Patents by Inventor Yasunobu Asada

Yasunobu Asada 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: 11862865
    Abstract: A target detection device is provided, which includes a transmission array and a signal generator. The transmission array includes a plurality of transmission elements configured to convert an electric signal into a transmission wave. The signal generator generates first and second sets of electric signals, each set being generated with different phase settings. The signal generator groups the transmission elements according to grouping configurations including first and second grouping configurations. In the first grouping configuration, the plurality of transmission elements are grouped into a plurality of groups each having p transmission elements, and, in the second grouping configuration, the plurality of transmission elements are grouped into a plurality of groups each having q transmission elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Tanimura, Yasunobu Asada
  • Publication number: 20220260711
    Abstract: A target detection device is provided. The target detection device includes a transmission array having a plurality of transmission transducer elements. The target detection device further includes a signal generator. The signal generator generates a plurality of transmission signals. The signal generator further changes a phase of a base signal by a phase shift amount that changes over time for generating each of the plurality of transmission signals. Furthermore, the signal generator provides inputs to each transmission transducer element of the plurality of transmission transducer elements with one of the plurality of transmission signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunobu ASADA, Shinya TANIMURA
  • Publication number: 20220113393
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a target object detection device. The target object detection device includes a first transmission signal generator, a first transmission array, a first switch, and a controller. The first transmission signal generator is configured to generate a first transmission signal. The first transmission array includes a plurality of first transmission elements configured to convert the first transmission signal into a transmission wave. The first switch is configured to supply the first transmission signal to one of the first transmission elements in the first transmission array. The controller is configured to control the first switch to switch the first transmission element to which the first transmission signal is supplied from a first element to a second element at a first timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi NISHIMORI, Yasunobu ASADA, Shinya TANIMURA
  • Publication number: 20210167498
    Abstract: A target detection device is provided, which includes a transmission array and a signal generator. The transmission array includes a plurality of transmission elements configured to convert an electric signal into a transmission wave. The signal generator generates first and second sets of electric signals, each set being generated with different phase settings. The signal generator groups the transmission elements according to grouping configurations including first and second grouping configurations. In the first grouping configuration, the plurality of transmission elements are grouped into a plurality of groups each having p transmission elements, and, in the second grouping configuration, the plurality of transmission elements are grouped into a plurality of groups each having q transmission elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya TANIMURA, Yasunobu ASADA
  • Patent number: 10620311
    Abstract: In a two-dimensional data structure stored in a memory of a weather radar apparatus, a height of an obstacle may be specified by a single parameter when the obstacle blocking a transmission signal is located in an observation area. A signal processor may process a reception signal based on blocking area specifying information. Thereby, a detection apparatus and a detecting method can specify with a smaller data amount an area where a transmission signal is blocked when performing a detection using transmission and reception signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasunobu Asada, Masahiro Minowa
  • Patent number: 10139487
    Abstract: A meteorological radar system and a method and device for processing meteorological information which can detect a rain cloud and detect an upward movement of the detected rain cloud in the sky, at low cost and short time are provided. A rain cloud detecting module detects a location and three-dimensional velocity of a rain cloud based on signals from at least three radars of first to third radars disposed at different locations. A rain cloud characteristic detecting module detects a characteristic of the detected rain cloud based on signals from either a radar being different from the three radars, or one of the three radars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Takechi, Yasunobu Asada
  • Patent number: 9971029
    Abstract: A radar apparatus is provided, which can enhance resolution by data processing. The radar apparatus includes a radar wave transmitter, a radar wave receiver, and an analyzing module. The analyzing module analyzes data received by the radar wave receiver, stores amplitude data and speed data of a target object for every cell in a predetermined coordinate system, and processes, based on the data, the amplitude data of an observing cell in the predetermined coordinate system associated with speed. The analyzing module determines whether an absolute value of a speed difference between adjacent cells and adjacent to the observing cell while the observing cell is located therebetween, is a threshold or higher, and the analyzing module performs processing of reducing the amplitude of the observing cell if the absolute value is the threshold or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasunobu Asada
  • Publication number: 20180017676
    Abstract: In a two-dimensional data structure stored in a memory of a weather radar apparatus, a height of an obstacle may be specified by a single parameter when the obstacle blocking a transmission signal is located in an observation area. A signal processor may process a reception signal based on blocking area specifying information. Thereby, a detection apparatus and a detecting method can specify with a smaller data amount an area where a transmission signal is blocked when performing a detection using transmission and reception signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasunobu ASADA, Masahiro MINOWA
  • Patent number: 9829576
    Abstract: A clutter suppressing device for suppressing echo data of reflection waves caused by radar transmission signals reflecting on a static object is provided. Each of the radar transmission signals is transmitted at a predetermined azimuth from a radar antenna at a predetermined time interval. The clutter suppressing device includes an echo data memory configured to sequentially store a plurality of echo data of reflection waves caused by the radar transmission signals reflecting on objects, a filter configured to select, from the plurality of echo data, a data row in the azimuth direction for a predetermined distance, and suppress, in the data row, echo data of a target object moving at a speed within a predetermined range, and a suppression echo data output unit configured to output suppression echo data containing the echo data suppressed by the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Minowa, Yasunobu Asada
  • Patent number: 9791548
    Abstract: A pulse compression radar for performing pre-distortion is provided, which has a configuration simplified in circuit structure. A radar apparatus (pulse compression radar) includes an antenna configured to externally transmit a transmission signal transmitted by a power amplifier and receive a reflection signal caused thereby as a reception signal. The radar apparatus includes a reception circuit configured to propagate this reception signal to a radar image creating module. The radar apparatus corrects beforehand, by utilizing the transmission signal (feedback signal) transmitted from the power amplifier, a transmission signal to be inputted into the power amplifier so as to cancel distortion of the transmission signal caused by amplification effect of the power amplifier. Further, a circuit where the reception signal passes and a circuit where the feedback signal passes share a part of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunobu Asada, Takuya Okimoto
  • Patent number: 9784819
    Abstract: A radar apparatus for performing pre-distortion is provided, which has a configuration instantly transmittable of a transmission signal without distortion even in a case where a power is turned off. A radar apparatus (pulse compression radar) calculates a correction coefficient based on a transmission signal before distortion occurs therein and a transmission signal (feedback signal) outputted by a power amplifier. The radar apparatus corrects the transmission signal outputted by an ideal transmission signal memory while taking into consideration distortion that is caused in the amplification by the power amplifier, by using the correction coefficient. The radar apparatus includes a non-volatile memory configured to store the calculated correction coefficient as backup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunobu Asada, Akinori Shimizu, Eikoh Gotoh
  • Patent number: 9513369
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a radar device and a velocity calculation method with which velocity can be calculated more accurately. A radar device 1 comprises a transmitter 23, a first velocity calculator 31a, a second velocity calculator 31b, a first velocity corrector 33a, and a second velocity corrector 33b. The transmitter 23 transmits pulse signals at two or more different pulse repetition frequencies. The first velocity calculator 31a calculates a first Doppler velocity based on a first received signal. The second velocity calculator 31b calculates a second Doppler velocity based on a second received signal. The first velocity corrector 33a calculates a first corrected Doppler velocity by folding correction of the first Doppler velocity. The second velocity corrector 33b calculates a second corrected Doppler velocity by folding correction of the second Doppler velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Masahiro Minowa, Yasunobu Asada
  • Publication number: 20160252614
    Abstract: A meteorological radar system and a method and device for processing meteorological information which can detect a rain cloud and detect an upward movement of the detected rain cloud in the sky, at low cost and short time are provided. A rain cloud detecting module detects a location and three-dimensional velocity of a rain cloud based on signals from at least three radars of first to third radars disposed at different locations. A rain cloud characteristic detecting moddle detects a characteristic of the detected rain cloud based on signals from either a radar being different from the three radars, or one of the three radars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Takechi, Yasunobu Asada
  • Patent number: 9354303
    Abstract: A signal processing device is provided. The device includes an echo signal input unit for receiving echo signals resulted from transmission signals reflected on an object. The transmission signals are transmitted from a transmission source at transmission timings at predetermined time intervals, at least one of the transmission timings shifted from the other timings in time. The device includes a complex reception signal generator for generating complex reception signals, a phase calculator for calculating a phase change amount of the complex reception signals with respect to a reference phase, a phase corrector for phase-correcting the complex reception signals and outputting the corrected signals, and a Doppler processor for performing Doppler processing on the corrected signals and outputting the Doppler-processed signals as Doppler echo signals of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunobu Asada, Akira Okunishi, Koji Dai, Sae Takemoto
  • Patent number: 9335402
    Abstract: A target object detection apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a transmitter, a receiver, a threshold determiner, a parameter setter, a parameter selector, and a timing controller. The transmitter repeatedly transmits a transmission pulse at a transmission timing. The receiver receives a reception signal at a reception timing set based on the transmission timing. The threshold determiner determines whether an amplitude value of the reception signal exceeds a predetermined threshold at every sampling point and counts the number of sampling points at which the amplitude value of the reception signal exceeds the threshold. The parameter setter sets a plurality of different parameters for controlling the transmission timing. The parameter selector selects the parameter from the parameter settings, to minimize the number of sampling points counted by the threshold determiner. The timing controller controls the transmission timing, based on the parameter selected by the parameter selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Maeno, Yasunobu Asada
  • Patent number: 9291705
    Abstract: A signal processing device is provided. The device includes a signal input unit for receiving reception signals obtained from transmission signals reflecting on one or more objects, a pulse compressor for pulse compressing the reception signals, an interference detector for detecting a reception signal caused by interference, from the pulse-compressed reception signals, a signal level controlling module for controlling a level of the detected reception signal, and an interpolation processing module for interpolating the level-controlled reception signal in an azimuth direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Kazuya Nakagawa, Yasunobu Asada
  • Publication number: 20160061944
    Abstract: A clutter suppressing device for suppressing echo data of reflection waves caused by radar transmission signals reflecting on a static object is provided. Each of the radar transmission signals is transmitted at a predetermined azimuth from a radar antenna at a predetermined time interval. The clutter suppressing device includes an echo data memory configured to sequentially store a plurality of echo data of reflection waves caused by the radar transmission signals reflecting on objects, a filter configured to select, from the plurality of echo data, a data row in the azimuth direction for a predetermined distance, and suppress, in the data row, echo data of a target object moving at a speed within a predetermined range, and a suppression echo data output unit configured to output suppression echo data containing the echo data suppressed by the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Masahiro Minowa, Yasunobu Asada
  • Publication number: 20160018513
    Abstract: A radar apparatus is provided, which can enhance resolution by data processing. The radar apparatus includes a radar wave transmitter, a radar wave receiver, and an analyzing module. The analyzing module analyzes data received by the radar wave receiver, stores amplitude data and speed data of a target object for every cell in a predetermined coordinate system, and processes, based on the data, the amplitude data of an observing cell in the predetermined coordinate system associated with speed. The analyzing module determines whether an absolute value of a speed difference between adjacent cells and adjacent to the observing cell while the observing cell is located therebetween, is a threshold or higher, and the analyzing module performs processing of reducing the amplitude of the observing cell if the absolute value is the threshold or higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventor: Yasunobu Asada
  • Publication number: 20150247920
    Abstract: A pulse compression radar for performing pre-distortion is provided, which has a configuration simplified in circuit structure. A radar apparatus (pulse compression radar) includes an antenna configured to externally transmit a transmission signal transmitted by a power amplifier and receive a reflection signal caused thereby as a reception signal. The radar apparatus includes a reception circuit configured to propagate this reception signal to a radar image creating module. The radar apparatus corrects beforehand, by utilizing the transmission signal (feedback signal) transmitted from the power amplifier, a transmission signal to be inputted into the power amplifier so as to cancel distortion of the transmission signal caused by amplification effect of the power amplifier. Further, a circuit where the reception signal passes and a circuit where the feedback signal passes share a part of each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunobu Asada, Takuya Okimoto
  • Publication number: 20150234036
    Abstract: A radar apparatus for performing pre-distortion is provided, which has a configuration instantly transmittable of a transmission signal without distortion even in a case where a power is turned off. A radar apparatus (pulse compression radar) calculates a correction coefficient based on a transmission signal before distortion occurs therein and a transmission signal (feedback signal) outputted by a power amplifier. The radar apparatus corrects the transmission signal outputted by an ideal transmission signal memory while taking into consideration distortion that is caused in the amplification by the power amplifier, by using the correction coefficient. The radar apparatus includes a non-volatile memory configured to store the calculated correction coefficient as backup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Yasunobu Asada, Akinori Shimizu, Eikoh Gotoh