Transponders Patents (Class 367/2)
  • Patent number: 11740858
    Abstract: An audio playback method includes the following steps: receiving an ultrasound signal via a microphone; processing the ultrasound signal to obtain a characteristic value of the ultrasound signal; obtaining time lag information based on the characteristic value; and controlling audio delay according to the time lag information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tien-Chiu Hung, Chung-Shih Chu, Wei-Chung Ting, Tse-En Lin
  • Patent number: 11514777
    Abstract: A method of transmitting data comprises modulating data symbols for transmission onto a sonic carrier signal and transmitting the modulated data using an electroacoustic transducer. The modulated data is transmitted by transmitting a portion of the modulated data for a first duration; pausing transmission for a second duration; and repeating the transmitting and pausing with further portions of the modulated data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Sonos, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Frank
  • Patent number: 11401794
    Abstract: A system for drilling a well may be adapted to process signals received from a fiber optic cable located in the casing of a previously drilled well or wells. The fiber optic cable may act as a distributed sensor receiving acoustic signals generated during the drilling of the well, and the system may be programmed to process the signals from the fiber optic cable to locate the borehole of the well being drilled, including its location relative to the previously drilled well or well. The system may be used to automatically update a well plan for the well being drilled responsive to information about the location of the borehole and also may be used to automatically adjust one or more drilling parameters or drilling operations responsive to the location of the second well borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: MOTIVE DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Todd W. Benson, George Michalopulos
  • Patent number: 11316259
    Abstract: An end plate assembly for a base station antenna includes a dielectric cover member that is connected to a metal bottom plate. The dielectric cover member has a peripheral wall that is configured to enclose an open bottom end of a radome of the base station antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Bin Ai
  • Patent number: 11028848
    Abstract: A scroll compressor includes: a compression mechanism unit 3 that includes a fixed scroll 31 and an orbiting scroll 32; a crank shaft 6 that causes the orbiting scroll 32 to orbit about the fixed scroll 31; a slider 71 that is provided between the orbiting scroll 32 and the crank shaft 6 and that includes tubular portions 711 and 712 and a flange portion 713 projecting from the outer circumferential surface between one end and the other end of the tubular portions 711 and 712; and a balance weight 72 that is fitted to the slider 71 and that includes a ring-like portion 721 having a portion of the inner surface facing the flange portion 713, a weight portion 722 having an inner surface facing the tubular portion 711 or 712 closer to the one end side U than the flange portion 713, and a projection 723 projecting from the inner circumferential surface of the ring-like portion 721 and having an inner surface facing the tubular portion 711 or 712 closer to the other end side L than the flange portion 713.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masaya Okamoto, Tomokazu Matsui, Syuhei Koyama, Yuji Takamura
  • Patent number: 10809376
    Abstract: Surveillance systems and methods taught herein provide automated detection and classification of objects of interest in a submerged or underwater environment such as a body of water. The sonar systems and methods taught herein can detect and classify a variety of objects in echograms without feedback or instructions from a human operator. The sonar systems and methods taught herein include a data model that is partially trained using non-echogram image data and can associate geolocation information with detected objects of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Michael T. Chan, Daniel J. Scarafoni, Alexander C. Bockman
  • Patent number: 10429539
    Abstract: A method and a system for control and data processing in field operation with a ground electromagnetic instrument includes an aircraft flies autonomously to carry out patrol-check for the ground electromagnetic instrument. The aircraft is connected to the instrument through a high-speed wireless link to set the working parameters of the instrument, acquire the working state of the instrument, and acquire data from the instrument, etc. Thus, the workload of the operator is reduced and the operating efficiency is improved in the field operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Zhongxing Wang, Tianxin Zhang, Renzhong Pei, Yongyou Yang, Qingyun Di
  • Patent number: 10373626
    Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to speech privacy systems and/or associated methods. The techniques described herein disrupt the intelligibility of the perceived speech by, for example, superimposing onto an original speech signal a masking replica of the original speech signal in which portions of it are smeared by a time delay and/or amplitude adjustment, with the time delays and/or amplitude adjustments oscillating over time. In certain example embodiments, smearing of the original signal may be generated in frequency ranges corresponding to formants, consonant sounds, phonemes, and/or other related or non-related information-carrying building blocks of speech. Additionally, or in the alternative, annoying reverberations particular to a room or area in low frequency ranges may be “cut out” of the replica signal, without increasing or substantially increasing perceived loudness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: GUARDIAN GLASS, LLC
    Inventor: Alexey Krasnov
  • Patent number: 9903940
    Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a localization scheme that may use ultrasound signatures exchanged among entrusted devices to locate lost or otherwise misplaced devices. More particularly, a user device may initially exchange an ultrasound signature or other inaudible audio signature with an entrusted device (e.g., during a pairing procedure with the entrusted device) and subsequently search an ultrasound domain in response to detecting an inactive state (e.g., based on measurements that indicate inflicted motion or processor activity). As such, in response to detecting the initially exchanged ultrasound signature in the ultrasound domain, which may be emitted from the entrusted device or an unpaired device that has been authorized to emit the ultrasound signature, the user device may generate an audible or visual notification in a user domain and optionally further enable more sophisticated user notification and localization tasks to assist in locating the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Frantz Lohier
  • Patent number: 9658330
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying and locating target objects based on echo signature characteristics are disclosed. According to an aspect, a system includes a transmitter configured to transmit one or more mechanical waves to a target object for echo of the one or more mechanical waves by the target at a predetermined signature characteristic. The system also includes a detector configured to detect the echo. Further, the system includes a computing device configured to identify the predetermined signature characteristic of the detected echo for locating the target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Inventor: Joshua R. Doherty
  • Patent number: 9437933
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a sensor that receives a first electrical signal and provides a second electrical signal in response to the first electrical signal. The second electrical signal is based on at least one parameter monitored by the sensor. The apparatus also includes an antenna that converts first wireless signals into the first electrical signal and that converts the second electrical signal into second wireless signals. The antenna includes a substrate, conductive traces, and conductive interconnects. The conductive traces are formed on first and second surfaces of the substrate. The conductive interconnects couple the conductive traces, and the conductive interconnects and the conductive traces form at least one helical arm of the antenna. The conductive traces could be formed in various ways, such as by etching or direct printing. The conductive interconnects could also be formed in various ways, such as by filling vias in the substrate or direct printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ion Georgescu, Dana E. Guran, Ioan Pavelescu, Cornel Cobianu
  • Patent number: 9261591
    Abstract: A measurement agent for measuring a distance from the agent to a tag may include a transmitter and receiver for transmitting and receiving radio wave signals. The agent is arranged for changing the agent transmitter from a particular state wherein the agent transmitter transmits a particular radio wave interrogation signal towards a further state determined by the agent wherein the agent transmitter transmits a further radio wave interrogation signal when a signal behavior of a received radio wave response signal changes. Further, the measurement agent includes a counter for determining a time period between transmittance of a first radio wave interrogation signal and receipt of a radio wave response signal having a predetermined signal behavior. The agent also includes a processor for computing a distance between the agent and the tag, based on the determined time period and a multiple number of radio wave interrogation signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST-NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO
    Inventors: Peter Johan Kunst, Bertram Jeroen Broekhuijsen, Kristian Alexander Helmholt
  • Publication number: 20150131408
    Abstract: Provided are a laser-induced ultrasound generator and a method of manufacturing the laser-induced ultrasound generator. The laser-induced ultrasound generator includes: a substrate including a plurality of nanostructures provided on a first surface of the substrate; and a thermoelastic layer provided on the first surface of the substrate, the thermoelastic layer being configured to generate an ultrasound by absorbing a laser beam incident onto a second surface of the substrate, the second surface facing the first surface. The nanostructures may be cylinder-shaped nano-pillars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicants: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-chan KANG, Jong-seok KIM, Chang-jung KIM, Seung-bum YANG, Young-jae OH, Yong-seop YOON, Ki-hun JEONG
  • Publication number: 20150025796
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for an aircraft location system comprising an aircraft structure and a number of acoustic reflectors associated with the aircraft structure. The number of acoustic reflectors is configured to generate first sound signals in response to receiving second sound signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher Shane Huskamp, Bonnie Louise Gorsie
  • Patent number: 8908468
    Abstract: In an ON state, a first switch generates a transmission signal by pulse modulating a carrier. A SAW sensor outputs a reception signal after a delay from receipt of the transmission signal. In an input state, a second switch receives and transmits the transmission signal to the SAW sensor. In an output state, the second switch receives and outputs the reception signal. A SAW delay element outputs a local signal after the delay from receipt of the transmission signal. A mixer generates a synchronous detection signal by mixing the reception and local signals. During the input state of the second switch, the first switch switches from the OFF state, to the ON state, and back to the OFF state. The second switch switches from the input state to the output state before the delay after the first switch switches back to the OFF state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Shibata
  • Publication number: 20140160880
    Abstract: Ultrasonic ranging for mobile devices is disclosed. A mobile device using ultrasonic ranging can include an ultrasound transmitter capable of emitting an ultrasound signal for detection by a proximate device and an ultrasound receiver capable of receiving an ultrasound signal from the proximate device. The mobile device can then use a time lapse associated with one or both of these ultrasound signals to find a range to the proximate device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Michael KING, David AMM, Scott P. PORTER, Steven P. HOTELLING
  • Patent number: 8614578
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to determining the attenuation of an electromagnetic signal passing through a conductive material. An antenna is provided and placed in relatively close proximity to the conductive material. An alternating current is passed through the antenna and the impedance of the antenna is measured. The attenuation is determined using the measured impedance. A single frequency measurement may be made, or multiple measurements using different frequencies may be made. Grouped parameters based on properties of the material and the frequency of the current are used to relate the coil impedance to the attenuation. A current frequency for which the ratio of the antenna's resistive part of the impedance to the angular frequency of the current is substantially insensitive to at least one of the parameters is preferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Guozhong Gao, H. Frank Morrison, Hong Zhang, Richard A. Rosthal, David Alumbaugh, Cyrille Levesque
  • Patent number: 8594572
    Abstract: An apparatus for wirelessly transmitting electric currents walls. The walls may be bulkhead compartment walls of a fixed structure or a vehicle or the like. The apparatus includes a wireless electric power transmission arrangement that includes an electronic device on one side of a wall, which is powered by a power source on another side of the wall. The electronic device may be a sensor arrangement having one or more sensors, a battery charging device, a through-the-bulkhead repeater device or other electronic device requiring power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Albert Ortiz, Donald D. Dalessandro, John M. Roach, Donald R. Longo, Qing Dong
  • Publication number: 20130309962
    Abstract: A system for repeating radio signals to the outside of a structure, from transmitters operating within a structure that normally prevents radio transmissions from propagating out of the structure. A system for repeating radio signals to the inside of a structure, from transmitters operating outside a structure that normally prevents radio transmissions from propagating into the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: INTEROPERABILITY TECHNOLOGIES GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. BLOCK, Alexander A. Wenger, Rene A. Stiegler, III
  • Patent number: 8547780
    Abstract: An acoustic reflector is described comprising a shell around a core, in which portions of the shell are capable of transmitting acoustic waves incident on the shell into the core to be focused and reflected from an area of the shell located opposite to the area of incidence of the acoustic waves to provide a reflected acoustic signal output from the reflector. Incident acoustic radiation will be differentially reflected depending on the portion of the reflector on which the incident acoustic radiation impinges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Subsea Asset Location Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Carl Peter Tiltman, Andrew Malcolm Tulloch
  • Patent number: 8492692
    Abstract: A sonar buoy includes a fuselage having a tube-like shape, one or more wings coupled to the fuselage, an engine coupled to the fuselage and operable to propel the sonar buoy through flight, and a guidance computer operable to direct the sonar buoy to a predetermined location. The sonar buoy further includes a sonar detachably coupled to the fuselage and forming at least a part of the fuselage, and a rocket motor detachably coupled to the fuselage. The one or more wings are operable to be folded into a position to allow the sonar buoy to be disposed within a launch tube coupled to a vehicle and to automatically deploy to an appropriate position for flight after the sonar buoy is launched from the launch tube. The rocket motor propels the sonar buoy from the launch tube and detaches from the fuselage after launch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Elbit Systems of America, LLC
    Inventor: Jeremy F. Fisher
  • Patent number: 8477562
    Abstract: A communication device includes: an ultrasonic oscillating unit which detects or generates an ultrasonic wave; a communication unit which transmits and receives information using the ultrasonic wave; a storage unit which stores a table to which a communication command to designate communication with the another communication device is allocated in time series, the table being shared by the another communication device; and a control unit which shifts the communication unit to one of a transmitting state, a receiving state, and a standby state that is neither the transmitting nor the receiving state, synchronously with the another communication device on the basis of the communication command in the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shunsuke Koyama
  • Patent number: 8442709
    Abstract: An underwater investigation system may include a host ship, a UUV including a propulsion device and a steering device, and at least one sonar system. The system may further include a guidance controller configured to initiate sonar range measurements between the host ship and the UUV using the at least one sonar system, and estimate a respective UUV position state relative to the host ship at the initiation of at least some of the sonar range value measurements to define a series of successive UUV position state estimates. The guidance controller may be further configured to update UUV position state estimates in the series based upon completion of their respective sonar range measurements, propagate the updates to subsequent UUV position state estimates in the series, and control the propulsion device and the steering device to guide movement of the UUV relative to the host ship based upon the updated position state estimates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Louis J. Larkin, Martin Juliano, Katherine Janney, Sekhar Tangirala
  • Publication number: 20120306683
    Abstract: This document describes a method and system for object localization. In accordance with the method an object (1) is illuminated by at least one first type of signal, and response of the signal is detected. In accordance with the invention the object (1) equipped with a transponder (2, 3) backscattering the first type of signal, the transponder (2, 3) is illuminated also by a second type of signal affecting to the backscattering frequency of the transponder (2, 3), and the backscattered signal from the transponder (2, 3) is detected in order to localize the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT
    Inventors: Ville Viikari, Heikki Seppä, Kaj Nummila, Timo Varpula
  • Publication number: 20120294112
    Abstract: A system and method measures the time offsets of a plurality of acoustic sensor nodes relative to a reference time. The system includes an acoustic transceiver arranged to transmit a first signal to each acoustic sensor node and a processing resource arranged to record the transmission time of the first signal relative to the reference time. The acoustic sensor nodes receive the first signal and transmit a return second signal to the acoustic transceiver after a predetermined time delay, the second signal including the current acoustic sensor node internal time. The acoustic transceiver receives the second signal, and the processing resource records the time at which the second signal was received relative to the reference time and records also the combined time of flight of the first and second signal. From this data the time offset between the sensor node internal time and the reference time is calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: Sonardyne International Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Pearce, Shaun Dunn
  • Publication number: 20120206996
    Abstract: A transponder including a first resonator and a series of one or more second resonators with coupling of evanescent waves exhibiting at least one first resonant mode and one second resonant mode, said first resonator being connected via a first port, to a first means allowing an interrogation, wherein said second resonators are connected via at least one second port, to at least one variable load element capable of modifying coupling conditions of the resonant modes and consequently a response measured on said first port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicants: SENSEOR, UNIVERSITE DE FRANCHE COMTE, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
    Inventors: Sylvain Ballandras, William Daniau, Jean-François Leguen
  • Publication number: 20120188844
    Abstract: An acoustic reflector comprises a shell surrounding a solid joint free core, said shell being capable of transmitting acoustic waves incident on the surface of the shell into the core to be focused and reflected from an area of the shell located opposite to the area of incidence so as to provide a reflected acoustic signal output from the reflector. The ratio of the speed of sound wave transmission in the shell to the average speed of the wave transmission in the core is preferably in the range of 2.74 to 3.4, inclusive or a multiple thereof with best result in the range of 2.74 to 2.86 inclusive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventors: Carl Peter TILTMAN, Andrew Malcolm Tulloch
  • Patent number: 8160276
    Abstract: Audio system and related method integrated with ultrasound communication functionality are provided. A communication transmitting device of proposed invention modulates a communication signal of communication functionality to a high-frequency sound and transmits the high-frequency sound by an ordinary audio transmitter. A communication receiving device of proposed invention receives the high-frequency sound with an ordinary audio receiver and demodulates it to retrieve the communication signal, and then the communication device can use the communication signal. The proposed audio sound transmitter/receiver can be implemented using low-cost audio speaker/microphone, such that a cost for implementing communication functionality can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Generalplus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Tung-Tsai Liao, Li-Sheng Lo
  • Publication number: 20120020183
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging a Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) piezoelectric device into a SAW tagging device for use in a harsh environment is provided. An exemplary SAW tagging device comprises a SAW piezoelectric device within a header container. The header container is electrically connected to an antenna system that comprises an antenna substrate, a dielectric disk that may operate as an antenna reflector in combination with a metal base. The antenna system, antenna substrate, dielectric disk and header container are all contained within a cavity in the metal base. The SAW tagging device is completely encased in a chemical, temperature and environmentally resistive and durable material that is transparent to the operating radio frequency of the SAW piezoelectric device contained therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: HM ENERGY LLC
    Inventors: DUKE LOI, TIM MUELLER, KATHLEEN HANAFAN
  • Patent number: 8077539
    Abstract: An acoustic reflector (10) suitable for use as a reflective target for navigational aids and for location and re-location applications. The acoustic reflector comprises a shell (12) arranged to surround a solid core (16). The shell is adapted to transmit acoustic waves (18) incident thereon into the core (16). Within the core the acoustic waves are focused before being reflected from an opposing side of the shell (20) to provide a reflected acoustic wave. A portion of the acoustic waves incident on the shell is coupled into the shell wall and guided within and around the circumference thereof (26) before being re-radiated and combining constructively with the reflected acoustic wave to provide an enhanced reflected acoustic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence
    Inventors: John Darren Smith, David Emery, Duncan Paul Williams
  • Publication number: 20110013480
    Abstract: A communication device includes: an ultrasonic oscillating unit which detects or generates an ultrasonic wave; a communication unit which transmits and receives information using the ultrasonic wave; a storage unit which stores a table to which a communication command to designate communication with the another communication device is allocated in time series, the table being shared by the another communication device; and a control unit which shifts the communication unit to one of a transmitting state, a receiving state, and a standby state that is neither the transmitting nor the receiving state, synchronously with the another communication device on the basis of the communication command in the table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shunsuke KOYAMA
  • Patent number: 7760585
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting radio frequency signals and associated information through a plurality of compartments and associated bulkhead walls in a water vessel. The method and apparatus includes a through-the-bulkhead repeater system, in which one or more bi-directional repeater units are mounted on bulkhead walls in each compartment. The bi-directional units communicate with each other to transfer signals throughout the vessel. In operation, a bi-directional unit converts radio frequency signals into energy forms such as ultrasonic waves, which are propagated from one compartment to an adjacent compartment through the thick bulkhead walls. The propagated energy forms are received in the adjacent compartment by another bi-directional unit, which eventually converts the energy form into an output radio frequency signal, which is then transmitted by the bi-directional unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Albert Ortiz, Donald Dalessandro, Qing Dong
  • Patent number: 7610675
    Abstract: A method to produce a transponder comprises the steps of positioning a coil comprising at least one coil end in a predetermined coil position and holding all of said coil ends in a respective holding position, and holding a chip comprising at least one contact pad in a chip fixture so that all of said coil ends of the coil that should be bonded to said chip are located on one side of corresponding contact pads of the chip, and bonding of the coil ends to the contact pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Assa Abloy AB
    Inventors: Fredrik Hansson, Mattias Persson
  • Publication number: 20090073802
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of assembling an implantable miniature transponder (1) comprising an elongate tubular plastic enclosure (2) having a first end (6) of a cylindrical wall (4) defining a first circular open mouth (7), and a transponder unit (11). The method comprises the steps of inserting said transponder unit (11) into the enclosure (2), externally touching the first end (6), in particular being exposed to heat, with a forming tool (21a; 21b), and completely closing the first end (6) by reducing the width of the first mouth (7) by means of deforming the first end (6) inwards with the forming tool (21a; 21b) until the first mouth (7) is totally closed. In a further embodiment, a relative rotation between the enclosure (2) and the forming tool (21a; 21b) is caused. Further, the invention relates to a transponder (1) with a completely closed plastic enclosure (2), having a closed first end (6) and a closed second end (8), being a single thermoplastic piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: DATAMARS SA
    Inventors: Luca NIZZOLA, Damien PACHOUD, Peter STEGMAIER
  • Patent number: 7474208
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a system for locating an object. The system may include, for example, an object electromagnetic receiver, an audio amplifier, an audio transducer, and an object microprocessor coupled to the object electromagnetic receiver and the audio amplifier. The object microprocessor is configured to ascertain whether a valid activation signal has been received by the object electromagnetic receiver, and if so, read a digital sound file, and ascertain whether the signal strength of the received valid activation signal is above a first threshold. If the signal strength is not above the first threshold, the object microprocessor outputs a maximum sound level indicator signal; and if the signal strength is above the first threshold, the object microprocessor outputs a second tier sound level indicator signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Inventor: Richard Ira Klein
  • Patent number: 7460433
    Abstract: A trawl net (2) is attached to ends of warps (4) extending from a ship (6), such as a trawl boat, in the sternward direction, and a transponder (5) to transmit a response signal is attached to an upper part of a net mouth of the trawl net (2). The ship (6) forms a transmission beam TB of a detection signal by a transducer (1) at the bottom of the ship, and performs detection in the detection range. The transponder (5) receives the detection signal, and forms a transmission beam TPB of a frequency different from that. A detection image and a position display image of the transponder are superposed and displayed on a display of a scanning sonar or are displayed side by side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yasushi Nishimori, Akira Okunishi, Kouzo Tokuyama, Koji Yokuda
  • Patent number: 7430152
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system, and a method of operation thereof, which improves the RF link employed between a transmitting sonobuoy and an associated receiving aircraft. The sonobuoy receives acoustic information from hydrophones and transmits this information to the aircraft, via beams having a predetermined frequency spectrum. The system breaks the total frequency spectrum of the beams into sub-bands. The sub-bands are multiplexed on the RF link interconnecting the sonobuoy to the aircraft. More particularly, the frequency spectrum defining an acoustic bandwidth of about 750 Hz is broken into a selected number (e.g., 6 or 4) of sub-bands and multiplexed onto and forming the RF link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Donato Russo
  • Publication number: 20080159071
    Abstract: The invention relates to a radio transponder (200) for reception and retransmission of electromagnetic energy, particularly in the microwave range. The transponder comprises a connection (210) to an antenna, a control circuit for modulation (260), a detector (250), a delay element (240) and a first semiconductor switch (220). The transponder comprises, in addition, a second semiconductor switch (230), and the control circuit for modulation (260) is arranged to be able to control the semiconductor switches (220, 230) independently in such a way that a signal that comes in via the antenna connection (210) can be caused to be reflected on either side of the delay element (240) or to pass through this to the detector (250). At least one of the semiconductor switches (220, 230) is suitably a diode or a transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Hans Johansson
  • Publication number: 20080080307
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for seismic data acquisition is provided, which, in one aspect, define a plurality of attributes relating to acquisition of seismic data by the apparatus, determine a value of each attribute when the apparatus is deployed for acquiring seismic data, generate a message for each attribute whose determined value meets a selected criterion, and transmit wirelessly each generated message to a remote unit without solicitation of such a message by the remote unit. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: ION GEOPHYSICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard Eperjesi, Keith Elder
  • Patent number: 7031224
    Abstract: This system is intended for use during a regatta to indicate the distance between a sailboat and a race course marker buoy being rounded as part of the race. The system involves a transmitter on the buoy and a receiver on the boat. The buoy transmitter sends both a radio signal and an acoustic signal. The boat receiver detects both the radio signal and acoustic signal. The boat receiver measures the time delay between the radio and acoustic signals. This time duration is converted to a distance and the boat receiver displays the distance information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventor: Michael Henry Reifer
  • Patent number: 6934218
    Abstract: A sounding device for showing its location on a sonar fish detector including a sonar wave receiving unit (10) to detect the sonar signal, a sonar wave producing unit (20) to simulate the reflection of the sonar wave from the fish, a control unit (30) to regulate the function of the wave receiving and producing units through on-off switches (12) and (22), and a power supply (40) to provide the electricity for the sounding device. The control unit may also receive command remotely from a sonar fish detector or a remote controller to turn on/off the sounding device as well as to perform other functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Inventor: Hwang-Hsing Chen
  • Patent number: 6912247
    Abstract: A digital signal transmission system using a digital modulation system comprising a digital signal transmitter having a first digital signal processing unit and a digital signal receiver receiving a digital signal from the transmitter, wherein the digital signal receiver comprising a second digital signal processing unit for processing the digital signal from the transmitter and outputting a digital demodulated signal and a correlation value signal, a signal converter coupled with the second digital signal processing unit and supplied the correlation value signal therefrom for generating a waveform indicating a transmission condition including a main wave in response to the correlation value signal, and a display coupled with the signal converter for displaying the waveform indicating a transmission condition in the digital transmission system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
    Inventors: Atsushi Miyashita, Yoshikatsu Wagatsuma, Hiroyuki Takesue
  • Patent number: 6904000
    Abstract: This invention is a system for locating an object. A tag unit (100) that is attached or embedded into the object to be located generates radio frequency signals when excited by an ultrasonic wave (108). The locator unit (100) generates the ultrasonic wave (108) and receives radio frequency signals from the tag unit (110). The locator unit (100) determines the signal strength of the received radio frequency signal and provides a representation of the strength. By monitoring the signal strength indication, the user will be directed to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Inventor: Fu Ching Lee
  • Patent number: 6711095
    Abstract: An untethered communications buoy system has an untethered buoy freely floating on the surface of water to not compromise the location of the submersible. The submersible has a cavity containing a first data interface member connected to a computer/data-storage that is connected to an acoustic transducer. The untethered buoy has a computer/memory module connected to a radio transceiver and acoustic transceiver. A second data interface member is connected to the computer/memory module and is mounted on the untethered buoy for fitting into the cavity and mating with the first data interface member. A ship is remotely located from the submersible and buoy and has a radio transceiver and an acoustic transceiver. Mating the first and second data interface members permits bidirectional downloading of data between the computer/data-storage and the computer/memory module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Danny Daniels
  • Publication number: 20040026361
    Abstract: A surface acoustic wave device which occupies a small mounting area and has a low profile, yet having an improved reliability, and can be made available at low cost. The surface acoustic wave device comprises a piezoelectric substrate 1, a function region 2 formed of comb-like electrodes for exciting surface acoustic wave provided on a main surface of the piezoelectric substrate 1, a space formation member 3 covering the function region 2, a plurality of bump electrodes 4 provided on a main surface of the piezoelectric substrate 1 and a terminal electrode 5 provided opposed to the main surface of piezoelectric substrate 1. The bump electrode 4 and the terminal electrode 5 are having a direct electrical connection, and a space between piezoelectric substrate 1 and terminal electrode 5 is filled with resin 6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Akihiko Namba, Keiji Onishi, Yasuhiro Sugaya, Katsunori Moritoki
  • Publication number: 20030189488
    Abstract: A transceiver preferably embedded within a wearable security watch, PDA, or other device which achieves a variety of wireless ultrasonic and/or radio-frequency based functions, including digital identification and proximity and sensation monitoring of assets, individuals, pets, and the like. The portable or wearable device realizes these functions by periodically polling and receiving information tags within the transmitting distance of the device. The invention can help reduce the likelihood of the theft, loss, or misplacement by detecting that a tag associated with or attached to an entity has left an individual's proximity and sounding an alarm. The device can also assist individuals with sensory impairments, including persons who are deaf, diabetic, and the like, by detecting a tagged entity as it enters the space around an individual, or by detecting environmental stimuli, such as excessive heat in an individual's proximity or vital sign changes, and sounding an alarm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: BeezerBug Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert Forcier, Paul Brantner
  • Patent number: 6547733
    Abstract: Ultrasound images are obtained using a set of Golay codes with orthogonal property as ultrasound receiving and transmitting signals. Ultrasound signals having a plurality of codes are transmitted simultaneously by using the orthogonal property of the Golay codes. A superior signal-to-noise rate (SNR) is realized using the Golay codes, without suffering a decrease in the frame rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Medison Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Sub Hwang, Tai Kyong Song
  • Publication number: 20010046184
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating acoustic waves has an acoustic transducer with a first electrode serving as a membrane and adjoining an acoustic propagation medium and a second electrode spaced from the first, between which an electrolyte is situated. The acoustic transducer is fashioned transparent to X-rays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventors: Josef Reitter, Arnim Rohwedder
  • Patent number: 6307808
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus are provided for improving a coupling to a substrate and orientation of seismic receivers such as a geophone to a substrate for the analysis and gathering of seismic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Inventor: Lesley J. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6304512
    Abstract: A fishing method and apparatus is provided comprising a lure module enhanced with circuitry that is capable of releasing hooks upon detection of a signal sent from a user operated, remote device enhanced with circuitry to send the signals causing hook release. The module may be provided as a lure, as a bait-holder, or as a shape-neutral module, while the signal-sending device may be a mounted or handheld device used for example in a boat. Upon determining that a irretrievable snag has occurred, the signal sending device is used to send an appropriate remote signal to the lure or module effecting hook-release rendering the lure or module free from obstruction and retrievable. The lure or module may be reset with replacement hooks for continued fishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Inventor: Mark A. Boys