Patents Examined by Harry Liu
  • Patent number: 9749033
    Abstract: A receive only smart antenna with a command pointing option for communicating with geostationary satellites that autonomously detects the directions from which desired signal are received, and steer the multiple beams accordingly. An array feed is used to illuminate a parabolic reflector. Each feed element of the receive only smart antenna is associated with a unique beam pointing direction. As a receiver is switched to different feed elements, the far-field beam is scanned, making it possible to track a geostationary satellite in a slightly inclined orbit. This eliminates the need for mechanical tracking and maintains high antenna gain in the direction of the geostationary satellite. The receive only smart antenna also features capabilities to form multiple simultaneous beams supporting operations of multiple geo-satellites in closely spaced slightly inclined orbits. The designs can support orthogonal beams for enhanced bandwidth capacity via multiple beams with excellent spatial isolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Spatial Digital Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald C. D. Chang
  • Patent number: 9733362
    Abstract: A satellite signal receiver has a positioning error in a range from ?8 m to +8 m with a probability equal to or more than 95% when positioning in a reception environment with a signal strength equal to or more than ?135 dBm and average power consumption from start of positioning to first positioning equal to or less than 7 mW.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Mikio Nagahara, Hiroshi Uozumi, Naoki Gobara, Ryota Hirakawa
  • Patent number: 9719788
    Abstract: A method for determining a spatial orientation of a body, including receiving, by receiving equipment located with the body, at least three electromagnetic signal sets, each of the received signal sets having been transmitted by a different one of at least three separate transmitters at different locations, detecting, for each one of the received signal sets, information that partially defines a direction from the body to the transmitter from which the signal set was received, the detected information including one of two angles that fully define an arrival direction from which the body received the signal set in relation to a body frame, the detected information not including a second of the two angles, and determining the spatial orientation of the body, including yaw, pitch, and roll angles relative to a navigation frame, using the detected information for each one of the received signal sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Robert J. Wellington
  • Patent number: 9720091
    Abstract: A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver includes a processor to determine whether a first satellite is in view of GNSS receiver; whether a second satellite is in view of GNSS receiver when first satellite is in view of GNSS receiver; and whether a third satellite is in view of GNSS receiver when first satellite is not in view of GNSS receiver. Second satellite was previously determined more likely to be in view when first satellite is in view based on a first average distance between first satellite and second satellite based on a first orbit of first satellite and a second orbit of second satellite. Third satellite was previously determined more likely to be in view when first satellite is not in view based on a second average distance between first satellite and third satellite based on first orbit of first satellite and a third orbit of third satellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jakub Skalicky, Jussi Raasakka, Martin Orejas
  • Patent number: 9709657
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for estimating a direction of an RF signal are provided. The apparatus includes an antenna unit, a preliminary correction unit, a signal processing unit, a conversion unit, and a signal direction estimation unit. The antenna unit receives an RF signal from at least one antenna. The preliminary correction unit performs preliminary correction depending on whether the at least one antenna is an antenna having directional gain. The signal processing unit generates an analog signal by performing a frequency shift on the RF signal or a signal on which the preliminary correction has been performed. The conversion unit converts the analog signal into a digital sample. The signal direction estimation unit extracts the phase of the antenna from the digital sample, and estimates the direction of the RF signal based on the extracted phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: YoungHyoun Kwon, JiEun Choi, HuiRae Cho, Jaeki Lee, Heesun Park, Jingak Jang, Jinhyun Kim, Jieun Kim, Inho Hwang
  • Patent number: 9702978
    Abstract: A test installation for simulating multiple reflections of GNSS signals, the installation including a top screen that is semitransparent in a radio frequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, wherein the top screen is substantially dome-shaped; a bottom screen that is reflective in the radio frequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum; the top semitransparent screen over the bottom reflecting screen; and a GNSS antenna connected to a receiver and located between the top screen and the bottom screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitry V. Tatarnikov, Ivan M. Chernetskiy
  • Patent number: 9684057
    Abstract: A network node such as a positioning node, and a related method of determining an uncertainty of a timing measurement used for positioning of a wireless device are disclosed. The method includes estimating a timing measurement uncertainty, and determining if an uncertainty reducing measurement is available. If an uncertainty reducing measurement is available, the method also comprises determining a timing measurement uncertainty based on the estimated timing measurement uncertainty and the uncertainty reducing measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Unwired Planet, LLC
    Inventors: Iana Siomina, Yang Zhang
  • Patent number: 9684058
    Abstract: Disclosed is the estimation of the position of a user device (18) using radio beacons (B1-B4) which are operable at a plurality of transmit power levels. The radio beacons (B1-B4) may transmit their position and current transmit power level. Estimates of distance between a user device and a radio beacon can take into account both received signal strength and the current transmit power level of the radio beacon. The position of the user device (18) can be estimated taking into account whether a radio beacon (B1-B4)) can be detected at a given transmit power level. The transmit power level of the radio beacon may vary according to a cycle. The transmit power level of the radio beacon may be changed to facilitate positioning, for example in response to a signal from a user device. A radio beacon (B1-B4) changes transmit power level in a cycle. The radio beacon can reduce transmit power level responsive to a signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: SENSEWHERE LIMITED
    Inventors: Syed Usman Basha, Firas Alsehly, Tughrul Sati Arslan
  • Patent number: 9684054
    Abstract: Provided are architectures, systems, methods, and computer program products for real-time object locating and position determination using frequency channel diversity for transmitting and receiving position determination signals including bursts of location signals. Channelized frequency diversity of a short burst of small location signals that “hop” across multiple frequency channels is used to collectively produce a quasi-wideband position determination signal. Object tags operating with frequency channel diversity for transmitting location signals of position determination signals require low power consumption, but can still efficiently provide adequate position determination signals for reliable position determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventors: David S. Wisherd, James J. O'Hagan
  • Patent number: 9683832
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for image based positioning comprising capturing a first image with an image capturing device. Wherein said first image includes at least one object. Moving the platform and capturing a second image with the image capturing device. The second image including the at least one object. Capturing in the first image an image of a surface; capturing in the second image a second image of the surface. Processing the plurality of images of the object and the surface using a combined feature based process and surface tracking process to track the location of the surface. Finally, determining the location of the platform by processing the combined feature based process and surface based process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Trimble Inc.
    Inventors: Sy Bor Wang, Hongbo Teng, Gregory C. Best, Omar Pierre Soubra, Bruno M. Scherzinger, Peter Glen France, James M. Janky
  • Patent number: 9671496
    Abstract: A system for indoor localization using satellite navigation signals in a Distributed Antenna System includes a plurality of Off-Air Access Units (OAAUs). Each of the plurality of OAAUs is operable to receive an individual satellite navigation signal from at least one of a plurality of satellites and operable to route signals optically to one or more DAUs. The system also includes a plurality of remote DRUs located at a Remote location. The plurality of remote DRUs are operable to receive signals from a plurality of the one or more DAUs. The system further includes an algorithm to delay each individual satellite navigation signal for providing indoor localization at each of the plurality of DRUs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Dali Systems Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Shawn Patrick Stapleton
  • Patent number: 9671497
    Abstract: Systems and methods for synchronizing a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver with a GNSS signal are provided. In one example, a GNSS receiver may include one or more sets of 20 GNSS channels that are each configured to integrate a received GNSS signal over a 20 millisecond accumulation window to output a navigation message bit. The accumulation windows of the 20 GNSS channels may be delayed relative to other windows of the 20 GNSS channels by 1 millisecond. The GNSS receiver may identify one of the 20 GNSS channels having the correct synchronization with the GNSS signal based on the navigation message bits output by the 20 GNSS channels. The identified GNSS channel having the correct synchronization with the GNSS signal may be used to determine a location of the GNSS receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: JAVAD GNSS, INC.
    Inventors: Javad Ashjaee, Sergey Yudanov
  • Patent number: 9664769
    Abstract: Methods and systems disclosed herein may include receiving signals from a transmitter in a receiver; determine a bias of the transmitter and receiver; generating expected observations, based on the bias, corresponding to the received signals; and calculate a building height based on a power level of the received signals and a power level of the expected observations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Henry S. Owen, LLC
    Inventor: Henry S. Owen
  • Patent number: 9664793
    Abstract: A system for global positioning system (GPS) location, impact, and temperature recorder for a transporting container is an apparatus which monitors the location and the conditions of the transporting container. The apparatus consists of a first housing and a second housing, mounted externally and internally to the transporting container, respectively. The first housing contains: a GPS module to monitor the location of the transporting container; a mobile communication module, to broadcast the readings the apparatus to an end user; a first chipset linking the electrical components together; and a plurality of external sensors monitor motion of the transporting container, as well as if the container has been tampered with. The second housing is linked to the first housing via a second chipset to the first chipset. A plurality of internal-environmental sensors located on the second housing monitors and transmits the internal conditions of the transporting container to the first chipset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: Byron Gene Stinson
  • Patent number: 9664770
    Abstract: An apparatus for multilateration of a plurality of P objects, each having a transmitter device, and each transmitter device transmitting a signal, the apparatus including N sensors, a processing unit, each sensor receiving the transmitted signals and determining receive times of each signal. The processing unit performing steps: A. combining receive times for signals into a chronologically ordered series of message sets, wherein each message sets comprises the receive times of one of the transmitted signals, B. collecting all valid message sets that occur within a predetermined time interval, wherein k denotes a time step, and wherein each valid message set contains receive times from at least N sensors, C. estimating a time offset vector Ok comprising time offsets Oki of the receive times of the N sensors at step k and i=1 to N by processing message sets, and D. outputting a position of the objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Comsoft Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Frederik Beutler, Uwe D. Hanebeck, Mike Leeson
  • Patent number: 9660321
    Abstract: An app running on a communication device determines a current position of an antenna, which is to be aligned with a transmitter. The app determines a direction in which the antenna should be oriented so that the antenna is aligned with the transmitter when the communication device is placed by the antenna. The app may generate, based on the determined direction, one or more cues to enable alignment of the antenna so that the current position or a newly determined current position of the antenna is aligned with the determined position of the transmitter. The cues may include audible, visual and/or vibration cues. The app may acquire information from one or more sensors, which are located within the communication device and/or integrated within the antenna. The acquired information may be utilized to determine the current position and/or a newly determined current position of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: MAXLINEAR, INC.
    Inventor: Alan Trerise
  • Patent number: 9658339
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for integrity monitoring of a primary set of measurements obtained from navigation signals sent by satellites and provided to an integrity control device comprising a plurality of Kalman filters, the method comprising the steps definition, for each Kalman filter, of a secondary set of measurements contained in the primary set, calculation by each Kalman filter of a navigation solution from a respective secondary set of measurements, wherein definition of the secondary sets respects the following principles: each measurement contained in the primary set is present in at least one of the secondary sets, for each p-uplet of measurements of the primary set, p being a predetermined integer greater than 1, at least one of the secondary sets does not contain said p-uplet of measurements, for each secondary set, at least one of the p-uplets is excluded from said secondary set, the method further comprising the steps of: detection, for each navigation solution, of at most p faulty mea
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: SAGEM DEFENSE SECURITE
    Inventor: Michel Destelle
  • Patent number: 9660322
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods provide for compensating for pointing errors that may occur when using a coarse positioning mechanism for pointing a payload toward a target. According to aspects of the disclosure, a coarse positioning mechanism is configured to compensate for pointing errors that may occur when pointing a payload toward a target over a large angular FOV. The coarse positioning mechanism may be configured for a variety of applications, such as precision tracking applications and precision pointing applications over a large angular FOV. The coarse positioning mechanism may include adjustment mechanisms for one or more axes that are used to adjust the pointing direction of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Yong Liu
  • Patent number: 9658315
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, there is disclosed herein, an apparatus comprising an interface and location determination logic coupled with the interface. The location determination logic receives data representative of measured signal strengths for a wireless device from a plurality of receiving devices at known locations via the interface. The location determination logic determines an estimated location based on the measured signal strengths and a first transmit power for the wireless device. The location determination logic determines a revised transmit power for the wireless device based on the measured signal strengths from the plurality of devices at known locations and the estimated location. The location determination logic determines a revised estimated location based on the measured signal strengths and the revised transmit power for the wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Santosh Pandey, Brian Donald Hart, Ilya Khasin
  • Patent number: 9651653
    Abstract: A method of providing Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) assistance information to a mobile station is disclosed. In some embodiments, the OTDOA assistance information may comprise Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) assistance information including antenna switching assistance information for at least one cell. In one embodiment, the method may be implemented on a location server for the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Sven Fischer, Peter Gaal, Stephen William Edge, Arash Mirbagheri, Tingfang Ji, Guttorm R. Opshaug