aircraft and the aircraft carrier, and propagating the relative velocity and the relative position forward in time for navigation purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: James Waid, Kevin Dutton, Adam Boseley, Kenneth S. Morgan, Phil Hess, Michael Vaujin
  • Publication number: 20090002221
    Abstract: An enhanced police Doppler direction sensing radar detects possibly dangerous traffic conditions during certain vehicle maneuvers such as U-turns and returns to travel after roadside stops. By monitoring a host or primary vehicle speed, speed transitions, transmission state (e.g. gear selection), and the closing vehicle position, range and speed, a number of selectable conditions are detected, resulting in an alert indication to a primary vehicle operator. User preferences and thresholds allow the traffic alert function to be customized according to a primary vehicle operator's desire to suppress alerts in situations which the user does not deem dangerous. The traffic alert function may be automatically triggered under certain detected conditions, or manually initiated when the primary vehicle operator intends to make a driving maneuver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Alan B. Mead, John L. Aker, Robert S. Gammenthaler, James Kevin McCoy
  • Publication number: 20080266170
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for determining a relative velocity between a host (100) and a target (102). The present invention relates in particular to a method of the type that can be used in motor vehicle radar systems and specifically in radar systems of the type that detect obstacles in a blind spot of a motor vehicle. In the method according to the invention the following steps are carried out: substantially simultaneously determining a value for a radial velocity and a bearing with regard to a predefined spatial direction for a large number of measurement points (106) on the target (102); calculating a large number of quotients from the radial velocity and the cosine of the associated bearing, a quotient being calculated for each of the measurement points (106); determining an estimated relative velocity between the host (100) and the target (102) by forming an average of the large number of quotients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Dirk Klotzbuecher, Wolfgang Lauer
  • Patent number: 7417581
    Abstract: A system and method for highly selective intrusion detection using a sparse array of time modulated ultra wideband (TM-UWB) radars. Two or more TM-UWB radars are arranged in a sparse array around the perimeter of a building. Each TM-UWB radar transmits ultra wideband pulses that illuminate the building and the surrounding area. Signal return data is processed to determine, among other things, whether an alarm condition has been triggered. High resolution radar images are formed that give an accurate picture of the inside of the building and the surrounding area. This image is used to detect motion in a highly selective manner and to track moving objects within the building and the surrounding area. Motion can be distinguished based on criteria appropriate to the environment in which the intrusion detection system operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Time Domain Corporation
    Inventors: Larry W. Fullerton, James L. Richards
  • Publication number: 20080169970
    Abstract: A Doppler shifted radar apparatus is disclosed for correct target identification with respect to surveillance of moving vehicles. More particularly, an improved system is disclosed that is fully programmable and configurable to a specific customer use such as a speed signal. One such configurable item is the output communications protocol. As an example, the customer can configure the speed limit, range, and/or direction of movement, standard or custom serial protocol and other unique features for a customer speed sign. Another feature is a real time clock to time stamp and store event data for future analysis. The apparatus also has a multi-voltage power supply for customer usage and versatility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: DECATUR ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: David H. Woodcox, David W. Haile, Cory A. Peach, Kimble J. Smith
  • Patent number: 7394422
    Abstract: A transmitter for transmitting signals to targets and a receiver for receiving signals reflected from targets are included. The transmitter outputs CW signals for detecting direction and velocity of the target. The receiver performs: a function of receiving signals reflected from targets with a plurality of receiving antennas at the same time as transmitting from the transmitter, and performing spectral analysis with respect to receiving signals to thereby classify them by velocity component; a function of correlating signals of the receiving antenna systems; a function of integrating the signals correlation-processed; and a function of obtaining phase fronts of signals made incident on an antenna face from the phase differences of signals between receiving antennas, and performing two-dimensional FFT to the outputs to thereby measure the direction and velocity of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Nohmi
  • Patent number: 7391355
    Abstract: A geolocation system and method uses a single platform for determining a Doppler measurement set of a targeted aircraft or signal of interest. The electronic warfare aircraft and the ejected aircraft expendables technology device determine the Doppler measurement set of the targeted aircraft or other signal of interest. The ejected aircraft expendables technology device is initially tuned to an expected frequency of the target of interest. Re-tuning may take place after an initial signal reading and computation has been performed by the electronic warfare aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Mortimer
  • Patent number: 7359713
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to provide power management for a mobile communication device having a location determination function. The frequency of the location determination function may be adjusted based on whether the mobile communication device is moving and may be further adjusted based on battery voltage or expected battery life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Anil Tiwari
  • Patent number: 7358888
    Abstract: A system and method for highly selective intrusion detection using a sparse array of time modulated ultra wideband (TM-UWB) radars. Two or more TM-UWB radars are arranged in a sparse array around the perimeter of a building. Each TM-UWB radar transmits ultra wideband pulses that illuminate the building and the surrounding area. Signal return data is processed to determine, among other things, whether an alarm condition has been triggered. High resolution radar images are formed that give an accurate picture of the inside of the building and the surrounding area. This image is used to detect motion in a highly selective manner and to track moving objects within the building and the surrounding area. Motion can be distinguished based on criteria appropriate to the environment in which the intrusion detection system operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Time Domain
    Inventors: Larry W. Fullerton, James L. Richards
  • Patent number: 7301496
    Abstract: In an FM-CW radar apparatus which determines the azimuth to a target by a phase monopulse technique, an abnormal value resulting from the presence of multiple targets is detected. Three receiving antennas are arranged at spacings of 5?/4 and 6?/4, respectively, and it is determined whether the difference between the azimuth obtained from the combination of the receiving antennas spaced 5?/4 apart and the azimuth obtained from the combination of the receiving antennas spaced 6?/4 apart is smaller than a predetermined value or not; when the condition has been satisfied n times in succession, it is determined that the detected value is normal. On the other hand, if the condition has not been satisfied n times in succession, or if the difference is not smaller than the predetermined value, it is determined that the detected value is an abnormal value resulting from the presence of multiple targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignees: Fujitsu Ten Limited, Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Kanako Honda, Masao Nakano
  • Patent number: 7259714
    Abstract: A method of detecting radar returns and measuring their parameters with or without clutter present and no clutter cancellation employed which includes transmitting at least one pulse; processing the returns surpassing a threshold detected in one range azimuth bin and by processing and separating out the returns based on their different range and azimuth. Another method includes transmission of many pulses and has minimum of one channel return surpassing detected threshold, which is detected in one range Doppler bin. The method also includes processing and thereby separating out the returns based on their different radial velocity and or azimuth and comparing the returns to a database of expected returns and adaptively processing returns that do not correspond to the expected returns. The method identifies the non-corresponding returns as indicative of at least one of clutter, land sea interface, clutter discretes and antenna sidelobe returns each without utilizing clutter cancellation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Inventor: Thomas J. Cataldo
  • Patent number: 7248206
    Abstract: Unknown alignment biases of sensors of a tracking system are estimated by an iterative Kalman filter method. Current measurements are corrected for known alignment errors and previously estimated alignment biases. The filter time reference is updated to produce estimated target state derivative vectors. A Jacobian of the state dynamics equation is determined, which provides for observability into the sensor alignment bias through gravitational and coriolis forces. The target state transition matrix and the target error covariance matrix are propagated. When a new measurement becomes available, the Kalman gain matrix is determined, the state vector and covariance measurements are updated, and sensor alignment biases are estimated. The state vector, covariance measurements, and estimated sensor alignment biases are transformed to an estimated stable space frame for use in tracking the target and updating the next iteration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey B. Boka, Peter J. Mavroudakis, Naresh R. Patel
  • Patent number: 7236123
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for providing phase-range data associated with a return pulse of a radar device and second phase-range data associated with a successive return pulse of the radar device. The computer-executable instructions are preferably also for comparing the phase-range data and the second phase-range data to obtain a difference, and for differentiating the difference. In some embodiments of the invention, the computer-executable instructions are preferably also for discriminating a target from clutter by using the differentiated difference to identify coordinates satisfying a velocity threshold associated with the clutter. Embodiments of the invention preferably enable phase-coherent operation of a non-coherent radar device by processing backscattered clutter return, and in some aspects, do so using clutter distributed in range as a reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignees: American Systems Corporation, Systems Planning Corporation
    Inventor: Alan Siegel
  • Patent number: 7218277
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus, method, and computer-executable program for detecting antenna failures in directional antennas. In particular, the present invention compares a bearing calculated from received positional data concerning a target to the bearing of the target determined using the directional antenna. If the calculated bearing and the determined bearing differ by greater than a predetermined amount, it is determined that there is an antenna failure. In this way, bearing information determined by the directional antenna is compared against a piece of known data in order to determine if the antenna is functioning properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Dean Smith
  • Patent number: 7212149
    Abstract: A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system having a single phase center antenna is provided, the SAR system including a measurement unit and a tracker unit. The measurement unit is capable of receiving a phase history of a target point scatterer. From the phase history, then, the measurement unit is capable of estimating a ground position, velocity and acceleration of the target to thereby detect the target. The tracker unit, in turn, is capable of updating the ground position, velocity and acceleration of the target to thereby track the target based upon the ground position, velocity and acceleration. In this regard, the tracker unit is capable of updating the ground position, velocity and acceleration using a Kalman filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Theagenis J. Abatzoglou, Irwin E. Alber, Harland F. Romberg
  • Patent number: 7196654
    Abstract: A vehicle positioning and tracking radar system includes a rotating antenna with a pair of spatially separated transmit feeds for simultaneously transmitting a pair of frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) electromagnetic signals having a first polarisation and a pair of spatially separated receive feeds for receiving an electromagnetic signal having a second polarisation, wherein the first and second polarisations are different from one another, such that the transmit feed and receive feed at the rotating antenna are isolated from each other; and a coded modulated transponder receives transmit signals from the rotating antenna with the first polarization and transmits a receive signal to the rotating antenna with the second polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Guidance Navigation Limited
    Inventors: David John Edwards, Dominic Robert Pearce, Jan Grothusen
  • Patent number: 7190305
    Abstract: In a radar apparatus, a receiving antenna includes a plurality of antenna elements, each receiving, as a reception signal, radio waves emitted into space and reflected off a target object. An analog signal is obtained by downconverting and putting a bandwidth constraint on the reception signal, and is then converted to a digital signal. Based on the digital signal, a signal processing unit detects the bearing of the target object. The signal processing unit performs processing based on outputs of two sets of the antenna elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventor: Osamu Isaji
  • Patent number: 7190306
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting the passage by a vehicle of a determined point for monitoring on a road, wherein from a remotely situated location a radar beam is transmitted continuously to the point for monitoring, reflections from the transmitted radar beam are received at the remotely situated location, and it is determined from the received reflections that the vehicle is passing the point for monitoring. The radar beam can herein be transmitted at an acute angle to the travel direction of the passing vehicle. The detection can be used to activate a red-light camera, to measure the speed of the vehicle or measure the traffic intensity, without sensors, for instance induction loops, having to be arranged in the road for this purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Gatsometer B.V.
    Inventor: Theodorus Maria Janssen
  • Patent number: 7038615
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating elevation angle when using a broad search beam such as a cosecant-squared beam is provided. The range of a target detected during a search with a broad beam covering a broad angular search area is determined. Based on the determined range, consecutive beams are transmitted at increasing search elevation angles in the broad angular search area. Echo signals of the consecutive beams are used to determine an elevation angle estimate for the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Eli Brookner
  • Patent number: 6924762
    Abstract: A radar is provided which transmits a radar wave whose frequency is so modulated as to rise, fall, and be kept constant cyclically. The radar uses beat signals produced by the radar wave and radar echoes received by two antennas to produce radar data on a target. When it is impossible to pair frequency peaks of the beat signals in a modulated frequency-rising and -falling ranges, the radar determines that the frequency peaks have arisen from different objects so that they overlap each other and uses frequency peaks of the beat signals in a constant modulated frequency range to acquire the radar data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Miyake, Kazuma Natsume
  • Patent number: 6911934
    Abstract: A sensor front end that is able to discriminate objects based on their range from the sensor and to derive bearing information therefrom. The sensor system may include a signal source for generating source signal; an antenna system for transmitting the source signal to and receiving a reflected signal from the object; wherein the antenna system is configured for introducing a phase shift into either the source signal or the reflected signal to create a plurality of signal patterns; and an information processor programmed to receive the reflected signal and to determine bearing information for the object based on position and phase information in the plurality of signal patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: M/A-Com, Inc.
    Inventors: Hermann Henftling, Dirk Klotzbuecher
  • Patent number: 6882304
    Abstract: A device for a radar system, the device being supplied with the received signals of at least two receiving antennas as input signals, and in which the output signals of this device are supplied to at least one unit for evaluating the received signals which includes at least two evaluation channels. Different input channels are allocated to the at least two evaluation channels as a function of supplied control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Winter, Hermann Mayer, Bernhard Lucas, Thomas Beez, Juergen Hildebrandt, Joachim Hauk, Herbert Olbrich, Andreas Kugler, Wolfgang Ehrlinger
  • Publication number: 20040257268
    Abstract: A series of police doppler single mode radars and a multimode police doppler radar, all with direction sensing capability are disclosed. A duadrature front end which mixes received RF with a local oscillator to generate two channels of doppler signals, one channel being shifted by an integer multiple of 90 degrees in phase relative to the other by shifting either the RF or the local oscillator signal being fed to one mixer but not the other. The two doppler signals are digitized and the samples are processed by a digital signal processor programmed to find one or more selected target speeds. Single modes disclosed are: stationary strongest target; stationary, fastest target; stationary, strongest and fastest targets; moving, strongest, opposite lane; moving, strongest, same lane; moving, fastest, opposite lane; moving, fastest and strongest, opposite lane; moving, fastest, same lane; moving fastest and strongest, same lane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: APPLIED CONCEPTS, INC.
    Inventors: John L. Aker, Robert S. Gammenthaler
  • Publication number: 20040252047
    Abstract: A radar is provided which transmits a radar wave whose frequency is so modulated as to rise, fall, and be kept constant cyclically. The radar uses beat signals produced by the radar wave and radar echoes received by two antennas to produce radar data on a target. When it is impossible to pair frequency peaks of the beat signals in a modulated frequency-rising and -falling ranges, the radar determines that the frequency peaks have arisen from different objects so that they overlap each other and uses frequency peaks of the beat signals in a constant modulated frequency range to acquire the radar data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Miyake, Kazuma Natsume
  • Publication number: 20040207553
    Abstract: Emitter target range and heading are estimated from bearing measurements enhancing bearings-only estimator convergence to a target track, and permitting optimization of an observer position relative to the target at the end of the total bearing measurement period. One or more estimates of the target range, speed and heading made from bearing measurements before an observer maneuver are used to determine the most appropriate observer maneuver giving complete bearings-only target-motion-analysis observability. A set of parameters characterizing a set of potential emitter signal sources is generated based on measured emitter characteristics. A most probable set of emitter platforms is identified and the emitter operating mode and corresponding platform set are associated with a kinematic regime set. A specific speed or discrete set of speeds best adapted to a set of all possible platform missions, emitter speed as a continuous function of emitter range, and emitter range are all determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: Conrad Rose