Patents Examined by Harry Liu
  • Patent number: 9405012
    Abstract: A method is provided for estimating parameters useful to determine the position of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver or a change in the position thereof. The method includes the steps of: obtaining at least one GNSS signal received at the GNSS receiver from each of a plurality of GNSS satellites; obtaining, from at least one network node, precise satellite information on: (i) the orbit or position of at least one of the plurality of GNSS satellites, and (ii) a clock offset of at least one of the plurality of GNSS satellites; identifying, among the obtained GNSS signals, a subset of at least one GNSS signal possibly affected by a cycle slip, the identified subset being hereinafter referred to as cycle-slip affected subset; and estimating parameters useful to determine the position of the GNSS receiver or a change in the position of the GNSS receiver using at least some of the obtained GNSS signals which are not in the cycle-slip affected subset, and the precise satellite information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Kenneth Donald Doucet, Herbert Landau
  • Patent number: 9400330
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for detecting manipulation of a global time source such as a Global Navigational Satellite System (GNSS) signal and mitigating against such manipulation. A plurality of receivers with geographical diversity receive GNSS signals, and calculate a time signal to be distributed to consuming devices. The receivers also communicate calculated time signals with other receivers. The receivers compare the time signals, and when a difference between the time signals exceeds a predetermined threshold, the receivers indicate that manipulation is likely. Such indication is shared across the network of receivers. The indication is further shared with consuming devices of the time signal from the compromised receiver. A second time signal that is not compromised may be shared with the consuming devices and/or used by the consuming devices. The consuming devices may modify their behavior when in receipt of the indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Shankar V. Achanta, Gregary C. Zweigle, Christopher R. Huntley
  • Patent number: 9389304
    Abstract: A wireless device performs a transmission on a primary and auxiliary access channels to enable reception by at least three base stations. The base stations perform a measurement on the received transmission, e.g., a time of arrival of the transmission. The base stations report their measurements to a position determination entity. The position determination entity estimates geographic position of the wireless device. One method used by the position determination entity includes tri-lateralization based on the received measurement reports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignees: ZTE Corporation, ZTE (USA) Inc.
    Inventors: Yonggang Fang, YuanFang Yu, Ting Lu, Xiaowu Zhao
  • Patent number: 9391368
    Abstract: A device a radio communication device may be provided. The radio communication device may include: a movement characteristics determination circuit configured to determine a movement characteristics of the radio communication device; a beam pattern determination circuit configured to determine a beam pattern based on the determined movement characteristics; and an antenna controller configured to control an antenna to operate using the determined beam pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: INTEL DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Thorsten Clevorn, Christian Drewes, Pablo Herrero, Juergen Kreuchauf, Jan-Erik Mueller
  • Patent number: 9389317
    Abstract: A system for determining a position of a device, the system including a receiver module, a communication module, and a location determining module. The receiver module respectively acquires signals from a plurality of satellites totaling in number less than five. The communication module obtains, from a server, via a cellular network or a wireless network, ephemeris data corresponding to one or more of the plurality of satellites. The location determining module determines the position of the device based, at least in part, on (i) the signals acquired from the plurality of satellites, and (ii) the ephemeris data corresponding to the one or more of the plurality of satellites obtained from the server. The position of the device is further determined without a priori knowledge regarding the position of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade LTD.
    Inventors: Wentao Zhang, Zhike Jia
  • Patent number: 9389316
    Abstract: In some implementations, a tightly-coupled elevation-assisted location estimate can be calculated based on digital elevation model (DEM) elevation measurements and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) data. The DEM elevation measurements and GNSS data can be provided as input to an estimator (e.g., a Kalman filter) to calculate an estimated geographic location of a mobile device. In some implementations, DEM elevation data can be filtered before being provided to the Kalman filter for estimating the geographic location of the mobile device. The DEM elevation data can be filtered in response to detecting bridge and/or tunnel events that indicate that the DEM elevation data does not accurately represent the actual elevation of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Donald MacGougan, Robert Mayor
  • Patent number: 9389303
    Abstract: A method and a system are provided which are able to utilize indirect paths of signals of UWB type to locate a wireless communication node possessed by a body. The present method and system can notably apply to cooperative body networks implementing several wireless nodes able to communicate with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Elyes Ben Hamida, Benoît Denis, Laurent Ouvry
  • Patent number: 9383448
    Abstract: The disclosure herein provides a golf GPS device with a sensor mechanism to automatically switch between video and audio only modes of the device. More particularly, when a player attaches the golf GPS device to a piece of clothing or hat, the device automatically switches to audio-only mode. When the player detaches the golf GPS device, the device automatically switches to video mode, with or without audio. The golf GPS device further includes one or more processors configured to repeatedly determine in which one of the plurality of holes the device is located, to repeatedly compute a distance between the device and a feature of the determined hole, and to cause to display the hole number of the determined hole and the computed distance on the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: DECA SYSTEM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun Ha Park
  • Patent number: 9379436
    Abstract: A method for electronically compensating for quantization errors and bit toggle errors with phase shifters. A new bit state for a phase shifter associated with an element is identified based on a desired phase shift for the element. The new bit state minimizes a quantization error and a bit toggle error between the desired phase shift for the element and an actual phase shift that results when a current bit state is switched to the new bit state. A command is sent to the phase shifter to switch from the current bit state to the new bit state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Kai-Bor Yu
  • Patent number: 9373888
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a phased array radar system including an array comprising columns of super-elements containing radiator elements located along a length of the super-element, wherein the super-elements form the columns such that super-elements are arranged end-to-end, wherein the super-elements are arranged in the column at randomized locations to reduce sidelobes. In a further embodiment, super element lengths can be randomized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Jack J. Schuss, Kaichiang Chang, Jeffrey C. Upton
  • Patent number: 9372266
    Abstract: A position location system comprises transmitters that broadcast positioning signals. Each broadcasted positioning signal comprises a pseudorandom ranging signal. The position location system includes a remote receiver that acquires and measures the time of arrival of the positioning signals received at the remote receiver. During an interval of time, at least two positioning signals are transmitted concurrently by the transmitters and received concurrently at the remote receiver. The two positioning signals have carrier frequencies offset from one another by an offset that is less than approximately twenty-five percent of the bandwidth of each positioning signal of the two positioning signals. Cross-interference between the positioning signals is reduced by tuning the remote receiver to a frequency of a selected signal of the two positioning signals and correlating the selected signal with a reference pseudorandom ranging signal matched to a transmitted pseudorandom ranging signal of the selected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: NextNav, LLC
    Inventors: Norman Krasner, Arun Raghupathy
  • Patent number: 9368871
    Abstract: A fractional beam forming network antenna includes a beam forming network and a plurality of antennas. The network includes input ports, output ports, and at least one delay device. The beam forming network couples input ports to the output ports through the at least one delay device. The antennas are vertically disposed relative to each other, and coupled to the output ports. At least two of the antennas include a different elevation tilt and/or azimuth rotation relative to each other. A method of fractional beam forming is provided, which includes coupling, using a beam forming network, input ports to output ports through at least one delay device; disposing a plurality of antennas vertically relative to each other; coupling the antennas to the output ports; and rotating at least two of the antennas in different elevation and/or different azimuth relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Inventor: John Howard
  • Patent number: 9360557
    Abstract: Position, navigation and/or timing (PNT) solutions may be provided with levels of precision that have previously and conventionally been associated with carrier phase differential GPS (CDGPS) techniques that employ a fixed terrestrial reference station or with GPS PPP techniques that employ fixed terrestrial stations and corrections distribution networks of generally limited terrestrial coverage. Using techniques described herein, high-precision PNT solutions may be provided without resort to a generally proximate, terrestrial ground station having a fixed and precisely known position. Instead, techniques described herein utilize a carrier phase model and measurements from plural satellites (typically 4 or more) wherein at least one is a low earth orbiting (LEO) satellite. For an Iridium LEO solution, particular techniques are described that allow extraction of an Iridium carrier phase observables, notwithstanding TDMA gaps and random phase rotations and biases inherent in the transmitted signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Isaac T. Miller, Clark E. Cohen, Robert W. Brumley, William J. Bencze, Brent M. Ledvina, Thomas J. Holmes, Mark L. Psiaki
  • Patent number: 9362620
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a dynamic antenna system that adapts, by adjusting various antenna circuit parameters, to accommodate a particular circumstance or set of conditions being imposed on the computing device at a given time. For example, signal strength of the antenna system can be monitored and, upon detecting a change in the signal strength, a condition associated with the change, such as the user holding the device with two hands, can be identified based on offline testing, measurement, and pattern recognition. Accordingly, the one or more parameters of the antenna system, which can include multiple antennas and other reconfigurable components, can be adjusted to optimize the antenna efficiency for the particular condition associated with the change in signal strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Weiming Kuo, Isaac Scott Noble
  • Patent number: 9355381
    Abstract: Asset tracking system that utilizes a time-based ping in which the ping rate and the ping period are based on a predetermined event. Over the period of use of the system and device, the ping rate and ping period are adjusted based on the expected occurrence of an event. The system has lower operational cost, particularly battery maintenance cost, than conventional active ping systems that have a set ping rate or a random ping rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Senaya, Inc.
    Inventors: Mrinmoy Chakraborty, Jamshed Dubash, Jahangir Nakra, Brian Lee
  • Patent number: 9356347
    Abstract: A radar system contains a plurality of sub-modules which irradiate beams for a distributed aperture radar. Each of the plurality of sub-modules irradiates the beam, moves and, and communicates with an external unit for a distributed aperture process. The radar system may contain a command unit configured to command the sub-modules. The command unit measures each sub-module and communicates with the sub-module, acquires necessary data of measurement data of the sub-module, position data received from the sub-module, operation situation data of the sub-module and topographical data around the sub-module, calculates a synthetic beam pattern, calculates the arrangement of the sub-modules when the synthetic beam pattern becomes equal to a predetermined pattern, and instructs each sub-module to move based on the calculated arrangement of the sub-modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shingo Nishikata, Yuki Uchiyama, Hiroyuki Daigo, Takuya Koyama, Hiroki Uchida
  • Patent number: 9354322
    Abstract: A telematics unit incorporating an antenna for receiving Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals from GNSS signal sources, and a GNSS receiver supporting over-the-air configuration is described herein. The telematics unit is configured with a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions for facilitating the over-the-air configuration of the GNSS receiver by acquiring GNSS status information relating to multiple supported GNSS signal sources. Thereafter, the telematics unit forwards GNSS selection information, including at least GNSS requirements information and the GNSS status information, to a GNSS control center. In response, the GNSS receiver receives a GNSS type selection notification message from the GNSS control center. The GNSS receiver applies information contained within the GNSS type selection notification to configure GNSS type-specific components to operate according to a GNSS type-specific mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: General Motors LLC
    Inventors: Chaminda Basnayake, Curtis Hay, Eray Yasan
  • Patent number: 9350083
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a Portable Satellite Communication (“PSC”) antenna. The PSC antenna (100) comprises: a Parabolic Segmented Antenna (“PSA”) reflector (102) with a plurality of identical and interchangeable panels (106) that can be stowed in a nested stacked arrangement; a plurality of interchangeable feedhorn assemblies (104) that can be coupled to a center hub (110) via a quick-connect mechanism (112); an adjustment mechanism (2512, 2602, 2604) for adjusting an angular orientation of the feedhorn assemblies relative to the center hub; a transceiver (202) that can be coupled to a convex side of the PSA reflector; a base panel (120) which is coupled to a tripod positioning structure (118) such that reflector wind moment loads can be transferred through a base panel to the tripod positioning structure; and a tripod positioning structure with folding legs (3102, 3104) and hard stops (3306) against which the folding legs can be preloaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt A. Zimmerman, Mark C. Retting, Robert A. Cox, Van Truong, Erich Haeussler, II, Lee L. Garrett, Victor Woodling, Anthony Vergamini, Tyron Millen
  • Patent number: 9350074
    Abstract: An improved active, electronically scanned array antenna that employs programmable time delays in the transmission feed lines to form timed arrays is provided. A timed array can be implemented as a nested set of transmission lines, and the programmable time delay can be realized as or in each of the transmission lines such that each transmission line can have a fixed physical length and a programmable electrical length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: TEQNOVATIONS, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Edward Linnenbrink
  • Patent number: 9341721
    Abstract: A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver includes at least one GNSS antenna configured to receive input signaling from at least a first GNSS source and a second GNSS source; an in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) mixer coupled to the at least one GNSS antenna and configured to process the input signaling to obtain complex intermediate signaling; a first complex filter coupled to the I/Q mixer and configured to filter the complex intermediate signaling with respect to a first frequency range to obtain first real output signaling; a second complex filter coupled to the I/Q mixer and configured to filter the complex intermediate signaling with respect to a second frequency range to obtain second real output signaling; and a signal combiner coupled to the first and second complex filters and configured to generate combined real output signaling by combining the first real output signaling and the second real output signaling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Cheng-Han Wang, Hong Sun Kim, Liang Zhao, Jin-Su Ko