Automatic Frequency Control (afc) Patents (Class 342/199)
  • Patent number: 11054520
    Abstract: A transducer system with transducer and circuitry for applying a pulse train at a single frequency to excite the transducer. The transducer is operable to receive an echo waveform in response to the pulse train. The system also comprises circuitry for determining a time of flight as between a first reference time associated with the pulse train and a second reference time associated with the echo waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Yuming Zhu, Srinath Ramaswamy, Domingo Garcia, Sujeet Milind Patole
  • Patent number: 10298213
    Abstract: A tunable frequency transmission line pulse forming network circuit for forming a waveform having a spectral content. The pulse forming network circuit comprises a dielectric material; a ground section; a stepped shaped charged section, with the charged section having a plurality of stages including a first stage; a power supply coupled to the pulse forming network circuit for charging the pulse forming network circuit; a switch coupled to the pulse forming network circuit for periodically discharging the pulse forming network circuit; and an antenna coupled to the pulse forming network circuit for propagating a high-power microwave signal from the pulse forming network circuit into the environment. At least the first stage of pulse forming network circuit has one of a tunable magnetic material and a nonlinear magnetic which facilitates adjusting the waveform and the spectral content of the waveform emitted by the pulse forming network circuit into the surrounding environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander B. Kozyrev, Simon Y. London
  • Patent number: 9719831
    Abstract: Level measuring device which can compensate the distortions, caused by an STC filter, of the received signal, by measuring a reference signal which passes through the receiving branch and also through the STC filter, during the ongoing operation of the level measuring device or during manufacture. For example, after passing through the receiving branch, this reference signal can be fed to a microprocessor which can calculate the correction values of the IF signal therefrom. A switch can be provided which can switch over between the reference signal and the IF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: VERA GRIESHABER KG
    Inventor: Daniel Schultheiss
  • Patent number: 9013346
    Abstract: A radar system including a switching mode power converter. A pulse radar unit is configured to transmit RF pulses with a pulse repetition frequency. The power converter includes a switching controller that is configured to control at least one switching element. The switching controller is configured to receive a frequency modulated input signal. The modulation frequency of the input signal is configured to be derived from the pulse repetition frequency of the radar unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventor: Bo Nettelbland
  • Patent number: 8937572
    Abstract: A signal generator of an embodiment has an oscillator to generate an oscillation signal controlled in frequency by an analog control signal; a digital phase detector; a first differentiator; and a comparator outputting digital frequency error information. The generator includes a second differentiator differentiating the frequency setting code to generate a gain value and an inverse number of the gain value; a first multiplier multiplying the digital frequency error information by the gain value, a low-pass filter removing a high frequency component in a multiplication result, and a second multiplier multiplying an output of the low-pass filter by the inverse number. The generator includes a D/A converter converting a multiplication result into analog frequency error information, and an integrator converting the analog frequency error information into analog phase error information to output the analog phase error information as the analog control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yuka Kobayashi, Hiroki Sakurai
  • Patent number: 8712360
    Abstract: A system includes a first clock module, a global positioning system (GPS) module, a phase-locked loop (PLL) module, a cellular transceiver, and a baseband module. The first clock module generates a first clock reference. The GPS module operates in response to the first clock reference. The WLAN module operates in response to the first clock reference. The PLL module generates a second clock reference by performing automatic frequency correction (AFC) on the first clock reference in response to an AFC signal. The cellular transceiver receives radio frequency signals from a wireless medium and generates baseband signals in response to the received radio frequency signals. The baseband module receives the baseband signals, operates in response to a selected one of the first clock reference and the second clock reference, and generates the AFC signal in response to the baseband signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Gregory Uehara, Alexander Zaslavsky, Brian T. Brunn
  • Patent number: 8532600
    Abstract: A system includes a first clock module, a global positioning system (GPS) module, a phase-locked loop (PLL) module, a cellular transceiver, and a baseband module. The first clock module generates a first clock reference. The GPS module operates in response to the first clock reference. The WLAN module operates in response to the first clock reference. The PLL module generates a second clock reference by performing automatic frequency correction (AFC) on the first clock reference in response to an AFC signal. The cellular transceiver receives radio frequency signals from a wireless medium and generates baseband signals in response to the received radio frequency signals. The baseband module receives the baseband signals, operates in response to a selected one of the first clock reference and the second clock reference, and generates the AFC signal in response to the baseband signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Gregory Uehara, Alexander Zaslavsky, Brian Brunn
  • Patent number: 8385482
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in connection with wireless communication to adjust the frequency of an oscillator to synchronize with a received signal by correlating a synchronization code channel with training sequences to estimate relative offsets which are employed to estimate an error, which is then filtered. The filtered output preferably provides a voltage controlling a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The same technique may be employed to control a numeric controlled oscillator (NCO).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Alpaslan Demir
  • Patent number: 8325085
    Abstract: A method and system are described whereby a magnetron-based radar transmission signal is accurately measured, allowing for measurement of absolute phase change returns from fixed clutter targets caused by changes in the refractive index of the transmission medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence
    Inventor: Timothy Darlington
  • Patent number: 8301098
    Abstract: A system comprises a first clock module configured to generate a first clock reference that is not corrected using automatic frequency correction (AFC). A global position system (GPS) module is configured to receive the first clock reference. An integrated circuit for a cellular transceiver includes a system phase lock loop configured to receive the first clock reference, to perform AFC, and to generate a second clock reference that is AFC corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventors: Gregory Uehara, Alexander Zaslavsky, Brian Brunn
  • Patent number: 8149963
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in connection with wireless communication to adjust the frequency of an oscillator to synchronize with a received signal by correlating a synchronization code channel with training sequences to estimate relative offsets which are employed to estimate an error, which is then filtered. The filtered output preferably provides a voltage controlling a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The same technique may be employed to control a numeric controlled oscillator (NCO).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Alpaslan Demir
  • Publication number: 20110043401
    Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator circuit comprises an output terminal for providing an oscillatory output signal thereat, a first inductor, a varactor, and a negative-resistance element. The varactor's capacitance is a function of a tuning potential applied at a first terminal of the varactor. A bias branch is present for coupling a second terminal of the varactor to a bias potential. The bias branch comprises a second inductor or a transmission line. The bias branch may comprise a transmission line the length of which is one quarter wavelength associated with the resonance frequency of the voltage-controlled oscillator circuit. A radar system including a VCO circuit is further disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Hao Li
  • Publication number: 20100052976
    Abstract: A method and system are described whereby a magnetron-based radar transmission signal is accurately measured, allowing for measurement of absolute phase change returns from fixed clutter targets caused by changes in the refractive index of the transmission medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventor: Timothy Darlington
  • Patent number: 7583224
    Abstract: The portion corresponding to a main bang signal leaking from a transmission/reception switching unit is extracted as a frequency estimation signal from an IF signal from a mixer in a signal extracting unit, a frequency is estimated in a frequency estimating unit, and the frequency of a local oscillation signal of a local oscillator is controlled so that the frequency of the IF signal is equal to a target value. The frequency estimation in the frequency estimating unit is carried out by using Discrete Fourier Transform or Fast Fourier Transform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Nakahama, Yoshihiro Ishii, Katsuyuki Yanagi, Koji Dai
  • Patent number: 7551988
    Abstract: A designated function or “golden” slot for implementing and managing re-configurable SDR modules is provided. In an embodiment, the slot includes at least one radio frequency (RF) front end for providing an interface with at least one antenna. In addition, the slot may include at least one slot modem coupled to the RF front end for implementing at least one designated function and at least one input/output (I/O) module coupled to the slot modem. The designated function or “golden” slot is capable of implementing and managing the at least one designated function in a re-configurable module during standard and emergency operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel M. Wichgers, Demetri Tsamis, Terrence L. Leier, Gregory A. Arundale
  • Patent number: 7446699
    Abstract: A feedback loop corrects timing errors by reducing deviations from a constant radar sweep rate. Errors are detected and fed back to a phase corrector in a high gain feedback system. A precision radar rangefinder can be implemented with a direct digital synthesizer (DDS) that includes feedback error correction for reducing range errors by, for example, 100 times, or to 0.1 mm. An error-corrected DDS swept timing system can enable a new generation of highly flexible, repeatable and accurate radar, laser and guided wave rangefinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas Edward McEwan
  • Patent number: 7412013
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in connection with wireless communication to adjust the frequency of an oscillator to synchronize with a received signal by correlating a synchronization code channel with training sequences to estimate positive and negative offsets which are employed to estimate an error, which is then filtered. The filtered output preferably provides a voltage controlling a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The same technique may be employed to control a numeric controlled oscillator (NCO).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Alpaslan Demir
  • Patent number: 7355484
    Abstract: An oscillator and a radar apparatus that includes a resonator electro-magnetically connected to a micro strip line and a rotor connected to the resonator by capacitance. The bottom surface of the rotor has a changing height in the circumferential direction of the rotor. As the rotor is rotated, an actual oscillation frequency is recognized from the rotating angle of the rotor when an output of a detector has a peak. A modulation voltage supplied to a VCO is corrected in accordance with the result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takatoshi Kato, Toru Ishii
  • Patent number: 7340280
    Abstract: A base station and a method of configuring a base station are provided in a cellular telecommunication system, wherein the base station comprises an electrically tunable duplex filter with a tuning range covering at least two parallel sub-bands used in the telecommunication system. The electrically tunable duplex filter is tunable on site to a sub-band allocated to the base station, thus enabling an increased flexibility in selecting a fixed frequency band to be used in the lower frequency stages in the transceiver and the base band parts of the base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Kari Niemelä, Timo Ahonpää, Jari Junell, Niko Kiukkonen
  • Patent number: 7236547
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for adjusting the frequency of a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) at a receiver to synchronize the receiver with the transmitter by correlating a synchronization code channel with training sequences to estimate positive and negative offsets which are employed to estimate an error, which is then filtered. The filter output provides voltage controlling the VCO. The same technique may be employed to control a numeric controlled oscillator (NCO).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Alpaslan Demir
  • Patent number: 7187732
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for adjusting the frequency of a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) at a receiver to synchronize the receiver with the transmitter by correlating a synchronization code channel with training sequences to estimate positive and negative offsets which are employed to estimate an error, which is then filtered. The filter output provides voltage controlling the VCO. The same technique may be employed to control a numeric controlled oscillator (NCO).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: InterDigital Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Alpaslan Demir
  • Patent number: 7019684
    Abstract: An arrangement for reducing the effect of vibration-induced changes in phase of the first local oscillator in a tracking receiver wherein final detection is accomplished by a synchronous detector in a phase lock loop incorporating a voltage-controlled oscillator is shown to include a differentiator providing a control signal whenever a vibration-induced change occurs, such control signal being applied to cause the time taken for the voltage-controlled oscillator to regain proper phase is reduced to a minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: George R. Spencer, Walter J. Hicks
  • Patent number: 6630903
    Abstract: A power regulator regulates the power provided to a transistor-based circuit, such as that which might be employed in a high stability MTI radar system. According to the invention, a variable reference voltage is controlled based on the frequency of operation. The output voltage of the power regulator is then modified accordingly. Preferably, the reference voltage is controlled based on the location of the target frequency in relation to the overall operational frequency band, which has been divided into a series of sub-bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Eugene Hann, James John Polston
  • Publication number: 20030174087
    Abstract: A doppler radar device having comparing means 142 for comparing the level of pulse signal to be transmitted, sampled through a burst gate, with a predetermined threshold value and search means 143 for changing a set position of the gate, wherein a timing of oscillating the pulse signal is monitored and tracked to fix “range 0” by shifting a timing for triggering transmission of the pulse signal in consideration of a deviation of the timing of oscillating the pulse signal and a jitter value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Yabugaki
  • Patent number: 6597308
    Abstract: A modulation signal generation circuit performs frequency modulation of a VCO with a triangular wave for operation as an FM-CW radar. A signal processing circuit gives a modulation signal for detection generated from the modulation signal generation circuit to the VCO. A high-frequency signal subjected to frequency modulation in the VCO is transmitted as a radio wave from a transmission antenna and is reflected on a target and the reflected radio wave is received at a reception antenna. The reception signal and the high-frequency signal are mixed by a mixer to provide a beat signal and frequency shift corresponding to a voltage V1 is detected from the frequency of the beat signal. If the voltage V1 of the modulation signal for detection is switched, the frequency shift corresponding to different voltage V1 can be provided and the frequency modulation characteristic can be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventor: Osamu Isaji
  • Patent number: 6577270
    Abstract: A compact millimeter wave radar transceiver at low cost is provided wherein a direct current voltage applying circuit is coupled to a high frequency line to apply a fast pulse wave without losing a sharp input pulse pattern. A voltage is applied to a negative resistance diode, such as a Gunn diode, which is variably controlled to vary the diode oscillating frequency signal, which signal is outputted as a transmitting wave. The transmitted wave is reflected by a target and received by the negative resistance diode. The received wave is detected as a heterodyne detection utilizing a non-linear property of the negative resistance diode. A frequency difference between the transmitted wave and the received reflected wave is outputted via a low-pass filter and processed to detect the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Kanechika, Fumio Kubo
  • Patent number: 6532271
    Abstract: Method and system for carrier recovery and estimation of Doppler shift from a signal source that is moving relative to a signal receiver. A pure carrier preamble for the received signal is processed through each of two stages of a linear predictor to obtain a successively more accurate estimation of a Doppler frequency offset for the carrier. The received signal is downconverted by each stage estimation of the Doppler frequency offset, and the downconverted signal is processed through a decision feedback phase locked loop to provide a signal in which substantially all of the Doppler offset and/or phase angle are identified and removed. The system has low complexity, is fast, and is accurate to within an estimated few tens of Hertz and will work with signals having relatively low signal-to-noise ratios. The invention is useful for receipt of signals from satellites in low earth orbits (LEOs) and other non-geosynchronous orbits, and wherever a transmitter and receiver are moving relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Syang-Myau Hwang, Lin Yang, Mao Yu, Gibong Jeong
  • Patent number: 6147560
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and devices for such control and supervision of an oscillator signal from a controllable oscillator that is done mainly to control the frequency variation of the oscillator signal. According to the invention, the controllable oscillator is controlled by a controlling voltage, which in turn is modified by a correction signal, generated in a control loop. A time discrete representation of a secondary phase is generated in the control loop, the secondary phase corresponding to a frequency being the difference between the frequency of the oscillator signal and a constant frequency. A time discrete approximation signal is generated in dependence of the time discrete representation of the secondary phase. A time discrete error signal is generated in dependence of the time discrete approximation signal, the time discrete error signal indicating the difference between the actual frequency slope of the oscillator signal and a desired frequency slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolget LM Ericsson
    Inventors: Lars I. Erhage, Osten E. Erikmats, Svenolov Rizell, H.ang.kan L. Karlsson
  • Patent number: 6072427
    Abstract: Two crystal oscillators are configured as a "plug-and-play" precision transmit-receive clock that requires no calibration during manufacture. A first crystal oscillator generates a transmit clock and a second crystal oscillator operates at a small offset from a harmonic of the first oscillator. A turnstile circuit selects pulses from the second oscillator to trigger a receive clock. Both the transmit and receive clocks operate at the same frequency. One edge of the receive clock is smoothly slipped, or swept, in phase across a limited range such as 0 to 36 degrees relative to the transmit clock with the slip rate set by the harmonic frequency offset. In one embodiment, a quadrature frequency-locked-loop is used to accurately control the slip rate while preventing false frequency locks. This timebase can be used to clock equivalent time radar, laser, and TDR ranging systems with picosecond accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Inventor: Thomas E. McEwan
  • Patent number: 6057798
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for frequency modulating a continuous wave signal is shown to comprise a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) having a first and a second control loop to maintain the carrier frequency of such VCO at a frequency determined by a crystal-controlled oscillator and to maintain the peak deviation of the FM modulation on such carrier frequency at a value equal to the deviation of the first Bessel null from the carrier frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Richard W. Burrier, James T. Hanson
  • Patent number: 5790068
    Abstract: An automatic frequency control loop for maintaining a center carrier freqcy fed to a notch filter for blocking out system reverberation includes, along with the conventional elements found in an automatic frequency control loop, a control switching circuit responsive to excessive frequency deviations beyond a predetermined range as established in the AFC loop. Such excessive deviations are likely present during the time when little, if any, reverberation energy is received by a receiver carried on a moving platform, or, when signals originating from high energy level sources of countermeasure energy are being received. An interposed, selective device is included in the control switching circuit to permit operation in one of several modes as the situation demands. Including the control switching circuit in an active homing torpedo is the preferred application, although the teachings of the invention are applicable to all situations when own doppler nullification and reverberation damping is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1970
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Milton W. Musbach, Howard A. Roberson
  • Patent number: 5751195
    Abstract: A lock detection circuit for a phase lock loop circuit having a phase lock loop circuit, generally a series circuit of a detector, a filter and a VCO with a PLL input terminal and an output terminal. A test circuit is coupled to the phase lock loop and includes a signal generator responsive to the presence of an input signal on the input terminal to inject a test signal into the phase lock loop. The signal generator is preferably a low frequency oscillator wherein the term "low" is defined to mean any frequency from a few hertz up to gigahertz and generally a few kilohertz, as long as this frequency is at least about an order of magnitude less than the frequencies to be encountered at the RF input to the PLL. The signal generated by the signal generator is compared with the signal injected into the phase lock loop which is generally injected ahead of the loop filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incopprporated
    Inventor: Michael F. Black
  • Patent number: 5694132
    Abstract: Apparatus for linearizing the sweep frequency output of an FMCW radar employing a voltage controlled oscillator includes means for comparing a series of reference voltages sequentially with the instantaeous oscillator drive voltge, accumulating the individual resultant error voltages throughout successive sweep cycles, sequentially converting the individual accumulated voltages to exponential form and feeding the exponential voltages back into the drive circuit for the VCO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Alliant Defense Electronics Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5654716
    Abstract: A low cost automatic frequency control system measures short duration radio frequencies with high a degree of accuracy within 0.5 MHz. The system is programmable to allow applicability over a wide range of frequencies within the required accuracy and various signal durations. The system includes circuits to digitize the source signal to a digital pulse train and asynchronously sample the pulse train to obtain a count of the positive edges of the pulses over a sufficient number of samples. A microprocessor computes the statistical average of the count and accurately determines the frequency of the source signal. The system further includes a feedback path to implement correction to the source signal based on the measured frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Mark J. Donovan, James C. Patrikis, Irl W. Smith
  • Patent number: 5497402
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic frequency control device and an automatic gain control device which have the advantage of improving the efficiency of a system with very low signal-to-noise ratio by compensating for frequency error generated at the local oscillator of a satellite or on the receive paths by demodulating the modulated signal continuously sent out from a transmit earth station for transmitting information without using the separate pilot frequency at a receive terminal of a receive earth station and locking at local oscillator of a frequency downconverter to a voltage controlled oscillator tracking an error after detecting a phase error of a carrier by using demodulated data, by compensating the frequency error due to Doppler frequency deviation by locking a local oscillator of a frequency upconverter to a voltage controlled oscillator tracking a phase change according to Doppler frequency deviation included in the clock after recovering the clock from the demodulated data, and by c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignees: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Korea Telecommunications Authorities
    Inventors: Cheol S. Pyo, Jin H. Jo, Jae I. Choi
  • Patent number: 5408239
    Abstract: In a GPS receiver which searches for a satellite radio wave over a predetermined search bandwidth while setting a search center frequency f.sub.s to a start point, an offset value of .DELTA.f.sub.osc of an oscillator calculated last when a power source of the receiver is turned off upon completion of the position measurement is stored as a backup value into a memory. When the power source of the receiver is turned on at the next position measurement, the backup offset value .DELTA.f.sub.osc is read out and an initial search bandwidth W.sub.0 at the start of the position measurement is set in accordance with the magnitude of the offset value. According to another feature, when the offset value of the oscillator calculated during the position measurement exceeds a predetermined reference value, a time point of the calculation is backed up into a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Endo
  • Patent number: 5151703
    Abstract: The frequency of a variable frequency oscillator in a pulsed radar is adjusted using samples of an IF signal. An initial frequency adjustment is made using a sample taken during RF transmission. This initial adjustment contains an inaccuracy introduced by the magnetron's activity. An additional adjustment is made using temperature dependent values stored in a memory. Yet another adjustment is made during the radar's receive time using signals reflected by targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Mark G. Roos
  • Patent number: 5107272
    Abstract: A radar transmitter chain employing injection locked oscillator, e.g., a magnetron, as an output stage. Problems arise with maintaining the injection locking bandwidth centered on the radar source transmit frequency. This alignment is maintained by allowing the magnetron (38) free running frequency to drift, along with its injection locking bandwidth and then to force the radar source frequency (30) to follow the magnetron frequency. A phase difference measurement (44) between the injection signal (35) and the magnetron output signal (37) provides the control for a feedback loop (60) which may control a tunable VCO (48) or selection from a bank of fixed frequency oscillators (78).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: The Marconi Company Limited
    Inventors: David W. Joynson, Ian J. White
  • Patent number: 4983978
    Abstract: A multi-frequency comb generator (2-4; FIG. 1) for radar and the like using a feedback loop through a frequency multiplier, such as for example, a doubler (3). A reference or master oscillator output goes through a directional coupler (2), for example, a ten dB coupler with twenty dB directivity, to the frequency doubler and then an amplifier (4). The amplifier output is superposed on the reference oscillator output (1) and is applied to the input of the doubler. Frequency doublers, when driven by multiple frequencies, cross modulate and generate sum and difference frequencies, which in going around the loop are fed back to the input, resulting in a comb of frequencies (5). As part of the frequency selecting section of a radar exciter (FIG. 2) the comb of frequencies and the output of a parallel frequency multiplier (8) are fed to a mixer (7), and the mixer's output, along with the coupled output ("N.times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Samuel Levinson
  • Patent number: 4982195
    Abstract: A frequency input for receiving a frequency signal and digital storing for storing the received frequency signal. A controller has a first and second input and an output. The first input is connected to the digital storage for providing a reference signal and the output provides a frequency control signal. The second input is connected to circuitry for changing the operation mode of the controller to either an amplifier or an integratory. As an amplifier, a digitally set offset and gain is applied to the amplifier for providing an output generating approximately the frequency of a prior signal. A switch connects the frequency output to the second input when operating in the integrating mode to control the output for generating a desired frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Tideland Signal Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Olivenbaum, Mark C. Fischer
  • Patent number: 4823133
    Abstract: The invention relates to a radar system comprising a transmitter with a periodically tunable HF-transmitter tube, as a magnetron with rotating tuning body, and a receiver with a mixing stage, in which echo pulses caused by transmitted radar pulses are mixed with the output signal from a local oscillator, whose frequency can be controlled. During transmission the tuning frequency of the transmitter tube is varied periodically and in an interval before triggering the local oscillator is "slaved" to the transmitter tube, so that the local oscillator frequency follows the variations in the tuning frequency. In the triggering moment the local oscillator is locked in frequency to the value prevailing in the triggering moment. According to the invention this system is combined with a frequency predicting circuit, which mainly consists of a comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Kjell S. Anflo, Jan W. I. Grabs, Roland H. Ivarsson
  • Patent number: 4809004
    Abstract: The invention comprises a weather radar system in which a magnetron transmitter is controlled in frequency by injecting therein a low power locking signal from a stable frequency source. Frequency lock between the source and the magnetron is maintained without requiring injection signals of excessive power by an automatic frequency control (AFC). The AFC determines the frequency and phase error between the injection signal and the magnetron output and adjusts the frequency of the source so as always to be within a narrow band of frequencies centered about the natural frequency of the magnetron. Over the long term, therefore, the frequency of the source will vary by an amount equal to the change in the natural frequency of the magnetron occurring during that time. Over the short term, however, the difference in frequency between the injection signal and the magnetron output is zero, while the phase difference is less than 90.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Ruy L. Brandao, Henri Baran, Arezki Manseur, Steven R. Sweet
  • Patent number: 4626856
    Abstract: A radar correcting system has features for providing a corrected radar receiver reflection to a Doppler process unit. The corrected receiver pulse accounts for variances in phase, amplitude and frequency of the transmit pulses. The system has a phase detector that detects the phase difference between a stable oscillator and the transmit signal, providing a complex video or real and imaginary outputs. An operator that will normalize the transmit pulse is determined. The operator is applied to the reflections received by the receiver antenna to remove from the reflections any vagaries due to varieties in the transmit pulses. The data proceeding to the processor deals only with the objects causing the radar reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Willis A. Pierson, James D. Hill, Vedon W. Otto