Patents Examined by Peter Bythrow
  • Patent number: 9329073
    Abstract: A pulsed radar method of sensing or measuring a product material in a storage tank. A plurality of waveform types are automatically selected based on a power limitation. The pulsed radar signal is transmitted by a programmable transmitter to the product material, wherein the pulsed radar signal is reflected or scattered by the product material to provide a radar signal during an interval of time including a target signal. An initial gain or attenuation is automatically set for a programmable receiver. The programmable receiver receives the radar signal including the target signal during the interval of time, and the target signal is signal processed using a lower attenuation setting as compared to the initial gain or attenuation to determine at least one parameter associated with the product material. The transmitted and received radar signal can also be adjusted according to the measured SNR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Bin Sai
  • Patent number: 9329259
    Abstract: The invention refers to an RF front-end (100) adapted to receive or transmit signals located in at least two separated frequency bands (100) comprising an input and an output and further comprising a first phase shifter (5) coupled to the input of the RF front-end (100); a second phase shifter (6) coupled to the output of the RF front-end (100); the first phase shifter (1) being coupled to the second phase shifter (2) via a first amplifier (3) and second amplifier (4), respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Antonius de Graauw, Markus van Schie
  • Patent number: 9322908
    Abstract: A concealed radar imaging system includes a visible light mirror, a radar device positioned behind the visible light mirror, and a processing circuit coupled to the radar device. The visible light mirror includes a reflective layer configured to reflect visible light, and allow a radar signal to pass therethrough. The radar device is configured to transmit the radar signal, receive a reflection of the radar signal, and generate reflection data based on the reflected radar signal. The processing circuit is configured to control operation of the radar device, receive the reflection data from the radar device, and generate imaging data based on the transmitted radar signal and the reflection data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Tom Driscoll, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9325334
    Abstract: A frequency reference device that includes a frequency reference generation unit to generate a frequency reference signal based on an absorption line of a gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Phillip Michel Nadeau, Django Trombley, Baher S. Haroun, Srinath Mathur Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 9322914
    Abstract: A method for indicating a weather threat to an aircraft is provided. The method includes inferring a weather threat to an aircraft and causing an image to be displayed on an aviation display in response to a determination by aircraft processing electronics that the inferred weather threat to the aircraft is greater than a measured weather threat to the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery A. Finley, Roy E. Robertson, Hubert C. Dyche, Gregory J. Koenigs, Charles J. Dickerson
  • Patent number: 9318809
    Abstract: A radio wave absorber according to an embodiment includes a plurality of metal particles including at least one kind of magnetic metal element selected from a first group of Fe, Co, and Ni. Each of the plurality of metal particles has a linear expansion coefficient of 1×10?6/K or more and 10×10?6/K or less. The radio wave absorber also includes a binding layer binding the metal particles and having higher resistance than the metal particle, wherein a volume filling ratio of the metal particles in the radio wave absorber is 10% or more and 50% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Toshihide Takahashi, Tomohiro Suetsuna, Koichi Harada, Tomoko Eguchi, Seiichi Suenaga
  • Patent number: 9316734
    Abstract: Wideband synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging. A probe transmits a signal through its aperture incident to an object located in a medium of interest remotely from the probe. The probe receives through the aperture a plurality of nonuniformly sampled reflected signals from the object as the probe moves in a measurement plane located a predetermined distance from the object. A processor executes a SAR-based reconstruction algorithm to generate an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: The Curators of the University of Missouri
    Inventors: Joseph T. Case, Mohammad Tayeb Ghasr, Reza Zoughi
  • Patent number: 9316727
    Abstract: A stepped-frequency radar signal is transmitted through a barrier. A transmitter of the stepped-frequency radar is on a first side of the barrier, a first object is on a second side of the barrier, and a second object that is distinct from the first object is on the second side of the barrier. A signal including a reflection of the transmitted signal from the first object and a reflection of the transmitted signal from the second object is sensed. The sensed signal is analyzed to determine that a first detection is associated with the first object and a second detection is associated with a second object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Gary Sentelle, Donald Charles Wright, Felix M. Fontan, Juan Antonio Torres-Rosario
  • Patent number: 9310481
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring wind speed and direction in clear air conditions using a wide band Doppler radar in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a wide band Doppler radar system includes an antenna assembly includes at least one transmit antenna and at least one receive antenna; a transceiver connected to the antenna assembly configured to transmit a radar beam includes a transmit signal on a Ka-band carrier frequency and receive a backscattered radar beam includes a carrier frequency that is frequency shifted relative to the transmitted Ka-band carrier frequency of the backscattered radar beam; a data acquisition system connected to the transceiver configured to estimate a wind velocity vector by calculating a Doppler shift between at least one transmitted radar beam and at least one received backscattered radar beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: LogLinear Group, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Henderson, Marshall Bradley
  • Patent number: 9310479
    Abstract: A transportable weather radar having radar electronics functionally located above the elevational joint and a frame superstructure rotationally connected to the elevational joint onto which is mounted a parabolic radar antenna adapted for Doppler weather radar use. The radar has a rotational drive assembly mounted below and supporting the elevational joint and a harmonic drive unit positioned inside the elevational joint so that the antennae may be rotated without significant backlash during rotational changes. A hollow center in the rotational joint allows for the passing of electronics cable through the middle of the joint and down through rotating assemblies and to electronics in or adjacent to the radar pedestal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Enterprise Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Bruce Knight, John Charles Fanning, James Rogers Helvin, Mark Alan Jones, Norman Edwin Lawrence, III, Damon Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9312605
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a device for signature adaptation, comprising at least one surface element (100; 300; 500) arranged to assume a determined thermal distribution, wherein said surface element comprises at least one temperature generating element (150; 450a, 450b, 450c) arranged to generate at least one predetermined temperature gradient to a portion of said at least one surface element. Said surface element (100; 300; 500) comprising at least one display surface (50), wherein said display surface (50) is arranged to radiate at least one predetermined spectrum. The invention also pertains to a method for signature adaptation and an object such as a craft provided with the device according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS HÄGGLUNDS AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventor: Peder Sjölund
  • Patent number: 9304203
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems that may help improve the dynamic range of a signal receiver. The method includes (i) causing a signal emitter to emit a signal during a first period of time; (ii) receiving, at the signal receiver, a reflected signal during a second period of time, where the received reflected signal corresponds to the emitted signal, and where the second period of time begins after a beginning of the first period of time; and (iii) increasing a signal gain that is applied to the received reflected signal during a third period of time, where the third period of time begins not earlier than a beginning of the second period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Droz, Gaetan Pennecot, Daniel Gruver
  • Patent number: 9297896
    Abstract: An electronically steered weather radar system comprises a plurality of transmit/receive modules, a plurality of antenna modules, and a system signal processor. Each transmit/receive module may be configured to adjust a phase characteristic of a radio frequency (RF) signal to be transmitted and received. Antenna modules may be in communication with transmit/receive modules and may form an antenna array configured to transmit a system beam in a direction determined by the phase of the RF signal from each transmit/receive module and to generate the RF signal from the received system beam. The system signal processor may be configured to perform a first scan to detect meteorological formations wherein the system signal processor communicates with each transmit/receive module to adjust a phase characteristic of the RF signals such that the antenna array transmits and receives the system beam through a plurality of azimuth angles and a plurality of elevation angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Garmin International, Inc.
    Inventor: Joel M. Andrews
  • Patent number: 9291705
    Abstract: A signal processing device is provided. The device includes a signal input unit for receiving reception signals obtained from transmission signals reflecting on one or more objects, a pulse compressor for pulse compressing the reception signals, an interference detector for detecting a reception signal caused by interference, from the pulse-compressed reception signals, a signal level controlling module for controlling a level of the detected reception signal, and an interpolation processing module for interpolating the level-controlled reception signal in an azimuth direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Kazuya Nakagawa, Yasunobu Asada
  • Patent number: 9291710
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detects one or more subsurface targets by receiving a reflectivity data from two or more subsurface reflectors using a ground penetrating radar. The two or more subsurface reflectors may include the one or more subsurface targets and a medium surrounding the one or more subsurface targets. An impedance data for the two or more subsurface reflectors is calculated by inverting the reflectivity data using a temporal transmission line model with a “layer-peeling” method. One or more constitutive parameters of the two or more subsurface reflectors are calculated based on the impedance data. The one or more subsurface targets are detected based on a change in the one or more constitutive parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignees: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Patrick S. Debroux, Benjamin C. Flores
  • Patent number: 9291659
    Abstract: A system includes an antenna having a substrate and a plurality of antenna elements disposed on the substrate. A processing device is configured to measure an aperture function across an aperture of the antenna and determine whether at least one of the antenna elements is blocked based at least in part on the measured aperture function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: James Paul Ebling
  • Patent number: 9279884
    Abstract: A method for determining a DOA (Direction of Arrival) comprises the following steps: (a) providing at least two antennas arranged with a squint angle; (b) producing at least two base beams between two adjacent base beams; (c) every two virtual beams of the multiple virtual beams which cross together at a specific angle are define to a virtual beam set; (d) synthesizing the two virtual beams of each one of the virtual beam sets to be a monopulse; and (e) determining the DOA of the object according to comparison between magnitude of demodulated signals corresponding to the monopulses. A device for estimating a DOA is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHIAO TUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shyh-Jong Chung, Jen-Hao Cheng
  • Patent number: 9274222
    Abstract: A radar apparatus that focuses a subset of transmit beams within a field of view (FOV) is provided. The radar apparatus has a phased array transmitter that is operable to generate a transmit beam within the FOV, and a phased array receiver that is operable to receive a receive beam reflected from within the FOV. The apparatus also has a radar controller with an electronic circuit and electronic memory, the electronic memory having a plurality of pre-calculated beam density curves. The radar controller is operable to execute each of the plurality of pre-calculated beam density curves and steer at least one transmit beam generated from a particular executed beam density curve towards a sub-area of the FOV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Donald Schmalenberg, Tsuyoshi Nomura, Jae Seung Lee
  • Patent number: 9274211
    Abstract: A target object detection device is provided. The device includes a transmitter for transmitting at least one transmission wave in a predetermined azimuth, an echo signal receiver for receiving echo signals of the transmission waves, an echo signal suppressor for suppressing levels of the echo signals corresponding to sampling positions, a target object detector for detecting the target object(s) based on the level-suppressed echo signals, a first updater for comparing amplitude level(s) of echo signals of sampling positions, with the threshold that is set in association with the first distance, and determining to update the values with a new threshold and a new suppression value, and a second updater for comparing amplitude level(s) of echo signals of sampling positions, with the threshold that is set in association with the second distance, and determining to update the values with a new threshold and a new suppression value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Maeno
  • Patent number: 9276326
    Abstract: An electromagnetic wave absorber contains cement and carbon nanotubes and has an absolute value of a complex relative permittivity in a range of from 2.0 to 10.0 in a frequency range of from 1 to 110 GHz and a minimum value of a dissipation factor of 0.35 or greater in the frequency range of from 1 to 110 GHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA RIKEN
    Inventors: Keita Hirose, Takashi Ono