Patents Examined by John B. Sotomayor
  • Patent number: 9952313
    Abstract: A Radar Calibration Processor (“RCP”) for calibrating the phase of a stepped-chirp signal utilized by a synthetic aperture radar (“SAR”) is disclosed. The RCP includes a periodic phase error (“PPE”) calibrator, first non-periodic phase error (“NPPE”) calibrator in signal communication with the PPE calibrator, and a second NPPE calibrator in signal communication with the first NPPE calibrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Kwang M. Cho
  • Patent number: 9891316
    Abstract: An on-vehicle target detection apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a radar sensing portion and a processing unit that processes information from the radar sensing portion. The processing unit detects a target that is present in the periphery of the vehicle based on detection results from the radar sensing portion, and determines a depth determination value indicating the depth of the target detected. The processing unit compares the depth determination threshold and a threshold set in advance and determines that the target is a low-lying target that is surmountable by the vehicle, when the depth determination value is determined to be less than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Mizutani, Yoshie Samukawa, Ryusuke Uyama
  • Patent number: 9880261
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a radar apparatus for estimating a position and a velocity of a plurality of obstacles. The radar apparatus includes a slave radar chip. A master radar chip is coupled to the slave radar chip. The master radar chip includes a local oscillator that generates a transmit signal. The slave radar chip receives the transmit signal on a first path and sends the transmit signal back to the master radar chip on a second path. A delay detect circuit is coupled to the local oscillator and receives the transmit signal from the slave radar chip on the second path and the transmit signal from the local oscillator. The delay detect circuit estimates a routing delay from the transmit signal received from the slave radar chip on the second path and from the transmit signal received from the local oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Karthik Subburaj, Brian Ginsburg, Karthik Ramasubramanian
  • Patent number: 9869760
    Abstract: A system for recognizing motion by analyzing a radio signal includes: a radio signal transmitter configured to transmit a radio signal; a radio signal receiver configured to receive the transmitted radio signal; and a motion recognition processing device configured to: i) analyze the received radio signal, ii) extract and classify a gesture from the analyzed radio signal, iii) recognize the extracted and classified gesture, and iv) perform vehicle device control based on the recognized gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Un Kyu Park
  • Patent number: 9863800
    Abstract: A radar level gauge using electromagnetic signals is provided, which includes a connection arrangement for connecting a transmitter receiver circuit board and an antenna unit with one another, with which the horizontal size of the radar level gauge may be reduced and reflection and transmission losses may be suppressed as well. The transmitter receiver circuit board 32 is so disposed in a housing 12 as to extend vertically. The connection arrangement includes a waveguide sequence which is fed at a feed terminal 32a formed on the transmitter receiver circuit board 32 and composed of three waveguides W1 to W3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: TOKYO KEIKI INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi Ito, Masao Kishimoto, Akira Hotta
  • Patent number: 9864056
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a matching system between a convective cell in a weather radar image and lightning, and a control method thereof. In other words, according to the invention, convective cells are detected in a weather radar image, lightning is detected through a total lightning detection system, and the detected lightning is matched with the detected convective cells in the weather radar image. Therefore, it is possible to rapidly and accurately match and confirm a lightning-generated convective cell of a plurality of convective cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: KOREA METEOROLOGICAL ADMINISTRATION
    Inventors: Ji Young Kim, Jeong Seok Ko, Hi Jun Yang, Tae Sun Kwon, Seung Jun Oh, Jeong Deok Lee, Mi Young Park, Gyu Won Lee, Sung Hwa Jung
  • Patent number: 9857461
    Abstract: Various avionics systems may benefit from the proper handling of diversity with respect to antennas. For example, systems and methods for remote L-band smart antenna distance measuring equipment may benefit from being prepared to provide diversity against interference, such as a multipath interference. A method can include determining which antenna of a plurality of antennas of an aircraft is preferred for communication with respect to distance measuring equipment. The method can also include selecting the antenna based on the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: AVIATION COMMUNICATION & SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventor: Gregory T. Stayton
  • Patent number: 9853356
    Abstract: The present application includes systems and methods for determining pointing error of a satellite antenna. In one aspect a method for determining pointing error of a satellite antenna includes receiving, at a receiving station, a pointing error signal formed by the antenna and transmitted from a satellite, wherein the pointing error signal includes a first beacon (reference) signal and a modulated second beacon (error) signal. The receiving station may demodulate the received pointing error signal to recover the second beacon signal with respect to the first beacon signal, and based at least in part on the demodulated beacon signal, the receiving station may determine the pointing error of the satellite antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: ORBITAL SCIENCES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Huiwen Yao, George Case
  • Patent number: 9846227
    Abstract: Embodiments of surveillance systems for detecting the presence of unallowed objects in a predetermined restricted space are disclosed. In some embodiments, a surveillance system detects the presence of unallowed objects in a restricted space including a radar having a data output and further having an electromagnetic wave transmitter having at least two output antennas commutated to the transmitter output by means of transmitter switch, an electromagnetic wave receiver having an output and at least two input antennas commutated to the receiver input by means of receiver switch, a control unit operating said transmitter and receiver switches to select a pair of one input antenna and one output antenna at any given time, a video camera adapted to take successive image frames of the restricted space, a signal processor having a radar data input, a camera data input and output, and a storing device connected to the signal processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Inventor: Kirill Mostov
  • Patent number: 9839892
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a mud pot and a reflectometer to monitor a level of an interface between liquid diluent and catalyst slurry in the mud pot using reflectometry. The apparatus may include a mixing tank and a conduit to transfer catalyst slurry from the mud pot to the mixing tank. The apparatus may include a polymerization reactor and a conduit to provide catalyst slurry from the mixing tank to the polymerization reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Total Research & Technology Feluy
    Inventors: Louis Fouarge, Alain Brusselle
  • Patent number: 9835721
    Abstract: A clutter suppressing device for suppressing echo data of static clutter components indicating reflection waves caused by radar transmission signals reflecting on a static object is provided. The device includes a static clutter component suppressor configured to receive reception signals containing the static clutter components, and suppress the static clutter components, a reference data memory configured to store, as reference data, echo data of the reception signals obtained in fine weather and in which the static clutter components are suppressed by the static clutter component suppressor, and a rain component extracting module configured to extract echo data indicating rain components contained in the reception signals, by removing the reference data stored in the reference data memory from echo data of the reception signals obtained in rainy weather and in which the static clutter components are suppressed by the static clutter component suppressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Minowa
  • Patent number: 9835715
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for a radar device comprises at least one transmitter and at least one receiver. The integrated circuit comprises: a direct digital synthesizer, DDS, configured to output a control signal; and a multiplier configured to receive a local oscillator input signal and a further input signal from the DDS. In a first mode of operation, the DDS and multiplier cooperate to generate at least one transmitter signal to be transmitted from the radar device; and in a second mode of operation the DDS and multiplier cooperate to generate at least one low frequency modulated transmitter signal to be internally routed to the at least one receiver for calibrating the at least one receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Dominique Delbecq, Olivier Doare, Gilles Montoriol
  • Patent number: 9831906
    Abstract: An active electronically scanned array (AESA) includes a plurality of power amplifiers including first power amplifiers and second power amplifiers. The first power amplifiers are biased by a first drain voltage. The second power amplifiers are biased by a second drain voltage. The second drain voltage is different from the first drain voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Chenggang Xie, James B. West
  • Patent number: 9829576
    Abstract: A clutter suppressing device for suppressing echo data of reflection waves caused by radar transmission signals reflecting on a static object is provided. Each of the radar transmission signals is transmitted at a predetermined azimuth from a radar antenna at a predetermined time interval. The clutter suppressing device includes an echo data memory configured to sequentially store a plurality of echo data of reflection waves caused by the radar transmission signals reflecting on objects, a filter configured to select, from the plurality of echo data, a data row in the azimuth direction for a predetermined distance, and suppress, in the data row, echo data of a target object moving at a speed within a predetermined range, and a suppression echo data output unit configured to output suppression echo data containing the echo data suppressed by the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Minowa, Yasunobu Asada
  • Patent number: 9817115
    Abstract: Weather radar system which uses antennas constituted by the elongated aperture of waveguides, and form at least an array (510, 520) mounted on a rotating horizontal (502), and the said apertures are as wide as one wavelength (?) and length higher than 20?, wherein the small aperture in azimuth ranges from 0.5° to 2° and is synthesized by high rotational speeds together with signal processing techniques such as ROSAR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Bradar Industria S.A.
    Inventors: João Roberto Moreira Neto, Marco Antônio Miguel Miranda, César Rodrigo Steffens
  • Patent number: 9812787
    Abstract: A combination of a radar sensor and a trim component, which are to be mounted on a motor vehicle so that the trim component is penetrated by microwaves of the radar sensor, the trim component including at least one layer, which reflects a portion of the microwaves, the trim component including an additional layer, which is configured based on thickness and dielectric constant to reduce the reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Binzer
  • Patent number: 9797990
    Abstract: There is provided an echo display device that is easy to manipulate and allows echoes that appear on an echo screen to be designated easily, quickly, and reliably with a cursor. An information display device includes a display component 10, a track ball, and a controller. The display component 10 displays a radar image in real time based on echo information inputted from a radar antenna. The track ball is manipulated to move a cursor 5 displayed in the radar image. The controller includes a cursor display position determination component, and this cursor display position determination component determines the display position of the cursor 5 in the radar image based on manipulation of the track ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yu Morita, Yugo Kubota, Hidetoshi Kaida
  • Patent number: 9791563
    Abstract: The various embodiments presented herein relate to utilizing an operational single-channel radar to collect and process synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and ground moving target indicator (GMTI) imagery from a same set of radar returns. In an embodiment, data is collected by randomly staggering a slow-time pulse repetition interval (PRI) over a SAR aperture such that a number of transmitted pulses in the SAR aperture is preserved with respect to standard SAR, but many of the pulses are spaced very closely enabling movers (e.g., targets) to be resolved, wherein a relative velocity of the movers places them outside of the SAR ground patch. The various embodiments of image reconstruction can be based on compressed sensing inversion from undersampled data, which can be solved efficiently using such techniques as Bregman iteration. The various embodiments enable high-quality SAR reconstruction, and high-quality GMTI reconstruction from the same set of radar returns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Thompson, Aaron Hallquist, Hyrum Anderson
  • Patent number: 9791548
    Abstract: A pulse compression radar for performing pre-distortion is provided, which has a configuration simplified in circuit structure. A radar apparatus (pulse compression radar) includes an antenna configured to externally transmit a transmission signal transmitted by a power amplifier and receive a reflection signal caused thereby as a reception signal. The radar apparatus includes a reception circuit configured to propagate this reception signal to a radar image creating module. The radar apparatus corrects beforehand, by utilizing the transmission signal (feedback signal) transmitted from the power amplifier, a transmission signal to be inputted into the power amplifier so as to cancel distortion of the transmission signal caused by amplification effect of the power amplifier. Further, a circuit where the reception signal passes and a circuit where the feedback signal passes share a part of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunobu Asada, Takuya Okimoto
  • Patent number: 9784819
    Abstract: A radar apparatus for performing pre-distortion is provided, which has a configuration instantly transmittable of a transmission signal without distortion even in a case where a power is turned off. A radar apparatus (pulse compression radar) calculates a correction coefficient based on a transmission signal before distortion occurs therein and a transmission signal (feedback signal) outputted by a power amplifier. The radar apparatus corrects the transmission signal outputted by an ideal transmission signal memory while taking into consideration distortion that is caused in the amplification by the power amplifier, by using the correction coefficient. The radar apparatus includes a non-volatile memory configured to store the calculated correction coefficient as backup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunobu Asada, Akinori Shimizu, Eikoh Gotoh