Phase Comparison Patents (Class 342/127)
  • Patent number: 11887535
    Abstract: A pixel having a transistor which controls a current value supplied to a load, a first storage capacitor, a second storage capacitor, and first to fourth switches is included. After the threshold voltage of the transistor is held in the second storage capacitor, a potential in accordance with a video signal is input to the pixel. Voltage obtained by adding a potential in which the potential in accordance with the video signal and the first storage capacitor are capacitively divided to the threshold voltage is held in the second storage capacitor in this manner, so that variation of a current value caused by variations in the threshold voltage of the transistor is suppressed. Thus, desired current can be supplied to the load such as a light-emitting element. In addition, a display device with little deviation from luminance specified by the video signal can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Kimura, Tomoko Yamada
  • Patent number: 11790544
    Abstract: A time-of-flight camera includes a light emitter, a photo detector, and a controller. The time-of-flight camera may determine depth motion of an object by emitting light pulses, receiving reflected light pulses from the object, and accumulating a plurality of charges based on the reflected light pulses. The depth motion may be determined by the controller through analysis of the accumulated charges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventor: Mihai M. Bulea
  • Patent number: 11573315
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a first device includes: a first transceiver configured to transmit two or more first carrier signals using an output of a first reference signal source and to receive two or more second carrier signals; and a calculation unit, and a second device includes: a second transceiver configured to transmit the two or more second carrier signals using an output of a second reference signal source that operates independently of the first reference signal source and to receive the two or more first carrier signals. A frequency group of the two or more first carrier signals and a frequency group of the two or more second carrier signals are identical or substantially identical to each other, and the calculation unit calculates the distance between the first device and the second device based on a phase detection result obtained by receiving the first and second carrier signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shoji Ootaka, Takayuki Kato, Masaki Nishikawa, Hiroshi Yoshida, Katsuya Nonin, Yoshiharu Nito, Masayoshi Oshiro
  • Patent number: 11480678
    Abstract: A method for operating a laser detection and ranging system. In some embodiments, the method includes transmitting a plurality of laser pulses, each at a respective one of a plurality of pulse transmission times; detecting a plurality of return pulses, each at a respective one of a plurality of return pulse times; forming a first time difference, the first time difference being the difference between a first return pulse time of the plurality of return pulse times and a first pulse transmission time of the plurality of pulse transmission times; and incrementing a first element of a first array, the first element of the first array having an index based on the first time difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Adam Hodge Greenberg, Eran Marcus
  • Patent number: 11294058
    Abstract: A flash LIDAR apparatus includes emitter units configured to emit optical signals over a field of view, and detector pixels configured to output detection signals responsive to light representing the optical signals incident thereon. The detection signals correspond to respective phase offsets relative to a frequency of the optical signals. A circuit is configured to determine component measurements corresponding to the respective phase offsets from the detection signals, and calculate a distance of a target from which the light was reflected based on the detection signals. The distance is corrected for motion of the target based on subsets of the component measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventors: Dietrich Dehlinger, Hod Finkelstein
  • Patent number: 11181638
    Abstract: A distance-measuring optoelectronic sensor (10) for detecting and determining a distance of an object (16) in a monitoring area (14), the sensor (10) having a light transmitter (12) for transmitting a transmission signal, a light receiver (18) for generating a reception signal and a control and evaluation unit (24) configured to determine a light time of flight from the reception signal and, from that, the distance of the object (16), wherein the control and evaluation unit (24) is further configured to transmit at least one periodically modulated pulse as a transmission signal, to determine a reception time of the pulse in the reception signal and a phase offset of the modulation between transmission signal and reception signal in a neighborhood of the reception time and to determine the distance of the object (16) from the reception time and the phase offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Martin Marra, Klaus Clemens
  • Patent number: 11175142
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of tracking multiple objects with a probabilistic hypothesis density filter is provided. The method includes obtaining measurements corresponding to a first object with at least one sensor, the at least one sensor providing one or more first track IDs for the measurements. A Tk+1 first predicted intensity is generated for the first object based on a Tk first track intensity. A Tk+1 measurement from a first sensor of the at least one sensors is obtained, the first sensor providing a second track ID for the Tk+1 measurement. The second track ID is compared to the one or more first track IDs, and the Tk+1 first predicted intensity is selectively updated with the Tk+1 measurement based on whether the second track ID matches any of the one or more first track IDs to generate a Tk+1 first measurement-to-track intensity for the first object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Vibhor L. Bageshwar, Michael Ray Elgersma, Eric A. Euteneuer
  • Patent number: 11119215
    Abstract: We disclose systems and methods for object tracking which utilize a spectral response and a geometric aspect of a set of points. One method includes transmitting, with a multispectral lidar system, a multispectral light beam and analyzing a response, of a photodetector, to a return of the beam. The method also includes generating a point cloud with a set of points and determining a set of spectral responses of the set of points based on the analyzing of the response. The method also includes determining a set of material compositions for the set of points based on the set of spectral responses of the set of points. The method also includes grouping points in the set of points into groups based on both the set of material compositions and a geometric aspect of the set of points and creating one or more tracking object definitions using the groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Outsight SA
    Inventor: Raul Bravo Orellana
  • Patent number: 11106880
    Abstract: A management device includes an antenna, a reader, and a processor. The antenna is positionable at a position near a conveyance path. The reader is configured to output wireless tag information based on a radio wave generated by a wireless tag and received by the antenna. The processor is configured to detect passage of an article through a predetermined position on the conveyance path based on an identifier of the article included in the wireless tag information and sign change of a slope of the phase of the radio wave, determine a position of the article based on a timing of the sign change, and store the determined position of the article in correspondence with the identifier of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Jun Yaginuma
  • Patent number: 11105926
    Abstract: A phase difference frequency generating method comprising: cutting out a reference signal, which is a continuous signal with a predetermined frequency, in a predetermined time and at a predetermined time interval by a signal for intermitting and creating a first intermittent signal, shifting the signal for intermitting by a time corresponding to ?/a (a=natural number) of a fundamental frequency of the reference signal, cutting out the reference signal in the predetermined time and at the predetermined time interval by the signal for intermitting as shifted and creating a second intermittent signal, and carrying out a restoration processing for restoring the second intermittent signal by a time as shifted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: TOPCON Corporation
    Inventors: Masaho Kikuchi, Naoki Shoji, Masae Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11012776
    Abstract: Controlling the volume of a Virtual Personal Assistant (VPA) by receiving radio frequency (RF) data associated with a user, identifying a location of a user relative to the VPA, creating a volume adjustment model using the data and VPA data, tracking movement of the user based on the data, and adjusting a volume of the VPA according to the volume adjustment model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Vijai Kalathur, Gregory Ecock, Megan B. Capobianco, Christopher Potter, Daniela Regier
  • Patent number: 10698093
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information collection system comprises a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor. The transmitter emits a signal. The receiver receives the signal. The processor calculates a distance between the transmitter and the receiver from a strength of the signal received by the receiver. The processor calculating the distance between the transmitter and the receiver from the strength of the signal for each of the signals received during a first interval, and using an average distance as the distance between the transmitter and the receiver, the average distance being obtained by averaging the plurality of calculated distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yasuo Namioka, Nobuaki Takahashi, Koichi Yamagata, Atsushi Wada, Keisuke Nogami
  • Patent number: 10620310
    Abstract: Examples relating to vehicle radar systems are described. An example radar system may include a radar transmission unit located on a top portion of a vehicle configured to transmit an omnidirectional radar signal. The system may also include a radar unit comprising a plurality of radar reception arrays. The radar unit may be configured to rotate around an axis and receive radar reflections by one or more of the radar reception arrays. Additionally, the system may include a processing unit. The processing unit may be configured to process the received radar reflections to determine reflection information and control the vehicle based on the determined reflection information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventor: Jamal Izadian
  • Patent number: 10527717
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the present invention use a single Pseudo Noise (PN) code to modulate multiple orthogonal carriers by Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) modulation. The various embodiments enable closely spaced carriers to be modulated with the same periodic PN sequence using BPSK modulation. In this manner, even though the carriers may almost entirely share bandwidth, orthogonality of the carriers may not be lost, enabling the various embodiments to be used with limited bandwidth Intensity Modulated Continuous Wave (IM-CW) Light detection and ranging (Lidar), Radio detection and ranging (Radar), or Sound Navigation and Ranging (Sonar) systems. Additionally, by using orthogonal carriers the various embodiments enable measurements to be made simultaneously, thereby reducing the error compared to systems that require sequential measurements, such as pulsed Lidar systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA
    Inventors: Joel F. Campbell, Bing Lin, Amin R. Nehrir
  • Patent number: 10520583
    Abstract: A system and method generate a signal for transmission by a radar system. A bit modulator outputs a bit of a binary code. A digital frequency controller outputs a range of frequencies. An order of the range of frequencies is based on the bit. A phase-locked loop generates a signal for transmission by the radar system. The signal includes a chirp comprising the range of frequencies in the order output by the digital frequency controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Oded Bialer, Igal Bilik
  • Patent number: 10473769
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a distance measuring apparatus includes an irradiator that emits an irradiation wave to a measuring target, a first detector that directly detects the irradiation wave, a second detector that detects a reflection wave, a simulation signal generator that generates a simulation signal, a first meter that measures a first time and an emission time of the irradiation wave, a second meter that measures a second time and an incidence time of the reflection wave, a first subtractor that subtracts the emission time from the incidence time to obtain a measurement time period, and that subtracts the first time from the second time to obtain an error time period and a second subtractor that subtracts the error time period from the measurement time period to obtain an offset measurement time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Shinozuka, Akihide Sai
  • Patent number: 10422866
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a distance measuring apparatus includes an irradiator that emits an irradiation wave to a measuring target, a first detector that directly detects the irradiation wave, a second detector that detects a reflection wave, a simulation signal generator that generates a simulation signal, a first meter that measures a first time and an emission time of the irradiation wave, a second meter that measures a second time and an incidence time of the reflection wave, a first subtractor that subtracts the emission time from the incidence time to obtain a measurement time period, and that subtracts the first time from the second time to obtain an error time period and a second subtractor that subtracts the error time period from the measurement time period to obtain an offset measurement time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Shinozuka, Akihide Sai
  • Patent number: 10416292
    Abstract: A LiDAR system and method include a signal generator generating an output signal having a variable frequency. A modulation circuit receives the output signal from the signal generator and applies the output signal from the signal generator to an optical signal to generate an envelope-modulated optical signal having a frequency-modulated (FM) modulation envelope. Optical transmission elements transmit the envelope-modulated optical signal into a region. Optical receiving elements receive reflected optical signals from the region. Receive signal processing circuitry receives the reflected optical signals and uses quadrature detection to process the reflected optical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: VEONEER US, INC.
    Inventors: Bernard de Mersseman, Kenneth V. Puglia
  • Patent number: 10277062
    Abstract: A system for detecting and characterizing an object proximate to a wireless power transmitting unit includes a transmit circuit having a transmit antenna, the transmit circuit configured to transmit at least one signal having a frequency related to a fundamental power transmit frequency, the transmit circuit configured to measure a response of the transmit antenna, and a controller circuit configured to characterize the object based on the response of the transmit antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Arvind Govindaraj, William Henry Von Novak, III, Linda Stacey Irish
  • Patent number: 10164685
    Abstract: Technology for a spatially aware wireless network is disclosed. One embodiment comprises a plurality of near field magnetic induction nodes. One or more nodes is configured to communicate a polarized spatial position signal using near field magnetic induction (NFMI) to determine one or more of a position and an orientation of one or more nodes in the spatially aware wireless network. A detection module is operable to configure the spatially aware wireless network based one or more of a position and an orientation of one or more nodes in the plurality of nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: FREELINC TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Howard Dobyns, Michael Scott Abrams
  • Patent number: 10094915
    Abstract: A method is for estimating a distance to an object. The method may include determining, by a ranging device, a first range value based upon a time of flight of first optical pulses having a period of a first duration, and determining, by the ranging device, a second range value based upon a time of flight of second optical pulses having a period of a second duration different from the first duration. The method may include estimating the distance based upon the first and second range values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (GRENOBLE 2) SAS
    Inventors: Marc Drader, Pascal Mellot
  • Patent number: 10066937
    Abstract: A ranging apparatus transmits an optical input signal to an optical signal input/output unit mounted on a measurement target. The optical signal input/output unit receives the optical signal and transmits an optical output signal applied with an optical change, to the ranging apparatus. The ranging apparatus receives the optical output signal, measures a propagation distance from a light source a the light receiving unit through the optical signal input/output unit, and measures a relative position of the optical signal input/output unit based on the propagation distance. Thus, a distributed aperture radar is realized from the ranging apparatus and the optical signal input/output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shingo Nishikata, Yuki Uchiyama, Hiroyuki Daigo, Takuya Koyama, Hiroki Uchida
  • Patent number: 10048356
    Abstract: A TOF (time of flight) type distance measuring system of high accuracy is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Haruka Takano
  • Patent number: 10018718
    Abstract: The various technologies presented herein relate to reducing and/or filtering undesired artifacts in a SAR image, wherein the artifacts are generated by RF interference resulting from a communication signal being included in a radar return which also comprises radar clutter. The radar return is separated into two subapertures, a first subaperture comprising radar clutter only, and a second subaperture comprising radar clutter and the communication signal. The communication signal is extracted from the second subaperture and reapplied to the initially received radar return. Reapplication of the communication signal to the radar return enables any undesired artifacts arising from the communication signal to have their return strength reduced or minimized, while maintaining any desired radar returns in the SAR image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Cameron Musgrove, Richard M. Naething, Richard C. Ormesher
  • Patent number: 10018717
    Abstract: Sensing, in particular a generic and innovative search and identification of objects in an arena, of interest based on electromagnetic detection and/or imaging, self-focused, in the near field, with high range resolution, cross-range resolution, nearby arenas functionality, high range resolution, and accuracies, as compared to conventional solutions. Larger volume arenas can be searched with greater range resolution, accuracy, and cross range resolution as compared to conventional solutions. Embodiments include implementations sufficiently low power to be acceptable for use in human applications (for example, meeting HERP standards).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: LEVITECTION LTD.
    Inventor: Gideon Levita
  • Patent number: 9984508
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring depth using an optical radar system are described. The system includes an optical radar, a camera, a display, and a processor. The optical radar emits a signal towards an object. The processor identifies an object depicted in an image captured with the camera. The processor generates the signal with a non-repeating pattern of amplitude and frequency, and computes a depth of the object based on a difference in phase angle between the signal emitted from the optical radar and a return signal received at the optical radar. The depth includes a distance between the optical radar and the object. The processor generates AR content based on the identified object and adjusts a characteristic of the AR content in the display based on the computed depth of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Mullins, Matthew Kammerait, Mark Anthony Sararu
  • Patent number: 9964636
    Abstract: A method of using a directional sensor for the purposes of detecting the presence of a vehicle or an object within a zone of interest on a roadway or in a parking space. The method comprises the following steps: transmitting a microwave transmit pulse of less than 5 feet; radiating the transmitted pulse by a directional antenna system; receiving received pulses by an adjustable receive window; integrating or combining signals from multiple received pulses; amplifying and filtering the integrated receive signal; digitizing the combined signal; comparing the digitized signal to at least one preset or dynamically computed threshold values to determine the presence or absence of an object in the field of view of the sensor; and providing at least one pulse generator with rise and fall times of less than 3 ns each and capable of generating pulses less than 10 ns in duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Inventor: Balu Subramanya
  • Patent number: 9913564
    Abstract: Disclosed are a robot cleaner and a control method thereof. The control method includes determining by a controller a connection between a user terminal and the robot cleaner and allowing communication between the user terminal and the robot cleaner, receiving a signal regarding a tilt direction of the user terminal by a wireless communication unit and conforming by the controller a tilting of the user terminal, and driving by the controller the robot cleaner in accordance with the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Minkyu Cho
  • Patent number: 9797719
    Abstract: The invention provides a measuring method for performing monitoring measurement on two or more objects to be measured by a measuring instrument, which comprises a telescope unit for sighting an object to be measured, a distance measuring unit for projecting a distance measuring light through the telescope unit and for measuring a distance to the object to be measured, an image pickup unit for taking an image by projecting a sighting light in sighting direction and for acquiring digital image, an angle detecting unit for detecting a directional angle in sighting direction of the telescope unit and an automatic sighting unit for carrying out automatic sighting on the object to be measured by the telescope unit, comprising a step of setting up a searching range, a light amount switch-over step of switching over a light amount of projected sighting light to a light amount for a short distance or for a long distance, a short distance searching step of searching the searching range as the light amount for short dis
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCON
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Nishita
  • Patent number: 9696232
    Abstract: A method of visualizing track and balance performance includes receiving data indicating track and balance of a rotary blade and receiving a constraint. A first performance level based on the data is determined. A second performance level based on the data and the constraint is determined. The first and second performance levels are displayed on a display unit for visualizing differences between the first and second performance levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Hiatt
  • Patent number: 9640865
    Abstract: A device and method are provided for forming a beam of a transmit antenna array in the direction of a positioning receiver. Since the beam of the transmit antenna array is formed remotely by the positioning receiver, the received gain of the incoming positioning signal is maximized while signals from other directions are attenuated, thereby mitigating any unwanted effects of multipath. Depending on the number of elements in the transmit antenna array and their physical distribution, the width of the beam can be made finer such that the positioning receiver only requires a simple omni-directional antenna to achieve an accurate positioning solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Locata Corporation Pty Ltd
    Inventor: David Small
  • Patent number: 9548824
    Abstract: A receiver circuit includes: a local signal generation circuit that generates a local signal; and a test signal generation circuit that generates a test signal having a frequency close to a frequency of the local signal, wherein the test signal generation circuit includes an oscillator that generates the test signal, a mixer that mixes the local signal with an output of the oscillator to generate a low-frequency signal which is a difference signal between the local signal and the output of the oscillator, a phase detector that detects a phase difference between the low-frequency signal output by the mixer and a reference signal, and a filter that extracts a low-frequency component from an output of the phase detector, and controls an oscillation frequency of the oscillator by using an output of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Hiroshi Matsumura
  • Patent number: 9367785
    Abstract: We describe a methods of locating an RFID tag. One method transmits tag location signals at a plurality of different frequencies from a plurality of different antennas spaced apart by more than a near field limit distance. The processing determines a phase difference at the plurality of different frequencies by determining a phase difference between either i) two or more of the transmit signals resulting in a maxima in the returned signal RSSI or ii) a first transmit signal and its corresponding return signal. The range determining uses return signals weighted by signal strength. Further data which may be used for averaging may be generated by using the above techniques along with changes in the polarisation state of the transmit and receive antennas and/or physical reconfiguration of the antennas (e.g. switch the transmit and receive elements).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Cambridge Enterprise Limited
    Inventors: Sithamparanathan Sabesan, Michael Crisp, Richard Penty, Ian H. White
  • Patent number: 9339163
    Abstract: Data within a designated distance from a main body of the mobile robot is accumulated and stored to form a local area map. A traveling direction or a rotating direction is set while avoiding an obstacle around the main body and a path may be readily set. Repetition of unnecessary operation is prevented and thus a traveling velocity based on rapid movement may be improved. Obstacles are readily avoided and cleaning efficiency may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dongki Noh, Seungmin Baek
  • Patent number: 9274217
    Abstract: A microwave sensor is disclosed. The microwave sensor includes an active antenna module, a first low pass filter, a second demodulator, a modulation module, and a discrimination control module. The active antenna module is utilized for transmitting a first FMCW signal towards a target and receiving a second FMCW signal reflected back from the target according to a sweep period. The active antenna module includes a loop antenna and a radio frequency transistor. The first low pass filter and the radio frequency transistor form a first demodulator. The first demodulator and the second demodulator perform two-stage down converting and demodulating to extract information for calculating range and velocity, respectively. The present invention adjusts a radio frequency bandwidth of the FMCW signal by first adjusting an amplitude of a modulation signal generated by the modulation module to control various detection ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: U&U ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: Chi-Ho Chang, Yun-Chun Sung, Ming-Tsung Hsu, Jen-Chih Huang, Guo-Zhong Lu, Ping-Chang Tsao, Li-Yu Su
  • Patent number: 9215563
    Abstract: A method, device, system and use for determining a distance, location and/or orientation including the at least relative determination of a position of at least one object using at least two active anchors. A first signal is emitted by a first of the two anchors and is received at the object and by a second of said two anchors. A phase measurement is performed at said second anchor and wherein a distance determination with respect to said first anchor is performed and/or the distance from said first anchor to said second anchor is known. A second, particularly electromagnetic, signal is emitted from said second anchor, and information on phase measurement and distance between said first and second anchors is made available to a computation unit and at least one phase measurement respectively of said first and second signal is performed at said object and made available to said computation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Lambda:4 Entwicklungen GmbH
    Inventor: Ronne Reimann
  • Patent number: 9182479
    Abstract: A radar system comprises a transmitting device comprising a reference frequency source, for generating a reference frequency signal; a direct-digital synthesizer, coupled to the reference frequency source, for generating a synthesized frequency signal according to the reference frequency signal; a phase lock loop, coupled to the direct-digital synthesizer, for converting the synthesized frequency signal to an output signal; a transmitting antenna, coupled to the phase lock loop, for emitting the output signal to the air; and a loop switch module, coupled to the phase lock loop, for switching the phase lock loop between an open loop mode and a closed loop mode; and at least one receiving device, for receiving at least one wireless signal, and processing the at least one wireless signal according to the output signal generated by the phase lock loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Wistron NeWeb Corporation
    Inventors: I-Shan Chen, Trsung-Fu Hsu, Cheng-Hsiung Hsu, Hsin-Lung Hsiao
  • Patent number: 9137462
    Abstract: Two adjacent objects with a gap between the objects rotate in a hot atmosphere with a temperature greater than 300 F in a gas turbine. Automatic and accurate contactless measurement of the gap is performed by taking images of the gap. An image, preferably an infra-red image is taken from the gap, a processor extracts the two edges from the image of the gap. The processor also determines a line through the pixels of an edge by applying a Hough transform on the pixels. The edges are substantially parallel. A line substantially perpendicular to the lines is also determined. Using the substantially parallel lines and the line substantially perpendicular to the substantially parallel lines the processor determines a width of the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignees: Siemens Corporation, Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Gang Li, Yakup Genc, Erwan Baleine, Dennis H. Lemieux
  • Patent number: 9114718
    Abstract: An object is to provide a moving object structure capable of reducing power loss caused when power is supplied from a power feeding device to a moving object by wireless communication. Another object is to provide a moving object structure capable of reducing the strength of a radio wave radiated to the surroundings. Before power is supplied to a moving object, a radio wave for alignment of antennas is output from a power feeding device. That is, radio waves are output from a power feeding device in two stages. In a first stage, a radio wave is output to align positions of antennas of the power feeding device and the moving object. In a second stage, a radio wave is output to supply power from the power feeding device to the moving object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., INC.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Jun Koyama, Yutaka Shionoiri
  • Patent number: 9092680
    Abstract: An active logistical tag for cooperation with cargo elements, the tag comprising: a housing compatible for attachment of the cargo; a sensor suite for sensing logistical prompts, the prompts including at least one of motion, static magnetic fields and incident electromagnetic radiation; and a transmitter coupled to the sensor suite, for communicating logistical information in response to the logistical prompts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Lyngsoe Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Don Ferguson, Mircea Paun, Ioan Nicolescu, Tudor Patroi, Oleg Iagounov
  • Patent number: 9014239
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprising receiving at a first node a first data frame having a first frequency and a first phase, receiving at the first node a second data frame having a second frequency and a second phase, and determining a first phase difference between the first phase and the second phase by correlating one or more first sampling values associated with data in the first data frame with one or more second sampling values associated with data in the second data frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Atmel Corporation
    Inventors: Andreas Bonin, Daniel Thiele, Peter Dietzsch
  • Patent number: 8994581
    Abstract: In an example method, a vehicle is configured with a radar system used to aid in vehicle guidance. The method could include an array of antennas plurality of antennas configured to receive a radar signal. The array of antennas has a respective spacing between the given antenna and an adjacent antenna; however, the plurality of spacings includes at least two different spacings. A portion of the method may be performed by a processor configured to calculate a detection channel, based on a difference between differential phases associated with two antenna pairs in the array. The processor may also calculate an unambiguous angle based on the detection channel and the plurality of antenna spacings. Additionally, the processor may control the radar unit based on the calculated unambiguous angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Adam Brown
  • Patent number: 8976060
    Abstract: Distance between two radio frequency devices is estimated by receiving a plurality of spread spectrum chirp signals frequency offset from one another, and evaluating the received plurality of spread spectrum chirp signals for relative phase shifts between the plurality of spread spectrum chirp signals. A fine propagation time is derived using the phase shifts between the spread spectrum chirp signals. A frequency domain despreading window is shifted to reduce the influence of time-delayed near multipath signals in receiving the plurality of spread spectrum chirp signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Digi International Inc.
    Inventor: Terry M. Schaffner
  • Patent number: 8948238
    Abstract: Apparatus, the apparatus having at least one processor and at least one memory having computer-readable code stored thereon which when executed controls the at least one processor to perform a method comprising: obtaining in-phase and quadrature samples of a received radio signal at least first and second discrete instances in time; processing the samples to provide information relating to the amplitude and/or phase of the received radio signal at the first and second instances in time; using the amplitude and/or phase information of the received radio signal at the first and second instances in time to determine whether interference is present on the received radio signal; forwarding the complex signal parameters for processing if interference is determined not to be present; and discarding the complex signal parameters without forwarding them for processing if interference is determined to be present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Ville Valtteri Ranki, Antti Paavo TapaniKainulainen, Fabio Belloni
  • Patent number: 8854253
    Abstract: A radar level gauging principle including transmitting at least two time separated carrier wave pulses having equal carrier frequencies, determining a change in phase shift associated with two pulses in the transmit signals having equal frequencies, comparing the change with a threshold value, and depending on a result of the comparing step, determining the distance based on a relationship between the transmit signals and the return signals. By comparing the actual phase resulting from two substantially identical pulses transmitted a certain time apart, an indication of a change of filling level can be obtained. This indication can then be used to initiate a full measurement cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Rosemount Tank Radar AB
    Inventor: Olov Edvardsson
  • Patent number: 8823577
    Abstract: A distance separation tracking process is provided that includes the transmission of a periodic radio frequency original signal from a beacon transceiver. The original periodic signal from the beacon transceiver is received at a remote target transceiver as a target received periodic signal. The target retransmits the received periodic signal to the beacon transceiver as a return periodic signal. Data points of the return periodic signal are sampled and used to calculate a phase differential between the original periodic signal and the return periodic signal that correlates to the distance separation range between the beacon transceiver and the target transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: iTRACK, LLC
    Inventors: G. Edzko Smid, Thomas P. Stiglich
  • Publication number: 20140225765
    Abstract: A travel distance measurement device includes a transmitting antenna that is disposed in a vehicle and emits a transmission signal, as a radio wave, toward a ground surface, a receiving antenna that is disposed in the vicinity of the transmitting antenna, and receives a radio wave reflected from the ground surface and acquires a reflection signal, and a distance calculator (an IQ demodulator and a phase conversion integrator) that calculates the travel distance of the vehicle on the basis of the phase of the acquired reflection signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Inomata, Wataru Tsujita, Kazuhiro Tahara, Seiya Nagashima
  • Patent number: 8698670
    Abstract: A high speed high dynamic range and low power consumption analog correlator for use in a radar sensor. The analog correlator combines various pulse replication schemes with various parallel integrator architectures to improve the detection speed, dynamic range, and power consumption of conventional radar sensors. The analog correlator includes a replica generator, a multiplier, and an integrator module. The replica generator generates a template signal having a plurality of replicated pulse compression radar (PCR) pulses. The multiplier multiplies a received PCR signal with the plurality of replicated PCR pulses. The integrator module is coupled to the multiplier and configured to generate a plurality of analog correlation signals, each of which is based on the multiplying between the received PCR signal and one of the replicated PCR pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Michiaki Matsuo
  • Patent number: 8693600
    Abstract: A phase excursion/carrier wave frequency excursion compensation device has a signal dividing unit, a preprocessing compensation circuit, post-processing compensation circuits, a signal combination unit, a correction amount calculation unit, and a signal correction unit. The preprocessing compensation circuit and the post-processing compensation circuits calculate a phase compensation amount with respect to the input signal, and output the phase compensation amount, and a compensation circuit output signal such that the input signal can be compensated accordingly. The signal combination unit acquires compensation circuit output signals from the post-processing compensation circuits and, based on order of input to the signal dividing unit, outputs rearranged signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Daisaku Ogasahara
  • Patent number: 8665139
    Abstract: Disclosed is a distance measuring apparatus which includes: a first pulse generating means (135) which generates reference signals; a second pulse generating means (137) which generates subject detection signals; a time measuring section (139) which measures a period of time from a time when a first pulse is generated to a time when a second pulse is generated; a first phase detecting section (141) which detects the first phase of a signal received using a signal at a first frequency; a second phase detecting section (163) which detects the second phase of a signal received using a signal at a second frequency; and a distance calculating section (165) which calculates the distance to the subject on the basis of output from the time measuring section, the first phase detecting section and the second phase detecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nireco Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Matsumoto, Yasumasa Kato