Patents Examined by Brian Andrea
  • Patent number: 6734951
    Abstract: A range finder device, for measuring, when a plurality of projected lights having radiation patterns whose light intensity differs three-dimensional space-wise are irradiated onto an object from a light source on a time-sharing basis to image-pick up reflected light of the projected light from the object with a camera, a distance using the light intensity of an image picked up, characterized in that, with respect to each of a plurality of surfaces including the center of the light source and the center of a lens, there is obtained, in advance, relation between an angle of each projected light from the light source and light intensity ratio in each surface, characterized in that, at the time of actual distance measurement, light intensity of each pixel of the camera is measured, and on the basis of the light intensity thus measured, and relation between the angle and the light intensity ratio on a predetermined surface corresponding to a coordinate position of the pixel measured, there is obtained the angle co
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenya Uomori, Takeo Azuma, Atsushi Morimura
  • Patent number: 6727842
    Abstract: Apparatus for processing a signal of a predetermined intermediate frequency (IF) to generate in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) components thereof comprises: an analog-to digital converter circuit for sampling and digitizing the IF signal to generate digitized data samples thereof at a sampling rate that produces consecutive digitized data samples that are separated in phase by a substantially fixed phase angle 2&pgr;/n, where n is an integer greater than zero; first digital circuitry coupled to the analog-to digital converter circuit for demodulating the digitized data samples by multiplying every n consecutive digitized data samples with n respectively corresponding digital reference samples; and second digital circuitry coupled to the first digital circuitry for combining selected ones of the demodulated samples based on the substantially fixed phase angle to generate digital data samples of the I and Q components of the IF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Avionics System, Inc.
    Inventors: William Edward Schleder, Michael Patrick Fink, Phillip Hoseog Yu
  • Patent number: 6720910
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and processing system for radar detection and tracking of a target using monopulse ratio processing comprising the following steps. First, receiving a signal comprised of a plurality of sum azimuth beams and difference azimuth beams. Then staggering the received signal. Next, filtering and localizing a clutter signal which is a portion of the received sum and azimuth beams. Then adaptively forming a sub-array sum azimuth beam and a sub-array difference azimuth beam from the filtered output to cancel the clutter. The adaptive beam forming including the determination of a sum and difference beam weight where the adaptive weight be equated to a product of the weight and the respective covariance matrices of the sum and difference beams, the product having no constraint points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Kai-Bor Yu
  • Patent number: 6720912
    Abstract: In a single-antenna time division control type FM-CW radar, an amplifier is provided in each signal path in a transmitting system and a receiving system, and the amplifier provided in the transmitting system and the amplifier provided in the receiving system are operated alternately in synchronism with transmit and receive timings, to perform switching between transmission and reception. The operation of the amplifiers is controlled by controlling the gain of each of the amplifiers. This configuration provides enhanced isolation between the transmitting and receiving systems, and prevents transmitting power from leaking into the receiving system through a transmit-receive switching section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventor: Masayoshi Shono
  • Patent number: 6714291
    Abstract: The process of the invention can be used for measuring angles characteristic of wheels of a motor vehicle, in which a light signal is produced by a light beam having a predetermined direction with respect to which an angle to be measured is measured, the angle being formed between the direction of the light beam and a reference axis of the goniometer which reference axis is perpendicular to the linear optical sensor. The linear optical sensor is constituted by a plurality of contiguous and aligned photo-sensitive elements, by means of which elements an image of the light signal can be read. The image is constituted by an ordered totality of intensities of incident radiations recorded on the photo-sensitive elements. Measurement of the angle is a direct function of a distance of the image from an origin for measurement of distances in longitudinal direction, which is defined by an intersection of the reference axis with a longitudinal axis of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Snap-on Equipment S.r.l.
    Inventors: Norberto Castagnoli, Francesco Braghiroli, Fabrizio Cagnolati
  • Patent number: 6714155
    Abstract: A method of estimating emitter range and heading from bearing measurements without requiring observer heading change or observer acceleration during the bearing measurement collection period. Emitter signal characteristics are measured and a set of parameters characterizing a specific emitter as a signal source are generated based on the measured characteristics. Based on the emitter characterization and an emitter-platform association data base, a most probable platform including the emitter is identified and the emitter operating mode and corresponding specific platform are associated with a particular kinematic regime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: Conrad Rose
  • Patent number: 6707418
    Abstract: Correlating observations of objects in the sky to determine an orbit includes identifying an initially identified object, determining if the initially identified object will be identifiable again, and identifying a subsequently identified object. A determination is then made by comparing characteristics of the initially identified object with the subsequently identified object. If the object correlate to one another a path or orbit of the object can be determined using the characteristics of the initially identified object and the subsequently identified object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan W. Hassebrock, J. Wayne Porter
  • Patent number: 6703964
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, devices, and apparatus to interrogate a clothed individual with electromagnetic radiation to determine one or more body measurements at least partially covered by the individual's clothing. The invention further includes techniques to interrogate an object with electromagnetic radiation in the millimeter and/or microwave range to provide a volumetric representation of the object. This representation can be used to display images and/or determine dimensional information concerning the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Douglas L. McMakin, Ronald H. Severtsen, Thomas E. Hall, David M. Sheen, Mike O. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 6704098
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the contactless measuring of distances to aircraft when positioning the aircraft, such as when docking or parking. A scanning laser is arranged in front of the aircraft to be positioned and is directed toward a centerline along which an aircraft is to be moved in the course of positioning the aircraft. The laser emits measuring pulses stepwise or incrementally at different angles to detect a predetermined measurement volume. The laser is calibrated with the distance from the laser to the ground for at least some of the angles, and the distances at those angles is measured during positioning of an aircraft. The measured distances are compared with the calibrated distances, and the laser is considered to have measured the correct distance when there is a predetermined agreement between the measured distance and a calibrated distance corresponding with the same angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: FMT International Trade AB
    Inventor: Nils-Erik Anderberg
  • Patent number: 6704099
    Abstract: A range finder device, for measuring, when a plurality of projected lights having radiation patterns whose light intensity differs three-dimensional space-wise are irradiated onto an object from a light source on a time-sharing basis to image-pick up reflected light of the projected light from the object with a camera, a distance using the light intensity of an image picked up, characterized in that, with respect to each of a plurality of surfaces including the center of the light source and the center of a lens, there is obtained, in advance, relation between an angle of each projected light from the light source and light intensity ratio in each surface, characterized in that, at the time of actual distance measurement, light intensity of each pixel of the camera is measured, and on the basis of the light intensity thus measured, and relation between the angle and the light intensity ratio on a predetermined surface corresponding to a coordinate position of the pixel measured, there is obtained the angle co
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenya Uomori, Takeo Azuma, Atsushi Morimura
  • Patent number: 6700525
    Abstract: A radiation absorber which is placed on the irradiated side of a conductive surface (L) whose surface resistance <0.1 &OHgr;/square. The radiation absorber comprises three layers, which from said conductive surface outwards consist of a first dielectric (B1), a resistive layer (C1) and a second dielectric (B2). The surface resistance of the resistive layer is 225 &OHgr;/square±25% and the thickness of the layer without a possible carrier <0.2 mm. The dielectric constant &egr;=2±25% for the two dielectric layers and their thicknesses are of the same order of magnitude. The total thickness dA of the absorber, with all the layers included, is selected according to the formula d A = 1 ϵ · λ 4 in order to give an absorption peak at a desired wavelength &lgr; expressed in meters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Totalforsvarets Försknings Institut
    Inventor: Nils Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 6700651
    Abstract: A distance/defocus device has a plurality of areas in an observing frame, and time sequentially determines the distance to an object or an amount of defocus for each area by performing a correlation calculation while shifting images of the object with respect to each other. The calculation time can be reduced by determining a shift range of the correlation calculation for subsequent areas on the basis of the result of the correlation calculation for a previous, predetermined area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Taka
  • Patent number: 6697008
    Abstract: A distributed electronic warfare system includes a central control site for controlling and receiving data from the system and utilizes a satellite communications system for communications within the system. Electronic warfare pods are attached to variety of aircraft. The electronic warfare pods listen to signals from targets and jam the targets under control of the central control site. The pods supply the data to the central control site. The pods have antennas for radiating jamming signals to the targets and receiving signals from the targets. Transmitters in the pods generate jamming signals and receivers receive the signals from the targets. A signal processor processes the received signals from the targets. The pods may be used for search and collection, geolocation, and electronic attack under control of the central control site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert H. Sternowski
  • Patent number: 6693583
    Abstract: The invention provides an object recognition apparatus that removes virtual images without detecting a roadside object. When a predetermined vehicle is currently running on a lane, a detection area, outside of the currently running lane, is designated to include a first area and an assumed ghost area therein. The first area is enclosed by a boundary of the detection area, a boundary of the assumed ghost area adjacent thereto, and a boundary on the currently running lane whose distance is traveled by the vehicle during one control cycle. The invention detects an object for the first time in the assumed ghost area, not in the first area. When the object travels with a distance and a speed of a target vehicle, it is determined to be a ghost to be deleted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yukimasa Tamatsu, Hiroaki Kumon
  • Patent number: 6683558
    Abstract: A radar speed measurement device (10) comprising a display (12) for displaying a target speed, a radar emitter (14) for emitting radar waves toward a target, a radar receiver (16) for receiving radar waves reflected from the target, an analog to digital converter (18) for producing digital signals associated with the radar waves, and a signal processor (20) for determining the target speed by analyzing the digital signals. The device (10) can also calculate statistics associated with the target and further comprises a statistical processor (22) for calculating the statistics. The device (10) can operate in either of two modes. A speed mode is preferably used to determine the target speed, when the target is a race car or any other object. A baseball statistics mode is preferably used to determine the target speed, when the target is a baseball thrown by a pitcher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Bushnell Performance Optics
    Inventor: Jordan Vermillion
  • Patent number: 6683676
    Abstract: A three-dimensional image capturing device comprises a light source irradiating a pulsed light beam, which is reflected by a measurement subject to generate a reflected light beam pulse. In a first distance information sensing operation, a first reflected light component (E1), which corresponds to a distance from the device to the measurement subject and contains a fall of said reflected light beam pulse, is sensed. In a second distance information sensing operation, a second reflected light component (E2), which corresponds to the distance and containing a rise of the reflected light beam pulse, is sensed. The lengths of periods for sensing the reflected light components are identical. A normalized distance information is obtained by calculating (E1)/(E2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventor: Shuzo Seo
  • Patent number: 6683677
    Abstract: An apparatus for calculating optical flow and camera motion using correlation matching and a system model in a moving image, in which the calculation of the optical flow is executed accurately in real time, even when an image rotation or zoom change has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institution
    Inventors: Jae Choon Chon, Young Jae Lim, Seong Ik Cho, Kyung Ok Kim, Young Kyu Yang
  • Patent number: 6680689
    Abstract: An object type of a 3-D object sensed by a remote sensor for detecting objects to a side of a transportation vehicle is classified according to whether the object is a stationary object or a moving vehicle. The transportation vehicle moves along a front-to-rear directional axis. The remote sensor is mounted at a predetermined reference point on the transportation vehicle. A set of detection points is identified substantially to the side of the transportation vehicle using the remote sensor. A closest one of the detection points to the remote sensor is identified. If the closest one of the detection points is at a substantially perpendicular direction from the remote sensor, then a size of the object is determined in response to an area defined by locations of the set of detection points. The size of the object is compared with a size threshold. If the size is greater than the size threshold then the object is classified as a stationary object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul K. Zoratti
  • Patent number: 6680692
    Abstract: A continuous wave radar system includes a transmitter circuit for generating radar transmitting signals, a transmit/receive antenna, coupled to the transmitter circuit by way of a circulator, and a receiver circuit, which is coupled to the transmit/receive antenna by way of the circulator and which is intended to process radar echo signals of a target object. The radar echo signals are received at the transmit/receive antenna, wherein the circulator serves to pass the transmitting signals, generated by the transmitter circuit, to the transmit/receive antenna and to divert the target object's echo signals, which are received by the transmit/receive antenna, to the input of the receiver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Solbach
  • Patent number: 6677897
    Abstract: A microwave transmitter circuit including a divider series feed signal line, collector series feed signal line, a plurality of parallel solid state amplifier coupler circuits connected between the divider series feed line and the collector series feed line, and phase shifting circuitry distributed along the collector series feed line for compensating phase tracking error between the divider series feed line and the collector series feed line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Stan W. Livingston