With Transmission To A Remote Station Patents (Class 342/58)
  • Patent number: 11858628
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle that is equipped with image capture devices can use information gathered from the image capture devices to plan a future three-dimensional (3D) trajectory through a physical environment. To this end, a technique is described for image-space based motion planning. In an embodiment, a planned 3D trajectory is projected into an image-space of an image captured by the autonomous vehicle. The planned 3D trajectory is then optimized according to a cost function derived from information (e.g., depth estimates) in the captured image. The cost function associates higher cost values with identified regions of the captured image that are associated with areas of the physical environment into which travel is risky or otherwise undesirable. The autonomous vehicle is thereby encouraged to avoid these areas while satisfying other motion planning objectives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Skydio, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan David Kennedy, Peter Benjamin Henry, Hayk Martirosyan, Jack Louis Zhu, Abraham Galton Bachrach, Adam Parker Bry
  • Patent number: 11787543
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle that is equipped with image capture devices can use information gathered from the image capture devices to plan a future three-dimensional (3D) trajectory through a physical environment. To this end, a technique is described for image-space based motion planning. In an embodiment, a planned 3D trajectory is projected into an image-space of an image captured by the autonomous vehicle. The planned 3D trajectory is then optimized according to a cost function derived from information (e.g., depth estimates) in the captured image. The cost function associates higher cost values with identified regions of the captured image that are associated with areas of the physical environment into which travel is risky or otherwise undesirable. The autonomous vehicle is thereby encouraged to avoid these areas while satisfying other motion planning objectives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Skydio, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan David Kennedy, Peter Benjamin Henry, Hayk Martirosyan, Jack Louis Zhu, Abraham Galton Bachrach, Adam Parker Bry
  • Patent number: 11630292
    Abstract: An optical scanning microscope includes an illumination system having a light source portion emanating from a light source, first and second polarizing beam splitters, and first and second optical channels disposed between the beam splitters. The light source portion is configured to emit a first illumination light beam comprising light of a first main polarization direction and of a second main polarization direction. The first beam splitter is configured to guide the light primarily into the first and channels, respectively. The second beam splitter is configured to form a second illumination light beam from light of the first and second main polarization directions from the first channel and second channels, respectively. The first and second channels are configured to emit the light of the first and second main polarization directions from the first and second channels, respectively, so as to have different types of convergence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Schumann, Albrecht Weiss, Tobias Bauer, Cornell Peter Gonschior
  • Patent number: 11592844
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle that is equipped with image capture devices can use information gathered from the image capture devices to plan a future three-dimensional (3D) trajectory through a physical environment. To this end, a technique is described for image-space based motion planning. In an embodiment, a planned 3D trajectory is projected into an image-space of an image captured by the autonomous vehicle. The planned 3D trajectory is then optimized according to a cost function derived from information (e.g., depth estimates) in the captured image. The cost function associates higher cost values with identified regions of the captured image that are associated with areas of the physical environment into which travel is risky or otherwise undesirable. The autonomous vehicle is thereby encouraged to avoid these areas while satisfying other motion planning objectives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Skydio, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan David Kennedy, Peter Benjamin Henry, Hayk Martirosyan, Jack Louis Zhu, Abraham Galton Bachrach, Adam Parker Bry
  • Patent number: 11592845
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle that is equipped with image capture devices can use information gathered from the image capture devices to plan a future three-dimensional (3D) trajectory through a physical environment. To this end, a technique is described for image-space based motion planning. In an embodiment, a planned 3D trajectory is projected into an image-space of an image captured by the autonomous vehicle. The planned 3D trajectory is then optimized according to a cost function derived from information (e.g., depth estimates) in the captured image. The cost function associates higher cost values with identified regions of the captured image that are associated with areas of the physical environment into which travel is risky or otherwise undesirable. The autonomous vehicle is thereby encouraged to avoid these areas while satisfying other motion planning objectives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Skydio, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan David Kennedy, Peter Benjamin Henry, Hayk Martirosyan, Jack Louis Zhu, Abraham Galton Bachrach, Adam Parker Bry
  • Patent number: 11347244
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle that is equipped with image capture devices can use information gathered from the image capture devices to plan a future three-dimensional (3D) trajectory through a physical environment. To this end, a technique is described for image-space based motion planning. In an embodiment, a planned 3D trajectory is projected into an image-space of an image captured by the autonomous vehicle. The planned 3D trajectory is then optimized according to a cost function derived from information (e.g., depth estimates) in the captured image. The cost function associates higher cost values with identified regions of the captured image that are associated with areas of the physical environment into which travel is risky or otherwise undesirable. The autonomous vehicle is thereby encouraged to avoid these areas while satisfying other motion planning objectives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Skydio, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan David Kennedy, Peter Benjamin Henry, Hayk Martirosyan, Jack Louis Zhu, Abraham Galton Bachrach, Adam Parker Bry
  • Patent number: 10796585
    Abstract: A method and device provide a rotorcraft operator with real-time information concerning acoustic radiation on a region of the ground in the vicinity of the rotorcraft. A noise radiation model and at least one measured flight variable determine a high noise region on the ground that is bounded by a predefined noise level threshold. The method/device may include a display showing the high noise region and the position of the rotorcraft on a map. The rotorcraft operator may also be provided with real-time Blade-Vortex Interaction (“BVI”) avoidance guidance while the rotorcraft is in flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA
    Inventor: Eric Greenwood
  • Patent number: 10599161
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle that is equipped with image capture devices can use information gathered from the image capture devices to plan a future three-dimensional (3D) trajectory through a physical environment. To this end, a technique is described for image-space based motion planning. In an embodiment, a planned 3D trajectory is projected into an image-space of an image captured by the autonomous vehicle. The planned 3D trajectory is then optimized according to a cost function derived from information (e.g., depth estimates) in the captured image. The cost function associates higher cost values with identified regions of the captured image that are associated with areas of the physical environment into which travel is risky or otherwise undesirable. The autonomous vehicle is thereby encouraged to avoid these areas while satisfying other motion planning objectives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: SKYDIO, INC.
    Inventors: Ryan David Kennedy, Peter Benjamin Henry, Hayk Martirosyan, Jack Louis Zhu, Abraham Galton Bachrach, Adam Parker Bry
  • Patent number: 9723994
    Abstract: An object information acquisition apparatus, configured to receive an acoustic wave from an object and acquire characteristic information of the object, includes a receiver configured to receive the acoustic wave and convert the received acoustic wave into an electric signal, a scan control unit configured to scan the receiver at least in one direction, and a display control unit configured to produce guide information for displaying a guide on a display unit, wherein the guide is in terms of the number of times the receiver is scanned in a first direction and wherein the guide information is produced using information associated with a specified region defined by a user as a region in which characteristic information is to be acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadaki Watanabe, Koichiro Wanda
  • Patent number: 9354305
    Abstract: A method for producing at least information for track association and fusion includes: collecting measurement values of targets for each sensing period; predicting state variables for the targets and error covariances for the state variables by using the collected measurement values and tracking the targets by using a reformed target tracking algorithm; transmitting track information including only data of the error covariance largest occupied among the error covariances to a fusion center; calculating similarity between the pre-stored fused track and the transmitted track information; sorting the track information by using the calculated similarity; and carrying out the track fusion based on the sorted track information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: AGENCY FOR DEFENSE DEVELOPMENT
    Inventors: Taeklyul Song, Jeonhee Yoo, Seungjin Park, Hyoekjin Choi
  • Patent number: 9272782
    Abstract: A tethering system for a remote-controlled device includes a tether line having a first end adapted to be connected to a ground support and a second end adapted to be connected to the remote-controlled device. The system further includes an anchor-point disposed between the first and second ends of the tether line, the anchor point having an eyelet for securing the tether line and allowing the tether line to slide through the eyelet during use. The anchor-point and eyelet enable the tether line to flex or bend and the remote-controlled device to maneuver one or more of over or around the target area without interfering with any nearby obstructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: James M. Freeman, Roger D. Schmidgall, Brian N. Harvey, Nathan L. Tofte
  • Patent number: 9234963
    Abstract: A method of locating a weapon includes detecting a weapon firing event with an optical sensor, the detected weapon firing event indicative of a detected firing of the weapon and indicative of a detected time of the weapon firing event. The method also includes detecting a projectile fired from the weapon with a radar system. The method also includes calculating a state vector associated with the projectile detection. The method also includes identifying a location of the weapon by backtracking the state vector to the detected time of the weapon firing event time. The method also includes communicating the location of the weapon. A system that implements the method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Thales-Raytheon Systems Company LLC
    Inventor: James W. Rakeman
  • Patent number: 9102405
    Abstract: The invention aims to transfer a substantial volume of high-quality, high-volume real-time data, which currently cannot be achieved by wireless techniques, between a mobile airborne observation platform and the ground station via a tethered fiber connection between said platform and said ground station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Princetel Inc.
    Inventors: Boying B. Zhang, Zelei Guan, Hong Zhang, Louis D. Violante
  • Patent number: 9019083
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a remote control device is configured to receive a portable control device into a recess, such that the portable control device is mechanically and electrically coupled to the remote control device. The portable control device communicates with a programmable multimedia controller, by way of a bi-directional wireless communication path, and with a dedicated wireless receiver, providing a redundant communication path. The remote control device includes surface enhanced buttons that allow a user to make selections by the sense of touch for changing settings of components associated with the programmable multimedia controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Savant Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Peter H. Corsini, Timothy R. Locascio, Michael E. Noonan, Michael C. Silva
  • Patent number: 9002347
    Abstract: A radar/laser emission detector is augmented with a cellular communications capability to provide the capability to share emission detection information amongst drivers to give other drivers even more advanced warning. A network of a plurality of cellular augmented radar/laser emission detector devices may be formed, each having the capability to source the location of radar or laser emission detections to others requesting access to such information, and each being warned when within a proximity of a recent radar or laser emission detection reported by at least one of the plurality of hybrid radar/laser detector devices. A local area, mobile area wireless network (MAWN) is formed in a cellular network to share radar/laser detection information among drivers. Mobile Position Centers (MPCs) are provided in ANSI-41 networks and Gateway Mobile Location Centers (GMLCs) (GSM networks), to determine other members that are proximate to a device that is detecting radar emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance Douglas Pitt, Daniel D. DeLapp, Sarah Jean Lawrence
  • Patent number: 8958789
    Abstract: An optical medium, such as fiber, is tapped to provide an antenna port wherever radio service coverage is desired. Each antenna port is a bi-directional remote unit that receives a digital optical signal from a host unit and transforms the signal to a radio frequency signal for transmission by the remote unit. The remote unit receives radio frequency signals that are converted to digital signals and summed with signals from other remote units and converted to an optical signal for transmission to the host unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Bauman, Philip M. Wala, Jeffrey O. Brennan
  • Patent number: 8774946
    Abstract: An approach for automatically generating system asset inventory discrepancies and matches and for identifying system asset accuracy information based on comparison of asset data in subsystems thereof, and for providing a list of actual assets based on comparison of trouble ticket information and a cumulative matching data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Lakshmi Nrusimhan N.V., Priyanka G. Sriraghavan
  • Patent number: 8730088
    Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein include systems and methods for accurately scheduling radar and radio events against each other. Specifically, a scheduling manager can schedule radar events based on scheduled radio events (wireless network communication events). A given radio schedule for a compact radar sensor can be a relatively complicated schedule, especially when the compact radar sensor operates as part of an ad hoc network. In certain embodiments, the scheduling manager identifies a radio transmission schedule of neighboring radar nodes or compact radar sensor units. Such a radio transmission schedule of neighboring nodes can include information on when neighboring nodes will be receiving or transmitting data. The scheduling manager then schedules radar events to be executed by the radar device at available times, or at times that do not overlap with scheduled radio events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon BBN Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Milligan, Jason Redi, Jonathan Fisher, Daniel Sumorok, Steven W. Weeks
  • Patent number: 8723721
    Abstract: A multistatic radar surveillance system includes transmitter elements and receiver elements arranged according to a zone to be monitored, and a command and control unit that configures the elements and collects information relating to objects detected by the receiver elements. Each transmitter element transmits a signal, the bandwidth of which is substantially equal to the totality of a frequency band B allocated to the system. Each transmitter element transmits a common waveform to all of the transmitter elements, and the waveform is modulated by a binary signal specific to the element in question, this signal allowing each of the receiver elements receiving a signal to identify the transmitter element at the source of this signal. The coding applied to the waveform is defined so that the spread spectrum caused to the signal transmitted by the latter does not exceed the frequency band B allocated to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Michel Moruzzis, Daniel Muller, Jean-Marie Ferrier
  • Patent number: 8515414
    Abstract: A radar/laser emission detector is augmented with a cellular communications capability to provide the capability to share emission detection information amongst drivers to give other drivers even more advanced warning. A network of a plurality of cellular augmented radar/laser emission detector devices may be formed, each having the capability to source the location of radar or laser emission detections to others requesting access to such information, and each being warned when within a proximity of a recent radar or laser emission detection reported by at least one of the plurality of hybrid radar/laser detector devices. A local area, mobile area wireless network (MAWN) is formed in a cellular network to share radar/laser detection information among drivers. Mobile Position Centers (MPCs) are provided in ANSI-41 networks and Gateway Mobile Location Centers (GMLCs) (GSM networks), to determine other members that are proximate to a device that is detecting radar emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance Douglas Pitt, Daniel D. DeLapp, Sarah Jean Lawrence
  • Patent number: 8384585
    Abstract: A real-time radar surveillance system comprises at least one land-based non-coherent radar sensor apparatus adapted for detecting maneuvering targets and targets of small or low radar cross-section. The radar sensor apparatus includes a marine radar device, a digitizer connected to the marine radar device for receiving therefrom samples of radar video echo signals, and computer programmed to implement a software-configurable radar processor generating target data including detection data and track data, the computer being connectable to a computer network including a database. The processor is figured to transmit at least a portion of the target data over the network to the database, the database being accessible via the network by at least one user application that receives target data from the database, the user application providing a user interface for at least one user of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Accipiter Radar Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nohara, Al-Nasir Premji, Andrew M. Ukrainec, Peter T Weber, Graeme S. Jones, Carl E. Krasnor
  • Patent number: 8374737
    Abstract: A low visibility landing system is provided for guiding aircraft on landing approaches. The low visibility landing system may aid a pilot during landing in low visibility conditions such that an aircraft may descend to lower altitudes without visual contact with the runway than is possible with other landing systems. The system may use various navigational systems to produce a hybrid signal that may be more stable than individual signals of those navigational systems. The hybrid signal is compared to a predetermined landing approach plan to determine the deviation of the aircraft from the landing approach plan and to provide guidance to the pilot to get the aircraft back onto the landing approach plan. The system may also use multiple navigational systems to perform checks on an operation of a primary navigational system to ensure that the primary navigational system is operating accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Takacs, Gary M. Freeman, Glenn L. Connor
  • Patent number: 8362946
    Abstract: A short range millimeter wave surface imaging radar system. The system includes electronics adapted to produce millimeter wave radiation scanned over a frequency range of a few gigahertz. The scanned millimeter wave radiation is broadcast through a frequency scanned transmit antenna to produce a narrow transmit beam in a first scanned direction (such as the vertical direction) corresponding to the scanned millimeter wave frequencies. The transmit antenna is scanned to transmit beam in a second direction perpendicular to the first scanned direction (such as the horizontal or the azimuthal direction) so as to define a two-dimensional field of view. Reflected millimeter wave radiation is collected in a receive frequency scanned antenna co-located (or approximately co-located) with the transmit antenna and adapted to produce a narrow receive beam approximately co-directed in the same directions as the transmitted beam in approximately the same field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Trex Enterprises Corp.
    Inventors: Grant Bishop, John A. Lovberg, Vladimir Kolinko
  • Patent number: 8362948
    Abstract: A long range millimeter wave imaging radar system. Preferred embodiments are positioned to detect foreign object debris objects on surface of the runway, taxiways and other areas of interest. The system includes electronics adapted to produce millimeter wave radiation scanned over a frequency range of a few gigahertz. The scanned millimeter wave radiation is broadcast through a frequency scanned antenna to produce a narrow scanned transmit beam in a first scanned direction (such as the vertical direction) defining a narrow, approximately one dimensional, electronically scanned field of view corresponding to the scanned millimeter wave frequencies. The antenna is mechanically pivoted or scanned in a second scanned direction perpendicular to the first scanned direction so as to define a two-dimensional field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Trex Enterprises Corp
    Inventors: Vladimir Kolinko, Chris Sexton, Grant Bishop, John Lovberg
  • Patent number: 8321070
    Abstract: In order to target and intercept a desired object within a number of objects detected in an environment, detection data is received from two different sensors, where the detection data includes spatial coordinates. A set of four-point subsets (tetrahedra) are selected from each set of spatial coordinates. A number of correlation maps are determined between the first set of spatial coordinates and the second set of spatial coordinates based on the plurality of four-point subsets. The mean sphericity for each corresponding plurality of four-point subsets in the plurality of correlation maps is determined, and a threat object map based on the correlation map having the greatest mean sphericity is created. The desired object is targeted based on the correlation map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Steven J. Manson
  • Patent number: 8242952
    Abstract: Presented is a system and method for eliminating spurious data in radar cross section (RCS) data. The system and method receives RCS data, and determines an expected number of scattering centers for an object of interest in said RCS data. The RCS data is processed to remove a plurality of frequency components in said RCS data based at least in part upon said expected number of scattering centers, and the RCS data is reconstructed without said plurality of frequency components to produce a reconstructed RCS data for the object of interest. In an embodiment, the TLS-Prony transform is used to transform the RCS data into a set of damped frequency components and coefficients, which are then constrained to the expected number of scattering centers in the known object using a TLS-Prong linear prediction order, and the order of the frequency components is varied until the order yields a least-error approximation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Samuel Allan Barr
  • Patent number: 8180341
    Abstract: A communication system for supporting communications with a target market area. The system includes one or more solar-powered aircraft maintained in, or successively passing through, flight stations or flight patterns around the market area. Each of the aircraft targets limited beamwidth communication antennas on a substantial portion of the target market area. The control system is configured to fly selective flight patterns depending on the aircraft characteristics and the flight conditions. The flight patterns may emphasize high-power-generation patterns such as flying away from the sun for aircraft with wing-mounted solar cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: AeroVironment Inc.
    Inventors: Bart D. Hibbs, Earl C. Cox
  • Patent number: 8170797
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for estimating behaviors of a vehicle are provided. At least two GPS antennas are located along a longitudinal axis of a vehicle so that speed vectors at the positions where the GPS antennas are located can be determined based on GPS signals received by the GPS antennas. The speed vectors are known to be estimated with high accuracy based on the GPS signals. The positions of the GPS antennas on the local coordinate system are estimated based on such highly accurate speed vectors, so that the estimated positions may also have high accuracy. Based on a line connecting these highly accurate positions of the GPS antennas, an inclination of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle is estimated. Use of the high-accuracy speed vectors enables high-accuracy estimation on the positions of the GPS antennas and the vehicle direction on the local coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Okada, Mamoru Sawada, Takehito Fujii, Hiromichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8085182
    Abstract: Weather information recording systems and methods are operable to record information detected by airborne aircraft. An exemplary embodiment generates a trigger event corresponding to the presence of weather of interest, stores weather information collected by an aviation electronics system in a memory in response to generating the trigger event, and downloads the stored weather information to a remote memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Donald C. Kauffman
  • Patent number: 8044839
    Abstract: In a CW radar system for detecting motion behind a wall involving modulation of the radar transmission, means are provided to interrupt the CW wave when motion is detected and to use the same radar transmitter to transmit a serial digital message to a remote monitoring receiver. The encoding can include a receiver wakeup message to turn on the receiver only when motion has been detected. In one embodiment, a microprocessor is used to detect when motion exists behind a wall and to provide a tailorable message to modulate the radar's transmitter in the period when the CW signal from the radar is turned off after motion detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Eldon M. Sutphin
  • Patent number: 7978610
    Abstract: A method for asynchronous transmission of communication data between periodically blanked terminals separated by an unknown distance is disclosed. A bursted signal is transmitted from a first terminal with a burst time tB and a burst cycle period T. The bursted signal is received at a second terminal. A bursted response signal is transmitted from the second terminal to the first terminal. The bursted response signal has a burst cycle period of T/2 and includes a pair of response bursts, with each burst in the pair having a burst time tA?T/2?tB. Each burst in the pair of response bursts carries an identical data payload. At least one of the response bursts is received at the first terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corp.
    Inventors: William K. McIntire, Larry S. Thomson, John J. Carver, II
  • Patent number: 7965222
    Abstract: A radar/laser emission detector is augmented with a cellular communications capability to provide the capability to share emission detection information amongst drivers to give other drivers even more advanced warning. A network of a plurality of cellular augmented radar/laser emission detector devices may be formed, each having the capability to source the location of radar or laser emission detections to others requesting access to such information, and each being warned when within a proximity of a recent radar or laser emission detection reported by at least one of the plurality of hybrid radar/laser detector devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance Douglas Pitt, Sarah Jean Lawrence, Daniel D. DeLapp
  • 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: 7801521
    Abstract: An antenna arrangement, method, and cellular communications system for transmitting and receiving signals between a base station tower, ground-based mobile subscribers, and an aircraft. The antenna arrangement includes a vertically oriented array of antenna elements, and a feedline arrangement that feeds the antenna elements with progressively phase-retarded signals, thereby generating an elevated antenna beam directed upward toward the aircraft and away from the ground-based mobile subscribers. In one embodiment, the antenna arrangement also generates a horizontal antenna beam for communicating with the ground-based subscribers. The horizontal beam and the elevated beam are sufficiently separated in elevation to prevent mutual interference when using the same frequency spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
    Inventor: Paul Wilkinson Dent
  • Patent number: 7800527
    Abstract: The system and method for standoff detection of human carried explosives (HCE) automatically detects HCE (112) up to a range of (200) meters and within seconds alerts an operator to HCE (112) threats. The system (100) has radar only, or both radar and video sensors, a multi-sensor processor (102), an operator console (120), handheld displays (122), and a wideband wireless communications link. The processor (102) receives radar and video feeds and automatically tracks and detects all humans (110) in the field of view. Track data continuously cues the narrow beam radar (118) to a subject of interest (110), (112) the radar (106), (108) repeatedly interrogating cued objects (110), (112), producing a multi-polarity radar range profile for each interrogation event. Range profiles and associated features are automatically fused over time until sufficient evidence is accrued to support a threat/non-threat declaration hypothesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Inventors: Robert J. Douglass, John D. Gorman, Thomas J. Burns
  • Patent number: 7764219
    Abstract: A radar/laser emission detector is augmented with a cellular communications capability to provide the capability to share emission detection information amongst drivers to give other drivers even more advanced warning. A network of a plurality of cellular augmented radar/laser emission detector devices may be formed, each having the capability to source the location of radar or laser emission detections to others requesting access to such information, and each being warned when within a proximity of a recent radar or laser emission detection reported by at least one of the plurality of hybrid radar/laser detector devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lance Douglas Pitt, Sarah Jean Lawrence, Daniel D. DeLapp
  • Patent number: 7714768
    Abstract: Provided is a non-statistical method for compressing and decompressing complex SAR data derived from reflected energy. The method includes selecting a first FFT to provide a target ratio of pixel spacing to resolution. A second FFT is then selected which is smaller than the first FFT. The data is zero-padded to fill the second FFT and transformed to provide at least one transfer frequency. This transfer frequency is then transferred to the at least one remote site. At the remote site the second FFT is inverted to restore the data from the received transfer frequency. The restored data is then zero-padded again to fill the first FFT. The first FFT is then used to transform the zero-padded restored data to provide a data set of points with the target ratio of pixel spacing to resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Jon H. Sherman, John P. Kilkelly, Helen L. Sun, Ralph E. Hudson
  • Patent number: 7633426
    Abstract: In a CW radar system for detecting motion behind a wall (12) involving modulation of the radar transmission, means (34) are provided to interrupt the CW wave when motion is detected and to use the same radar transmitter (30) to transmit a serial digital message to a remote monitoring receiver (34). The encoding can include a receiver wakeup message to turn on the receive only when motion has been detected. In one embodiment, a microprocessor (28) is used to detect when motion exists behind a wall and to provide a tailorable message to modulate the radar's transmitter in the period when the CW signal from the radar is turned off after the motion detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Eldon M. Sutphin
  • Patent number: 7602329
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods of tracking and/or avoiding harm to certain devices or humans. According to one exemplary embodiment, a method of tracking individual assets may include obtaining position data of an asset via a GPS receiver in communication with a position sensor associated with the asset, processing position data and sensor data via a processing component associated with the position sensor that receives the position data from the GPS receiver, and communicating sensor data to a host device via a communication interface associated with the position sensor and configured to enable wireless communication between the position sensor and the host device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Shotspotter, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Manderville, Kevin Baxter, Fred Holmes, Ken Fisher
  • Patent number: 7592944
    Abstract: A system and method for highly selective intrusion detection using a sparse array of ultra wideband (UWB) radars. Two or more UWB radars are arranged in a sparse array around an area to be protected. Each UWB radar transmits ultra wideband pulses that illuminate the area to be protected. Signal return data is processed to determine, among other things, whether an alarm condition has been triggered. High resolution radar images are formed that give an accurate picture of the area to be protected. This image is used to detect motion in a highly selective manner and to track moving objects within the protected area. Motion can be distinguished based on criteria appropriate to the environment in which the intrusion detection system operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Time Domain Corporation
    Inventors: Larry W. Fullerton, James L. Richards, Mark D. Roberts, Brandon S. Dewberry
  • Patent number: 7579989
    Abstract: Process and system for the location of emitters in the radar frequency range on the basis of cross position-finding by at least two flying platforms with, in each case, at least one passive HF sensor for ascertaining the geometrical and electronic properties of the emitter beams, whereby the flying platforms mutually exchange data for describing the geometrical and electronic properties of the emitter beams, and whereby from the plurality of the position-finding beams' possible intersection points, which arise from the emitter surveying operation, use is made, in order to determine the emitter position, of those intersection points at which the electronic properties of the intersecting emitter beams are identical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Winterling, Benjamin Benninghofen
  • Patent number: 7551121
    Abstract: The multi-target tracking and discrimination system (MOST) fuses with and augments existing BMDS sensor systems. Integrated devices include early warning radars, X-band radars, Lidar, DSP, and MOST which coordinates all the data received from all sources through a command center and deploys the GBI for successful interception of an object detected anywhere in space, for example, warheads. The MOST system integrates the optics for rapid detection and with the optical sensor array delivers high-speed, high accuracy positional information to radar systems and also identifies decoys. MOST incorporates space situational awareness, aero-optics, adaptive optics, and Lidar technologies. The components include telescopes or other optical systems, focal plane arrays including high-speed wavefront sensors or other focal plane detector arrays, wavefront sensor technology developed to mitigate aero-optic effects, distributed network of optical sensors, high-accuracy positional metrics, data fusion, and tracking mounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Oceanit Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel G. O'Connell, Ken C. K. Cheung
  • Patent number: 7538713
    Abstract: A method for transmitting bursts of data from a communications terminal to a mobile radar transceiver having inter-burst periods is disclosed. The method includes determining a propagation time between the communications terminal and mobile radar transceiver. A length of inter-burst periods of the mobile radar transceiver having an inter-burst timing can be determined. Bursts of data having a communication burst period that is less than the inter-burst period can be formed. The bursts of data from the communications terminal can be transmitted at a transmission time based on the inter-burst timing and the propagation time to enable each burst of data to be received by the mobile radar transceiver during one of the inter-burst periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: L-3 Communications, Corp.
    Inventors: Larry S. Thomson, William K. McIntire, David H. Robbins, James J. Boesch
  • Patent number: 7515091
    Abstract: A method and system for communicating using pulsed radar signal data links is disclosed. The method comprises encoding downlink data with a signature sequence as a secondary function onto a continuous wave pulse signal having a primary function at a master device. The data-encoded pulse signal from the master device is interpreted at one or more slave devices configured to receive the pulse signal within a first communications bandwidth of the primary and secondary functions. The master device synchronizes returning communication transmissions from each of the one or more slave devices for the secondary function within a prescribed return interval of the primary function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Meyers, Michael R. Franceschini, James A. Freebersyser
  • Patent number: 7489264
    Abstract: An electronic counter measures solution. Jamming signals are emitted towards a threat to improve chances of survival for at least two vehicles, which are physically separated from one another, however associated with one another in a group. Each of the at least two vehicles receives a wireless time reference signal from an external resource. The vehicles exchange messages over a wireless data link. The messages pertain to usage of at least one electronic warfare resource in each vehicle. Based on the messages and the time reference signal the usage of at least one first electronic warfare resource in a first vehicle is coordinated with the usage of at least one second electronic warfare resource in a second vehicle, such that a particular type of jamming signal is emitted alternately either from the at least one first resource or from the at least one second resource, essentially without any overlaps or gaps in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventors: Niklas Ferm, Thomas Lindvall
  • Patent number: 7474250
    Abstract: Weather radar reflectivity data is compressed by converting radar data to image pixels. Next, contours are traced from select groupings of the pixels. Control points are derived from the contours. The control points represent a compressed version of the radar data and may be used to recreate and fill the contours with predefined colors or effects for purposes of visually depicting weather phenomena.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Vishnu V. Makkapati, Pravas R. Mahapatra
  • Patent number: 7474254
    Abstract: A radar system including a base unit and a radar sensor. The sensor steers a beam in a scanning or tracking manner in both azimuth and elevation. Steering control in azimuth and elevation may be achieved based on configuration settings in the radar sensor processor. The pan-tilt setting may be configured remotely at the base unit. The sensor may include a camera to take panoramic images of the terrain surrounding the sensor, as well as objects-of-interest detected by the system. The sensor is able to transmit radar return information and camera images to the base unit. The base unit is able to display panoramic images and superimpose graphics illustrating a scan profile of the sensor in relationship to the surroundings. The beam steering profile can be controlled by graphically manipulating the profile on the display. This allows configuration of the scanning or tracking profile based on the sensor surroundings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Innovonix, LLC.
    Inventors: Walter J. White, Daniel A. Lotocky
  • Patent number: 7460059
    Abstract: Interfering clutter in radar pulses received by an airborne radar system from a radar transponder can be suppressed by developing a representation of the incoming echo-voltage time-series that permits the clutter associated with predetermined parts of the time-series to be estimated. These estimates can be used to estimate and suppress the clutter associated with other parts of the time-series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Richard C. Ormesher, Robert M. Axline
  • Patent number: RE41153
    Abstract: A field unit for warning of a danger of collision between an aircraft and an obstacle, in particular a topographical ground obstacle or an obstacle formed by a mast, building or aerial cable structure, comprises a multi-part tubular mast having devices for fixing a solar panel and a radar antenna; an elongate radar antenna in an environment-protective casing, which, with an electronics unit, forms a radar system for synthesized radar detection of an aircraft in a radar coverage area; a central processing unit for identifying on the basis of information from the radar system an aircraft which is in a zone of the radar coverage area and which on the basis of radar information such as direction, distance and/or speed computes a collision danger area; and a high-intensity light system and radio transmitter system that can be activated by the central processing unit upon detection of an aircraft in a collision danger area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: OCAS AS
    Inventors: Morten Mork, Rolf Bakken
  • Patent number: RE42708
    Abstract: A field unit for warning of a danger of collision between an aircraft and an obstacle, in particular a topographical ground obstacle or an obstacle formed by a mast, building or aerial cable structure, comprises a multi-part tubular mast having devices for fixing a solar panel and a radar antenna; an elongate radar antenna in an environment-protective casing, which, with an electronics unit, forms a radar system for synthesized radar detection of an aircraft in a radar coverage area; a central processing unit for identifying on the basis of information from the radar system an aircraft which is in a zone of the radar coverage area and which on the basis of radar information such as direction, distance and/or speed computes a collision danger area; and a high-intensity light system and radio transmitter system that can be activated by the central processing unit upon detection of an aircraft in a collision danger area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: OCAS AS
    Inventors: Morten Mark, Rolf Bakken