Speed Determination Patents (Class 367/89)
  • Patent number: 11954918
    Abstract: An object detection device includes: a camera ECU that measures the bearing of an object by detecting the object from an image captured by a camera and identifying the direction toward the object; a sonar that measures the distance to the object existing around the vehicle; and a position identification unit that identifies the position of the object by combining the measured bearing data and distance data on a grid map that is based on a polar coordinate system and identifying the grid cell where the object exists on the grid map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makoto Ohkado, Naohiro Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 11635317
    Abstract: An ultrasound flow measurement device has a vessel through which a fluid to be measured flows. An ultrasound measurement configuration with an ultrasound transducer is provided for measuring a propagation time of an ultrasound signal containing a plurality of periods along a measurement section that runs partly in a direction of flow. A controller determines a fluid flow on a basis of a propagation time measurement. The controller contains a memory, a first evaluator for determining a period duration of at least one of the periods of an ultrasound signal received after passing through the measurement section, a second evaluator for determining a spread value of a predetermined number of last received ultrasound signals, a comparator for comparing the spread value with a threshold value, and an actioning device for initiating a control action, assigned to the threshold value that has been exceeded, for the ultrasound flow measurement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Diehl Metering GmbH
    Inventors: Frederik Neder, Marcus Wetzel, Alexander Hofmann, Florian Herrmann, Andreas Madinger
  • Patent number: 11486991
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and system for determining a horizontal distance between a transmitting point and a receiving point. The method obtains a depth value of the transmitting point and a depth value of the receiving point. An area of a sound velocity profile according to the depth value of the transmitting point and the depth value of the receiving point is then determined. A sound velocity gradient according to the area of the sound velocity profile is also determined. The horizontal distance between the transmitting point and the receiving point according to the sound velocity gradient is then determined by calculations. The present invention eliminates the need to calculate a grazing angle of an eigen sound ray(wave) connecting the transmitting point and the receiving point, by directly converting a propagation time into the horizontal distance, thereby quickly and efficiently calculating the horizontal distance between the transmitting point and the receiving point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: NATIONAL DEEP SEA CENTER
    Inventors: Tongwei Zhang, Lei Yang, Shengjie Qin, Xiangxin Wang, Dequan Lu, Jichao Yang
  • Patent number: 11480510
    Abstract: Provided are a method and device for dynamically monitoring suspended matter based on an annular interleaving array. An annular multi-band interleaving array used thereby can be combined with the Doppler effect to on-line measure the concentration and linearity distribution of the suspended matter and a three-dimensional flow velocity of suspended water, thus realizing real-time monitoring of water quality. A frequency range needing to be measured is divided into different frequency bands, and different transceiving transducer arrays are used to transmit and receive measurement signals, so that the concentration and linearity distribution of various suspended matter with an extremely large linearity range can be obtained through one measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: SOUTH CHINA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Gengxin Ning, Qiuyan Ning, Bowen Wang, Jun Zhang, Yizhi Feng, Fei Ji
  • Patent number: 11346945
    Abstract: A method for determining spin of a projectile comprising generating an electromagnetic radar signal and transmitting the electromagnetic radar signal towards a projectile. Receiving a reflected electromagnetic radar signal from the projectile. Identifying a component of the reflected electromagnetic radar signal, and performing an autocorrelation process on the reflected electromagnetic radar signal using the component to generate an estimate of a spin of the projectile as a function of the autocorrelation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED CONCEPTS, INC.
    Inventors: Jared Smothermon, James K. McCoy, Robert S. Gammenthaler
  • Patent number: 11187563
    Abstract: A method includes: receiving, from a plurality of sensors, detection signals indicative of fluid flow, the fluid flow having a direction and a speed, the plurality of sensors having respective mutual positions and distances between pairs of sensors in the plurality of sensors; determining, as a function of the detection signals, a first detection sensor in the plurality of sensors detecting the fluid flow prior to other sensors in the plurality of sensors; determining time delays between detection of the fluid flow by a first sensor and by a second sensor in each pair of sensors in the plurality of sensors; and determining a fluid flow velocity vector indicative of the direction and the speed of the fluid flow as a function of the mutual positions and distances between the pairs of sensors in the plurality of sensors and the time delays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Fabio Passaniti, Enrico Rosario Alessi
  • Patent number: 11169173
    Abstract: A system includes a laser air data sensor and an acoustic air data sensor. The laser air data sensor is configured to emit directional light into airflow about an aircraft exterior and to generate first air data parameter outputs for the aircraft based on returns of the emitted directional light. The acoustic air data sensor is configured to emit acoustic signals into the airflow about the aircraft exterior, sense the acoustic signals, and generate second air data parameter outputs for the aircraft based on the sensed acoustic signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
    Inventors: Jaime Sly, Mark Sherwood Miller
  • Patent number: 11141132
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a clear transmitted wave image of a boundary of tissues is generated in a short time. An ultrasonic imaging device of the present invention includes a transducer array in which a plurality of transducers transmitting and receiving an ultrasound wave are arrayed; a transmission unit which delivers an electric signal to at least one of the plurality of transducers, such that the delivered electric signal is converted into an ultrasound wave, and transmits the ultrasound wave to a target; a reception unit which receives a received signal that is an electric signal output by each of the plurality of transducers having received a reflected wave and a transmitted wave of the ultrasound wave of the target; and an image generation unit which individually generates a reflected wave image of a cross section of the target using a received signal of the reflected wave and a transmitted wave image of the cross section of the target using a received signal of the transmitted wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wenjing Wu, Yushi Tsubota, Kenichi Kawabata, Takahide Terada, Kazuhiro Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 11144153
    Abstract: A system for detecting a user input to a device comprises a display arrangement (4) arranged to provide a display (20) on a surface. An optical proximity sensing arrangement (6, 8) is configured to produce touch information relating to whether an input object is within a threshold distance of the surface. An acoustic position sensing arrangement (10, 12, 14, and 16) configured to produce position information relating to a position of the input object on the surface. A processing arrangement configured to determine an input to the device from the position information only when it determines from the touch information that the input object is within the threshold distance of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Elliptic Laboratories AS
    Inventors: Guenael Thomas Strutt, Tom Kavli, Steven Lewis
  • Patent number: 10976335
    Abstract: The present invention provides a wind measurement apparatus based on 3D (three dimensional) non-orthogonal ultrasonic sensor array, the ultrasonic sensor array is composed of two group of ultrasonic sensors, which are centrosymmetrically located at opposite sides, and the angle formed by connecting any two ultrasonic sensors at a side to the symmetry point O is less than 90°, the arrangement of 3D non-orthogonal ultrasonic sensor array reduces the generation of turbulence, thus, the accurate wind speed and wind direction is obtained. In the mean time, the central channel is employed to obtain a reference wind speed vref. Comparing the speed component vcentral along central channel of the wind under measurement with the reference wind speed vref, if the difference is less than a present threshold, then computing module outputs the measurement results, or discards them, thus the wind measurement accuracy is further improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF ELECTRONIC SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF CHINA
    Inventors: Wei Zhang, Yanjun Li, Zhenghua Gu, Yibing Shi, Fan Wang, Wenqing Zhang, Zhipeng Li, Jian Zhou, Zhipeng Zhan
  • Patent number: 10877151
    Abstract: A small aperture acoustic velocity sensor and a method for velocity measurement are disclosed. In one aspect, the disclosed technology uses spatially-shifted sub-arrays for projection and/or hydrophone receipt and cross-correlation of successive pulses to improve correlation and reduce bias. The spatial shift can be created physically by selection of groups of elements or virtually by weighting the contributions of fixed sub-arrays. Spatial modulation can be used to form a projected signal and measured spatial phase of slope across the set of sub-arrays allows correction of both long- and short-term errors. The disclosed technology uses spatial and/or temporal interpolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Teledyne Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Blair H. Brumley, Jerker Taudien
  • Patent number: 10852317
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a LADCP-USBL combined observation and data processing method and an apparatus. According to one embodiment, an exemplary method may include: acquiring bottom tracking data from the LADCP, position trajectory data collected by the USBL, and ocean current data collected by the LADCP; removing abnormal data points from the position trajectory data; performing azimuth angle correction on the position trajectory data according to the bottom tracking data to determine a movement velocity of the LADCP; and calculating an absolute ocean current velocity according to the movement velocity of the LADCP and the ocean current data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: FIRST INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY, MNR
    Inventors: Jingsong Guo, Zhixin Zhang, Yuhuan Xue, Dapeng Qu
  • Patent number: 10722123
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting at least one of a heart rate and a respiratory rate of a subject are disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes transmitting a signal towards the subject and receiving a reflected signal from the subject being Doppler-shifted due to at least one of the heart rate and the respiratory rate. The method also includes providing the reflected signal to a first input of a phase comparator, providing an adjustible reference signal to a second input of the phase comparator, and generating an output signal by the phase comparator based on the reflected signal and the reference signal. The method includes varying, by the reference signal generator, at least one of a phase and a frequency of the adjustable reference signal based on the output signal of the phase comparator to track a phase of the reflected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignees: IMEC vzw, Stiching IMEC Nederland
    Inventors: Yao-Hong Liu, Marco Mercuri
  • Patent number: 10545226
    Abstract: A marine sonar display device comprises a display, a memory element, and a processing element. The display displays sonar images. The memory element stores sonar data. The processing element is configured to transmit a transmit electronic signal to a frequency steered sonar element which transmits an array of sonar beams into a body of water, each sonar beam transmitted in a different angular direction, receive a receive electronic signal from the frequency steered sonar element, the receive electronic signal including a plurality of frequency components, calculate an array of sonar data slices, one sonar data slice for each frequency component, generate an array of sonar image slices, one sonar image slice for each sonar data slice, and control the display to visually present the array of sonar image slices in near real time and a historical sequence of at least one sonar image slice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Jeffrey B. Wigh, David M. Hendrix, Matthew E. Havermann, Dallas J. Fletchall
  • Patent number: 10416679
    Abstract: The present application generally relates communications and hazard avoidance within a monitored driving environment. More specifically, the application teaches a system and method for improved target object detection in a vehicle equipped with a laser detection and ranging LIDAR system by transmitting a light pulse for a known duration and comparing a duration of the received pulse to the transmitted pulse in order to determine an orientation of a surface of a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ariel Lipson, Michael Slutsky, Oded Bialer
  • Patent number: 10180342
    Abstract: A method of level finding includes providing characteristics of a shape of a transmitted pulse in time domain launched onto a waveguide into a tank having at least one material therein, physical properties of the waveguide and real and imaginary dielectric characteristics of the material at a frequency of the pulse. A level finding algorithm having a coarse search and a fine search is implemented, where the coarse search minimizes a prediction error between an echo signal (echo curve y(k)) and a sampled pulse model echo p(k) to obtain an objective function J(k) in a vicinity of a minimum prediction error (k*). The fine search calculates at least one minimum or maximum using J(k) in the vicinity of k*. The minimum or the maximum corresponds to a level of the material or an interface involving the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Johan Backstrom, Sarabjit Singh, Iouri Markevitch, Stephane Savard, Michael Kon Yew Hughes, Frank Martin Haran
  • Patent number: 9886938
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a transducer array. The transducer array may include a first receiver having a first aperture width. The transducer array may include a second receiver having a second aperture width that is substantially equal to the first aperture width. The transducer array may also include a transceiver having a third aperture width that is larger than the first aperture width and the second aperture width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventor: David Parks
  • Patent number: 9594166
    Abstract: An object detecting apparatus that detects an object using a distance measuring sensor and is mounted in a moving body includes a position calculator that calculates a position of the object relative to the moving body, a speed detector that detects a speed of the moving body, a displacement calculator that calculates an distance moved by the moving body, a relative speed calculator that calculates a relative speed between the moving body and the object, a first determiner that determines whether a position calculation in the position calculator is possible, a second determiner that determines whether the moved distance calculation by the displacement calculator is possible, and an estimator that estimate the position of the object based on a last known position of the object, a last known distance moved by the moving body, or a last known relative speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masumi Fukuman, Motonari Ohbayashi, Akihiro Kida
  • Patent number: 9585603
    Abstract: A device for the determination of at least one compression parameter during administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a patient comprising: a field generator, a field detector, and a processor. Position information and the compression parameter are determined from the field detected by the field detector. One of the field generator and the field detector is a position sensor and the other is a reference sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Physio-Control Canada Sales Ltd.
    Inventor: Corey Centen
  • Patent number: 9488745
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for estimating the water speed of a first acoustic node D belonging to a network of acoustic nodes, at least some of the acoustic nodes being arranged along towed acoustic linear antennas (S). The method includes steps of: a) defining a N-dimensional base, the center of which is the first acoustic node and comprising a single axis, when N=1, or N non-collinear axes, when N=2 or N=3, each axis being associated with a base vector extending from the first acoustic node to another acoustic node; and b) estimating an amplitude of the water speed, as a function of: for each given other acoustic node defining the base vector: an acoustic propagation duration of an acoustic signal transmitted from the first acoustic node to the given other acoustic node, and an acoustic propagation duration of an acoustic signal transmitted from the given other acoustic nodes to the first acoustic node; and a value c of the underwater acoustic sound velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: SERCEL
    Inventors: Pierre Baliguet, Christophe L'Her
  • Publication number: 20150103629
    Abstract: During transmission, speed of ultrasound pulses gradually reduces due to their energy loss from acoustic impedance. So, calculating a detecting depth with fixed speed of the ultrasound pulses will distort ultrasound images. Correction of the detecting depth will rectify a depth registration and improve the imaging quality. The thickness and density of piezoelectric elements (PZT) decide a quantity of the ultrasound pulses, which affect their detecting depth. The density and sound speed in PZT elements decide the frequency of the ultrasound pulses, which can be used to increase the detecting depth for a high frequency ultrasound. Moving objects can change speed of reflected ultrasound pulses, which change their TOF and TOF shift. Therefore the TOF shift can be used to calculate the velocity of the moving objects in a continuous and a pulsed wave and a color ultrasound, and correct aliasing of the pulsed wave and the color ultrasound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Hai Huang
  • Publication number: 20140266860
    Abstract: A method for distinguishing a target, wherein the target includes one or more objects of interest possibly located among a plurality of objects. The method comprises the following stages: obtaining and processing sonar or radar raw data; tracking the objects of the plurality using the processed raw data; grouping the tracked objects by associating them into one or more groups, while hierarchically arranging the tracked objects in the groups and controllably applying prior knowledge at least about characteristic features and/or constraints of the target's class; classifying the groups to classes and determining whether any of the groups matches to the target's class.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Gaddi BLUMROSEN, Ben FISHMAN, Yosef YOVEL
  • Patent number: 8830791
    Abstract: Implementations and techniques for measuring 3D coordinates of a transmitter using a receiver and a reflector are generally disclosed. The receiver may be attached asymmetrically to the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Tomoaki Ueda
  • Patent number: 8823578
    Abstract: A driving assist apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The driving assist apparatus includes a transmitter for transmitting a transmission wave, a receiver for receiving a reflected wave, an obstacle presence determination section for detecting a presence of an obstacle in the surrounding of the vehicle based on the reflected wave, a measurement section for measuring a frequency of phase delay and advance of the reflected wave with respect to a reference signal, and a detection section for detecting the obstacle having a specific relation with the vehicle based on the presence of the obstacle determined by the obstacle presence determination section and the frequency of delay and the frequency of advance measured by the measurement section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Hattori, Mitsuyasu Matsuura
  • Publication number: 20140177393
    Abstract: An ultrasound interior space monitoring system for a motor vehicle includes at least one ultrasound transmitter and at least one ultrasound receiver that can be attached in the interior space of the motor vehicle and are configured for the contactless monitoring of the interior space. The system is operable in an operating mode which is active when a monitoring mode in which the monitoring of the interior takes place is inactive, wherein a position, a movement speed and/or a movement direction of an object, in particular of a hand of a vehicle occupant, can be determined and at least one fitting element of the vehicle can be actuated in dependence on the position, on the movement speed and/or on the movement direction by means of the at least one ultrasound transmitter and by means of the at least one ultrasound receiver in the operating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: ROLAND MENNE, CHRISTOPH ROTT, CHRISTIAN ESSER
  • Patent number: 8659975
    Abstract: A method for measuring a mechanical property of a subject includes using an ultrasonic transducer to apply ultrasonic vibration pulses to a vibration origin in the subject in an on-off time sequence in order to impart a harmonic motion at a prescribed frequency to the subject, and when the vibration pulses are off, preferably using the same transducer to apply ultrasonic detection pulses to a motion detection point and to receive echo signals therefrom in order to sense the harmonic motion on the subject at the motion detection point The ultrasonic detection pulses are interspersed with the vibration pulses and can be applied in a non-uniform manner From the received ultrasonic echo signals, a harmonic signal is detected and a characteristic such as amplitude or phase of the detected harmonic signal is calculated using a Kalman filter or interpolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: MAYO Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventors: James F. Greenleaf, Shigao Chen, Yi Zheng, Aiping Yao
  • Patent number: 8625392
    Abstract: A system and method of remote sound speed measurement are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system for estimating a sound speed comprises a plurality of transducers configured to i) transmit a first acoustic signal from a first location, ii) receive a first scattered signal at a second location, iii) receive a second scattered signal at a third location, and iv) receive a third scattered signal at a fourth location; and a microprocessor configured to i) estimate a travel time based on at least one of the first, second, or third scattered signals, ii) generate a cross-correlation signal comprising a product of at least two of the first, second, and third scattered signals, iii) estimate a travel time difference based on at least the cross-correlation signal, and iv) estimate a sound speed based on at least the estimated travel time and the estimated travel time difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Teledyne RD Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Blair H. Brumley
  • Patent number: 8514660
    Abstract: A sonar system having an acoustic wave range sensor which may be displaceable so as to reduce noise is provided. The sonar system further includes a wind sensor operable to detect wind velocity, an actuator coupled to the acoustic wave range sensor, and a processor. The actuator is coupled to the acoustic wave range sensor and operable to change the position of the acoustic wave range sensor. The processor is operable to process the wind velocity, determine the effect the wind has on the echo, and actuate the actuator so as to adjust the position of the acoustic wave range sensor to a position wherein the performance of the acoustic wave range sensor is optimized under dynamic wind conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephane M. Roussel, Umesh N. Gandhi
  • Patent number: 8400875
    Abstract: An active sonar system, a method associated therewith, and a computer-readable medium associate therewith, each provide a method of sonar signal processing. The method includes receiving a plurality of initial detections of a target and associated initial detection times, associated with sound transmitted at a pulse rate interval (PRI), and associated with received sound including echoes from a target. The echoes result from the transmitted sound. The method also includes analyzing the plurality of initial detection times with a pulse sorting transform configured to identify periodic PST detection times within the plurality of initial detection times that are equally spaced in time and that are representative of the echoes from the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Thomas B. Pederson
  • Patent number: 8382540
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the motion of a cable-driven autonomous moored profiler. The profiler includes one or more buoyant members for buoying the profiler in the fluid, a winch, and a feedback controller for controlling the winch. The winch includes a spool, a device providing for varying rates of turning of the spool, and a flexible cable for winding onto and unwinding from the spool. A first end of the cable is carried by the profiler. The controller monitors an indication of the tension in the cable and controls the device in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Wet Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew H. Barnard, Bruce K. Rhoades, John N. Koegler, III, Alex R. Derr, Casey Moore, Daniel R. Whiteman, Percy L. Donaghay, James M. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 8385152
    Abstract: A system and method of remote sound speed measurement are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system for estimating a sound speed comprises a plurality of transducers configured to i) transmit a first acoustic signal from a first location, ii) transmit a second acoustic signal at a second location, iii) receive a first reflected signal at a third location, and iv) receive a second reflected signal at a fourth location, the reflected signals comprising at least one echo from at least one of the acoustic signals; and a microprocessor configured to i) estimate a travel time based on at least the first or second reflected signals, ii) estimate a travel time difference based on at least the first and second reflected signals, and iii) estimate a sound speed based on at least the estimated travel time and estimated travel time difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Teledyne RD Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Blair H. Brumley
  • Publication number: 20130039151
    Abstract: A mixer circuit includes three square wave mixers and a combiner. A first square wave mixer in the circuit multiplies an input signal with a first square wave. A second square wave mixer and a third square wave mixer in the circuit each multiplies the input signal with a second square wave and a third square wave respectively. The second and third square waves have a same frequency as the first square wave, but phases that respectively lead and lag the phase of the first square wave by a first value. The combiner adds the outputs of the mixers. A low-pass filter external to the mixer circuit filters the sum generated by the combiner to generate a filtered output. In an embodiment, the first value equals forty five degrees, and the filtered output is rendered free of products generated by third and fifth harmonics of the first square wave square.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Vajeed Nimran P. A., Shabbir Amjhera Wala, Shagun Dusad, Sandeep Oswal, Visvesvaraya Appala Pentakota
  • Publication number: 20130003502
    Abstract: A device, system, method, and machine readable medium for configurable ultrasound Doppler measurements from a mobile device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the device includes an oscillator capable of generating an ultrasound frequency sound wave. The device also includes an ultrasound emission module capable of emitting a first ultrasound wave at a first frequency and at a first power level and a second ultrasound wave at a second frequency and at a second power level. The device also an ultrasound receiver and amplifier module capable of receiving and amplifying ultrasound emission waves. The device also includes processing logic capable of receiving the first and second ultrasound waves and displaying those waves on a display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Gyan Prakash, Kannan G. Raja, Saurabh Dadu
  • Patent number: 8335129
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a correlation SONAR system is adapted for use in shallow water. A pulse generator transmits an initial burst of pulses towards a bottom of a body of water. Echoes of the initial burst of pulses are received on a hydrophone array. After the receiving the echoes of the initial burst of pulses, a second burst of pulses is transmitted towards the bottom of the body of water. The echoes of the second burst of pulses are received on the hydrophone array, and a SONAR processor correlates a pulse from the initial burst of pulses and a pulse from the second burst of pulses to calculate a velocity estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony L. Scoca, James Huber
  • Publication number: 20120275270
    Abstract: Implementations and techniques for measuring 3D coordinates of a transmitter using a receiver and a reflector are generally disclosed. The receiver may be attached asymmetrically to the reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventor: Tomoaki Ueda
  • Publication number: 20120176864
    Abstract: An ultrasonic measurement apparatus is described having a receiving device which determines a measurement sequence relating to a time variation of the period lengths of an ultrasonic signal received from an in-vehicle and/or external ultrasonic transmitter, a comparison device which determines a comparison information item relating to a deviation of the determined measurement sequence from at least one reference sequence, and an evaluation device which determines, taking into consideration the determined comparison information item, an information item relating to a signal form transmitted by the ultrasonic transmitter, a relative speed between the receiving device and the ultrasonic transmitter, a relative speed of at least one reflecting object situated in a transmission path between the receiving device and the ultrasonic transmitter, and/or a shape feature of the at least one reflecting object. A method for evaluating an ultrasonic signal is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventor: Matthias Karl
  • Patent number: 8212656
    Abstract: A vehicle presence notification apparatus generates a notice sound by emitting an ultrasonic wave in mid air based on an ultrasonic signal modulated according to an audible sound. During proceeding in mid air, the modulated ultrasonic wave is self-demodulating to become an audible sound. The audible sound posterior to the self-demodulation has a significant directionality like the ultrasonic wave. The notice sound is thus conveyed mainly to a pedestrian who is present in a dangerous area range where a danger needs to be taught. In addition, the vehicle presence notification apparatus includes a sensor-use ultrasonic transducer device having a transducers. The transducer device serves as a vehicle velocity sensor by transmitting an ultrasonic wave towards a road surface based on an ultrasonic wave signal or modulated ultrasonic wave, thereby enabling the vehicle presence notification apparatus to acquire vehicle velocity information by itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nakayama, Toshio Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8213740
    Abstract: Systems and methods for coherent image correlation are provided. The systems include sonars with overlapping frequencies that observe terrain from overlapping aspects to form sonar images. First and second sonar images are formed and are grazing angle compensated. The first image is formed using the open or closed aperture theorem. Forming the second image using the open or closed aperture theorem constraint is optional. If the first and second images are not aligned, a range of possible rotations can be defined and image pairs can be created for a sampling of rotational angles. In addition, the images can be aspect compensated to remove windowing and beam pattern effects, if necessary. Once both images are grazing angle compensated and aligned, values are calculated for each possible image shift. To obtain a correlation image, the correlation coefficient for each possible image shift is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Richard Rikoski
  • Patent number: 8205503
    Abstract: The speed of rotation of a rotary member such as a compressor or turbine wheel of a turbocharger is determined by directing an ultrasonic signal into a blade cavity and receiving the reflected signal, which is amplitude modulated by virtue of the passage of the blades across the ultrasonic transducer. The received signal is demodulated to determine the frequency of amplitude modulation of the received signal caused by passage of blades between the first and second locations. This enables the speed of rotation to be calculated. The performance of the turbocharger can thus be optimised in the context of the overall engine system via an engine control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Calvin H. Cox
  • Publication number: 20120105270
    Abstract: An observation signal processing apparatus transmits a pulse signal as a search signal, generates an observation value based on a reflected signal against a target and a delay modulation pulse signal, and performs coherent integration on the observation value to output an integration value. The apparatus includes a section for determining a coherent integration count, a section for transmitting pulse signals equivalent to the coherent integration count, a section for calculating a phase correction amount based on an estimated relative speed, and a section for performing phase-weighted coherent integration on observation values for the number of times equivalent to the coherent integration count based on the phase correction amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Miyake, Asahi Kondou, Gaku Takano
  • Publication number: 20120063268
    Abstract: Pairs of acoustic transducers positioned at different radial distances in a conduit are used to measure travel times of acoustic signals in opposite directions and inclined to the direction of a fluid flow in the borehole. These contrapropagation measurements are used to estimate fluid velocity and volumetric flow rates of the fluid components in the conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher J. Powell, Rocco DiFoggio, Datong Sun, David M. Chace
  • Patent number: 8134887
    Abstract: The invention as disclosed is a fiber optic interferometric directional acoustic density sensor that increases the directionality of a vector sensor that is much smaller in size than the wave length of an acoustic wave. This is accomplished through the use of second order directionality by measuring the acoustic fluctuations of fluid density at a point, wherein the acoustic density fluctuations are determined according to the principles of fluid compressibility and conservation of mass using a density fluctuation measuring apparatus that restricts two of the three vector components of the particle velocity of the acoustic wave and that employs a laser interferometer to measure the fluid density fluctuation along the remaining vector component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Cray, Dimitri Donskoy
  • Patent number: 8130592
    Abstract: A method for improving the accuracy of velocity-measuring spatial correlation SONAR or RADAR is disclosed. The method uses data from multiple receiver pairs for each velocity vector, thereby providing improved utilization of a fixed sized receiver array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony L. Scoca, James G. Huber
  • Publication number: 20120051183
    Abstract: A sonar system having an acoustic wave range sensor which may be displaceable so as to reduce noise is provided. The sonar system further includes a wind sensor operable to detect wind velocity, an actuator coupled to the acoustic wave range sensor, and a processor. The actuator is coupled to the acoustic wave range sensor and operable to change the position of the acoustic wave range sensor. The processor is operable to process the wind velocity, determine the effect the wind has on the echo, and actuate the actuator so as to adjust the position of the acoustic wave range sensor to a position wherein the performance of the acoustic wave range sensor is optimized under dynamic wind conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephane M. Roussel, Umesh N. Gandhi
  • Patent number: 8125849
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring the flow of water in cross-section of a body of water is presented. The system and method comprises a housing having a first transducer and a plurality of second transducers, wherein the first transducer produces an acoustic signal for determining the depth of the body of water, and the second transducers each produce an acoustic signal for determining the velocity of a volume of water by measuring the Doppler frequency shift in the returned echo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: YSI Incorporated
    Inventors: Ramon Cabrera, John Sloat, Steve Maier, Matthew J. Hull
  • Publication number: 20110261650
    Abstract: The invention relates to radiation monitoring and can be used for detecting radioactive materials during the unauthorized movement thereof. The method involves registering background gamma quanta and detecting a monitored object in a monitoring zone when the registered gamma radiation exceeds the background radiation. The moment when an object arrives at a distance R? from gamma radiation detectors is determined and the moment when the object moves away from the gamma radiation detectors to a distance R? is determined. The gamma quanta are registered from the moment when the object arrives at the given distance R? from the gamma radiation detectors to the moment when the object moves away from the gamma radiation detectors to the distance R?. R?=(0.8?1.2)(H+D) and R?=(0.8?1.2)(H+D), where H is the height of the horizontal plane that is the plane of symmetry of the position of the gamma radiation detectors; and D is half the distance between two gamma radiation detectors mounted at the same height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Jury losifovich Olshansky, Alexandr Georgievich Sorokin
  • Publication number: 20110242939
    Abstract: An active sonar system, a method associated therewith, and a computer-readable medium associate therewith, each provide a method of sonar signal processing. The method includes receiving a plurality of initial detections of a target and associated initial detection times, associated with sound transmitted at a pulse rate interval (PRI), and associated with received sound including echoes from a target. The echoes result from the transmitted sound. The method also includes analyzing the plurality of initial detection times with a pulse sorting transform configured to identify periodic PST detection times within the plurality of initial detection times that are equally spaced in time and that are representative of the echoes from the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Thomas B. Pederson
  • Patent number: RE43090
    Abstract: An improved acoustic Doppler flow measurement system which employs multiple acoustic frequencies to acquire multiple independent backscatter data from the flow channel, combining the data to enable survey measurement of channel flow properties beyond what can be achieved with either a single frequency system or multiple independent single frequency systems. The system is installed on small moving channel survey boats, remotely measuring vertical profiles of river currents, achieving accurate surveys of channel flow velocity structure and bottom topography, enabling accurate (approximately 1% resolution) survey measurement of channel flow discharge. Significant synergistic improvements are realized from both physical and functional integrations of the multi-frequency operational capability into a single integrated flow survey system. Use of phased array transducer techniques further reduces flow disturbance and transducer size, enabling use on even smaller survey boats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Teledyne RD Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Francis D. Rowe
  • Patent number: RE47049
    Abstract: A method and system for enhancing a target sound signal from multiple sound signals is provided. An array of an arbitrary number of sound sensors positioned in an arbitrary configuration receives the sound signals from multiple disparate sources. The sound signals comprise the target sound signal from a target sound source, and ambient noise signals. A sound source localization unit, an adaptive beamforming unit, and a noise reduction unit are in operative communication with the array of sound sensors. The sound source localization unit estimates a spatial location of the target sound signal from the received sound signals. The adaptive beamforming unit performs adaptive beamforming by steering a directivity pattern of the array of sound sensors in a direction of the spatial location of the target sound signal, thereby enhancing the target sound signal and partially suppressing the ambient noise signals, which are further suppressed by the noise reduction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: LI Creative Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Manli Zhu, Qi Li
  • Patent number: RE48371
    Abstract: A method and system for enhancing a target sound signal from multiple sound signals is provided. An array of an arbitrary number of sound sensors positioned in an arbitrary configuration receives the sound signals from multiple disparate sources. The sound signals comprise the target sound signal from a target sound source, and ambient noise signals. A sound source localization unit, an adaptive beamforming unit, and a noise reduction unit are in operative communication with the array of sound sensors. The sound source localization unit estimates a spatial location of the target sound signal from the received sound signals. The adaptive beamforming unit performs adaptive beamforming by steering a directivity pattern of the array of sound sensors in a direction of the spatial location of the target sound signal, thereby enhancing the target sound signal and partially suppressing the ambient noise signals, which are further suppressed by the noise reduction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: VOCALIFE LLC
    Inventors: Manli Zhu, Qi Li