Combined With Beam Steering Patents (Class 342/154)
  • Patent number: 11575200
    Abstract: An antenna device is presented comprising: a conformal antenna body which has a desired geometry corresponding to a front portion of a platform on which the antenna device is to be mounted, and an antenna unit carried by the antenna body. The antenna unit comprises at least one phased array of antenna elements, the antenna elements of each of the at least one array being arranged in a spaced-apart relationship in a closed loop path along a circumference of the antenna body having a desired geometry corresponding to the front portion of the platform on which the antenna unit is to be mounted. Each of the antenna elements is configured as an end-fire antenna element capable of emitting linearly polarized radiation. The array of the antenna elements is operable as a forward looking end-fire antenna array, enabling electronic steering of an antenna beam by controllably modifying phases of the antenna elements of each array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventor: Vladimir Rojanski
  • Patent number: 11367948
    Abstract: Antenna integrated into a compact conical nosecone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Inventors: Jared Williams Jordan, Timothy Amis Smith, Freddy Pinero, Brian Michael Kerrigan
  • Patent number: 11289806
    Abstract: An ESA system includes first antennas, second antennas, a power supply, a transmit module and/or receive module, and a controller. The first antennas operate over a first frequency bandwidth from a first frequency to a second frequency greater than the first frequency. The second antennas operate over a second frequency bandwidth from the first frequency to a third frequency less than the second frequency. The transmit module receives DC power from the power supply and provides RF power corresponding to at least one first control point to the antennas. The controller adjusts the at least one first control point based on a predetermined ratio of a first RF signal strength associated with the first antennas to a second RF signal strength associated with the second antennas, a first passive antenna gain of the first antennas, and a second passive antenna gain of the second antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell D. Wyse, Michael L. Hageman, James B. West
  • Patent number: 11271613
    Abstract: An intelligent backhaul radio that has an advanced antenna system for use in PTP or PMP topologies. The advanced antenna system includes a plurality of directional antenna arrays, wherein each directional antenna array includes a plurality of directional antenna sub-arrays, and wherein each directional antenna sub-array includes a plurality of directional antenna elements. At least one of the plurality of directional antenna arrays includes at least one first directional antenna sub-array, said first directional antenna sub-array including a first number of directional antenna elements. At least one of the plurality of directional antenna arrays includes at least one second directional antenna sub-array, said second directional antenna sub-array including a second number of directional antenna elements. The first number is different than the second number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SKYLINE PARTNERS TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: David Andrew G. Lea, Kevin J. Negus
  • Patent number: 11199616
    Abstract: Systems and methods relate to a configurable integrated circuit for beamforming. The integrated circuit includes a first beam transmit input, a first beam receive output, a second beam transmit input, a second beam receive output, a first antenna terminal, a second antenna terminal, a first switched combiner, and a second switched combiner. The first switched combiner includes a first combiner input/output coupled to the first antenna terminal, a first combiner output coupled to a first output path having a first branch coupled to the first beam output and a second branch coupled to the second beam output, and a first combiner input coupled a first input path having a third branch coupled to the first beam input and a fourth branch coupled to the second beam input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Pond, Michael C. Meholensky
  • Patent number: 11043753
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a phased array antenna panel and one or more beam former circuits mounted on the phased array antenna panel. The phased array antenna panel generally comprises a plurality of antenna elements. The plurality of antenna elements are generally arranged in one or more groups. Each beam former circuit may be coupled to a respective group of the antenna elements. Each beam former circuit generally comprises a plurality of transceiver channels. Each transceiver channel generally comprises a power amplifier circuit configured, when operating in a transmit mode, to drive a respective one of the antenna elements. The power amplifier circuit generally comprises separate bias and voltage supply inputs providing additional power control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Integrated Device Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Samet Zihir, Tumay Kanar
  • Patent number: 11012963
    Abstract: A wireless communication method and apparatus are disclosed. In an embodiment a wireless communication method includes receiving, by a first device, at least two pieces of timing advance (TA) information, wherein the at least two pieces of TA information are corresponding to at least two beams of the first device on the same carrier and performing, by the first device, timing adjustments on transmissions on the at least two beams based on the at least two pieces of TA information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haibao Ren, Zheng Wang, Ting Wang, Yuanjie Li
  • Patent number: 10921435
    Abstract: A method (400) of detecting an object using a radar system is disclosed. The method comprises transmitting (401) a first radar beam having a first frequency and first radiation pattern (301) from an antenna (500), the first radiation pattern comprising a peak at zero azimuth angle, and detecting (402) a first signal from the object due to a reflection of the first radar beam. A second radar beam having a second frequency and second radiation pattern (302) is transmitted (403) from the antenna (500), the second radiation pattern comprising a peak at a non-zero azimuth angle. A second signal due to a reflection of the second radar beam from the object is detected (404), and the first signal and the second signal compared (405) to determine an angular location of the object relative to the zero azimuth angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Ziqiang Tong, Ralf Reuter, Arnaud Sion
  • Patent number: 10886611
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for a hybrid high gain antenna in which a plurality of antennas are mounted substantially symmetrically such that the antennas collectively provide 180° of antenna coverage for a surface above the antennas. In some embodiments, the hybrid high gain antenna system can be mounted on a mobile device with sufficient inclinations such that the antennas collectively provide approximately 180° of antenna coverage. In some embodiments, the hybrid high gain antenna system is configured to reach a gain of between about 10 dBi and 12 dBi at a target frequency of between about 26 GHz and 30 GHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: WISPRY, INC.
    Inventors: Carla Di Paola, Shuai Zhang, Gert Frølund Pedersen
  • Patent number: 10826175
    Abstract: An antenna apparatus includes: a switch having a single one-side terminal and four other-side terminals; and a distributor that distributes electric power supplied via the switch to a terminal and a terminal with a phase difference of 90 degrees. The apparatus further includes a switch that switches to either of a state in which conduction is achieved between an other-side terminal of the switch and a horizontally polarized wave antenna, and a state in which conduction is achieved between the terminal of the distributor and the horizontally polarized wave antenna. The apparatus further includes a switch that switches to either of a state in which conduction is achieved between an other-side terminal of the switch and a vertically polarized wave antenna, and a state in which conduction is achieved between the terminal of the distributor and the vertically polarized wave antenna. The switches are controlled by a control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Yousuke Okayama, Eiji Muto
  • Patent number: 10700755
    Abstract: A method involving an antenna array for wirelessly transmitting information carried by a source signal stream that includes a plurality of individual transmit signal streams, the method involving: mapping the plurality of transmit signal streams to a plurality of individual beam signal streams, wherein at least one of the beam signal streams of the plurality of beam signal streams is a combination of multiple transmit signal streams of the plurality of transmit signal streams; using the antenna array to generate a plurality of transmit beams; and sending each beam signal stream of the plurality of beam signal streams over a different transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Blue Danube Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregg S. Nardozza
  • Patent number: 10594031
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses include a radiating element, a radio frequency integrated circuit and a feed manifold. The radio frequency integrated circuit includes a splitter/combiner in communication with the radiating element, a transmit beam gain control block in communication with the splitter/combiner and structured to apply a Taylor weighting distribution, a receive beam gain control block in communication with the splitter/combiner and structured to apply a Bayliss weighting distribution, a transmit beam steering control block in communication with the transmit beam gain control block, and a receive beam steering control block in communication with the receive beam gain control block. The feed manifold is in communication with the transmit beam steering control block and the receive beam steering control block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC.
    Inventors: James B. West, Michael L. Hageman, Russell D. Wyse
  • Patent number: 10581567
    Abstract: A device comprises a plurality of distributed transceivers, a plurality of distributed beamformers, a baseband processor, and a network management engine. The distributed transceivers perform beamforming in a radio frequency band. The distributed beamformers, however, performs beamforming in an intermediate frequency band. Each of the distributed transceivers is coupled to a corresponding one of the distributed beamformers. Each transceiver-beamformer pair is coupled to the baseband processor utilizing a same communication medium such as a cable. For transmission, a data stream generated at baseband is converted to intermediate frequencies. With a low-power transmission, the distributed beamformers transmit the data stream wirelessly in the intermediate frequencies to a receiving device. With a normal-power transmission, the distributed transceivers transmit the data stream to the receiving device in the radio frequency band. The transceivers and the beamformers are turned OFF whenever not being used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: GOLBA LLC
    Inventor: Mehran Moshfeghi
  • Patent number: 10541794
    Abstract: A device comprises a plurality of distributed transceivers, a plurality of distributed beamformers, a baseband processor, and a network management engine. The distributed transceivers perform beamforming in a radio frequency band. The distributed beamformers, however, performs beamforming in an intermediate frequency band. Each of the distributed transceivers is coupled to a corresponding one of the distributed beamformers. Each transceiver-beamformer pair is coupled to the baseband processor utilizing a same communication medium such as a cable. For transmission, a data stream generated at baseband is converted to intermediate frequencies. With a low-power transmission, the distributed beamformers transmit the data stream wirelessly in the intermediate frequencies to a receiving device. With a normal-power transmission, the distributed transceivers transmit the data stream to the receiving device in the radio frequency band. The transceivers and the beamformers are turned OFF whenever not being used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: GOLBA LLC
    Inventor: Mehran Moshfeghi
  • Patent number: 10505681
    Abstract: A device comprises a plurality of distributed transceivers, a plurality of distributed beamformers, a baseband processor, and a network management engine. The distributed transceivers perform beamforming in a radio frequency band. The distributed beamformers, however, performs beamforming in an intermediate frequency band. Each of the distributed transceivers is coupled to a corresponding one of the distributed beamformers. Each transceiver-beamformer pair is coupled to the baseband processor utilizing a same communication medium such as a cable. For transmission, a data stream generated at baseband is converted to intermediate frequencies. With a low-power transmission, the distributed beamformers transmit the data stream wirelessly in the intermediate frequencies to a receiving device. With a normal-power transmission, the distributed transceivers transmit the data stream to the receiving device in the radio frequency band. The transceivers and the beamformers are turned OFF whenever not being used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: GOLBA LLC
    Inventor: Mehran Moshfeghi
  • Patent number: 10009051
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems for analog spatial multiplexing are disclosed. One apparatus includes a receiver, wherein the receiver includes a plurality of antennas operative to receive a plurality of wireless signals, a plurality of tunable time delays, and a plurality of frequency response equalizers, wherein a time delay of each of the tunable time delays is adjusted based on a feedback of measurements of one or more pilot tones of more than one output of the plurality of frequency response equalizers. The receiver further includes a plurality of frequency up-converters generating a plurality of frequency up-converted signals, a MIMO processor receiving the plurality of frequency up-converted signals, wherein the MIMO processor adjusts a gain and phase of the of the frequency up-converted signals based on the measurements of the pilot tones, and a plurality of frequency down-converters receiving and frequency down-converting output signals from the MIMO processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Yan Yan, Abhishek Tiwari, Pratheep Bondalapati, Chiyun Xia, Tobias Gerard Tiecke, Qi Tang
  • Patent number: 9921313
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: a Global Positioning System (GPS) phased array comprising a plurality of digital beam forming elements (DBFEs), wherein at least one of the DBFEs includes: an antenna configured to transmit a GPS signal; a radio frequency (RF) electronics section operably connected to the antenna and digital electronics sections; and a digital electronics section operably connected to the RF electronics section. An apparatus includes: a GPS phased array comprising a plurality of DBFEs, wherein at least one of the DBFEs includes: an antenna configured to transmit a GPS signal; an RF electronics section operably connected to the antenna and digital electronics sections; and a digital electronics section operably connected an RF electronic section; a navigation encoder and frequency generator (NEFU) unit operably connected to the GPS phased array; and an atomic frequency standard operably connected to the NEFU unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Kiet D. Ngo, Edward V. Koretzky, Dennis M. Hall, Douglas S. Cockfield
  • Patent number: 9865919
    Abstract: A feed network for use with an antenna array includes at least first and second RF inputs, a combiner network and a beamforming network. In some examples, additional RF inputs are provided. Each RF input corresponds to a sub-band. The first RF input for a first sub-band signal is coupled to a first sub-band parameter control; the second RF input for the second sub-band signal is coupled to a second sub-band parameter control. The combiner network is coupled to the first sub-band parameter control and to the second sub-band parameter control. The combiner network also has at least one output comprising a combination of the first sub-band signal and the second sub-band signal. The beamforming network is coupled to the combiner network and has a plurality of RF outputs. The first and second sub-band parameter controls are independently adjustable. In one example, the beamforming network comprises a Butler matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Jonathon C. Veihl, Martin L. Zimmerman, GuoLong Xu, Zhongcao Yang
  • Patent number: 9846228
    Abstract: A radar system processes signals in a flexible, adaptive manner to determine range, Doppler (velocity) and angle of objects in an environment. The radar system processes the received signal to achieve different objectives depending on the environment, the current information stored in the radar system, and/or external information provided to the radar system. The system allows improved resolution of range, Doppler and/or angle depending on the desired objective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: UHNDER, INC.
    Inventors: Curtis Davis, Monier Maher, Jean P. Bordes, Manju Hegde, Otto A. Schmid, Raghunath K. Rao, Marius Goldenberg, Aria Eshraghi, Vito Giannini, David S. Trager, Nikhilesh Bhagat, Srikanth Gollapudi, Sundar Govindarajan, Steve Borho, Jonathan Preussner, Paul W. Dent, Paul Bassett, Stephen W. Alland, Fred Harris, Wayne E. Stark, Murtaza Ali
  • Patent number: 9602155
    Abstract: A transceiver element for an active, electronically controlled antenna system includes a transmit path, a receive path and single-pole change-over switches having a common central connection and two connections for switching between the transmit path and the receive path. An amplitude controller and a phase adjuster are arranged between the common center connections of a first and second single-pole change-over switch. Single-pole multiple toggle switches having a common central connection and a number N of connections are present. The common central connection of the first and second single-pole change-over switch is connected to the common central connection of a first and a second single-pole multiple toggle switch respectively, and an amplitude controller and a phase adjuster are connected between each connection of the number N of connections of the first multiple toggle switch and the second multiple toggle switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
    Inventor: Sebastien Chartier
  • Patent number: 9590722
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed which may include providing at least one satellite having a plurality of beamformers configured to provide a plurality of respective beams having a plurality of different respective fixed pitch angles about an axis of the satellite; causing the at least one satellite to move around the earth along a non-geostationary orbit; establishing a data communication path between a first of the beamformers on the satellite and a communication target, the data communication path having a satellite end at the first beamformer and an target end at the communication target; shifting the satellite end of the data communication path through a succession of the beamformers as the satellite moves along its orbit; and at least substantially reducing an amount of RF wave energy directed to beamformers of the plurality of beamformers not forming part of the data communication path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: O3b Networks Limited
    Inventor: Gregory Thane Wyler
  • Patent number: 9502766
    Abstract: A monopulse beam former for an array antenna composed of a plurality of sub-arrays. In one embodiment, a monopulse beam former includes, for each sub-array, a sum feed network and a delta feed network, each feeding an analog processor. The delta beam former includes a plurality of couplers with coupling coefficients increasing linearly across the sub-array. The analog processor includes a first gain-phase module in line with the output of the delta feed network, and a second gain-phase module adjusting the gain and phase of a portion of the output of the sum feed network added to the delta signal. The gain settings and phase settings of the first and second gain-phase modules are adjusted to provide a piecewise-linear approximation to a desired antenna pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventor: Ronald H. LaPat
  • Patent number: 9391356
    Abstract: Systems and methods for antenna pointing are disclosed. A transmit antenna system having an adjustable boresight transmits a signal exhibiting a far-field pattern including a feature (e.g. a V-Notch) in a polarization of the signal disposed at a fixed position off a beam peak of the far-field pattern of the signal. A receive antenna system scans across the far-field pattern of the signal in the polarization to locate the feature and determine a pointing error of the adjustable boresight therefrom. The system may be applied to a cross-polarization of the signal where a co-polarization of the signal is simultaneously used for telecommunication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventor: David Rochblatt
  • Patent number: 9325065
    Abstract: A feed network for use with an antenna array includes at least first and second RF inputs, a combiner network and a beamforming network. In some examples, additional RF inputs are provided. Each RF input corresponds to a sub-band. The first RF input for a first sub-band signal is coupled to a first sub-band parameter control; the second RF input for the second sub-band signal is coupled to a second sub-band parameter control. The combiner network is coupled to the first sub-band parameter control and to the second sub-band parameter control. The combiner network also has at least one output comprising a combination of the first sub-band signal and the second sub-band signal. The beamforming network is coupled to the combiner network and has a plurality of RF outputs. The first and second sub-band parameter controls are independently adjustable. In one example, the beamforming network comprises a Butler matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Jonathon C. Veihl, Martin L. Zimmerman, GuoLong Xu, Zhongcao Yang
  • Patent number: 9184499
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates a method for performing hybrid beamforming in a wireless communication device or any device that uses signal phase shifting for transmission and/or reception. The method comprises performing phase shifting in at least two different domains (or paths), each characterized by an operational frequency, in the communication device. More in particular, the disclosure relates in a first aspect to a method for performing at a receiver beamforming on a beam of incoming signals received via plurality of antenna paths. In another aspect, the present disclosure relates a method for performing hybrid beamforming at a transmitter device, wherein also phase shifting in at least two different domains is performed. More in particular, the disclosure also relates to a method for performing at a transmitter device beamforming on a beam of outgoing signals via a plurality of antenna paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: IMEC
    Inventors: Jakub Raczkowski, Piet Wambacq
  • Publication number: 20150084810
    Abstract: A phased array radar apparatus and method for identifying targets in an environment includes a phased array radar transmitter, a first phased array radar receiver, a second phased array radar receiver, and a radar controller. The first and second phased array radar receivers are configured such that the first and second phased array radar receivers have effectively the same configuration. The radar controller uses the first and second receive beams to calculate an amplitude monopulse ratio and identify angle information of the targets within the environment. The present invention enables high precision estimation of target angle information while scanning over a wide field of view in a single scan. The radar apparatus further uses a complex amplitude monopulse ratio and a weighted target angle histogram to distinguish between closely separated targets that would otherwise be viewed as a single target by conventional monopulse radar apparatuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Seung Lee, Paul Donald Schmalenberg, Liping Li
  • Patent number: 8879470
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a method, device and base station for cooperative beam forming based on MBMS fixed grid of beams GoB. The cooperative beam forming method comprises following steps: grouping users into cell central user group and cell edge user group (S701); performing cell central user group multiplexing based on superposition coding (S702); performing cooperative beam forming operation based on fixed grid of beams GoB for cell edge user group (S703).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Bijun Zhang, He Wang, Zhongji Hu
  • Patent number: 8791854
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a radar transmitter comprised within a single integrated chip substrate, which is capable of continuous beam steering of a transmitted radar beam as well as an option to change the physical position of the origin of the transmit radar beam. The radar transmitter has a signal generator that generates an RF signal. The RF signal is provided to a plurality of independent transmission chains, which contain independently operated vector modulators configured to introduce an individual phase adjustment to the high frequency input signal to generate separate RF output signals. A control unit is configured to selectively activate a subset of (e.g., two or more) the independent transmission chains. By activating the subset of independent transmission chains to generate RF output signals with separate phases, a beam steering functionality is enabled. Furthermore, the subset defines a changeable position of the transmitted radar beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Johann Peter Forstner, Udo Gerlach
  • Patent number: 8593334
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic waves are transmitted in a selected direction toward a target object from a first array of antenna elements. Scattered electromagnetic waves generated from the electromagnetic waves are received at a first portion of a second array of antenna elements configured to receive the scattered electromagnetic waves in a first direction with respect to the selected direction and at a second portion of the second array of antenna elements configured to receive the scattered electromagnetic waves in a second direction with respect to the selected direction. First information in the scattered electromagnetic waves received by the first portion is subtracted from second information in the scattered electromagnetic waves received by the second portion to form difference data. An elevation angle is identified between a direction of the target object and the selected direction using the difference data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Sego, David Arthur Whelan
  • Patent number: 8547206
    Abstract: A noncontact IC medium direction detecting apparatus (1), method, and computer readable medium are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventor: Hidekatsu Nogami
  • Patent number: 8547275
    Abstract: An antenna architecture for hemispherically-scanning active electronically scanned arrays (AESA). The antenna architecture utilizes variable diameter disks of antenna elements configured in a conical implementation. The antenna elements are oriented such that the element boresight is normal to the surface of the conical structure. Beamforming takes place on each disk first, and them separately in combining the signals from each disk, thereby reducing complexity. The antenna optionally utilizes disks of antenna elements of the same diameter to form a cylindrical antenna, which when combined with a conical configuration create enhanced sectors while maintaining a hemispherical coverage capability. Further, use of two conical configurations can produce a fully spherical coverage capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: SRC, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Culkin, Timothy David Graham
  • Patent number: 8468414
    Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a wireless mobile system implementing Beam Steering Phased Array Antenna is disclosed having an array of [N×N] antennas mounting on the wireless mobile Terminal transmits unidirectional signals directly to the Base Station as opposed to transmitting multi-directional signals. The wireless mobile system implementing beam-steering phased array antenna, wherein the phases of the signals fed to the array antenna elements are varied by the phase shifters in small programmable step values calculated by the Digital Signal Processor (DSP) Phase Processor which causes the antennas radiation beam to be steered at angle ?. Thus, improvements in beam steering for transmitting unidirectional signals directly to the Base Station will greatly reduce the energy required by the wireless terminal for transmitting signals to the Base Station. And, the effective result would achieve our green-energy technology requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Icomm Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Quang Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8461965
    Abstract: A particular portable radio frequency identification (RFID) reader includes an active antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements to receive RFID signals from RFID devices. The antenna elements include control circuitry to control a beam pattern generated by the active antenna array. The portable RFID reader further includes sum circuitry and difference circuitry. The sum circuitry is operable to determine a sum signal by summing the RFID signals received by at least two of the plurality of antenna elements. The difference circuitry is operable to determine a difference signal between the RFID signals received by at least two of the plurality of antenna elements. The portable RFID reader also includes a controller to electronically steer the beam pattern and to determine a direction from the RFID reader to a particular RFID device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Ming Chen, Fong Shi, Kenneth G. Voyce
  • Patent number: 8446312
    Abstract: An electronic scanning type radar device mounted on a moving body includes: a transmission unit transmitting a transmission wave; a reception unit comprising a plurality of antennas receiving a reflection wave of the transmission wave from a target; a beat signal generation unit generating a beat signal from the transmission wave and the reflection wave; a frequency resolution processing unit frequency computing a complex number data; a target detection unit detecting an existence of the target; a correlation matrix computation unit computing a correlation matrix from each of a complex number data of a detected beat frequency; a target consolidation processing unit linking the target in a present detection cycle and a past detection cycle; a correlation matrix filtering unit generating an averaged correlation matrix by weighted averaging a correlation matrix of a target in the present detection cycle and a correlation matrix of a related target in the past detection cycle; and a direction detection unit compu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Elesys Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji Kanamoto, Hiroyuki Akimoto
  • Publication number: 20130088381
    Abstract: Embodiments of the concepts described herein are directed toward a common RF building block in the form of a monolithic assembly for an AESA array featuring a scalable RF design based on 2n:3 combining. The monopulse network building blocks are substantially identical, enabling an interchangeable sub-array architecture that is independent of position in the AESA aperture and receive sum channel sidelobe performance. In one embodiment, a passive Monopulse Beamformer may provide the passive 2n:3 RF coupling/combining network and an active Monopulse Processor may perform amplitude and phase weighting for the combined signals from the Monopulse Beamformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Angelo M. Puzella, Tunglin L. Tsai, John B. Francis, Donald A. Bozza, Kathe I. Scott, Patricia S. Dupuis
  • Patent number: 8384588
    Abstract: A method for estimating a target angle of a wideband signal received on an electronically steered antenna array includes: generating spatial frequency data from the received wideband signal; stabilizing the spatial frequency data to a beam steering direction; compressing the stabilized spatial frequency data to a plurality of frequency range bins; calculating a monopulse discriminant from the stabilized spatial frequency data; and calculating the target angle using the monopulse discriminant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Charles T. Hansen
  • Patent number: 8344939
    Abstract: Radar sensor for motor vehicles, having a transmitting and receiving device for microwaves, in which beam-shaping devices which are independent of one another are provided for the azimuth and the elevation, and the beam-shaping device for the elevation has a cylindrical lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Focke, Joerg Hilsebecher, Thomas Binzer, Thomas Schoeberl, Thomas Hansen
  • Patent number: 8289203
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a radar system that includes an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of transmit antenna phase centers. A transmitter portion is configured to transmit a plurality of transmit beams characterized by a transmit beam pattern. The transmit beam pattern has a predetermined transmit beamwidth that is a function of the number of orthogonal transmit waveforms. The number of orthogonal transmit waveforms is less than the plurality of antenna elements. A receiver portion is also coupled to the antenna array and is configured to extract a plurality of orthogonal receive signal components from a received signal provided by the antenna array. A plurality of extracted orthogonal receive signal components are digitally beam formed to implement a virtual antenna array and generate a receive signal having a receive beamwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: SRC, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Culkin, Timothy D. Graham
  • Patent number: 8258997
    Abstract: A radar device includes means for emitting microwave-frequency signals; means for receiving signals reflected by a target; computation means; a plurality of antenna systems disposed around the aircraft, an antenna system comprising a set of emission antennas coupled to the emission means and a set of reception antennas coupled to the reception means, each antenna system being dedicated to the coverage of a given angular sector ?; for a given antenna system, the antenna beam on reception being formed by CBF by the computation means on the basis of the signals received by the reception antennas and the antenna beam on emission is pointed by an electronic scanning system in a number greater than or equal to two of directions inside the given angular sector ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Stéphane Kemkemian, Myriam Nouvel
  • Publication number: 20120098694
    Abstract: A method for estimating a target angle of a wideband signal received on an electronically steered antenna array includes: generating spatial frequency data from the received wideband signal; stabilizing the spatial frequency data to a beam steering direction; compressing the stabilized spatial frequency data to a plurality of frequency range bins; calculating a monopulse discriminant from the stabilized spatial frequency data; and calculating the target angle using the monopulse discriminant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventor: Charles T. Hansen
  • Patent number: 8049660
    Abstract: A radar apparatus has a plurality of receiving antennas and an array transmitting antenna controlled to successively vary the direction of a transmitted beam within a range which includes a target detection range of directions. The direction of any target within the target detection range is detected based on a phase difference between incident reflected waves of adjacent receiving antennas. To eliminate false targets resulting from aliasing, each detected target is authenticated based upon closeness of its detected direction to the current transmitted beam direction. The receiving antennas and transmitting antenna are configured to exclude directions of grating lobes of the transmitted beam from the detection range, and thereby suppress effects of received reflected waves that originate from grating lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Mizutani, Kazuma Natsume
  • Patent number: 8009082
    Abstract: In a conventional automotive radar, a return occurs in a phase difference characteristic necessary for a super-resolution method, resulting in an increase of a detection error, or an extremely narrowed azimuth detection range. A transmitting array antenna, and receiving array antennas are composed of antenna elements respectively, and aligned in a horizontal direction. The weighting of receiving sensitivities of the antenna elements of the receiving array antenna 1 is A1, A2, A3, and A4, which are monotonically decreased from an inner side toward an outer side as represented by A1?A2?A3?A4. On the other hand, the receiving array antenna 3 is symmetrical with the receiving array antenna with respect to the receiving array antenna 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shinoda, Mitsutoshi Morinaga
  • Patent number: 7994965
    Abstract: A surveillance apparatus (100) is provided, said apparatus including a linear sub-array (101) of N omnidirectional transmitter elements (103) and a planar sub-array (102) of M receiver elements (104). A plurality of the transient elements (105) are generated by separating out at each of the receivers (104) the signals transmitted from the antenna elements (103) of the transmitter sub-array (101). This allows the geometry of each path (from each transmitter antenna element, to the point being imaged and back to the receiver antenna elements) to be converted to a delay or phase shift to focus on the particular point being imaged. The transient elements (105) form a cylindrical array (106) at the mid points between transmitter and receiver sub-arrays. Such a configuration enables a full 360 degrees of cover in azimuth and typically +/?60 degrees in elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Teledyne Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Dennis Longstaff
  • Patent number: 7952513
    Abstract: A system for classifying targets utilizes radar receptions and acoustic signatures of armament projectiles (e.g., bullets from celebratory rifle fire, mortars, cannon fire, artillery shells, or rockets, etc.) to associate ordinances with radar returns to better utilize a radar's resources to acquire and track targets of interest. In one embodiment of the invention the system for classifying targets comprises: a radar system for detecting targets based upon radar receptions; an acoustic system for detecting targets based upon acoustic receptions; and a means for classifying the acoustic receptions into target types; a means for computing range, bearing and time of incidence for the radar receptions and the acoustic receptions; a means for associating the radar receptions and the acoustic receptions according to the classification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Byron W. Tietjen, Melinda M. Au, Craig A. Pomeroy, Keith M. Lim
  • Publication number: 20110109495
    Abstract: The present invention includes: an antenna 10 including an element 11a for use in both transmission and reception that is divided into a first transmission/reception element and a second transmission/reception element, and an element 12a for reception only that is divided into a first only-reception element and a second only-reception element; a beam shaping unit 34 that divides an angle region to be observed into a plurality of regions, and forms transmission beams by using the respective elements of the antenna so that the divided angle regions are covered by the transmission beams, and in reception, sets aimed beam direction of each element of the antenna to be the same as that of the first transmission/reception element, and that of the second transmission/reception element, forms phase monopulse beam of ? and ? by using the first transmission/reception element and the first only-reception element, and the second transmission/reception element and the second only-reception element to cover each of the plu
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Shinichi Takeya, Kazuaki Kawabata, Kazuki Oosuga, Takuji Yoshida, Tomohiro Yoshida, Masato Niwa, Hideto Goto
  • Patent number: 7876263
    Abstract: An asymmetrically thinned transmit/receive (TR) module and antenna architecture is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to an active antenna assembly including at least one multi-channel transmit/receive (TR) module for reducing power consumption, the antenna assembly including the at least one TR module including a first phase shifter, a first switch coupled to the first phase shifter, the first switch configured to switch between a transmit circuit and a receive circuit, the transmit circuit including a plurality of first power amplifiers coupled to the first switch, the receive circuit including a low noise amplifier coupled to the first switch and to a plurality of second switches, where each of the plurality of second switches is configured to switch between one of the plurality of first power amplifiers and the low noise amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Clifton Quan
  • Patent number: 7756471
    Abstract: Embodiments include systems and methods for controlling beam direction of an array of antenna elements in a wireless communications system. In one embodiment, aperture control shutters substantially cover each radiating antenna element. Each aperture control shutter is selectively turned on or off to control the direction of a beam of the antenna array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Siavash Alamouti, Alexander A. Maltsev, Nikolay Chistyakov
  • Patent number: 7663546
    Abstract: A phased array satellite communication (SATCOM) system for ground stations receives information signals and a beam from a satellite and autonomously steers communication signals by phase information toward a satellite extracted from the received satellite beam. The new phased array eliminates the need for phase shifters to control a beam. The new phased array satellite communications system avoids delay in digital signal processing or feedback systems to find satellite locations, enabling autonomous real-time electronic beam steering with no delay. The new system is also used to handle signals from and to multiple satellites simultaneously. The new system is useful in other applications where an enhanced point-to-point communication link is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Oceanit Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Y. Miyamoto, Derek M. K. Ah Yo, Joseph M. Cardenas, Donald J. Harbin, Luke B. Joseph, Ken C. K. Cheung
  • Patent number: 7663533
    Abstract: A radar system for motor vehicles, having a least one radar sensor having a range of less than 50 m for monitoring traffic in an adjacent lane, wherein the radar sensor has a phase-controlled antenna and a control device for setting a plurality of radar lobes having different geometries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Tore Toennesen, Frank Gottwald, Thomas Binzer
  • Patent number: 7653118
    Abstract: A surface acoustic wave (SAW) expander based transmitter and correlator based receiver comprises SAW devices that perform expander or correlator functions based on the types of signals inputted to the SAW devices. The SAW devices incorporate chirp with adaptive interference and programmable coding capabilities. The SAW devices and method of operating the devices allow the implementation of very low power radios that overcome problems with temperature drift, lithography constraints and interference and jamming suffered by prior art implementations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Whelan, Paul Beard