Iff Or Sif Patents (Class 342/45)
  • Patent number: 11650783
    Abstract: An information transmission system includes an encoder, a display, an imaging apparatus, and a decoder. The encoder is mounted on a first aircraft and is configured to encode information to create a secret code. The display is mounted on the first aircraft and is configured to display the secret code created by the encoder at a predetermined position on a surface of a body of the first aircraft. The imaging apparatus is mounted on a second aircraft and is configured to capture an image of the first aircraft. The decoder is mounted on the second aircraft and is configured to detect an image region including the secret code from the image captured by the imaging apparatus, decode the secret code by performing image processing on the detected image region, and read the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Asai, Hiroyuki Tsubata
  • Patent number: 11513192
    Abstract: Provided are a LIDAR signal processing apparatus and a LIDAR signal processing method. The LIDAR signal processing apparatus comprises: an inherent history pulse wave applying unit for applying a first pulse wave combination to a laser diode, the first pulse wave combination having an inherent history which includes a combination of an inherent pulse period and an inherent pulse variation value; a received history detecting unit for detecting a received signal period and a received signal variation value of a reflected wave received by a photodiode; an inherent pulse wave discriminating unit for deciding whether or not the received signal period and the received signal variation value coincide with the inherent history; and an effective data processing unit for measuring a distance using effective data when the received signal period and the received signal variation value coincide with the inherent history.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sung Hoon Bang
  • Patent number: 11476861
    Abstract: An error correction method and a time-interleaved analog-to-digital converter (TIADC) are provided. The method is applied to a TIADC that includes a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), and the method includes: determining whether a current value of a codeword of a first ADC in the plurality of ADCs is within a preset range; when the current value of the codeword of the first ADC is not within the preset range, adjusting a plurality of codewords that are in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of ADCs; and controlling a clock frequency division circuit to generate, by using a plurality of adjusted codewords, a plurality of sampling clocks that are in a one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of ADCs. In embodiments of this application, a sampling time-period skew existing between ADCs may be adjusted by adjusting codewords corresponding to the ADCs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fang Gao
  • Patent number: 11403473
    Abstract: Systems and methods to determine kinematical parameters of physical objects using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags attached to the objects. In one embodiment, one of a population of RFID tags is selectively instructed by an RFID reader to backscatter the interrogating electromagnetic wave and thus allow the RFID reader to measure the position, speed, acceleration, and/or jerk of the object to which the tag is attached. The RFID reader combines the signal representing the backscattered interrogating electromagnetic wave and the signal representing the interrogating electromagnetic wave transmitted by the RFID reader to determine or monitor one or more of the kinematical parameters of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 11356307
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention includes a bi-phase communication receiver system. The system includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to sample a bi-phase modulation signal to generate digital samples of the bi-phase modulation signal. The system also includes a bi-phase signal decoder configured to decode the bi-phase modulation signal based on the digital samples. The system further includes a preamble detector comprising a digital filter configured to evaluate the digital samples to generate an output and to detect a preamble of the bi-phase modulation signal for decoding the bi-phase modulation signal based on the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Eric Gregory Oettinger
  • Patent number: 11165506
    Abstract: A drone network including a first drone including a first receiver, a first transmitter, and a first processor, and a second drone positionable at a distance from the first drone. The second drone includes a second receiver, a second transmitter, and a second processor. The first transmitter is configured to emit a signal towards the second drone for reception at the second receiver, and the second processor is configured to determine a minimum signal power for the signal to be processed at the second drone. The second transmitter is configured to emit a return signal towards the first drone for reception at the first receiver. The return signal contains minimum signal power data as determined by the second processor, and the first processor is configured to modulate the power of signals to be emitted towards the second drone from the first transmitter based on the minimum signal power data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Nathan D. Hiller
  • Patent number: 11115250
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for calculating coefficients for inputs and corresponding output sequences for a pulse-position modulation encoder using a stored structure; wherein the structure is a subset of the values of Pascal's Triangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Acacia Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Timo Pfau
  • Patent number: 11079590
    Abstract: Provided herein is a modulating retroreflective multilayer film comprising retroreflective elements, a piezoelectric layer, a photovoltaic layer, and an energy storage device. The stacked and transparent layered configuration of the film allows the retroreflective elements and the photovoltaic layer to be simultaneously illuminated by a narrow beam. The low power piezoelectric layer and the energy harvesting of the photovoltaic layer allow the retroreflector to be energetically self-sufficient and suitable for remote deployment. The flexible properties of the component layers allow the retroreflector to be adhered to nonplanar or irregular surfaces for the purpose of labeling and tagging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Andrew Simon FILO
    Inventor: Andrew Simon Filo
  • Patent number: 10867447
    Abstract: Various embodiments are generally directed to techniques of overlaying a virtual object on a physical object in augmented reality (AR). A computing device may receive one or more images of the physical object, perform analysis on the images (such as image segmentation) to generate a digital outline, and determine a position and a scale of the physical object based at least in part on the digital outline. The computing device may configure (e.g., rotate, scale) a 3D model of the physical object to match the determined position and scale of the physical object. The computing device may place or overlay a 3D virtual object on the physical object in AR based on a predefined location relation between the 3D virtual object and the 3D model of the physical object, and further, generate a composite view of the placement or overlay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Capital One Services, LLC
    Inventors: Micah Price, Geoffrey Dagley, Staevan Duckworth, Qiaochu Tang, Jason Hoover, Stephen Wylie, Olalekan Awoyemi
  • Patent number: 10797797
    Abstract: The present arrangement replaces passive components of a multi-mode fiber optic channel, such as a typical prior art cassette (i.e. connectors & short lengths of fibers) with active cassettes that have components therein that receive the optical signal from a first transmitting transceiver, convert the signal to an electrical signal, route that signal appropriately within the cassette and re-send an optical signal out from the opposite of the cassette into the infrastructure harness. This results in a localized optical signal boost at a mid-channel location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventors: Rakesh Sambaraju, Michael Good
  • Patent number: 10650200
    Abstract: Systems and methods to determine motion parameters of physical objects using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags attached to the objects. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a radio frequency identification (RFID) system includes determining a motion parameter of the RFID tag based on detecting a Doppler frequency shift in a radio frequency signal received from the RFID tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 10592711
    Abstract: Systems and methods to determine kinematical parameters of physical objects using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags attached to the objects. In one embodiment, one of a population of RFID tags is selectively instructed by an RFID reader to backscatter the interrogating electromagnetic wave and thus allow the RFID reader to measure the position, speed, acceleration, and/or jerk of the object to which the tag is attached. The RFID reader combines the signal representing the backscattered interrogating electromagnetic wave and the signal representing the interrogating electromagnetic wave transmitted by the RFID reader to determine or monitor one or more of the kinematical parameters of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 10545220
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to authenticate information embedded within radar signals. Radar signals comprising embedded information are received from a first sender. First position information is determined corresponding to a position of the first sender. Second position information associated with the embedded information is determined. The first and second position information is compared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Jörg Andreas Siemes
  • Patent number: 10491309
    Abstract: A multi-rate, burst-mode, photon-counting receiver can communicate at data rates up to 10.416 Mb/s over a 30-foot water channel. With added attenuation, the maximum link loss is 97.1 dB at ?=517 nm. In clear ocean water, this equates to link distances up to 148 meters. For ?=470 nm, the achievable link distance in clear ocean water is 450 meters. The receiver incorporates soft-decision forward error correction (FEC) that supports multiple code rates to achieve error-free performance. A burst-mode receiver architecture provides robust performance with respect to unpredictable channel obstructions. The receiver can detect the data rate on-the-fly and adapts to changing levels of signal and background light. The receiver updates its phase alignment and channel estimates every frame, allowing for rapid changes in water quality as well as motion between transmitter and receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Hemonth Rao, Andrew Fletcher, Scott Hamilton, Nicholas Hardy, Marvin Scheinbart
  • Patent number: 10476591
    Abstract: A free space optical communication system receiver (500) comprising: a central optical sensor (600); and a plurality of further optical sensors (601-604) disposed around a peripheral edge of the central optical sensor (600). The free space optical communication system receiver (500) may be coupled to means for moving the free space optical communication system receiver (500) relative to an incoming optical signal (510). A controller (508) may be configured to, using measurements of the incident optical signal (510) by the plurality of further optical sensors (601-604), control the means so as to move the free space optical communication system receiver (500) relative to the incident optical signal (510).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: Leslie Charles Laycock, Andrew James Williams, Michael Stewart Griffith
  • Patent number: 10438031
    Abstract: Systems and methods to determine motion parameters of physical objects using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags attached to the objects. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a radio frequency identification (RFID) system includes determining a motion parameter of the RFID tag based on detecting a Doppler frequency shift in a radio frequency signal received from the RFID tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: John R. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 10171181
    Abstract: An apparatus is described which uses directly modulated InGaN Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) or InGaN lasers as the transmitters for an underwater data-communication device. The receiver uses automatic gain control to facilitate performance of the apparatus over a wide-range of distances and water turbidities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Fairfield Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William Hopewell, Philip Lacovara, Michael Morris
  • Patent number: 10146974
    Abstract: An optical communication device can address these and other issues by utilizing a system and method in which an optical device emits a series of laser pulses that trace a spiral path over a coverage area. Each laser pulse containing a packet of information modulated at a relatively rate to help mitigate adverse effects from device movements, scintillation, and the like. The beam width of the laser, speed of the scan (along the spiral path), and number of laser pulses can be configured such that corresponding response pulses (e.g., retro-modulated pulses) received from an illuminated tag within the coverage may have a variety of different amplitudes, increasing the likelihood that at least one of the response pulses will have power characteristics that facilitate a proper decoding of the response pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Cubic Corporation
    Inventors: Tony Maryfield, Jonathan R. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 10126100
    Abstract: The disclosure presents at least one example of a missile system, method, and/or computer program product. The missile system may, for example, include a radar, an Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (“ADS-B”) receiver, a missile launcher, and a control station. The missile system may, for example, be configured to handle various situations such as when only ADS-B data relating to an airborne entity is available, only radar data relating to the airborne entity is available or both ADS-B data and radar data relating to the airborne entity are available. The missile system, may, for example, be a surface to air missile system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventor: Uri Bonen
  • Patent number: 10082568
    Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to the end to end system, the methods and an apparatus for locating cell phones, lone workers, assets, and workers in hazardous environments outdoors and indoors. The end to end system integrates with the current E-911 architecture and also provides a stand alone capability for geo-locating workers and assets. The end to end system also provides caller id and geo-spatial location to the E-911 PSAP in the absence of a cellular signal for a cell phone attempting a 911 call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Inventor: Hoyt Mac Layson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10008084
    Abstract: A wearable, non-visible identification device provides reliable, tamper-proof, friendly-force identification and intruder detection. The device is integrated as a part of the wearer's uniform and includes a user input surface for periodic entry of a unit- or user-defined pass code. A timeout capability prevents the device and its identification signal from being used if the pass code is not entered within the specified time period. The preferred embodiment uses non-visible optical identification signals for 1-way identification using standard tactical equipment, making the device useful in the field during operations or at temporary security control points away from established bases. Alternative embodiments use radio-frequency, visible and reflective identification signals. Identification signaling methods are effective at stand off ranges to minimize threat to security personnel. Very low cost and low power embodiments for use by security forces in developing nations are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Inventor: James P Tolle
  • Patent number: 9971017
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, at least three geosynchronous satellites are employed in combination, at respective known positions above a terrestrial water surface to locate an underwater terminal (vehicle). Each satellite includes a light source, and each has a controller for activating its respective light source to simultaneously transmit a light pulse, to a predetermined cell area on the terrestrial water surface, at a precisely scheduled time, t0, for receipt by the underwater terminal. A computer at the terminal then evaluates the respective light pulse arrival times, t1, 2 & 3, to determine the location of the underwater terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventors: Eric John Korevaar, James Howard Menders
  • Patent number: 9948395
    Abstract: A system comprises a tracking electromagnetic beam generator, a retro-reflecting device, a signal generator, a communication electromagnetic beam generator and a receiver. The tracking electromagnetic beam generator transmits a tracking electromagnetic beam. The retro-reflecting device reflects the tracking electromagnetic beam toward the tracking electromagnetic beam generator. The signal generator generates a communication signal. The communication electromagnetic beam generator transmits a communication electromagnetic beam, based on the communication signal, to the retro-reflecting device. The receiver receives a portion of the communication electromagnetic beam as reflected from the retro-reflecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Burton H. Neuner, III, Paul D. Swanson, David T. Wayne, John S. deGrassie
  • Patent number: 9939593
    Abstract: A photonic device comprising a base plate, a photonic laser coupled to the base plate, wherein the photonic laser is configured to generate a light, a lens coupled to the base plate, wherein the lens is configured to receive the light from the photonic laser, form a focused light, and pass the focused light to a reflector, and the reflector incorporated with the base plate such that the lens is positioned between the photonic laser and the reflector, wherein the reflector is configured to receive the focused light, and wherein the reflector is configured to steer a first portion of the focused light through the base plate using total internal reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rongsheng Miao, Yu Sheng Bai
  • Patent number: 9867159
    Abstract: In a network arrangement for carrying out a location of locating objects that are arranged in a confined space and are able to be moved, the location being carried out by pulsed radio signals, wherein at least three communication-technically autarkic reference nodes that are spatially distributed and form a communication network are arranged in the confined space a communication protocol enables a location object that is arranged in the confined space to be localized by a trilateration carried out by a distance-based trilateration that is carried out by the at least three reference nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Balluff GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Heldmaier, Andreas Schuerzinger, Daniel Schweizer
  • Patent number: 9810498
    Abstract: A method of preventing accidental shooting requires a safety beacon and a firearm that has a computing device and a wireless receiver. The method begins by continuously transmitting a warning signal with the safety beacon and by continuously monitoring for the warning signal with the wireless receiver. The method then processes the warning signal into an endangerment assessment with the computing unit, if the warning signal is captured by the wireless receiver. The endangerment assessment is used to determine whether or not it is safe to shoot the firearm based on the location of the safety beacon. Finally, the method executing a physical response with the firearm, if the endangerment assessment identifies a potentially unsafe situation between the safety beacon and the firearm. The physical response can be a tactile, auditory, or visual notification to the user of the potentially unsafe situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Kenneth Carl Steffen Winiecki
  • Patent number: 9805222
    Abstract: A method for coordinating reader transmissions according to one embodiment includes, at a first reader, receiving from a second reader a request to transmit to a radio frequency identification tag; and if the first reader is transmitting, sending a denial of the request from the first reader to the second reader. A method for coordinating reader transmissions according to another embodiment includes from a first reader, sending to a plurality of readers a request to transmit to a radio frequency identification tag; waiting for responses from the plurality of readers; if a denial of the request is received by the first reader from any of the readers, not transmitting to the radio frequency identification tag; and if no denial of the request is received by the first reader from any of the readers, transmitting to the radio frequency identification tag. Additional systems, methods and computer program products are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: ZEST LABS, INC.
    Inventors: William Henry Bares, Peter Arnold Mehring
  • Patent number: 9746561
    Abstract: A marker system includes at least one emitter. The emitter(s) emit light responsive to a flow of electrical current there through. The marker system includes a device for acquiring an incoming signal and a circuit for processing the incoming signal. The circuit for processing the incoming signal monitors the device for acquiring the incoming signal to determine if the incoming signal includes any of a plurality of incoming Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) and/or munitions-targeting signals. The circuit emits one of a plurality of responses by sending electrical current selectively through the emitter(s) and/or other feedback devices based upon which of the plurality of incoming Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) and/or munitions-targeting signals is detected by the means for processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: ARCACHON HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Gary Leegate, Marcia Baldwin, Jamey Marcus Caldwell
  • Patent number: 9739556
    Abstract: A method of preventing accidental shooting requires a safety beacon and a firearm that has a computing device and a wireless receiver. The method begins by continuously transmitting a warning signal with the safety beacon and by continuously monitoring for the warning signal with the wireless receiver. The method then processes the warning signal into an endangerment assessment with the computing unit, if the warning signal is captured by the wireless receiver. The endangerment assessment is used to determine whether or not it is safe to shoot the firearm based on the location of the safety beacon. Finally, the method executing a physical response with the firearm, if the endangerment assessment identifies a potentially unsafe situation between the safety beacon and the firearm. The physical response can be a tactile, auditory, or visual notification to the user of the potentially unsafe situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Kenneth Carl Steffen Winiecki
  • Patent number: 9509347
    Abstract: A system includes an antenna, a modulator, and a controller. The modulator may be operatively connected to the antenna. The modulator may be configured to send, a signal to a wireless device via the antenna. The modulator may have an output impedance. The controller may be connected to the output of the antenna. The controller may include a detector and a driver. The detector may be configured to determine the amplitude of a response from the wireless device. The driver may be configured to scale the output impedance responsive to the amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Humberto Fonseca
  • Patent number: 9489813
    Abstract: A system for location of animals and/or objects in an environment includes a signal processing and signal generation system consisting of electromagnetic tags on animals (or other objects) in an environment (typically a three dimension outdoor natural environment) where the animals or objects are physically present at arbitrary locations, and an electro-magnetic signal generating, signal receiving, and signal processing system that can move through or in relation to the environment. The system can compute the location and identity of the animals or objects based on signals received from their associated tags, including the calculated location of the ID tags, which function as “Reader-Locators.” The calculated location is enhanced by information about the environment provided by maps, satellite photos, GPS, GIS and/or other data specific to the probability of the location of the animals or objects within certain regions of the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Inventor: Michael L. Beigel
  • Patent number: 9450669
    Abstract: A microchannel plate based optical communication receiving system and method of use for extracting embedded information from a covert band of modulated light. The system includes an electrically powered microchannel plate, a sense amplifier in electrical communication with the microchannel plate configured to sense a change in current across a sense resister, a demodulator in electrical communication with the sense amplifier to demodulate the band of modulated light, a data output signal exiting from the demodulator, and a receiver for receiving the data output signal and extracting a piece of covert information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Deflumere, Paul W. Schoeck
  • Patent number: 9444545
    Abstract: A system and method includes a laser transmitter configured to form a transmitted laser beam and a laser receiver configured to receive a reflected beam based on the transmitted laser beam. An identification (ID)-filter includes a substrate, a retarder filter and a reflector, where the transmitted beam passes through the retarder filter and is reflected back through the retarder filter in an opposite direction, to the laser receiver. A processor connected with a memory executes instructions stored in the memory to determine polarization properties of the reflected beam with respect to the transmitted laser beam to determine an address of the ID-filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey B. Norman, Harold N. Seiden, Kenneth C. Widen
  • Patent number: 9377349
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for transmitting a light towards a plurality of acousto-optic retro reflectors, arranged as an array, that are configured to physically react to an acoustic signal. The physical reaction modulates the transmitted light which is reflected back towards a light detector and analyzed. The analysis may include detecting an acoustic signal source location and/or reconstructing the acoustic signal. A light scanner may be configured to transmit the light towards the plurality of acousto-optic retro reflectors in a predetermined, continuance, or dynamically determined sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Sleator
  • Patent number: 9069076
    Abstract: An identification apparatus, capable of distinguishing between a first class of objects and a second class of objects. This identification apparatus includes an identification tag, which is capable of providing a certain reflection band and a certain thermal emission band. The identification apparatus also includes a thermal weapon sight which has a long-wave infrared band-pass filter. This band-pass filter passes through a desired range of wavelengths and filters out an undesired range of wavelengths. The reflection band and the thermal emission band are detectable within the desired range of wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Igor I. Smolyaninov, Idan Mandelbaum, Louise C. Sengupta
  • Patent number: 9053253
    Abstract: A monitoring system including a first and a second portion. The first portion includes a controller for receiving a code sequence. The first portion is configured to connect the system to a common data bus. The first portion is configured to provide a synchronization signal to the second portion when the two portions are in a predetermined position. The second portion includes a controller for providing the code sequence to the first portion and the first portion being further configured to output the code sequence for verification by a verification entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: ABB Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Lars-Magnus Felth, Ingvar Gillholm
  • Patent number: 8988310
    Abstract: An antenna for directional electronic communication and a directional communication system are provided. In one embodiment, the antenna includes: (1) a protective shell, (2) a Luneberg lens located within the protective shell and (3) multiple radio frequency signal conveyors located proximate a portion of the Luneberg lens and configured with the Luneberg lens to transmit radio frequency signals within a defined region or receive radio frequency signals that originate within the defined region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: ATR Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph E. Hayles, Jr., Thomas H. O'Mara
  • Patent number: 8981988
    Abstract: A radar system is provided. The system includes a radar transceiving device equipped in a movable body and for transmitting an electromagnetic wave at a first frequency, and a transponder device arranged in a beacon and for transmitting a response wave upon receiving the electromagnetic wave. The transponder device includes a response wave transmitting module for transmitting, when a radar classification of the radar transceiving device is a solid-state radar, a response wave at a second frequency different from the first frequency in response to receiving the transmitted electromagnetic wave. The radar transceiving device includes a transmitting module for transmitting the electromagnetic wave, a receiving module for receiving a radar echo at the first frequency and the response wave at the second frequency, and a display controlling module for displaying, on a predetermined radar display unit, locations of the beacon and another movable body existing around the movable body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Company Limited
    Inventors: Tatsuya Kojima, Jun Yamabayashi
  • Patent number: 8938170
    Abstract: In one aspect, identification and communication systems are described herein. In some embodiments, an identification and communication system comprises one or more query units and one or more response units, wherein at least one query unit is a handheld device. In some embodiments, the handheld device does not comprise a weapon and is not mounted on a weapon. In some embodiments, the handheld device comprises a flashlight. In some embodiments, the handheld device comprises a stylus. In some embodiments, the handheld device comprises a smart device in communication with the stylus. In some embodiments, the handheld device comprises a display screen. In some embodiments, the handheld device comprises a query controller and the display screen is operable to display data provided by the query controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Analysis First LLC
    Inventors: Peter Gerber, Jodi Lasky
  • Patent number: 8860603
    Abstract: A method for the real-time management and sequencing of the information interchanges between a secondary radar and a plurality of aircraft includes the interchanges between the radar and a given aircraft being performed, depending on the aircraft concerned, either in a non-selective, SSR, IFF or “All Call” interrogation mode or in a selective “Roll Call” interrogation mode. According to this method, the information interchanges according to the non-selective interrogation modes are performed during successive periods specifically allocated to these modes, whereas each transaction forming an information interchange in selective mode between the radar and a given aircraft is temporally inserted into the time slots not used in periods by the interrogation-response tasks in non-selective mode. The method applies equally to the secondary radars exclusively dedicated to civilian air traffic control and to the secondary radars dedicated to combined civilian and military aircraft control tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventor: Philippe Billaud
  • Patent number: 8836571
    Abstract: A method for transmission to a receiver of a geographic coordinate ? of a transmitter positioned in a spherical coordinate system ?, ?, at least a portion of one hemisphere of the Earth's sphere being divided into N sections each bounded by a minimum ? and a maximum ?, each section being subdivided into X cells each bounded by a minimum ? and a maximum ?, X varying depending on the section, includes at least the following steps: partitioning all of the latitude sections into M+1 classes, M sections being interspersed between two sections of the same class; transmitting, in one and the same message, the coordinate ? of the transmitter referenced relative to the cell in which the transmitter is located and the class of the latitude section in which the transmitter is located, the range of the receiver being at the most equal to the width of a cell along the axis of variation of the coordinate ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Julien Colle, Eric De Larminat
  • Publication number: 20140240165
    Abstract: An integrated identification system including a housing, an active light beacon supported by the housing, an RF beacon supported by the housing, and a controller coupled to the active light beacon and RF beacon to facilitate independent control of the active light beacon and RF beacon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Alan Cornett, Robert Charles Becker, Doug Carlson
  • Patent number: 8730014
    Abstract: An improved system and method for monitoring objects, people, animals, or places uses a passive Modulating Reflector (MR) tag where a characteristic of an antenna is modified according to a time-varying pattern by a modulating network thereby causing the reflective characteristics of the antenna to vary in accordance with the time-varying pattern. When an interrogator transmits an RF waveform that impinges on the antenna, the return signal reflecting off the antenna is modulated in accordance with the time-varying pattern allowing a remote receiver to demodulate information from the modulated return signal. The antenna is embedded in a dielectric material. The MR tag can be used with a wide variety of tag-interrogator configurations employing monostatic and/or bistatic radar techniques to allow monitoring, locating, and/or tracking of objects, people, animals, or place with which MR tags are associated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Cedar Ridge Research, LLC
    Inventor: Larry W. Fullerton
  • Publication number: 20140085125
    Abstract: The RF system for preventing hunting accidents comprising RF interrogator mounted on the firearm or hunter's hat and RF transponder attached to hunter's hat, wherein directional pattern of antennas of the hat-mounted interrogator is directed along the line of view of the hunter so matching with sightline of hunter's rifle; and RF transponder, which, to cover directional pattern of 360 arc degrees in azimuth, contains a number of RF transceiver evenly attached to the hunter's hat in horizontal plane and connected to the single electronic unit. The system provides alert information about “friendly targets” that could be under fire, such as other hunters or persons equipped with said transponder; and if they are, the system develops alert signal: “Do not shoot”.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Gennadii Ivtsenkov, Evgeny Berik
  • Patent number: 8674872
    Abstract: A secondary surveillance radar with rotating antenna, configured for transmitting interrogations in S or IFF mode and processing the responses to these interrogations. The radar includes an antenna having a lobe with three channels, a Sum channel, a Difference channel and a Control channel, whose transmission means are configured for transmitting interrogation messages over the Sum and Difference channels and whose reception and processing means are configured so as to carry out, aside from conventional detections by the Sum channel, detections by the Difference channel of the responses from the aircraft having been subjected to interrogation by this same channel. The radar also includes means for Space-Time Management configured for generating interrogation messages and determining whether a given message is to be transmitted by the Sum channel, by the Difference channel or by the two channels simultaneously and controlling its transmission by the corresponding transmission channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventor: Philippe Jean Patrick Billaud
  • Patent number: 8654003
    Abstract: System and method making it possible to operate in an interrogator mode and/or in a passive listening mode wherein it comprises in combination at least the following elements: an antenna (6) having a given aperture sector, a control means (31) making it possible to toggle the system into a first interrogator operating mode using a first given angle sector or into a second passive listening operating mode using a second angle sector of greater value than the first, means (23) making it possible to add together the signals received on the sum pathway and on the difference pathway of the antenna in the case of the passive listening operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Stéphane Soula, Claude Provost
  • Patent number: 8610618
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method for identifying a facility on the ground or at sea, the method being implemented on an airborne responder linked to at least two antennas, the method including a step of choosing a first transmission antenna and a step of transmitting an interrogation message from the chosen antenna. The method further includes testing whether a response has been received by the responder, and, if at least one response signal is received by at least one of the antennas, choosing a transmission antenna as a function of the response signal or signals received. If no response message is received, a different transmission antenna is chosen from the antenna that transmitted the last interrogation message. The method is repeated from the step of transmitting the interrogation message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Claude Provost, Bertrand Schoendorff
  • Patent number: 8519826
    Abstract: An application specific integrated circuit chip includes capacitors and antennas. The antennas receive energy from an outside source, and charge capacitors on the chip in order to provide power to the chip itself. The chip in turn communicates by antenna to outside receivers for the purposes of identification of the chip and hence a bag or article to which it is attached. The chip is attached to its article by means of glue which is in turn applied by an applicator which shoots the chip and the glue against the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventor: Tümay O. Tümer
  • Publication number: 20130207831
    Abstract: An improved system and method for monitoring objects, people, animals, or places uses a passive Modulating Reflector (MR) tag where a characteristic of an antenna is modified according to a time-varying pattern by a modulating network thereby causing the reflective characteristics of the antenna to vary in accordance with the time-varying pattern. When an interrogator transmits an RF waveform that impinges on the antenna, the return signal reflecting off the antenna is modulated in accordance with the time-varying pattern allowing a remote receiver to demodulate information from the modulated return signal. The antenna is embedded in a dielectric material. The MR tag can be used with a wide variety of tag-interrogator configurations employing monostatic and/or bistatic radar techniques to allow monitoring, locating, and/or tracking of objects, people, animals, or place with which MR tags are associated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventor: Cedar Ridge Research, LLC
  • Patent number: RE44691
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a radio frequency identification device that utilizes multiple operating frequencies. In one embodiment of the present invention, one frequency (e.g., an ultra-high frequency such as 915 MHz, 800 MHz, 915 MHz, or microwave frequency such as 2.45 GHz) is used for data transmission, and another frequency (e.g., a low or high frequency such as 13.56 MHz) is used for field penetration. In another embodiment, one frequency is used for reading information received from the multi-frequency identification device, and another frequency is used for writing to the multi-frequency identification device. In an additional embodiment, the multi-frequency identification device utilizes one antenna for all frequencies. In another embodiment, the multi-frequency identification device utilizes two or more antennas for different frequencies, and one common memory. In other embodiments, one or two digital parts, analog parts, antennas, and memories can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Neology, Inc.
    Inventors: Francisco Martinez de Velasco Cortina, Manfred Rietzler