Plural Frequencies Transmitted Patents (Class 342/129)
  • Patent number: 11847916
    Abstract: A parking management system includes a roadside unit having a vehicle occupancy sensor with a zone of detection that corresponds to a parking space. The roadside unit includes an imaging camera with an image processor to image a vehicle in the parking space the imaging camera being triggered based on a change in occupancy condition determined by the vehicle occupancy sensor, a solar panel charging a battery configured to provide at least a portion of energy needed for the roadside unit, and a wireless transceiver configured to communicate data from the roadside unit to a parking management system central computer. The imaging camera changes quickly from a low power mode to an active mode so as to image a vehicle entering or exiting the parking space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Inventor: Balu Subramanya
  • Patent number: 11327172
    Abstract: An FMCW radar apparatus employing frequency hopping technique in which a center frequency of each chirp signal is variable enables the accuracy of range measurement of the radar to be improved, by determining a high resolution range value based on a composite beat signal generated by determining a beat signal for each of a plurality of chirp signals, parts of respective frequency bands of which overlap one another, and then compensating the beat signal for a phase difference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: MANDO MOBILITY SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kyung Jin You
  • Patent number: 11287520
    Abstract: A system and method for using coherent aggregated bandwidth over multiple transmissions for improved performance of precision guidance and positioning and of object tracking systems. Angular offset (Az/El) estimations are strongly impacted by interference between direct and (comparable amplitude) ground-reflected signals. In rough ground situations, there could be many ground reflected signals. Bandwidth aggregation as used herein achieves sharper range sidelobes and smaller magnitude multipath interference terms resulting in increasingly accurate interferometric results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Ira B. Ekhaus
  • Patent number: 11209534
    Abstract: A method for operating a stepped frequency radar system is disclosed. The method involves performing stepped frequency scanning across a frequency range using frequency steps of a step size, the stepped frequency scanning performed using at least one transmit antenna and a two-dimensional array of receive antennas, changing at least one of the step size and the frequency range, and performing stepped frequency scanning using the at least one transmit antenna and the two-dimensional array of receive antennas and using the changed at least one of the step size and the frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Movano Inc.
    Inventor: Michael A. Leabman
  • Patent number: 11156710
    Abstract: A millimeter wave imaging apparatus, including: a crystal oscillator, a power divider, a millimeter wave transceiver, a local-oscillation signal processor, a second frequency mixer and an image processor; the power divider performs power distribution on an oscillation signal generated by the crystal oscillator, and outputs a clock trigger signal and a local-oscillation signal; the local-oscillation signal processor processes the local-oscillation signal and outputs a second local-oscillation signal; the millimeter wave transceiver unit processes an echo signal reflected by an object to be detected, and outputs a first intermediate-frequency signal; the second frequency mixer mixes the second local-oscillation signal and the first intermediate-frequency signal, and outputs a second intermediate-frequency signal; the image processor processes the second intermediate-frequency signal, and images the object to be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignees: CHINA COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., SHENZHEN INSTITUTE OF TERAHERTZ TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Juncheng Liu, Chao Sun, Chunchao Qi
  • Patent number: 11067679
    Abstract: Provided is a narrow-band radar device including an orthogonal code generator configured to generate a plurality of orthogonal generators, a pseudo-noise code generator configured to generate a plurality of pseudo-noise codes, a radar transmitter configured to spread-modulate transmission data using the plurality of orthogonal codes and pseudo-noise codes, and a radar receiver configured to demodulate a reception signal using the plurality of orthogonal codes and pseudo-noise codes, and calculate at least one of an azimuth angle, elevation angel, speed, or range of a target from the demodulated reception signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Ik Soo Eo, Bon Tae Koo
  • Patent number: 10976409
    Abstract: Provided is frequency-modulated continuous wave generator. The frequency-modulated continuous wave generator includes a ramp signal generator configured to generate an analog ramp signal, a reference signal generator configured to generate a reference signal based on the analog ramp signal, a phase locked loop configured to output a control voltage based on the reference signal, and a voltage-controlled oscillator configured to generate a frequency-modulated continuous wave based on the control voltage. The ramp signal generator is further configured to generate the analog ramp signal based on a feedback signal based on the frequency-modulated continuous wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Ja Yol Lee, Bon Tae Koo
  • Patent number: 10958360
    Abstract: A transceiver for distance measurements between the transceiver and an apparatus is provided. The transceiver has a transmitter configured to emit a first signal portion to be emitted at a first center frequency and a second signal portion to be emitted at a second center frequency so that the first signal portion to be emitted is radiated back from the apparatus to the transceiver as a first reflected signal portion and so that the second signal portion to be emitted is radiated back from the apparatus to the transceiver as a second reflected signal portion. In addition, the transceiver has a receiver configured to receive the first reflected signal portion radiated back from the apparatus to the transceiver and the second reflected signal portion radiated back from the apparatus to the transceiver. Furthermore, the transceiver has a measuring module configured to determine a distance between the transceiver and the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Philip Schmidt, Frederic Meyer, Peter Kuhn, Gerd Vom Boegel
  • Patent number: 10921422
    Abstract: A radar system including a transmit antenna for transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal or a radar signal and a receive antenna for receiving a plurality of reflected signals created by a plurality of targets reflecting the RF signal or radar signal. The reflected signals include noise. The radar system also includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that digitizes or samples the reflected signals to provide a digitized or sampled noisy input signal. The radar system further includes a reservoir computer that receives the noisy input signal. The reservoir computer includes a time-varying reservoir and is configured to de-noise the noisy input signal and provide a range measurement for each of the plurality of targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignees: The Boeing Company, HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Jason R. Smith, Shankar Rao, Peter Petre, Peter S. Wittenberg, Simon L. Haxton
  • Patent number: 10642601
    Abstract: An architecture disposed in an integrated circuit for in-application programming of flash-based programmable logic devices includes a processor coupled to a processor system bus. An I/O peripheral is coupled to the processor over the system bus and is also coupled to an off-chip data source. A programmable logic device fabric includes flash-based programmable devices. A program controller is coupled to the flash-based programmable devices. An in-application programming controller is coupled to the program controller and is coupled to the processor over the system bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Microsemi SoC Corporation
    Inventors: Venkatesh Narayanan, Kenneth R. Irving, Ming-Hoe Kiu
  • Patent number: 10222467
    Abstract: A two-way coded aperture radar imaging system is disclosed. The system includes an antenna reflector and a radar signal transceiver configured to generate sequential radar transmission signals and receive a plurality of respective reflected radar signals. The system also includes a phase control component configured to phase-encode the sequential radar transmission signals via a plurality of phase-codes to generate a respective plurality of phase-coded radar pulses that are concurrently reflected at a respective plurality of sub-aperture portions of the antenna reflector to concurrently transmit the plurality of phase-coded radar pulses from the antenna reflector to a target. The transmitted phase-coded radar pulses can be reflected from the target as the respective plurality of reflected radar signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: George A. Ioannidis, George W. Gigioli
  • Patent number: 10094920
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a radar apparatus for estimating a range of an obstacle. The radar apparatus includes a local oscillator that generates a first ramp segment and a second ramp segment. The first ramp segment and the second ramp segment each includes a start frequency, a first frequency and a second frequency. The first frequency of the second ramp segment is equal to or greater than the second frequency of the first ramp segment when a slope of the first ramp segment and a slope of the second ramp segment are equal and positive. The first frequency of the second ramp segment is equal to or less than the second frequency of the first ramp segment when the slope of the first ramp segment and the slope of the second ramp segment are equal and negative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sandeep Rao, Karthik Subburaj, Brian Ginsburg, Karthik Ramasubramanian, Jawaharlal Tangudu, Sachin Bharadwaj
  • Patent number: 9739879
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining distance (R) and radial velocity (v) of an object in relation to a measurement location, in which method radar signals are emitted and after reflection on the object are received again at the measurement location, wherein the emitted radar signals are subdivided within a measuring cycle into numerous segments (10) in which the frequency of the radar signals is gradually changed from an initial value (fA, fB) to the end value and each received reflected signal is subjected across one segment (10) to a first evaluation to detect frequency peaks and additionally a subsequent second evaluation of the signals for the frequency peaks of all segments (10) of the measuring cycle is carried out to determine a Doppler frequency component as a measure of the radial velocity (v).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: S.M.S. Smart Microwave Sensors GMBH
    Inventor: Hermann Rohling
  • Patent number: 9664788
    Abstract: A method for evaluating obstacles based on locating data of a radar sensor in a driver assistance system for motor vehicles, in which at least one evaluation function is calculated which indicates, as a function of a set of measured variables which are related to a potential obstacle, whether the potential obstacle is to be evaluated as a real obstacle, a complexity indicator being formed based on the locating data which indicates the complexity of a present measurement situation, and at least two different evaluation functions being defined for the same set of measured variables, and it being decided which of the evaluation functions is applied in the present measurement situation as a function of the complexity indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Schoor, Goetz Kuehnle, Volker Gross, Benedikt Loesch, Stefan Heilmann
  • Patent number: 9622324
    Abstract: A method and system for geolocation using a street light system having transponding technology. A predetermined band of radio frequencies employing spread spectrum technology is used to identify locations relative to an individual street light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael James Hartman, Bruce Gordon Barnett, John Erik Hershey, Ralph Thomas Hoctor, Michael Joseph Dell'Anno, Stanislava Soro
  • Patent number: 9494706
    Abstract: Omnidirectional electromagnetic signal inducer (omni-inducer) devices are disclosed. The omni-inducer device may include a housing, which may include a conductive base for coupling signals to ground, and an omnidirectional antenna node including a plurality of antenna coil assemblies, where the node may be disposed on or within the housing. The omni-inducer device may further include one or more transmitter modules for generating ones of a plurality of output signals, which may be generated at ones of a plurality of different frequencies, and one or more control circuits configured to control the transmitters and/or other circuits to selectively switch the ones of the plurality of output signals between ones of the plurality of antenna coil assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Ray Merewether, Jan Soukup, Michael J. Martin
  • Patent number: 9423496
    Abstract: A wireless detection device is provided, comprising a voltage control oscillation unit, a transceiving unit, demodulation unit and processing unit. The voltage control oscillation unit generates different oscillation signals according to analog control voltages and corresponding injection signals. The transceiving unit outputs first wireless signals to a predetermined area according to the oscillation signals and receives second wireless signals generated by reflection of the first wireless signals to generate the injection signal. The demodulation unit demodulates the oscillation signals into first voltage signals. The processing unit subtracts the corresponding analog control voltages from the first voltage signals to generate second voltage signals, and when the variation of the second voltage signals exceeds a predetermined value on a target frequency in frequency domain, the processing unit calculates a real distance between an object and the transceiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: NATIONAL SUN YAT-SEN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Tzyy-Sheng Horng, Fu-Kang Wang, Kang-Chun Peng
  • Patent number: 9097783
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for positioning and navigation using hybrid spectral compression and cross correlation signal processing of signals of opportunity, which may include Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) as well as other wideband energy emissions in GNSS obstructed environments. Examples of these signals of opportunity include but are not limited to GPS, GLONASS, cellular Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communications signals, and 802.11 Wi-Fi. Combining spectral compression with spread spectrum cross correlation enables extraction of code and carrier observables without the need to implement the tracking loops (e.g. Costas tracking loop) commonly used in conventional GNSS receivers. For applications where dynamics and transmission medium may make it difficult to continuously track carrier phase, the hybrid approach of the present invention has significant utility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael B. Mathews, Peter F. MacDoran
  • Patent number: 9086476
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a radar system that rejects intermodulation products than can generate false targets. In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting a first signal at a first time at a first frequency to detect a target within a first altitude range, determining a range from a first receive time to a second receive time for possible signal return from the target within the first altitude range, receiving the possible signal return from the target in a frequency band of interest based upon the first frequency while transmitting a second signal at a second frequency spaced a selected frequency distance from the first frequency to place transmit feedthrough outside of the receive frequency band of interest and false target return outside the frequency band of interest for rejecting intermodulation products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Jack J. Schuss, Stephen M. Sparagna
  • Patent number: 9081085
    Abstract: A radar apparatus includes: a transmission circuit; a reception circuit; a Doppler filter that discriminates baseband signals per distance and per Doppler frequency corresponding to the speed of an object; a threshold processing unit group that removes unwanted signals from output signals of the Doppler filter; and an estimation unit that estimates a position and speed of the object from the output signals removed of the unwanted signals. The threshold processing unit group includes threshold processing units corresponding to respective discriminated Doppler frequencies. Each threshold processing unit calculates a threshold value for a corresponding Doppler frequency using a peak value of the output signals in a range of distance corresponding to an object detection area, and determines output signals in the range that are no greater than the threshold value to be the unwanted signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9024808
    Abstract: A method of determining a filling level comprising transmitting a first transmit signal exhibiting a first ratio between bandwidth number of frequencies; receiving a first reflection signal; mixing the first transmit signal and the first reflection signal to form a first intermediate frequency signal; and determining a first data set indicative of a first set of surface echo candidates based on the first intermediate frequency signal. The method further comprises transmitting a second transmit signal exhibiting a second ratio between bandwidth and number of frequencies being different from the first ratio; receiving a second reflection signal; mixing the second transmit signal and the second reflection signal to form a second intermediate frequency signal; and determining a second data set indicative of a second set of surface echo candidates based on the second intermediate frequency signal. The filling level determined based on subsets of the first and second sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Rosemount Tank Radar AB
    Inventor: Mikael Kleman
  • 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: 8873339
    Abstract: Herein is presented, a low power on-die 60 GHz distribution network for a beamforming system that can be scaled as the number of transmitters increases. The transmission line based power splitters and quadrature hybrids whose size would be proportional to a quarter wavelength (˜600 ?m) if formed using transmission lines are instead constructed by inductors/capacitors and reduce the area by more than 80%. An input in-phase I clock and an input quadrature Q clock are combined into a single composite clock waveform locking the phase relation between the in-phase I clock and quadrature Q clock. The composite clock is transferred over a single transmission line formed using a Co-planar Waveguide (CPW) coupling the source and destination locations over the surface of a die. Once the individuals the in-phase I and quadrature Q clocks are required, they can be generated at the destination from the composite clock waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Tensorcom, Inc.
    Inventor: Jiashu Chen
  • Patent number: 8860605
    Abstract: A method for estimating the position and the speed of a target with a radar is provided. The radar emits a waveform including a train of pulses, each pulse having an OFDM chip constructed from subcarriers, the subcarriers covering the whole bandwidth of the radar. Upon receipt of the echoed pulses, some of the subcarriers are used in a step of Doppler processing, each of the subcarriers being fixed over the pulses. Upon receipt of the echoed pulses, other subcarriers, which are not used for Doppler processing, are used in a step of High Range Resolution processing, the subcarriers being randomly distributed over the pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Thales Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Gabriel Lellouch, Radmila Erkocevic-Pribic
  • Patent number: 8825823
    Abstract: A system and method of detecting, locating, geolocating and providing diagnostics on electronic devices includes use of emission detection apparatus, information collected over a network and template containing emission signatures. Collected unintended emissions are compared to an emission signature in the template preferably constructed from the information collected on the network. Using the known location of the electronic device, the emissions measurement device is then used to detect and identify other devices in the vicinity of the electronic device that is connected to the network. The emission detection apparatus includes a high sensitivity receiver for receiving and analyzing electronic emissions. The network collection apparatus could be any software manifestation known in the art for collecting information about a device such as a cookie or online fingerprinting or a hardware based collection mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Nokomis, Inc
    Inventor: Walter J. Keller, III
  • Patent number: 8791855
    Abstract: A method for detection of wind power installations using a radar installation is provided. The method involves transmitting a number N of predetermined sequences of modulated transmission pulses at a predetermined pulse repetition frequency successively in time and receiving and processing transmission pulses reflected by an object to determine whether the object is a wind power installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Weiss
  • Patent number: 8773302
    Abstract: A level gauge for detecting process variables related to a distance to a surface of a content in a tank, comprising a first and second functionally independent circuitry arrangements comprising transceiver circuitry and processing circuitry. The gauge further comprises a transmission line probe connected to the circuitry arrangements, the transmission line probe extending into the content in the tank and being adapted allow propagation of first and second transmission modes, and a feeding arrangement connected to couple electromagnetic signals into the probe in first and second propagation modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Rosemount Tank Radar AB
    Inventor: Olov Edvardsson
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8654006
    Abstract: An integrated circuit comprises frequency generation circuitry for controlling a frequency source for an automotive radar system. The frequency generation circuitry comprises a Phase Locked Loop (PLL) arranged to generate a control signal for controlling the frequency source, a fractional-N divider located within a feedback loop of the PLL, and frequency pattern control logic operably coupled to the fractional-N divider and arranged to control the fractional-N divider, by way of a frequency control signal, such that the PLL generates a Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Christophe Landez, Hugues Beaulaton, Thierry Cassagnes, Stephane Colomines, Robert G. Gach, Akbar Ghazinour, Hao Li, Gilles Montoriol, Didier Salle, Pierre Savary
  • Patent number: 8619908
    Abstract: A wireless ranging system for determining a range of a remote wireless device may include a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver. The wireless ranging system may also include a ranging controller to cooperate with the wireless transmitter and receiver to generate a multi-carrier base waveform, transmit a sounder waveform to the remote wireless device including concatenated copies of the multi-carrier base waveform, and receive a return waveform from the remote wireless device in response to the sounder waveform. The ranging controller may also generate time domain samples from the return waveform, convert the time domain samples into frequency domain data, and process the frequency domain data to determine the range of the remote wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Hoffmann, Carlos G. Abascal, Christopher D. Moffatt
  • Patent number: 8604971
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is devised for detecting objects of interest in which frequency-scanned RF in the HF region of the electromagnetic spectrum is projected out across a given area and returns are detected and converted into image data in which phase, amplitude, range and frequency associated with the incoming data is correlated with frequency-dependent range templates to determine the existence of, the range of and the direction of the objects of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Apostolos, Richard J. Millard
  • Patent number: 8497799
    Abstract: A level gauge using microwaves to determine a distance to a surface of a product in a tank, wherein a measurement signal comprises a first frequency sweep, and a second frequency sweep, and a mixer is arranged to mix the measurement signal with an echo signal to form a first IF signal based on the first frequency sweep, and a second IF signal based on the second frequency sweep. Processing circuitry is adapted to sample the first IF signal and the second IF signal, to form a combined sample vector including samples from each tank signal, and to determine the distance based on the combined sample vector. By combining the samples from two (or more) different sweeps, the number of samples and the bandwidth can both be increased, thus maintaining the range L. However, as the samples are obtained from two separate sweeps, the sweep time for each individual sweep does not need to be increased, and the average power consumption can be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Rosemount Tank Radar AB
    Inventor: Mikael Kleman
  • Patent number: 8477063
    Abstract: A obstacle detection system comprises a transmission antenna operable to radiate a radio frequency (RF) signal and a transmitter operable to control transmission of the RF signal from the antenna. The obstacle detection system also comprises a receiver antenna operable to receive a reflection of the RF signal; and processing circuitry operable to analyze a plurality of characteristics of a radar cross section (RCS) of the received reflection to identify an obstacle and one or more physical attributes of the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Meyers, Long Bui, Yi-Chi Shih, Alan G. Cornett
  • Patent number: 8400349
    Abstract: The spurious-free dynamic range of a wideband radar system is increased by apportioning de-ramp processing across analog and digital processing domains. A chirp rate offset is applied between the received waveform and the reference waveform that is used for downconversion to the intermediate frequency (IF) range. The chirp rate offset results in a residual chirp in the IF signal prior to digitization. After digitization, the residual IF chirp is removed with digital signal processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Dale F. Dubbert, Bertice L. Tise
  • Patent number: 8401860
    Abstract: A voice-activated command and control system for remotely-controlled vehicles includes a voice-activated control module, a microphone, and a verbal or visual feedback indicator such as a speaker. The operator speaks instructions into the microphone to activate control functions on the vehicle. Confirmation of receipt and/or status of the verbally commanded instructions are sent back to the operator such as spoken through the speaker. The microphone and speaker can be implemented, for example, either in a headset (with a microphone and earphones) worn by the operator, or in the hand-held controller for the vehicle. The system can be alternately implemented without the speaker or other feedback element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventor: Paul R Evans
  • Patent number: 8390506
    Abstract: An FMCW radar locating device includes a transmitting device having a controllable transmitting-signal-generating device generating a transmitting signal having a frequency corresponding to an input control signal; a control device connected to the transmitting-signal-generating device and generating the input control signal which controls the transmitting signal such that it rises periodically in a discontinuous, inconsistent linear fashion in first frequency segments, and drops periodically in a discontinuous, inconsistent linear fashion in second frequency segments; and a receiving device for receiving an echo signal reflected by an object and locating an object based on the received echo signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Focke, Joerg Hilsebecher, Arne Zender, Thomas Schoeberl, Thomas Hansen
  • Patent number: 8358235
    Abstract: A wireless sensor device includes a transmission signal generation unit that generates a frequency-spread high frequency transmission signal such that a transmission frequency is continuously increased and decreased with a predetermined period, a transmitter antenna that radiates the high frequency transmission signal, a receiver antenna that receives a reflected wave from an object having received the high frequency transmission signal, and outputs a frequency-spread high frequency reception signal, a mixer circuit that receives a part of the high frequency transmission signal as a first frequency-spread high frequency signal, receives the high frequency reception signal as a second frequency-spread high frequency signal, and outputs a DC beat signal by operating as a phase detector when frequencies of the first and second signals coincide with each other, and a DC component extraction circuit that extracts the DC beat signal from an output signal of the mixer circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dou Yuanzhu
  • Publication number: 20130016001
    Abstract: A radar sensor including an antenna array having multiple antenna elements situated next to one another and at least one feeding point at an outer antenna element. The antenna elements are connected in series via delay lines. The radar sensor has at least two transmitting and receiving units which are each suitable for generating and evaluating a radar signal at a predefined frequency. The at least two transmitting and receiving units are connected to a feeding point of the antenna array. The frequencies of the radar signals of the at least two transmitting and receiving units are predefinable independently of one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas Schoeberl, Reinhard Meschenmoser, Arne Zender, Thomas Hansen, Joerg Hilsebecher, Karl Nesemann, Oliver Lange
  • Patent number: 8340686
    Abstract: We describe a device that is able to compute its range and time offset relative to another similar device, and thereby also a three-dimensional position, speed and time relative to other similar devices provided that at least four are present and within range. It does so by transmitting at least two signals at different frequencies and by receiving similar signals transmitted by the other devices. The signals are constructed so that they are independent of the radio band used and so that they lead to cancellation of common-mode effects in the transmitter and receiver circuits. No fixed infrastructure of transmitters, receivers or local measurement units is required and the devices do not need to be synchronized. The system scales to very large networks of devices in which they work collectively each solving a part of the problem that describes the relative positions of all interconnected devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Omnisense Limited
    Inventor: David Bartlett
  • Patent number: 8334802
    Abstract: A radar system includes radars and a controller. The controller controls waveform patterns of the radars. As a signal processing unit of each of the radars receives an instruction from the controller, the signal processing unit selects a frequency modulation pattern of a VCO between an FM-CW mode and a CW mode stored in a waveform memory to perform mode switching, and then outputs a radio wave from a transmission antenna. Then, the controller instructs each signal processing unit for a frequency modulation pattern of each radar or an output timing of each pattern so that a time, at which continuous wave signals output from the radars have the same frequency, is not continuous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaru Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8305259
    Abstract: The radar includes a PCB having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a processor mounted on the bottom surface of the PCB. The radar includes a second liquid crystal polymer layer formed on the top surface of the printed circuit board, a second microstrip array printed on the second liquid crystal polymer layer, the second microstrip array having a patch, a first liquid crystal polymer layer formed on the second liquid crystal polymer layer, a first microstrip array printed on the first liquid crystal polymer layer, the first microstrip array having a perforated patch, an antenna positioned underneath the patch and connected to the second microstrip array, and a transmit/receive module connected to a bottom surface of the second liquid crystal polymer layer and configured to transmit a first frequency signal to the first microstrip array and a second frequency signal to the second microstrip array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexandros Margomenos
  • Patent number: 8279112
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described which are useful for determining a distance between an RFID tag and an RFID tag reader. In various embodiments, signals backscattered from a singulated tag over a range of frequencies are evaluated for in-phase I and in-quadrature Q signal components. The I-Q data is processed to determine phase delay angles associated with each signal frequency. The phase delay data can be processed by a sum of squared errors method or Fourier transform method to determine a distance to the singulated tag. The methods can also be used to determine any of a location, a radial velocity, a directional velocity of the singulated tag, and proximity of the singulated tag to a second tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: John C. Carrick
  • Patent number: 8232914
    Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus comprising a transmission antenna to radiate a transmission radio wave; a reception antenna to receive a reflected signal from a target; an analog-to-digital converter to perform an analog-to-digital conversion for converting a reception signal; and a signal processing unit to process the converted signal and to detect the target, in which a transmission frequency of the transmission radio wave to be radiated is switched at a timing synchronized with a sampling frequency of the analog-to-digital conversion, the transmission frequency is switched in accordance with an arbitrary pattern within a frequency band, and the reception signal is rearranged in order on the basis of the arbitrary pattern at a time of the transmission to then be subject to a radar signal processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kuroda, Kazuo Matsuura
  • Patent number: 8170824
    Abstract: Various aspects of the present invention are shown and described, each of which has stand alone utility in a navigated medical environment. A receiver position calibration system and method facilitates calibration of a reference frame prior to each navigated procedure. A concept and application of confidence weights is introduced. Confidence weights can be applied to distance calculations to mitigate the effects of interference and increase the tolerance of the navigated medical system. Multi-path interference is minimized through the transmission of a signal having a pattern of unique frequencies and filtering of the distance calculations for each frequency to identify the ‘best’ distance in the presence of multi-path interference. A position determination method and system that transmits a signal having multiple frequency components permits positions to be identified with high resolution over a large area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Inventors: James P. Jacobs, Mark Robert Schneider, Guohua Min
  • Patent number: 8164511
    Abstract: In order to prevent delays in output of detection results, even when a plurality of frequency modulation methods with different frequency change rates are used, an FM-CW radar device employing frequency modulation with two different frequency change rates, has distance/velocity detection unit for detecting the relative distance or relative velocity of a target object based on beat signals of transmission signals with the same frequency change rate and for detecting the relative distance or relative velocity using beat signals when the frequency change rates are different, and distance/velocity confirmation unit for adding evaluation values for relative distances or relative velocities detected in the detection processing, and for confirming the relative distance or relative velocity based on the evaluation value which has reached a criterion value. As a result, more data can be obtained in one detection cycle, and the same advantageous results as when executing a plurality of detection cycles can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventors: Masayuki Kishida, Hisateru Asanuma, Kohsuke Noda, Tomoya Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 8159344
    Abstract: A method of detecting a moving target within a predefined protected region with a microwave motion detector, by transmitting microwave frequency signals and receiving the microwave frequency signals reflected by a target. A target distance is then determined from the received microwave frequency signals, and a target angle is determined from the received microwave frequency signals. Then, a target location is determined from the target distance and the target angle, and an alarm condition is set if the target location is within the predefined protected region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventor: XiaoDong Wu
  • Patent number: 8125373
    Abstract: For use in conjunction with a microwave antenna having a radiator array configured to scan in a horizontal direction, a method for scanning in the vertical direction. A first FMCW microwave signal having a first bandwidth is transmitted at a first microwave frequency and the echo, if any, is received by the radiator array. A second FMCW microwave signal having a second bandwidth is also transmitted at a different center frequency and the echo, if any, is received by the radiator array. The different frequencies cause an elevational shift in the received signal. The receipt of the echoes is then processed to identify the location or locations of the object or objects causing the echo and communicating such location or locations to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Seung Lee, Paul D. Schmalenberg
  • Patent number: 8115672
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a procedure for measuring distance. It applies notably in respect of short-range radars, but not exclusively. The method uses an electromagnetic wave comprising at least one emission sequence (31, 32, 33, 34, 35) of the FSK type, at least two emission frequencies (F1, F2), emitted successively towards the said target a given number p of times inside the sequence. The gap ?F between the emission frequencies (F1, F2) is substantially equal to an integer number k of times the repetition frequency (SPRF) of the cycle of frequencies, the distance measurement being obtained on the basis of the measurement of difference of phases ?? between the signals received corresponding respectively to a first frequency (F1) and to a second frequency (F2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Myriam Nouvel, Stéphane Kemkemian
  • Patent number: 8085183
    Abstract: In an antenna radar system including a short-range function and a long-range function which is situated separately from the short-range function, the short-range function and the long-range function having different antenna apertures, means are provided for mutual cross-polarization of the signals emitted and received using the short-range function and the long-range function, through which the most efficient possible signal-technology decoupling between the short-range function and the long-range function is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Hildebrandt, Joachim Hauk, Martin Reiche
  • Patent number: 8035550
    Abstract: A transmitter system can have a higher power transmitter and a lower power that are configured to transmit a pair of unbalanced radio frequency beams to a target so as to produce a difference frequency in the target. The difference frequency can disrupt operation of a device, such as a weapon. The difference frequency can provide a radar return. The use of a higher power transmitter and a lower power transmitter reduces costs, size, and weight as compared to the use of two higher power transmitters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Sandor Holly, Nicholas Koumvakalis