Patents Examined by Thomas H. Tarcza
  • Patent number: 8013783
    Abstract: A phased antenna arrangement and a method for estimating the calibration ratio of an active phased antenna having a plurality of phased array antenna elements are described. The phased antenna arrangement includes a plurality of antenna elements, a plurality of receiving channels, an injection unit for injection of calibrating signals into the receiving channels, a point RF-source, located in a far field zone, a distance measurement unit, an amplitude and phase measurement unit and a data processing unit. The method comprises injecting an internal calibrating signal having a known amplitude and phase to each antenna element. An external calibration signal from a stationary RF-source is sequentially injected to all of the phased array antenna elements so that different phases of the external calibration signal arrive at each of the antenna elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Elta Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexander Lomes, Yacov Vagman, Haim Reichman
  • Patent number: 8009080
    Abstract: A weather radar includes an antenna unit of an active phased array system in which a plurality of antenna elements configured to transmit a radar pulse and receive a reflected pulse are arranged in a vertical direction, a transmission beam formation unit configured to divide an observation range in the elevation angle direction into a plurality of observation elevation angles, subdivide each observation elevation angle into a plurality of regions, assign a set of a plurality of regions not adjacent to each other to a pulse repetition interval (PRI), and form a fan-shaped transmission beam in the elevation angle direction for each of the regions in the set, and a reception beam formation unit configured to form a plurality pencil-shaped reception beams for each of the plurality of regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Fumihiko Mizutani, Masakazu Wada
  • Patent number: 8009092
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing satellite signals in an SPS receiver is described. In one example, the satellite signals are correlated against pseudorandom reference codes to produce correlation results. A determination is made whether the SPS receiver is in a motion condition or a stationary condition. The correlation results are coherently integrated in accordance with a coherent integration period. The coherent integration period is a value that depends upon the motion condition of the SPS receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Abraham, Frank van Diggelen
  • Patent number: 8009079
    Abstract: Provided are two-dimensional autofocus methods in a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system which include: (1) two-dimensional pulse pair product algorithm including shear PGA, eigenvector phase history (“EPH”), shear PGA/EPH); (2) two-dimensional optimization algorithms including parametric one-dimensional estimate/two-dimensional correction, parametric two dimensional estimate/two-dimensional correction, unconstrained two-dimensional nonparametric and constrained two-dimensional nonparametric methods; (3) a two-dimensional geometry filter algorithm; (4) a two-dimensional prominent point processing algorithm; (5) a one-dimensional phase estimate of higher order two dimensional phase errors; and, (6) a fast SHARP parametric autofocus algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott D. Connell, Edward F. Gabl, Mark A. Ricoy, Elizabeth T. Batteh, Ron S. Goodman
  • Patent number: 8009098
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method for mitigating multipath in DSSS CDMA radio navigation signals by a) transmitting a rapid pulsing pattern from a transmitting device to a position receiver that samples the transmitted signal, b) separating the received samples and storing sample-based correlation accumulation values into independent bins that are synchronous with the received pulsing pattern, c) applying a logical decision process to determine the accumulation bin associated with the leading edges of the received pulses, and d) generating a range estimate from the correlation accumulation bin associated with the leading edges of the received pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Inventor: James Lamance
  • Patent number: 8009083
    Abstract: A method of designing a detection and ranging apparatus having an M number of transmitting elements and an N number of receiving elements, includes decomposing a desired polynomial equation representing an array factor of a K element sensor array into a first polynomial equation representing an array factor of an M element sensor array and a second polynomial equation representing an array factor of an N element sensor array, determining arrangement of the M number of transmitting elements based on the first polynomial equation, and determining arrangement the N number of receiving elements based on the second polynomial equation, wherein K=M×N, or K?max(M, N).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Kazuo Shirakawa
  • Patent number: 8009082
    Abstract: In a conventional automotive radar, a return occurs in a phase difference characteristic necessary for a super-resolution method, resulting in an increase of a detection error, or an extremely narrowed azimuth detection range. A transmitting array antenna, and receiving array antennas are composed of antenna elements respectively, and aligned in a horizontal direction. The weighting of receiving sensitivities of the antenna elements of the receiving array antenna 1 is A1, A2, A3, and A4, which are monotonically decreased from an inner side toward an outer side as represented by A1?A2?A3?A4. On the other hand, the receiving array antenna 3 is symmetrical with the receiving array antenna with respect to the receiving array antenna 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shinoda, Mitsutoshi Morinaga
  • Patent number: 8009099
    Abstract: A system for indicating the relative direction of a target object or location as determined from the current position of a wireless communication device. The system employs Direction of Arrival determination using an antenna array for indicating the direction of a target device and includes facilities to activate a location-indicating transmission in a target device, the ability to request that a location-indicating transmission be activated in a remote target device, relevant information reception from a target device and the display of all potential target devices within effective transmission range of the wireless communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Kimmo Kalliola, Klaus Doppler, Hannu Kauppinen, Joni Jantunen, Jani Ollikainen, Tuukka Lehtiniemi, Antti Kainulainen, Juha O. Juntunen
  • Patent number: 8007832
    Abstract: A composition and method for treating mammals suffering from malignant tumors which involves administering a composition including ammoniated mercury, zinc oxide and citric acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Inventors: Yousef Haik Babikian, Walid Adib Taybeh
  • Patent number: 8009097
    Abstract: A method in a transmitter for selecting steering vectors for simultaneously transmitting a plurality of streams (NS) between the transmitter and a receiver, where the receiver has NR receive antennas, where the transmitter knows respective channels associated with M receive antennas of the receiver, and where M is less than NR, includes constructing a partial channel matrix that describes a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) channel between the transmitter and the M receive antennas, generating L independent vectors using the partial channel matrix, wherein L is a rank of the partial channel matrix, selecting a respective steering vector for each of the plurality of streams to be transmitted to the receiver, including, if NS is less than or equal to L, selecting NS of the L independent vectors as the steering vectors, and, if NS is greater than L, (i) selecting the L independent vectors as steering vectors to steer L of the plurality of streams; and (ii) selecting NS?L orthogonal vectors in a null space o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Jungwon Lee, Rohit U. Nabar
  • Patent number: 8004456
    Abstract: The present invention relates to antenna calibration for active phased array antennas. Specifically, the present invention relates to a built in apparatus for autonomous antenna calibration Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of calibrating an antenna array comprising the steps of: (i) loading a set of correction coefficients for all or a portion of the antenna array; (ii) outputting a known test signal from all or a portion of the antenna array using said correction coefficients; (iii) measuring the performance of all or a portion of the antenna array using a plurality of calibration antennas; and (iv) generating a new set of correction coefficients to correct the performance of all or a portion of the antenna array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventor: Michael Andrew Scott
  • Patent number: 8004463
    Abstract: The disclosed system and method for determining direction-of-arrival generally includes an antenna element and a processor. The antenna element may configured to generate a signal in response to an electromagnetic wave. The processor may be process the signal to determine the direction-of-arrival of the electromagnetic wave. Further, the direction-of-arrival may be determined based on an estimate of the direction-of-arrival of at least one of the electric field and the magnetic field of the electromagnetic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Mark A. Owens
  • Patent number: 8004460
    Abstract: A positioning method using global positioning system (GPS) signal and digital broadcasting system (DBS) signal. The method includes detecting a presence status of the GPS signal through a signal detector in a receiver, detecting a presence status of the DBS signal through the signal detector, determining the signal strength of the GPS signal if the GPS signal is detected, determining the signal strength of the DBS signal if the DBS signal is detected, choosing one positioning mode among a plurality of positioning modes in a signal processing unit in the receiver based on signal presence status and the signal strength of a detected signal, and determining a location of the receiver based on the chosen positioning mode. The plurality of positioning modes includes standalone GPS mode, assisted GPS (AGPS) mode, assisted GPS positioning with DBS assist mode, DBS positioning with GPS assist mode, standalone DBS mode, and assist DBS mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: O2Micro International, Ltd.
    Inventors: You-Yuh Jack Shyr, Mingqiang Cheng, Cuichai Ji
  • Patent number: 8004451
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for operating a microwave detector for detecting intruders within a secured area. The method includes the steps of selecting a noise floor based upon a setting of a range setting potentiometer, detecting a magnitude of a signal reflected from a test subject within the secured area that exceeds the selected noise floor and establishing a threshold value for detecting an intruder based upon the magnitude of the detected signal and sensor mounting height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: XiaoDong Wu, Roy Phi, Dave Eugene Merritt
  • Patent number: 8004459
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for determining the geolocation of an emitter on earth. A solution is obtained from two TDOA measurements that need not be acquired at the same time. A solution is obtained from a TDOA measurement and an FDOA measurement that need not be acquired at the same time and need not be coming from the same satellite pair. A location of an emitter can be determined from minimizing a cost function of the weighted combination of the six solutions derived from the two TDOA measurements and the two FDOA measurements, where the weight of each solution in the combination is determined based on the intersection angle of the two curves that define the possible locations of the emitter based on the TDOA and/or FDOA measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Glowlink Communications Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dominic K. C. Ho, Jeffrey C. Chu, Michael L. Downey
  • Patent number: 8004462
    Abstract: A distributed orbit and propagation method for use in a predicted GPS or GNSS system, which includes a predicted GPS server (PGPS Server), a source of high accuracy orbit predictions (Orbit Server), a global reference network (GRN Server) providing real-time GPS or GNSS assistance data to the PGPS Server, a predicted GPS client (PGPS Client) running on a device equipped with a GPS or AGPS chipset. In response to requests from the PGPS Client, the PGPS Server produces and disseminates an initial seed dataset consisting of current satellite orbit state vectors and orbit propagation model coefficients. This seed dataset enables the PGPS Client to locally predict and propagate satellite orbits to a desired future time. This predictive assistance in turn helps accelerate Time To First Fix (TTFF), optimize position solution calculations and improve the sensitivity of the GPS chip present on, or coupled with, the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Rx Networks Inc.
    Inventors: James W. LaMance, Maria Eagen, Guylian Roy-MacHabee
  • Patent number: 8004464
    Abstract: A technique is described for determining the correct locations of a plurality of objects by processing signals emitted by a transmitter and reflected by the objects to a plurality of receivers, No angle or elevation information is used. Object-receiver pair time difference of arrival measurements are made to calculate the time difference of arrival between the signals received at each pair of receivers from each object. Hyperbolic localisation is then performed to identify possible locations for each object. Direct-reflected signal time reception measurements are made for each receiver-object pair to calculate the time difference between the reception by the receiver of the direct signal from the transmitter and the signal reflected by the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Grigorios Koutsogiannis, Wojciech Machowski
  • Patent number: 8004457
    Abstract: The present invention relates to antenna calibration for active phased array antennas. Specifically, the present invention relates to a built in apparatus for autonomous antenna calibration Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of continuous on-line monitoring of each element in an array antenna comprising the steps of: (i) transmitting known test signals to one or more elements of the array antenna; (ii) monitoring responses of the elements to the test signals; and (iii)comparing the response with expected responses for the elements to determine an operation condition of the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventor: Michael Andrew Scott
  • Patent number: 8004664
    Abstract: A power tool control system includes a non-contact measurement and alignment device operative with the power tool and enabled to establish various readings, such as power tool settings. A graphical user interface communicatively coupled with the non-contact measurement and alignment device enables user control over and display of the readings from the non-contact measurement and alignment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Chang Type Industrial Company
    Inventors: Mark A. Etter, Jaime E. Garcia, Kathy DeKeyser, Alan Phillips, Robert F. Burkholder, Jeffrey D. Weston, Melinda J. Hearn
  • Patent number: 8004452
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an ADS-B system having a single link for communication and/or ADS-B/Mode-S coordination. With this arrangement, the system communication is efficiently used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Eric G. Rolfe, Peter R. Drake, Peter L. Hoover