Patents by Inventor Martin S. Wilcox

Martin S. Wilcox 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: 8195422
    Abstract: First and second devices having clocks which may have different clock rates. Obtaining a measure of the distance of propagation of a signal passing between the devices involves transmitting a first signal 12 from the first device to the second device. After a turnaround time TAT, a second signal 14 is transmitted from the second device to the first device. Any error in the clocks may lead to an error in the measurement of the turnaround time TAT. One device contains circuitry to calculate the ratio of the clock rates of the first and second devices, either by adjusting frequency divider ratios until there is LO frequency match, or by determining the offset frequency of an envelope of a mixed signal. The ratio of the clock rates is used to compensate the turnaround time TAT, to mitigate error. The accurate distance measurement can be used to determine if a relay attack has taken place in a vehicle security system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Martin S. Wilcox, Adam S. Leitch
  • Patent number: 7808424
    Abstract: A device measures distance using a wireless signal that has two simultaneously transmitted components. Each of the two components includes a respective repeated code, the two codes having different durations. On receipt of the signal, the propagation distance is calculated separately for each code and compared. The calculated distance is considered to be valid only if the two calculations yield the same result. The durations of the two codes may be proportional to numbers having a relative prime relationship. The signal is generated and transmitted by the same device that performs the distance calculation, with the signal being retransmitted back to the device by a remote device, or may be generated and transmitted by the remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Martin S. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 7783451
    Abstract: First and second devices (7, 8) are configured to transmit and receive signals wirelessly and have first and second clocks respectively for determining signal transmission and arrival times. The first device transmits first and second signals (9, 10) and the second device transmits a third signal (11). By introducing a delay into the first signal, a thief may be able to fool the devices into thinking that they are closer than they really are. To help identify if a delay has been introduced into the first signal, the first device calculates a ratio of clock rates for the first and second clocks and determines whether the calculated ratio falls within a predefined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Martin S. Wilcox, Frank Boeh
  • Publication number: 20100026557
    Abstract: A device (200) measures distance using a wireless signal that comprises two simultaneously transmitted components. Each of the two components comprises a respective repeated code, the two codes having different durations. On receipt of the signal, the propagation distance is calculated separately for each code and compared (280). The calculated distance is considered to be valid only if the two calculations yield the same result. Preferably the durations of the two codes are proportional to numbers having a relative prime relationship. The signal may be generated and transmitted by the same device (200) that performs the distance calculation, with the signal being retransmitted back to the device by a remote device (100), or may be generated and transmitted by the remote device (100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Martin S. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 7646283
    Abstract: A wireless activation system, such as a keyless car entry system, uses repeated code sequences for communication between a transmitter device and a receiver device. By varying the sequence duration in a synchronism at the transmitter device and receiver device, either by varying the number of symbols or chips in the sequence, or by varying the symbol or chip rate, it is made more difficult for an unauthorised party to detect the code sequences and relay the code sequences to achieve unauthorised activation at the receive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Martin S. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 7629919
    Abstract: A device measures distance using a wireless signal that has two simultaneously transmitted components. Each of the two components includes a respective repeated code, the two codes having different durations. On receipt of the signal, the propagation distance is calculated separately for each code and compared. The calculated distance is considered to be valid only if the two calculations yield the same result. Preferably, the durations of the two codes are proportional to numbers having a relative prime relationship. The signal is generated and transmitted by the same device that performs the distance calculation, with the signal being retransmitted back to the device by a remote device, or may be generated and transmitted by the remote device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Martin S. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 7574216
    Abstract: Method for obtaining range and/or positional information of electronic devices typically rely on a device (A) re-questing that another device (B) supplies a reply message (22), which contains some timing information (T2, T3) on the signals received and sent. Problems that arise in such networks comprise: firstly, some devices (C) may be out of range of the device (A) that initiates the ranging measurements, and secondly, some devices (B, C) may not be allowed to communicate with each other and thus, the distance between these devices cannot be found. This invention discloses that in these cases, eavesdropping on messages (21, 22, 24) passing between other devices (A, B, C) in the system can result in that distances between additional devices are found. Furthermore, by using eavesdropping the number of transmissions, and therefore the potential for collisions, is reduced. Thus, the power consumption of the nodes in the network can be lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Adam S. Leitch, Martin S. Wilcox, Paul M. Fulton
  • Patent number: 7565147
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for installing a positioning system, the positioning system comprising two or more base stations (BS1 to BS4), and comprises the steps of; collocating the base stations (BS1 to BS4); quantifying any lack of synchronization between the clocks of the base stations; relocating one or more of the base stations (BS2? to BS4?) to their fixed, operational positions and measuring the time of flight of a signal from each of the relocated base stations; determining from the time of flight and quantified lack of synchronization data the relative separation of the base stations (BS1, BS2? to BS4?) and hence the configuration of the installed positioning system, and recording the configuration of the installed positioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Paul R. Simons, Martin S. Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20090171621
    Abstract: This invention provides compositions and methods for producing low cholesterol poultry eggs using hypocholesterolemic compounds, cholesterol lowering supplements, and feeds therefrom. Preferably, this invention provides microbial statins without methyl group in C6, as shown in formula V, in order to produce low cholesterol poultry eggs. The invention allows producing low cholesterol poultry eggs without concomitant reduction of egg production by providing microbial statins, compactin and pravastatin as well as their derivatives, as cholesterol lowering components. This invention also provides methods for producing low cholesterol poultry eggs without huge increase of production cost since the effective amount of cholesterol lowering composition containing microbial statin costs 1/120-ΒΌ of that of synthetic statin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Martin S. Wilcox, Adam S. Leitch
  • Publication number: 20090006032
    Abstract: First and second devices (7, 8) are configured to transmit and receive signals wirelessly and have first and second clocks respectively for determining signal transmission and arrival times. The first device transmits first and second signals (9, 10) and the second device transmits a third signal (11). By introducing a delay into the first signal, a thief may be able to fool the devices into thinking that they are closer than they really are. To help identify if a delay has been introduced into the first signal, the first device calculates a ratio of clock rates for the first and second clocks and determines whether the calculated ratio falls within a predefined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Martin S. Wilcox, Frank Boeh
  • Patent number: 7042395
    Abstract: A method of providing an estimate of the location of first and second devices MS1, MS2 comprising the steps of obtaining at least one range measurement from the first device MS1 to a known reference point BS1, GPS SVs; obtaining at least one range measurement from the second device MS2 to a known reference point BS1, GPS SVs, the second device MS2 being located near to the first device MS1; and calculating an estimate of the location of the devices MS1, MS2 using range measurements obtained with respect to both the first and second devices MS1, MS2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Koninkiljke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Saul R. Dooley, Martin S. Wilcox, Andrew T. Yule
  • Patent number: 7027488
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving a spread spectrum signal at a mobile communications terminal, including the step of processing the signal for the purposes of signal acquisition and signal tracking, monitoring movement of the mobile terminal and deriving a signal indicative of a characteristic of movement of the mobile terminal, and further including changing the mode of the processing of the incoming spectrum signal in response to the signal indicating the said characteristic of movement of the mobile terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Saul R. Dooley, Andrew T. Yule, Martin S Wilcox
  • Patent number: 7010021
    Abstract: A time shifted replica signal (SLS) is generated from a reference signal (SPS) including a series of samples (A to K) describing bits of a data message, the sampling rate being at least twice the data message bit rate. The phases of the reference signal samples are determined with respect to virtual epochs (41) of the data message bits of the reference signal (SPS). The time shifted replica signal (SLS) is composed from the reference signal samples as a function of the phases of the reference signal samples. In another embodiment, the time shifted replica signal (SLS) is composed from the reference signal samples (A to K), the sampling rate of the replica signal (SLS) being the same as that of the reference signal (SPS), at least one reference signal sample (A to K) not being present in the time shifted replica signal (SLS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Andrew T. Yule, Amites Sarkar, Bryan D Young, Martin S. Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20040027283
    Abstract: A method of providing an estimate of the location of first and second devices MS1, MS2 comprising the steps of obtaining at least one range measurement from the first device MS1 to a known reference point BS1, GPS SVs; obtaining at least one range measurement from the second device MS2 to a known reference point BS1, GPS SVs, the second device MS2 being located near to the first device MS1; and calculating an estimate of the location of the devices MS1, MS2 using range measurements obtained with respect to both the first and second devices MS1, MS2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Saul R. Dooley, Martin S. Wilcox, Andrew T. Yule
  • Patent number: 6646603
    Abstract: A method of providing an estimate of the location of first and second devices (MS1, MS2) comprising the steps of obtaining at least one range measurement from the first device (MS1) to a known reference point (BS1, GPS SVs); obtaining at least one range measurement from the second device (MS2) to a known reference point (BS1, GPS SVs), the second device (MS2) being located near to the first device (MS1); and calculating an estimate of the location of the devices (MS1, MS2) using range measurements obtained in respect of both the first and second devices (MS1, MS2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventors: Saul R. Dooley, Martin S. Wilcox, Andrew T. Yule
  • Patent number: 6643320
    Abstract: A receiver for direct sequence spread spectrum code division multiple access signals (DS-CDMA) particularly for GPS signals includes a plurality of correlators. Each correlator includes variable level threshold circuits (29, 30) which follow integrate and dump registers (27, 28). The threshold level is set using the correlation noise level and predicted signal strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Martin S. Wilcox, Andrew T. Yule
  • Publication number: 20020061055
    Abstract: A method of generating a time shifted replica signal (SLS) from a reference signal (SPS) comprising a series of samples (A to K) describing bits of a data message in which the sampling rate is at least twice the data message bit rate is disclosed. The method comprising the steps of determining the phases of the reference signal samples with respect to virtual epochs (41) of the data message bits of the reference signal (SPS); and composing the time shifted replica signal (SLS) from the reference signal samples as a function of the phases of the reference signal samples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Andrew T. Yule, Amites Sarkar, Bryan D. Young, Martin S. Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20020039381
    Abstract: A method and apparatus (1A) for receiving a spread spectrum signal at a mobile communications terminal, including the step of processing the signal for the purposes of signal acquisition and signal tracking, monitoring movement of the mobile terminal and deriving a signal indicative of a characteristic of movement of the mobile terminal, and further including changing the mode of the processing of the incoming spectrum signal in response to the signal indicating the said characteristic of movement of the mobile terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Saul R. Dooley, Andrew T. Yule, Martin S. Wilcox
  • Publication number: 20020008662
    Abstract: A method of providing an estimate of the location of first and second devices MS1, MS2 comprising the steps of obtaining at least one range measurement from the first device MS1 to a known reference point BS1, GPS SVs; obtaining at least one range measurement from the second device MS2 to a known reference point BS1, GPS SVs, the second device MS2 being located near to the first device MS1; and calculating an estimate of the location of the devices MS1, MS2 using range measurements obtained in respect of both the first and second devices MS1, MS2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Saul R. Dooley, Martin S. Wilcox, Andrew T. Yule