Patents Examined by Hien Ly
  • Patent number: 7375680
    Abstract: One or more atmospheric propagation effects are estimated by using a phase comparison between and upper sideband and a lower sideband of a modulated signal. In one embodiment, one or more propagation effects are estimated by using a phase comparison between an upper sideband and a lower sideband of a satellite navigation signal. In one embodiment, one or more ionospheric propagation effects are estimated by using a phase comparison between an upper sideband and a lower sideband of a GPS M-code signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation
    Inventors: George Watson, Scott Graham, Chris Reed
  • Patent number: 7372397
    Abstract: A radar level gauge using microwaves for measuring a level of a surface of a product in a container, comprising a microwave unit, processing circuitry connected to said microwave unit, an interface for connecting said radar level gauge externally thereof, and a power management circuitry arranged to provide operating power to said microwave unit and said processing circuitry. The power management circuitry includes a temporary energy store, means for providing said temporary energy store with an intermediate voltage lower than an operating voltage required by said processing circuitry, in order to charge said energy store, and converting means, for converting an output voltage from said temporary energy store up to said operating voltage. According to this design, a sufficient amount of energy can be stored in the temporary energy store, operating at an intermediate voltage lower than the operating voltage of the radar level gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Rosemount Tank Radar AB
    Inventor: Leif Nilsson
  • Patent number: 7365679
    Abstract: A positioning apparatus that measures a current position by using measurement basis codes carried on satellite waves from a plurality of positioning satellites includes: a first phase error information generating unit that generates first phase error information indicating an error of a first phase on the basis of a frequency difference between a first frequency which is an estimated value of a receiving frequency of the satellite wave and a second frequency which is a frequency corresponding to a maximum value of a correlation value under a condition of the estimated phase; a second phase information generating unit that generates second phase information indicating a second phase by correcting a first phase information on the basis of the first phase error information; and a positioning unit that measures the current position on the basis of the second phase information on at least three of the positioning satellites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Murakami
  • Patent number: 7352320
    Abstract: An FM-CW radar includes a transmitting section, a mixing section, an A/D conversion section, a storage unit, and a signal processing section. The transmitting section transmits a continuous wave frequency-modulated with a triangular wave. The mixing section mixes the continuous wave transmitted and a reflected wave from a target, to generate a beat wave. The A/D conversion section A/D converts the beat wave into digital data. The storage unit includes a first storage section and a second storage section. The signal processing section reads data from the first storage section to process the read data. The A/D conversion section writes the digital data into the second storage section. The control section switches the first storage section and the second storage section alternately in synchronous with switching between up and down of the triangular wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten LImited
    Inventors: Daisuke Enomoto, Yukio Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7327308
    Abstract: A test device for a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar is provided. The test device has a central control unit for monitoring the FMCW radar. When the FMCW radar transmits a frequency modulated continuous signal to search for a target, the central control unit of the test device in present invention will simulate the motion of the target according to a plurality of setting parameters and generate an echo signal to the FMCW radar. The present invention also includes a first digital signal synthesizer and a transmitting unit. The first digital signal synthesizer is coupled to the central control unit for generating and transmitting an intermediate-frequency signal to the transmitting unit according to the settings in the central control unit and a reference clock. The transmitting unit generates the echo signal according to the intermediate-frequency signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology, Armaments Bureau, M.N.D.
    Inventors: Shih-Tung Cheng, Yao-Hwa Wen, Ke-Tand Chien
  • Patent number: 7324040
    Abstract: An attack is activated in a receiver amplifier of an interrogator whenever an amplified input signal exceeds an attack threshold voltage value Vatt, and the receiver amplifier at least during a waiting period, the length of which preferrably equals the double length of the longest time interval between adjacent pulses in a transponder data wave packet, after the end of the attack does not respond in the sense of setting the gain. However, the amplifier responds with a decay activated after the lapse of the waiting period, which started when the instantaneous amplified signal value for the last time after the end of the attack exceeded a waiting threshold voltage level Vw. The decay rate is of the same order of magnitude as the attack rate. The improved method for automatically setting the gain renders it possible that the interrogator receiver within the non-contacting identification system practically does not change the essential characteristics of the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Inventors: Vinko Kunc, Anton Stern
  • Patent number: 7315279
    Abstract: An antenna system has multiple antenna feed elements combined in a number of element sets independently controlled to provide a beam of a variable size. Multiple input power dividers are provided for dividing an input signal, and multiple phase controllers are respectively connected to outputs of the power dividers for producing a plurality of phase-shifted signals having prescribed phases. The phase-shifted signals are supplied to respective inputs of a hybrid matrix. Predetermined outputs of the hybrid matrix are connected to summation circuitry for providing in-phase power summation of signals produced at these outputs. The antenna elements in at least one of the element sets are controlled by a sum signal produced by the summation circuitry. The other element sets may be controlled by respective output signals of the hybrid matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas H. Milbourne
  • Patent number: 7310059
    Abstract: The panes (1) of a naval vessel or military vehicle are often coated with a radar-reflecting layer (20) for reduction of the radar signature of the vessel/vehicle. At the same time this layer increases an enemy's possibility of recognizing the vessel in passive IR reconnaissance since the layer increases the reflectance also for IR radiation to a considerable extent. As a result, the intensity of IR radiation that an enemy receives from the panes is much lower than that from the rest of the vessel, which with signal processing can be used to increase the possibility of recognizing the vessel. According to the invention, it is suggested that the panes (1) on the outer face (8) also have a second layer (21, 22) to increase emittance especially within the IR range 2-20 ?m which is normally used for reconnaissance and the like. This second layer (21, 22) comprises especially two coatings, one of which is active in the IR range 3-5 ?m and the second in the IR range 7-14 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Totalforsvarets Forskningsinstitut
    Inventors: Mikael Georgson, Örjan Staaf
  • Patent number: 7304609
    Abstract: A wireless ranging system includes a first wireless unit and a second wireless unit spaced therefrom. The first wireless unit may include a time-of-arrival (TOA) wireless transmitter, and a near-field electromagnetic (NFE) wireless transmitter having a settable operating frequency. The second wireless unit may include a TOA wireless receiver cooperating with the TOA wireless transmitter, a NFE wireless receiver cooperating with the NFE wireless transmitter, and a ranging processor cooperating with the TOA wireless receiver. The ranging processor may generate a range estimate between the first and second wireless units, and generate an estimated operating frequency for the NFE wireless transmitter based upon the range estimate. The ranging processor may also generate a range window for the TOA wireless receiver via the ranging processor cooperating with the NFE wireless receiver, and use the range window with the TOA wireless receiver to generate a range estimate between the first and second wireless units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventor: Richard D. Roberts
  • Patent number: 7301497
    Abstract: A method for display of radar data includes performing a first radar scan to obtain, for at least one object (24), a first range reading, a first azimuth reading, and a first altitude reading. A second radar scan is then performed to obtain, for the at least one object (24), a second range reading, a second azimuth reading, and a second altitude reading. Position and travel direction of the at least one object (24) are computed within a predetermined cylindrical volume (20), according to readings from the first and second radar scans. An icon (34) is assigned to the at least one object (24). A reference point (R) is determined for the predetermined cylindrical volume. The icon (34) is then displayed within the predetermined cylindrical volume (20) in stereoscopic form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: James E. Roddy, William M. Barnick
  • Patent number: 7298316
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting clutter blocks and an interference source for dynamically establishing a clutter map includes a clutter block detecting module accumulates a plurality of range cell data of each detecting area, and compares the accumulated value with a clutter block level to define the position of a clutter block; a interference source detecting module accumulates all range cell data in each radar beam area, and compares the accumulated value with an interference source reference level to detect whether any interference source exists; and a clutter map establishing module saves the clutter maps on different beam areas in three memory blocks. When one clutter map cell is extracted, the clutter map cells on different beam areas neighboring with the beam area saving extracted clutter map cell are also extracted. The largest value among the extracted clutter map cells is being a clutter threshold value of a detected target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology, Armaments Bureau M.N.D.
    Inventors: Ming-Fa Tsai, Zheng-Cheng Chang, Ming-Wey Chen
  • Patent number: 7298233
    Abstract: A panel antenna having a variable phase shifter module with at least one main-PCB having an input trace coupled to a wiper junction. An arcuate trace on the main-PCB extending between a first output trace and a second output trace, the arcuate trace having an arc center proximate the wiper junction. A wiper-PCB having a linking trace thereon; the wiper-PCB rotatably coupled to the main-PCB proximate the wiper junction with the linking trace facing the first main-PCB. Because the linking trace faces the main-PCB, the wiper-PCB may be formed from inexpensive and structurally resilient substrate material. The linking trace coupling the wiper junction with the arcuate trace. Multiple arcuate traces may be linked to further output traces to add additional outputs, each having variable phase shift between them, depending upon the position of the wiper-PCB. Multiple main-PCBs may be stacked upon each other and the wiper-PCBs of each controlled by a common linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Andrew Corporation
    Inventor: Martin Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 7295155
    Abstract: Available-satellite data indicating satellites available for satellite positioning is obtained from a GPS receiver, and satellites continuously available for satellite positioning in the current instance and the previous n times are extracted as candidate satellites referring to available-satellite record data. Four of the candidate satellites are selected so that the satellites used for satellite positioning the previous time are selected with priority as the satellites to be used for satellite positioning in the current instance, and the selected satellites are set in designated-satellite data. The GPS receiver performs three-dimensional positioning using the four satellites designated by the designated-satellite data. If the number of extracted candidate satellites is three, these three extracted candidate satellites are selected as the designated satellites and are set in the designated-satellite data. The GPS receiver performs two-dimensional positioning using these three designated satellites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kotaro Wakamatsu
  • Patent number: 7292182
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for calibrating the phase of a microwave source, in which: a calibration circuit is closed, the calibration circuit comprising an injection channel connected to a measurement channel via the source to be calibrated; a test signal is injected through the source to be calibrated, the test signal being injected on the injection channel, the phase ?m of the signal having passed through the source to be calibrated is measured, the phase of the signal being measured on the measurement channel, wherein: the amplitude Am of the signal having passed through the source to be calibrated is measured, the amplitude of the signal being measured on the measurement channel; The calibration circuit is opened at the source to be calibrated; the test signal is injected on the injection channel; the phase ?f and the amplitude Af of the signal present on the measurement channel is measured; a corrected phase value ?c is determined, this corrected phase being the phase of a complex number
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventor: Didier Quievy
  • Patent number: 7277043
    Abstract: A method of generating aircraft tactical alerts includes receiving track positions for two aircraft; receiving trajectories and static conformance bounds for the two aircraft; receiving current position for the two aircraft; generating tactical check segments and variable conformance bounds for the two aircraft based on the current position, the static conformance bounds, trajectory, adapted data, and the track positions; and generating a tactical alert if the variable conformance bounds overlap within a specified lookahead time. The variable conformance bounds can be either symmetric or asymmetric about projected tracks. The variable conformance bounds can use step functions, or continuously widening bounds up to the static conformance bounds. The variable conformance bounds can be based on modifying the static conformance bounds in two or three spatial dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: The MITRE Corporation
    Inventors: William C. Arthur, Daniel B. Kirk
  • Patent number: 7277053
    Abstract: A discrete three-dimensional receiving element has multiple sensors scattered over its surface to detect and locate a signal. The sensors facing the signal detect the signal, and a boundary line is drawn between the sensor which detect the signal and those which don't. The strength of signal may also be detected. A plane is drawn through the receiver element, and the direction of the signal is determined as generally perpendicular to the plane, in the direction of the sensors which are receiving the signal. Distance to the source may also be determined based on signal strength. The location of the signal source may be transmitted to a remote location, or the receiver may direct an electromagnetic beam toward the source to detect further information about the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Lucid Dimensions, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan David Riel, Adam Ethan Calihman
  • Patent number: 7271759
    Abstract: A camouflage device for camouflaging specularly reflecting surfaces of an object is formed with function elements for influencing the reflection of radiation from an assumed radiation source. Each function element forms a part of an outer layer and has a pair of individual surfaces on its side facing the radiation source. The individual surfaces extend longitudinally side-by-side, and their surfaces are arranged at an angle to one another. The camouflaging device is arrangeable on the object by means of a mechanism such that it is disposed in front of the reflecting surface; and the angular arrangement of the respectively assigned individual surfaces extends such that the surface normal of a first individual surface is sloped downward, and the surface normal of a second individual surface points more steeply than 80° to the horizontal plane, and their surface courses form an angle of <90° with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Ralph Bofinger, Alexander Hoffmann