Patents Assigned to Elbit Systems Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130342406
    Abstract: Antenna assembly for providing HF radio communication in two different operating modes. The antenna assembly includes a whip antenna and at least two antenna wire segments. The whip antenna establishes short range HF radio communication with a communication target, via ground wave or low-efficiency skywave propagation, allowing communication when the antenna assembly is in motion. The antenna wire segments are deployable to form an inverted-V antenna using the whip antenna as a center mast. The inverted-V antenna establishes short or medium range HF radio communication with a communication target, via NVIS or directional skywave propagation, allowing rapid deployment of the antenna wire segments when the antenna assembly is stationary. The antenna assembly may be mounted aboard a mobile platform, such as a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventor: Yitzick Magid
  • Patent number: 8612085
    Abstract: An automated method for autonomous navigation of a maneuverable platform is disclosed. The method includes providing an autonomous navigation system that includes a situation awareness module to receive data from one or more sensors on one or more identifying parameters selected from the group of identifying parameters that includes position, course and speed, relating to the platform and obstacles in the vicinity of the platform. The platform also includes a decision module to choose course and speed for the platform based on the identifying parameters of the obstacles in the vicinity of the platform and the data on the position of the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Elbit Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Myriam Flohr, Gilad Steiner, Inon Ben Zur
  • Patent number: 8593647
    Abstract: An optical tracking system for determining the pose of a moving object in a reference coordinate system includes light emitters, optical detectors, and a pose processor. The processor is coupled with an optical detector and also with a light emitter. The processor determines the object's pose according to detected light. An optical detector and a light emitter are situated at a fixed position in the reference coordinate system. Other ones of the optical detectors and light emitters are attached to the object. One optical detector is a WFOV detector comprising an optical sensor and optical receptors. The receptors are spaced apart and optically coupled with the optical sensor. The sensor senses light received from a light emitter. Each receptor projects a different angular section of a scene on the sensor. The pose processor associates the representation on the sensor, with a respective receptor which projected the light on the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Elbit Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Adi Charny, Dror Yahav, Shahaf Zommer, Ilan Efrat, Rani Ben-Yishai
  • Publication number: 20130311011
    Abstract: Method for dynamically limiting the inclinations of monoblock flight control surfaces (FCS) in an aircraft. Dynamic limitation of the FCS is activated if a stall susceptibility condition is detected in the current aircraft environment. The real-time calibrated airspeed of the aircraft, real-time angle of attack (AOA) of the aircraft, and real-time sideslip angle (AOS) of the aircraft are obtained. The aircraft parameters may be obtained via estimation if the measured values are deemed unsuitable. The real-time local AOA and AOS of the FCS are calculated based on the obtained aircraft parameters. The inclination of each of the FCS relative to the critical values is dynamically limited according to the calculated real-time local AOA and AOS of the FCS. The aircraft may be an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and/or a V-tail aircraft. The stall susceptibility condition may include icy conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventor: Dan Malta
  • Patent number: 8493943
    Abstract: An ad-hoc network comprising multiple nodes in, each node including a transmitter, a receiver, a tactical database, storing a partition of the geographical area into multiple cells, each cell is associated with coordinates in a geographical coordinate system, storing tactical data the nodes, a geographical cell processor for identifying the geographical position of the node in associating the node with one of the geographical cells, a situation awareness and collision avoidance messages processor for transmitting/receiving situation awareness messages, the situation awareness messages include the node identification representation, the node geographical position and the node protocol information the node, together with additional of the nodes being defined as cell members of the geographical cell, the cell-member is determined a cell-representative for the geographical cell, the cell-representative, transmits cell-representative messages, to nodes that are within a determined distance from the cell-representa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Elbit System Ltd.
    Inventors: Ilana Segall, Adrian Segall, Judith Zelicovici
  • Publication number: 20130138275
    Abstract: A method of visually guiding a pilot flying an aircraft using one or more conformal symbols whose position is dynamically updated throughout the guidance is provided herein. The method includes the following stages: determining a desired flight route of an aircraft, based on a user-selected maneuver; presenting to a pilot, on a display, at least one 3D visual symbol that is: (i) earth-space stabilized, and (ii) positioned along a future location along the desired route; computing an updated desired route based on repeatedly updated aircraft flight data that include at least one of: location, speed, and spatial angle, of the aircraft; and repeating the presenting of the at least one 3D visual symbol with its updated location along the updated desired route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Ron Nauman, Ilan Efrat, Roee Hartuv, Eyal Halifa, Ofer Klein, Hagay Makov, Eran Galed
  • Publication number: 20130077142
    Abstract: A device for image gating using an array of reflective elements is provided herein. The device includes an array of reflective elements, wherein each one of the reflective elements is movable within a range of a plurality of tilt positions, wherein the array is located at an image plane of the device, wherein the array is perpendicular to an optical axis of the device. The device further includes a control unit configured to control the reflective elements such that in at least some of the tilt positions, the reflective elements reflect the radiant flux at said image plane, to one or more projection planes. A gradual rotation of the reflective elements along the plurality of tilt positions result in a gradual increase or decrease in the intensity of the image reflected from the array of reflective elements while maintaining the image integrity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventor: Elbit Systems Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130069819
    Abstract: A system and a method of generating a three-dimensional terrain model using one-dimensional interferometry of a rotating radar unit is provided herein. Height information is evaluated from phase differences between two echoes by applying a Kalman filter in relation to a phase confidence map that is generated from phase forward projections relating to formerly analyzed phase data. The radar system starts from a flat earth model and gathers height information of the actual terrain as the platform approaches it. Height ambiguities are corrected by removing redundant 2? multiples from the unwrapped phase difference between the echoes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Hans Martin Braun, Gadi Maydan, Holger Baessler, Carston Jonas, Ofer Klein
  • Patent number: 8384912
    Abstract: In an optical tracking system for determining the pose of a moving object in a reference coordinate system, the system including at least one light emitter, at least one optical detector for detecting the light emitted by the at least one light emitter and a pose processor, coupled with the at least one optical detector, and with the at least one light emitter, for determining the pose of the moving object according to the light detected by the at least one optical detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Elbit Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Adi Charny, Dror Yahav, Shahaf Zommer, Ilan Efrat, Rani Ben-Yishai
  • Patent number: 8378278
    Abstract: A foldable deployable panel device (12) attached to a body (16) of an object is disclosed. The device includes a panel pivotally attached to the body by a first pivot element (40/42) at a first pivot position and a second pivot element (29) at a second pivot position. The first pivot element (40/42) is disengageable from the first pivot position, when the panel (12) is aligned in a predetermined orientation. The second pivot element (29) is fixed at the second pivot position, when the first pivot element (40/42) is engaged at the first pivot position. The panel (12) is urged by an energy storing element (28), when the first pivot element (40/42) is disengaged from the first pivot position, to move into a deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Elbit Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Arie Ashkenazi
  • Publication number: 20130034266
    Abstract: Multi view multi spectral detection and tracking system comprising at lease one imager, at least one of the at least one imager being a multi spectral imager, the at least one imager acquiring at least two detection sequences, and at least two tracking sequences, each sequence including at least one image, each acquired image being associated with respective image attributes, an object detector, coupled with the at least one imager, detecting objects of interest in the scene, according to the detection sequence of images and the respective image attributes, an object tracker coupled with the object detector, the object tracker tracking the objects of interest in the scene and determining dynamic spatial characteristics and dynamic spectral characteristics for each object of interest according to the tracking sequences of images and the respective image attributes and an object classifier, coupled with the object tracker, classifying the objects of interest according to the dynamic spatial characteristics and
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: Elbit Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Hanan Shamir, Liat Berger, Eliyahu Tell, Ilan Efrat
  • Publication number: 20120320219
    Abstract: System for detecting objects protruding from the surface of a body of water in a marine environment under low illumination conditions, the system comprising a gated light source, generating light pulses toward the body of water illuminating substantially an entire field of view, a gated camera, sensitive at least to wavelengths of the light generated by the gated light source, the gated camera receiving light reflected from at least one object, within the field of view, protruding from the surface of the body of water and acquiring a gated image of the reflected light, and a processor coupled with the gated light source and with the gated camera, the processor gating the gated camera to be set ‘OFF’ for at least the duration of time it takes the gated light source to produce a light pulse in its substantial entirety in addition to the time it takes the end of the light pulse to complete traversing a determined distance from the system and back to the gated camera, the processor further setting, for each pulse
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Elbit Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Ofer David, Yehuda Akiva Barukh, Keren Bennet, Alon Sade
  • Patent number: 8324545
    Abstract: A foldable deployable panel device attached to a body of an object is disclosed. The device includes a panel pivotally attached to the body by a first pivot element at first pivot position and a second pivot element at a second pivot position. The first pivot element is disengageable from the first pivot position, when the panel is aligned in a predetermined orientation. The second pivot element is fixed at the second pivot position, when the first pivot element is engaged at the first pivot position. The panel is urged by an energy storing element, when the first pivot element is disengaged from the first pivot position, to move into the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Elbit Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Arie Ashkenazi
  • Patent number: 8276844
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for landing UAV's. The system comprises a slingshot structure that includes arm based structure and an axis installed along the arm of the structure and enabling the arm to move around it. The system comprises a base connecting the axis to a platform at which the system is installable. The system also includes a controlled pulling and braking means that connects the arm of the structure and the platform upon which the system is installable and stretchable elastic installed in a stretched manner at a gap formed between two arms and set to connect with a landing UAV. At the landing phase, the controlled pulling and braking of the system essentially breaks the motion of the arm based structure that is propelled to revolve around the system's axis, and propels the structure to move around the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Elbit Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Amnon Kariv
  • Patent number: 8213064
    Abstract: A system and method for providing extended field of view. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to provide extended field of view for a user of a personal display system. The system may include an image source coupled to relay optics, to redirecting unit and to reflecting unit, and may optionally be mounted in a helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Elbit Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Zvi Yona, Sasson Abraham, Shmuel Shalom, Aron Arlievsky, Oded Hamburger
  • Patent number: 8212876
    Abstract: A night vision coloring system may color a scene by extracting the spectral signature of each area in a scene and matching the extracted signature with a predetermined database signature and associated color. The system may comprise a temporal or spatial filtering element that may typically allow the capturing of an image reflection through a plurality of spectral bands, thereby extracting the spectral signature of each area in the image. The color associated with the matched database signature may be used to color each area comprising the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Elbit Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Hanan Shamir, Yosi Yaeli, Ilan Efrat
  • Patent number: 8194126
    Abstract: An imaging system, including a transmission source providing pulse(s), and a gated sensor for receiving pulse reflections from objects located beyond a minimal range. The pulse and the gate timing are controlled for creating a sensitivity as a function of range, such that the amount of the energy received progressively increases with the range. Also an imaging method, including emitting pulse(s) to a target area, receiving reflections of pulses reflected from objects located beyond a minimal range, the receiving includes gating detection of the reflections, and progressively increasing the received energy of the reflections, by controlling the pulses and the timing of the gating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Elbit Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Ofer David, Shamir Inbar
  • Publication number: 20120105634
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for automatic surveillance of a monitored area having one or more regions of interest using a video imaging device are disclosed. The method includes receiving data defining said one or more regions of interest and one or more characteristics of an object of interest; pointing the line of sight of the imaging device at a region of interest selected from said one or more regions of interest; automatically scanning the selected region of interest to detect said one or more characteristics of the object of interest and upon detection issuing an alert; and when said one or more regions of interest includes more than one region of interest, repeating the steps of pointing the line of sight of the imaging device and automatically scanning in a predetermined order of viewing of the regions of interest, and upon detection of said one or more characteristics of the object of interest issuing an alert, for each of the regions of interests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Avi Meidan, Ran Bar Sella
  • Publication number: 20120104151
    Abstract: A powered parafoil device is disclosed. The device includes a main body provided with at least one thrust generator for imparting the main body thrust in a determined direction. The device is also includes a parafoil connected to the main body by cords attached to the main body at attachment positions, and a tilting mechanism for tilting the main body with respect to the parafoil, when airborne. The tilting mechanism is capable of tilting the main body between at least two states: in the first state the determined direction of the thrust is substantially parallel to the direction of flight of the device when airborne, and in the second state the determined direction of the thrust is tilted with respect to the direction of flight of the device when airborne, imparting the main body a thrust vector component in the vertical direction. A method for increasing lift of a powered parafoil device and methods for cargo delivery are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicants: Mist Mobililty Integrated Systems Technology (MMIST) Inc., Elbit Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Sean Mccann
  • Patent number: 8159752
    Abstract: Head-up display scenery alignment system, the head-up display being mounted in an aircraft and including an image projector and a combiner. The combiner is optically located between a user and a scenery of interest, optically transmitting a scene image of the scenery of interest to the user. The image projector projects an image toward the combiner, and the combiner reflects the image toward the user. The aircraft includes a heading angle sensor, determining the heading angle of the aircraft. The HUD scenery alignment system includes a moving mechanism coupled with the combiner; and a processor coupled with the heading angle sensor, with the moving mechanism and with the projector. The processor receives heading angle information from the heading angle sensor, and the processor determines the deviation of the heading of the aircraft from the longitudinal axis of the aircraft according to the heading angle information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignees: Elbit Systems Ltd., Elbit Systems Electro-Optics ELOP Ltd.
    Inventors: Hagai Wertheim, Guy Kaufman, Erikos Amarilio