Patents Examined by Bernarr Gregory
  • Patent number: 9435613
    Abstract: A system for semi-active laser seeker synchronization includes a laser target designator configured to emit a laser pulse signal and a seeker configured to detect the emitted signal from the laser target designator. The laser target designator and the seeker are operatively connected to synchronize the emission of the laser pulse signal and the detection of the seeker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace Inc.
    Inventor: William Caplan
  • Patent number: 9435880
    Abstract: A pulse transponder countermeasure device, comprising: a central processing unit (CPU); an optical receiver adapted to receive detection signals from a speed measuring device; at least one optical transmitter adapted to transmit jamming signals to the speed measuring device; at least one software controlled driver configured to drive the optical transmitter and memory storing a database of measuring devices signature signals and reflective signals, the CPU configured to identify the speed measuring device in its database according to the received detection signal's signature and calculate a response time for sending a jamming signal to the speed measuring device so as to change the speed perceived by the speed measurement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Inventor: Ron Yaacov Davidson
  • Patent number: 9437646
    Abstract: A detecting device which detects electromagnetic waves includes an antennal configured to receive electromagnetic waves, and a plurality of semiconductor rectifying devices serially connected to the antenna, and connected in parallel to each other such that the polarity is aligned, so as to receive electromagnetic waves propagated from the antenna, wherein the plurality of semiconductor rectifying devices are each disposed at positions where the phase of electromagnetic waves propagated from the antenna is substantially the same phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryota Sekiguchi, Masahiro Okuda
  • Patent number: 9437918
    Abstract: An antenna mounting bracket with adjustable azimuth settings and a method and medium for using the antenna mounting bracket are provided. The antenna mounting bracket includes a fixed bracket assembly coupled to a support structure, and a movable bracket assembly to which an antenna is mounted. The movable bracket assembly is rotatably coupled to the fixed bracket assembly by a pivot rod. Locking pins associated with the fixed bracket assembly can be used to reversibly secure the movable bracket assembly at a certain azimuth. A gearbox assembly associated with the movable bracket assembly can be actuated to angularly rotate the movable bracket assembly a predetermined number of degrees relative to the pivot rod when the movable bracket assembly is not secured to the fixed bracket assembly by the locking pins. Rotation of the movable bracket assembly causes the mounted antenna to angularly rotate to a new azimuth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Bales, Noel M. Hansen, Greg Nohalty, Maneesh Gauba
  • Patent number: 9423227
    Abstract: A method for optically transmitting data into and from a casing of a projectile. The method including: transmitting, from an outside of the casing to an inside of the casing, a first optical signal containing first data through a first optical window disposed on the casing; manipulating the first data inside the casing of the projectile into second data; and transmitting, from the inside of the casing to the outside of the casing, a second optical signal containing the second data through a second optical window. The first and second optical windows can be the same optical window or different optical windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: OMNITEK PARTNERS LLC
    Inventor: Jahangir S. Rastegar
  • Patent number: 9417325
    Abstract: A process is described that includes the generation and transmission of collision avoidance data and/or collision avoidance instructions based on data from 3-D radar scans of an airspace. The transmitted data and/or instructions could facilitate collision avoidance by aerial vehicles operating in the airspace. The transmitted data could be limited to protect the security, privacy, and/or safety of other aerial vehicles, airborne objects, and/or individuals within the airspace. The transmitted data could be limited such that only information pertaining to a region of the airspace proximate to a particular aerial vehicle was transmitted. The transmitted data could be limited such that it included instructions that could be executed by a particular aerial vehicle to avoid collisions and such that the transmitted data did not include location or other data associated with other aerial vehicles or airborne objects in the airspace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Bry, Abraham Bachrach, Bruno Andre Posokhow
  • Patent number: 9418551
    Abstract: The following are disclosed: Vehicle parking detection, sensors and an On-Board Device (OBD) to create a parking session. Radars, microwave antennas, rechargeable power supplies and their power management circuits. A localized communications protocol between the wireless nodes and repeaters within a wireless network is disclosed. Wireless sensors and wireline sensors. The networks and/or systems may support parking spot management/monitoring, vehicle traffic analysis and/or management of stationary and/or moving vehicles, monitor storage areas and/or manage production facilities. These networks and/or systems may be operated to generate reports of incorrectly parked vehicles, such as reserved parking spots for other vehicles, vehicles parked in multiple parking spots and/or overstaying the time they are permitted to park.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Sensys Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Kavaler, Luca Fusina
  • Patent number: 9417315
    Abstract: A transmitter front end circuit is described. The transmitter front end circuit is provided with a radar transmitter port, a radar receiver port, a radar amplifier, a coupler, a radar antenna input and a signal director. The radar amplifier has a low power side receiving a transmit signal having a transmit waveform modulated onto a carrier frequency from the radar transmitter port, and a high power side outputting an amplified transmit waveform suitable for transmission to a radar antenna. The coupler is coupled to the high power side of the radar amplifier to sample the amplified transmit waveform. The radar antenna input is configured to receive return signals from a radar antenna. And, the signal director selectively directs the sample of the amplified transmit waveform and the return signals to the radar receiver port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
    Inventors: Robert Dean Palmer, Redmond Clay Kelley, Boon Leng Cheong, Yan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9407008
    Abstract: An antenna system (10) comprises a transmitter part (12) comprising n inputs (40.1 to 40.n) to the antenna system, a transmitter part antenna array 18 comprising k radiating elements; a respective beam-forming network (20.1 to 20.n) connected to each of the n inputs with each beam-forming network having a plurality of outputs; and k signal combiners (22.1 to 22.k) each having a plurality of inputs and a respective output. Each output of each beam-forming network is connected to a respective input of each of the signal combiners and the output of each signal combiner is connected via an output stage to a respective one of the k radiating elements. The beam-forming networks are configured such that each of the transmitter part inputs is associated with a respective transmitter part beam (24.1 to 24.n) having a respective beam-width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: POYNTING ANTENNAS (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED
    Inventor: Andries Petrus Cronje Fourie
  • Patent number: 9395438
    Abstract: A aircraft hazard warning system or method can be utilized to determine a location of turbulence, hail or other hazard for an aircraft. The aircraft hazard warning system can utilize processing electronics coupled to an antenna. The processing electronics can determine an inferred presence of turbulence in response to lightning sensor data, radar reflectivity data, turbulence data, geographic location data, vertical structure analysis data, and/or temperature data. The system can include a display for showing the turbulence hazard and its location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Woodell, Jeffery A. Finley, Gregory J. Koenigs, John G. Conkling
  • Patent number: 9389309
    Abstract: First and second radar modules include channel controllers which set different frequency bands for first and second carrier waves, respectively, and first radar transmitter and receiver which transmit radio-frequency first and second radar transmission signals generated using prescribed first and second transmission code sequences and the first and second carrier waves, which receive first and second radar reflection signals produced as a result of reflection of the first and second radar transmission signals by a target, and which convert them into baseband first and second reception signals. A signal processor performs prescribed combining processing on outputs of the first and second radar modules. The first and second radar transmission signals partially overlap with each other in main beam directivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Nakagawa, Tadashi Morita, Takaaki Kishigami
  • Patent number: 9389305
    Abstract: Signals received by an array of sensing elements are processed by first positioning the sensing elements in a uniform grid of L locations, wherein each location to include or not to include a sensing element is selected during a design phase. The sensing elements are selected and grouped into subsets, wherein each subset contains one or more sensing elements, and each sensing element is a member of one or more subsets. The signals in each subset are linearly combined to produce a combined signal, which is then sampled to form an output channel, which can detect objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC RESEARCH LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventor: Petros T Boufounos
  • Patent number: 9383170
    Abstract: A system to merge and exploit two uniquely different types of seeker homing modes of functionality into a single, dual-mode seeker, using only an FPA as the active sensor to achieve both modes of operation. The disclosed embodiments also provide a means to actively designate & track, and also passively track the same target between active designation pulses to track a target at an update rate higher than the designator pulse rate with less demanding automatic target tracking algorithms. The disclosed embodiments eliminate the need for automatic target acquisition/recognition algorithms necessary for purely passive target tracking. The passive tracking methodology “aids” the passive tracking algorithm, based on frame-to-frame image registration, with active SAL track information to improve overall seeker guided weapon performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: ROSEMOUNT AEROSPACE INC
    Inventor: Todd Ell
  • Patent number: 9379439
    Abstract: A phased-array antenna system includes an array of antenna feed elements that produces a radiation pattern to provide spot beams within which to receive a signal in a frequency band and carrying communication from a terminal at a known geographic location. A beamformer forms the spot beams; and a channelizer divides the frequency band into frequency subbands, and measures power levels of the signal over respective frequency subbands. And an antenna controller selects a frequency subband based on the measured power levels indicating that the signal includes an identifiable interference, and calculates a set of beam weights based on the measured power level over the selected frequency subband, and based on the known geographic location of the terminal. The beamformer, then, forms the spot beams based on the calculated set of beam weights to thereby suppress at least some of the identifiable interference from the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Raenaurd D. Turpin, Murat E. Veysoglu
  • Patent number: 9377279
    Abstract: A flight vehicle includes a nose portion, a fuselage retaining structure aft of the nose portion, and an axial motor for expelling axial thrust along a longitudinal axis of the flight vehicle. Radial motors are coupled to the retaining structure and axisymmetrically arranged about the axial motor. Each radial motor is configured to expel radial thrust radially outwardly in respect to the flight vehicle. Roll thrusters are operatively coupled with the radial motors and coupled to the fuselage retaining structure. The roll thrusters are configured to provide a roll moment of the flight vehicle about a central longitudinal axis of the flight vehicle. Ejectors are operatively coupled to the radial motors, and a controller is operatively coupled to the radial motors and the ejectors. The controller is configured to selectively fire and selectively eject the radial motors to maintain relative centering of a center of gravity of the flight vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Andrew B. Facciano, William G. Graves, Michael A. Barker, Michael S. Alkema, Jeffrey S. Larson
  • Patent number: 9366514
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a projectile system, method and computer program product for controlling the flight of a projectile to make a course change by approximately 90°, greater than 90° or up to 90°. The projectile system comprises a gun-fired projectile having a body, at least one tail fin, a motor firing during a first flight phase and during a second flight phase and at least one controllable canard. The projectile system includes one or more processors configured to determine a turn maneuver profile to a target during the first flight phase, produce control signals to destabilize the body, create a pitch attitude change for the turn maneuver profile and effectuate a turn of the projectile in a direction corresponding to the turn maneuver profile during the first flight phase. The processors control the motor to start the second flight phase to the target after the turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Harry R. Barnard, Toby D. Thomas
  • Patent number: 9366751
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining and compensating for a misalignment angle of a radar sensor of a vehicle, includes generating a first set of data which contains information about a measured alignment of the radar sensor with respect to an instantaneous movement of the vehicle; generating a second set of data which contains information about a measured alignment of the reference axes defined at the vehicle with respect to the instantaneous movement of the vehicle; ascertaining a misalignment angle by comparing the generated first set of data to the generated second set of data; compensating for the ascertained misalignment angle by changing an emission direction of the main lobe of the antenna characteristic as a function of the ascertained misalignment angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Dirk Steinbuch, Raik Schnabel
  • Patent number: 9360549
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide calibration of a system using a cable check configuration and a calibration test configuration. A short to ground reflects an injected signal to characterize a first signal path in the cable check configuration. Switch setting can then be adjusted to inject a signal that is coupled to an array element and received from a feed. The signal paths can be characterized to enable in-field calibration testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Thales-Raytheon Systems Company LLC
    Inventor: Sien-Chang C. Liu
  • Patent number: 9360279
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a device for signature adaptation, comprising at least one surface element (100; 300; 500) arranged to assume a determined thermal distribution, wherein said surface element comprises at least one temperature generating element (150; 450a, 450b, 450c) arranged to generate at least one predetermined temperature gradient to a portion of said at least one surface element. Said at least one surface element (100; 300; 500) comprises at least one radar suppressing element (190), wherein said at least one radar suppressing element (190) is arranged to suppress reflections of incident radio waves. The invention also concerns an object provided with a device for signature adaptation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS HÄGGLUNDS AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventor: Peder Sjölund
  • Patent number: 9363024
    Abstract: A system for reception of electromagnetic waves in spectrum in which interference occurs comprising at least one transmitter; at least one receiver configured to receive the received signal; a first memory portion configured to store data relating to a point target response; a spectrum estimator configured to estimate the frequencies at which interfering signals occur; at least one processor configured to generate an estimation of the interfering signals at the frequencies estimated by the spectrum estimator; a second memory portion operatively connected to the at least one processor configured to store the estimation of the components of the interfering signals; the at least one processor configured to substantially reduce or eliminate radio frequency interfering signals from the received signal utilizing the point target response and the estimation of the interfering signals; and a method to substantially reduce or eliminate radio frequency interfering signals from for image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Lam H. Nguyen, Trac D. Tran