Patents Examined by Peter Bythrow
  • Patent number: 9401541
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present technology, information about multipath in an area is gained by occasionally switching the directivity of one or more of the involved antennas (transmitting or receiving). Based on resulting changes in signal strength, information about the multipath effects can be discerned, and corresponding action may thereafter be taken. Another aspect of the technology involves localizing sources of multipath by reference to multiple receiving stations, such as cellular receivers at cell towers in adjoining cells of a wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventor: William Y. Conwell
  • Patent number: 9400324
    Abstract: A radar device including an up-chirp tracking filter that performs a tracking process using a beat frequency at the time of an up-chirp to acquire a beat frequency, a down-chirp tracking filter that performs a tracking process using a beat frequency at the time of a down-chirp to acquire a beat frequency, target detectors that calculate distance and speed estimated values of the target for the chirps from beat frequency time series data about the chirps; an identical target determinator that determines whether or not the target detected for each of the chirps is an identical target using the distance and speed estimated values, and a distance and speed calculator that calculates a distance and a speed of the target using the beat frequency of the target which is determined to be an identical target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuki Takabayashi, Yasushi Obata, Hiroshi Kameda
  • Patent number: 9395436
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for cooperative intrusion detection are described herein. For example, one or more embodiments include completing a radar scan with a network of outer perimeter radar nodes, detecting an intrusion event with the network of outer perimeter radar nodes, notifying at least one inner perimeter radar node in a network of inner perimeter radar nodes of the intrusion event, activating the at least one inner perimeter radar node from an idle mode in response to the notification of the intrusion event, and completing a radar scan with the at least one inner perimeter radar node upon activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: SrinivasaRao Katuri, Steve Huseth, Amit Kulkarni
  • Patent number: 9395437
    Abstract: A moving ground penetrating radar is comprised of multiple transmitters and receivers with multiple, e.g., Horizontal and Vertical, polarizations to detect buried targets with standoff capability. Novel signal and imaging techniques are used to form high quality radar imagery with low artifacts that are due to various sources of self-induced resonances, e.g., transmitter-receiver coupling, calibration errors, and motion errors in the multi transmitter/receiver channels of the radar system. The irradiated target area image is formed via exploiting both the spatial diversity of the physical multi-transmitter and multi-receiver array and synthetic aperture/array that is generated by the motion of the platform that carries the radar system. The images that are formed from the multiple polarizations are combined to remove surface targets/clutter and, thus, enhance signatures of buried targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
    Inventors: Tuan T. Ton, David C. Wong, Mehrdad Soumekh
  • Patent number: 9389113
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a radar level gauge system comprising a signal propagation device; a microwave signal source; a microwave signal source controller; a mixer configured to combine a transmit signal from the microwave signal source and a reflection signal from the surface to form an intermediate frequency signal; and processing circuitry coupled to the mixer and configured to determine the filling level based on the intermediate frequency signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: ROSEMOUNT TANK RADAR AB
    Inventors: Anders Jirskog, Mikael Kleman, Lars Ove Larsson
  • Patent number: 9383438
    Abstract: A presence detection system is equipped with a transmitter that transmits a multipath wireless signal and a receiver that detects the presence of a person by receiving the transmitted wireless signal, within a prescribed space. On the basis of the reception level for a wireless signal received intermittently at the beginning of a first interval, the receiver determines whether there has been a change in the present/absent state of a person. When it is determined that there has been a change in the present/absent state of a person, the receiver determines whether a person is present/absent on the basis of variation in the reception level for a wireless signal received at the beginning of a second interval, which is shorter than the first interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Ishihara, Yoshiaki Koizumi
  • Patent number: 9383426
    Abstract: A combination of active reader tags and ultra wideband (UWB) radar systems provide real-time monitoring of first responders, with identification of each team member using active tags, and detection of victims or other subjects using motion or breathing detection, in a field of operations such as a building affected by fire or hazardous material or search and rescue mission area. Initially, a cluster of miniaturized radars (sensors) act in a static mode of operation, gathering static radar information used to depict a constructed layout of the premises. The cluster of radars then operate in a dynamic mode that detects motion or breathing of multiple subjects inside the field of operations. With dual mode operation the system can read the active tags identification, and by triangulation, display the position of each first responder with its identification and positions of subjects on a composite image of the constructed layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Inventor: Farrokh Mohamadi
  • Patent number: 9372260
    Abstract: An object detecting device includes a signal transmitting and receiving unit configured to generate an intermediate frequency signal based on a transmission signal and a reception signal which is a reflected wave thereof, a processing unit configured to determine that an image of a target peak frequency is a virtual image based on noise when it is determined that a peak frequency of predetermined n times the target peak frequency is not present in information based on the intermediate frequency signal generated by the signal transmitting and receiving unit and to detect an object based on the determination result, where n is an integer of 2 or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA ELESYS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Kambe
  • Patent number: 9372259
    Abstract: A pulse transmission controller generates transmission timing signals for a high-frequency radar transmission signal in every transmission cycle. A transmission phase shifter gives a transmission signal generated by a modulator phase shifts each corresponding to a transmission cycle on the basis of the transmission timing signals generated at intervals that are equal to the transmission cycle. A reception phase shifter gives a reception signal that is output from an A/D converter reception phase shifts that are opposite in direction to the respective transmission phase shifts given by the transmission phase shifter on the basis of the transmission timing signals generated at intervals that are equal to the transmission cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Kishigami, Hirohito Mukai, Tadashi Morita
  • Patent number: 9372256
    Abstract: Radar imaging for medical diagnosis addresses the need for non-ionizing and low-cost alternatives to conventional medical diagnosis methods, such as mammography x-ray techniques, which expose patients to ionizing radiation for cancer detection. An ultra wide band (UWB) sensor can produce very fine beams at the V- or W-bands using beam forming techniques developed specifically for wafer scale antenna arrays. The high bandwidth radio waves can penetrate tissue and resolve tissue anomalies with high-resolution. Pseudo-random coding creates a signal that allows the correlating receiver to extract very low energy reflected signals from background noise providing coding gain. An integrated panel of sensor antenna arrays enables rapid scanning of the subject area, such as breast tissue, to detect anomalies by eliminating the need for mechanical scanning (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Farrokh Mohamadi
    Inventor: Farrokh Mohamadi
  • Patent number: 9372257
    Abstract: A radar or sonar system amplifies the signal received by an antenna of the radar system or a transducer of the sonar system is amplified and then subject to linear demodulation by a linear receiver. There may be an anti-aliasing filter and an analog-to-digital converter between the amplifier and the linear receiver. The system may also have a digital signal processor with a network stack running in the processor. That processor may also have a network interface media access controller, where the system operates at different ranges, the modulator may produce pulses of two pulse patterns differing in pulse duration and inter-pulse spacing, those pulse patterns are introduced and used to form two radar images with the two images being derived from data acquired in a duration not more than twenty times larger than the larger inter-pulse spacing, or for a radar system, larger than one half of the antenna resolution time. One or more look-up tables may be used to control the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Raymarine UK Limited
    Inventors: Richard Jales, Andrew Lawrence, Matthieu Maindrou
  • Patent number: 9362626
    Abstract: Equipment for the reduction of the radar marking of an aircraft V, can be applied to at least one hot portion H of the aircraft, chosen from the following: a piloting cabin or cockpit, including at least one transparent portion; a first frame of the fuselage; a plurality of junction edges of components, including wings, tail veilings and engine air intakes; at least one motor face. Said equipment comprises at least one device for dissipating incident radar waves, which can be removably applied to at least one hot portion H of the aircraft without affecting the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: ALENIA AERMACCHI SPA
    Inventors: Emanuele Merlo, Fabio Brenna
  • Patent number: 9343815
    Abstract: A metal plate of small, reflective cells of varying, random (within a limited rage) heights that reflect radio frequency energy such that individual reflective paths are of random length, adding neither constructively nor destructively, and thus not creating a standing wave condition between the reflective plate and the emitter or receiver is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Associated Universities, Inc.
    Inventor: Galen Kent Watts
  • Patent number: 9341711
    Abstract: A method for detecting a traffic violation in a traffic light zone through rear end measurement by a FMCW radar device (1). A specific position (sP1) assigned to the front of a vehicle (3) and the radial velocity are derived from the measurement signal obtained at a first measurement time (t1), and a first anticipated position (eP1) for the front of the vehicle is calculated by the distance-time rule at the second measurement time (t2) by means of the time period between the first measurement time (t1) and the second measurement time (t2). Through repeated calculation of an anticipated position for the front of the vehicle at further measurement times, an anticipated time when the front of the vehicle crosses a stop line (5) defining the traffic light zone is predicted iteratively with the determined vehicle velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: JENOPTIK Robot GmbH
    Inventor: Oliver Blanke
  • Patent number: 9341706
    Abstract: A component is disclosed for a radar system that comprises a main antenna operable to move azimuthally to sweep an area, a transmitter for transmitting pulses from the antenna and a receiver for receiving return signals. The component is operable to enable the radar system to detect a target in the presence of a wind turbine located in the area. The component comprises a plurality of auxiliary antennas and a processor for processing the return signals, the processor being operable to generate a signature of the wind turbine from return signals received by the main and auxiliary antennas in a training process, to generate model data of a target or to receive model data of the target from memory, and to test returned data for the presence of a target, and, if a target is detected, to generate data representing a detected target. A method of detecting the position of a target in the presence of a wind turbine using the radar system is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: TMD Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Keith Douglas Ward
  • Patent number: 9335411
    Abstract: A forward facing sensing system for a vehicle includes a radar sensor device disposed at the vehicle and having a sensing direction forward of the vehicle and an image sensor disposed behind the vehicle windshield so as to view forward of the vehicle through the windshield. A control includes an image processor operable to analyze image data captured by the image sensor in order to, at least in part, detect an object present forward of the vehicle. The control, responsive at least in part to processing of captured image data by the image processor and to sensing by the radar sensor, determines that a potentially hazardous condition may exist in the path of forward travel of the vehicle. The radar sensor device and the image sensor collaborate in a way that enhances determination of existence of the potentially hazardous condition in the path of forward travel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 9335402
    Abstract: A target object detection apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a transmitter, a receiver, a threshold determiner, a parameter setter, a parameter selector, and a timing controller. The transmitter repeatedly transmits a transmission pulse at a transmission timing. The receiver receives a reception signal at a reception timing set based on the transmission timing. The threshold determiner determines whether an amplitude value of the reception signal exceeds a predetermined threshold at every sampling point and counts the number of sampling points at which the amplitude value of the reception signal exceeds the threshold. The parameter setter sets a plurality of different parameters for controlling the transmission timing. The parameter selector selects the parameter from the parameter settings, to minimize the number of sampling points counted by the threshold determiner. The timing controller controls the transmission timing, based on the parameter selected by the parameter selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Maeno, Yasunobu Asada
  • Patent number: 9329072
    Abstract: A receiver for an ultra wideband (UWB) pulse radar system includes a programmable gain network (PGN) block coupled to process a received UWB radar signal. The programmable PGN block includes programmable attenuator having an output coupled to an input node of a UWB low noise amplifier (LNA), and a fast acting power limiter is between the input node and a system ground and/or a power supply node for the radar system. A sampling unit is coupled between an output of the LNA and a processor. The processor implements an attenuation algorithm, wherein the processor is coupled to the programmable attenuator, and provides attenuation control signals to dynamically control a gain or attenuation of the programmable attenuator, such as based on a distance from a transmitting antenna to the product material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Bin Sai
  • Patent number: 9329074
    Abstract: A multi-mode pulsed radar method for sensing or measuring a product material in a storage tank includes providing a measure of radar signal attenuation for pulsed radar signals transmitted to the product material. Automatic adjustment of one or more transmitted radar pulse parameters is implemented by selecting a pulse width and a pulse amplitude based on the measure of radar signal attenuation. In signal mode 2 higher amplitude and/or wider pulses are selected when the measure of radar signal attenuation is relatively high and in signal mode 1 lower amplitude and/or narrower pulses are selected when the measure of radar signal attenuation is relatively low. The radar pulse is transmitted to the product material using the selected pulse width and the pulse amplitude. The target signal reflected or scattered from the product material is processed to determine at least one parameter, such as product level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Bin Sai
  • Patent number: 9329265
    Abstract: Methods for disambiguating the location of a radar contact using an N×M dimensioned radar array are provided. In the horizontal plane, the method comprises transmitting a first radar energy pattern in a direction, collecting reflected energy of the first radar energy pattern from the contact, transmitting a second radar energy pattern in the direction and collecting reflected energy of the second radar energy pattern from the contact. The method further comprises comparing the collected energy of the first radar energy pattern and the collected energy of the second radar energy pattern and determining if the contact is located in a side lobe or a main lobe of the first and second radar energy pattern based on the comparison. In the vertical plane, other similar embodiments may be used to determine if the radar antenna(s) are blocked by an obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mohannad Murad, Joseph S. Colburn