With Self-orienting Antenna Pattern Patents (Class 342/422)
  • Patent number: 11631942
    Abstract: An electronic device includes: a first pair of antennas having a first polarization along a first direction in a plane, where the first pair of antennas are spatially offset from each other along a second direction in the plane; and a second pair of antennas having a second polarization along the second direction, where the second pair of antennas are spatially offset from each other along the first direction. During operation, the electronic device may configure switching elements to: select the first pair of antennas and electrically couple the second pair of antennas to ground; or select the second pair of antennas and electrically couple the first pair of antennas to ground. Then, the electronic device may communicate a packet or a frame with a second electronic device via the selected first pair of antennas or the second pair of antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Khaled Ahmad Obeidat, Douglas Blake Kough, Rajesh Koganti
  • Patent number: 11277200
    Abstract: A system for estimating a pointing error of an antenna (ANT) of a satellite, the satellite includes a payload (CU) comprising a multichannel transmitter or receiver comprising a multichannel antenna (ANT), one analogue processing chain per channel and a set of digital integrated circuits (PN), the system comprising an estimation device (EST), implemented aboard the satellite or in a ground station, for estimating a pointing error of the antenna, the device for estimating a pointing error being configured to: acquire, for at least two channels of the transmitter or of the receiver, at least two test signals, each test signal having been transmitted or received by the antenna along a different direction (?A, ?B), for at least one pair of acquired test signals, determine, for each test signal, a relative complex gain between the test signal received or transmitted respectively on two distinct channels, determine a comparative measurement between the two test signals from either the ratio between the two relative
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventor: Yann Oster
  • Patent number: 10601103
    Abstract: Provided is a detailed configuration regarding a method of transmitting a driving force etc., of an antenna adjustable of an elevation-depression angle and an antenna circumferential angle. A weather radar antenna may include an antenna unit, a column, an elevation-depression-direction drive transmission shaft, and a circumferential-direction drive transmission shaft. The antenna unit may receive at least an electromagnetic wave. The column may support the antenna unit. The elevation-depression-direction drive transmission shaft may transmit a driving force of an elevation-depression-direction drive motor to the antenna. The circumferential-direction drive transmission shaft may transmit a driving force of a circumferential-direction drive motor to the antenna unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuhiko Hataya, Koji Yano, Toshifumi Sakai
  • Patent number: 10455601
    Abstract: There is provided mechanisms for co-scheduling wireless devices in a communications network. A method is performed by a network node. The method comprises obtaining first directional information indicating direction of transmission to a first wireless device. The method comprises obtaining second directional information indicating direction of transmission to a second wireless device. The method comprises rejecting a hypothesis of co-scheduling the first wireless device and the second wireless device when at least one of the direction of the second wireless device and angular spread of the direction to the second wireless device is within angular spread of the direction to the first wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Fredrik Athley, Sebastian Faxér
  • Patent number: 10288742
    Abstract: An adaptive cascaded electronic protection processing system for global navigation satellite system (GNSS) threat mitigation is provided. The system includes a precorrelation characterization component configured to provide at least one parameter characterizing a plurality of received signals. A correlator is configured to provide a plurality of correlation results, each representing one of the plurality of received signals. A spatial weight contribution component is configured to determine an optimal set of digital beam-forming weights via an optimization process according to the at least one parameter. A postcorrelation characterization component is configured to determine at least one constraint on the optimization process according to the plurality of correlation results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN GUIDANCE AND ELECTRONICS COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Jeff Dickman, Mathew A. Cosgrove
  • Patent number: 9197934
    Abstract: A system includes a primary functionality and a backup functionality for the primary functionality. A measurement circuit measures operational parameter values of the primary functionality. A fault detection circuit determines a level of equivalence between the operation of the primary functionality and a reference functionality based on a weighted comparison of the measured operational parameter values of the primary functionality to corresponding reference operational parameter values for the reference functionality If the equivalence determination fails to find equivalence, the fault detection circuit signals a fault in the primary functionality and activates the backup functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Srebranig
  • Patent number: 8907846
    Abstract: The single-antenna radio frequency (RF), direction finding (DF) system includes a single-element directional antenna, which is mounted on a multi-rotor UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) and integrates with a DF algorithm for tracking an RF source in the 2.45 GHz ISM band (or any other frequency band). The algorithm will depend on the rotating nature of the platform to scan the azimuth, as well as several elevation angles with respect to the platform axis of rotation, and thus be able to accurately locate the coordinates of the RF transmitter based on the recorded power levels. The RF source determination step is performed during the search mode of the algorithm. The RF transmitter location is saved, and the UAV takes actions accordingly by commencing movement towards that location in the action mode of the algorithm. After some time, the UAV enters the search mode again in case the RF source has moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Mohammad S. Sharawi, Belal H. Sababha, Hamzeh M. Alzu'bi, Osamah Ahmad Rawashdeh
  • Patent number: 8811974
    Abstract: Multipoint wireless communications are coordinated in cells with radiation that is emanated from antennas in an inward direction. In an example embodiment, an apparatus includes a first antenna, a second antenna, a third antenna and a controller. The first antenna emanates radiation from a first location in an inwardly direction for a cell. The second antenna emanates radiation from a second location in an inwardly direction for the cell. The third antenna emanates radiation from a third location in an inwardly direction for the cell. The controller coordinates the emanation of the radiation via the first, second, and third antennas so as to reduce intra-cell interference for remote terminals located within the cell. The coordination may be effected in accordance with one or more coordinated multi-point (transmission/reception) (CoMP) techniques. Different numbers of sub-cells and antennas per cell and different CoMP cell organizations may be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
    Inventors: Abdulfauf Hafeez, Jiann-Ching Guey, Sven Oscar Petersson, Kambiz Zangi
  • Publication number: 20140218239
    Abstract: The single-antenna radio frequency (RF), direction finding (DF) system includes a single-element directional antenna, which is mounted on a multi-rotor UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) and integrates with a DF algorithm for tracking an RF source in the 2.45 GHz ISM band (or any other frequency band). The algorithm will depend on the rotating nature of the platform to scan the azimuth, as well as several elevation angles with respect to the platform axis of rotation, and thus be able to accurately locate the coordinates of the RF transmitter based on the recorded power levels. The RF source determination step is performed during the search mode of the algorithm. The RF transmitter location is saved, and the UAV takes actions accordingly by commencing movement towards that location in the action mode of the algorithm. After some time, the UAV enters the search mode again in case the RF source has moved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventor: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
  • Patent number: 8624780
    Abstract: Phase shift values between signals received at a plurality of receiving antennas are determined to orient one or more receiving antennas of the plurality of receiving antennas during signal location. Subsequent signals are received utilizing the oriented receiving antennas. Candidate angle of arrival (AOA) values are computed based on the determined phase shift values during the signal location so as to adaptively orient the receiving antennas. Each of the candidate AOA values is iteratively selected one at a time to adaptively orient the receiving antennas. The receiving antennas may be adaptively oriented according to the computed receive signal power levels. The determined phase shift values may be rounded to nearest discrete phase shift values. In this regard, one candidate AOA value is selected for each of the receiving antennas based on the corresponding rounded phase shift values such that the receiving antennas may be adaptively oriented during the signal location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Gonikberg
  • Patent number: 8599071
    Abstract: A device for estimating a direction-of-arrival of a radio wave, the device comprising an array antenna including a plurality of antenna elements for receiving a high frequency signal, a demultiplexer for demultiplexing the received high frequency signal for each of the plurality of antenna elements to generate a plurality of frequency component signals and a direction estimating unit for estimating the direction-of-arrival of the radio wave by using two or more of the plurality of frequency component signals which are contiguous in a frequency direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Kishigami, Takashi Fukagawa, Yasuaki Yuda, Keiji Takakusaki, Shoji Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 8570150
    Abstract: A sensing system includes integrated sensor locating capability. Sensors can transmit spread spectrum encoded data pulses which are received at mobile nodes. Based on time of arrival information and known locations of the mobile nodes, locations of the sensors can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Inventors: Doug Bowen, Thomas R. Giallorenzi, Matt Lake, Sam Kingston
  • Patent number: 8565208
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for transmitting Coexistence Beacon Protocol (CBP) in a cognitive radio system are provided. The apparatus includes a detector, a controller, and a transmitter. The detector scans channels on which neighboring Base Stations (BSs) operate through a plurality of directional antennas. The controller links the plurality of directional antennas with BSs, respectively. The transmitter receives a CBP packet through the directional antenna linked with the BS, and transmits the received CBP packet to at least one or more other BSs linked with at least one or more other directional antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng Shan, Do-Young Kim, Eun-Taek Lim, Jung-Soo Woo, Geun-Ho Lee, Sang-Bum Kim, Yong-Ho Park
  • Patent number: 8542785
    Abstract: A communication apparatus that can suppress an increase in circuit size and reduce influence of interference, includes reception array antenna elements, a reception digital beam forming (DBF) network that generates a reception beam signal for forming M reception beams using a reception signal, and reception filter banks (FBs) that generate frequency split reception beam signals obtained by frequency-splitting the reception beam signal. The communication apparatus includes an interference-source detecting unit that stores, for each reception beam, an interference candidate beam area estimated based on an initial reception beam characteristic, calculates, based on the frequency split reception beam signals, a reception spectrum, and calculates, based on the reception spectrum and a reception spectrum of a reception beam to the interference candidate beam area, an interference source area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akinori Fujimura, Kazunari Kihira, Yasushi Sogabe
  • Patent number: 8451173
    Abstract: A method for estimating a target direction of a wideband signal received on an electronically steered array includes: applying convolutional or stretch processing to spatial frequency data of the wideband signal; initializing a stabilization direction to a beam pointing direction; stabilizing the spatial frequency data to the stabilization direction; compressing the spatial frequency data to a plurality of frequency range or time bins; selecting range or time bins and forming a covariance matrix; calculating an estimated target direction using the covariance matrix; determining if a stabilization direction accuracy condition is met; recalculating the stabilization direction based on the estimated target direction if the stabilization direction accuracy condition is not met; and iteratively repeating until the stabilization direction accuracy condition is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Charles T. Hansen
  • Patent number: 8450997
    Abstract: Magnetic tracking systems and methods for determining the position and orientation of a remote object. A magnetic tracking system includes a stationary transmitter for establishing a reference coordinate system, and at least one receiver. The remote object is attached to, mounted on, or otherwise coupled to the receiver. The transmitter can include a set of three mutually perpendicular coils having a common center point, or a set of three coplanar coils with separate centers. The receiver can include a set of three orthogonal coils. The position and orientation of the receiver and the remote object coupled thereto is determined by measuring the nine mutual inductances between the three transmitter coils and the three receiver coils. The magnetic tracking system provides reduced power consumption, increased efficiency, digital compensation for component variation, automatic self-calibration, automatic synchronization with no connections between transmitter and receiver, and rapid low-cost implementation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Brown University
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Silverman
  • Patent number: 8264406
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining stream weights is provided herein. During operation, an uplink direction of arrival (DOA) and a downlink direction of departure (DOD) calibration procedure is implemented using uplink signals and GPS information from a subset of mobiles without the need of calibration circuitry at the base. Because the presented calibration procedure needs no new hardware it can be deployed in existing deployments with only a soft-ware upgrade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Timothy A. Thomas, Frederick W. Vook
  • Patent number: 8144057
    Abstract: A technique for determining the angles of arrival of signals incident on an antenna array from directions within an angular region of interest involves supplying outputs of antenna elements of the antenna array to a number of different weight generators. Each of the weight generators produces a set of beam-forming weights that maximizes a signal-to-interference ratio of a locally generated signal corresponding to a look angle that is outside the region of interest, with signals at different look angles being supplied to the different weight generators. An annihilation operator is determined from the sets of beam-forming weights generated by the weight generators and from beam-forming vectors representing the look angles of the locally generated signals used in the weight generators. The annihilation operator is applied to a group of beam-forming vectors representing angles within the region of interest to determine angles of arrival of signals within the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Exelis Inc.
    Inventor: John Minkoff
  • Patent number: 7940215
    Abstract: An adaptive antenna radio communication device comprises a divided band direction estimating unit for estimating the direction by calculating the cross correlations between a pilot signal and sub-carrier signals of the respective divided bands received by an array antenna and calculating a spatial profile from correlation matrices determined by combining the correlation values between antenna elements of the different sub-carriers according to the output of the cross correlation calculation; a divided band array weight creating unit for creating a weight of a receive array having a directional beam in the direction of estimation for each divided band; and a sub-carrier directivity creating unit for creating a directivity by multiplication-combining the created receive array weight with the corresponding sub-carrier signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Kishigami, Takashi Fukagawa, Yasuaki Yuda, Keiji Takakusaki, Shoji Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 7808421
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention are directed to generating a scan strategy based on parameters input from a user, without requiring that the user be aware of information such as the specifics of the receiver hardware or the specific signal characteristics of the emitters that are desired to be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Kunz, Jerry L. Twoey, Barrett L. Snedaker, Raymond Scheuerman, Paul T. Coyne, David Scheel
  • Patent number: 7800541
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a method of determining a location of a mobile device. The method comprises transmitting a signal between a plurality of known locations and receiving signal at device of unknown location such as a mobile device. The signal may include multiple tones having different frequencies and resulting in sets of residual phase differences. The location of the mobile device may be determined using the known locations and the frequency and phase differences between the transmitted tones. In one embodiment, OFDM signals may be used between an access point and mobile device, for example, to determine the location of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Golba LLC
    Inventor: Mehran Moshfeghi
  • Patent number: 7720511
    Abstract: The present invention determines optimal positions of a variable antenna using an artificial intelligence-based genetic algorithm (GA). The GA acquires a fitness value for an individual of a genetic algorithm population by updating positions of the antenna. The population improves through an evolutionary computational process using a fitness measure based on the signal strength. At the end of the process, the system positions the antenna to the best position found by the GA. Therefore, the final position gives exceptionally clear reception for a chosen received frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Brian Hanley, Choong K Oh
  • Patent number: 7564407
    Abstract: An array antenna directivity control apparatus for use in tracking a target updates a weighting coefficient based on an error between antenna signals of multiple antennas and a known reference signal, and corrects an amount of updating for each of the weighting coefficients. The updating is performed based on predict error information predicted based on past errors. As a result, it is possible to adjust a weighting coefficient based on a prediction of the next position of a target. Thus, it is possible to track a target which is being moving at high speed with a small amount of calculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Kazuki Yoshizoe, Takanori Iwamatsu
  • Patent number: 7482975
    Abstract: A multibeam transmitting/receiving apparatus is provided that is capable of increasing the accuracy of a direction in which a transmission beam is to be transmitted, with a simple arrangement. Signal power measuring units (8-1 through 8-L) of signal processing means (40-1 through 40-L) measure reception signal power levels averaged over a given time, using outputs from reception beam formers (5-1 through 5-L), and indicate the measured reception signal power levels to transmission antenna weight generator (30). Transmission antenna weight generator (30) generates transmission antenna weights, which has been weighted by a reception signal level, from a transmission antenna weight corresponding to reception signal power level P1 and a beam number B1 of a finger having a maximum reception signal power level, and a transmission antenna weight corresponding to reception signal power level P2 and a beam number B2 of a finger having the same path timing as the finger having the maximum reception signal power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Kimata
  • Patent number: 7333056
    Abstract: An adaptive antenna radio communication device comprises a divided band direction estimating unit (4) for estimating the direction by calculating the cross correlations between a pilot signal and sub-carrier signals of the respective divided bands received by an array antenna (1) and calculating a spatial profile from correlation matrices determined by combining the correlation values between antenna elements of the different sub-carriers according to the output of the cross correlation calculation; a divided band array weight creating unit (5) for creating a weight of a receive array having a directional beam in the direction of estimation for each divided band; and a sub-carrier directivity creating unit (6) for creating a directivity by multiplication-combining the created receive array weight with the corresponding sub-carrier signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Kishigami, Takashi Fukagawa, Yasuaki Yuda, Keiji Takakusaki, Shoji Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 7212120
    Abstract: A system for tracking entities at a work site includes an antenna having a scanned boresight. A controller may be configured to determine a relative angle between a reference associated with the antenna and a source of radiation based on a relationship between boresight orientation and relative power values of a signal received by the antenna from the source of radiation for two or more boresight orientations of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: Adam J. Gudat
  • Patent number: 7110719
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an indoor mobile communication device having a simple structure, providing a sufficient communication range, and also providing for stable communication with a small fading effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Uniden Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Horibe, Hitoshi Hachiga
  • Patent number: 6999796
    Abstract: The invention relates to a base station for a radio communications network. In order to enable a simple enhancement of the estimation of parameters of uplink signals, it is proposed that the base station comprises a phasing network (11) for forming beams for fixed reception angles out of received signals provided by a receive antenna array; means (13) for determining the minimum deviation between a distribution indicative of the signal strengths of at least some of the formed beams and a plurality of pre-calculated distributions each corresponding to a different value of at least one specific parameter of the received signals; and means (13) for estimating the value of the at least one parameter in the uplink according to the minimum deviation. The invention equally relates to a method comprising the corresponding steps and to a base station module of a base station comprising corresponding means for determining the minimum deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Esa Tiirola, Kari Horneman
  • Patent number: 6859172
    Abstract: A system includes antenna control stations and a system interface. Each antenna control stations directs an orientation of an associated antenna to search for an identification signal associated with a mobile phone. The antenna control station communicates a detection response describing the orientation of the associated antenna. The system interface computes the location of the mobile phone based on the detection responses received from the antenna control stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Global Business Software Development Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Powers, Sam D. Sorensen, Chuck C. Williams, John W. Walter, Adam V. Behnke
  • Patent number: 6853916
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating mobile device over a broad coverage area using a wireless communications link that may have large and unknown latency. The apparatus comprises at least one mobile device, a reference network, a position server, a wireless carrier, and a location requester. The mobile device is in communication with the wireless carrier and receives global positioning system (GPS) signals from a plurality of satellites in the GPS satellite constellation. The reference network is coupled to the position server and provides GPS data. The mobile receiver receives GPS signals, performs rudimentary signal processing and transmits the processed signals to the wireless carrier. The wireless carrier passes the signals on to the position server. The position server processes the mobile receiver's GPS data and the reference network ephemeris data to identify the location of the mobile receiver. The location is sent to the location requester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Global Locate, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Fuchs, Charles Abraham, Frank van Diggelen
  • Patent number: 6832155
    Abstract: An improved technique for determining the integer value of phase ambiguities (integer ambiguities) of pseudorange measurements based on the carrier phase of received navigation signals provides more accurate ranging and position determination in navigation and ranging systems. A Bayesian methodology is employed to estimate the probability that each of a group of candidate integer ambiguity values is the correct value of the integer ambiguity at each pseudorange measurement time epoch. The candidate having the highest probability is selected as the value of the integer ambiguity, and the selected value is used to estimate the pseudorange and geographic position at each time epoch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexandr Draganov
  • Publication number: 20040056800
    Abstract: The invention relates to a base station for a radio communications network. In order to enable a simple enhancement of the estimation of parameters of uplink signals, it is proposed that the base station comprises a phasing network (11) for forming beams for fixed reception angles out of received signals provided by a receive antenna array; means (13) for determining the minimum deviation between a distribution indicative of the signal strengths of at least some of the formed beams and a plurality of pre-calculated distributions each corresponding to a different value of at least one specific parameter of the received signals; and means (13) for estimating the value of the at least one parameter in the uplink according to the minimum deviation. The invention equally relates to a method comprising the corresponding steps and to a base station module of a base station comprising corresponding means for determining the minimum deviation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Esa Tiirola, Kari Horneman
  • Patent number: 6704557
    Abstract: An interference protection system includes a receiving section for receiving an electromagnetic signal, a detector for detecting a jamming signal, and a control system for orienting a changeable null direction of an antenna system to reduce interference in a receiver from the jamming signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Sreenath Krishnamurthy, Chun Chieh Kung, Kun-Yii Tu
  • Patent number: 6697012
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting and tracking a target object, including the calculation of the target object's altitude, is disclosed. During the processing of signals received by a receiver, the system selectively calculates the altitude of the target object from signals modified by an interference effect pattern formed by the signals broadcast by a transmitter, or from the calculation of geometric shapes associated with three or more transmitters and determining the intersection point of those shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Lodwig, Bonnie L. Adams, Gregory A. Baker
  • Patent number: 6677884
    Abstract: For interferometric and/or tomographic remote sensing by means of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) one to N receiver satellites and/or transmitter satellites and/or transceiver satellites with a horizontal across-track shift the same or differing in amplitude form a configuration of satellites orbiting at the same altitude and same velocity. Furthermore, a horizontal along-track separation, constant irrespective of the orbital position, is adjustable between the individual receiver satellites. In this arrangement one or more receiver satellites orbiting at the same altitude and with the same velocity are provided with a horizontal across-track shift varying over the orbit such that the maximum of the horizontal across-track shift occurs over a different orbital position for each satellite, the maxima of the horizontal across-track shifts are positioned so that the baselines are optimized for across-track interferometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft-und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventors: Alberto Moreira, Gerhard Krieger, Josef Mittermayer
  • Publication number: 20030151553
    Abstract: The invention relates to a base station for a radio communications network. In order to be able to enhance the resolution for a direction of arrival estimation, the base station comprises: a first phasing network (31) for forming beams (B1-B4) for fixed reception angles; a second phasing network (33) for co-phasing and summing the signals of at least two neighbouring beams (B2, B3), thus forming a beam (B2-3) for a reception angle in-between at least those two neighbouring beams (B2, B3), and for scaling each resulting beam (B2-3) with a predetermined factor; and means for estimating the direction of arrival in the uplink from the beams (B1-B4, B2-3) provided by the first and the second phasing network (31, 33). The invention equally relates to a corresponding method and to a base station module comprising such a first and second phasing network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventor: Juha Ylitalo
  • Patent number: 6552684
    Abstract: Spatial profile creation section 102 creates an intensity distribution, that is, a spatial profile or spatial information of reception signals with respect to the directions of arrival of signals using reception signals prior to despreading received via antenna elements 101-1 to 101-4. Direction of arrival estimation section 103 estimates the directions of arrival of signals sent from other parties of communication from the spatial information created by spatial profile creation section 102 and divides and outputs the information of the directions of arrival to reception units 104-1 to 104-4 according to the direction of arrival. Beam formers 111 in reception units 104-1 to 104-4 each rotate the phase of the output reception signals from antenna elements 101-1 to 101-4 at predetermined angles based on the information of directions of arrival and combines these rotated reception signals so as to increase the reception levels of the signals sent from the directions of arrival.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Hoshino, Kazuyuki Miya
  • Publication number: 20030040337
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for improving operation of a radio link in a wireless communication system, such as a cellular radio system, by modifying the radiation pattern of an antenna array on the downlink by means of the information obtained from the uplink. The method comprises determining the location of a receiver for transmission by means of an angular power spectrum (400), for example. Then the radiation pattern of a transmitting antenna array is shaped on the basis of the location information on the receiver by selecting a window function which provides the desired radiation pattern and by implementing the form of the window function by means of antenna element specific coefficients (502, 504). (FIG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventor: Juha Ylitalo
  • Patent number: 6437740
    Abstract: A wireless tracking system consists of a wireless target including a wireless communication system for transmitting a data packet over a communication path, and a locating station for determining a position of the target. The data packet transmitted from the target includes an identification code uniquely associated with the target. The locating station includes a configurable directional antenna, a communication interval processing system, a direction processing system, and a position processing system. The communication interval processing system is in communication with the directional antenna and determines the transmission interval of the transmitted data packet over the communication path. The direction processing system determines the transmission angle of the communication path, and is in communication with the directional antenna for controlling the configuration of the directional antenna so as to facilitate the determination of the transmission angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Stelx, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian De Champlain, Frank Gerlach
  • Patent number: 6417781
    Abstract: A fixed station and an on-board apparatus are constructed to carry out a short range communication. The on-board apparatus specifies an application from a command included in reception data received from the fixed station and starts a corresponding processing, when an acquired command is a menu selection command. A menu including commodities and charges are displayed. When a selected item is determined, the determined content is displayed. When an IC card unit receives an IC card for settling the charge, the charge is settled by rewriting the IC card by data exchange via wireless communication. A short range wireless unit is used to ensure individuality of the communication. This short range communication may also be used at a vehicle repair shop, at a curved corner on a travel path or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Manabu Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6311129
    Abstract: A positioning method and a system are disclosed for measuring a position of a vehicle on land, air, and space, using measurements from a global positioning system receiver and an inertial measurement unit. In the present invention, an integrated Kalman filter processes the all-available measurements of the global positioning system: pseudorange, delta range, carrier phase, and the solution of an inertial navigation system. The integrated Kalman filter is a multi-mode, robust kalman filter, in which optimal integrated mode is selected based on the measurement availability and filter stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: American GNC Corporation
    Inventor: Ching-Fang Lin
  • Patent number: 6281839
    Abstract: A method for two way communication between a first station and a second station each said station comprising receiving means and transmitting means for receiving and transmitting electromagnetic communication signals, whereby one or more signals are transmitted from the first station to the second station, and the direction of the physical boresight axis of the antenna of the first station is controlled, said controlling comprising electrically changing or switching the direction of optimum reception or electric boresight of reception of the antenna of the first station in one or more directions displaced from the direction of the physical boresight axis by changing electric characteristics of said feeding means, monitoring, during said switching of the direction of optimum reception or electric boresight of reception, one or more signals carrying information representing variations in receiving signal strength of one or more signals transmitted from the second station and received by the first station during
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Inventor: Peter Nielsen
  • Patent number: 6246365
    Abstract: A radar apparatus comprising: a receiving antenna having an array antenna in which a plurality of antenna elements are arrayed in a horizontal direction; and a signal processing section for carrying out recognition of a target existing in a predetermined horizontal bearing range from receive signals received by the receiving antenna, by electrically carrying out horizontal scanning of an antenna pattern of the receiving antenna, wherein at least one of the antenna elements is placed with a shift in a vertical direction, and wherein the signal processing section detects an altitudinal bearing of the target by a monopulse method by use of a receive signal from the antenna element with the shift in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Setsuo Tokoro
  • Patent number: 6208296
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for training a receiver on a source are provided. The receiver is an antenna and the source is a broadcast satellite. A first signal sensor receives at least one signal from the source. The first signal sensor may be a first low noise block (LNB) downconverter of the antenna. At least one secondary signal sensor measures a strength of the received signal. The secondary signal sensor comprises four LNB downconverters, wherein each of the four LNB downconverters are located on each of four sides of the first signal sensor. The measured strength of the received signal is used to provide guidance information for training the receiver on the source. When the broadcast satellite moves relative to the antenna, the secondary LNB downconverters detect a variance in the measured strength of the at least one signal and provide guidance information based on the detected variance, thereby reducing the training time for the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics
    Inventor: Joseph Saib
  • Patent number: 6198436
    Abstract: An integrated receiver includes an Instantaneous Frequency Measurement (IFM) device, an interferometer and switches. The IFM receives signals from a target and determines the frequency of the signals. The IFM includes the shared N-channel phase receiver. The interferometer also receives the signals from the target and determines the angle-of-arrival (AOA) of the signals. The interferometer includes the shared N-channel phase receiver and shares the shared N-channel phase receiver with the IFM. The switches selectively connect the shared N-channel phase receiver to the IFM when the IFM is determining the frequency of the signals, and selectively connect the shared N-channel phase receiver to the interferometer when the interferometer is determining the AOA of the signals. The shared N-channel phase receiver determines phase information indicative of the frequency of the signals and the AOA of the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Ail Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Rudish
  • Patent number: 6184830
    Abstract: An algorithmic technique which allows antenna arrays that are used for interferometric direction finding to have elements with arbitrary orientation. This technique allows the phase errors associated with non-identical element orientation to be estimated, without explicit knowledge of either the polarimetrics of the array elements or the polarimetrics of the source. It relies upon the fact that there exists a single number which describes the polarimetric interaction, and that this number can be estimated and then utilized to remove the phase component due to polarimetric interaction. This technique makes it feasible to incorporate direction finding arrays into articles that could benefit from such arrays, but because of size or shape constraints, were previously not able to do so.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Mark A. Owens
  • Patent number: 5710566
    Abstract: A method for implementing a wireless data exchange between a fixed station and sending/receiving devices on board objects moving relative to the fixed station, preferably in lanes, and particularly vehicles. Using an antenna arrangement of the fixed station, the sending and/or receiving profile of which can be electronically aligned with an object, allows reliable determination of location using the antenna arrangement, in that in a first phase, a search territory is swept and checked for response signals from objects by means of a varying alignment of the sending and/or receiving profile. The time of reception of a response signal is correlated with the instantaneous adjustment values of the sending and/or receiving profile to determine the location. In a second phase, the sending and/or receiving profile is fixed on a sending/receiving device of an object whose location has been determined, and it is tracked, if necessary, while the data exchange is conducted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wilhelm Grabow, Felix Dobias
  • Patent number: 5166693
    Abstract: In mobile communications, it is required that the beam direction is maintained to track the desired direction as the mobile is moving. For such a purpose, the mobile includes an angular rate sensor mounted therein which detects the state of turn in the mobile and to control the beam direction of the antenna in accordance with the state of turn as well as the strength of radiowave received by a receiver in the mobile. Antenna elements are in the form of microstrip antenna and are arranged in plane on the same dielectric substrate. Feeding and drive circuit layers for controlling the transmission and reception at the antenna elements are stacked into a single layered unit. This enables the antenna system to be formed into a low-profile structure. The dielectric substrate of the microstrip antenna element is formed by stacking a plurality of dielectric substrate different in dielectric constant from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Kunitoshi Nishikawa, Kazuo Sato, Tomoaki Hirako, Mitoshi Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 5065162
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a radiowave relay station in which image information or the like is transmitted by a helicopter from a first station to a second station. A direction finding device is provided which detects the direction of a transmitting source, i.e., a first station. The direction finding device calculates the vertical directional angle .phi. representing the direction of an incoming radiowave which is transmitted from the first station. This direction finding device allows the helicopter performing a relay function to fly rapidly to a contact point with the first station, i.e., in a vicinity of the first station. The direction finding device may also provide information to control an antenna driving portion for adjusting a receiving antenna located on the helicopter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Tokyo Keiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Akaba, Hiroshi Yagi, Yoji Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 4970520
    Abstract: A process for realigning telecommunication antennas with satellites wherein the radio-electric axis of reception of the antenna which receives a signal from the satellite is periodically modulated after which the received signal is multiplied by a sinusoidal signal of the same frequency and same phase as the periodic moudulation applied to the radio electric axis during reception of the signal and wherein thre multiplied signal is filtered to remove all frequencies equal to or higher than the frequency of the periodic modulation and thereafter the filtered signal as amplified in order to deduce the direction in which the antenna should be realigned and subsequently realigning the antenna by activation of the motor control mechanisms associated with the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Inventors: Dimitri Khaletzki, Serge Chapuis