Return Signal Controls Radar System Patents (Class 342/73)
  • Patent number: 11888215
    Abstract: An antenna system for a mobile communications base station and a method of operating a communications network including a base station is described. The antenna system includes an antenna array for beamforming and is configured either as a radar sensor, a communications antenna or a combined radar sensor. A radar image may be used to determine a map of objects in the vicinity of the antenna system and to adapt the beam-steering or beamforming of the antenna system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Paul Mattheijssen, Konstantinos Doris, Dominicus Martinus Wilhelmus Leenaerts, Mark Tomesen
  • Patent number: 11860267
    Abstract: A method for interpolated virtual aperture array radar tracking includes: transmitting first and second probe signals; receiving a first reflected probe signal at a radar array; receiving a second reflected probe signal at the radar array; calculating a target range from at least one of the first and second reflected probe signals; corresponding signal instances of the first reflected probe signal to physical receiver elements of the radar array; corresponding signal instances of the second reflected probe signal to virtual elements of the radar array; interpolating signal instances; calculating a first target angle; and calculating a position of the tracking target relative to the radar array from the target range and first target angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Ambarella International LP
    Inventors: Lang Hong, Steven Hong
  • Patent number: 9981660
    Abstract: Operating a host vehicle is described as including identifying remote vehicle information indicating at least a geospatial state for a remote vehicle and identifying host vehicle information indicating at least a geospatial state for the host vehicle. For a sequence of sampling points, a distance between the remote vehicle and the host vehicle within a transportation network is determined based on the remote vehicle information and the host vehicle information, an angle from a centerline extending from the host vehicle for the distance is calculated, the angle varying as a function of the distance, and a conically-shaped zone is determined using the angle. Responsive to the remote vehicle being located within the conically-shaped zone, the host vehicle is operated based on the remote vehicle being in a lane in which the host vehicle is traveling. The host vehicle is behind the remote vehicle in a direction of travel. A method, vehicle, and apparatus are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Damiani, Roy Goudy, Neal Probert
  • Patent number: 9596050
    Abstract: A communication system includes an omnidirectional antenna, a beam antenna and a controller. The omnidirectional antenna receives a wideband primary signal and the beam antenna is oriented towards a jammer to receive a jamming signal. The controller subtracts a processed jamming signal from a processed wideband primary signal to produce a jamming cancelled signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Louis Zinser, Michael Joseph Dell'Anno
  • Patent number: 9024805
    Abstract: Methods and systems of determining the altitude of an aircraft are provided. The method includes receiving data associated with aircraft position, a position of a first point and a second point on the runway, and an altitude of the first point and the second point, radar returns from the runway. The method includes determining a first range and second range between the aircraft, and the first point and the second point. The method includes determining a first angle and a second angle between the first point and second point, and the aircraft. The method includes determining a corrected angle. The method includes determining the altitude of the aircraft based on the corrected angle, the runway altitude of at least one of the first point and the second point, and at least one of the first range and the second range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Jinkins, Daniel L. Woodell, Richard M. Rademaker
  • Publication number: 20150102956
    Abstract: A targetless tracking device has a detector configured to receive scattered radiation indicative of the presence of an object. The device also has a processor which is configured to calculate a positional relationship between the device and the object based on the scattered radiation, receive an indication of a desired positional relationship to the object, and output an error signal indicative of the positional relationship versus the desired positional relationship so that the device position is able to be controlled to reduce the error signal. The processor creates first and second images at first and second points in time, respectively, and compares the first and second images in order to calculate the positional relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Russ Miles
  • Patent number: 8970429
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a system (10) and a method for tracking one or more targets by a radar using a multiple hypothesis tracking (MHT) algorithm, the method including operating the radar to transmit a radar beam from a first location toward the one or more targets, operating the radar to receive a plurality of return signals at the first location from the one or more targets, and to generate a plurality of observations for a single radar dwell respectively corresponding to the plurality of return signals, and processing the plurality of observations in accordance with the MHT algorithm for at least two passes such that more than one of the plurality of observations are associated with a single track of the one or more targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Catherine Pickle, Samuel S. Blackman, Douglas B. Tyler
  • Patent number: 8963766
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a target tracking apparatus calculates N-dimensional predicted values from a respective stored (N+1)-dimensional tracks for each of the targets, determines whether or not the N-dimensional predicted value for each of the targets is correlated with the received N-dimensional angle observed value for the target, if the N-dimensional predicted value is not correlated, generates a new (N+1)-dimensional track for the target based on the N-dimensional track corresponding to the N-dimensional angle observed value and if the N-dimensional predicted value is correlated, updates and stores the (N+1)-dimensional track using the N-dimensional angle observed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Furukawa
  • Patent number: 8930063
    Abstract: A vehicle system and method that can determine object sensor misalignment while a host vehicle is being driven, and can do so without requiring multiple sensors with overlapping fields-of-view. In an exemplary embodiment where the host vehicle is traveling in generally a straight line, the present method uses an object sensor to track the path of a stationary object as it moves through the sensor's field-of-view and compares the sensed object path to an expected object pat*h. If the sensed and expected paths of the stationary object deviate by more than some amount, then the method determines that the object sensor is skewed or otherwise misaligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Gandhi, Satish Rayarapu, Dmitriy Feldman
  • Patent number: 8912948
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for obtaining a cued radar acquisition volume. The method employs uncertainties (i.e., errors) represented by a covariance, and a method of finding the minimum volume defined by range, azimuth, and elevation limits that enclose the covariance, and uses a perspective projection of the errors to provide an accurate calculation of the cued acquisition volume. The three-dimensional problem is first reduced to two dimensions by parallel projection onto the range-transverse and range-elevation planes. Then perspective projection of the two dimensional parallel projections is performed. The disclosed method reduces the complexity of three dimensional perspective projection by preceding perspective projection with parallel projection, which greatly simplifies the problem and allows a simple and easily calculated solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Mark A. Friesel
  • Patent number: 8902408
    Abstract: A method for measuring three-dimensional coordinates of a probe center includes: providing a spherically mounted retroreflector; providing a probe assembly; providing an orientation sensor; providing a coordinate measurement device; placing the spherically mounted retroreflector on the probe head; directing the first beam of light from the coordinate measurement device to the spherically mounted retroreflector; measuring the first distance; measuring the first angle of rotation; measuring the second angle of rotation; measuring the three orientational degrees of freedom based at least in part on information provided by the orientation sensor; calculating the three-dimensional coordinates of the probe center based at least in part on the first distance, the first angle of rotation, the second angle of rotation, and the three orientational degrees of freedom; and storing the three-dimensional coordinates of the probe center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Faro Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Bridges
  • Patent number: 8896441
    Abstract: The system and method for tracking people provides for the tracking of individuals in large crowds, such as the tracking of individual pilgrims during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca. A polling request is initially transmitted from a tracking station to a mobile device associated with a particular person of interest. Upon receipt of the polling request, a location signal is transmitted back to the tracking station. The location signal includes positional and time data representative of the location of the mobile device at the time of transmission. Additionally, a supplemental location signal is also transmitted to the tracking station, the supplemental location signal being representative of the location of the mobile device when the mobile device is detected within proximity of a fixed sensor. A visual display image of the path of the person of interest is then displayed at the tracking station overlaid on a geographic map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: King Fahd of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventor: Mohamed Mohandes
  • Patent number: 8884807
    Abstract: A system and method for pseudo real time collection of receive signal data in a single- or multi-channel ground penetrating radar. Each channel transmits electromagnetic impulses into a medium under test during each of a plurality of runs over the medium. Run receive signals are received in response to the transmitted impulses. Each run receive signal is sampled multiple times at a run sample rate. The sample points of each run are delayed by delay sequences with respect to the sample points of the other runs. The sample points of the individual runs are stored as a composite set of sample points representative of a receive signal sampled at an effective sample rate equal to a multiple of the run sample rate where the multiple is the number of runs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: MalÄ Geoscience USA
    Inventors: Bernth A. T. Johansson, Johan Gustaf Friborg
  • Patent number: 8854257
    Abstract: A Luneburg lens is used in conjunction with a patch antenna array. The patch antenna array is conformed or adapted to cover a portion or backside of the Luneburg len's surface with the backplane of the conformed antenna array defining a field of regard (FOR) in which objects are detected and tracked. A processor is connected to a receiver/exciter module which connects to transmit/receive modules which are connected to the individual patch antennas through a network of MEMS switches. In a receive mode, selected subarrays of the conformed patch antenna array are scanned during selected time intervals with the sum and delta beams being formed coherently in amplitude and phase to realize amplitude monopulse sensing and angle tracking of an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Christopher A. Hamner, Robert A. Spencer
  • Patent number: 8816895
    Abstract: Embodiments of a target classifier and method for target classification using measured target epsilons and target glint information are generally described herein. The target classifier is configured to compare a total epsilon measurement with target glint information to determine whether to the target being tracked corresponds to an intended target type. Based on the comparison, the target classifier may cause target tracking circuitry of a target-tracking radar to either continue tracking the target or break-off from tracking the target. Glint of different target types may be characterized at different ranges and the target's glint characteristics may be used to distinguish intended from non-intended targets. Accordingly, intended targets such as incoming artillery may be distinguished from non-intended targets such as aircraft to help prevent countermeasures from being launched against non-intended targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Brett J. Young, Jason A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8803731
    Abstract: Embodiments of a target-tracking radar and methods for responding to fluctuations in target SNR are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the target-tracking radar may be configured to determine whether a target can be considered a point target based on the SNR of received signals and off-boresight error estimates. Measurement-variance estimates generated from the SNR are provided to a target-state estimator when the target is determined to be a point target. When the target is determined not to be a point target, the measurement-variance estimates generated from SNR are not used by the target-state estimator. This may allow targets to be engaged at increased range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Damon C. Turner, Brett J. Young
  • Patent number: 8791851
    Abstract: A hybrid mm-wave imaging system which increases the probability of detection and reduces false alarm rate. The system includes a large array of passive sensors (pixels) to provide an initial coarse picture of the environment and a small array of active sensors in the center of the large array, which is activated only when the initial passive scan detection is positive. The active array, without any mechanical scanning, illuminates the area to detect edges to provide clarity to the detected image, thereby increasing the probability of detection and reducing the false alarm rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Danny Elad, Evgeny Shumaker
  • Patent number: 8754806
    Abstract: A pulse radar receiver includes a power splitter configured to split a transmit (TX) trigger signal for generating a TX pulse, a phase-locked loop (PLL) configured to receive a division ratio and the TX trigger signal split by the power splitter, and generate a sampling frequency, and a sampler configured to sample a reflected wave received through an RX antenna, according to the sampling frequency generated by the PLL. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a high distance resolution by generating a sampling frequency with a difference from a TX pulse to sample a reflected wave received through an RX antenna. Thus, it is possible to overcome a limitation in the distance resolution due to the pulse width and to measure a minute movement at a short distance. Therefore, the pulse radar receiver is applicable to high range resolution radar applications such as a living body measuring radar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Pil Jae Park, Seong Do Kim, Sung Chul Woo, Hyun Kyu Yu
  • Patent number: 8742952
    Abstract: Traffic awareness systems and methods include receiving data regarding a first aircraft and determining the location of the first aircraft relative to the location of a second aircraft. An indication of the first aircraft may be provided to a display based on a determination that the relative location of the first aircraft is within a field of view associated with the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Howard Bold
  • 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: 8730098
    Abstract: Methods are described for radar detection of persons wearing wires using radar spectra data including the vertical polarization (VV) radar cross section and the horizontal polarization (HH) radar cross section for a person. In one embodiment, the ratio of the vertical polarization (VV) radar cross section to the horizontal polarization (HH) radar cross section for a person is compared to a detection threshold to determine whether the person is wearing wires. In another embodiment, the absolute difference of the vertical polarization (VV) radar cross section and the horizontal polarization (HH) radar cross section for a person is compared to a detection threshold to determine whether the person is wearing wires. To reduce false positives, other additional indicators, such as speed of movement, and or visual features of the person, can be used to further narrow a person suspected of wearing wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: William P. Fox
  • Patent number: 8730095
    Abstract: An electromagnetic transmitter arrangement includes an antenna line array or subarray defining at least first and second ends, and including first, second, third, fourth, and fifth antenna elements, arranged with the first antenna element at the first end, the fifth element at the second end, the third element at the center, the second element between the first and third elements, and the fourth element between the third and fifth elements. Multiple (N) corresponding radio frequency sources are provided, each source communicating with a respective antenna element along a given radio-frequency signal path extending from the given signal source to the given antenna element, and where a first signal source generates signals at frequency f0, and each of the N?1 additional sources generate signals at frequencies of f0±(N?1)?f, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Vladimir Volman, John B. Stetson
  • Patent number: 8659472
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a stable local oscillator, which includes a first control loop. The first control loop includes a first voltage-controlled oscillator configured to generate a first output signal and a first phase-locked loop. The apparatus also includes a frequency up-converter configured to increase a frequency of the first output signal. The apparatus further includes a second control loop configured to receive the up-converted first output signal. The second control loop includes a second voltage-controlled oscillator configured to generate a second output signal and a second phase-locked loop. The second control loop may further include a mixer having a first input coupled to the frequency up-converter, a second input coupled to the second voltage-controlled oscillator, and an output coupled to the second phase-locked loop. A reference frequency source may be configured to generate a signal identifying a reference frequency and to provide that signal to the phase-locked loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Enraf B.V.
    Inventors: Bin Sai, Ronald C. Sehrier
  • Patent number: 8638253
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a radar sensor device for detecting movement and velocity of external objects within or around a particular radar sensor field. The radar sensor field can use an array or cluster or radar sensors, including compact (portable by hand) radar sensors that function as network nodes within a wireless, low-energy ad hoc network. Radar sensor devices can use vibration as a means of communicating power status, functionality, and progress of installation of a particular radar unit. Such a vibration can be executed at a particular predefined cadence, rhythm, or other pattern, to indicate a powered-on state, active network connectivity, and other device states. Such a radar sensor device provides silent and non-visible status indication for quick and efficient deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: BBN Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Paul Dryer
  • Patent number: 8620082
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sonar image feature extraction, which fit a parameterized statistical model to sonar image data to extract features that describe image textures for follow-on pattern classification tasks. The systems and methods estimate the parameters of an assumed statistical model from the pixel values in the sonar images. The parameters of the distribution can then be used as features in a discriminant classifier to perform tasks such as texture segmentation or environmental characterization. The systems and methods divide a sonar image into separate overlapping cells. The ACF parameters of each cell are sequentially estimated using various methods. Based on the ACF parameters obtained, each cell is assigned a label via a pattern classification algorithm. The labeled image can be used in target recognition, environmental characterization and texture segmentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: James T. Cobb, Gerald J. Dobeck
  • Patent number: 8610618
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method for identifying a facility on the ground or at sea, the method being implemented on an airborne responder linked to at least two antennas, the method including a step of choosing a first transmission antenna and a step of transmitting an interrogation message from the chosen antenna. The method further includes testing whether a response has been received by the responder, and, if at least one response signal is received by at least one of the antennas, choosing a transmission antenna as a function of the response signal or signals received. If no response message is received, a different transmission antenna is chosen from the antenna that transmitted the last interrogation message. The method is repeated from the step of transmitting the interrogation message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Claude Provost, Bertrand Schoendorff
  • Publication number: 20130328714
    Abstract: Embodiments of a target-tracking radar and methods for responding to fluctuations in target SNR are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the target-tracking radar may be configured to determine whether a target can be considered a point target based on the SNR of received signals and off-boresight error estimates. Measurement-variance estimates generated from the SNR are provided to a target-state estimator when the target is determined to be a point target. When the target is determined not to be a point target, the measurement-variance estimates generated from SNR are not used by the target-state estimator. This may allow targets to be engaged at increased range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Damon C. Turner, Brett J. Young
  • Patent number: 8587474
    Abstract: A radar system includes at least one transmit array comprising a plurality of metamaterial elements. The radar system further includes at least one near-field stimulator for inputting electromagnetic signal to the transmit array so that a sub-wavelength target is illuminated with an electromagnetic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Fuller, John R. Lamberg, John J. Geddes, Michael J. Gawronski
  • Patent number: 8558735
    Abstract: A method of operating a multi-function phased array radar system having an antenna array populated with dual-pol antenna elements is described. The method includes selectively controlling individual dipoles of each dual-pol antenna element in order to operate the array in either a polarimetric mode with improved cross-pol isolation, or in a multi-mission mode, wherein a plurality of singularly-polarized signals are produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Svetlana M. Bachmann, Fred Tanjutco, Yasser Al-Rashid
  • Patent number: 8552905
    Abstract: The technology described herein includes a system and/or a method of automated layout of beams. The method includes generating a plurality of boundary positions along boundaries of an image frame. The method further includes determining a start location for a first beam within the plurality of boundary positions based on at least one of a mapping priority, direction of movement of a beam platform, and speed of movement of the beam platform. The method further includes modifying the plurality of boundary positions based on the start location. The method further includes determining a second location for a second beam within the modified plurality of boundary positions based on at least one of a mapping priority, direction of movement of a beam platform, and speed of movement of the beam platform. The method further includes modifying the modified plurality of boundary positions based on the second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Michael Y. Jin, Eric N. Boe
  • Patent number: 8552908
    Abstract: A high fidelity simulation of Doppler that may exactly replicate the phenomenology of the physical world. Compute the linear (Line of sight) kinematics (Slant Range, Radial Velocity, and Radial Acceleration) for each of a multiplicity of emitter-receiver pairs in accordance with exact 3D vector mathematics. Smoothly interpolate the linear kinematic parameters to produce accurate instantaneous values of these parameters at sample rates sufficient to produce negligible error effects in the presence of realistic aircraft maneuvers. Calculate the Doppler frequency, in accordance with well known physics, from the emitter carrier wavelength and a high sample rate. Calculate the Doppler effect as a differential phase (Doppler frequency×sample time) and apply the effect as incremental phase shifts to the carrier signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: AAI Corporation
    Inventors: James J. Jaklitsch, Hariklia Karagiannis
  • Patent number: 8519845
    Abstract: The system and method for tracking people provides for the tracking of individuals in large crowds, such as the tracking of individual pilgrims during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca. A polling request is initially transmitted from a tracking station to a mobile device associated with a particular person of interest. Upon receipt of the polling request, a location signal is transmitted back to the tracking station. The location signal includes positional and time data representative of the location of the mobile device at the time of transmission. Additionally, a supplemental location signal is also transmitted to the tracking station, the supplemental location signal being representative of the location of the mobile device when the mobile device is detected within proximity of a fixed sensor. A visual display image of the path of the person of interest is then displayed at the tracking station overlaid on a geographic map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventor: Mohamed Mohandes
  • Patent number: 8511159
    Abstract: An arrangement for measuring fill levels of fill substances located in containers with a single fill-level measuring device operating according to the travel time principle, and arranged removed from the measuring locations at which a fill level is to be measured and having an antenna for directed sending of microwaves and for receiving microwaves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Klofer, Winfried Mayer
  • Patent number: 8451164
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a radar communication system includes a plurality of radars having a communication range and being capable of operating at a sensing frequency and a reporting frequency, wherein the reporting frequency is different than the sensing frequency, each radar is adapted for operating at the sensing frequency until an event is detected, each radar in the plurality of radars has an identification/location frequency for reporting information different from the sensing frequency, a first radar of the radars which senses the event sends a reporting frequency corresponding to its identification/location frequency when the event is detected, and all other radars in the plurality of radars switch their reporting frequencies to match the reporting frequency of the first radar upon detecting the reporting frequency switch of a radar within the communication range. In another embodiment, a method is presented for communicating information in a radar system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC.
    Inventors: Farid Dowla, Faranak Nekoogar
  • Patent number: 8427364
    Abstract: A method and radar system for estimating a radar search volume, includes acquiring covariance information relating to a cued direction, the covariance information having an ellipsoidal shape, projecting the ellipsoidal shape covariance information onto a range-traverse plane and onto the range-elevation plane to produce a covariance ellipse on the range-traverse and range-elevation planes; and determining the maximum extents in each of the range-transverse and range-elevation planes wherein the azimuth and elevation extents define the search volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Mark A. Friesel
  • Patent number: 8401830
    Abstract: A method and a device are provided for performing channel simulation. The device includes a radio channel simulation block and a memory and it is configured to simulate a radio connection between a transmitter and a receiver in real time. The device is further configured to simulate a radio connection between at least one interfering signal source and the receiver in real time, and to store the simulation result in the memory, and to read the stored simulation results in real time from the memory and add the results read to the simulation during simulation of the radio connection between the transmitter and the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Elektrobit System Test Oy
    Inventor: Timo Sarkkinen
  • Patent number: 8362944
    Abstract: A radar system is disclosed for forming a scanning receive beam from signals received by a phased array having a plurality of sub arrays. An exemplary radar system includes a plurality of phase units each configured to receive a signal from one or more sub arrays. Each phase unit includes a waveform generator configured to generate an analog waveform having a frequency corresponding to a time-varying phase shift. Each waveform generator is arranged to digitally generate the analog waveform, and output a comparison of the received signal with the waveform, incorporating the time-varying phase shift. The system further includes a combining unit configured to combine the outputs from the plurality of phase units to form a scanning receive beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Astrium Limited
    Inventor: David Charles Lancashire
  • Patent number: 8344940
    Abstract: Provided are a sensor capable of adjusting vertical alignment and a sensor vertical alignment adjusting apparatus using the same. The sensor has a structure with a plurality of switchable transmitting and receiving antennas so as to be able to adjust the vertical alignment, or a structure with a tilting motor for adjusting a radiating or receiving angle. The sensor vertical alignment adjusting apparatus using such a sensor corrects vertical misalignment of the sensor by determining whether or not the vertical misalignment of the sensor occurs, variably switching one from among the plurality of transmitting or receiving antennas of the sensor or controlling the tilting motor, and adjusting the radiating angle of the sensor signal or the receiving angle of a reflected wave of the sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Seong-hee Jeong
  • Patent number: 8330600
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a first cold noise source, a first radiometer receiver, and a first detector. The first cold noise source generates a first thermal radiation signal having a first carrier frequency band. The first thermal radiation signal carries a first information signal. The first cold noise source also transmits the first thermal radiation signal through a first antenna. The first radiometer receiver receives the first thermal radiation signal through a second antenna, and the first detector extracts the first information signal from the first thermal radiation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Robert S. Roeder, Kenneth A. O'Connor, Matthew C. Smith, Shawn K. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 8325082
    Abstract: A device and method for wide area surveillance of a geographic region includes identifying a search space associated with a geographic region having a plurality of sub-regions. The search space is divided into a plurality of search cells and observation data is collected for each of the plurality of search cells based on a scan of the geographic region. An event generation rate is calculated for each of the search cells based on the collected observation data. One or more of the sub-regions are identified as a region(s) of interest based on the calculated event generation rates. A coverage pattern is estimated for each of the sub-regions and a desired revisit rate is calculated for the region of interest based on the estimated coverage pattern. The desired revisit rate is then output for scanning the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: William Rudnisky, Guillermo Jimenez, James J. Hiroshige
  • 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: 8314733
    Abstract: A radar system tracks targets, and for each target determines the maximum acceleration of the target which can be tracked. The target acceleration is compared with the maximum acceleration that the radar can maintain in track, and if the decision is that the radar cannot maintain track, the radar data rate is increased, at least for that target. In at least some cases in which the target acceleration is such that the target can be maintained in track, the data rate for that target is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Kourken Malakian, Stephen J. Salvatore
  • Patent number: 8289203
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a radar system that includes an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of transmit antenna phase centers. A transmitter portion is configured to transmit a plurality of transmit beams characterized by a transmit beam pattern. The transmit beam pattern has a predetermined transmit beamwidth that is a function of the number of orthogonal transmit waveforms. The number of orthogonal transmit waveforms is less than the plurality of antenna elements. A receiver portion is also coupled to the antenna array and is configured to extract a plurality of orthogonal receive signal components from a received signal provided by the antenna array. A plurality of extracted orthogonal receive signal components are digitally beam formed to implement a virtual antenna array and generate a receive signal having a receive beamwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: SRC, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Culkin, Timothy D. Graham
  • Patent number: 8274427
    Abstract: A radar device including: a reception antenna that receives radio waves, includes at least three antennas and is arranged so that the phase center points thereof form an isosceles triangle; an arrival direction detection unit that detects an arrival direction of the radio waves by a phase monopulse method; and a phase correction unit that corrects a phase difference between phases of radio waves respectively received by two adjacent antennas among the three antennas based on the relationship of the phases of the radio waves respectively received by the three antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Minami
  • Patent number: 8228226
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to facilitate the alignment of an antenna. In one aspect, there is provided a transceiver. The transceiver may include an antenna and a downconverter module coupled to the antenna. The downconverter module may convert a signal received at the antenna to another signal. The downconverter module may measure received signal strength. The transceiver may also include a sequence detector for detecting an error rate of a sequence included in the other signal. The transceiver may also include an output module for providing an output representative the error rate, the received signal strength, and a combination of the error rate and the received signal strength. The provided output may be used to enable alignment of an antenna. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: E-Band Communications Corp.
    Inventors: Victor J. Chan, Gene Morgan, Bruce Allen Brentlinger, Jimmy Hannan, Andrew Pavelchek
  • Patent number: 8217829
    Abstract: A radar, mounted on a vehicle, emits electromagnetic waves to a side area of a vehicle and receives reflected electromagnetic waves to detect a distance and a bearing of a physical object. A speed of the vehicle is detected. When the vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined value, it is determined whether multiple reflection occurs based on at least distances detected by the radar. If it is determined that the multiple reflection occurs, an axis deviation of the radar is determined based on a difference between the detected bearing of the multiple reflection waves and a reference bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahito Shingyoji
  • Patent number: 8188905
    Abstract: Embodiments of a target tracking system and method with jitter reduction suitable for directed energy systems are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the directed energy system includes a target tracking system to track one or more track points on a moving target, and a beam transmission unit to maintain a directed energy beam on a selected one of the track points in response to tracking control signals provided by the target tracking system. The track points may be smaller than a spot size of the directed energy beam maintained on the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: James R. Gallivan
  • Patent number: 8184041
    Abstract: Radar beams for searching a volume are selected by determining the central angle and azimuth and elevation extents to define an acquisition face. The number of beams NMBA required to cover the acquisition face is determined by N MBA = ( 2 ? n + 1 ) ? ( m + 1 2 ) + ( - 1 ) n + m 2 ( 2 ) The number of beams NMBA is multiplied by the dwell per beam to determine the total search time, which is compared with a maximum time; (a) if the total search time is greater than the permissible time, the acquisition face is partitioned, and (b) if the total search time is less, the acquisition face information is applied to a radar processor for filling the unextended acquisition face with the number NMBA of beams in a particular pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Mark A. Friesel
  • Patent number: 8174433
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, bias estimation and orbit determination include receiving measurements in real time. The measurements include radar measurements and radar array orientation measurements. The radar measurements are generated by a radar system and indicate the location of a target. The radar array orientation measurements are generated by a navigation system and indicate the orientation of a radar array of the radar system. A state variable set is used. The state variable set includes measurement variables and dynamic bias variables. For example, a state variable set may include orbit position, orbit velocity, radar orientation, and radar measurement variables, which in turn may include dynamic bias variables such as orientation bias variables and measurement bias variables. A measurement variable is associated with a measurement, and a dynamic bias variable is associated with bias of a measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Michael E. Hough
  • Patent number: 8164308
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for capturing cosmic background radiation and for converting cosmic background radiation into electricity. An antenna is configured so as to capture cosmic background radiation. An electrostatic electron multiplier is connected to the antenna. A high voltage power supply is connected to the electrostatic electron multiplier whereby cosmic background radiation is converted to electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventor: Stefan Juchnowycz