Patents Examined by Matthew M. Barker
  • Patent number: 9983296
    Abstract: A data processing apparatus that can set the magnification factor according to the distance from the antenna is provided so that the display of objects close to the antenna is easier to see and with which the changes in the settings of the magnification factor is easy. The buffer memory stores the digital signals converted by the A/D converter in association with the distance and azimuth with respect to the antenna. The digital filter filters the digital signals read from the buffer memory. A digital filter is provided that converts a value of data of interest, of digital data stored in the memory, to a value based on values of the data of interest to be processed and peripheral data in a periphery of the data of interest, and the digital filter changes a range of the peripheral data used for a filter processing according to the distance from the antenna to the data of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Koji Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 9971020
    Abstract: A radar system includes transmitters and receivers configured for installation and use in a vehicle. The transmitters transmit radio signals. The receivers receive radio signals that include the transmitted radio signals reflected from objects in an environment. Each receiver has an RF front end, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a digital signal processor, and a controller. The digital signal processor processes the data from the ADC and stores data samples in a buffer. The buffer operates in several modes defined by the controller. These modes include replay mode, loopback mode, quiet mode, and throttle mode. By controlling the buffer, the same received samples can be processed in multiple ways to generate information on targets at different ranges and velocities. The buffer is read out and the data is processed further to enable the radar system to determine range, velocity, and angle of targets in the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Uhnder, Inc.
    Inventors: Monier Maher, Curtis Davis, Frederick Rush, Aria Eshraghi
  • Patent number: 9971029
    Abstract: A radar apparatus is provided, which can enhance resolution by data processing. The radar apparatus includes a radar wave transmitter, a radar wave receiver, and an analyzing module. The analyzing module analyzes data received by the radar wave receiver, stores amplitude data and speed data of a target object for every cell in a predetermined coordinate system, and processes, based on the data, the amplitude data of an observing cell in the predetermined coordinate system associated with speed. The analyzing module determines whether an absolute value of a speed difference between adjacent cells and adjacent to the observing cell while the observing cell is located therebetween, is a threshold or higher, and the analyzing module performs processing of reducing the amplitude of the observing cell if the absolute value is the threshold or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasunobu Asada
  • Patent number: 9972141
    Abstract: A device and methods of using the device to provide timing and detection of the finish line for a sporting event are described. The device makes use of a Doppler radar transducer to detect the user as they approach and pass the finish line. In some embodiment the device further includes sensors that detect false starts and measure physiological parameters of the user during the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventors: Jose Julio Doval, Kirt Alan Winter
  • Patent number: 9964640
    Abstract: A method, executed by one or more computers, for unwrapping phase wrapped data including a plurality of nodes. The method includes: selecting a root node from the plurality of nodes to start unwrapping (102); selecting next nodes to be unwrapped, from the neighbor nodes of the root node; dynamically calculating a confidence factor for each node being unwrapped (104); when a closed loop wherein one node can be unwrapped from either of two previously unwrapped nodes is encountered and an unwrapped value predicted by each of the prior nodes of the two nodes are different during unwrapping, comparing calculated confidence factors for the two previously unwrapped nodes (106); using the compared confidence factors of the two previously unwrapped nodes to determine which one of the two nodes is an erroneous node (108); and reprocessing the erroneous node to correct a previous unwrapping error (112).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventor: Morrison R. Lucas
  • Patent number: 9964631
    Abstract: A radar apparatus includes: a transmission unit including a plurality of transmission antennas which are arranged at a predetermined transmission antenna interval, and configured to radiate a transmission signal using the plurality of transmission antennas; a reception unit including a plurality of reception antennas which are arranged at a predetermined reception antenna interval, and configured to receive a reception signal when the transmission signal is reflected by an object, through the plurality of reception antennas; and a signal processing unit configured to detect the object based on the reception signal received by the reception unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seung Un Choi, Seong Hee Jeong
  • Patent number: 9958527
    Abstract: A sensor for determining a direction-of-arrival of radiation impingent on the sensor which has antennas positioned in a particular set-up different from a rectangle, so that information may be derived between two pairs of the antennas, positioned in corners of a rectangular grid and additional information may be derived from an additional antenna, combined with one of the “grid” antennas forming a third pair of antennas. The additional antenna is positioned away from the corners and other pre-defined lines of the rectangle/grid. In this manner, such as from phase differences between the pairs of antennas, more information may be derived compared to antennas positioned merely at the corners of a rectangle to remove ambiguous angles of direction-of-arrival without compromising accuracy of an angular determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: TRACKMAN A/S
    Inventor: Fredrik Tuxen
  • Patent number: 9958543
    Abstract: The present method and system relates to the determination of elevation angles for the case in which more than one target object is situated within a radar cell. Through the estimation according to the present invention of the elevation angles in multi-target scenarios, even in such cases both azimuth angles and elevation angles can be determined, and a reliable classification of the respective target objects can then take place. The present system also relates to a motor vehicle having a radar system that includes an azimuth and elevation angle estimation method and system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Schoor, Volker Gross
  • Patent number: 9958309
    Abstract: A probe (14) of a material level measuring apparatus (10) inserts into a container (20). The material level measuring apparatus (10) transmits an electromagnetic wave signal. When the electromagnetic wave signal touches a surface of a material (30), a first reflected signal is generated. When the electromagnetic wave signal touches a bottom of the probe (14), a second reflected signal is generated. According to the first reflected signal and the second reflected signal, a first time-passing difference value (t1) and a second time-passing difference value (t2) are obtained. According to the first time-passing difference value (t1), the second time-passing difference value (t2) and a predetermined empty container time-passing difference value (t3), a first material level and a second material level are obtained. According to the first material level and the second material level, a third material level is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: FINETEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Liang-Chi Chang, Chun-Han Huang, I-Chu Lin
  • Patent number: 9952319
    Abstract: A Pseudo-Random Phase Modulation (PRPM) multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) radar system suitable for use on an automated vehicle includes a first transmit-antenna that transmits a first transmit-signal generated by a first PRPM-code, a second transmit-antenna that transmits a second transmit-signal generated by a second PRPM-code, a receive-antenna used to detect a first reflected-signal arising from the first transmit-signal and a second reflected-signal arising from the second transmit-signal, and a controller. The controller is in communication with the receive-antenna and is operable to generate the first PRPM-code and the second PRPM-code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: James F. Searcy, Alebel Hassen Arage, Stephen W. Alland, Siyang Cao
  • Patent number: 9929475
    Abstract: Provided is a wideband electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorber including a magnetic composite having a structure in which magnetic particles are dispersed in a polymer resin, and a plurality of conductive lines arranged in the magnetic composite, and a method of manufacturing the same. The wideband EMW absorber can be used for a device configured to emit EMWs and effectively absorb wideband EMWs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF MACHINERY & MATERIALS
    Inventors: Sang-Kwan Lee, Sang-Bok Lee, Ki Hyeon Kim, Yong-Ho Choa, Sung-Tag Oh
  • Patent number: 9910151
    Abstract: A radar object detection system includes a first sensor and a controller. The first sensor emits a first radar signal toward a first area about a vehicle, and outputs a first signal indicative of detected targets proximate to the vehicle. The controller receives the first signal from the first sensor, determines when a trailer is connected to the vehicle based on the first signal, defines a shadow-zone that corresponds to a first portion of the first area obstructed by the trailer from being viewed by the first sensor, and ignores detected targets within the shadow-zone that are indicated by the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Robert J. Cashler
  • Patent number: 9903948
    Abstract: A method for detecting a concealed material in a target comprising a body and the concealed material, the method comprising: emitting radio frequency (RF) energy toward a direction of the target, capturing a signal corresponding to a scattered RF energy reflected from the target, measuring a first mean signal level in a first frequency band of the signal, measuring a second mean signal level in a second frequency band of the signal, and detecting the concealed material when the difference between the first mean signal level and the second mean signal level is above a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Jacob Kim, William F. Skalenda, John L. Tomich, Raymond Samaniego
  • Patent number: 9903944
    Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to methods of detecting a target that include: receiving signals reflected from a target of interest, the signals having a bandwidth large enough to provide a plurality of range cells along an expected target, and processing the received signal(s) by (i) determining the phases of contiguous groups of range cells, the group size selected to approximate to sizes of targets of interest, (ii) phase-shifting the returns within a group to increase constructive interference and thereby signal power; and (iii) combining the phase shifted returns to produce phase-adjusted combined returns, and performing a detection on those combined returns. Some embodiments may provide enhanced target detection capabilities. The process may be repeated for different potential target sizes, and may be performed either on real time data, or off-line on recorded data, and is applicable to both radar and sonar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: QINETIQ LIMITED
    Inventor: Christopher John Peacock
  • Patent number: 9897685
    Abstract: A method for detecting interference in a received signal received by a radar sensor of a motor vehicle is disclosed. For detecting a target object in an environment of the motor vehicle, a transmit signal is emitted by the radar sensor, which includes a sequence of consecutive frequency-modulated chirp signals. The radar sensor then receives an echo signal reflected on the target object as the received signal with the superimposed interference. After receiving the received signal, the interference in the chirp signals of the received signal is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: VALEO Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Alicja Ossowska, Udo Haberland
  • Patent number: 9885783
    Abstract: To reduce radar cells and to improve the detection of a radar system, particularly a high-frequency surface wave radar (HFSWR), the broadcast system (SEM) is capable of broadcasting basic orthogonal signals two by two and each orthogonal to itself, temporally shifted to form, respectively, broadcast radiation patterns, each including main radiation lobes (LP1, LPN) alternating with secondary lobes, the main lobes associated with the basic signals being substantially juxtaposed in space. The receiving system (SRE) is capable of forming as many reception patterns in a monitored receiving area (ZR) as cells (CESn'm) contained in the receiving area that are covered by main radiation lobes (LPn) from one of the broadcast radiation patterns and located at a bistatic distance from the broadcast and receiving systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: ANTHEOP
    Inventor: Claude Goutelard
  • Patent number: 9880278
    Abstract: A method for determining an object in a surroundings of a motor vehicle includes: scanning a far range, which extends as of a predetermined minimum distance from the radar sensor, using a radar sensor for scanning the far range; detecting objects in the far range based on reflections of a radar signal emitted by the radar sensor; and determining a crossing object in a close range, which lies between the radar sensor and the far range, if a previously detected object is no longer able to be detected in the far range using the radar sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Raphael van Uffelen, Alexander Steinmetz
  • Patent number: 9869761
    Abstract: A radar apparatus includes a signal processor configured to: (i) in a case where a first angle peak signal closest to a prediction position in an up period and a second angle peak signal closest to the prediction position in a down period satisfy a pairing condition, finalize a combination of the first angle peak signal and the second angle peak signal as a pair data set; and (ii) in a case where the combination of the first angle peak signal and the second angle peak signal does not satisfy the pairing condition, where the plurality of angle peak signals exist in the prediction region in at least one of the up period and the down period and where a different combination from the combination of the first angle peak signal and the second angle peak signal satisfies a re-pairing condition, finalize the different combination as the pair data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Keishi Yoshimura, Hiroyuki Ishimori
  • Patent number: 9857463
    Abstract: A radar apparatus for obtaining a higher resolution than conventional SAR apparatus without increasing the bandwidth comprises a transmitter antenna and a receiver antenna. A mixer mixes said receive signal with said transmit signal to obtain a mixed receive signal, and a sampling unit samples said mixed receive signal to obtain receive signal samples from a period of said receive signal. A processor processes said receive signal samples by defining a spatial grid in the scene with a finer grid resolution than obtainable by application of a synthetic aperture radar algorithm on the receive signal samples and determining reflectivity values at grid points of said spatial grid by defining a signal model including the relative geometry of said transmitter antenna and said receiver antenna with respect to the scene, said transmit signal and said spatial grid and applying compressive sensing on said receive signal using said signal model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Juan Nogueira-Nine
  • Patent number: 9851441
    Abstract: A method for determining a kinematic structure of a two-dimensional wind field and a system determining the same are provided. The method comprises receiving a plurality of Doppler velocities and a plurality of distances between a Doppler radar and a gate. Each Doppler velocity of the plurality of Doppler velocities corresponds to a respective distance of the plurality of distances between the Doppler radar and the gate. The method further comprises calculating a plurality of distance Doppler velocity values. The distance Doppler velocity values represent the plurality of measured Doppler velocities and the distance between the Doppler radar and the gate. The method further comprises estimating the kinematic structure of the 2D wind field using the plurality of distance Doppler wind velocity values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
    Inventors: Wen-Chau Lee, Jong-Dao Jou