Patents Examined by Harry Liu
  • Patent number: 8471766
    Abstract: Systems and methods of correlating potential transmitters with received radio signals is provided. Image data is provided including paths traveled by potential transmitter. Potential transmitters are identified within the image data along with path segments traveled by potential transmitters. A first and second transmitter calculate certain parameters of received signals assuming that signals originated along the path segments. The calculated signal parameters are then compared to measured signal parameter to determine whether a transmitter is associated with a particular path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Rincon Research Corporation
    Inventor: Michael N. Parker
  • Patent number: 8471765
    Abstract: A method and a mobile device configured to obtain position information from a position broadcast system, the position broadcast system comprising a plurality of transmitters that each broadcast a respective signal containing position information for the respective transmitter. The method comprising: measuring signal strengths of signals from a plurality of the transmitters of the position broadcast system; and determining that the mobile device is out of range of the position broadcast system if the measured signals strengths satisfy at least one out of range criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Ronald Anthony Dicke
  • Patent number: 8462046
    Abstract: For managing measurements on signals, a quality of received signals, for which a measurement circuit provides measurement results, is monitored. In the case that the quality does not exceed a set quality before an end of a reporting period, a reporting of measurement results that are available at the end of the reporting period is caused. In the case that the quality exceeds the set quality at a measurement instant before the end of the reporting period, the measurement circuit is put to a sleep mode and a reporting of extrapolated measurement results is caused, the extrapolated measurement results being measurement results from a measurement instant before the measurement circuit was put to a sleep mode extrapolated to the end of the reporting period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Jari Tapani Syrjarinne, Kimmo Marko Tapani Alanen, Tuomo Tapani Honkanen, Pertti Samulli Pietila, Jani Mikael Kappi
  • Patent number: 8456360
    Abstract: A beam-forming antenna for transmission and/or reception of an electromagnetic signal having a given wavelength in a surrounding medium includes a transmission line electromagnetically coupled to an array of individually controllable antenna elements, each of which is oscillated by the signal with a controllable amplitude. The oscillation amplitude of each of the individual antenna elements is controlled by a switch. The antenna elements are arranged in various shapes such as a parabolic arc, a circular arc, a cylindrical surface or a conic surface. The antenna elements have various spacing such as uniform, parabolic, circular, or raised cosine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Sierra Nevada Corporation
    Inventors: Vladimir A. Manasson, Lev S. Sadovnik
  • Patent number: 8456361
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in transmit beamforming to a beamformee having NR receive antennas. The apparatus includes a controller configured to i) construct a partial channel matrix that describes a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) channel between a beamformer and M receive antennas, wherein M is less than NR, and ii) generate L independent vectors using the partial channel matrix, wherein L is a rank of the partial channel matrix. When a number NS of one or more streams is greater than L, the controller is further configured to i) select the L independent vectors as steering vectors to steer L streams of the plurality of streams, and ii) select NS?L orthogonal vectors in a null space of the L independent vectors as steering vectors to steer a remainder of the streams in the plurality of streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Jungwon Lee, Rohit U. Nabar
  • Patent number: 8456353
    Abstract: A satellite clock error is determined for each navigation satellite based on the pseudo-range code measurements, the carrier phase measurements, and broadcast satellite clock errors provided by a receiver network. Differences are determined between the computed satellite clock errors and the broadcast clock errors for each satellite. For each constellation, a clock reference satellite is selected from among the navigation satellites, where the clock reference satellite has the median value of clock error difference for that satellite constellation. A correction is determined for the broadcast clock error by applying a function of the reference satellite's clock error to the broadcast clock error for each satellite in the one or more constellations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Liwen L. Dai, Michael A. Zeitzew, Yiqun Chen, Yujie Zhang
  • Patent number: 8451174
    Abstract: Technologies are described herein for locating and tracking objects of interest within a field of regard (FOR). Aspects include using a phased array to scan the FOR and receive signals emitted from an object of interest. The object of interest may then be located and tracked by processing the signals emitted from the object of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Leonard Alan Plotke
  • Patent number: 8451170
    Abstract: A device for determining a position of a satellite receiver on the basis of data packets that are received from the satellite receiver, include a satellite signal, and are provided with packet sequence marks includes a packet loss detector for detecting, while using the packet sequence marks, whether one or more data packets between two received data packets have been lost, and a data packet processor configured to replace the one or more lost packets by one or more fill-in packets so as to generate a data stream as a sequence of the received data packets and of the fill-in packets inserted in place of the lost data packets. The device further includes a correlator configured to correlate the data stream with a reference data sequence to obtain a correlation result, and a position determiner configured to determine the position of the satellite receiver by means of the correlation result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Frank Foerster, Thomas Pany
  • Patent number: 8451169
    Abstract: In an apparatus of correcting a clock drift error, a receiver unit receives a first GNSS signal from a satellite. A Doppler correction unit obtains a first predicted frequency. A tracking unit can obtain a first tracked frequency. The satellite-positioning unit determines a clock offset based on a position fix. A computation unit calculates a first difference between the first predicted and tracked frequencies. When the receiver unit is turned off and then on for receiving a second GNSS signal from the satellite, the Doppler correction unit obtains a second predicted frequency, the tracking unit obtains a second tracked frequency, and the computation unit calculates a second difference between the second predicted and tracked frequencies. An error correction unit computes an estimated clock offset according to the clock offset, the first difference, and the second difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: SkyTraq Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Shi-Xian Yang
  • Patent number: 8451168
    Abstract: A new method for bias estimation on multiple frequencies with a Kalman filter is proposed. It consists of four steps: First, a least-squares estimation of ranges, ionospheric delays, ambiguities, receiver phase biases and satellite phase biases is performed. The code biases are absorbed in the ranges and ionospheric delays, and a subset of ambiguities is mapped to the phase biases to remove linear dependencies between the unknown parameters. In a second step, the accuracy of the bias estimates is efficiently improved by a Kalman filter. The real-valued a posteriori ambiguity estimates are decorrelated by an integer ambiguity transformation to reduce the time of ambiguity resolution. Once the float ambiguities have sufficiently converged, they are fixed sequentially in a third step. Finally, a second Kalman filter is used to separate the receiver and satellite code biases and the tropospheric delays from the ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: DLR Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventors: Patrick Henkel, Zhibo Wen, Christoph Guenther
  • Patent number: 8451166
    Abstract: A distance measurement system for locating a geostationary satellite equipped with a transponder includes: a central station emitting a distance measurement signal; and at least one measurement station receiving the emitted signal, including means for measuring the time of arrival of the emitted signal, and transmitted via the transponder of the satellite. The central and measurement stations, of known positions, include synchronization means with a common time base. The transponder is that of a satellite telecommunications system, and has a bandwidth B. The central station includes means for emitting a specific distance measurement signal, distinct from the telecommunications signals transmitted via the transponder, with periodic events and with spread spectrum, the bandwidth of which is included in B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Jean-Didier Gayrard, Mathieu Dervin, Bruno Celerier
  • Patent number: 8446315
    Abstract: A method for providing satellite orbit ephemeris includes: determining a positioning satellite in view of a reference position; and providing to a positioning device a satellite orbit ephemeris of the positioning satellite in view of the reference position, the satellite orbit ephemeris being valid for at least one day.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kyoichi Tomita
  • Patent number: 8446314
    Abstract: A mobile computing device comprising processing components, memory components, and at least one wireless transmitter/receiver. The at least one wireless transmitter/receiver comprises a gps communication device and a network communication device. When at least a portion of gps location information is unable to be received by the gps communication device, the network communication device is configured to receive the gps location information from an additional mobile computing device across an ad-hoc network created between the two mobile computing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Qualcomm Innovation Center, Inc.
    Inventor: Xintian Li
  • Patent number: 8446316
    Abstract: In a phase discriminator device for receiving, as input, a complex signal whose argument represents a phase error, and for producing, as output, an estimate of the phase error for each signal sample Zn+1 received, the device includes a frequency discriminator and a computation part for determining the phase estimate obtained at an instant (N+1)T1. The computation part determines the phase estimate according to predetermined relations, and T1 is the time interval between two samples Zn and Zn+1, received consecutively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Nicolas Martin, Jean-Michel Perre
  • Patent number: 8446319
    Abstract: An ordnance usable against a living body, the ordnance having a tracking module with a transmitter that can use at least a portion of the body as an antenna. In preferred embodiments, the tracking module is releasably coupled to a carrier, and a pointed tip is disposed on at least one of the tracking module and the carrier. The module preferably includes a circuit that provides location information to the transmitter, and optionally provides additional information, including at least one of motion, compass, pressure, oxygen, and heart beat information. Transmission can occur at any suitable interval, including for example, at least three times during a ten minute period. The transmitter can optionally transmit a no heart beat signal, failure signal, and/or low battery signal. Preferred systems include a receiver that can send an interrogation signal, and the ordnance can include an interrogation receiving circuit for receiving interrogation signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Inventors: Evan Parker, Bruce Hammond, Tom Molinaro, John MacKay
  • Patent number: 8436768
    Abstract: A Wide Area Sensor Network is disclosed that utilizes wideband software defined radios (SDRs) to provide a capability to monitor the airwaves over a wide frequency range, detect when critical frequencies are being jammed or otherwise interfered with, and locate the source of the interference so that the interference can be eliminated. In addition, a diversity receiver is disclosed. The diversity receiver generates position, time and frequency references for use in locating and synchronizing sensor platforms of a WLS. In an illustrative embodiment, the diversity receiver comprises a first receiver subsystem comprising a terrestrial broadcast receiver, and a common processor platform (CPP) coupled via first link means to the first receiver subsystem. The first receiver subsystem provides a stable time reference and position information to the CPP via the first link means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: TruePosition, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey F. Bull, Benjamin H. Cohen, Adam W. Norgaard
  • Patent number: 8436769
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) control includes: a GNSS receiver arranged to obtain/calculate at least one position of the apparatus; and an assistance data provider implemented within the apparatus, wherein the assistance data provider is arranged to provide the GNSS receiver with assistance data for use of obtaining/calculating the at least one position, and the assistance data provider selectively selects a specific assistance mode from a plurality of assistance modes for the GNSS receiver according to at least one predefined rule, with the assistance data corresponding to the specific assistance mode. Associated methods and storage media are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventors: Kung-Shuan Huang, Ching-Hua Chen
  • Patent number: 8436771
    Abstract: Enhancing search capacity of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers. A method for searching satellite signals in a receiver includes performing a plurality of searches sequentially. The method also includes storing a result from each search of the plurality of searches in a consecutive section of a memory. Further, the method includes detecting free sections in the memory. The method also includes concatenating the free sections in the memory to yield a concatenated free section. Moreover, the method includes allocating the concatenated free section for performing an additional search.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jasbir Singh, Jawaharlal Tangudu, Aravind Ganesan
  • Patent number: 8432310
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for utilizing a positioning receiver, such as a GPS receiver, as a height of burst sensor. The method uses the difference in time-of-flight between a line-of-sight (ex.—on-time, direct) GPS signal and a multipath (ex.—delayed, reflected) GPS signal to determine distance and time to the ground. This may be accomplished with a high degree of accuracy due to the precision timing capabilities of the GPS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Pogemiller, Frank E. Marcum
  • Patent number: 8427368
    Abstract: Gain measurements of one or more calibration signals communicated by one or more calibration stations and retransmitted by one or more satellite elements may be obtained. One or more weights indicating confidence in the gain measurements for the one or more satellite elements may be computed. A geodetic radiation gain pattern of a satellite element that is a function of a roll, a pitch, and a yaw of a satellite may be accessed. Partial derivatives of the geodetic radiation pattern may be computed with respect to roll, pitch and yaw at one or more points in the first geodetic radiation pattern corresponding to one or more geographic locations. A cost function may be generated and one or more unknown variables may be computed by reducing the cost function. A satellite pointing error may be determined using the computed variable values and the pointing error may be stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: RKF Engineering Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Freedman, Erik Halvorson, Scott Markley