Automatic Target Detection Patents (Class 342/90)
  • Patent number: 8289201
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting objects located underground. In one advantageous embodiment, a detection system detects objects having electrical non-linear characteristics located underground. The detection system comprises a transmitter unit, a receiver, and a processor. The transmitter transmits a plurality of pulsed radio frequency signals having a first frequency and a second frequency into a ground. The receiver monitors for a response radio frequency signal having a frequency equal to a difference between the first frequency and a second frequency, wherein the response radio frequency signal is generated by an object having the non-linear conductive characteristics in response to receiving the plurality of electromagnetic signals. The processor is connected to the transmitter unit and the receiver, wherein the processor controls an operation of the transmitter unit and the receiver, wherein the object is detected when the response radio frequency signal is detected by the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Sandor Holly, Nicholas Koumvakalis, Robert Alan Smith
  • Publication number: 20120256779
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and tracking a gun using millimeter waves are provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for detecting and tracking a gun using radio frequency waves at millimeter wavelengths, the method including storing empirical data, for up to N types of guns, including information indicative of a resonant frequency of a barrel of each of the N guns, generating pulse energy including at least one sequence of pulses at millimeter wave frequencies for each of the N guns, transmitting the pulse energy, receiving reflected pulse energy, filtering the reflected pulse energy to a preselected bandwidth for each of the N guns, determining a first maximum value of the filtered reflected pulse energy in each of the preselected bandwidths that exceeds a preselected threshold, determining a second maximum value among the first maximum values, and correlating a frequency of the second maximum value with the stored resonant frequencies of the N guns to identify a gun.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Tien M. Nguyen, John J. Wootan
  • Patent number: 8264400
    Abstract: Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for signature matching. In some examples, the method for signature matching includes receiving a first target profile associated with a first data signal, the first data signal associated with a first target object; receiving a second target profile associated with a second data signal, the second data signal associated with the first target object or a second target object; generating a comparison distance utilizing a comparison distance function and based on a comparison of one or more data points associated with the first target profile and one or more data points associated with the second target profile; and determining a signature matching score based on the comparison distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Nadeeka D. Yapa, Rachel B. Norman
  • Publication number: 20120223853
    Abstract: A target tracking system which tracks targets using a plurality of virtual particles includes a detector which detects the targets based on a signal wave from the targets and outputs a detected results as a detected target positions, a fluctuation distribution unit which generates fluctuations arising from at least disturbances and measurement errors, and an estimation unit which sets virtual particles based on the fluctuations and estimates a true target positions based on the detected target positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hisashi SHIBA
  • Patent number: 8260052
    Abstract: The technology described herein includes a system and/or a method for identifying an object. The technology includes determining an alpha parameter that is associated with a fusion function. The technology includes determining a beta parameter that is associated with a degree of expected independence of a received set of data and the received set of data including information associated with a classification of the object. The technology includes fusing the received set of data based on the alpha parameter and the beta parameter. The technology includes generating a probability of identification of the classification of the object based on the fused data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Brian J. Scannell, Kenric P. Nelson, Nora T. Tgavalekos, Ethan Phelps
  • Patent number: 8253619
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides an imager, preferably portable, that includes a source of electromagnetic radiation capable of generating radiation with one or more frequencies in a range of about 1 GHz to about 2000 GHz. An optical system that is optically coupled to the source focuses radiation received therefrom onto an object plane, and directs at least a portion of the focused radiation propagating back from the object plane onto an image plane. The imager further includes a scan mechanism coupled to the optical system for controlling thereof so as to move the focused radiation over the object plane. A detector optically coupled to the lens at the image plane detects at least a portion of the radiation propagating back from a plurality of scanned locations in the object plane, thereby generating a detection signal. A processor that is in communication with the detector generates an image of at least a portion of the object plane based on the detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Techtronic Power Tools Technology Limited
    Inventors: David S. Holbrook, Christopher P. Adams, Brent Gregorich, Umesh Rajani, Jason Porter Whitmire, Scott D. Bublitz, Jeffrey C. Hessenberger, John S. Scott, Mark Huggins, Matthew J. Mergener
  • Patent number: 8243989
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system (200) and method (101) for collaborative tracking of an object, the method comprising updating (105) the track with an object measurement using a camera tracking module (230), determining (110) a track quality measure for the updated track, based on the track quality measure, determining (120) whether a second tracking module (260), remotely located from the camera, should be applied, if the second tracking module (260) is to be applied, selecting (130) data describing the track and the object, transmitting (140) the selected data to the second tracking module over a network (240) that imposes constraints of bandwidth and/or latency, and applying (150) the second tracking module (260) to determine the next position of the object in the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jeroen Vendrig
  • 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: 8228228
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for receiving electromagnetic waves using photonics includes a transmission unit transmitting electromagnetic waves in intervals; a time delay unit coupled to the transmission unit and controlling the transmission unit to transmit the electromagnetic waves in the intervals; an antenna receiving the electromagnetic waves reflected from the target; an interferoceiver coupled to the antenna and receiving the electromagnetic waves from the antenna, the interferoceiver comprising an optical recirculation loop to produce replica electromagnetic waves; and a computer identifying the target from the reflected electromagnetic waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Ming-Chiang Li, Weimin Zhou
  • Patent number: 8188910
    Abstract: The invention relates to the general field of the detection, notably the radar detection, of mobile or fixed targets. It consists of a method making it possible mainly to qualify the blips supplied by the processing subsystem of the detection system before the latter are analyzed to generate tracks, each track being assumed to represent the trajectory of a moving object that has been detected. According to the invention, an analysis duration is considered, and all of the blips detected during this period are considered. These blips are divided up into subsets, each subset corresponding to the blips that, during the analysis duration, have been detected in one and the same analysis channel defined by an initial position and a speed vector. The subsets formed in this way are then grouped together, one and the same group combining the subsets comprising blips for which the combined assertion of a plurality of attributes is verified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Philippe Reuillon, Albert Groenenboom, Michel Moruzzis
  • Publication number: 20120127018
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a signal processing device, which includes an echo signal input module for inputting echo signals from an antenna discharging electromagnetic waves to a predetermined area and receiving the echo signals reflected on a target object, an echo signal level detection module for detecting a level of each of the echo signals from each location within the predetermined area, a target object detection module for detecting the target object based on the levels of the echo signals, a correlation processing module for performing scan-to-scan correlation processing of a plurality of scans, and a level adjustment module for adjusting the levels of the echo signals after the scan-to-scan correlation processing. The level adjustment module adjusts the levels of the echo signals corresponding to the locations where the target object detection module detects the target object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventor: Kazuya NAKAGAWA
  • Patent number: 8179299
    Abstract: A method, comprising: characterizing an electromagnetic radiation path based on at least a scattered electromagnetic radiation pattern resulting from propagation of electromagnetic radiation through the path; receiving a plurality of scattered portions of a modulated electromagnetic radiation at a plurality of receiver antennas; and processing, at a receiver, the plurality of scattered portions, in conjunction with the characterized electromagnetic radiation path, to determine a change in the electromagnetic radiation path over time. An apparatus comprises a transmitter which transmits modulated electromagnetic radiation along an electromagnetic radiation path subject to electromagnetic radiation scattering; a plurality of receiver antennas which receive scattered portions of modulated electromagnetic radiation; and a processor which analyzes respective scattered portions, to characterize the electromagnetic radiation path, and to determine a change in the scattered electromagnetic radiation path over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Inventor: James L. Geer
  • Patent number: 8170279
    Abstract: An automatic target recognition system with adaptive metric selection. The novel system includes an adaptive metric selector for selecting a match metric based on the presence or absence of a particular feature in an image and a matcher for identifying a target in the image using the selected match metric. In an illustrative embodiment, the adaptive metric selector is designed to detect a shadow in the image and select a first metric if a shadow is detected and not cut off, and select a second metric otherwise. The system may also include an automatic target cuer for detecting targets in a full-scene image and outputting one or more target chips, each chip containing one target. The adaptive metric selector adaptively selects the match metric for each chip separately, and may also adaptively select an appropriate chip size such that a shadow in the chip is not unnecessarily cut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Albert Ezekiel, Brent McCleary
  • Patent number: 8170135
    Abstract: A method is provided for coordinating detection of emitted signals by a receiver with transmission of signals by a transmitter, wherein the receiver and the transmitter are located on the same platform. The receiver scans a surrounding environment to detect emitted signals in multiple frequency ranges while the transmitter transmits signals in a predetermined frequency range. The receiver may employ dwells which may be defined as receiver configurations. A dwell, when executed, may be used to detect signals in a certain frequency range. If a frequency range of the dwell conflicts with the frequency range of transmitter signals, which may result in interference of transmitter signals with detection of emitted signals, execution of the dwell may be delayed. If the frequency range of the dwell is such that transmitter signals do not interfere with execution of the dwell, the dwell can be executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Craig A. Hanna, Anthony J. Gounalis, Robert Haefner
  • Patent number: 8160837
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine statistical dominance point descriptors for multidimensional data are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein comprises determining a first joint dominance value for a first data point in a multidimensional data set, data points in the multidimensional data set comprising multidimensional values, each dimension corresponding to a different measurement of a physical event, the first joint dominance value corresponding to a number of data points in the multidimensional data set dominated by the first data point in every dimension, determining a first skewness value for the first data point, the first skewness value corresponding to a size of a first dimension of the first data point relative to a combined size of all dimensions of the first data point, and combining the first joint dominance and first skewness values to determine a first statistical dominance point descriptor associated with the first data point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Graham Cormode, Philip Korn, Divesh Srivastava
  • Publication number: 20120068881
    Abstract: The target detection from a slow moving radar platform technology includes a system. The system includes a radar power determination module configured to determine a clutter power based on radar information associated with a radar signal. The system further includes a maximum likelihood determination module configured to determine a plurality of maximum likelihoods from the radar signal within a plurality of substantially equally spaced frequencies and based on the clutter power. The system further includes a maximum threshold determination module configured to determine a maximum threshold from the plurality of maximum likelihoods and based on the clutter power. The system further includes a target detection module configured to detect the target based on the maximum threshold and a target detection threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventor: Theagenis J. Abatzoglou
  • Patent number: 8138965
    Abstract: A method, Kinematic Algorithm for Rocket Motor Apperception (KARMA), for processing radar returns for identifying the type of a missile target includes generating tracks representing the missile, and applying the tracks to a set of plural template-based filters, each representing one missile hypothesis, to generate plural sets of missile states, one set for each hypothesis. The missile states are processed to generate kinematic parameter likelihood values (LLHs). The LLH values for each filter hypothesis are normalized and weighted. A weighted maximum likelihood value (WMLH) is calculated for each hypothesis. The correct hypothesis is deemed to be the one having the maximum WMLH, thus identifying the missile type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Thu-Van T. Luu, Jeffrey B. Boka
  • Patent number: 8130137
    Abstract: A method and a system for sensing a boosting target missile, estimate position and velocity and boost acceleration parameters of the target missile, and control an interceptor missile to the target missile. A boost-phase missile target state estimator estimates at least acceleration, velocity, and position using an acceleration template for the target vehicle. The nominal template is incorporated into an extended Kalman filter which corrects the nominal template acceleration with the filter states to predict future thrust acceleration, velocity and position. The correction can compensate for motor burn variations and missile energy management (lofted/depressed trajectory).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Thu-Van Luu, Jeffrey B. Boka, Purusottam Mookerjee, Michael J. Harcourt
  • Patent number: 8119957
    Abstract: A submunition is formulated for destroying a target in a target area. Accommodated in a casing are a signal processing unit connected to a radar antenna and/or an infrared sensor and/or another target-detecting sensor. The submunition further has target recognition software and a charge provided with a covering. To increase the versatility of use and to simultaneously improve detection and decision certainty and reliability, the target recognition software has a software interface for the transfer of at least one parameter specific to the target area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Diehl BGT Defence GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Harald Wich
  • Publication number: 20120038505
    Abstract: An aimed or aiming firearm can be detected before it is able to shoot. Wideband radar signals can be used to identify the barrel of a firearm when the radar antenna and barrel are aiming at or near each other. Signal processing correlates reflected signals to the characteristics of specific firearms of interest, and alerts the user when someone is pointing such a firearm at them. Modern wideband radar systems with fast signal processing speed can enable real-time detection of firearm threats in crowded and cluttered areas before they shoot, which has never before been possible. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and articles are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Jacob Ryan Sullivan, Daniel J. Hyman
  • Patent number: 8116968
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for identification of traffic lane boundary. Firstly the microwave signal is received, and the noise reduction is treated for the microwave signal. Then the frequency domain information is employed to calculate the legal set of closed interval, in order to form the frequency span information. Finally, the probability density function model is employed to calculate the frequency span information in order to identify the traffic lane boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Yow-Jen Jou, Hsun-Jung Cho, Yu-Kuang Chen, Heng Huang, Chia-Chun Hsu, Rih-Jin Li, Chien-Lun Lan, Ming-Te Tseng
  • Patent number: 8111187
    Abstract: A passive system is described for detecting radar emissions from vessels, receiving the radar emissions and analysing the data using a series of algorithms and software manipulation to extract radar signatures representative of the identity of the vessel. The data output is capable of comparison with a stored set of data enabling accurate identification of the vessel. The resulting output is displayed on a suitable display. A system having a library of vessel emission signatures can either be created within the operator's library through measurement made, or it can be supplied from a central database. The system is capable of installation on sea, land or air-based platforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Selex Galileo Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Newham, Michael Michael, Michael Roos
  • Patent number: 8102310
    Abstract: A process for detecting and discriminating a particular target, such as an ambulating human, amidst an environment crowded with other objects or humans having similar doppler profiles to the desired target. A method according to one embodiment includes generating an initial radar image corresponding to a received doppler profile of a target, and generating a matched filter signal corresponding to the received doppler profile. The matched filter signal is correlated with subsequently received radar images to detect and discriminate the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Kapriel Krikorian, Robert Rosen, Mary Krikorian
  • Patent number: 8098183
    Abstract: A method conveys information over a network to client processors, each with a maximum analysis rate. Sensed signals include target track updates generated at an aggregate track update rate depending on the number of targets and sensors. The track updates are prioritized. The prioritized updates are analyzed, for each client, in view a channel-priority representing the time rate of updates previously sent to the client. The selected higher-priority updates are destined for the client at an average rate no greater than the maximum analysis rate of the client. The lower-priority track updates not destined for the client are deleted. The selected updates are transmitted to their client processors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Richard N. Pedersen
  • Patent number: 8085186
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for probabilistically classifying an occurrence of an event, a change in the state of a target, includes measuring feature data of the target simultaneously processing the measured feature data through first and second filters. The first filter is suited for a situation in which the target is in a first state and generates a first residual and a first residual covariance for the measured feature data. The second filter is suited for a situation in which the target is in a second state and generates a second residual and a second residual covariance for the feature data. By determining a probability of the occurrence of the event and the probability of the non-occurrence of the event and comparing the two probabilities with at least one threshold value the occurrence or non-occurrence of the event is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Kourken Malakian, Christopher J. Dahmen, Sabrina M. Chowdhury
  • Patent number: 8077075
    Abstract: In an object verification method for use in radar systems for motor vehicles, the distances and relative velocities of located objects are determined on the basis of received radar echoes. The signature of multiple reflections is searched for in the received radar echoes to verify real objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Randler, Ruediger Jordan
  • Patent number: 8072367
    Abstract: A movement detection system includes a microwave antenna able to transmit microwave frequency signals into a space. An electronics controller is connected to the microwave antenna, and is configured to continually measure the impedance of the microwave antenna while it transmits microwave frequency signals into the space. An interpretive device is connected to receive impedance measurements from the electronics controller, and is configured to interpret and report changes in the magnitude and phase angles of individual impedance measurements as the passing of things and their direction through the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Stolar, Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Bausov, Gerald Stolarczyk, Larry G. Stolarczyk
  • Patent number: 8063815
    Abstract: A new method has been developed as an attempt to improve speed and robustness of existing ISAR classification methods. The new method produces a set of silhouettes of possible models in a 3D model database. The set of silhouettes of each model views the model from various viewing angles, as the target dimensions will vary as it is viewed from different angles. The silhouettes are stored as a training set. Classification is done by comparing the silhouette of the target with the set of silhouettes in the training set. The silhouettes are calculated prior to the silhouette matching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Hilde Valo, Jens Fredrik Hjelmstad, Atle Onar Knapskog
  • Publication number: 20110267218
    Abstract: A method of using a discriminant analysis and Kalman filter cascade to improve the accuracy of point of origin solutions. Tracking information about a potential target is utilized by an initial discrimination function to classify the target as a projectile. Using that information, the output of a first Kalman filter is fed into an additional discrimination function to further classify the type or sub-class of the projectile. A second Kalman filter can employ type-specific information to obtain a point of origin solution with increased efficiency and accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: SRC, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy David Graham
  • Publication number: 20110267219
    Abstract: A low energy radar comprising a radar signal generator generating a radar signal, a transmitter transmitting the radar signal via a transmitting antenna, a receiving array including plurality of receiving antennas and a plurality of receivers, each antenna being coupled with a corresponding receiver, each of at least selected ones of the receivers receives a respective signal corresponding to reflections of the transmitted radar signal from a scene, a processor including a radar signal processor, the radar signal processor determines a scene reflections map, the scene reflections map includes values representing reflection characteristics from each selected location in the scene, a detector, detecting objects in the scene and the corresponding locations thereof according to the scene reflection map and a clutter map, the clutter map includes values representing clutter reflection characteristics from each selected location in the scene, and a power controller, after the transmitter transmitted the radar signa
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Aviel Kisliansky, Guy Picha, Amit Isseroff
  • Patent number: 8049659
    Abstract: An aimed or aiming firearm can be detected before it is able to shoot. Wideband radar signals can be used to identify the barrel of a firearm when the radar antenna and barrel are aiming at or near each other. Signal processing correlates reflected signals to the characteristics of specific firearms of interest, and alerts the user when someone is pointing such a firearm at them. Modern wideband radar systems with fast signal processing speed can enable real-time detection of firearm threats in crowded and cluttered areas before they shoot, which has never before been possible. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and articles are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Flex Force Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Jacob Ryan Sullivan, Daniel J. Hyman
  • Patent number: 8035546
    Abstract: A method for the detection of at least one moving object in a pre-determined detection zone by way of a speed sensor. The method includes the following steps: determining a detection zone within an illumination region of the speed sensor; detecting a speed signal, particularly a Doppler signal, at least with the entry of a moving object into the illumination region; estimating an entry of the moving object into the detection zone on the basis of a speed of the object, and of a distance between a boundary of the illumination region and the detection zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Nalezinski, Claus Seisenberger
  • Publication number: 20110241928
    Abstract: A radar system for discriminating between sources of radar interference and targets of interest. The system includes a transmitter for transmitting radar signals into a region, a receiver for receiving return signals of the radar signals returned from within the region, and a processor for processing the return signals to discriminate between return signals returned from a first object and return signals returned from a second object where the return signals from the second object comprise both zero and non-zero Doppler components and interfere with the return signals from the first object. The radar system is operable for discriminating between the return signals when the return signals are received at a distance from the second object which is less than a proximity limit based on the geometry of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Gordon Kenneth Andrew Oswald, Craig Duncan Webster, Allan Geoffrey Smithson
  • Publication number: 20110241929
    Abstract: A process for reducing erroneous plots when detecting targets using High Frequency surfacewave radar (HFSWR) is provided. Detection of genuine targets is thereby enhanced. A first difference in range of an apparent target is determined, based on range data, associated with the apparent target. A second difference in range of the apparent target is determined, based on Doppler data, associated with the apparent target. The first and second range differences are compared to one another over time to assess a consistency therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS PLC
    Inventor: David James Emery
  • Publication number: 20110241927
    Abstract: A method detects a target in a sequence of radar images, wherein each image is partitioned into a grid of cells, and wherein each cell has a corresponding position in an image coordinate system associated with a location in a world coordinate system. For each most recent image in a sliding temporal window of images, intensities of each cell are determined, and the subset of the cells having highest intensities is stored as a set of current needles. A set of hypotheses, obtained by using a state transition model and corresponding maximum limits, is determined for the current set of needles and appended to a set of queues. The hypotheses for the previous sets of needles to the corresponding set of queues are updated, and a maximum likelihood in the set of queues are selected to detect the location of targets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventor: Fatih M. Porikli
  • Patent number: 8026840
    Abstract: A biometric radar system and method for identifying a person's positional state are generally described herein. The biometric radar may phase adjust a sequence of radar return signals received through two or more receive antennas to remove at least some phase noise due to the stationary objects. The biometric radar may also segment the phase adjusted radar return signals into a plurality of multi-resolutional Doppler components. Each multi-resolutional Doppler component may be associated with one of a plurality of biometric features. The biometric radar system may also combine and weight the segmented radar returns for each biometric feature to generate weighted classifications for a feature extraction process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Wesley H. Dwelly, Vinh N. Adams
  • Patent number: 8026842
    Abstract: A land-based smart sensor system and several system architectures for detection, tracking, and classification of people and vehicles automatically and in real time for border, property, and facility security surveillance is described. The preferred embodiment of the proposed smart sensor system is comprised of (1) a low-cost, non-coherent radar, whose function is to detect and track people, singly or in groups, and various means of transportation, which may include vehicles, animals, or aircraft, singly or in groups, and cue (2) an optical sensor such as a long-wave infrared (LWIR) sensor, whose function is to classify the identified targets and produce movie clips for operator validation and use, and (3) a supercomputer to process the collected data in real-time. The smart sensor system can be implemented in a tower-based or a mobile-based, or combination system architecture. The radar can also be operated as a stand-alone system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Vista Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillilp A. Fox, Joseph W. Maresca, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8018371
    Abstract: A passive proximity detection system and method are provided. A transmitted signal, such as a communication signal, is sampled and placed in memory. A version of the transmitted signal, reflected by a target in the vicinity of the transmitting antenna, is sampled and compared to the stored reference sample. Correlation between the reference and reflected samples indicates the presence of a target in the vicinity of the transmitting antenna. Processing of the signals can include frequency shifts to account for Doppler shifts in the reflected energy as a result of a non-zero relative radial velocity of the target. Multiple antennas for receiving reflected energy can be provided to enhance the coverage area of the system, and/or to provide information regarding the relative location of a target. In addition, signals from multiple transmitting antennas can be used as sources of energy for probing the vicinity of those antennas for targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Dean A. Paschen, William G. Newhall, Mark C. Leifer
  • Publication number: 20110215961
    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: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: THALES
    Inventors: Michel Moruzzis, Daniel Muller, Jean-Marie Ferrier
  • Publication number: 20110210885
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for the identification of a target object in PCL radar applications. The disclosed embodiments describe the systems and methods used in the identification of a target object from the collection of data representing specific target object features, such as velocity, altitude, fuselage length, wing length, or wing sweepback angle, and the comparison of selected target object features with a database of known aircraft features. The present invention also provides for the calculation of feature dimensions, such as the fuselage length, wing length, or wing sweepback angle from measurements associated with a peak signal lobe as a function of a bistatic aspect angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Richard A. Lodwig, Sandra Lodwig, Richard Lodwig, Bonnie L. Adams
  • Publication number: 20110205103
    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: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: Sicom Systems LTD
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nohara, Al-Nasir Premji, Andrew M. Ukrainec, Peter T. Weber, Graeme S. Jones, Carl E. Krasnor
  • Patent number: 7990308
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for detecting targets. A transmitter may transmit a first inverse transform signal, the first inverse transform signal derived from a reference image of a first reference target at a first aspect angle. A receiver may receive a return signal reflected from a scene. A detector may determine, based on the return signal, if an object similar to the first target at the first aspect angle is detected within the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Frank A. Birdsong, Jr., Lloyd E. Kinsey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7986809
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed to associate input data with status, location, and technical attributes to arrive at a uniquely identified candidate object by obtaining a set of initial candidate objects based on input data being compared to known technical attributes of uniquely identified objects, obtaining best-known object location and status history for each initial candidate object using previously known location and status information of each initial candidate object, assigning a statistical weight to each initial candidate object based on its maximum calculated speed and speed capabilities of each initial candidate object, generating an association probability of each of the initial candidate objects to the input data to arrive at a set of final candidate objects, and re-evaluating any of the above with data considered to be current that was not used, wherein the set of final candidate objects are uniquely identified candidate objects arrived at with current data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Clarence John Funk
  • Publication number: 20110163909
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention discloses a radar apparatus and an antenna apparatus, and more particularly, an integrated radar apparatus and an integrated antenna apparatus which make it possible to attain angle resolution with high definition, to decrease size and the number of devices, to integrate long and mid-range radar function and short range radar function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventor: Seong Hee JEONG
  • Patent number: 7973699
    Abstract: A process for detecting the harmonic motion characterizing a desired target. An exemplary method includes generating a radar image of the target utilizing a pulse doppler radar. A plurality of matched filter signals are generated in the receiver, each matched filter signal corresponding to a doppler profile of harmonic acceleration for the desired target. The matched filter signals are generated by an array of matched filters, with each matched filter signal corresponding to a predetermined doppler profile. The received radar image is then correlated to the matched filter signals to detect the desired target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventors: Kapriel Krikorian, Robert Rosen, Mary Krikorian
  • Patent number: 7952511
    Abstract: A method for detecting an object, comprising the steps of defining expected characteristics of scattered electromagnetic radiation to be received at a receiver; attenuating at least a portion of electromagnetic radiation received at the receiver by a presence of an object within a path of electromagnetic information; and detecting the attenuation to indicate a presence of the object. The object may be a low radar profile object, such as a stealth aircraft. The electromagnetic radiation is preferably microwave, but may also be radio frequency or infrared. By using triangulation and other geometric techniques, distance and position of the object may be computed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventor: James L. Geer
  • Publication number: 20110084871
    Abstract: Methods and systems relating to a cognitive tracking radar system. A radar system determines an immediately preceding state of a target being tracked. Based on this immediately preceding state, the system determines parameters and waveforms which may be used to better illuminate the target. These parameters and waveforms are then used when illuminating the target. The state of the target is then measured from the reflected returns of the illuminating waveform. The newly received measurements then form the basis for the new state of the target and the procedure is repeated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: MCMASTER UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Simon Haykin, Amin Zia, Ienkaran Arasaratnam, Yanbo Xue
  • Patent number: 7920088
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus that provides detection, characterization, and intuitive dissemination of targets. This disclosure combines improvements to ultra-wideband (UWB) sensing and machine target characterization with a means to convey data in a format that is quickly and readily understood by practitioners of the technology. The invention is well suited for Situational Awareness (SA) support in areas that are occluded by rain, fog, dust, darkness, distance, foliage, building walls, and any material that can be penetrated by ultra-wideband RF signals. Sense Through The Wall (STTW) performance parameters including target range, stand-off distance, and probability of detection are improved herein by combining a dynamically positioned sliding windowing function with orthogonal feature vectors that include but are not limited to time amplitude decay, spectral composition, and propagation time position in the return signal data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Inventors: Scott Randall Thompson, Bernt A Askildsen, Anthony Gervasi
  • Publication number: 20110074622
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus performs an object detection process of detecting object data with respect to peak signals which indicate a difference in frequency between a transmitted signal of which the frequency is changed in a predetermined period and a received signal which is obtained by receiving a reflected wave that corresponds to a transmitted wave which is based on the transmitted signal and is reflected from an object, by deriving the peak signals in a first period where the frequency of the transmitted signal ascends and in a second period where the frequency of the transmitted signal descends and by pairing the peak signals in the first period and the second period. A continuity determination section determines a continuity between the object data and past object data detected prior to the object data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Shinichi Shibata, Hideki Kajioka
  • Patent number: 7916068
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for improving the detection and discrimination of slow moving or stationary range-Doppler spread objects on or in close proximity to the ground (or sea surface). Invention detects, discriminates and separates radar returns from interference including ground clutter discretes via a coherent process for separating target returns from the myriad of received signals. Thus the method and apparatus improves the probability of detecting and declaring the presence or absence of an object at the same time that the probability of false declaration decreases. The method and apparatus may be applied to the processing of any over resolved object, including airborne radar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Michael C. Wicks, Yuhong Zhang