With Time Interval Measuring Means Patents (Class 367/127)
  • Patent number: 11912382
    Abstract: An underwater positioning system comprises a plurality of underwater beacons. A beacon, in response to a signal sent by an underwater vehicle, responds with a signal comprising one or more characteristics to identify the beacon. Components of an access algorithm are provided to the underwater vehicle. The access algorithm determines a location of the beacon based on the beacon's identity. A position of the vehicle is determined based at least in part on the location of the beacon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Vulcan Inc.
    Inventors: Rusty Allen Gerard, Richard Earl Simpkinson, Omer Rosenbaum
  • Patent number: 11874255
    Abstract: A method of ultrasonic inspection includes generating, by a phased array ultrasonic probe, a first ultrasonic beam propagating in a fluid and incident at a first angle to a target surface in response to receipt of first instructions. Ultrasonic echoes from first beam reflection by the target are measured and corresponding ultrasonic measurement signals are output. At least one environmental sensor measures at least one fluid property and outputs corresponding environmental signals. One or more processors determine a current speed of sound within the fluid from the ultrasonic measurement signals and environmental signals. Second instructions including a second angle are generated by the processors, based on the current speed of sound, when the current speed of sound differs from a predetermined speed of sound by more than a speed threshold. The ultrasonic probe generates a second ultrasonic beam at the second angle in response to receipt of the second instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Holger Charbon, Johannes Buechler
  • Patent number: 11778579
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a method of estimation and correction, at the level of a base station, of a frequency drift (?F1, ?Fi, ?FN) between signals transmitted by a plurality of antenna systems (306_1, 306_i, 306_N) spatially distributed around a computing unit of the base station (304) and signals received by a radio device (310).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventor: David Demmer
  • Patent number: 11774218
    Abstract: The present invention is a system and device which automatically measures and reports tactical information, allowing the user to efficiently communicate with command units. It is ideally a rifle mounted device, which can measure range, orientation, and position. The present invention can automatically report all tactical information, including enemy combatant positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Cory S. Hague
  • Patent number: 11689850
    Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device that does not require an A/D converter circuit and is capable of performing sound source separation without converting an analog signal. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of microphones, a plurality of delay circuits, and a signal processing circuit. The plurality of microphones are electrically connected to the respective delay circuits, and output signals of the plurality of delay circuits are input to the signal processing circuit. The delay circuit includes a plurality of signal retention circuits capable of retaining an analog potential, and has functions of retaining an electric signal output from the microphone as a discrete analog signal in the signal retention circuits and outputting the signal at a time different from the time when the microphone outputs the signal. The signal processing circuit has a function of adding the output signals of the plurality of delay circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeya Hirose, Takayuki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11662422
    Abstract: A system is provided for determining the position of a mobile receiver unit (7) in an environment (1). The system comprises a plurality of transmitter units (2, 3, 4, 5) which transmit a respective phase-modulated transmitter-unit identifier, a mobile receiver unit (7), arranged to receive a signal from a transmitter unit (2, 3, 4, 5), and a processing subsystem (205; 9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Sonitor Technologies AS
    Inventor: Wilfred Edwin Booij
  • Patent number: 11579241
    Abstract: A system includes at least one processor and at least one memory storing program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to send an acoustic ranging transmitter signal between a plurality of calibration reference positions and at least one anchor point, receive an acoustic ranging receiver signal associated with the acoustic ranging transmitter signal and with distances between the plurality of calibration reference positions and the at least one anchor point, and estimate a speed of sound based on the acoustic ranging receiver signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: James McNames, Amit Kumar
  • Patent number: 11543488
    Abstract: An optical safety sensor is inexpensively implemented. An optical safety sensor includes: a plurality of light projectors/receivers (a first light projector/receiver and a second light projector/receiver), which includes light projecting portions and light receiving portions; distance measurement portions, which measure distances using the time from light projecting to light receiving; and detection portions, which detect, based on measurement results, an abnormality occurring in any one of the plurality of light projectors/receivers; each of the light receiving portion provided in the plurality of light projectors/receivers receives reflected light caused by the light projected from the light projecting portions of all the plurality of light projectors/receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaoguang Ning, Toshiyuki Higuchi
  • Patent number: 11538322
    Abstract: An event detection unit (EDU) for detecting an explosive event is provided. The EDU includes different types of sensors for measuring characteristics of an explosive event. The EDU includes an event notification component. The EDU also includes a processor that receives a measurement from the sensors and generates a combined non-event probability and a combined event probability based on that measurement that indicates a likelihood that an explosive event has not occurred or has occurred. The processor determines whether an explosive event has occurred based on the non-event probabilities and event probabilities. When an explosive event has been determined to occur, the processor directs the event notification component to output a notification that an explosive event has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignees: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: James Vincent Candy, Karl Albert Fisher, Christopher Roland Candy
  • Patent number: 11519696
    Abstract: Trajectory estimate for a sub-sonic projectile can be derived from sampling a wake contribution of an acoustic signal detected at a multi-detector array. The wake contribution is sampled, in time, and the samples are processed to determine a bearing estimate for the projectile from which the acoustic wake derives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: THALES HOLDINGS UK PLC
    Inventor: Jonathan Neil Smith
  • Patent number: 11493628
    Abstract: Aerial vehicles including one-dimensional arrays of transmitters and receivers aligned perpendicular to one another are configured for safe operation. The transmitters may be configured to transmit signals at designated times in order to generate synthetic waves having common fronts from selected angles. The receivers are configured to capture data regarding reflections of the synthetic waves from objects, and to interpret the data to determine bearings or angles to such objects. Locations of the objects may be determined based on angles at which the synthetic waves are transmitted and bearings or angles to the objects that reflected the synthetic waves, as well as times at which reflections of the synthetic waves are received. Maps or other representations of objects on a scene may be generated based on such locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Carlos Parodi
  • Patent number: 11493627
    Abstract: This method includes emitting, by an emitter at an emitting depth, moved along an axis, at least one incident sound wave at an emitting frequency, receiving a first sound wave reflected by a first reflective object at a first depth and a second sound wave reflected by a second reflective object at a second depth, greater than the first depth, providing a first velocity at the first depth, and determining a second velocity of the sound waves at the second depth, from the frequencies of the first and second reflected sound waves, the emitting frequency and the first velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: NAVAL GROUP
    Inventor: Jonathan Andre
  • Patent number: 11474194
    Abstract: A method, device and computer program product for controlling the device by tracking a movement of a hand or other objects. The device receives acoustic signals. At least a portion of the received signals are transformed into two-dimensional sinusoids whose frequencies are proportional to an angle-of-arrival (AoA) and a propagation distance of the reflected signals. An AoA-distance profile is derived based on signals received from the object by evaluating frequencies of the two-dimensional sinusoids. Then, an AoA-distance pair is derived from the AoA-distance profile. A current location of the object is determined based on the estimated AoA-distance pair. The device then performs a command in response to detecting that the user moved to perform the command based on prior and current locations of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Lili Qiu, Wenguang Mao
  • Patent number: 11415558
    Abstract: A method of ultrasonic inspection includes generating, by a phased array ultrasonic probe, a first ultrasonic beam propagating in a fluid and incident at a first angle to a target surface in response to receipt of first instructions. Ultrasonic echoes from first beam reflection by the target are measured and corresponding ultrasonic measurement signals are output. At least one environmental sensor measures at least one fluid property and outputs corresponding environmental signals. One or more processors determine a current speed of sound within the fluid from the ultrasonic measurement signals and environmental signals. Second instructions including a second angle are generated by the processors, based on the current speed of sound, when the current speed of sound differs from a predetermined speed of sound by more than a speed threshold. The ultrasonic probe generates a second ultrasonic beam at the second angle in response to receipt of the second instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Holger Charbon, Johannes Buechler
  • Patent number: 11412186
    Abstract: A method and system for enhancement of video systems using wireless device proximity detection. The enhanced video system consists of one or more video capture devices along with one or more sensors detecting the presence of devices with some form of wireless communications enabled. The proximity of a device communicating wirelessly is sensed and cross referenced with received video image information. Through time, movement of wirelessly communicating mobile devices through a venue or set of venues can be deduced and additionally cross referenced to and augmented over image data from the set of video capture devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Inventors: James Francis Hallett, Kirk Arnold Moir
  • Patent number: 11369995
    Abstract: A method for controlling a mobile device—placed on a holder, comprising an interface plate configured to be touched by an object so as to control the device, and comprising at least two movement sensors configured to detect a movement of the device—comprises a) applying an object to the holder at a point of impact located outside the interface plate, the application of the object leading to a propagation of a vibration wave that propagates along the holder, toward the mobile device; b) detecting, with each movement sensor, the vibration wave at a detection time; c) comparing detection times detected by each movement sensor, respectively; d) estimating a position of the point of impact on the holder, depending on the comparison carried out in c); and e) generating a control signal of the mobile device depending on the position estimated in d).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Hap2U
    Inventors: Eric Vezzoli, Cédrick Chappaz
  • Patent number: 11340250
    Abstract: A synchronization system for an acoustic signal-based and inertial signal-based positioning system is provided that generates a magnetic field as a synchronization signal. The modulated magnetic synchronization signal is transmitted by a transmitter of the positioning system and received by the receiver of the positioning system. The receiver may make an acoustic position determination for the transmitter based on a received modulated synchronization signal and may make an inertial position determination for the transmitter based on the received inertial signal, such that the acoustic position determination and the inertial position determination are fused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Inventors: Sebastian Riccardi, Karthik Katingari, Joe Youssef
  • Patent number: 11322169
    Abstract: A noise estimation parameter learning device is provided according to which even in a large space causing a problem of the reverberation and the time frame difference, multiple microphones disposed at distant positions cooperate with each other, and a spectral subtraction method is executed, thereby allowing the target sound to be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuma Koizumi, Shoichiro Saito, Kazunori Kobayashi, Hitoshi Ohmuro
  • Patent number: 11294022
    Abstract: Detection of a trajectory of a supersonic projectile is carried out derived from a plurality of acoustic detection signals. From these acoustic detection signals, two or more shockwave-derived trajectory estimates can be derived. Further, a wake derived trajectory bearing estimate can be derived, from which disambiguation of the shockwave-derived trajectory estimates can be effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: THALES HOLDINGS UK PLC
    Inventor: Jonathan Neil Smith
  • Patent number: 11246781
    Abstract: A patient transport apparatus comprising a support frame, a base, a bracket coupled to the support frame and comprising a channel being non-linear, a frame assembly coupled between the support frame and the base and comprising a slidable member disposed in the channel, the slidable member being moveable between a plurality of different positions in the channel to place the support frame in a plurality of different poses relative to the base. The patient transport apparatus also comprises a sensor configured to detect the slidable member in the channel and produce a reading, as well as a controller coupled to the sensor and configured to receive the reading from the sensor, determine the position of the slidable member in the channel based on the reading, and determine the pose of the support frame relative to the base based on the determined position of the slidable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Douglas Furman, Chad Conway Souke, Thomas Alan Puvogel, Joshua Alan Mansfield
  • Patent number: 11250382
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for initially aligning two or more audio signals to address coarse temporal misalignment between the two or more audio signals. The two or more audio signals are detected by two or more audio detection systems within a monitored space. The two or more audio signals are subsequently realigned to address ongoing temporal signal drift between the two or more audio signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Dushyant Sharma, Patrick A. Naylor, Uwe Helmut Jost
  • Patent number: 11188047
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting events in industrial processes. An acquisition system may include one of a camera and an audio recorder to acquire monitoring data in the form of one of imaging data and acoustic data, respectively. A computer system, may include a machine learning engine and may be programmed to classify the monitoring data under a classifier, quantify, based on the classifier, the monitoring data with at least one quantifier, and detect an event when the at least one quantifier satisfies a predetermined rule corresponding to the at least one quantifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Christopher S. Gurciullo
  • Patent number: 11169264
    Abstract: Various implementations include a personal sonar system sized to be worn on a body of a user. In some cases, the system includes: at least one acoustic transmitter for transmitting ultrasonic signals into an environment proximate the user; at least two acoustic receivers for receiving return ultrasonic signals from the environment proximate the user; a directional indication system for providing a directional output to the user; and a controller coupled with the at least one transmitter, the at least two acoustic receivers, and the directional indication system, the controller configured to: identify a physical object within the environment proximate the user based on the return ultrasonic signals; and initiate the directional output at the directional indication system based on the identified physical object within the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Bose Corporation
    Inventors: John Edward Crew, Oleg Panteleev
  • Patent number: 11151852
    Abstract: A firearm discharge detection method includes: programming a gunfire detector to report audio sensor data that comprises acoustic data falling outside of an expected sound level; receiving the audio sensor data; comparing the audio sensor data to stored gunshot signatures to identify possible gunfire; reporting the possible gunfire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventors: Ada Anderson, Michael Anderson
  • Patent number: 11126193
    Abstract: A method for robotic discovery and use of beacons for navigation may include performing a beacon position determination process with respect to at least one beacon usable for range determination by a robotic vehicle responsive to initiation of operation of the robotic vehicle. The method may further include determining a position of the at least one beacon based on the position determination process, and employing the position of the at least one beacon as determined for position information determination of the robotic vehicle during continued operation of the robotic vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Husqvarna AB
    Inventors: Björn Mannefred, Stefan Grufman, Johan Deimert
  • Patent number: 11089545
    Abstract: Present disclosure describes a method for low power communication between smart devices, including data transmission and control. The method for communicating with a smart device, includes following steps: waking up from a sleep mode periodically; performing an incoming transmission signal detection at a first frequency after waking up from the sleep mode; determining if an incoming transmission signal is detected; determining if at least part of a wake message is received, based on the determination that the incoming transmission signal is detected; determining if the at least part of the wake message is associated with the device, based on the determination that the at least part of the wake message is received; and switching to a second frequency for communication, based on the determination that the at least part of the wake message is associated with the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Inventors: Manxiang Xu, Weilong Zuo, Duojian Wu
  • Patent number: 10996331
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a measuring apparatus includes an ultrasonic transmitter, an ultrasonic receiver and an estimator. An ultrasonic transmitter transmits, as a transmission signal, an ultrasonic beam in a plurality of directions. An ultrasonic receiver receives, as received signals, reflected waves of the transmission signal from the plurality of directions, one received signal including a plurality of reflected waves when the transmission signal is transmitted to one direction of the plurality of directions. An estimator that estimates range information from the received signals, based on preliminarily obtained received signals and a preliminarily obtained distance to an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Daisuke Yamamoto, Takafumi Sonoura
  • Patent number: 10955383
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for arranging a detection device for a structure is provided. The structure includes a member; a trough rib provided on an opposite side of the member; and a welded portion that is provided along an end of the trough rib facing the member and fixes the member and the trough rib. The method includes: attaching, to the trough rib, a plurality of acoustic emission sensors so as to be separated from each other in a direction in which the welded portion extends, wherein the following relationship is satisfied: ?20 degrees<?<20 degrees, where ? denotes an angle between a line connecting any given two adjacent acoustic emission sensors of the plurality of the acoustic emission sensors and a reference line extending in the direction in which the welded portion extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takashi Usui, Kazuo Watabe, Takahiro Omori, Hidefumi Takamine, Akihiro Kasahara
  • Patent number: 10935630
    Abstract: A method for determining the location of a first source. A first member is provided. A first tip microphone is attached to a first end of the first member. A first static microphone is provided. An initial frequency is recorded at the static microphone. The first member is rotated at an angular velocity. A tangential distance is calculated from the first tip microphone to the source. A source angle is calculated from the first member to the source. A height of the source is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Paul D. Swanson, Stephen L. Hobbs
  • Patent number: 10939198
    Abstract: A noise eliminating device including: an acoustic sensor array including a first acoustic sensor at a vertex forming a vertex angle of an isosceles triangle, and second and third acoustic sensors at the other vertexes of the isosceles triangle, the first sensor being arranged on a bisector between two boundaries between a direction range in which a target sound source can exist and a direction range in which a noise source can exist; and the second and third sensors being arranged so that the boundaries coincide with a direction of a perpendicular bisector of a line segment connecting the first and second sensors, and a direction of a perpendicular bisector of a line segment connecting the first and third sensors; and a processor to use signals output from the sensors to output a signal obtained by enhancing sound from the target sound source and eliminating noise from the noise source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10839523
    Abstract: According to an aspect, a method of position-based adjustment to display content is provided. The method includes determining a position of an observer relative to a display device. The method also includes determining a distortion correction to apply to a plurality of display content based on the position of the observer relative to the display device to correct the display content with respect to the observer. The distortion correction of the display content is output to the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Arthur Hsu
  • Patent number: 10800038
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and/or method to create or otherwise define one or more virtual barriers for confining or controlling an autonomous robotic device substantially within one or more portion of one or more selected working areas, for example, to prohibit entrance of certain areas. The system and/or method may use a set of beacon transmitters that emit time-stamped signals, which are received by one or more robots and used to calculate the robotic device's distance from such beacons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Al Incorporated
    Inventors: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Masih Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Soroush Mehrnia
  • Patent number: 10741038
    Abstract: A system and method of detecting and analyzing a threat in a confined environment is disclosed. An audio board detects and analyzes audio signals which are then transmitted and analyzed to determine the location of a gunshot in a confined location and the type of firearm being shot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: James R. Skorpik, Michael S. Hughes, Eric G. Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 10670694
    Abstract: A system and method using a hybrid-weighted, multi-gridded robust approach to localize a sound source are more accurate and robust that conventional techniques. In one embodiment, the system may determine a distance to the acoustic source using a first grid and weighting combination, may determine an angle to the acoustic source using a second grid and weighting combination and may combine the distance and angle estimates to generate a more robust and accurate acoustic source location determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: AVELABS AMERICA, LLC
    Inventors: Moustafa Youssef, Ahmed Shokry
  • Patent number: 10649717
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an audio-sensor inhibitor configured to inhibit detection of sound by an audio sensor of a communication device, and a secure communication interface coupled to the audio-sensor inhibitor, the secure communication interface being configured to transmit encrypted audio data from the secure communication interface to the communication device, wherein the communication interface generates audio data using a secure-interface audio sensor, and generates the encrypted audio data by encrypting the audio data using a cryptographic module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: NAGRAVISION S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Fournier, Bernard Benoit, Bertrand Wendling, Andre Kudelski
  • Patent number: 10616853
    Abstract: Systems and methods of determining a location of a mobile computing device associated with a real-time locating system are provided. For instance, a mobile computing device can determine a first location of the mobile computing device. The mobile computing device can then receive acoustic-contextual data that is correlated with the first location of the mobile computing device. The acoustic-contextual data can include data associated with one or more transmitting devices, and data associated with an environment proximate the one or more transmitting devices. The mobile computing device can receive one or more signals from at least one of the one or more transmitting devices, and can determine a more accurate second location of the mobile computing device based at least in part on the acoustic-contextual data and the one or more received signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: SONITOR TECHNOLOGIES AS
    Inventors: Wilfred Edwin Booij, Cyril Antille
  • Patent number: 10551473
    Abstract: A method comprises transmitting (901) a first ultrasonic ping signal from a first floating unit (M1). The first ultrasonic ping signal is received in an underwater device (D1, D2, D3). After a predetermined delay from the reception of the first ultrasonic ping signal, the underwater device transmits (905) a second ultrasonic ping signal from the underwater device. The second ultrasonic ping signal is received in the first floating unit. The first floating unit determines a time difference between a time of transmission of the first ultrasonic ping signal from the first floating unit and a time of reception of the second ultrasonic ping signal, and based on the time difference, provides location information and/or other information to the underwater device by transmitting (910) to the underwater device sequential underwater ultrasonic ping signals such that time differences between the sequential underwater ultrasonic ping signals indicate the provided information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: UWIS OY
    Inventor: Esko Jukkala
  • Patent number: 10484822
    Abstract: A micro point address is detected in response to an audio trigger. Audio data is detected at a mobile device and compared to at least one predetermined audio sample. In response to the comparison, location data is collected or a location stamp including the location data is made. A grid location identifier is stored in association with the location data in response to the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: HERE Global B.V.
    Inventors: Deekshant Saxena, Senjuti Sen
  • Patent number: 10444110
    Abstract: A system and method for the non-destructive testing of additively manufactured parts. An input mechanism excites with an excitation force (e.g., a vibration) an additive manufacturing build platform on which the part is located to induce a dynamic response in the part. An output mechanism (e.g., a non-contact transducer) senses the induced dynamic response in the part. A processor determines and examines the relationship between the response and excitation to identify an indication of a defect in the part, and communicates an alert if the indication is identified. The processor may compare the phase, magnitude, coherence, or time delay of the relationship to a reference relationship and/or may compare the modal frequency or the modal damping to a reference to identify a deviation greater than a pre-established threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Troy Hartwig, Ben Brown
  • Patent number: 10416281
    Abstract: Regional positioning system using timed pulses. In an embodiment, a plurality of beacon devices are selected by a processor of a target device. For each beacon device, a connection to the beacon device is established, a first pulse is transmitted to the beacon device, a second pulse is received from the beacon device, a flight duration, including both a time of flight of the first pulse and a time of flight of the second pulse, is timed, and a distance to the beacon device is calculated based on the flight duration. A location of the target device is then computed based on the calculated distances for the selected beacon devices and the locations of the beacon devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Inventor: Mark Hopperton
  • Patent number: 10353060
    Abstract: A system for isolating signals from individual vehicles. An array of sensors generates a plurality of time records. The time records are transformed into spectrogram structures, and for each time-frequency point in the spectrogram structures, a bearing is calculated, to form a movement structure. A Hough transform is used to fit a movement model to the movement structure, to form a Hough transform structure. Peaks in the Hough transform structure correspond to vehicles and their position in the Hough transform structure correspond to motion parameters, such as the velocity of the vehicle, and the time of closest approach of the vehicle to the array of acoustic sensors. A model of the motion of a vehicle is then used to associate, with the vehicle, points (e.g., structure elements in the spectrogram structures) from the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: RAYTHEON BBN TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventors: Aaron Scott Kofford, Matthew Paul Allen, Michael Bruce Goldsmith
  • Patent number: 10234430
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a detection system includes a detection device, an acoustic emission sensor, and a processing unit. The detection device detects a change that occurs in a structure or a change in an environment related to the structure. The acoustic emission sensor detects an acoustic emission wave produced from the structure. The processing unit performs first signal processing to process an acoustic emission signal indicating the acoustic emission wave, which is input from the acoustic emission sensor until a first period of time elapses after a detection signal is input from the detection device. The detection signal indicates that a change has occurred in the structure or the environment related to the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hidefumi Takamine
  • Patent number: 10227116
    Abstract: A system and a method, as well as a positioning and wearable devices for determining the distance and position of devices communicating with each other over a medium, the system, are disclosed. At least one remote device comprises first processing unit, at least one transmitter functionally connected to the first processing unit and adapted to transmit signals over a medium, and at least one receiver functionally connected to the first processing unit and adapted to receive signals over said medium. At least two wearable devices, each comprising a second processing unit and wireless communication means capable of receiving and sending data signals over said medium, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Suunto Oy
    Inventor: Erik Lindman
  • Patent number: 10215011
    Abstract: An element configured to be mounted at an end of a pipe suited to circulation of a fluid to extend the pipe. The element includes a hollow profiled body including a peripheral surface and a protective covering at least partially covering the peripheral surface. The element further includes a sensor of guided waves type, control electronics for the guided wave sensor, and an electric cable configured to connect the control electronics to corresponding electronics of the pipe. The electric cable and the guided wave sensor are fixed to the peripheral surface of the body under at least part of the protective covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: VALLOUREC TUBES FRANCE
    Inventors: Adrien Trillon, Emmanuel Desdoit, Sebastien Petit
  • Patent number: 10215735
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for achieving an extended service life for a pressure vessel that has experienced a prior service life. In some embodiments, the service life of the vessel has expired. The service vessel has an unknown damage condition, including defects sustained during the service life. Despite these defects and unknown accumulated damage state, the embodiments described herein may be used to test these vessels, to safely pressurize the vessels beyond pressures deemed safe for the vessel to experience in its damaged state, and to recommission a new service life for the vessel. The recommissioning of the vessel for an additional service interval may include meeting certain requirements for the pressure vessel, and embodiments described herein include exemplary measurements and observations to assure these requirements of the rejuvenated vessel are met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Digital Wave Corporation
    Inventors: Steven M. Ziola, Brian M. Burks, Michael R. Gorman
  • Patent number: 10175338
    Abstract: A terminal device includes a reception unit configured to receive first and second electromagnetic waves and first and second sound waves; and a processor configured to determine first and second frequencies respectively indicating transmission frequencies of the first and second sound waves based on the first and second electromagnetic waves, and determine first and second beacons from which the first and second sound waves are transmitted, based on the determined first and second frequencies, wherein the processor determines a location of the terminal device based on the determined first and second beacons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Akihiko Okutsu
  • Patent number: 10177598
    Abstract: An improved energy storage system which captures some of the energy expended by vehicles traveling along a road by bouncing a signal off an approaching vehicle and capturing the returning signal for storage and later reuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Inventor: Mehdi Mozafari
  • Patent number: 10141973
    Abstract: A first endpoint generates an acoustic spread spectrum signal including a pilot sequence and a data sequence representing a token synchronized to the pilot sequence, transmits the acoustic spread spectrum signal, and records a transmit time at which the acoustic spread spectrum signal is transmitted. A receive time at which a second endpoint received the acoustic spread spectrum signal transmitted by the first endpoint is received from the second endpoint along with an indication of a second token as recovered from the received acoustic spread spectrum signal by the second endpoint. A separation distance between the first endpoint and the second endpoint is computed based on a time difference between the transmit time and the receive time. The first endpoint is paired with the second endpoint when the token matches the second token and the computed distance is less than a threshold distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Ramalho, Mihailo Zilovic
  • Patent number: 10107900
    Abstract: A computer apparatus determines a highly accurate displacement of a sonar array in real time using multiple processors and data objects. The processors receive multiple sonar pings from a sonar array, instantiate the quasi-unique sonar objects, beamform, and update the objects using time-delay functions. Each object includes properties such as a time of flight value associated with a first ping, time-delay values associated with a second ping, a speed of sound value associated with the pair of consecutive pings, a sonar beam angle value associated with the first ping, and the displacement value. Processing code in each object utilize these properties to update the displacement value and provide it for SAS imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: James L. Prater, Jr., Jose E. Fernandez
  • Patent number: 10057639
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to detect spillover in an audience monitoring system are disclosed. An example apparatus includes means for sampling first and second audio signals. The first audio signal is received from a source by a first microphone. The second audio signal is associated with the source and received by a second microphone. The second microphone is separated from the first microphone by a first distance. The example apparatus includes means for calculating a time delay between receipt of the first and second audio signals. The example apparatus includes means for determining whether the time delay is within a threshold time difference. The example apparatus includes means for retaining media associated with the source when the time delay is within the threshold time difference. The means for retaining is to ignore the media associated with the source when the time delay exceeds the threshold time difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: The Nielsen Company (US), LLC
    Inventor: Morris Lee