Scan Conversion Patents (Class 342/185)
  • Patent number: 11852745
    Abstract: A system may include a display and a processor. The processor may be configured to: break down two-dimensional weather radar reflectivity data into cells, each cell of the cells having a maximum rainfall rate location and a geometric area; prioritize the cells based at least on each cell's proximity to the aircraft, each cell's intensity, each cell's growth rate, each cell's storm top altitude relative to the aircraft altitude, and/or a threat convective level of the cell to select a highest priority cell; and output, to the display, a highest priority azimuth slice vertical radar image of the two-dimensional weather radar reflectivity data as graphical data, the highest priority azimuth slice vertical radar image corresponding to an azimuth slice of the two-dimensional weather radar reflectivity data for the highest priority cell. The display may be configured to display the highest priority azimuth slice vertical radar image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Divesh Lakhi, Mark Fersdahl, Venkata A. Sishtla
  • Patent number: 11604274
    Abstract: An apparatus for composition for dual-polarization weather radar observation data includes: a coordinate system converting unit that converts a reference grid of an orthogonal coordinate system into a grid of a dual-polarization weather radar spherical coordinate system based on a latitudinal-longitudinal coordinate system for each individual dual-polarization weather radar by using an earth spherical coordinate system; a CAPPI data generating unit that generates CAPPI data based on the orthogonal coordinate system after mapping individual items of dual-polarization weather radar observation data on grid coordinates of the dual-polarization weather radar spherical coordinate system; and a CAPPI data compositing unit that performs composition of CAPPI data for each of the individual dual-polarization weather radars located at the same coordinate of the orthogonal coordinate system obtained by mapping the individual items of dual-polarization weather radar observation data thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: KOREA METEOROLOGICAL ADMINISTRATION
    Inventors: Youn Choi, Sung Hwa Jung, Young A Oh
  • Patent number: 11545013
    Abstract: Customizable intrusion zones for audio/video (A/V) recording and communication devices in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure are provided. In one embodiment, a method for an A/V recording and communication device is provided, the method comprising displaying, on a display of the computing device, a user interface for creating and/or customizing at least one intrusion zone, wherein the at least one intrusion zone comprises at least one motion zone within a field of view of the A/V recording and communication device coupled with at least one conditional setting of the at least one motion zone, determining whether an input has been received to establish a new conditional setting, or to change a previous conditional setting, determining whether an input has been received to save the new conditional setting or to save the changed conditional setting, and saving the new conditional setting or the changed conditional setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: A9.Com, Inc.
    Inventor: James Siminoff
  • Patent number: 11501142
    Abstract: A download dispatch circuit initiates download of an input tile of an input feature map in response to a source buffer of two or more source buffers being available for the input tile, and indicates that the input tile is available in response to completion of the download. An operation dispatch circuit initiates a neural network operation on the input tile in response to the input tile being available and a first destination buffer of two or more destination buffers being available for an output tile of an output feature map, and indicates that the output tile is available in response to completion of the neural network operation. An upload dispatch circuit initiates upload of the output tile to the output feature map in response to the output tile being available, and indicates that the first destination buffer is available in response to completion of the upload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Victor J. Wu, Poching Sun, Thomas A. Branca, Justin Thant Hsin Oo
  • Patent number: 10845473
    Abstract: Ultrasound signal processing device including: transmitter performing transmission events while varying a focal point; receiver generating, for each transmission event, receive signal sequences for transducer elements; delay-and-sum calculator generating, for each transmission event, a sub-frame acoustic line signal including an acoustic line signal for each measurement point located on target lines passing through the focal point and composing a target line group; and synthesizer combining sub-frame acoustic line signals to generate a frame acoustic line signal. The target lines are straight lines, and any measurement point, on any target line, that is spaced away from the focal point by a predetermined distance or more satisfies a condition that distance between the measurement point and a most nearby measurement point on the same target line is smaller than distance between the measurement point and a most nearby one among measurement points on an adjacent target line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Mineo Tsushima
  • Patent number: 10451720
    Abstract: An object detection apparatus includes: capture region extraction circuitry receives measurement information generated by a radar apparatus using reflected waves from each object and uses the measurement information to extract second unit regions as first capture regions from among first unit regions, the first unit regions being regions into which a measuring range of the radar apparatus has been divided, the second unit regions being regions in which each object has been captured; preliminary grouping circuitry that forms a preliminary group including a second capture region that is present within a determined range; feature quantity acquisition circuitry that calculates a feature quantity that represents an association between the preliminary group and the second capture region; discrimination circuitry that discriminates a type of each object that belongs to the second capture region; and object determination circuitry that groups the second capture region according to the type to detect that object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Weijie Liu, Yoichi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10386459
    Abstract: An echo image display device includes a receiver, an information memory, an intermediate image production component, and a display component. The receiver is configured to receive a reception signal that is a reflection of a transmitted signal. The information memory is configured to store detection information about the reception signal received by the receiver and position information about the reception signal in association with each other. The intermediate image production component is configured to produce an intermediate image based on at least the detection information for the reception signal at an N-th scan, and the detection information for the reception signal at an N?1-th scan having the same position information as the position information for the reception signal at the N-th scan. The display component is configured to display the intermediate image produced by the intermediate image production component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Kazunobu Iwata
  • Patent number: 10345444
    Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces spatially compounded trapezoidal sector images by combining component frames acquired from different look directions. A virtual apex scan format is used such that each scanline of a component frame emanates from a different point (El, En) on the face of an array transducer (12) and is steered at a different scanning angle. For different component frames the scanlines are steered at respectively different angles. In the illustrated example, the scanlines of each component frame are incremented by five degrees relative to the corresponding scanlines in a reference component frame. When the component frames are combined for spatial compounding, the maximum number of component frames are combined over virtually the entire image field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Lars Jonas Olsson
  • Patent number: 10175351
    Abstract: There is described a method for processing data generated by a synthetic aperture imaging system, comprising: receiving raw data representative of electromagnetic signals reflected by a target area to be imaged; receiving a parameter change for the synthetic aperture imaging system; digitally correcting the raw data in accordance with the parameter change, thereby compensating for the parameter change in order to obtain corrected data; and generating an image of the target area using the corrected data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: INSTITUT NATIONAL D'OPTIQUE
    Inventors: Alain Bergeron, Linda Marchese
  • Patent number: 9895134
    Abstract: There is provided an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus capable of outputting an appropriate ultrasound image with no distortion regardless of a sound velocity distribution in a subject. In the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, sound velocities are calculated at two or more points in a subject, and coordinate transformation of a generated ultrasound image is performed based on the calculated sound velocities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9557410
    Abstract: A radar reception device is provided. The device includes a reception signal acquirer, a signal processor, a PPI-scope generator, an A-scope generator, a display output unit, and a user interface. The reception signal acquirer acquires, in an R?-coordinate system, a reception signal received by an antenna that rotates at a predetermined cycle. The signal processor performs signal processing on the reception signal in the R?-coordinate system according to a distance, and outputs the processed signal in the R?-coordinate system. The PPI-scope generator converts the processed signal from the R?-coordinate system into an XY-orthogonal coordinate system and generates a radar image in a PPI-scope. The A-scope generator generates a radar image where the reception signal before being signal-processed is illustrated in an A-scope. The display output unit displays the PPI-scope radar image and the A-scope radar image on a display unit simultaneously. The user interface accepts a user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takaki, Yugo Kubota, Yasuhisa Fujii
  • Patent number: 9513366
    Abstract: A method for detecting targets using a mobile radar having a rotary antenna, notably small targets buried in radar clutter, without increasing the number of false detections, includes determining pre-detections during N antenna revolutions, including determining pre-detections revolution by revolution, each pre-detection being stored in a grid of cells centered on the position that the radar occupied at the start of the current revolution, each grid cell corresponding to an azimuth range and a distance range. This step also includes, at the end of each revolution, a step of shifting all the pre-detections stored in the grid during the previous revolutions by the movement undergone by the radar during the last revolution. The method also includes determining detections, a target being detected from the moment that a set of pre-detections stored in the grid has its distances to the radar which constitute a linear progression during the N antenna revolutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Quellec, Stephane Kemkemian, Xavier Mayeux
  • Patent number: 8836575
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a detection device, which includes an image data generation module for generating image data based on echo signals, and a target object detection module for determining an existence of a target object based on a level of the echo signal at each location of the image data for every azimuth. The target object detection module determines a continuity of the echo signals in a distance direction and an azimuth direction for every target object, and outputs an end location for each target object based on a determination result at each location, including a plurality of locations adjacent to a location determined as being a non-target object location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: FURUNO Electric Company
    Inventor: Koji Nishiyama
  • Publication number: 20140085134
    Abstract: A radar reception device is provided. The device includes a reception signal acquirer, a signal processor, a PPI-scope generator, an A-scope generator, a display output unit, and a user interface. The reception signal acquirer acquires, in an R?-coordinate system, a reception signal received by an antenna that rotates at a predetermined cycle. The signal processor performs signal processing on the reception signal in the R?-coordinate system according to a distance, and outputs the processed signal in the R?-coordinate system. The PPI-scope generator converts the processed signal from the R?-coordinate system into an XY-orthogonal coordinate system and generates a radar image in a PPI-scope. The A-scope generator generates a radar image where the reception signal before being signal-processed is illustrated in an A-scope. The display output unit displays the PPI-scope radar image and the A-scope radar image on a display unit simultaneously. The user interface accepts a user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takaki, Yugo Kubota, Yasuhisa Fujii
  • Patent number: 8665140
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a signal processing device, which includes an echo signal input unit for being inputted with echo signals caused by electromagnetic waves discharged from an antenna and reflected on one or more target objects, an echo signal level detector for detecting a level of each of the echo signals with reference to an azimuth and a distance to the antenna, a level change detector for detecting a level change between the echo signals from locations close to each other, the locations of the echo signals being such that the distances from the antenna are substantially the same but the azimuths are different, a pattern output module for comparing the level change with a predetermined reference pattern and outputting a level change pattern, and a missing determining module for determining a missing of a signal based on at least two of the level change patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Company Limited
    Inventors: Kazuya Nakagawa, Hitoshi Maeno
  • Patent number: 8405545
    Abstract: A radar device includes an antenna for acquiring data, an image memory including pixel data groups each arranged in a rectangular coordinate system, for converting the acquired data in a polar coordinate system into pixel data in the rectangular coordinate system and storing the pixel data, a data write module for writing the pixel data in the memory such that, when image data is stored in a display mode, pixel blocks each including M×N pixel data are arranged on the same line in the memory, a scanning direction setting module for setting a raster-scan direction, and a data reading module for reading out the image data by reading out the pixel data arranged on the same line in the image memory according to the raster-scan direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Company, Limited
    Inventor: Tatsuya Kojima
  • Patent number: 8310392
    Abstract: A radar device includes an antenna, from which a detection signal is transmitted while the antenna being rotated and by which a reflective wave of the transmitted detection signal is received to detect echo data, wherein image data is generated based on the detected echo data, a continuity detecting module for detecting a planar continuity of the currently detected echo data with respect to a pixel concerned in the image data, a behavior data generating module for generating behavior data indicative of a behavior of the echo data for a predetermined number of scans of the past in the pixel concerned based on behavior determination data, and an echo kind determining module for determining a kind of the echo data of the pixel concerned based on the planar continuity and the behavior data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tatsuya Kojima, Takumi Fujikawa, Hidetoshi Kaida, Yu Morita, Toshiaki Takaki, Katsunori Okamatu
  • Publication number: 20120119941
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method includes receiving a radar signal comprising one or more radar contacts each having associated location information. The method further includes determining, based on at least a portion of the location information associated with each of the one or more radar contacts, one or more pixels associated with each of the one or more radar contacts, the one or more pixels associated with each of the one or more radar contacts being one or more of a plurality of pixels of a radar PPI display. The method further includes determining that a particular radar contact of the one or more radar contacts is a trackable radar contact, determining a number of additional pixels associated with the particular radar contact, and illuminating the one or more pixels associated with the particular radar contact and the number of additional pixels associated with the particular radar contact on the radar PPI display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventor: Carsten Reiter
  • Patent number: 7710315
    Abstract: A scan-to-scan integrator for use in radar apparatus comprises means for defining a search window for use in verifying a candidate detection. The window is bounded by the intersection of a first zone and a second zone, wherein the first zone comprises a rectangular reference frame aligned detection window, and the second zone comprises a range estimate tolerance region defined by a range estimate for the candidate detection and predetermined tolerance limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Thales Holdings UK PLC
    Inventor: Andrew Gerald Stove
  • Patent number: 7706978
    Abstract: A method for estimating unknown parameters (pan angle (?), instantaneous tilt angle (?) and road geometry of an upcoming road segment) for a vehicle object detection system. The vehicle object detection system is preferably a forward looking, radar-cued vision system having a camera, a radar sensor and an processing unit. The method first estimates the pan angle (?), then corrects the coordinates from a radar track so that pan angle (?) can be treated as zero, and finally solves a least squares problem that determines best estimates for instantaneous tilt angle (?) and road geometry. Estimating these parameters enables the vehicle object detection system to identify, interpret and locate objects in a more accurate and efficient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan K. Schiffmann, David A. Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20100085244
    Abstract: A radar device includes an antenna for acquiring data, an image memory including pixel data groups each arranged in a rectangular coordinate system, for converting the acquired data in a polar coordinate system into pixel data in the rectangular coordinate system and storing the pixel data, a data write module for writing the pixel data in the memory such that, when image data is stored in a display mode, pixel blocks each including M×N pixel data are arranged on the same line in the memory, a scanning direction setting module for setting a raster-scan direction, and a data reading module for reading out the image data by reading out the pixel data arranged on the same line in the image memory according to the raster-scan direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventor: Tatsuya KOJIMA
  • Patent number: 7692576
    Abstract: A method is provided that facilitates generating a radar image to be displayed by a radar system. The method includes receiving range data and azimuth data carried by a radar signal transmitted from a radar antenna in communication with the radar system, wherein the range data and the azimuth data represent the radar image as a plurality of azimuth segments that collectively form the radar image in a polar coordinate system. The range data and the azimuth data are translated into abscissa data and ordinate data that represent the radar image in a Cartesian coordinate system, and noise is filtered from the radar image, followed by generation of the radar image including the target to be displayed by a display screen to an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Gareth Mainds, Andrew Gascoyne-Cecil
  • Patent number: 7688248
    Abstract: A 3D rendered image of a radar-scanned terrain surface is provided from a radar return signal from the surface, wherein the return signal includes data indicative of azimuth, elevation, and range of a radar-illuminated area of the surface. The data are processed for transformation into X, Y, and Z coordinates. The X and Y coordinates corresponding to each illuminated area are triangulated so as to create a mesh of triangles representing the terrain surface, each of the triangles in the mesh being defined by a vertex triplet. 3D imaging information (grey scale shading and/or coloring information) is added to each triangle in the mesh, based on the amplitude of the radar return signal from the coordinates represented by each vertex in the triplet and the value of the Z coordinate at each vertex, so as to form the 3D rendered image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Sierra Nevada Corporation
    Inventors: Jack Cross, Theodore Bosworth, Craig Chapman, David Howard
  • Patent number: 7679548
    Abstract: A radar apparatus where the rate of writing detected image data into an image memory does not decrease, irrespective of an enlarged amount of the detected image data. When an azimuth direction enlargement section of a W data generator receives detected image data of a sweep, it outputs the data to an image memory, and delays the data, depending on a cycle of an azimuth direction shift timing signal. When detected image data of a next sweep is drawn into a pixel adjacent in a sweep moving direction to a pixel into which previous detected image data has been drawn and is located at the same distance in a sweep distance direction, the delayed data is compared with new data, and the greater data is drawn into the new pixel. When the delayed data is greater, this detected image data is enlarged in the azimuth direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Company Limited
    Inventors: Takumi Fujikawa, Motoji Kondo, Sae Takemoto
  • Patent number: 7675454
    Abstract: A system for analyzing and displaying radar information comprises: a transmit and receive unit operable to transmit radar signals to a survey volume and to receive radar returned radar signals, a processing unit operable to: receive radar data from the returned radar signals, reduce the data into depth bins, each with a score based on received signal strength, create connections among depth bins based on respective scores, and to eliminate ones of the depth bins that do not meet a threshold number of connections, the system further comprising a display unit operable to create a display of at least a subset of the depth bins that are not eliminated by the processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Niitek, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Lavedas, Ajay Patrikar, Mark Hibbard
  • Patent number: 7626537
    Abstract: Radar display methods and systems include a display processing apparatus that includes a central processing unit and a programmable graphics processing unit. A rendering function program executable by the programmable graphics processing unit under control of the central processing unit generates a plurality of sequential display image frames for use in displaying at least a radar image on a display (e.g., by applying a decaying function to an accumulated radar history image frame and updating the accumulated radar history image frame).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Martin J. Andrusiak, Scott J. Benjamin, John L. Gohman, Kenneth D. Dunne
  • Patent number: 7573421
    Abstract: The video rate processor (10) is made up of an Input Video Stream input (11), at least one Input Processor/Input Devices (12), at least one Most Recent Frame Buffer (14), and at least one Output Processes/Output Device (16). The video rate processor (10) is dynamically tuned to the specific requirements of a user and the capabilities of the user's device. Further, the video rate processor (10) enables to receipt of video images in real time or from archived files while substantially maintaining the integrity of the video information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Nice Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Israel Safran, Moti Shabtai
  • Patent number: 7567199
    Abstract: A system, according to various aspects of the present invention, provides a presentation to a hazard display. The system includes a memory having surveillance data and a processor. The processor updates an image in accordance with the surveillance data to provide an updated image. The processor also prepares a presentation in accordance with the updated image. The processor further provides the presentation to a hazard display. At least one of updating, preparing, and providing utilize a first scan mode for a hazardous region of the presentation and a second scan mode for a nonhazardous region of the presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems
    Inventors: Richard Ridenour, Steven Gregory Scott
  • Publication number: 20090167595
    Abstract: A 3D rendered image of a radar-scanned terrain surface is provided from a radar return signal from the surface, wherein the return signal includes data indicative of azimuth, elevation, and range of a radar-illuminated area of the surface. The data are processed for transformation into X, Y, and Z coordinates. The X and Y coordinates corresponding to each illuminated area are triangulated so as to create a mesh of triangles representing the terrain surface, each of the triangles in the mesh being defined by a vertex triplet. 3D imaging information (grey scale shading and/or coloring information) is added to each triangle in the mesh, based on the amplitude of the radar return signal from the coordinates represented by each vertex in the triplet and the value of the Z coordinate at each vertex, so as to form the 3D rendered image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Jack Cross, Theodore Bosworth, Craig Chapman, David Howard
  • Patent number: 7541973
    Abstract: A radar apparatus is provided which correctly combines and displays detected data obtained from a plurality of radar antennas. Detected data obtained from a radar antenna 11 is subjected to a correlation process in a correlator 91A. Detected data obtained from a radar antenna 21 is subjected to a correlation process in a correlator 91B. A mask image which designates the same address as that of the correlated data from the radar antenna 21 is set by a mask area generator 32 and is written into a mask image memory 62. For the correlated data from the correlators 91A and 91B, addresses corresponding to installed positions of the radar antennas 11 and 21 are set. For a process image memory 902B of the correlator 91B and the mask image memory 62, a common address is set. Correlated data input in accordance with mask data is stored in a display image memory 61 in accordance with an address set in a display screen and is also output to a display device 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Furno Electric Company Limited
    Inventors: Takumi Fujikawa, Sae (Shibata) Takemoto, Ichiya Ogino, Takashi Inaoka, Motoji Kondo
  • Publication number: 20090121922
    Abstract: A radar apparatus is provided in which an interpolated sweep between adjacent real sweeps is formed irrespective of an interval between the real sweeps, and image data corresponding to one cycle of sweeping can be certainly updated. A sweep azimuth generator 12 generates and outputs an azimuth of an interpolated sweep interpolated between a current real sweep azimuth and the previous real sweep azimuth based on the current real sweep azimuth and the previous real sweep azimuth, to a draw address generator 7. A sweep data generator 11 performs a linear interpolation process based on solitariness removed data of current real sweep data read from a sweep memory 4, and the previous solitariness removed real sweep data stored therein to generate and output interpolated sweep data between these real sweeps to an image memory 8.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Takumi Fujikawa, Takehiro Yamashita, Sae Takemoto (Shibata)
  • Publication number: 20090121923
    Abstract: A method is provided that facilitates generating a radar image to be displayed by a radar system. The method includes receiving range data and azimuth data carried by a radar signal transmitted from a radar antenna in communication with the radar system, wherein the range data and the azimuth data represent the radar image as a plurality of azimuth segments that collectively form the radar image in a polar coordinate system. The range data and the azimuth data are translated into abscissa data and ordinate data that represent the radar image in a Cartesian coordinate system, and noise is filtered from the radar image, followed by generation of the radar image including the target to be displayed by a display screen to an operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Curtiss-Wright Flight Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Gareth Mainds, Andrew Gascoyne-Cecil
  • Patent number: 7504994
    Abstract: There is configured a radar or similar device that outputs received data that is currently being received and scan correlated image data in parallel with each other. Scan correlated image data and display image data resulting from received data from a display video memory 13 are input into a transitional data generator 11, and the transitional data generator 11 generates transitional data that represents an intermediate value and gradually changes from the received data into the scan correlated image data, using these signals, and inputs the transitional data into a selector 12. The received data, a FIRST or a LAST signal, and the transitional data are input into the selector 12, and the selector 12 outputs the received data if FIRST=1, and outputs the transitional data if FIRST=0, to the display video memory 13. This image data is fed back to the transitional data generator 11, and therefore it gradually changes from the received data into the scan correlated image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Company Limited
    Inventors: Takumi Fujikawa, Takehiro Yamashita, Sae Takemoto (Shibata)
  • Publication number: 20090058718
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses process sensing signals. A method for redrawing a sensing image when a range is or has been changed, according to one aspect of the present invention, records the sensing image and outputs the sensing image to a display; records additional information displayed upon a screen and outputs the additional information to the display; computes a new image from the recorded sensing image using an image manipulation computer function, so that the computed image fits a new scale of the changed range, and recording the computed image; and computes changes to the recorded additional information to adjust the additional information to the new scale of the changed range, and records the computed additional information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicants: Furuno Electric Company, Limited, MaxSea International S.A.S.
    Inventors: Brice Pryszo, Iker Pryszo, Mathieu Jacquinot, Olivier Robin, Makoto Obuchi, Koji Tokuda
  • Publication number: 20090051583
    Abstract: Radar display methods and systems include a display processing apparatus that includes a central processing unit and a programmable graphics processing unit. A rendering function program executable by the programmable graphics processing unit under control of the central processing unit generates a plurality of sequential display image frames for use in displaying at least a radar image on a display (e.g., by applying a decaying function to an accumulated radar history image frame and updating the accumulated radar history image frame).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Martin J. Andrusiak, Scott J. Benjamin, John L. Gohman, Kenneth D. Dunne
  • Patent number: 7489267
    Abstract: A radar device is realized in which an object and extraneous waves such as radar interference or white noise are distinguished and displayed in different display forms. Subtraction Flag Generator 6 determines the time-wise continuity and the planar consecutiveness of target echo data. The time-wise continuity is an amount that indicates the extent to which significant echo data continued to be present at the same position, and is obtained from the echo data of a past predetermined number of sweep rotations. Planar consecutiveness indicates the extent to which significant echo data is present around target echo data, and is obtained by acquiring in a planar fashion echo data for each of predetermined amounts in a distance direction and a heading direction, centered around the target echo data. When Subtraction Flag Generator 6 detects that there is either of time-wise continuity and planar consecutiveness, Subtraction Flag Generator 6 attaches a subtraction flag “1”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Kojima, Takumi Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 7456779
    Abstract: A 3D rendered image of a radar-scanned terrain surface is provided from a radar return signal from the surface, wherein the return signal includes data indicative of azimuth, elevation, and range of a radar-illuminated area of the surface. The data are processed for transformation into X, Y, and Z coordinates. The X and Y coordinates corresponding to each illuminated area are triangulated so as to create a mesh of triangles representing the terrain surface, each of the triangles in the mesh being defined by a vertex triplet. 3D imaging information (grey scale shading and/or coloring information) is added to each triangle in the mesh, based on the amplitude of the radar return signal from the coordinates represented by each vertex in the triplet and the value of the Z coordinate at each vertex, so as to form the 3D rendered image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Sierra Nevada Corporation
    Inventors: Jack Cross, Theodore Bosworth, Craig Chapman, David Howard
  • Publication number: 20080191931
    Abstract: A computer program which plots radar video data generated by a seeker on a missile. The program allows a user to plot multiple scans of radar video data on a chart, which is obtained from a Data Worksheet. The chart displays one or more sets of radar video data scans and a detection gate plot for each radar video data scan. The program includes Zoom In, Zoom Out, Pan Left and Pan Right functions which allow the user to view and manipulate views of the data displayed by the chart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventor: Christian L. Houlberg
  • Patent number: 7327309
    Abstract: A method transforms an image from polar coordinates into Cartesian coordinates. Therefore, the target image in Cartesian coordinates is subdivided into triangles defined by the vertices given in Cartesian coordinates. The respective polar coordinates are coded into attributes and these attributes are attached to each vertex. The attributes of any coordinates within the triangle are calculated by performing a bilinear interpolation on a graphics card and the polar coordinates are calculated from these attributes. Finally, the characteristics of the coordinates of the image in polar coordinates are transferred to the corresponding coordinates of the target image given in Cartesian coordinates. A method also consistently displays single ore multiple radar scan images with additional geographical data in one display plane. These methods may be performed by a computer program and implemented in a radar scan converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Barco Orthogon GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Wimmer
  • Patent number: 7274325
    Abstract: A method of spatial transformation, such as scan conversion, uses a packed data table. The raw data and the data table are read sequentially, and the resulting image is computed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Ultrasonix Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Fattah, Laurent Pelissier, Kris Dickie
  • Patent number: 7268725
    Abstract: An angular scan interval may be divided into one or more sweep sectors for display. Polar (r, ?) coordinates may be calculated for rectangular (x, y) coordinates at each pixel of a display interval by computing polar (r, ?) coordinates in an interval of 0 to ?/4 and by applying mapping equation sets. Bounds of a block of polar radar (, ?) coordinates that map to a given (x, y) coordinate may be computed. A mechanism to associate the bounds of the block in polar radar (, ?) coordinates and the rectangular (x, y) coordinates may be created. Bounds associated with the x-coordinate in a sweep sector may be calculated. A maximum of the x-coordinate bounds to xmax and a minimum to xmin may be assigned accordingly. Bounds associated with the y-coordinate in the sweep sector may be calculated for each x-coordinate. A maximum of the bounds of the y-coordinate to ymax and a minimum to ymin may be assigned accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Vishnu V. Makkapati, Pravas R. Mahapatra
  • Patent number: 7161531
    Abstract: A scan conversion is provided which allows the scan converter to work with data in its most convenient format in a radar memory. A displayable image is mirrored to a graphics memory simultaneously with the write portion of the radar memory of the scan conversion process. On every write to the radar memory, radar data is simultaneously converted to associated colors by indexing a color look-up table and writing the indexed color to the graphics memory. A simulated phosphor decay for the display is provided by decreasing the intensity of each pixel in the radar memory once each antenna scan and similarly decreasing the intensity of data in corresponding locations in the graphics memory to simulate the decay of a phosphor coated screen in a CRT display. The signals in the graphics memory are coupled to a display at a rate that simulates a display on a phosphor coated screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas G. Beazell
  • Publication number: 20040227660
    Abstract: A method for displaying horizontally aligned characters on a radial display is disclosed. Each range bin for each scan line is associated with a rectangular grid location to determine the character located in the grid location and the background color and foreground color for the grid location. A font matrix corresponding to the appropriate character is then used to determine if the range bin corresponds to one of the pixels that make up the character or if the range bin corresponds to a background pixel. This determines if the range bin is assigned the foreground color or background color. The method is done for each range bin value and for each scan line. The range bin and scan line information is sent to a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Steven Gregory Scott
  • Patent number: 6806825
    Abstract: A radar scan conversion protocol is defined to communicate radar data from application servers to thin clients with reduced network bandwidth requirements. The radar scan conversion protocol may be implemented as an extension to existing thin client protocols. The system is also capable of transmitting audio and video data through the application servers to the thin clients using appropriate compressed formats in order to minimize network bandwidth requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Martin J. Andrusiak, Scott J. Benjamin
  • Publication number: 20030210183
    Abstract: A radar scan conversion protocol is defined to communicate radar data from application servers to thin clients with reduced network bandwidth requirements. The radar scan conversion protocol may be implemented as an extension to existing thin client protocols. The system is also capable of transmitting audio and video data through the application servers to the thin clients using appropriate compressed formats in order to minimize network bandwidth requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Applicant: LOCKHEET MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin J. Andrusiak, Scott J. Benjamin
  • Patent number: 6621451
    Abstract: A radar display system (10) according to the present invention generates textured radar display data by utilizing a direct memory access receiver (12) to receive radially scanned radar data, to convert the radially scanned radar data into range bin data sets, and to store the range bin data sets. A graphics renderer (18) stores the set of range bin data sets in a texture memory (20) as a plurality of rectangular textures, and bit maps the rectangular textures to a series of display triangles in a frame buffer (22). The graphics renderer (18) colors the display triangles in accordance with the rectangular textures by performing a bi-linear interpolation of the color and warps the display triangles in accordance with the size of a display (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Fisher, William R. Hancock, Susan L. McCullough
  • Patent number: 6535178
    Abstract: There is provided an antenna device having a learning function and capable of searching and memorizing wireless frequency bands. A control circuit is used to automatically control the receiving angle and direction of an antenna set. When the strongest frequency band is found by the antenna set, a remote control is used to control the circuit for recording the current angle and direction into a memory unit. Afterwards, a user can directly select a pre-stored band identification number to conveniently adjust the antenna device to have the best receiving angle and direction the corresponding capable of receiving the band, thereby decreasing the time to adjust the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Inventor: Cheng-Si Wang
  • Patent number: 6441775
    Abstract: While received data is stored into a video memory through coordinate conversion, the level of image data is gradually reduced simultaneously with this, by which the image of a target is discriminately displayed readily from among a clutter even without performing adjustment which would conventionally be involved. The radar apparatus is composed of a video memory 6 for successively converting received data from polar to rectangular coordinates along with sweep rotation and storing the data, a FIRST detector for detecting a FIRST so that data write by the coordinate conversion is effected only at a time of FIRST detection, and a subtraction data generator 9 for subtracting a constant value from pixel data of a area designated by a subtraction area designator 14 on the video memory 6 during a period other than FIRSTs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Takumi Fujikawa, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Motoji Kondo
  • Patent number: 6424292
    Abstract: When the range scale has been changed, past target images which have been stored are converted to fit to a new range scale such that the past target images can be displayed in continuity on the new range scale without erasing the previously stored past target images. When the range scale is switched by operating a range selector 24, a controller 23 sets the amount of address shift K2 for a current-image video memory 20 and the amount of address shift K1 for a past-image video memory 21. Data in the past-image video memory 21 are successively read out according to K1 and transferred to the current-image video memory 20 in a first step. During this step, access address of the memory 20 is advanced according to K2. In a second step, the data stored in the current-image video memory 20 is re-transferred back to the past-image video memory 21 according to the re-set amounts of address shift K1 and K2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takumi Fujikawa, Motoji Kondo
  • Patent number: 6404384
    Abstract: A method of spoke filling for radar scan converter and the spoke filling processing unit for the same are provided, the radar scan converter having a buffer, an overlay processor, and the spoke filling processing unit. The spoke filling processing unit comprises a first multiplexer, a second multiplexer, a timing generator, a data storage unit and a finite state machine. The spoke filling processing unit can effectively fill the spokes while avoiding collision occurrence and, through the finite state machine thereof, can control the electrical circuit operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Yon-Ji Tsao, Fu-Min Yeh, Guang-Sheen Liu