Navigational Patents (Class 342/46)
  • Patent number: 11341388
    Abstract: A harmonic radar apparatus includes a transmitter configured to transmit a plurality of fundamental frequencies towards a scene. A further aspect of the harmonic radar apparatus includes a receiver configured to receive a reflected signal from the scene, the reflected signal being modulated based on the scene, and a re-radiated signal from a tag, the re-radiated signal being at a harmonic frequency of at least one of the plurality of fundamental frequencies transmitted by the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignees: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University, The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Nanzer, Stephan Gary Bush, Faiz Feisal Sherman
  • Patent number: 11099012
    Abstract: The present invention provides an aerial vehicle for which flight information for the aerial vehicle can be identified by people in the surrounding area. Also provided is a control method for the aerial vehicle. The aerial vehicle is provided with a display device that displays toward the exterior of the vehicle and a display control device that controls the display device. In addition, the aerial vehicle is provided with an altitude acquisition device that acquires altitude as the distance from the ground surface. The display control device is provided with an altitude display control unit that selectively performs display on the display device on the basis of the altitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Nagai, Yo Ito, Takahiro Iijima
  • Patent number: 11017295
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a set of processing units and a set of machine-readable media. The set of machine-readable media stores sets of instructions for applying a network of computation nodes to an input received by the device. The network of computation nodes includes multiple layers of nodes. The set of machine-readable media stores a set of machine-trained weight parameters for configuring the network to perform a specific function. Each layer of nodes has an associated value, and each of the weight parameters is associated with a computation node. Each weight parameter is zero, the associated value for the layer of the computation node with which the weight parameter is associated, or the negative of the associated value for the layer of the computation node with which the weight parameter is associated. Each weight value is stored using two bits or less of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: PERCEIVE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven L. Teig, Eric A. Sather
  • Patent number: 10928506
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling multiple transponders in an aircraft to prevent the aircraft from becoming invisible to air traffic control. If a first transponder is turned off when the aircraft is airborne, a second transponder will automatically switch on. In some implementations, if the second transponder is turned off, a third transponder will automatically switch on. In one implementation, the third transponder cannot be turned off while the touchdown-relay confirms the aircraft is in the air. When the aircraft has landed, whichever one of the three transponders is on may be turned off. In some implementations the multiple transponders are arranged in a circular daisy chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Squawk On, LLC
    Inventors: Cooper C Woodring, Bret Joseph Petersen
  • Patent number: 10454706
    Abstract: A method is described for establishing a data link between an access module and a sports timing transponder module comprising: connecting said access module to a CAN bus, said CAN bus being connected to one or more transponder modules, a transponder module being associated with a transponder ID; sending one or more announce CAN messages over said CAN bus, the payload of an announce CAN message comprising an answer CAN address; receiving one or more request CAN messages from said one or more transponder modules, a request CAN message comprising said answer CAN address and a transponder ID of one of said one or more transponder modules; and, said access node selecting a transponder module on the basis of said one or more request CAN messages for establishing said data link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: MYLAPS B.V.
    Inventors: Mark Six, Henk Jan Ober, Marcel Schaap
  • Patent number: 9978063
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to passing a plurality of communications directly from a merchant to a payment processing network. A first communication may include payment information in an authorization request, while a second transaction may include non-payment transaction data. The communications may be linked with a transaction identifier. In other embodiments, a capture file process is disclosed where capture files are generated by the payment processing network, and transactions are subsequently cleared and settled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: VISA INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION
    Inventors: Phil Kumnick, Krishna Koganti, Davidson Wuichet, Lloyd Cato, Jeff Kusheba
  • Patent number: 9316731
    Abstract: A method of tracking a second electronic device with respect to a first electronic device is disclosed. The method includes transmitting a first waveform of a first frequency along a first fixed path associated with the first device. A second waveform having a frequency based on the first frequency is wirelessly transmitted from the first device to the second device along a first wireless path. The second waveform is wirelessly transmitted from the second device to the first device along a second wireless path. The first and second waveforms are received at the phase comparator circuit. A first phase relationship of the received first waveform is then compared to a second phase relationship of the received re-transmitted waveform. A coordinate of the second device is determined with respect to a reference coordinate based on the comparing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Lattice Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick A. Ware, Farshid Aryanfar, John Brooks
  • Patent number: 8994546
    Abstract: Arrangement and method for monitoring a material storage container which includes a housing defining an interior receivable of removable material. An interior sensor system is arranged on the housing to obtain information about any material in the interior of the housing different than the location of the container. A location determining system is arranged on the housing to monitor the location of the container, and a communication system is coupled to the interior sensor system and the location determining system and transmits information about the material in the housing and the location of the container to one or more remote facilities. The communication system may be arranged on the housing itself, which is especially applicable when the housing is movable, for example, such as the housing of a Frac tank. The location and condition of the material in the container can thus be known at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Breed, Wilbur E. DuVall, Wendell C. Johnson
  • 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: 8954264
    Abstract: The different advantageous embodiments provide a system comprising an environmental waypoint insertion process and a processor unit. The processor unit is configured to run the environmental waypoint insertion process. The environmental waypoint insertion process is configured to receive information. The environmental waypoint insertion process determines whether and how to suggest additional waypoints for insertion into a flight plan to a subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Louis J. Bailey, Ryan D. Hale
  • Patent number: 8825259
    Abstract: In an example implementation, an autonomous vehicle is configured to detect closures and lane shifts in a lane of travel. The vehicle is configured to operate in an autonomous mode and determine a presence of an obstacle substantially positioned in a lane of travel of the vehicle using a sensor. The lane of travel has a first side, a second side, and a center, and the obstacle is substantially positioned on the first side. The autonomous vehicle includes a computer system. The computer system determines a lateral distance between the obstacle and the center, compares the lateral distance to a pre-determined threshold, and provides instructions to control the autonomous vehicle based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: David I. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 8768540
    Abstract: There is provided an avionics system that provides several avionics functions within a single LRU. In one embodiment, the system comprises a software-configurable RF assembly, one or more processor assemblies that are configured to provide multiple TAWS/TCAS/Mode S/ADS-B/ATC functions, interfaces to allow connections to aircraft electronics and data loaders, and multipurpose antennas. In one embodiment, a common processor architecture allows generic avionics processors to be configured to operate a number of TAWS/TCAS/Mode S/ADS-B/ATC functions without the need for multiple LRUs, and software-defined RF functions allow RF circuitry that interfaces to the processors to handle current and future communication needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Cyro A. Stone, James R. Troxel, Gregory T. Stayton
  • Patent number: 8649915
    Abstract: Specific determinations are made in a moving vehicle (901) and with respect to a person in the vehicle who has an ordinary expected gaze directionality while in the moving vehicle. These determinations can comprise automatically determining a position (101) of the moving vehicle with respect to terrain past which the moving vehicle is traveling, and automatically determining an orientation attitude (102) of the moving vehicle with respect to the terrain, and then automatically using (103) this position and orientation attitude to determine (in the absence of executable program instructions) a synthetic view to provide to the person in the vehicle. By one approach this synthetic view comprises a view of the terrain that comports with the ordinary expected gaze directionality of the person in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: The Clear View Group LLC
    Inventors: Ovidiu Gabriel Vlad, Lawrence Carl Spaete, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8576114
    Abstract: In a radio location system for vehicles moving along a guideway, a transmitter for energizes a transponder beside the guideway. A first detector for detects a response signal from the energized transponder to determine the transponder identification. A second detector detects a positional signal received from the transponder that is decoupled from the first signal and contains precise positional information. In one embodiment, the second detector picks up a crossover signal from a crossover antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Thales Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Abe Kanner, Pat Seitz
  • Patent number: 8554478
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for navigating with the use of correlation within a select area are provided. One method includes, storing data required to reconstruct ranges and associated angles to objects along with statistical accuracy information while initially traversing throughout the select area. Measuring then current ranges and associated angles to the objects during a subsequent traversal throughout the select area. Correlating the then current ranges and associated angles to the objects to reconstructed ranges and associated angles to the objects from the stored data. Determining at least one of then current location and heading estimates within the select area based at least in part on the correlation and using the least one of the then current location and heading estimates for navigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Randolph G. Hartman
  • Patent number: 8538669
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for transmitting incursion alerts to a plurality of in-flight aircraft in accordance with preconfigured pilot preferences. The apparatus comprises a data store module containing data sets against which the pilot preferences are evaluated during flight, including weather, airspace and flight restrictions, ground delay programs, and air traffic information. The apparatus further includes a flight path module containing route and position information for each aircraft. An incursion alert processing module evaluates the flight path, data store, and pilot preferences and generates incursion alerts which are transmitted to each aircraft during flight, either directly or via ground based dispatchers or flight operations personnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Anand Agarwal, David Brabham, Trip Redner, SatyaBhaskar Payasam
  • Patent number: 8477061
    Abstract: A method and system that prevents engagement with neutral aircraft utilizes secondary surveillance radar (SSR) in conjunction with traffic alert collision avoidance systems (TCAS) conventionally found on various commercial aircraft. The system and method provide for detecting interrogating signals sent out by a TCAS system of an interrogating aircraft searching for another aircraft that may pose a threat for collision. The system and method of the invention provide for a base system generating signals responsive to the interrogation signals such that there is a decreasing time difference between the interrogating signals and the responsive signals. The decreasing time difference indicates to the interrogating aircraft that another aircraft is approaching its airspace urging the neutral aircraft to change course and avoid entering a guarded tactical airspace thus avoiding unnecessary engagement of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Richard N. Pedersen
  • Patent number: 8468269
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for compressing location data of a radio for over-the-air transmission. A method includes obtaining raw latitude and raw longitude coordinates reflecting a current location of the client device, the raw latitude coordinate represented by x number of bits and the raw longitude coordinate represented by y number of bits. The raw latitude coordinate is truncated by removing n number of most significant bits from the raw latitude coordinate to create a compressed latitude coordinate. The raw longitude coordinate is truncated by removing m number of most significant bits from the raw longitude coordinate to create a compressed longitude coordinate, where m varies as a function of the value of the raw latitude coordinate. The compressed longitude and compressed latitude coordinates are then transmitted to another network device for decompression and use as an indication of the client device's absolute location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Dipendra M. Chowdhary, Thomas B. Bohn, Tianfang Liu, David G. Wiatrowski
  • Patent number: 8386163
    Abstract: A GPS navigation code device that enables a driver to retrieve directions, without taking his eyes off the road. The user pre-programs the GPS navigation code device with a plurality of addressees or points of interest, and assigns unique navigation codes for each as keyboard entry and speech, all stored in local database within the GPS. While driving, the user presses a special address search mode key and inputs the unique navigation code by keyboard or speech pattern, views displayed address and accepts the same. When an unknown navigation code is entered, the GPS accesses a remote database through the Internet to recover the associated company name and business GPS coordinates. The remote database computes travel distance based on vehicle and business GPS coordinates, creating an ordered list that is presented to the GPS user, together with directions by map and speech on a turn-by-turn basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Inventor: Gary Severson
  • Patent number: 8350753
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for displaying information on a display device associated with an aircraft. A method comprises rendering a synthetic perspective view of terrain on the display device, wherein the synthetic perspective view of terrain is based on a set of terrain data corresponding to a region proximate the aircraft. The method further comprises obtaining location data for a first object, wherein the location data is based at least in part on a beacon signal associated with the first object, and rendering a graphical representation of the first object on the display device. The graphical representation of the first object overlies the synthetic perspective view of terrain and is positioned in accordance with the location data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Subhadeep Pal, Sharad Rathour
  • Patent number: 8334801
    Abstract: A locating system, includes at least one initiator configured to operate at a first clock frequency, and to transmit a measurement signal including a first preamble; and at least one transponder configured to operate at a second clock frequency, to receive the measurement signal, and to transmit a response signal to the initiator, the response signal including a second preamble. The initiator is further configured to calculate, based on the response signal, a distance between the initiator and the transponder for determining a location of the transponder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Ensco, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Alan Fretenburg, Steven Scott Kazemir, Henry Hon-You Leung, Derek John Pyner, Charles Elmer McNeill, IV, David W. A. Taylor, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8279111
    Abstract: A high-precision distance measuring with a reduced error in a distance measuring system which calculates a distance from an arrival time of each pulse signal constituting a pulse sequence is provided. For an oscillator which generates pulse signals by counting the number of pulse signals constituting a received pulse sequence, a relative time difference between a transmitting device and a return device is acquired, a distance from the transmitting device to the return device is calculated, and the calculated distance is corrected based on the calculated relative time difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
    Inventors: Bin Zhen, Huan-Bang Li, Ryuji Kohno
  • Patent number: 8248294
    Abstract: Methods of protecting location privacy of air traffic communications from unauthorized monitoring of aircraft locations in an uncontrolled airspace include designating a bounded region of uncontrolled airspace; ceasing transmission of a traffic beacon by each aircraft of a plurality of aircraft upon the aircraft entering the bounded region; and updating a unique identifier associated with each of the aircraft while the aircraft is traversing the bounded region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Radhakrishna G. Sampigethaya, Radha Poovendran
  • Patent number: 8188907
    Abstract: The present invention provides an aircraft collision alarm system and method. The method includes the steps of collecting aircraft position information for aircraft in a given area and digitally encoding this aircraft position information. This aircraft position information is then transmitted on an audio sub-carrier over the voice communications channel of a VOR to the aircraft. The aircraft receives and processes the digitally encoded information and alerts the pilot if a collision alarm situation is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Gary E. O'Neil
  • Patent number: 8130135
    Abstract: A system and technique to derive a position of a non-ADSB equipped aircraft using ADS-B information provided from an ADSB equipped aircraft and bi-static radar processing techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Timothy P. Donovan
  • Patent number: 8131460
    Abstract: A GPS navigation code device has GPS features and easy address retrieval means built in, enabling a driver to retrieve and request directions to an address without taking his eyes off the road. The user pre-programs the GPS navigation code device with a plurality of addressees or points of interest and assigns unique navigation codes for each as keyboard entry and speech, all stored in local database within the GPS in three linked databases. While driving, the user presses a special address search mode key and inputs the unique navigation code by keyboard or speech pattern, views displayed address and accepts the same. When an unknown navigation code is entered the GPS accesses a remote database through the Internet to recover the associated company name and uses Internet based map service to locate closest list of specified business providing directions by map and speech on a turn-by-turn basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Inventor: Gary Severson
  • Patent number: 8120525
    Abstract: Systems and methods are delineated that may provide for a system for use in a merging and spacing application for an aircraft. An exemplary system may comprise a TCAS and a processor for executing the merging and spacing application using ADS-B data and data received by the aircraft in response to an interrogation of another aircraft from the TCAS. In a disclosed embodiment, a lead aircraft responds to the TCAS interrogation from a following aircraft to provide EHS heading and/or speed of the lead aircraft to the following aircraft, which uses the received EHS data as well as ADS-B data to determine merging and spacing control parameters for the following aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Aviation Communication&Surveillance Systems LLC
    Inventors: Richard D. Ridenour, Charles C. Manberg
  • Patent number: 8077073
    Abstract: A pulse detecting equipment includes a log compression processor (105) for logarithm-converting signal levels of a reception signal received at an antenna and input therefrom, with maintained frequency components of the reception signal as input, an AD converter (106) for converting the reception signal as logarithm-converted in signal level, from an analog form into a digital form, a first detector (110) for limiting the reception signal as converted into the digital form to a band of a prescribed first frequency, to obtain a signal, to detect signal levels thereof, a second detector (111) for limiting the reception signal as converted into the digital form to a band of a prescribed second frequency smaller than the first frequency, to obtain a signal, to detect signal levels thereof, and a pulse detector (113) for use of a result of comparison between signal levels detected at the first detector and signal levels detected at the second detector, to detect pulses of a prescribed frequency as a signal transmi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hisashi Ootomo, Yoshirou Aoki
  • Patent number: 7969347
    Abstract: By using the delay profile created by delay profile creating section 102 and the first threshold value 330 received from the first threshold value calculation 105, the first threshold value timing detection section 103 selects only the earliest receive timing exceeding the first threshold value, from all the timing that the correlation value in the delay profile becomes a maximum. By using the receive timing and the second threshold value 331 received from the second threshold value calculation section 107, reference timing calculation section 106 selects the reference timing required for calculating the receive timing for the incoming wave of the minimum propagation delay time. The timing delayed by previously set timing behind said reference timing is sent from receive timing calculation section 108 as the receive timing 113 of the incoming wave of the minimum propagation delay time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Tsunehara, Nobukazu Doi, Mikio Kuwahara, Tomoaki Ishifuji
  • Patent number: 7956796
    Abstract: A system according to the invention detects location information of a vehicle by using a reflection strength change of an electromagnetic wave. The system incorporates a radiowave transmitter which emits a first radiowave, positional markers which generate unique reflection strengths and patterns of temporal changes in the reflection strength from the emitted first radiowave at respective absolute positions, a radiowave receiver which receives a second radiowave reflected by the positional marker and converts the second radiowave into a signal format for extracting location information to output the same, and a marker recognition device which obtains a location of the vehicle from the output of the radiowave receiver. Accordingly, a highly-precise location specification with a resolution smaller than or equal to 1 cm and a highly-reliable location specification which is not affected by slip and slide of the vehicle's wheels can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Hyodo, Shigeru Oho, Naoki Kato
  • Patent number: 7952512
    Abstract: A method is provided for mobile device enabled radar tags. A signal is transmitted to a radar tag. The radar tag detects the signal. The radar tag provides information. The information is received from the radar tag. A location of the radar tag is determined based on the information. The radar tag is identified based on the information. The identification of the radar tag, the location of the radar tag, and a time associated with determining the location of the radar tag are recorded as data in a database. The radar tag is evaluated based on accessing a plurality of recordings of the data in the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Jason R. Delker, John M. Everson, Jason K. Whitney
  • Patent number: 7953552
    Abstract: A GPS navigation code device has GPS features and easy address retrieval means built in, enabling a driver to retrieve and request directions to an address without taking his eyes off the road. The user pre-programs the GPS navigation code device with a plurality of addressees or points of interest and assigns unique navigation codes for each. The navigation code is entered using keyboard or recorded speech pattern. The processor in the GPS navigation code device records address, navigation code and speech pattern in three linked databases. While driving, the user presses a special address search mode key and inputs the unique navigation code by keyboard or speech pattern. The GPS navigation code device displays the address and the user accepts the displayed address by pressing special key. The GPS navigation code device then calculates and displays directions to the address, and provides additional guidance by speech on a turn-by-turn basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventor: Gary Severson
  • Patent number: 7724178
    Abstract: A device for determining the bearing of a vehicle using Inertial Reference Unit (IRU) and Traffic Alert Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) data. The device includes a means to communicate with the vehicle such as a transmitter, receiver, and antenna. The device also includes a processor configured to receive the IRU and TCAS data from the vehicle via the communication means and then generate a bearing value using the received data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ruy L. Brandao, Ruy C. Brandao, Sr., Christine M. Haissig, John Weed, Eric A. Euteneuer
  • Patent number: 7683823
    Abstract: A transponder unit of a DME ground apparatus receives an interrogation signal and converts the same to an IF signal. The unit performs analog-to-digital conversion on the IF signal, generating a digital interrogation signal. The unit calculates two detected outputs whose frequencies are ±900 kHz deviated with respect to the center frequency of the digital interrogation signal. Then, the transponder unit compares the two detected outputs and the digital interrogation signal in terms of magnitude, thereby to determine whether a response signal should be transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yukihiro Kamimura
  • Patent number: 7683826
    Abstract: A device and a method for eliminating interference between a radar working on the L frequency band and an aeronautical radio navigation equipment item, such as DME (Distance Measurement Equipment). When the radio navigation equipment operates, the radar emits periodically in all or part of the frequency band and then halts its emissions, each emission has a given duration and being separated from the previous emission by an interval of silence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventor: Carlos Leiras
  • Patent number: 7663532
    Abstract: By using the delay profile created by delay profile creating section 102 and the first threshold value 330 received from the first threshold value calculation 105, the first threshold value timing detection section 103 selects only the earliest receive timing exceeding the first threshold value, from all the timing that the correlation value in the delay profile becomes a maximum. By using the receive timing and the second threshold value 331 received from the second threshold value calculation section 107, reference timing calculation section 106 selects the reference timing required for calculating the receive timing for the incoming wave of the minimum propagation delay time. The timing delayed by previously set timing behind said reference timing is sent from receive timing calculation section 108 as the receive timing 113 of the incoming wave of the minimum propagation delay time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Tsunehara, Nobukazu Doi, Mikio Kuwahara, Tomoaki Ishifuji
  • Patent number: 7609197
    Abstract: By using the delay profile created by delay profile creating section 102 and the first threshold value 330 received from the first threshold value calculation 105, the first threshold value timing detection section 103 selects only the earliest receive timing exceeding the first threshold value, from all the timing that the correlation value in the delay profile becomes a maximum. By using the receive timing and the second threshold value 331 received from the second threshold value calculation section 107, reference timing calculation section 106 selects the reference timing required for calculating the receive timing for the incoming wave of the minimum propagation delay time. The timing delayed by previously set timing behind said reference timing is sent from receive timing calculation section 108 as the receive timing 113 of the incoming wave of the minimum propagation delay time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Tsunehara, Nobukazu Doi, Mikio Kuwahara, Tomoaki Ishifuji
  • Patent number: 7548183
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically disabling the TCAS Broadcast when aircraft join up in formation. A Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) determines if the aircraft is approaching formation flight with other aircraft or flying in formation with other aircraft and disables a TCAS interrogation signal if the aircraft is determined to be approaching a formation or flying in formation. The TCAS receives TCAS interrogation signals from one or more other aircraft and receives aircraft configuration information from one or more other aircraft systems. The TCAS determines the aircraft is approaching formation flight or flying in formation based on the received TCAS interrogation signals, a mode of TCAS operation, and/or the received aircraft configuration information. The TCAS also automatically switches into Traffic Advisory Only mode if the aircraft is determined to be approaching formation flight or flying in formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Larry D. King, Ruy C. Brandao, Amy K. Supple
  • Patent number: 7542928
    Abstract: According to the invention, a subscriber to a first satellite radio service can be provided with an option to receive, over their current receiver unit, supplemental content, such as a particular show or channel, which is otherwise only available within a relevant jurisdiction as part of a subscription package to subscribers of one or more other satellite radio services. Thus, without purchasing a full subscription to another service, the subscriber of the first satellite radio service may arrange to receive supplemental content that is otherwise only available as part of a subscription package, such as a basic or general subscription package, to subscription holders of one or more other services. The invention also provides methods of broadcasting and methods of configuring dedicated and interoperable satellite radio receiver units so that the supplemental content can be received by a subscriber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Consumer Satellite Radio, LLC
    Inventor: Paul Diamond
  • Patent number: 7433779
    Abstract: This method relates to the system of ATM air traffic management with cooperative aircraft provided with a flight management computer FMS, that are linked by a data transmission system ATN to the control authority and that have presented a flight plan to the control authority. It consists in communicating to the control authority via the ATN link, the projections SPWPi,j onto the flight plan LTFP of pseudo-waypoints PWPi,j introduced by the flight management computer FMS during lateral (between two segments of the flight plan) and/or vertical (between two breaks in slope) softened transitions performed by the aircraft at the time of the changes of instructions appearing in the flight plan LTFP. By virtue of this information, the control authority estimates more precisely the actual future position of the aircraft and the changes of instruction, thereby enabling it to increase the safety level in particular for the spacing and separation of traffic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Guy Deker, Dominique Vanypre
  • Publication number: 20080231495
    Abstract: A multipurpose peripheral device is operated with a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device includes a bus connection port. The multipurpose peripheral device includes a circuit carrier, at least two types of wireless signal-receiving/processing modules and a bus bridge module. The wireless signal-receiving/processing modules are disposed on the circuit carrier for receiving and processing corresponding wireless signals, thereby generating first signals and second signals. The bus bridge module is disposed on the circuit carrier and electrically connected to the wireless signal-receiving/processing modules and can be coupled to the bus connection port. The first signals and the second signals are transmitted from the wireless signal-receiving/processing modules to the portable electronic device through the bus bridge module and the bus connection port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: AVERMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jui-Hsiang Yang, Yuichiro Kuga, Kao-Yi Shen, Yung-Da Lin
  • Patent number: 7414567
    Abstract: A system and method of using a standard ADS-B transmitter and encoder to identify targets to provide a collision avoidance system, wherein the method includes the steps of providing a standard ADS-B transmitter and encoder, a phase modulator including a digital synthesizer, radio-frequency electronics, antennas, and a radar transceiver; synthesizing digital-based band signals from the ADS-B transmitter with additional random phase modulation using the digital synthesizer; using the antennas to both transmit and receive signals; and estimating angles-of-arrival for every target in a field-of-view. The method may include the steps of demodulating the signals received by the antennas, providing a digital signal processor, and performing matched filtering on received signals. The method may also include the step of estimating a target range of identified targets using the digital signal processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Intelligent Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Yan Zhang, Jinglu Qiao
  • Patent number: 7376247
    Abstract: A target detection system using an EHF radar and the image processing is disclosed, in which the processing time is shortened by mutually complementing the disadvantages of the EHF radar and the image processing thereby to improve the reliability. The system comprises a radar, an image acquisition unit and an image processing ECU. The microcomputer of the ECU specifies an image recognition area based on the power output from the radar, and carries out the image processing only within the specified recognition area for the image obtained from the image acquisition unit. By performing the image processing only for the area where a target is detected by the radar, the time required for image processing is shortened on the one hand and the erroneous detection of letters on the road surface or the like is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventors: Akihiro Ohta, Kenji Oka
  • Patent number: 7340277
    Abstract: An optical subscriber system according to the present invention has an adaptive antenna having a plurality of antenna elements, for controlling the weighting on the antenna elements thereby to radiate beams that are adapted to radio wave environments, a position estimator for estimating the position of a mobile unit, a beam combiner for weighting signals received from the mobile unit by the antenna elements and combining beams, and a weighting coefficient generator for correcting weighting coefficients adapted to radio wave environments, which give initial weights as weights to form nulls in bearings other than the mobile unit based on the position of the mobile unit which has been estimated by the position estimator, for thereby reducing a time required for convergence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7302338
    Abstract: In a navigational system for generating route recommendations and for target tracking, a system (500, 800) is proposed, which detects vehicle-, traffic-, and/or driver-related data and which from these data can derive patterns of behavior of the user. The patterns of behavior as well as the user preferences derived therefrom can then be used to apply individually adapted optimization criteria to the specific user in calculating the route. When patterns of behavior are detected that deviate from the usual behavior, the detection of sensor information can automatically be expanded in order, in a plausibility check, to establish causes for the deviations and to derive therefrom new user preferences, if appropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Petzold, Cornelis Hahlweg, Ulrich Kersken, Gerd Draeger
  • Patent number: 7280914
    Abstract: An instrumented navigation system for aiding a towboat and barge configuration in the entry and traversal of a lock located on a waterway or for navigation around other structures, such as bridge piers or docks. The system consists of wirelessly linked computers on the towboat and the lock which display navigational charts showing the position of the tows as they approach and enter the locks. The computers are also linked to sensors which send information, such as the speed and position of the tows, to the computers for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Port of Pittsburgh Commission
    Inventors: Juana Victoria Bulatao, Ty Leonard van den Akker, Enrique Bravo, Min Cheol Cho, Guogiang Pan, Richard Grace, Tridas Mukhopadhyay
  • Publication number: 20070194979
    Abstract: A navigational aid for use as an AIS apparatus includes a memory for storing information about previous use of individual time slots synchronized with transmission schedules of other stations and a signal detector for judging whether an information signal exists in a time slot specified in accordance with a synchronization timing signal based on the information stored in the memory and a result of monitoring of the behavior of a baseband signal obtained from a received signal on an IQ-plane. The navigational aid transmits information about own station based on a result of judgment by the signal detector. The monitoring of the behavior of the received baseband signal plotted on the IQ-plane can be accomplished by performing pattern recognition operation, for which a carrier sense technique, such as a support vector machine, subspace method or neural network, can be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: Furuno Electric Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasushi Hiraoka
  • Patent number: 7254369
    Abstract: Estimating the speed of movement of a mobile terminal includes estimating the impulse response of the transmission channel at a given instant, and estimating the time derivative of the estimated impulse response. Estimating the speed also includes determining of a ratio of the energy of the estimated impulse response to the energy of the estimated time derivative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics N.V.
    Inventor: David Chappaz
  • Patent number: 7161528
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of suppressing pulsed signals in particular of DME or TACAN type present in the radio signals received (Ue) by a radio-frequency receiver, characterized in that the reception frequency band of the receiver is divided into frequency sub-bands corresponding to the transmission channels of the pulsed signals, in that the presence of the pulsed signals and the transmission channel of said pulsed signals in the frequency sub-bands are detected, and in that the frequency sub-band comprising the detected pulsed signals is filtered over the duration of the pulsed signal so as to eliminate said pulsed signals pulse type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Estelle Kirby, Alain Renard
  • Patent number: 7116266
    Abstract: A traffic alert and collision and avoidance system (TCAS) is disclosed. The TCAS comprises a first transponder and a first interrogator associated with a first aircraft. The first transponder sends an interrogation request. The TCAS also comprises a second transponder associated with a second aircraft. The second transponder responds to the interrogation request. The response comprises enhanced surveillance data that was asked for in the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Vesel, Robert H. Saffell