Patents Assigned to Microwave Sensors
  • Patent number: 9739879
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining distance (R) and radial velocity (v) of an object in relation to a measurement location, in which method radar signals are emitted and after reflection on the object are received again at the measurement location, wherein the emitted radar signals are subdivided within a measuring cycle into numerous segments (10) in which the frequency of the radar signals is gradually changed from an initial value (fA, fB) to the end value and each received reflected signal is subjected across one segment (10) to a first evaluation to detect frequency peaks and additionally a subsequent second evaluation of the signals for the frequency peaks of all segments (10) of the measuring cycle is carried out to determine a Doppler frequency component as a measure of the radial velocity (v).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: S.M.S. Smart Microwave Sensors GMBH
    Inventor: Hermann Rohling
  • Publication number: 20170210384
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (8) to be arranged on a motor vehicle (2). Said device (8) comprises a speedometer (4) for ascertaining a relative speed between an object and a device (8), at least one warning mechanism (6) for emitting a warning signal in the direction of the object, find an electric controller which is designed to emit a warning signal via the at least one warning mechanism (6) when the ascertained relative speed exceeds a predefined threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: s.m.s smart microwave sensors GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Doebbelin, Ralph Mende
  • Patent number: 7982660
    Abstract: A measuring device , e.g., a measuring device for a motor vehicle, is for measuring a distance between the measuring device and at least one object and/or measuring a difference in speed between the measuring device and the at least one object. The measuring device includes an emitting apparatus for transmitting a transmission signal encompassing at least two sequences of signal portions, a first sequence of signal portions and a second sequence of signal portions with two respective temporally alternating signal portions. The frequency of at least two signal portions of a sequence of signal portions differs by one respective difference frequency, the difference frequency of the first sequence of signal portions being different from the difference frequency of the second sequence of signal portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, S.M.S. Smart Microwave Sensors GmbH
    Inventors: Marc-Michael Meinecke, Ralph Mende, Marc Behrens, Thanh-Binh To
  • Patent number: 7548186
    Abstract: For detection of an electromagnetic signal, which is transmitted from a transmitting antenna (1), by means of at least two at least essentially identical receiving antennas (3, 4), whose sensitivity curve has a maximum (M) with falling flanks as well as sidelobes (SL) adjacent to it with sensitivity increased again at a reception angle symmetrically with respect to a basic alignment, with angle determination for an object which reflects the transmitted signal being carried out by the two receiving antennas (3, 4) by phase determination in an unambiguous interval (?u) whose boundaries (L) are predetermined by the distance (d) between the receiving antennas (3, 4), the distance (d) is chosen such that the boundaries (L) of the unambiguity area (?u) intersect the sidelobes (SL), and the reflective object is detected by means of vectorial addition of the signals from the receiving antennas (3, 4), after which the parameters R, v are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: S.M.S. Smart Microwave Sensors GmbH
    Inventors: Ralph Mende, Marc Behrens
  • Patent number: 7365676
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor comprising a housing, inside of which a transmitting antenna array that transmits electromagnetic transmission signals in a radiation area and a receiving antenna array that receives received signals reflected by at least one object located within the radiation area are provided. The inventive sensor is designed in such a manner that the transmitting antenna array is provided for transmitting transmission signals in a main radiation area (3) and in a secondary radiation area (4) situated at an angle, thereto, and in that the receiving antenna array (TX) is provided for receiving received signals reflected in both radiation areas (3, 4). This makes it possible, for example when used in a monitor vehicle (5), to monitor the area behind and next to the motor vehicle (5) with a single transmitting antenna (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: s.m.s smart microwave sensors GmbH
    Inventor: Ralph Mende
  • Patent number: 6864832
    Abstract: The distance and relative speed of an object remote from an observation point determined using a signal form which includes two signals having a predetermined spacing relative to each other. The two signals are transmitted for a certain time interval during which the frequency of the signals is modulated in a stepwise fashion. Additionally, the signal sections of the two signals are transmitted alternately for each step so that there is a predetermined frequency spacing between the signal sections being emitted consecutively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: s.m.s. smart microwave sensors GmbH
    Inventors: Ralph Mende, Hermann Rohling, Marc-Michael Meinecke
  • Patent number: 6509864
    Abstract: The invention relates to a distance measuring device. A transmitting part (E) for electromagnetic radiation especially radar radiation, emits measuring pulses (A, B) which are controlled by a pulse generator (1), and a receiving part (8) is switched to a ready-to-receive mode after a certain, adjustable delay (TDELAY, before a next measuring pulse is emitted, for receiving a reflected pulse during a time gate (18). The aim of the invention is to provide a calibration process taking into account all practical defects. To this end, the pulse generator (1) produces pulses with a multiple of the frequency with which the measuring pulses are repeated and a calibrating cycle in which calibrating pulses (&tgr;0 to &tgr;9) are produced with pulses generated by the pulse generator (1), controlled by the transmitting part (5), is carried out at longer intervals in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: s. m. s. smart microwave sensors GmbH
    Inventors: Ralph Mende, Hermann Rohling
  • Patent number: 5903217
    Abstract: A microwave motion sensor for detecting multiple levels of motion of a target is disclosed. The motion sensor includes a transceiver for broadcasting a signal into a predetermined area and receiving a reflected signal with a receiver for producing first and second directional signals. A signal conditioning circuit is provided for amplifying the first and second directional signals and digitizing the directional signals. The signal conditioning circuit includes a micro motion amplifier for separately amplifying one of the directional signals and producing a micro motion signal. A processor is provided for receiving the first and second directional signals transmitted by the signal conditioning circuit, and for receiving the micro motion signal. The processor includes a circuit for analyzing the directional signals, and a circuit for comparing the micro motion signal to a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Microwave Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Stanczak, Ricky J. Ladd, Robert S. Rau, Gary L. Miller
  • Patent number: 5266954
    Abstract: The present invention provides a microwave vehicle detector which includes a transceiver for transmitting microwave energy into a desired target area and for receiving reflections of this microwave energy from vehicle movement in this target area. The transceiver includes first and second diodes for enabling the microwave vehicle detector to determine the direction of vehicle movement relative to the position of the microwave vehicle detector. In this regard, these diodes are balanced, such that a predetermined phase difference will be produced between the doppler shift signals generated by these diodes. This phase difference is analyzed by a microprocessor to determine the speed and direction of the vehicle being detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Microwave Sensors
    Inventors: David P. Orlowski, William R. Lang, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5150123
    Abstract: A field disturbance monitor system which senses changes in a reflected signal caused by animate objects compared to inanimate objects in the same zone. The system employs a microprocessor which controls the system. A transmitter transmits a pulses microwave signal in response to a control signal from the microprocessor. A receiver receives a return signal which represents a reflection of the transmitted signal. A sample and hold circuit senses and holds the magnitude of the pulsed signal. Analog to digital conversion is obtained, whereby a ramp generator generates a ramp voltage which is compared with the magnitude of the received signal by a comparator. The microprocessor measures the time it takes the ramp voltage to rise to the magnitude of the detected signal. The microprocessor continuously computes a recursive short term average and compares this average value with a recursive long-term average. Deviations between the two time periods are the result of a disturbance within the monitoring field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Microwave Sensors
    Inventors: David P. Orlowski, Larry Eccleston, Earl R. Goodrich, II
  • Patent number: 4456911
    Abstract: A frequency modulated continuous wave altimeter and method of detecting the presence of an object in a predetermined area. The altimeter is generally comprised of an antenna for receiving and radiating microwave energy, a transmitter for generating frequency modulated microwave energy, a mixer for generating a sinusoidal resulting signal from the communication of transmitted and reflected microwave energy, and a receiver for processing the resulting signal and generating an output signal indicative of distance. The transmitter includes a Gunn diode for generating a carrier signal, modulating means for varying the frequency of the carrier signal, and a high frequency oscillator for impressing a tone on the modulating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1984
    Assignee: Microwave Sensors, Inc.
    Inventor: C. F. Augustine