Patents by Inventor Edzko Smid

Edzko Smid has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8214147
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a navigation unit and base station used for determining location. A plurality of base stations are initialized to determine their location relative to each other. At the navigation unit, the time of arrival of at least one signal from each of the plurality of base stations is measured. From this, the location of the navigation unit relative to the plurality of base stations may be directly calculated using a closed solution. In one embodiment, a time of arrival technique is used and in another embodiment a time difference of arrival technique is used. Preferably an ultra-wide band frequency is utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Nav-Track, Inc.
    Inventors: Ka C. Cheok, Gert Edzko Smid, Paul W. Fleck, Thomas P. Stiglich
  • Publication number: 20120089323
    Abstract: A secondary optical system for object navigation in an array of beacons is provided that includes an optical source having at least one optical emitter emitting an optical signal and that is mounted to either the moving object or a beacon of the array of beacons. The moving object in simultaneous radio frequency communication the array of beacons to determine dynamic position of the object. An optical detector is mounted to the other of a moving object or the beacon of the array of beacons and the optical detector receives the optical signal when line of sight exists between the moving object and a beacon of the array of beacons. Electronics are provided for determining the dynamic position of the moving object uses weighting factor that favors the communication and at least two beacons of the array of beacons for which a moving object-beacon optical line of sight exists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventor: G. Edzko Smid
  • Publication number: 20110313716
    Abstract: A subject location tracking process is provided that includes the attachment of a system to a subject where the system includes a radiofrequency sensor integration module, an inertial tracking module, and a microprocessor. Radiofrequency signals are communicated from the radiofrequency sensor integration module to a remote radiofrequency transceiver beacon. A measured range is determined between the radiofrequency sensory integration module and the beacon. An error value E is then computed between the measured range and a predicted range. The predicted range is computed from the inertial tracking module alone based on positional data as to location and orientation of the system. The location data of the subject is determined with a microprocessor and displayed at the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: iTrack, LLC
    Inventors: G. Edzko Smid, Thomas P. Stiglich
  • Patent number: 8010133
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of determining the location of a target. The method includes initializing a set of base stations to determine their location relative to each other. At the target, the time of arrival of at least one signal from each of the plurality of base stations Is measured. From this, the location of the target relative to the plurality of base stations may be directly calculated using a closed solution. In one embodiment, a time of arrival technique is used and in another embodiment a time difference of arrival technique is used. Preferably an ultra-wide band frequency is utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Nav-Track, Inc.
    Inventors: Ka C. Cheok, G. Edzko Smid
  • Patent number: 7983694
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of determining the location of a target. The method includes initializing a set of base stations to determine their location relative to each other. At the target, the time of arrival of at least one signal from each of the plurality of base stations is measured. From this, the location of the target relative to the plurality of base stations may be directly calculated using a closed solution. In one embodiment, a time of arrival technique is used and in another embodiment a time difference of arrival technique is used. Preferably an ultra-wide band frequency is utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Nav-Track, Inc.
    Inventors: Ka C. Cheok, G. Edzko Smid
  • Publication number: 20110148710
    Abstract: A distance separation tracking process is provided that includes the transmission of a periodic radio frequency original signal from a beacon transceiver. The original periodic signal from the beacon transceiver is received at a remote target transceiver as a target received periodic signal. The target retransmits the received periodic signal to the beacon transceiver as a return periodic signal. Data points of the return periodic signal are sampled and used to calculate a phase differential between the original periodic signal and the return periodic signal that correlates to the distance separation range between the beacon transceiver and the target transceiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: iTrack, LLC
    Inventors: G. Edzko Smid, Thomas P. Stiglich
  • Patent number: 7908041
    Abstract: The present invention includes an artificial horizon device including a sensor unit with a movable platform, at least one actuator linked to the platform, and one or more sensors located on the platform for sensing the position orientation of the platform relative to an external mass or the motion of the platform. The horizon device also includes a processing unit signally connected to the sensors and the at least one actuator. The processing unit is adapted to receive signals from the sensors and send signals to the actuators to move the platform to a horizontal orientation. The horizon device also includes either a display unit comprising an indicator of a horizon line which substantially corresponds to the horizontal orientation of the platform or a secondary device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Munro & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Ka C. Cheok, G. Edzko Smid
  • Publication number: 20090138151
    Abstract: Techniques and methodologies are disclosed for minimizing inaccuracies in distance measurements and location determinations for autonomous vehicles or targets ranging to subsets of beacons. Such techniques and methodologies can be used to better control (e.g., navigate) an autonomous vehicle in an area and/or along a pathway, or trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Edzko Smid, Tom Stiglich
  • Publication number: 20080262669
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a controller for providing a vehicle with autonomous control. The controller preferably provides path planning to an autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Edzko Smid, Paul Fleck, Ka C. Cheok, Tom Stiglich
  • Publication number: 20080234930
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a navigation unit and base station used for determining location. A plurality of base stations are initialized to determine their location relative to each other. At the navigation unit, the time of arrival of at least one signal from each of the plurality of base stations is measured. From this, the location of the navigation unit relative to the plurality of base stations may be directly calculated using a closed solution. In one embodiment, a time of arrival technique is used and in another embodiment a time difference of arrival technique is used. Preferably an ultra-wide band frequency is utilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Ka C. Cheok, Gert Edzko Smid, Paul W. Fleck, Thomas P. Stiglich
  • Patent number: 7403783
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of determining the location of a target. The method includes initializing a set of base stations to determine their location relative to each other. At the target, the time of arrival of at least one signal from each of the plurality of base stations Is measured. From this, the location of the target relative to the plurality of base stations may be directly calculated using a closed solution. In one embodiment, a time of arrival technique is used and in another embodiment a time difference of arrival technique is used. Preferably an ultra-wide band frequency is utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Jadi, Inc.
    Inventors: Ka C. Cheok, G. Edzko Smid
  • Publication number: 20080167051
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of determining the location of a target. The method includes initializing a set of base stations to determine their location relative to each other. At the target, the time of arrival of at least one signal from each of the plurality of base stations Is measured. From this, the location of the target relative to the plurality of base stations may be directly calculated using a closed solution. In one embodiment, a time of arrival technique is used and in another embodiment a time difference of arrival technique is used. Preferably an ultra-wide band frequency is utilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: Jadi Inc.
    Inventors: Ka C. Cheok, G. Edzko Smid
  • Patent number: 6898528
    Abstract: A collision and injury mitigation system (10) for an automotive vehicle (12) is provided. The system (10) includes two or more object detection sensors (15) that detect an object and generate one or more object detection signals. A controller (16) is electrically coupled to the two or more object detection sensors and performs a fuzzy logic technique to classify the object as a real object or a false object in response to the one or more object detection signals. A method for performing the same is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Zorka, Ka C. Cheok, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Edzko Smid
  • Publication number: 20040019425
    Abstract: A collision and injury mitigation system (10) for an automotive vehicle (12) is provided. The system (10) includes two or more object detection sensors (15) that detect an object and generate one or more object detection signals. A controller (16) is electrically coupled to the two or more object detection sensors and performs a fuzzy logic technique to classify the object as a real object or a false object in response to the one or more object detection signals. A method for performing the same is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventors: Nicholas Zorka, Ka C. Cheok, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Edzko Smid