Patents Examined by Peter Bythrow
  • Patent number: 9547078
    Abstract: In a method for detecting radar objects with the aid of a radar sensor of a motor vehicle, a transmitted signal has a sequence of frequency modulations, to each of which a partial signal of a measuring signal is assigned; first information about the relative velocity and the distance of a radar object is ascertained based on a frequency spectrum of at least one of the partial signals; second information about the relative velocity and the distance of the radar object is ascertained based on a frequency spectrum of a time curve of values of frequency spectra of the partial signals at a frequency position of the radar object in these frequency spectra; and the relative velocity and the distance of the radar object are ascertained based on matching of the first information with the second information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Goetz Kuehnle, Michael Schoor
  • Patent number: 9543662
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to operating an analog signal processing circuit to emulate a Rotman lens. The analog signal processing circuit applies a plurality of time delays to a plurality of signals associated with a plurality of beam ports. The analog signal processing circuit forms a plurality of output beams for transmission by a plurality of array ports included in an array based on the time delayed signals by summing the time delayed signals. The time delays are based on a direction of transmission of the output beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Harry B. Marr, Walter B. Schulte, Jr., John P. Gianvittorio
  • Patent number: 9541638
    Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method for detecting an object using radar system having M transmit antennas, N receive antennas, and a processor, including: receiving, by the processor, N×M digital signals, wherein the N receivers receive M received signals corresponding to M sequences of encoded transmitted signals resulting in N×M digital signals; processing the N×M digital signals to produce N×M first range/relative velocity matrices; applying a phase compensation to N×(M?1) first range/relative velocity matrices to compensate for a difference in range between the N×(M?1) first range/relative velocity matrices and the Mth range/velocity matrix; decoding the M phase compensated range/relative velocity matrices for the N receivers using an inverse of the transmit encoding to produce M decoded phase range/relative velocity matrices for the N receivers; detecting objects using the M range/relative velocity matrices for the N receivers to produce a detection vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Feike Guus Jansen, Alessio Filippi, Zoran Zivkovic
  • Patent number: 9534944
    Abstract: A method for determining and/or monitoring fill level of a medium in a container with a measuring device, which works according to the travel time measuring method, wherein measurement signals are transmitted toward the medium and are received, wherein from the high-frequency total measurement signal, composed by superimposing the transmitted measurement signals, the reflected wanted echo signals and the disturbance echo signals, a raw echo curve or digitized envelope curve is ascertained. The wanted echo signals and/or the disturbance echo signals in the raw echo curve or the digitized envelope curve are ascertained based on an ideal echo curve, which shows the amplitude of the echo signals of an ideal reflector as a function of the distance from the ideal reflector, and based on the ascertained wanted echo signal the fill level is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexey Malinovskiy, I, Stefan Gorenflo, Dietmar Spanke, Edgar Schmitt
  • Patent number: 9529074
    Abstract: A ranging method, executed in a ranging device, comprising steps of: obtaining a trip time of a received wireless signal, wherein the received wireless signal is a wireless signal from an object; calculating a statistical value of a rising time of the received wireless signal; correcting the trip time according to the statistical value of the rising time; and estimating a distance between the object and the ranging device according to the corrected trip time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: DIZIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daniel Mastio, Zbigniew Ianelli
  • Patent number: 9529078
    Abstract: An adaptive parameter for adjusting a threshold in a sensor system that provides a constant false alarm rate is disclosed. A projection space generator performs projection operations to create a matched projection space and first and second mismatched projection spaces such that each mismatched projection space is orthogonal or nearly orthogonal to the matched projection space. A mitigation engine receives the matched and first mismatched projection spaces and generates a set of weights from one of the first mismatched projection space or both of the matched and first mismatched projection spaces. A second mismatched projection space that is mismatched to both the matched and first mismatched projection spaces is provided to a clutter characterization engine that generates samples from the second mismatched projection space and the set of weights. The adaptive parameter is generated from the samples and is used as an input to a threshold adjuster in a target detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Propagation Research Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Ernest Jefferson Holder
  • Patent number: 9523773
    Abstract: A defense system that receives information regarding an incoming object(s), then automatically coordinates spoofing or jamming of SATNAV signals potentially used by the incoming object(s) while also informing friendly systems of the spoofing or jamming of SATNAV signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Counter Echo Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew H. Fink, William A. Wilson, Ryan Thomas Holte
  • Patent number: 9519054
    Abstract: A method for reconstructing a dielectric image using electromagnetic waves, comprising: acquiring a measurement value of the electromagnetic waves; generating a matching system matrixes between the meshes; generating a smoothed dyadic Green's function matrix; generating an electromagnetic wave calculation value; calculating a misfit error between the acquired electromagnetic wave measurement value and the generated electromagnetic wave calculation value, and checking whether a change of the calculated misfit error satisfies a predetermined optimization determination condition; updating dielectric parameters at the meshes; and outputting a reconstructed dielectric image in the image reconstruction region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Bo Ra Kim, Nikolai Simonov, Seong-Ho Son, Soon Ik Jeon, Hyuk Je Kim, Jong Moon Lee, Hyung Do Choi
  • Patent number: 9507022
    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: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Arlen E. Breiholz, Kevin M. Kronfeld
  • Patent number: 9507021
    Abstract: A forward facing sensing system for a vehicle includes a radar sensor device disposed within the vehicle and having a sensing direction forward of the vehicle. An image sensor is disposed behind and views through the vehicle windshield. A control includes an image processor that analyzes captured image data to, at least in part, detect a pedestrian present exterior of the vehicle in its direction of forward travel. The control, responsive at least in part to processing of captured image data and to sensing by the radar sensor, determines that a potentially hazardous condition may exist in the vehicle's path of forward travel. The radar sensor device and the image sensor collaborate in a way that enhances determination of existence of the potentially hazardous condition in the vehicle's path of forward travel. The control at least in part controls an adaptive cruise control system of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 9507017
    Abstract: A method for the simultaneous multi-frequency signal processing within a single receiver is presented. The pulse compression or filtering method samples the received signal at a data rate commensurate with the maximum frequency separation of waveforms at separate frequencies being received, but the compression calculations are only performed at a rate commensurate with the bandwidth of each individual transmit waveform set. The method reduces the processor requirements for extracting all available information from these signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SRC, INC.
    Inventor: Daniel R. Culkin
  • Patent number: 9507013
    Abstract: An embodiment relates to a method for processing radar signals. The radar signals may include digitized data received by at least two radar antennas. The method may include determining CFAR results on FFT results based on data received by a first antenna, and applying the CFAR results to FFT results based on data received by a second antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Andre' Roger, Romain Ygnace
  • Patent number: 9507020
    Abstract: A method to initialize tracks from sensor measurements is provided. The method includes identifying at least one tentative track based on data collected from at least one sensor at three sequential times; initializing a confirm/delete track filter for the identified tentative tracks; and using gates computed from state vector statistics to one of: confirm the at least one tentative track; reprocess the at least one tentative track; or delete the at least one tentative track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Vibhor L. Bageshwar, Nuri Kundak, Milos Vesely
  • Patent number: 9500748
    Abstract: In a target recognition apparatus, a candidate detection section detects a target candidate, provided that a target exists in a basic detection area. A candidate addition section adds, regarding each target candidate detected in a folding area, a target candidate determined provided that the target candidate detected in the folding area is a virtual image, and a corresponding real image exists in an additional detection area. A tracking section determines, regarding each detected and added target candidate, presence/absence of a history connection with the target candidate detected in a past measurement cycle. A combination determination section determines, regarding each target candidate, presence/absence of a combination with an image target, based on whether or not an image target associated with the target candidate exists. A likelihood calculation section sets and updates a likelihood of a virtual image of the image target by using a determination result of the combination determination section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Noda
  • Patent number: 9500747
    Abstract: A travel distance measurement device includes a transmitting antenna that is disposed in a vehicle and emits a transmission signal, as a radio wave, toward a ground surface, a receiving antenna that is disposed in the vicinity of the transmitting antenna, and receives a radio wave reflected from the ground surface and acquires a reflection signal, and a distance calculator (an IQ demodulator and a phase conversion integrator) that calculates the travel distance of the vehicle on the basis of the phase of the acquired reflection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Inomata, Wataru Tsujita, Kazuhiro Tahara, Seiya Nagashima
  • Patent number: 9494681
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the pre and post processing of radar signals to allow for improved measuring of circular depolarization ratio data in a weather radar. The system uses a phase shifter, which is periodically calibrated to ensure proper polarity, to alter the transmission phase of one channel of a radar transmission output. Reflectivity signals are then processed in accordance with rules dependent upon the transmission phase shift to reliably extract circular depolarization ratio (“CDR”) data from the reflectivity signals. CDR data is used to enhance hydrometer recognition in a weather radar system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Enterprise Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander V. Ryzhkov, Michael Bruce Knight, Ryan Michael May
  • Patent number: 9494450
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for calibrating a trigger unit which is connected via a trigger line to at least two sensors configured to be triggered. Each sensor is connected between two successive line portions of the trigger line. Each sensor has an input and an output, a controllable interrupter between the input and output; and a control circuit, which controls the interrupter. The interrupters of all sensors are initially open. The method comprises the following: transmitting a trigger pulse; in the sensor: receiving the trigger pulse and returning a response; in the trigger unit: receiving the response and calibrating the trigger unit; repeating the aforementioned steps, wherein each sensor reflects the trigger pulse, and the trigger unit measures the propagation times and is calibrated thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Kapsch TrafficCom AG
    Inventor: Oliver Nagy
  • Patent number: 9488724
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for multi-mode obstacle detection using radar, including the steps of: determining whether an object moves by acquiring radar information on the object; discriminating between a stationary object and a moving object according to whether the object moves; executing a first detecting mode for detecting the stationary object or a second detecting mode for detecting the moving object; and transmitting location information on the stationary object obtained through the first detecting mode, or location and speed information on the moving object obtained through the second detecting mode, to an external terminal. According to the method for multi-mode obstacle detection using radar, and to the apparatus for same, multi-detection modes can be provided to separately detect a stationary object and a moving object using the radar information on the object obtained using radar, thereby increasing location tracking efficiency for each object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: METABUILD CO.,LTD.
    Inventor: Poong Youn Cho
  • Patent number: 9482735
    Abstract: The microwave radio direction finding system includes two six-port (SP) circuits and 2×2 printed patch antennas, each of the SP circuits having a pair of the patch antennas connected to their inputs, one pair being separated horizontally in a Cartesian plane, the other pair being separated vertically. The output ports are connected to differential amplifiers that produce in-phase and quadrature signals, which are digitized and input to a digital signal processor, which computes the difference in phase for the signals received at each pair of antennas. The processor uses the differences in phase angles to compute both the azimuth and elevation of the received signals, and may do so simultaneously for signals in multiple bands in the microwave region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: Mohammad S. Sharawi, Rifaqat Hussain
  • Patent number: 9482752
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the pre and post processing of radar signals to allow for improved measuring of circular depolarization ratio data in a weather radar. The system uses a phase shifter, which is periodically calibrated to ensure proper polarity, to alter the transmission phase of one channel of a radar transmission output. Reflectivity signals are then processed in accordance with rules dependent upon the transmission phase shift to reliably extract circular depolarization ratio (“CDR”) data from the reflectivity signals. CDR data is used to enhance hydrometer recognition in a weather radar system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Enterprise Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander V. Ryzhkov, Michael Bruce Knight, Ryan Michael May