Transmission Through Media Other Than Air Or Free Space Patents (Class 342/22)
  • Patent number: 8908007
    Abstract: A transmission device includes an image capturing part that captures a subject and generates a plurality of temporally successive frame images, an analyzer that analyzes a size of a motion of the subject by use of at least two or more of the frame images, a viewing condition receiver that receives viewing conditions from a reception device, and a network bandwidth measurement part that measures a congestion degree of a network. The transmission device further includes a controller that controls a data volume of the plurality of frame images based on the size of the motion of the subject, the viewing conditions, and the congestion degree of the network, to determine a predetermined parameter for encoding, an encoder that encodes the plurality of frame images based on the predetermined parameter, and a transmitter that transmits the plurality of encoded frame images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Taiho Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8902099
    Abstract: A Work Area Monitor comprising a radar module mounted on a motorised vehicle. The Work Area Monitor provides early warning of slope failure in a work area by generating an alarm if movement detected in movement data derived from interferometrically processed radar images exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Groundprobe Pty Ltd
    Inventors: David Noon, Patrick T. Bellett
  • Patent number: 8890745
    Abstract: A method of detecting an object includes receiving first reflected radio frequency (RF) signals from a region using an antenna and generating a first backscattering signature of the region from the first reflected RF signals. The method further includes receiving second reflected RF signals from the region subsequent to receiving the first reflected RF signals and generating at least one second backscattering signature of the region from the second reflected RF signals. The method further includes detecting a difference between the first backscattering signature and the second backscattering signature, and providing a warning indication in response to the difference between the first backscattering signature and the second backscattering signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Gary Fred Wahlquist, Kuang-Yuh Wu
  • Patent number: 8884806
    Abstract: A subterranean radar array system and method for imaging a subterranean target area. In one example, the subterranean radar array includes a plurality of radar chains disposed in a plurality of underground columns, each radar chain including a plurality of radar units forming the plurality of radar chains and at least one processor coupled to a corresponding at least one of the plurality of radar chains and configured to generate an image of a subterranean target area from signals received from the at least one radar chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: John Louis Tomich, Raymond Samaniego, Jerry Michael Grimm, Leslie Alexander Priebe, Hyong Eall Bang
  • Patent number: 8884807
    Abstract: A system and method for pseudo real time collection of receive signal data in a single- or multi-channel ground penetrating radar. Each channel transmits electromagnetic impulses into a medium under test during each of a plurality of runs over the medium. Run receive signals are received in response to the transmitted impulses. Each run receive signal is sampled multiple times at a run sample rate. The sample points of each run are delayed by delay sequences with respect to the sample points of the other runs. The sample points of the individual runs are stored as a composite set of sample points representative of a receive signal sampled at an effective sample rate equal to a multiple of the run sample rate where the multiple is the number of runs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Malå Geoscience USA
    Inventors: Bernth A. T. Johansson, Johan Gustaf Friborg
  • Patent number: 8884805
    Abstract: A system comprises a radar transmitter configured to generate a radar signal at a predetermined frequency and a radar receiver configured to receive a reflected signal produced by a reflection of the radar signal. The system further includes a radar antenna system configured to transmit the radar signal into a subterranean region and to receive the reflected signal from the subterranean region. A control system is used for controlling a dwell time of the radar antenna system, and a processor is adapted to generate an image of at least a portion of the subterranean region based at least in part on the reflected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: John L. Tomich, Raymond Samaniego, Enrique A. Santiago, Leslie A. Priebe
  • Publication number: 20140320331
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for scanning articles, such as footwear, to provide information regarding the contents of the articles are described. According to one aspect, a footwear scanning system includes a platform configured to contact footwear to be scanned, an antenna array configured to transmit electromagnetic waves through the platform into the footwear and to receive electromagnetic waves from the footwear and the platform, a transceiver coupled with antennas of the antenna array and configured to apply electrical signals to at least one of the antennas to generate the transmitted electromagnetic waves and to receive electrical signals from at least another of the antennas corresponding to the electromagnetic waves received by the others of the antennas, and processing circuitry configured to process the received electrical signals from the transceiver to provide information regarding contents within the footwear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Justin L. Fernandes, Douglas L. McMakin, David M. Sheen, Jonathan R. Tedeschi
  • Patent number: 8872697
    Abstract: The present invention uses a Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) architecture to form real time 3D radar images recorded in cylindrical near field scenarios using a wavefront reconstruction approach. A novel interpolation approach is executed in parallel, significantly reducing the reconstruction time without compromising the spatial accuracy and signal to noise ratios of the resulting images. Since each point in the problem space can be processed independently, the proposed technique was implemented using an approach on a General Purpose Graphics Processing Unit (GPGPU) to take advantage of the high performance computing capabilities of this platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel Flores Tapia, Stephen Pistorius
  • Publication number: 20140306839
    Abstract: An automatic frequency control is used to keep a continuous wave (CW) transmission tuned to the resonant frequency of a resonant microwave patch antenna (RMPA). Changes in loading and the bulk dielectric constant of the mixed media in front of the RMPA will affect its resonant frequency and input impedance. A significant shift in the measured input impedance is interpreted as an object moving nearby, and the phase angle of the measured input impedance is used to estimate the direction of an object's movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventor: Larry G. Stolarczyk
  • Publication number: 20140300503
    Abstract: A millimeter wave energy sensing wand includes a housing adapted to be grasped by a hand of an operator. A number of sensors may be coupled with the housing and include comprising at least one millimeter or terahertz wave energy sensor. A controller coupled with the housing and electrically coupled with the sensors receives signals from the sensors in two or more sensing modes, including an active sending mode and a passive sensing mode, and generates feedback when an anomaly is detected in the received signals. The sensors may also operate in a metal detection sensing mode, and the controller may further generate feedback based on the metal detection sensing mode. The sensors may further be configured to operate in a proximity sensing mode. One or more LEDs may illuminate a portion of a scanning area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: MICROSEMI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert Patrick Daly
  • Publication number: 20140300502
    Abstract: A millimeter wave energy sensing wand is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the wand includes a housing adapted to be grasped by a hand of an operator, at least one pixel contained within the housing, where the at least one pixel adapted to detect millimeter or terahertz wave energy emissions, and an alarm, where the alarm is activated when an anomaly of the millimeter wave energy emissions is detected. In addition, the wand may include a digital signal processor for processing millimeter wave emissions detected by the at least one pixel to determine millimeter wave energy values and a memory device for storing the millimeter wave energy values. A comparison module or other similar means may be used for comparing the millimeter wave energy values detected by the at least one pixel to a background millimeter wave energy value that may be a moving average or an absolute value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventor: Robert Patrick Daly
  • Patent number: 8854247
    Abstract: A hybrid ground penetrating radar (GPR)/metal detector (MD) head includes a V-dipole GPR antenna and transmit and receive MD coils. One of the MD coils is arranged in a quadrupole configuration with a crossbar, and the V-dipole antenna is perpendicular to the crossbar. The legs of the V-dipole antenna may straddle the crossbar or may be on one side of the crossbar. The MD coils may be fabricated on a printed circuit board, which may be at a non-normal angle with respect to a central axis of the V-dipole antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: NIITEK, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Etebari, Jason Wolfson, Brian A. Whaley, Mark Hibbard
  • Patent number: 8854249
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting the presence of subsurface objects within a medium is provided. In some embodiments, the imaging and detection system operates in a multistatic mode to collect radar return signals generated by an array of transceiver antenna pairs that is positioned across the surface and that travels down the surface. The imaging and detection system pre-processes the return signal to suppress certain undesirable effects. The imaging and detection system then generates synthetic aperture radar images from real aperture radar images generated from the pre-processed return signal. The imaging and detection system then post-processes the synthetic aperture radar images to improve detection of subsurface objects. The imaging and detection system identifies peaks in the energy levels of the post-processed image frame, which indicates the presence of a subsurface object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: David W. Paglieroni, N. Reginald Beer
  • Patent number: 8854248
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting the presence of subsurface objects within a medium is provided. In some embodiments, the imaging and detection system operates in a multistatic mode to collect radar return signals generated by an array of transceiver antenna pairs that is positioned across the surface and that travels down the surface. The imaging and detection system pre-processes the return signal to suppress certain undesirable effects. The imaging and detection system then generates synthetic aperture radar images from real aperture radar images generated from the pre-processed return signal. The imaging and detection system then post-processes the synthetic aperture radar images to improve detection of subsurface objects. The imaging and detection system identifies peaks in the energy levels of the post-processed image frame, which indicates the presence of a subsurface object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: David W. Paglieroni, N. Reginald Beer, Steven W. Bond, Philip L. Top, David H. Chambers, Jeffrey E. Mast, John G. Donetti, Blake C. Mason, Steven M. Jones
  • Publication number: 20140297343
    Abstract: A method and system for collecting information related to utility assets include determining a position of an underground utility asset by a location determining device; in substantially real time and by one or more processors, integrating location data from a GPS receiver with the determined position of the underground utility asset to provide information about depth, longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates of the position of the underground utility asset; adding, by one or more processors, characteristics of the underground utility asset including a size of the underground utility asset, to the integrated data to generate one or more data records for the underground utility asset including the information about depth, longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates of the position of the underground utility asset; in substantially real time, integrating landbase data with the one or more data records for the underground utility asset; and in substantially real time, displaying a scrolling map including the one or
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Page Tucker, Lee Adrian Whitney, III
  • Patent number: 8847813
    Abstract: An unsynchronized acoustic or radio-frequency (RF) computed tomography (CT) imaging system with matched, but independent, continuous wave (CW) transmitters and receivers configured to radiate acoustic or RF transmissions in a plurality of vector paths through solid geologic material. A computer calculates and displays tomographic images constructed from individual acoustic or RF path signal travel time or attenuation measurements logged from registered locations from the CW transmitters and receivers after their being shuttled amongst a number of different transmitter and receiver perspectives available around said geologic material to generate data necessary for computed tomography. Each of the transmitters and receivers include independent unsynchronized crystal oscillators rated at 10-ppm or better frequency uncertainty to produce and to detect CW radio frequency (RF) transmissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Stolar Research Corporation
    Inventors: Igor Bausov, Gerald Stolarczyk, Larry G. Stolarczyk, Tito Sanchez, Joseph Duncan
  • Patent number: 8842035
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an extendable wand, and a sensor head coupled to the wand. The sensor head includes a continuous wave metal detector (CWMD) and a radar. When the wand is collapsed, the wand and the sensor head collapse to fill a volume that is smaller than a volume filled by the sensor head and the wand when the wand is extended. Frequency-domain data from a sensor configured to sense a region is accessed, the frequency-domain data is transformed to generate a time-domain representation of the region, a first model is determined based on the accessed frequency-domain data, a second model is determined based on the generated time-domain representation, the second model being associated with a particular region within the sensed region, and a background model that represents a background of the region is determined based on the first model and the second model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert Duvoisin, III, Juan Antonio Torres-Rosario, Christopher Gary Sentelle, Douglas O. Carlson, Glen A. Holman, Marquette Trishaun
  • Patent number: 8836573
    Abstract: A signal processor (30) for a submillimeter wavelength active radar system (10, 20, 30) processes signals received and downconverted by the radar system, the downconverted signals corresponding to a given pixel of the field of view having time varying amplitude and phase components which have a periodic component which is dependent on content. Information about the content is discriminated from the periodic component. By using phase rather than only amplitude, there is additional information in the downconverted signals. The phase is more sensitive to changes in the content such as objects, background and atmospheric conditions, than amplitude alone. The phase information enables the periodic component to be retained which can be characteristic of the content owing to content flutter, changes in submillimeter standing waves and interference fringes in received reflections of submillimeter illumination if surface layers have a thickness of a number of half wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA
    Inventors: Hiromichi Yanagihara, Mineki Soga, Harald Franz Arno Merkel
  • Patent number: 8829907
    Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a property of an earth formation penetrated by a borehole, the apparatus having: a carrier configured to be conveyed through the borehole; a transmitter disposed at the carrier and configured to transmit electromagnetic energy at a first frequency into the formation; a first antenna disposed at the carrier and configured to receive electromagnetic signals from the formation as a result of the transmitted electromagnetic energy interacting with the formation; and an active filter coupled to the antenna and configured to filter electromagnetic signals received by the antenna to let the electromagnetic signals at the first frequency pass for processing to estimate the property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Jack Signorelli, Sheng Fang, Samuel Bell
  • Patent number: 8823581
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting dangerous objects and substances are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method comprises generating a microwave signal that is reflected by a target to render one or more reflected signals. The one or more reflected signals are received at an antenna array. The one or more reflected signals are converted into digital reflected signals. The microwave signal is converted into a digital signal. The digital reflected signals and the digital signal are processed to determine the three dimensional position of the target. The digital reflected signals and the digital signal are processed to identify the target. The digital reflected signals and the digital signal are processed to determine a state of the target; and determine whether the target a dangerous object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Radical Development Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Kirill Mostov, Kfim Liptsen
  • Publication number: 20140240162
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detects one or more subsurface targets by receiving a reflectivity data from two or more subsurface reflectors using a ground penetrating radar. The two or more subsurface reflectors may include the one or more subsurface targets and a medium surrounding the one or more subsurface targets. An impedance data for the two or more subsurface reflectors is calculated by inverting the reflectivity data using a temporal transmission line model with a “layer-peeling” method. One or more constitutive parameters of the two or more subsurface reflectors are calculated based on the impedance data. The one or more subsurface targets are detected based on a change in the one or more constitutive parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicants: BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM, U.S. ARMY RESEARCH LABRATORY
    Inventors: Patrick S. Debroux, Benjamin C. Flores
  • Publication number: 20140232585
    Abstract: An object detector comprising: a transmitter arranged to generate a transmit signal; a transmit loop antenna, coupled to said transmitter and arranged to radiate said transmit signal; and a receive loop antenna arranged to generate a receive signal from received radio waves; wherein said received radio waves include said radiated transmit signal and, in the presence of objects within range of the device which reradiate said transmit signal, one or more radio waves reradiated by such objects; said receive signal includes a component corresponding to said transmit signal and, in the presence of reradiated radio waves, one or more components corresponding to said reradiated radio waves; and said object detector further comprises a signal detector, coupled to said receive loop antenna and said transmitter, the signal detector arranged to detect changes in the amplitude and/or phase of said receive signal which are due to changes in said components corresponding to said reradiated radio waves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Roke Manor Research Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Keith RICHARDSON, Tony MCDONALD, Julian GANNAWAY
  • Patent number: 8807444
    Abstract: An air conditioning equipment having an in-room unit connected to one end of the refrigerant pipes and an out-room unit connected to the other end of the refrigerant pipes. The air conditioning equipment includes signal coupling portions which are respectively disposed at both end parts of the refrigerant pipes. Each of the signal coupling portions couples an alternating current (AC) control signal to the refrigerant pipes and exhibits a predetermined impedance with respect to an AC electric signal. The configuration of the air conditioning equipment brings forth the advantages that the electrical insulation devices used in the prior art are dispensed with, and the signal transmissions between the in-room unit and the out-room unit can be performed by a simple apparatus configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Higuma, Noriyuki Kushiro, Yoshiaki Koizumi
  • Patent number: 8803727
    Abstract: A method for producing a sensor-supported, synthetic view for landing support of helicopters under brown-out or white-out conditions is provided. A virtual 3-D representation of the landing zone is continuously created from 3-D data of the intended landing zone recorded during the landing approach and a monitoring routine is available to ensure that no 3-D data that was produced under brown-out or white-out conditions is considered in the representation. As soon as the monitoring routine detects that 3-D data has been recorded under brown-out or white-out conditions, an additional radar sensor is activated to continuously produce distance and/or Doppler data of potential objects entering the landing zone, the objects being displayed to a pilot of the landing helicopter in the synthetic view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Muensterer, Matthias Wegner, Peter Kielhorn
  • Publication number: 20140218225
    Abstract: An object detection system (24) is disclosed having a transducer (40, 40?) for detecting buried objects (26). The transducer is encapsulated within a robust, electromagnetically transparent construction (42).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Neven Simicevic, Arun Jaganathan, James L. Montgomery, Jay H. Olson
  • Patent number: 8797208
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an active radar system and a corresponding method. The proposed system comprises at least two transmit antennas that each transmits radiation to a scene as a transmit signal, said transmit signal comprising a series of frequency modulated pulses, at least one receive antenna that receives radiation from said scene as a receive signal, a controller that controls said at least two transmit antennas. The transmissions of the transmit signals are subsequently initiated with time offsets, controlled to be larger than the time delay between transmission of a first transmit signal of said two transmit signals and reception of radiation of said first transmit signal by said at least one receive antenna and to be smaller than the time duration of a complete frequency modulated pulse of said first transmit signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Stirling-Gallacher, Qi Wang
  • Patent number: 8791852
    Abstract: A standoff range, sense-through-obstruction radar system is capable of detecting micro-Doppler, or life form signatures, and movements through obstructions at stand-off ranges and displaying the target information over a live video feed of the area under surveillance. The sense-through-obstruction radar system comprises an antenna assembly that includes a horn antenna and a reflector configured to reflect radio frequency (RF) energy to/from the horn antenna. An antenna pointing assembly supports the antenna assembly. The antenna pointing assembly is configured to move the antenna assembly to point the antenna assembly toward an obstruction. A sensor assembly is mounted to the antenna assembly so that the sensor assembly is aligned with the RF beam formed from the RF energy reflected from the reflector to the horn antenna. The sensor assembly is configured to detect the location of the obstruction and to provide information to assist pointing of the antenna assembly toward the obstruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: VAWD Applied Science and Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Vinh H. Adams, Robert Adams, Wesley H. Dwelly
  • Patent number: 8791851
    Abstract: A hybrid mm-wave imaging system which increases the probability of detection and reduces false alarm rate. The system includes a large array of passive sensors (pixels) to provide an initial coarse picture of the environment and a small array of active sensors in the center of the large array, which is activated only when the initial passive scan detection is positive. The active array, without any mechanical scanning, illuminates the area to detect edges to provide clarity to the detected image, thereby increasing the probability of detection and reducing the false alarm rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Danny Elad, Evgeny Shumaker
  • Patent number: 8786485
    Abstract: Described are a method and system for detecting and locating changes in an underground region. Changes are detected using a mobile coherent change detection ground penetrating radar (GPR). The GPR system is located on a mobile platform that makes two more measurement passes over the same route to acquire GPR images of an underground region at different times. A lateral offset between the GPR images for the two different times is determined and applied to one of the GPR images to generate a GPR shifted image that is spatially aligned with the other GPR image using a correlation process or other technique. A GPR difference image is generated from the GPR shifted image and the other GPR image. The GPR difference image includes data representative of changes to the underground region that occurred between the two measurement passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Masachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Robert George Atkins, Justin John Brooke, Matthew Tyler Cornick, Beijia Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140197979
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the fields of electromagnetic sensing, automatic security screening and contraband detection. The present invention especially relates to an adaptive sensing system, a sensing method and a corresponding computer program product. The adaptive sensing system according to the present invention comprises an optical or infrared camera for generating image information relating to a region of observation, a passive sensor for receiving electromagnetic radiation, an active sensor for emitting and receiving electromagnetic radiation, an image processing unit adapted to detect the presence of human beings and objects other than human beings in the region of observation based on the generated image information and a control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shin SAITO
  • Patent number: 8779966
    Abstract: A system includes: a radar scanner disposed to scan the interior of a container; an interrogator in communication with the scanner; and a processing system in communication with the interrogator, in which the processing system displays information about the interior of the container. A method includes: mounting a radar scanner antenna to a container so as to scan the interior of the container; connecting a coupler to the scanner so that the scanner communicates scanning data via the coupler to the exterior of the container. Another method includes: coupling an interrogator and radar processing system to a scanner mounted on a container; and processing radar scan data from the interior of the container. Another method includes: linking a radar processing system via a communications link to an interrogator that is coupled to a scanner mounted on a container; and processing radar scan data from the interior of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Tialinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Farrokh Mohamadi, Mikko Oijala, Paul Strauch
  • Patent number: 8779967
    Abstract: A movable platform has a front end, a back end, a longitudinal axis, and at least one axle oriented generally transverse to the longitudinal axis and located between the front and back ends for supporting wheels of the platform. A position sensor is affixed on the platform at a location other than at a location defined by a plane passing through the axle and normal to the longitudinal axis. The position sensor provides position data as the platform traverses a path. A sensor arrangement is supported by the platform and configured to provide subsurface sensor data as the platform traverses the path. A processor is configured to associate the position data with the sensor data relative to a reference frame and in a manner that accounts for dynamic motion of the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Underground Imaging Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross Peter Jones, Peter John Kelly
  • Patent number: 8779965
    Abstract: A stepped-frequency radar signal is transmitted through a barrier. A transmitter of the stepped-frequency radar is on a first side of the barrier, a first object is on a second side of the barrier, and a second object that is distinct from the first object is on the second side of the barrier. A signal including a reflection of the transmitted signal from the first object and a reflection of the transmitted signal from the second object is sensed. The sensed signal is analyzed to determine that a first detection is associated with the first object and a second detection is associated with a second object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: L-3 Communications CyTerra Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Gary Sentelle, Donald Wright, Felix M. Fontan, Juan Antonio Torres-Rosario
  • Patent number: 8766845
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting the presence of subsurface objects within a medium is provided. In some embodiments, the detection system operates in a multistatic mode to collect radar return signals generated by an array of transceiver antenna pairs that is positioned across a surface and that travels down the surface. The detection system converts the return signals from a time domain to a frequency domain, resulting in frequency return signals. The detection system then performs a singular value decomposition for each frequency to identify singular values for each frequency. The detection system then detects the presence of a subsurface object based on a comparison of the identified singular values to expected singular values when no subsurface object is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron T. Hallquist, David H. Chambers
  • Patent number: 8760175
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting a covered dielectric object, where a microwave signal that can be modified in frequency is generated at a particular bandwidth and transmitted in the direction of the covered dielectric object. The microwave signal reflected by the object is then obtained from the three-dimensional measurement result in a lateral, two-dimensional pattern, a highest signal amplitude and a second-highest signal amplitude within a particular time period before or after the received microwave signal is identified in a plurality of pattern points of the pattern. The object is detected if an accumulation of pattern points of the pattern is present, in which the difference in each case between the highest and the second highest signal amplitude of the received microwave signal is less than a defined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Olaf Ostwald, Sherif Sayed Ahmed
  • Patent number: 8754803
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is devised for detecting command wires utilized to detonate an improvised explosive device or other objects of interest in which frequency-scanned RF in the HF region of the electromagnetic spectrum is projected out across a given area and returns are detected and converted into image data in which phase, amplitude, range and frequency associated with the incoming data is correlated with frequency-dependent range templates to determine the existence of, the range of and the direction of command wires or other objects of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Apostolos, Richard J. Millard
  • Patent number: 8754802
    Abstract: A system that applies attribute and topology based change detection to networks of objects that were detected on previous scans of a structure, roadway, or area of interest. The attributes capture properties or characteristics of the previously detected objects, such as location, time of detection, size, elongation, orientation, etc. The topology of the network of previously detected objects is maintained in a constellation database that stores attributes of previously detected objects and implicitly captures the geometrical structure of the network. A change detection system detects change by comparing the attributes and topology of new objects detected on the latest scan to the constellation database of previously detected objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: David W. Paglieroni, N. Reginald Beer
  • Publication number: 20140159940
    Abstract: A subterranean mapping system may include at least one electrically conductive element associated with a subterranean formation having a passageway therein. The subterranean mapping system may also include a radiofrequency (RF) source coupled to the at least one electrically conductive element to generate an electromagnetic (EM) field in the subterranean formation. The subterranean mapping system may also include a subterranean mapping device configured to be carried along a path of travel within the passageway and while sensing the EM field versus time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventor: Francis E. Parsche
  • Publication number: 20140159936
    Abstract: A method for detecting an oil mass covered by ice includes collecting alert data at a first probability of detection using an airborne platform moved about a search area above the ice. An alert area having a likelihood of an oil mass covered by the ice is determined based upon the alert data. Confirmation data is collected at a second probability of detection higher than the first probability of detection using a ground platform moved over the alert area. An oil mass covered by the ice is detected based upon the confirmation data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventors: GREGORY MEDLIN, EMILE GANTHIER, STEPHEN T. HOGUE, SEAN FREEMAN, GREGORY MEDLIN, JOHN WARNER SHIPLEY
  • Publication number: 20140159937
    Abstract: A method for detecting an oil mass covered by ice includes collecting polarimetric radar data at different depths into the ice using at least one airborne platform moved about a search area above the ice so that the polarimetric radar data defines polarimetric volumetric radar data. The polarimetric volumetric radar data is processed based upon at least one polarimetric feature to thereby detect an oil mass covered by the ice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventors: EDWARD BEADLE, Emile Ganthier, Stephen T. Hogue, Sean Freeman, Gregory Medlin, John Warner Shipley
  • Publication number: 20140159939
    Abstract: A subterranean mapping system may include a pair of spaced electrically conductive well pipes in a subterranean formation containing a hydrocarbon resource. The pair of electrically conductive well pipes may include a fluid inlet pipe and a fluid outlet pipe. The subterranean mapping system may further include a radiofrequency (RF) source coupled to the pair of electrically conductive well pipes to generate an electromagnetic (EM) field in the subterranean formation. The subterranean mapping system may further include a subterranean mapping device configured to be carried along with a fluid flow along a path of travel from the fluid inlet pipe to the fluid outlet pipe and while sensing the EM field versus time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventor: Francis E. Parsche
  • Publication number: 20140159938
    Abstract: A method for detecting an oil mass covered by ice includes collecting radiometric data different frequencies, corresponding to respective different depths into the ice, using at least one airborne platform moved about a search area above the ice so that the radiometric data defines radiometric volumetric data. The radiometric volumetric data is processed to thereby detect an oil mass covered by the ice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventors: JOHN WARNER SHIPLEY, EMILE GANTHIER, STEPHEN T. HOGUE, SEAN FREEMAN, GREGORY MEDLIN, EDWARD BEADLE
  • Publication number: 20140152486
    Abstract: Detection of objects such as a buried explosive device while operating from a moving platform using a radio frequency emission system having two modes. An electromagnetic wave emission and detection system operates in a first mode to locate objects of interest and in a second mode to determine if an object contains explosive materials. In the first mode, the emission and detection system preferably operates as a subwavelength focusing, wideband, superlens using a near field super gain synthetic aperture continuous wave (CW) swept radar. In the second mode the system preferably enabled after detection of an object in the first mode, uses chemical detection methods such as Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: AMI Research & Development, LLC
    Inventor: AMI Research & Development, LLC
  • Publication number: 20140152455
    Abstract: The present invention has, as a first object, an autonomous underwater vehicle equipped for the acquisition of the gravimetric and magnetic gradient near the seabed, characterized in that it comprises: —at least one gravimetric gradiometer; —at least one magnetic gradiometer. In particular, said autonomous equipped underwater vehicle allows underwater explorations as far as 3,000 m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Italiano Giori, Massimo Antonelli, Roberto Finotello
  • Patent number: 8733119
    Abstract: An air conditioning equipment having an in-room unit connected to one end of the refrigerant pipes and an out-room unit connected to the other end of the refrigerant pipes. The air conditioning equipment includes signal coupling portions which are respectively disposed at both end parts of the refrigerant pipes. Each of the signal coupling portions couples an alternating current (AC) control signal to the refrigerant pipes and exhibits a predetermined impedance with respect to an AC electric signal. The configuration of the air conditioning equipment brings forth the advantages that the electrical insulation devices used in the prior art are dispensed with, and the signal transmissions between the in-room unit and the out-room unit can be performed by a simple apparatus configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyasu Higuma, Noriyuki Kushiro, Yoshiaki Koizumi
  • Patent number: 8730085
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting the presence of subsurface objects within a medium is provided. In some embodiments, the imaging and detection system operates in a multistatic mode to collect radar return signals generated by an array of transceiver antenna pairs that is positioned across the surface and that travels down the surface. The imaging and detection system pre-processes the return signal to suppress certain undesirable effects. The imaging and detection system then generates synthetic aperture radar images from real aperture radar images generated from the pre-processed return signal. The imaging and detection system then post-processes the synthetic aperture radar images to improve detection of subsurface objects. The imaging and detection system identifies peaks in the energy levels of the post-processed image frame, which indicates the presence of a subsurface object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: David W. Paglieroni, N. Reginald Beer
  • Patent number: 8730098
    Abstract: Methods are described for radar detection of persons wearing wires using radar spectra data including the vertical polarization (VV) radar cross section and the horizontal polarization (HH) radar cross section for a person. In one embodiment, the ratio of the vertical polarization (VV) radar cross section to the horizontal polarization (HH) radar cross section for a person is compared to a detection threshold to determine whether the person is wearing wires. In another embodiment, the absolute difference of the vertical polarization (VV) radar cross section and the horizontal polarization (HH) radar cross section for a person is compared to a detection threshold to determine whether the person is wearing wires. To reduce false positives, other additional indicators, such as speed of movement, and or visual features of the person, can be used to further narrow a person suspected of wearing wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: William P. Fox
  • Patent number: 8729891
    Abstract: A self-calibrating magnetic field monitor is disclosed. In one embodiment, a magnetic field sensor repeatedly generates an electronic signal related to the magnetic field. In addition, a calibration module generates a relative baseline signal based on an average value of the electronic signals for a given time period. A comparator compares the electronic signal with the relative baseline signal and generating an output signal if a difference in the comparing is greater than or equal to a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Broadband Discovery Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Cory James Stephanson, Paul Roybal
  • Patent number: 8729903
    Abstract: Method for assessing hydrocarbon source rock potential of a subsurface region without well log information. The method uses surface electromagnetic (121) and seismic (122) survey data to obtain vertical profiles of resistivity and velocity (123), which are then analyzed in the same way as well log data are analyzed by the well known Delta Log R method (124).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Leonard J. Srnka, Quinn R. Passey, Kevin M. Bohacs, David R. Converse, Yaping Zhu
  • Patent number: 8730084
    Abstract: A dual mode ground penetrating radar includes an enclosure which houses radar electronics. The dual mode ground penetrating radar includes an enclosure housing radar electronics. The dual mode ground penetrating radar further includes a first antenna feed having ferrite loading and extending outside of the enclosure. The dual mode ground penetrating radar further includes a second antenna feed spaced apart from the first antenna feed, the second antenna feed having ferrite loading and extending outside of the enclosure. An RF signal is provided in at least one of the first and second antenna feeds by the radar electronics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: King Abdulaziz City For Science and Technology
    Inventors: Tariq A. Al-Khalefah, Khaled F. R. Almutairi, Arne V. Utsi