Patents Examined by Timothy A. Brainard
  • Patent number: 11255957
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to collect at least one set of data with a first Doppler sensor, each set of data including a radial distance, an azimuth angle and a range rate between the first Doppler sensor and a target, collect at least one set of data with a second Doppler sensor, determine that the collected sets of data include a first, second, and third set, determine respective radial components of a ground velocity of the target based on the first, second and third sets of data a position on a host vehicle of the respective Doppler sensor that collected the sets of data, and determine a linear velocity of the target and a yaw rate of the target based on the radial components of the ground velocity of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jinhyoung Oh
  • Patent number: 11255949
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) is provided with a plurality of diode based mm-wave peak voltage detectors (PVD)s. During a testing phase, a multi-point low frequency calibration test is performed on one or more of the PVDs to determine and store a set of alternating current (AC) coefficients. During operation of the IC, a current-voltage sweep is performed on a selected one of the PVDs to determine a process and temperature direct current (DC) coefficient. A peak voltage produced by the PVD in response to a high frequency radio frequency (RF) signal is measured to produce a first measured voltage. An approximate power of the RF signal is calculated by adjusting the first measured voltage using the DC coefficient and the AC coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Vito Giannini, Brian Paul Ginsburg
  • Patent number: 11249182
    Abstract: A method is provided that involves identifying a target region of an environment of an autonomous vehicle to be monitored for presence of moving objects. The method also involves operating a first sensor to obtain a scan of a portion of the environment that includes at least a portion of the target region and an intermediate region between the autonomous vehicle and the target region. The method also involves determining whether a second sensor has a sufficiently clear view of the target region based on at least the scan obtained by the first sensor. The method also involves operating the second sensor to monitor the target region for presence of moving objects based on at least a determination that the second sensor has a sufficiently clear view of the target region. Also provided is an autonomous vehicle configured to perform the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Brandon Douglas Luders, Tim Campbell, Nathaniel Fairfield
  • Patent number: 11237262
    Abstract: Systems and methods to use radar systems for radio frequency identification (RFID) applications. The radar systems can be adapted to use RFID communications protocols and methods to enhance the usefulness of radar systems beyond the determination of the presence, distance, direction and/or speed of a vehicle or object, to additionally include the transmission of data such as object identification and additional messages or data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 11231481
    Abstract: Techniques are described for determining a likelihood that a radar device failed to detect an object (i.e., a false negative). Determining the likelihood may be based at least in part on determining an estimated noise floor based at least in part on at least a portion of radar data, which may comprise one or more detections, and determining a likelihood that the portion of radar data includes a false positive, based at least in part on the estimated noise floor and a response profile associated with an object. A response profile may identify a received signal power and/or radar cross section associated with an object type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Kriser Cohen, Anton Mario Bongio Karrman, Dilip Bethanabhotla, Subasingha Shaminda Subasingha, Chuang Wang
  • Patent number: 11231482
    Abstract: A radar system includes a signal generator to generate a linear frequency modulated continuous wave signal as a base chirp, and one or more frequency shifters to generate respective one or more additional chirps from the base chirp. The radar system also includes two or more switches. One of the two or more switches obtains a portion of the base chirp as a base transmit signal, and remaining ones of the two or more switches respectively obtain a portion of each of the one or more additional chirps as one or more additional transmit signals for transmission by the radar system. At least a portion of the base transmit signal and the one or more additional transmit signals overlaps in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Oded Bialer, David Shapiro
  • Patent number: 11211716
    Abstract: An embodiment of an antenna includes first and second transmission lines, first antenna elements, and second antenna elements. The first transmission line is configured to guide a first signal such that the first signal has a characteristic of a first value, and the second transmission line is configured to guide a second signal such that the second signal has the same characteristic but of a second value that is different than the first value. The first antenna elements are each disposed adjacent to the first transmission line and are each configured to radiate the first signal in response to a respective first control signal, and the second antenna elements are each disposed adjacent to the second transmission line and are each configured to radiate the second signal in response to a respective second control signal. Such an antenna can have better main-beam and side-lobe characteristics, and a better SIR, than prior antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Echodyne Corp.
    Inventors: Tom Driscoll, John Desmond Hunt, Nathan Ingle Landy, Milton Perque, Charles A. Renneberg, Ioannis Tzanidis, Robert Tilman Worl, Felix D. Yuen
  • Patent number: 11209540
    Abstract: A SAR imaging method for interferometric analyses is provided, including: receiving raw SAR data related to two or more SAR acquisitions of one and the same area of the earth's surface carried out by one or more synthetic aperture radars; and processing the raw SAR data to generate SAR images. For each SAR acquisition, the respective raw SAR data is processed based on two different sets of processing parameters: a first set that is the same for all the SAR acquisitions and which comprises focusing Doppler parameters computed based on physical Doppler parameters related to all the SAR acquisitions; and a second set which comprises respective radiometric equalization Doppler parameters related to the SAR acquisition and computed based on respective physical Doppler parameters related to the SAR acquisition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Thales Alenia Space Italia S.p.A. Con Unico Socio
    Inventors: Diego Calabrese, Fabrizio Impagnatiello
  • Patent number: 11200809
    Abstract: A traffic control system is described that comprises a transceiver configured to receive a first signal comprising location data indicating a location of an unmanned vehicle (UV). The traffic control system further comprises a processor configured to determine a location of a second vehicle and determine a course of the second vehicle. The processor is further configured to cause, based on determining the location of the second vehicle and the course of the second vehicle, the transceiver to transmit a second signal to the UV directing the UV to avoid the course of the second vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ajay Batra, Laveen Vikram Sundararaj, Charan Ebsv
  • Patent number: 11194030
    Abstract: System and methods for implementing a vector sensor array surface wave radar is provided. In one or more examples, the system can include a vector sensor array antenna that includes electromagnetic elements collectively configured to receive surface wave reflections generated by radar transmit antenna waves reflecting back from targets of interest. Once received by the vector sensor array, in one or more examples, the system can further include components that can process the incoming signal and use the incoming single to determine the location of one or more targets. In one or more examples, the vector surface array antenna can include three separate loop antennas that are arranged orthogonally to one another, and three dipole antennas that are arranged orthogonally to one another. In one or more examples, the vector surface array antenna can be configured to receive signals in the high frequency (HF) band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Inventors: Nicholas E. Destefano, Janet L. Werth, Cecelia R. Franzini, Kevin M. Cuomo
  • Patent number: 11194031
    Abstract: Certain embodiments are directed to techniques (e.g., a device, a method, a memory or non-transitory computer readable medium storing code or instructions executable by one or more processors) for object detection and three-dimensional reconstruction of objects using coordinated beam scanning. The disclosed techniques teach coordinated beam scanning that can be used for both detecting proximity to personnel in addition to detecting objects for three-dimensional object reconstructions. The techniques form one or more millimeter wave beam that can be electronically steered by adjusting the phase of the various antenna elements. The techniques can include saving the plurality of grid points for which the object is detected to a memory for detecting a range to the object for Maximum Permitted Exposure (MPE) limit monitoring and three-dimensional object reconstruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Mustafa Emin Sahin, Roberto Rimini
  • Patent number: 11175396
    Abstract: A method and a system for high-resolution measurement of distance between two objects by means of electromagnetic waves is such that measurements are performed in a reliable, simple, and quick manner with low bandwidth and high accuracy even in complicated multipath environments and/or with moving objects. The method includes determination of a supposed distance and/or supposed relative speed between first and second objects from an object of measurement by comparing the object of measurement with a set of stored and/or calculated reference objects of measurement. The reference objects of measurement relate to different distances and different relative speeds, each reference object being associated with a distance and a speed. The supposed distance and/or speed is assumed to be the distance and/or speed that is associated with the stored and/or calculated reference object of measurement that best fits, is closest to, and/or is most similar to the object of measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Inventor: Rönne Reimann
  • Patent number: 11169251
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for proximity detection using multiple power levels. In an example aspect, the apparatus includes a first antenna, a second antenna, and a wireless transceiver coupled to the first antenna and the second antenna. The wireless transceiver is configured to transmit multiple transmit signals at multiple power levels via the first antenna. The wireless transceiver is also configured to receive multiple receive signals via the second antenna. At least one receive signal of the multiple receive signals includes a portion of at least one transmit signal of the multiple transmit signals that is reflected by an object. The wireless transceiver is additionally configured to adjust a transmission parameter based on the at least one receive signal. The transmission parameter varies according to a range to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Mustafa Emin Sahin, Udara Fernando, Roberto Rimini, Raghu Challa, Seunghwan Kim
  • Patent number: 11169254
    Abstract: An operation mode control method implemented by a radar system, the operation mode control method includes steps of: (S1) receiving a single target tracking (STT) triggering data comprising a representation of triggering of a STT tracking mode and a selected tracking target to be tracked by the radar system; (S2) controlling a radar sensor to emit detection wave beam; (S3) controlling, the radar sensor to receive echo waves; (S4) analyzing, echo signal to generate STT target data; (S5) executing a STT program to obtain a tracking data of a selected tracking target; (S6) outputting the tracking data to a memory device for storage or to a human-machine interface (HMI) device for presenting to the user of the radar system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHUNG-SHAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Shih-Che Tsai, Min-Ching Lin, Kuang-Fu Chung, Chun-Cheng Chen, Ruei-Shen Wang, Po-Ju Chiang, Ming-Jhe Wu, Hung-Fu Chang, Wen-Chin Liao
  • Patent number: 11169256
    Abstract: A new system and method for FWI of common-offset GPR data, particularly targeting the dimensions and infilling material of buried objects. The method is useful in situations where clear isolated diffraction hyperbolas indicate the presence of an underground object, but the object's dimensions and filling may be unknown. The present invention acquires GPR data and applies advanced numerical methods to get the depth and size of the underground object in a very accurate manner. An embodiment of the invention includes five main steps: GPR data processing, ray-based analysis to set a good initial model, 3D to 2D transformation of data, effective SW estimation, and FWI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Sajad Jazayeri, Sarah Kruse
  • Patent number: 11163058
    Abstract: This invention provides a security check apparatus for multiple human bodies based on linear frequency modulation, which comprises a scanning device, a millimeter wave signal transceiver module, and an image processing unit. The scanning device comprises several detection seats and several guideways and motors arranged on the detection seats; the detection seats are configured to accommodate persons to be security checked; a set of the millimeter wave signal transceiver modules are arranged on each guideway, and each millimeter wave signal transceiver module is driven by the motor to move along the guideway; the several detection seats are arranged in longitudinal direction. The millimeter wave signal transceiver modules are configured to transmit millimeter wave signals to the persons to be security checked and receive millimeter wave signals reflected from the persons to be security checked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignees: SHENZHEN CCT THZ TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., CHINA COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chunchao Qi, Shukai Zhao, Beibei Liu, Guangsheng Wu, Qing Ding, Xiongwei Huang, Juncheng Liu, Chengyan Jia, Yandong Zhang, Yanli Liu
  • Patent number: 11163051
    Abstract: Transmission radars (1-nTX) (nTX=1, 2, . . . , NTX) generate mutually different modulation codes Code(nTX, h) by cyclically shifting the same code sequence by mutually different cyclic shift amounts ??(nTX), and generate mutually different transmission RF signals (4-nTX) using the mutually different modulation codes Code(nTX, h). As a result, the number of transmission radars 1-nTX can be made larger, and target detection accuracy can be made higher than in a case where orthogonal codes are used as mutually different modulation codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Kageme, Teruyuki Hara, Masanori Ito
  • Patent number: 11156711
    Abstract: A vehicular sensing system includes a plurality of radio frequency (RF) sensor units disposed at a vehicle so as to have respective fields of sensing exterior of the vehicle. Each RF sensor unit includes a plurality of transmitting antennae and a plurality of receiving antennae, with each transmitting antenna transmitting RF signals and each receiving antenna receiving RF signals transmitted by each transmitting antenna to provide a respective field of sensing of each of the RF sensor units. A data processor of each RF sensor unit processes data provided from the respective receiving antennae and generates an output of the respective RF sensor unit. The outputs of the RF sensor units are communicated to an ECU and, responsive to the outputs of the RF sensor units, the ECU detects objects present exterior the vehicle and within the field of sensing of at least one of the RF sensor units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Helmut A. Wodrich
  • Patent number: 11150337
    Abstract: A search area width setting unit for setting a search area width having a frequency corresponding to a signal component of an object by using detection information of the object is included, and a signal component selecting unit determines a search area having the search area width set by the search area width setting unit and selects a signal component a frequency of which is included in the search area from each of a signal received by a signal receiving unit and signals received by object detection devices. As a result, an increase in the false detection probability of the object can be suppressed even in a case where the reception signals have low signal power-to-noise power ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideyuki Awazu, Yasunori Kato, Ryuhei Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11137475
    Abstract: A pseudo low intermediate frequency (IF) configuration is provided for a receiver having a zero IF radio architecture dedicated for radar detection, in order to reduce false radar detection. Energy from local oscillator leakage is shifted away from DC. After filtering out of the desired sub-channel, the local oscillator leakage energy is suppressed, reducing false radar detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Evgeny Yankevich, Matthew Aaron Silverman