Patents Examined by John B. Sotomayor
  • Patent number: 9429643
    Abstract: A system for tracking objects. Objects such as aircraft, ground vehicles, or vessels may be sensed with various sensors, including an Integrated Broadcast Service (IBS) (220), an Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) (225), a network (230) of airborne radar sensors, a network (235) of aircraft each reporting its own position, a Blue Force Tracker (BFT) (240), and a network (245) of ground-based mobile radar sensors. Data from each sensor or network of sensors may also be fed, via a display interface layer (250), to a display. A tracker which may be referred to as a coherent aggregator (120) receives input from sensors or other trackers and also from an operator. The operator monitors the display and provides input to the coherent aggregator (120) to assist the coherent aggregator (120) in inferring tracks from measurement reports. Multiple coherent aggregators, in communication with each other and loosely coupled, may be operated simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Thales-Raytheon Systems Company LLC
    Inventors: Jim L. Booher, Christopher R. Eck, Stefan Badstuebner, Ron C. Williamson, John A. Schlundt, Annette R. Mueller
  • Patent number: 9429649
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, there is provided a radar device including a generating unit, an estimating unit, and a determining unit. The generating unit generates a frequency spectrum from a beat signal corresponding to a predetermined period. The estimating unit estimates a peak frequency corresponding to a target on the basis of location information of the target corresponding to a past period. The determining unit determines, with respect to the frequency spectrum corresponding to the latest period, whether the peak frequency is a peak corresponding to the target by comparing power near the peak frequency estimated by the estimating unit with a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Seiji Kawabe, Hisateru Asanuma
  • Patent number: 9429648
    Abstract: A radar apparatus includes a detection unit to detect objects within a scan range based on a reflected wave received with respect to a transmission wave and to output detection results of the objects, and an adjusting unit to narrow the scan range so as not to detect an object other than a target object, when the detection results include the object other than the target object detected in the scan range within a predetermined time. The adjusting unit judges an object having a velocity less than a first value as the object other than the target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Yuuichi Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 9423497
    Abstract: A method for obstacle detection, the method may include receiving or generating, by a computerized system, detection information about input radio frequency (RF) signals detected by a RF receiver as a result of a transmission of RF output signals towards a space that comprises potential obstacles; and detecting, by the computerized system, obstacles by associating agent behaviors with clusters of input RF signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: RADAR OBSTACLE DETECTION LTD.
    Inventors: Alon Slapak, Nirom Cohen-Nov Slapak
  • Patent number: 9423495
    Abstract: A ship-based over-the-horizon (OTH) radar system provides mobile, persistent, wide-area air and ship surveillance across large ocean expanses and in anti-access/area denial (A2AD) environments. A transmit ship may include a log-periodic antenna (LPA) array adapted for use on a ship and a receive ship may include a plurality of monopole or dipole whip antennas. The transmit/receive antenna is fronted by a ground screen, which can be sized taking into account the sea as a naturally reflective surface. The transmit/receive ship can include advanced software to compensate for ship movement and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) techniques can be employed to includes the effective size of the radar receiver aperture. A modular design, using standard commercial container ships and shipping containers, allows for rapid deployment/stowage of radar equipment. Related methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Kaichiang Chang, Drew S. Ganter, Michael Anderson
  • Patent number: 9423491
    Abstract: A radar device that transmits a high frequency signal and detects an object by a reflected wave that is reflected by the object includes a transmitting antenna that transmits the high frequency signal, a receiving antenna that receives a reflected wave that is transmitted by the transmitting antenna and reflected by the object, and a dummy antenna that attenuates a reflected wave that is reflected by a structure arranged on a transmission path of the high frequency signal. The dummy antenna is configured be selectable as an antenna having another function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignees: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., Furukawa Automotive Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Ishida, Sadao Matsushima
  • Patent number: 9411044
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media relating to providing weather data generated by a weather radar system of an aircraft are provided. The method includes receiving radar returns from at least one of a horizontal radar scan and a vertical radar scan. The method includes detecting a plurality of weather cells based on at least one of the horizontal radar scan and the vertical radar scan. The method includes providing display data representative of the plurality of weather cells. The method includes automatically providing updated display data representative of the plurality of weather cells based on at least one of an additional horizontal radar scan and an additional vertical radar scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Sperling, Gregory J. Koenigs, Mark C. Fersdahl
  • Patent number: 9411035
    Abstract: A method for angle estimation verification, adapted for verifying an estimated angle calculated by an electronic apparatus having an angle estimator and at least three antennas, is provided. The estimated angle is extracted from the angle estimator. An autocorrelation matrix is generated according to a signal vector formed by a plurality of measurements of a received signal received by each of the antennas so as to obtain a plurality of eigenvalues. Among phase difference data generated by a plurality of antenna groups formed by all different combinations of two of the antennas, a plurality of possible estimated angles corresponding to the phase difference data not caused by a coterminal angle effect are calculated. According to the eigenvalues and the possible estimated angles, whether the received signal corresponds to a single target or multiple targets is determined so as to verify the reliability of the estimated angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Tsung-Yu Tsai, Chung-Jung Huang, Ta-Sung Lee
  • Patent number: 9413075
    Abstract: Structures and methods for cloaking an object to electromagnetic radiation at the microwave and terahertz frequencies include disposing a plurality of graphene sheets about the object. Intermediate layers of a transparent dielectric material can be disposed between graphene sheets to optimize the performance. In other embodiments, the graphene can be formulated into a paint formulation or a fabric and applied to the object. The structures and methods absorb at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation at the microwave and terabyte frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Phaedon Avouris, Alberto V. Garcia, Chun-Yung Sung, Fengnian Xia, Hugen Yan
  • Patent number: 9405001
    Abstract: Described are radar systems and methods. A transmit pulse is generated by the radar system. A first portion of the transmit pulse is processed by the radar system to form transmit pulse data. A second portion of the transmit pulse is directed by the radar system into a monitored volume. A return signal is received by the radar system, the return signal at least partially comprising a portion of the second portion of the transmit pulse reflected by one or more objects in the monitored volume. The return signal is processed, by the radar system, to form return signal data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Laufer Wind Group LLC
    Inventors: Hamilton Morris Stewart, Eric David Laufer
  • Patent number: 9400323
    Abstract: A passive radar device includes: a pulse-by-pulse range compression unit executing cross-correlation processing between received signals of a direct wave and scattered wave on each of pulses divided by a direct-wave reception unit and a scattered-wave reception unit, and calculating a pulse-by-pulse range profile; a block-by-block Doppler processing unit calculating a first Doppler frequency spectrum by executing pulse-direction Fourier transform in block units each grouping plural pulses; a Doppler frequency cell-associated range migration compensation unit compensating a range-direction movement amount with respect to the first Doppler frequency spectrum on a Doppler-frequency-cell-by-Doppler-frequency-cell basis and on a block-by-block basis; and a block-direction Doppler processing unit calculating a second Doppler frequency spectrum by executing block-direction Fourier transform on an output from the Doppler frequency cell-associated range migration compensation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kei Suwa, Tadashi Oshima, Shohei Nakamura, Toshio Wakayama
  • Patent number: 9400325
    Abstract: Described herein is an automotive radar system and related processing techniques utilizing a three channel switched antenna to improve the angular resolution of an azimuth tracking radar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Valeo Radar Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Millar
  • Patent number: 9400322
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a receiver having a single sideband mixer with all pass networks to remove unwanted sidebands down conversion of signals. In exemplary embodiments, a single chip receive/transceiver can be used in phased array radars. Since the need for bulky off-chip switch filter banks is eliminated, the number of chips for phased array antenna elements can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Richard Hennegan
  • Patent number: 9400328
    Abstract: A radar device for an automotive radar system includes a base, a first antenna module including a first transmitting antenna and a plurality of first receiving antennas for emitting a detection signal and generating a first signal receiving result, wherein the first antenna is fixed on the base, a second antenna module including a second transmitting antenna and a plurality of second receiving antennas for emitting the detection signal and generating a second signal receiving result, wherein the second antenna is fixed on the base, and a control system disposed in the base and coupled to the first antenna module and the second antenna module for outputting the detection signal to the first transmitting antenna and the second antenna and processing the first signal receiving result and the second signal receiving result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Wistron NeWeb Corporation
    Inventors: Hsin-Lung Hsiao, I-Shan Chen
  • Patent number: 9397766
    Abstract: Described is a calibration technique for an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) having a scalable, analog monopulse network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Angelo M. Puzella, Jeffrey C. Upton, Arsenio Vargas, Steven D. Nguyen, Kassam K. Bellahrossi
  • Patent number: 9395727
    Abstract: A radio detection and ranging (RADAR) system that emits radio signals from a transmit antenna and receives reflected signals with a receive array of antenna elements. The signals received at the receive array are conveyed through a plurality of waveguide couplers. The plurality of waveguide couplers receives signals from each antenna element at a plurality of antenna ports and outputs signals from a plurality of output ports. The waveguide couplers convey signals such that the output ports receive signals from associated sub-array sets of the antenna ports. The waveguide couplers have an overlapping arrangement such that a given sub-array set of antenna ports overlaps with a neighboring sub-array set of antenna ports by including at least half of the antenna ports in the neighboring sub-array set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Smith, Jamal Izadian
  • Patent number: 9389311
    Abstract: Various embodiments presented herein relate to identifying one or more edges in a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image comprising a plurality of superpixels. Superpixels sharing an edge (or boundary) can be identified and one or more properties of the shared superpixels can be compared to determine whether the superpixels form the same or two different features. Where the superpixels form the same feature the edge is identified as an internal edge. Where the superpixels form two different features, the edge is identified as an external edge. Based upon classification of the superpixels, the external edge can be further determined to form part of a roof, wall, etc. The superpixels can be formed from a speckle-reduced SAR image product formed from a registered stack of SAR images, which is further segmented into a plurality of superpixels. The edge identification process is applied to the SAR image comprising the superpixels and edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Mary M. Moya, Mark W. Koch
  • Patent number: 9383246
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a guided wave radar level gauge comprising a transceiver, processing circuitry and a single conductor probe comprising at least two elongate probe sections. A connector extending from a first end of the probe section comprises: an abutment portion having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the probe section, an intermediate portion, having a diameter smaller than the abutment portion, arranged between the probe section and the abutment portion and an outside threaded portion. A second end portion of the probe section comprises a sleeve comprising an inside threaded receiving portion receiving the connector; a passage through a sidewall of the sleeve being located off-center in relation to a longitudinal central axis of the probe section. The probe further comprises a locking pin to be arranged in the passage locking two assembled probe sections by limiting movement of the abutment portion in a longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: ROSEMOUNT TANK RADAR AB
    Inventor: Bengt Hagglund
  • Patent number: 9383436
    Abstract: Determination of distance and/or position relative to one or more points by transmission of a wideband signal by a first antenna, reception of the transmitted wideband signal by a second antenna and comparison of the time delay between the transmitted and received signals. The first and second antennas are connected to a timer/processor unit. One or more of the first or second antennas is movable to an unknown position to be measured, but maintains connection to the timer/processor through a fixed or known delay communication link. The timer/processor contains a time base for generating the transmitted signal and an offset timer for measuring the time delay of the received signal. The received signal may be processed to determine a start time or leading edge that may resolve RF cycle and modulation bandwidth ambiguities and may allow positive determination of distance much shorter than a wavelength at the operation center frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: TDC Acquisition Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Scott Dewberry, Gert Frølund Pedersen, Patrick Claus Friedrich Eggers
  • Patent number: 9383433
    Abstract: An I/Q mixer and processing method for a radar system include an RF input and an LO input. Phase shifters apply a selectable phase shift to the LO signal to produce a first phase-shifted version of the LO signal and a second phase-shifted version of the LO signal, the first and second phase-shifted versions of the LO signal being in quadrature. A first set of switches is controllable to selectively apply the selectable phase shift to the LO signal. A first mixer unit receives the RF signal at a first input of the first mixer unit, and a second mixer unit receives the RF signal at a first input of the second mixer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott B. Doyle