Patents Examined by Peter Bythrow
  • Patent number: 9618616
    Abstract: Each of antenna system processors of a radar receiver generates, through correlation calculation of a reflection signal and a radar transmission signal, an array correlation signal for each delay in arrival of the reflection signal at each Doppler frequency. A static target candidate extractor extracts, on the basis of outputs of the antenna system processors and a Doppler frequency of a reflection signal from a static target located at a side of a moving body, array correlation signals corresponding to a candidate for the static target. A reference signal detector outputs a reference signal regarding the side of the moving body using, among the outputs of the static target candidate extractor, array correlation signals whose consistency is high. A correction value calculator calculates, using outputs of the reference signal detector, a correction value for correcting deviations between reception antennas included in an array antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Kishigami, Hirofumi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9612328
    Abstract: A hazard warning system includes a processing system. The processing system determines a vertically integrated liquid (VIL) parameter. The processing system receives radar reflectivity data associated with an aircraft radar antenna and determines the VIL parameter by determining a first reflectivity value at a first altitude and a second reflectivity value at a second altitude using the radar reflectivity data. The processing system determines the VIL parameter using a base storm altitude and a top storm altitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Arlen E. Breiholz, Kevin M. Kronfeld
  • Patent number: 9608334
    Abstract: A device is described. The device includes a chip, a reflector, and an antenna. The reflector is disposed on a surface of the chip. The reflector is a metalized layer on the surface of the chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Maristella Spella
  • Patent number: 9606224
    Abstract: A system includes a transmission unit, a first reception antenna, a second reception antenna, and a processing unit. The transmission unit is configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle traversing a route, includes a transmission antenna, and is configured to transmit a location signal to a target disposed along the route as the vehicle traverses the route. The first reception antenna is configured to receive at least one reflection signal of the location signal reflected off the target. The second reception antenna is configured to receive the at least one reflection signal. The processing unit is configured to obtain first reception information from the first reception antenna and second reception information from the second reception antenna, perform a comparison of the first and second reception information, and determine a position of the vehicle using the comparison of the first and second reception information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Simone Soderi, Roberto Giusto
  • Patent number: 9599989
    Abstract: In an example method, a vehicle configured to operate in an autonomous mode could have a radar system used to aid in vehicle guidance. The method could include a plurality of antennas configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals. The method may also include a one or more sensors configured to measure a movement of the vehicle. A portion of the method may be performed by a processor configured to: i) determine adjustments based on the movement of the vehicle; ii) calculate distance and direction information for received electromagnetic signals; and iii) recover distance and direction information for received electromagnetic signals with the adjustments applied. The processor may be further configured to adjust the movement of the autonomous vehicle based on the distance and direction information with adjustments applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Adam Brown
  • Patent number: 9599703
    Abstract: Methods for determining a range rate of a backscatter transponder and readers implementing the methods are described. The reader transmits a continuous wave signal and receives a modulated reflected response signal from the transponder, mixes the modulated reflected response signal with the carrier frequency to produce a downconverted signal, bandpass filters the downconverted signal to pass a bandpass filtered signal containing at least the modulation frequency, applies a non-linear amplitude transfer function to produce a modulation-suppressed signal, and measures the frequency of the modulation-suppressed signal and determines the range rate from the measured frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Kapsch TrafficCom AG
    Inventors: Lila Vinski, Japjeev Kohli, Alastair Malarky
  • Patent number: 9594160
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments for track association. An embodiment operates by receiving a first set of track identification data from a first tracking system. The first set of track identification data is associated with a global track identifier (GID). The first set of track identification data associated with the GID is broadcasted to the first tracking system and a second tracking system. A second set of track identification data is received from the second tracking system. The second set of track identification data identifies any tracks of the second tracking system that match the first set of track identification data. The GID is associated with the second set of track identification data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: The MITRE Corporation
    Inventors: Craig Garrett, Justin Gray
  • Patent number: 9594159
    Abstract: A set of radar data is organized as a two dimensional (2D) array with multiple lines of data. A 2D cross point analysis is performed on each set of data to detect objects in range of the radar system. A set of candidate objects is identified by performing an initial one dimensional (1D) analysis on a line of data along a first axis of the set if data to determine a candidate location of each candidate object along the first axis; however, the set of candidate objects may include false objects. The set of candidate objects is pruned by performing a cross 1D analysis of the data along a second axis of the set of data at a position corresponding to each candidate location along the first axis to select a set of most likely candidate objects from the set of candidate objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Dan Wang, Murtaza Ali
  • Patent number: 9581484
    Abstract: A method is based on measuring a distance to a reference reflector arranged at a known distance, in order to calibrate and/or monitor a coherent frequency modulation, continuous wave radar, fill-level measuring device, wherein the reference reflector can be reliably identified. To this end, a reference reflector executing oscillations toward the fill-level measuring device with an oscillation frequency is used, which is inserted in the beam path of periodically linearly frequency modulated transmission signals transmitted from the fill-level measuring device. The fill-level measuring device receives fractions of the transmission signals reflected back on reflectors in the container and records based on these received signals and their time correlation relative to the respectively associated transmission signal for each received signal an echo function, which shows the amplitudes of the received signal as a function of the associated position of the associated reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Winfried Mayer, Manfred Eckert
  • Patent number: 9581165
    Abstract: A wildlife detection system includes a tracking device, a receiver, and a wildlife deterrent system. The tracking device may be mounted to a wildlife. The receiver is configured to track movement of the tracking device relative to an object of danger to the wildlife. The wildlife deterrent system is configured to reduce risk of danger to the wildlife in response to movement of the wildlife within a predetermined distance from the object of danger as tracked by the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Victor Babbitt, Andrew G. Oliver, Jeffrey W. Fine, Daniel Ives, Alexander D. Brand
  • Patent number: 9575173
    Abstract: An image processing device which generates an image where a target object can be discriminated from an object other than the target object. An image processor (15), for echo signals read from a sweep memory (14), calculates a ratio of echo signals indicating a predetermined level or higher among the echo signals of a predetermined number of samples, and generates image data having a display element according to the calculated ratio. This ratio indicates a lower value for an object more isolated and a higher value for an object existing as a larger mass. The image processor (15)acquires color values according to the calculated ratio. Since the target object, such as a ship, is an isolated object and the ratio becomes low, the color values indicate red, and since inland is an object existing as a large mass and the ratio becomes high, the color values indicate green.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 9575172
    Abstract: A handheld scanner system for obtaining sizing of an irregularly shaped object. The system includes a housing and an inertial measurement unit configured to record orientation and displacement history of the housing. An optical module includes at least one 3D optical sensor configured to generate a 3D point cloud of information about the object. A radar module includes at least one radar sensor configured to sense spacing between the housing and the object. A processor receives data from the inertial measurement unit, the optical module and the radar module and creates a map representing the object based on the received data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Bodidata, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Charpentier, Michael Boylan, Robert Kutnick, Kent Worsnop, Young Harvill
  • Patent number: 9575159
    Abstract: A method for transmitting a spread spectrum radar signal stores a plurality of spread sequences. Further, an elevation of a vehicle is measured by the method. Based on the measured elevation of the vehicle, the method selects at least one spread sequence of the plurality of spread sequences, and transmits a spread spectrum radar signal based on the selected at least one spread sequence. Additionally, the method may measure a travel direction of the vehicle, and then select at least one spread sequence based on the measured elevation of the vehicle and the measured travel direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SNU R&DB FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Jae Hong Lee
  • Patent number: 9562973
    Abstract: An integrated identification system including a housing, an active light beacon supported by the housing, an RF beacon supported by the housing, and a controller coupled to the active light beacon and RF beacon to facilitate independent control of the active light beacon and RF beacon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Cornett, Robert Charles Becker, Doug Carlson
  • Patent number: 9557408
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting a RADAR signal. RADAR channel data in a frequency range is received, where the frequency range is divided into a plurality of equally wide channels. The received RADAR channel data is digitally processed and analyzed to identify a signal in the RADAR channel data in the frequency range. The frequency range is advanced to a next channel of the plurality of channels, where the frequency range of the next channel of the plurality of channels is nonsequential with the frequency range of the first channel. The steps of receiving, processing, and analyzing are repeated for the next channel of the plurality of channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Escort, Inc.
    Inventor: Igor Chernukhin
  • Patent number: 9557410
    Abstract: A radar reception device is provided. The device includes a reception signal acquirer, a signal processor, a PPI-scope generator, an A-scope generator, a display output unit, and a user interface. The reception signal acquirer acquires, in an R?-coordinate system, a reception signal received by an antenna that rotates at a predetermined cycle. The signal processor performs signal processing on the reception signal in the R?-coordinate system according to a distance, and outputs the processed signal in the R?-coordinate system. The PPI-scope generator converts the processed signal from the R?-coordinate system into an XY-orthogonal coordinate system and generates a radar image in a PPI-scope. The A-scope generator generates a radar image where the reception signal before being signal-processed is illustrated in an A-scope. The display output unit displays the PPI-scope radar image and the A-scope radar image on a display unit simultaneously. The user interface accepts a user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takaki, Yugo Kubota, Yasuhisa Fujii
  • Patent number: 9557414
    Abstract: An ultra-broadband coherent radar transponder for precision tracking, and in particular a transponder arrangement having an antenna, receiver, control logic, delay, and transmitter components arranged to coherently amplify, delay and repeat back a reference signal to be utilized by a microwave radar system for high fidelity tracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Donald G. Morgan, Justian A. Neely, John R. Smith, Paul M. Haldeman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9551607
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of measuring the level of a liquid in a vessel, such as a chemical reactor, by radar. The method particularly pertains to situations wherein a supercritical fluid is present above the liquid. More particularly, the method serves to cope with the typical vigorous circumstances of a chemical reaction, such as urea synthesis. The invention foresees the use of a tube extending into the liquid, so as to guide the radar waves to the surface level of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: STAMICARBON B.V.
    Inventor: Klement Riegman
  • Patent number: 9551786
    Abstract: A ranging and positioning system comprising transmitters and receiver nodes communicating together by chirp-modulated radio signals, that have a ranging mode in which ranging exchange of signals takes place between a master device and a slave device that leads to the evaluation of the range between them. The slave is arranged for recognizing a ranging request and transmit back a ranging response containing chirps that precisely aligned in time and frequency with the chirps in the ranging requests, whereupon the master can receive the ranging response, analyze the time and frequency the chirps contained therein with respect to his own time reference, and estimate a range to the slave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: SEMTECH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Olivier B. A. Seller
  • Patent number: 9546895
    Abstract: A radar transmitter for emulsion measurement comprises a probe defining a transmission line for sensing impedance. A pulse circuit is connected to the probe for generating pulses on the transmission line and receiving a reflected signal from the transmission line. The reflected signal comprises a waveform of probe impedance over time. A controller is operatively connected to the pulse circuit. The controller profiles content of the emulsion responsive to the waveform by transforming the waveform into impedance relative to distance, converting the transformed waveform into effective dielectric relative to distance, determining mixture content of the emulsion at select distances responsive to the effective dielectric at the select distances and developing an output representing mixture content relative to level units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Magnetrol International, Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael D. Flasza, Feng Tang, Steven R. Page