Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Millar
Jeffrey Millar 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).
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Patent number: 10948583Abstract: A method and apparatus for initializing a radar track are presented. The method includes: detecting a target within a field of view where the target having a detected range, radial velocity and azimuth; initializing values of a Kalman filter upon initial detection of the target based upon the detected range, radial velocity and azimuth; generating a azimuth value and estimated azimuth rate value of the target; determining a first estimated error value associated with the azimuth value and a second estimated error value associated with the estimated azimuth rate value based upon the detected azimuth; estimating a cross track error based upon the first and second estimated errors; in response to the estimated cross track error value being lower than a predetermined threshold value, reinitializing the values of the Kalman filter; and establishing a radar track based upon the reinitialzied values of the Kalman filter.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2018Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: Valeo Radar Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Millar, Akram Ahmadi Kalate, Jan Kubak
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Patent number: 10656245Abstract: A blockage detection system and methods for use in a radar sensor such as a side object detection (SOD) sensor in an automotive radar system are described. The blockage detection system and method operate in systems including two or more radar sensors having overlapping field-of-views (FOVs). The blockage detection system includes a storage in a first radar sensor having stored therein a tracked object list including detections/tracks for one or more targets made by a second radar sensor and a processor for adjusting an overlap zone associated with the first radar sensor based upon an estimated mounting angle of the first radar sensor.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2017Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: VALEO RADAR SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Jan Zelený, Dan Busuioc, Jeffrey Millar, Tomas Vajdiak
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Publication number: 20200124716Abstract: A method and apparatus for initializing a radar track are presented. The method includes: detecting a target within a field of view where the target having a detected range, radial velocity and azimuth; initializing values of a Kalman filter upon initial detection of the target based upon the detected range, radial velocity and azimuth; generating a azimuth value and estimated azimuth rate value of the target; determining a first estimated error value associated with the azimuth value and a second estimated error value associated with the estimated azimuth rate value based upon the detected azimuth; estimating a cross track error based upon the first and second estimated errors; in response to the estimated cross track error value being lower than a predetermined threshold value, reinitializing the values of the Kalman filter; and establishing a radar track based upon the reinitialzied values of the Kalman filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2018Publication date: April 23, 2020Applicant: Valeo Radar Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Millar, Akram Ahmadi Kalate, Jan Kubak
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Patent number: 10585188Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting static objects and broadside objects in a vehicular radar system is presented. Detection data within a field of view for a host vehicle is acquired. A histogram process is used to determine a presence of at least one of a static object and a broadside vehicle. The histogram process includes generating ratios of a relative velocity of an object (Vr) to host velocity (Vh) from acquired detection data and determining a number of detections which occur at an angle ? corresponding to an intersection of two lines with a first line represented by Vr/Vh=0 and a region of a second line within the FOV along which Vr/Vh?0. The detections are filtered to identify only those detection points at a first and second predetermined values of ?, wherein the identified detections indicate a presence of a static object and/or a broadside vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2017Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: Valeo Radar Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Millar, Wilson J. Wimmer, Akram Ahmadi, David Insana
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Publication number: 20190072646Abstract: A blockage detection system and methods for use in a radar sensor such as a side object detection (SOD) sensor in an automotive radar system are described. The blockage detection system and method operate in systems including two or more radar sensors having overlapping field-of-views (FOVs). The blockage detection system includes a storage in a first radar sensor having stored therein a tracked object list including detections/tracks for one or more targets made by a second radar sensor and a processor for adjusting an overlap zone associated with the first radar sensor based upon an estimated mounting angle of the first radar sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2017Publication date: March 7, 2019Inventors: Jan ZELENÝ, Dan BUSUIOC, Jeffrey MILLAR, Tomas VAJDIAK
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Publication number: 20190056478Abstract: Systems, methods, and techniques for implementing multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) within the context of a linear frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar system are provided. The radar system includes a MIMO transmitter and MIMO receiver. The MIMO transmitter including a first plurality of transmit antennas, a like plurality of transmit signal paths, and a plurality of local oscillators. Each of the local oscillators can generate and provide a ramp signal to each of the plurality of transmit antennas such that each of a plurality of signals transmitted by the plurality of transmit antennas have a frequency which linearly changes from a first frequency to a second frequency and having different first frequencies. The MIMO receiver includes a second plurality of receive antennas and a like plurality of receive signal paths.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2017Publication date: February 21, 2019Inventor: Jeffrey Millar
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Publication number: 20190033442Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting static objects and broadside objects in a vehicular radar system is presented. Detection data within a field of view for a host vehicle is acquired. A histogram process is used to determine a presence of at least one of a static object and a broadside vehicle. The histogram process includes generating ratios of a relative velocity of an object (Vr) to host velocity (Vh) from acquired detection data and determining a number of detections which occur at an angle ? corresponding to an intersection of two lines with a first line represented by Vr/Vh=0 and a region of a second line within the FOV along which Vr/Vh?0. The detections are filtered to identify only those detection points at a first and second predetermined values of ?, wherein the identified detections indicate a presence of a static object and/or a broadside vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2017Publication date: January 31, 2019Applicant: VALEO RADAR SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Jeffrey Millar, Wilson J. Wimmer, Akram Ahmadi, David Insana
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Patent number: 10162046Abstract: A radar sensor for use within a vehicle includes blockage detection functionality. In at least one embodiment, the radar sensor collects information on stationary infrastructure around the vehicle. The infrastructure information may be used to generate a Doppler Monopulse Image (DMI) or other graph for the sensor. A clutter ridge within the DMI or other graph may be analyzed determine a blockage condition of the sensor (i.e., unblocked, partially blocked, or fully blocked).Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2016Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: VALEO RADAR SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Jeffrey Millar, David Insana
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Publication number: 20170269196Abstract: A radar sensor for use within a vehicle includes blockage detection functionality. In at least one embodiment, the radar sensor collects information on stationary infrastructure around the vehicle. The infrastructure information may be used to generate a Doppler Monopulse Image (DMI) or other graph for the sensor. A clutter ridge within the DMI or other graph may be analyzed determine a blockage condition of the sensor (i.e., unblocked, partially blocked, or fully blocked).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2016Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: Jeffrey Millar, David Insana
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Patent number: 9746554Abstract: A radar imaging system and technique is described in which the imaging system generates an image and transforms the image into world coordinates taking into account host position and heading. Once in world coordinates, successive radar images can be summed (integrated, averaged) to produce an integrated image having a resolution which is improved compared with an originally generated image.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2014Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: Valeo Radar Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Millar, David Insana
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Patent number: 9685960Abstract: An automotive radar apparatus includes a bit stream modulation circuit configured to generate a bit stream signal at an output thereof and a driver circuit having an input coupled to the output of said bit stream modulation circuit and configured to generate a corresponding driver bit stream signal having a reduced output swing at the driver circuit output. Also included is a filter circuit having an input coupled to the output of said driver circuit and configured to generate a filtered bit stream signal at the filter circuit output. Additionally included is a VCO having an input coupled to the output of said filter circuit and configured to generate an RF output signal at the VCO output. A corresponding method is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2014Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Valeo Radar Systems, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey Millar
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Publication number: 20160349363Abstract: A radar imaging system and technique is described in which the imaging system generates an image and transforms the image into world coordinates taking into account host position and heading. Once in world coordinates, successive radar images can be summed (integrated, averaged) to produce an integrated image having a resolution which is improved compared with an originally generated image.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2014Publication date: December 1, 2016Applicant: Valeo Radar Systems, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Millar, David Insana
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Patent number: 9470782Abstract: Described herein is an automotive radar system which utilizes a three channel switched antenna to improve the angular resolution of an azimuth tracking two-channel, radar.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2014Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: VALEO RADAR SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Jeffrey Millar, Joseph S. Pleva
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Patent number: 9400325Abstract: Described herein is an automotive radar system and related processing techniques utilizing a three channel switched antenna to improve the angular resolution of an azimuth tracking radar.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2015Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: Valeo Radar Systems, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey Millar
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Publication number: 20160146925Abstract: Described herein is an automotive radar system and related processing techniques utilizing a three channel switched antenna to improve the angular resolution of an azimuth tracking radar.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2015Publication date: May 26, 2016Inventor: Jeffrey Millar
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Publication number: 20160146932Abstract: Described herein is an automotive radar system which utilizes a three channel switched antenna to improve the angular resolution of an azimuth tracking two-channel, radar.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2014Publication date: May 26, 2016Inventors: Jeffrey Millar, Joseph S. Pleva
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Publication number: 20160033620Abstract: An automotive radar apparatus includes a bit stream modulation circuit configured to generate a bit stream signal at an output thereof and a driver circuit having an input coupled to the output of said bit stream modulation circuit and configured to generate a corresponding driver bit stream signal having a reduced output swing at the driver circuit output. Also included is a filter circuit having an input coupled to the output of said driver circuit and configured to generate a filtered bit stream signal at the filter circuit output. Additionally included is a VCO having an input coupled to the output of said filter circuit and configured to generate an RF output signal at the VCO output. A corresponding method is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2014Publication date: February 4, 2016Inventor: Jeffrey Millar
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Publication number: 20150070207Abstract: A radar sensor for use within a vehicle includes self calibration functionality for performing angle calibrations for the sensor when the sensor is mounted within the vehicle. In at least one embodiment, the radar sensor collects information on stationary infrastructure around the vehicle for use in calibration operations. The infrastructure information may be used to generate a Doppler Monopulse Image (DMI) or other graph for the sensor. A clutter ridge within the DMI or other graph may then be analyzed to determine calibration data for the sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2013Publication date: March 12, 2015Inventors: Jeffrey Millar, David Insana, Christian Sturm, Kevin Krupinski
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Patent number: 8116254Abstract: An over the air repeater for enhancing wireless communication is provided. The repeater employs a system and method by which strong signals can be prevented from exceeding the repeater's uplink output limits while still providing full operational gain to any concurrently amplified weak signals, while adapting to time slot variations and optionally to frequency hopping variations. Power measurements are performed on each channel with resultant gain changes being performed on delayed versions of those same signals. Digital delay buffers are used to provide adequate processing time to make an accurate determination of the uplink signal levels of each RF carrier. The repeater alternatively monitors the downlink path from the donor base station to determine the frequencies to be processed on the uplink communication.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2009Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Powerwave Technologies, Inc.Inventors: John Sabat, Jeffrey Millar
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Publication number: 20090196215Abstract: An over the air repeater for enhancing wireless communication is provided. The repeater employs a system and method by which strong signals can be prevented from exceeding the repeater's uplink output limits while still providing full operational gain to any concurrently amplified weak signals, while adapting to time slot variations and optionally to frequency hopping variations. Power measurements are performed on each channel with resultant gain changes being performed on delayed versions of those same signals. Digital delay buffers are used to provide adequate processing time to make an accurate determination of the uplink signal levels of each RF carrier. The repeater alternatively monitors the downlink path from the donor base station to determine the frequencies to be processed on the uplink communication.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2009Publication date: August 6, 2009Inventors: John Sabat, Jeffrey Millar