Abstract: Disclosed is a method of detecting an anomalous propagation condition in a Radar system, comprising the steps of: subtracting returns received in a first receive period from returns received in a succeeding second receive period, and repeating this step for a plurality of receive periods; and if the step of subtracting gives a result in excess of a predetermined threshold in one of the plurality of receive periods, then registering this as a possible anomalous propagation condition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of mitigating the effects of anomalous propagation in a Radar system, comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of returns from a plurality of transmit pulses; calculating a difference in magnitude between each of the plurality of returns and its successor; if one of the calculated differences indicates a first step change greater than a first predetermined threshold, calculating a first average magnitude of the returns received after the first step change, and replacing the returns received before the first step change with synthesised returns having a magnitude equal to the first calculated average magnitude.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of detecting an anomalous propagation condition in a Radar system, comprising the steps of: subtracting returns received in a first receive period from returns received in a succeeding second receive period, and repeating this step for a plurality of receive periods; and if the step of subtracting gives a result in excess of a predetermined threshold in one of the plurality of receive periods, then registering this as a possible anomalous propagation condition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of mitigating the effects of anomalous propagation in a Radar system, comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of returns from a plurality of transmit pulses; calculating a difference in magnitude between each of the plurality of returns and its successor; if one of the calculated differences indicates a first step change greater than a first predetermined threshold, calculating a first average magnitude of the returns received after the first step change, and replacing the returns received before the first step change with synthesised returns having a magnitude equal to the first calculated average magnitude.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for counteracting the effect which crags and other such environmental formations can have on radar returns or returns in similar sensor systems. In particular it has been found that the gaps between crags can lead to false detections because of firstly the function of certain signal processors which compare the high frequency return from a certain cell to a low frequency return from that cell, and secondly the effect of smearing of the returns from one cell to another. The invention seeks to mitigate this effect by selecting the maximum low frequency return from a group of range cells as the high frequency offset.

Abstract: There is provided a sensor for use generally within the signal processing unit of a radar system. The sensor enables entity returns to be classified according to the velocity of the entity and thus allows returns to be processed according to classification. In particular, the sensor comprises a first processing means that filters an input signal using a narrow-band notch filter to output a wideband output. In particular, the sensor comprises a second processing means that filters an input signal using a wide-band notch filter to output a narrowband output. The invention provides for the comparison of the outputs to determine how the entity return is to be classified.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for counteracting the effect which crags and other such environmental formations can have on radar returns or returns in similar sensor systems. In particular it has been found that the gaps between crags can lead to false detections because of firstly the function of certain signal processors which compare the high frequency return from a certain cell to a low frequency return from that cell, and secondly the effect of smearing of the returns from one cell to another. The invention seeks to mitigate this effect by selecting the maximum low frequency return from a group of range cells as the high frequency offset.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of preventing false detections in sensors pulse-Doppler radar mounted on a moving platform. The method comprises filtering each received burst using Doppler filtering to split each received burst into at least a fast channel and one or more slow channels. The slow channel outputs are then used to derive compensation values for the fast channel. In particular, a zero Doppler slow channel is used to derive predicted surface clutter residue information, and a near zero Doppler slow channel is used to derive additional false alarm control attenuation information. Both the predicted surface clutter residue and the false alarm control attenuation information is used to apply compensation to the fast channel and a comparison is done to select the lower of the two values to generate an output signal.

Abstract: There is provided a sensor for use generally within the signal processing unit of a radar system. The sensor enables entity returns to be classified according to the velocity of the entity and thus allows returns to be processed according to classification. In particular the sensor comprises a first processing means that filters an input signal using a narrow-band notch filter to output a wideband output. In particular the sensor comprises a second processing means that filters an input signal using a wide-band notch filter to output a narrowband output. The invention provides for the comparison of the outputs to determine how the entity return is to be classified.

Abstract: An auto-exposure algorithm for controlling a camera flash uses image processing to identify important areas of the image affected by the flash, while disregarding highly reflective/illuminated areas and uses a ND filter to linearize the flash triggering with highly reflective scenes. The camera flash is controlled by the auto-exposure algorithm in two stages: a pre-flash stage followed by a main-flash stage. In the pre-flash stage, two images are captured under the same camera settings regarding the exposure time, gain, iris and resolution. One image is captured with flash and one without. From the difference between the two images, a reference pixel is used to determine the flash intensity in the main-flash stage.

Abstract: An intensity of a second flash is determined based at least partly on a predicted thermal condition that is influenced by a first flash that is previous to the second flash. A quality function of an image capture device is adjusted according to the determined intensity of the second flash. A scene is illuminated by the second flash at the determined flash intensity and the illuminated scene is captured and stored as an image using the adjusted quality function. In exemplary embodiments, an auto-exposure algorithm is compensated for flash intensity, which is maximized in view of temperature limits and constraints due to firing a pre-flash prior to capturing the image. Various approaches and apparatus and software are detailed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus, comprising a lens and a piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element is configured to bend in response to a voltage applied thereto. The lens and the piezoelectric element are arranged so that the bending causes at least a portion of the lens to move in at least one movement direction. The invention further relates to an according method and computer-readable medium.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of preventing false detections in sensors pulse-Doppler radar mounted on a moving platform. The method comprises filtering each received burst using Doppler filtering to split each received burst into at least a fast channel and one or more slow channels. The slow channel outputs are then used to derive compensation values for the fast channel. In particular, a zero Doppler slow channel is used to derive predicted surface clutter residue information, and a near zero Doppler slow channel is used to derive additional false alarm control attenuation information. Both the predicted surface clutter residue and the false alarm control attenuation information is used to apply compensation to the fast channel and a comparison is done to select the lower of the two values to generate an output signal.

Abstract: An intensity of a second flash is determined based at least partly on a predicted thermal condition that is influenced by a first flash that is previous to the second flash. A quality function of an image capture device is adjusted according to the determined intensity of the second flash. A scene is illuminated by the second flash at the determined flash intensity and the illuminated scene is captured and stored as an image using the adjusted quality function. In exemplary embodiments, an auto-exposure algorithm is compensated for flash intensity, which is maximized in view of temperature limits and constraints due to firing a pre-flash prior to capturing the image. Various approaches and apparatus and software are detailed.

Abstract: An auto-exposure algorithm for controlling a camera flash uses image processing to identify important areas of the image affected by the flash, while disregarding highly reflective/illuminated areas and uses a ND filter to linearize the flash triggering with highly reflective scenes. The camera flash is controlled by the auto-exposure algorithm in two stages: a pre-flash stage followed by a main-flash stage. In the pre-flash stage, two images are captured under the same camera settings regarding the exposure time, gain, iris and resolution. One image is captured with flash and one without. From the difference between the two images, a reference pixel is used to determine the flash intensity in the main-flash stage.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus, comprising a lens and a piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element is configured to bend in response to a voltage applied thereto. The lens and the piezoelectric element are arranged so that the bending causes at least a portion of the lens to move in at least one movement direction. The invention further relates to an according method and computer-readable medium.

Abstract: Amplification circuitry for driving a load in response to an input signal, comprising: a phase locked loop, for producing a pulse width modulated signal for driving the load and input circuitry arranged to control the phase locked loop and vary the pulse width modulated signal in response to the input signal.