Patents Examined by Whitney Moore
  • Patent number: 10921428
    Abstract: In one aspect, a system for obtaining dielectric properties of an object is disclosed, which comprises a plurality of transceivers for generating radiation in the microwave or millimeter-wave region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The transceivers are positioned in spatially fixed relationships relative to one another. The system further includes a controller for selectively activating the transceivers for irradiating at least a portion of the object and detecting at least a portion of the radiation reflected from said portion of the object in response to the irradiation, where each of the activated transceivers generates a signal in response to detection of the reflected radiation. The reflected signals are analyzed to determine a plurality of reflectivity coefficients corresponding to different discrete locations of the object, and the reflectivity coefficients are used to determine the complex permittivity of the discrete locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Plymouth Rock Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart William Harmer, Dana E. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 10921775
    Abstract: A sensor monitors a treatment status of a predetermined manufacturing device, and an abnormality detection device detects an abnormality of a sensor signal that is a monitoring result of the sensor. The sensor signal is a digital data group obtained by sampling an analog waveform at a predetermined sampling period. A management apparatus learns characteristics of a plurality of digital data groups accumulated in past times through use of artificial intelligence to generate a learned model. An abnormality detection device holds the learned model and determines whether an abnormality is present in the digital data group of a current processing target by using the learned model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Tokorozuki, Toshihiro Nakajima
  • Patent number: 10912493
    Abstract: A sensor includes: a transmitting antenna with N transmitting antenna elements transmitting transmission signals; a receiving antenna with M receiving antenna elements, each receiving N received signals including a reflection signal generated by the living body reflecting part of the N transmission signals; a circuit; and a memory. The circuit extracts a second matrix corresponding to a specified frequency range from an N×M first matrix calculated from each received signal and indicating a propagation property between each transmitting antenna element and each receiving antenna element, estimates the position where the living body is present using the second matrix, calculates a radar cross-section (RCS) value of the living body based on the estimated position and the positions of the transmission and receiving antennas, and estimates the motion of the living body using the calculated RCS value and information indicating correspondence between RCS values and motions of the living body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Nakayama, Shoichi Iizuka, Naoki Honma, Dai Sasakawa
  • Patent number: 10908259
    Abstract: A method for detecting a screening of a sensor device of a motor vehicle by an object. The method includes receiving at least one echo signal, captured by the sensor device, that characterizes a spacing between the sensor device and the object, determining a capture region for the sensor device based on the at least one received echo signal, checking whether the capture region is being screened by the object at least in some regions, assigning the at least one echo signal to a discrete spacing value from multiple discrete spacing values, determining, for each discrete spacing value a power value based on the echo signal, and deciding, by a classifier based on the power values, whether a predetermined proportion of the capture region is being screened by the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Suhre, Youssef-Aziz Ghaly, Urs Luebbert
  • Patent number: 10890664
    Abstract: A vehicle unit adapted to receive a GNSS raw data signal, characterised in that it comprises a secure processor or secure microcontroller unit (MCU) adapted to authenticate the GNSS raw data signal and securely calculate a position of the vehicle unit based on the authenticated or to be authenticated GNSS raw data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: STONERIDGE ELECTRONICS AB
    Inventors: Peter Ekström, Arne Lohage, Mikael Jansson
  • Patent number: 10884103
    Abstract: A calibration system for calibrating a radar sensing system for a vehicle includes at least one calibrating radar transmitter spaced from a location where the vehicle may be positioned. The vehicle includes a radar sensor disposed at the vehicle so as to sense exterior of the vehicle. The radar sensor includes a plurality of transmitters that transmit radio signals and a plurality of receivers that receive radio signals that are transmitted radio signals reflected from an object. A processor is operable to process an output of the receivers. With the vehicle positioned at the location, the at least one calibrating transmitter transmits signals that are received by the receivers of the radar sensor. Responsive to processing by the processor of the output of the receivers when receiving signals transmitted by the at least one calibrating transmitter, the calibration system determines if the radar sensor is misaligned at the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sebastian Pliefke, Jagmal Singh, Sergio D. Biarge
  • Patent number: 10884116
    Abstract: A human-body foreign-matter detection method and system based on millimeter-wave image. The method comprises: obtaining a millimeter-wave grayscale image of a human body; extracting a human-body contour image in the millimeter-wave grayscale image; constructing a vertical space distribution histogram in a vertical direction and a horizontal space distribution histogram in a horizontal direction for the human-body contour image; obtaining positions of limbs of the human body according to the vertical space distribution histogram, the horizontal space distribution histogram and a pre-set human-body proportion model; identifying a foreign matter in the human-body contour image according to pre-set foreign-matter feature identification models; and marking a position of the foreign matter on the human-body contour image according to the positions of the limbs, and generating a foreign-matter detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignees: SHENZHEN CCT THZ TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., CHINA COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chunchao Qi, Hanjiang Chen, Zhiquan Li
  • Patent number: 10877146
    Abstract: A radar sensor for a vehicle includes a control unit and an antenna array. The radar sensor is configured to perform a three-dimensional scan to determine a vertical and a horizontal position of an object in order to assist with distinguishing the geometrical nature of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventors: Richard Koerber, Markus Hommen, Benedikt Schulte, Frank Bauer
  • Patent number: 10872806
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a first dielectric layer is formed over a substrate. A first set of recesses is formed in the first dielectric layer. A metal layer is formed in the first set of recesses. A set of metal wirings is formed from the metal layer in the first set of recesses. A second set of recesses is formed in the first dielectric layer. A second dielectric layer is formed over the set of metal wirings and in the second set of recesses. A third set of recesses is formed in the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. A third dielectric layer is formed over the metal wirings and in the third set of recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Chun Huang, Chih-Hsiang Yao, Jye-Yen Cheng
  • Patent number: 10859665
    Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating the sorting of assets to sort locations. In various embodiments, a sort employee scans an asset indicia using a user device, which stores asset data corresponding to the stored asset. As the sort employee nears a sort location (e.g., a delivery vehicle) with the asset and the user device, the user device automatically communicates wirelessly with a sort location receiver to associate the asset data with data indicative of the sort location where the user deposits the asset. In various embodiments, a device may determine whether the user device is proximate the appropriate sort location for the item, and may generate an alert upon a determination that the user device is proximate an incorrect sort location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Alan Loverich, Ted Abebe, Lawrence A. Lagrosa, Richard Allen Kerslake, Jonathan C. Gray, Carl M. Skonberg
  • Patent number: 10859427
    Abstract: A method and system for seal failure annunciation comprises a process connector connected to a probe used to measure a product level in a tank. A pulse generation module generates a pulse that is propagated through a voided space in the process connector and a detector module configured to receive the echo curve from the interrogation pulse. A logic module is used to evaluate the received echo curve to determine if a seal in the process connector has failed. When the logic module indicates seal failure, an alarm module initiates an alarm indicating said seal in said process connector has failed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart James Heath, Michael Kon Yew Hughes, Ion Georgescu, Cornel Cobianu
  • Patent number: 10845474
    Abstract: A platform operates in an environment with other platforms using active sensing. The platform includes an active sensing system configured to provide a point cloud associated with the environment. The point cloud is used to navigate the platform. The active sensing system includes a transmitter configured to provide pulses of electromagnetic energy in a light band or a radar band or sonic energy and a receiver configured to receive returns associated with the pulses striking one or more targets in the environment. The transmitter is configured to impose a code onto the pulses, and the receiver is configured to detect the code to determine when the pulses of light where transmitted or to determine a source of the pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell A. Riley, John G. Bendickson
  • Patent number: 10840218
    Abstract: An integrated fan out package on package architecture is utilized along with a reference via in order to provide a reference voltage that extends through the InFO-POP architecture. If desired, the reference via may be exposed and then connected to a shield coating that can be used to shield the InFO-POP architecture. The reference via may be exposed by exposing either a top surface or a sidewall of the reference via using one or more singulation processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jing-Cheng Lin, Chen-Hua Yu, Po-Hao Tsai
  • Patent number: 10832359
    Abstract: Methods and systems for crop management are disclosed. An example method can comprise receiving first information associated with an environmental management zone. The first information can relate to one or more of a land characteristic and a management practice. The first information can comprise a soil type of the environmental management zone. An example method can comprise, receiving historical weather data relating to the environmental management zone. An example method can comprise receiving real-time weather data relating to the environmental management zone. An example method can comprise executing a growth model to predict a nitrogen range for the environmental management zone based on one or more of the first information, the historical weather data, and the real-time weather data. The nitrogen range can comprise probabilities for one or more of a current time period and a future time period in the growing season.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Donald P. Avey, Robert Alan Gunzenhauser, Joe Hanson, Bruce J. Walker, Sean Warnick, Jun Wei, Chris Winkler
  • Patent number: 10830895
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of securing Global Navigation Satellite Systems are disclosure. In one exemplary embodiment, a mobile device may comprise: a communication interface configured to monitor signals from a plurality of satellites, a processor configured to determine impairment of one or more satellites in the plurality of satellites using the signals form the plurality of satellites, a memory configured to store a status of the determined impairment of one or more satellites in the plurality of satellites, and the communication interface that transmits the status of the determined impairment of the one or more satellites in the plurality of satellites to a server. The processor further determines a position of the mobile device using the status of the determined impairment of one or more satellites in the plurality of satellites, and stores the determined position and a corresponding digital certificate indicative of authenticity of the determined position in a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Dominic Gerard Farmer, Mangesh Chansarkar
  • Patent number: 10823836
    Abstract: An environmental detection method for a vehicle uses transmitting antennas to emit transmission signals that each consist of a sequence of identical or similar single signals, uses receiving antennas to receive the transmission signals reflected from objects, and processes the received signals. The transmission signals are emitted from only one transmitting antenna at a time, and the active transmitting antenna alternates cyclically from single signal to signal. All receiving antennas are always used in parallel. The received single signals are accumulated in proper phase for the different combinations of transmitting and receiving antennas to at least one relative speed hypothesis of objects. Digital beam formation is performed based on the accumulated signal values, each belonging to the same relative speed hypothesis, from different antenna combinations. Phase differences between received signals from different transmitting antennas are thereby taken into consideration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Wintermantel
  • Patent number: 10809368
    Abstract: The target information detection system according to the present invention includes a measurement-side speed detection device for detecting the speed of a measurement-side moving body as a moving body speed, and a target-side speed detection device for detecting the speed of a target as a target speed, and when it is determined from a Doppler frequency that the relative speed of the measurement-side moving body and the target is equal to or less than a mode switching speed set in advance, a target information detection device switches a target information detection mode from a Doppler mode to a communication mode, acquires a moving-body speed via the measurement-side speed detection device and acquires a target speed via the target-side speed detection device, and calculates target information using the moving-body speed and the target speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shingo Yamanouchi
  • Patent number: 10809349
    Abstract: An apparatus obtains fingerprints that have been collected by at least one mobile device for supporting a positioning of other mobile devices. Each fingerprint comprises results of measurements on radio signals of at least one communication node at a particular location and an indication of the particular location. The apparatus determines a positioning quality that can be achieved in a positioning which is based on obtained fingerprints collected by the at least one mobile device. The apparatus generates, based on the determined positioning quality, a feedback to a user of the at least one mobile device, the feedback indicating whether further fingerprints should be collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: HERE GLOBAL B.V.
    Inventors: Jari Syrjärinne, Pavel Ivanov, Lauri Wirola, Irshan Muhammad Khan
  • Patent number: 10802136
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a water network monitoring system for determining leakage from a network. The water network may comprise any of pipelines, aqueducts, reservoir dams, reservoir embankments and sewers. The present water network monitoring system employs Earth observation data, such as synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data and optical data, collected from a geographical region that includes the water network system of interest. This data is collected over successive time periods and analysed to detect any abnormal changes in the indicators within the area in the vicinity of the water network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Rezatec Limited
    Inventors: Todd Sajwaj, Louise Bermingham, Andrew Carrel
  • Patent number: 10805035
    Abstract: A secure wireless transceiver, such as a link 16 transceiver, receives signals using an antenna array having an SOC associated with each antenna element in the array. The SOC's digitize and channelize received data for transmission to a message nulling system that mitigates jamming. The antenna array can be conformal, and can replace an existing Link 16 blade. The disclosed transceiver can be a modified CMN-4 transceiver with digitizing and channelizing moved to the SoC's, and replaced by the nulling system. The transceiver uses applicable TRANSEC information to assign received data to the logical Link 16 channels before nulling, and embodiments apply nulling only to channels of interest, thereby improving the nulling and reducing side lobes. Embodiments distinguish between desired and unwanted signals based on known Link 16 signal features and/or situational awareness, rather than signal amplitudes, thereby enabling nulling of even weak jamming signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: David M Cooper, John H Chongoushian