Patents Issued in July 27, 2017
  • Publication number: 20170212180
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses are disclosed for providing a uniform RF field to a nitrogen vacancy center diamond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph W. Hahn, Duc Huynh, Wilbur Lew
  • Publication number: 20170212181
    Abstract: Systems, controllers, and configurations are disclosed for providing precisely timed laser actuation, RF waveform control, and synchronous acquisition of fluorescence information from magnetometry components, such as a DNV sensor. A controller for a DNV sensor may include a RF waveform generator for generating a RF waveform for a RF signal for a DNV sensor and a digital control for controlling a laser for the DNV sensor. The RF waveform generator and the digital control may be formed in a single chip, such as an FPGA or ASIC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: David N. Coar, Jon C. Russo, Boris Shishkin
  • Publication number: 20170212182
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor assembly includes a base substrate and a material assembly. The material assembly is formed on the base substrate. The material assembly includes an assembly substrate. A magneto-optical defect center material having a plurality of magneto-optical defect centers is formed on the assembly substrate. A radio frequency (RF) excitation source is formed on the magneto-optical defect center material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph W. Hahn, Duc Huynh, Wilbur Lew
  • Publication number: 20170212183
    Abstract: A system for unambiguously determines a signed magnetic field vector from a magneto-optical defect center magnetic field sensor. The magneto-optical magnetic field sensor may include a diamond nitrogen vacancy material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Laird Nicholas Egan, Emanuel Solomon Stockman
  • Publication number: 20170212184
    Abstract: Methods and configuration are disclosed for providing higher magnetic sensitivity magnetometers through fluorescence manipulation by phonon spectrum control. A method for increasing the magnetic sensitivity for a DNV sensor may include providing a diamond having nitrogen vacancies of a DNV sensor and an acoustic driver and acoustically driving the diamond with the acoustic driver to manipulate a phonon spectrum of the DNV sensor. A DNV sensor may include a diamond having nitrogen vacancies, a photo detector configured to detect photon emissions from the diamond responsive to laser excitation of the diamond and an acoustic driver configured to manipulate a phonon spectrum for the DNV sensor by acoustically driving the diamond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: David N. Coar, Jeff D. Cammerata
  • Publication number: 20170212185
    Abstract: A device includes a diamond with one or more nitrogen vacancies, a light emitting diode configured to emit light that travels through the diamond, and a photo sensor configured to sense the light. The device also includes a processor operatively coupled to the photo sensor. The processor is configured to determine, based on the light sensed by the photo sensor, a magnetic field applied to the diamond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph W. Hahn, Gregory S. Bruce, Wilbur Lew
  • Publication number: 20170212186
    Abstract: A device includes a diamond assembly. The diamond assembly includes a diamond with a plurality of nitrogen vacancy centers and electrical components that emit electromagnetic waves. The device also includes a light source configured to emit light toward the diamond and a photo detector configured to detect light from the light source that traveled through the diamond. The device further includes an attenuator between the diamond assembly and the photo detector. The attenuator is configured to attenuate the electromagnetic waves emitted from the electrical components of the diamond assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph W. Hahn, Gregory S. Bruce, Duc Huynh, Wilbur Lew
  • Publication number: 20170212187
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses are disclosed for providing a uniform RF field and magnetic bias field to a nitrogen vacancy center diamond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph W. Hahn, Gregory S. Bruce, Duc Huynh, Wilbur Lew
  • Publication number: 20170212188
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor of an embodiment includes: a magnetic field detector including a magnetic layer in which a length in a first direction is 10 times or more of a length in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and a length in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction is ½ or less of the length in the second direction; a first magnetic material member arranged along the first direction, and in which a length in the third direction is longer than the length in the third direction of the magnetic layer; a first nonmagnetic insulating layer arranged between the magnetic field detector and the first magnetic material member, and in which a length in the second direction is ½ or less of the length in the second direction of the magnetic layer; and a circuit supplying current to the magnetic layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Akira KIKITSU, Hitoshi IWASAKI, Satoshi SHIROTORI
  • Publication number: 20170212189
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor comprises a sensor bridge having multiple sensor legs. Each sensor leg includes magnetoresistive sense elements located in a plane of the magnetic field sensor. Each sense element comprises a pinned layer and a sense layer. The pinned layer has a reference magnetization oriented parallel to the plane and the sense layer has a sense magnetization oriented out-of-plane. A permanent magnet layer may be spaced apart from the sense elements which magnetically biases the sense magnetization of the sense layer into an out-of-plane direction that is non-perpendicular to the plane of the sensor. The sense magnetization is orientable from the out-of-plane direction toward the plane of the sensor in response to an external magnetic field. The permanent magnet layer enables detection of the external magnetic field in a sensing direction that is also perpendicular to the plane of the magnetic field sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Paige M. Holm, Lianjun Liu
  • Publication number: 20170212190
    Abstract: A system for magnetic anomaly detection is described. The system may include a nitrogen vacancy (NV) diamond material comprising a plurality of NV centers. A controller modulates a first code packet and controls a first magnetic field generator to apply a first time varying magnetic field at the NV diamond material based on the modulated first code packet. The controller modulates a second code packet and control a second magnetic field generator to apply a second time varying magnetic field at the NV diamond material based on the modulated second code packet, wherein the first code packet and the second code packet are binary sequences which have a low cross correlation with each other. The controller determines a magnitude and direction of the magnetic field at the NV diamond material, and determines a magnetic vector anomaly based on the determined magnitude and direction of the magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Colleen Mary REYNOLDS, David Nelson COAR, Mary Catherine Chih-Li DECRISTOFORO, Laird Nicholas EGAN, Jon C. RUSSO
  • Publication number: 20170212191
    Abstract: An apparatus for visually monitoring a magnetic resonance scanner situated in a room, which is screened by an RF screen, has a camera and a screen housing in the screened room, a data link, and a receiver outside the screened room. The camera and the receiver each have at least one interface to the data link, which exits the screened room at a room interface that has a filter. The camera and the screen housing are designed so that the screen housing reduces magnetic and/or electrical interaction of the camera with a magnetic field generated by the magnetic resonance scanner. The camera has a field of view for visual detection of at least a part of the magnetic resonance scanner and is configured to generate visual data. The data link transfers the visual data between the camera and the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Stephan Biber
  • Publication number: 20170212192
    Abstract: A neonate's immobilizer, said immobilizer comprising a lower torso segment having dorsal side and ventral side, an upper torso segment having the same, and a median navel segment in between, having a lateral side; said three segments are interconnected to form a continuous restraining shell along said dorsal side; said navel segment has a lateral side, wherein said navel segment's lateral side, lower and upper segments form an access aperture around said navel when restraining said neonate, said aperture is provided in size and shape for visual inspection and physical access to said neonate's navel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Uri RAPOPORT, Thomas Rangi SUTTON, James William LUTHER, Andrea BESANA, Barbara TORNAGHI, Shmuel AZULAY, Irad LEISER
  • Publication number: 20170212193
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) amplification method, comprising: modulating a first digital carrier signal with a digital envelop signal to generate digital RF pulse signals having a first frequency, converting the digital RF pulse signals into analog RF pulse signals, amplifying the analog RF pulse signals to generate an RF output signal, converting an analog feedback signal sampled from the RF output signal into digital feedback signals; demodulating the digital feedback signals with a second digital carrier signal to generate an in-phase (I) signal and a quadrature (Q) signal, and generating an amplitude setting signal for adjusting an amplitude of the digital envelop signal and a phase setting signal for adjusting a phase of the first digital carrier signal according to the I signal and the Q signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Tingting Song, Xin Jiang, Jifeng Chen
  • Publication number: 20170212194
    Abstract: This invention relates to a gradient amplifier system for driving a gradient coil and a configuration method thereof. The gradient amplifier system comprises a gradient amplifier for driving a gradient current through the gradient coil, wherein the gradient amplifier further comprises a gradient filter; a controller coupled to the gradient amplifier for controlling the gradient current in the gradient coil; a feedback loop for feeding only the gradient current in the gradient coil back to the controller, wherein the controller is configured based on only the fedback gradient current in the gradient coil, and wherein filter parameters of the gradient filter are adjusted to achieve a minimum shift between predetermined poles representing a desired performance of the gradient amplifier system (21) and actual poles of a rational transfer function associated with the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: YING ZHANG, GONG CHEN, KEQIU ZENG
  • Publication number: 20170212195
    Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems and methods for determining and adjusting TI using single-line acquisition and automatic compartment detection. A method includes positioning a readout line of the MRI scanner through a compartment of interest of a region of interest in a subject. The method includes inverting magnetization within the readout line by playing an inversion pulse; and reading out data along the readout line after play of the inversion pulse. The method also includes determining a T1 value for each pixel along the readout line; determining the pixels that belong to first and second portions within the compartment of interest; determining a T1 value of each of the first and second portions by averaging the pixels within each portion; and determining an inversion time based on the determined T1 values such that the compartment of interest has a desired magnetization in an image to be acquired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Wolfgang Rehwald, Elizabeth Jenista, Raymond Kim, David Wendell
  • Publication number: 20170212196
    Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for reconstruction of image data of an examination object from undersampled raw MR data and reference data, undersampled raw data are used that were recorded from an examination region of the examination object by an MR control sequence, to which a reconstruction algorithm for the reconstruction of image data is assigned. A disturbance variable in the examination region is determined. A modulation function is established, which describes the influence of the disturbance variable on the MR control sequence. Modulated reference data are created on the basis of the modulation function and the reference data such that the modulated reference data are subjected to the influence of the disturbance variable on the raw data recorded by the MR control sequence. A combination algorithm is executed in order to reconstruct image data from the undersampled raw data with the use of the modulated reference data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Feiweier, Stephan Kannengiesser
  • Publication number: 20170212197
    Abstract: A system and method for calculating a flip angle schedule is provided. The technique includes selecting an initial condition, providing a function for calculating flip angles, calculating flip angles, assessing the flip angles, and repeating the calculation of the flip angles by adjusting the function until a desired flip angle schedule is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Guobin LI, Chaohong WANG
  • Publication number: 20170212198
    Abstract: For the purpose of effectively suppressing shading generated in an image due to B1 inhomogeneity, there are performed an acquiring step of acquiring magnetic resonance signals simultaneously received at a body coil and a surface coil; a filtering step of applying image-based filtering for suppressing shading due to B1 inhomogeneity to a first image according to received signals from the body coil; a calculating step of calculating a sensitivity of the surface coil based on the image-based-filtered first image and a second image according to received signals from the surface coil; and a correcting step of correcting sensitivity unevenness in the second image using the sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro BEKKU, Yuko SUWA, Munetsugu KOHARA, Masanori OZAKI
  • Publication number: 20170212199
    Abstract: In diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion-encoded gradient pulses with an amplitude and a duration are activated. The amplitude and the duration of the gradient pulses are varied for various excitations of nuclear magnetization. The echo time for the various excitations of nuclear magnetization can be changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Pedro Miguel Itriago Leon, Mario Zeller
  • Publication number: 20170212200
    Abstract: A system and method for acquiring a calibrated eddy-current field model in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are provided. The method may include one or more of the following operations. An eddy-current field model may be obtained. The eddy-current field model may transformed by Laplace Transformation. Data of an eddy-current field may be obtained. The data of the eddy-current field may be processed. A calibrated eddy-current field model may be acquired. In addition, the calibrated eddy-current field model may be used to compensate an eddy-current field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bo LI, Erwei JIA, Xiaocong XING, Kaipin XU
  • Publication number: 20170212201
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry sets imaging parameters for each scan. The processing circuitry specifies the size of the object region in the phase encode direction from a first image. The first image acquired by using a pulse sequence different from EPI. The processing circuitry sets parameters in a field of view in the phase encode direction in a phase correction scan based on the specified size and the size of the field of view in the phase encode direction in a second scan. The phase correction scan is executed for acquiring phase correction information for the first image. The second scan is executed for acquiring a second image by using EPI.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi KUSAHARA, Yutaka MACHII, Yuki TAKAI
  • Publication number: 20170212202
    Abstract: A method for correcting Bo fluctuation-induced ghosting artifacts in long-TE gradient-echo scan images, comprising the steps of: acquiring an image (u); determining phase offsets (?); and applying the phase offsets (?) to the image (u); such that an entropy of the spatial intensity variations in the corrected image (u) decreases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Alexander LOKTYUSHIN, Philipp EHSES, Klaus SCHEFFLER, Bernhard SCHÖLKOPF
  • Publication number: 20170212203
    Abstract: Provided are processes for the calibration of a battery system whereby a secondary battery is formed with an anode, a cathode, or both that includes two or more active materials that differ by at least one chemical or physical parameter. The presence of the two or more differing alloys in the system introduces at least one inflection point in the charge/discharge curves characterizing the system. The location of the inflection point relative to the fresh battery SOC is constant and independent of prior usage, cycling characteristics, or battery temperature. Therefore, by measuring the presence of the inflection point during a charge/discharge cycle or resting state, the exact SOC of the battery is known. If this measured SOC differs from a reference SOC by more than a predetermined value, the predetermined value is updated thereby calibrating the system for accurate display of SOC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Kwo-hsiung Young, Tiejun Meng, Negar Mosavati
  • Publication number: 20170212204
    Abstract: Devices and methods of estimating the AoD of a STA are generally described. The STA receives and stores an association between tone and transmission angle for each tone transmitted by an AP in different angles. The association indicates that, for each angle, a tone transmitted in the angle is unique. The STA detects a symbol transmitted on each tone, determines the strength and timing of the tone and estimates the AoD based on the association and either or both the strength and timing. Each tone may have multiple symbols and/or each angle multiple tones whose characteristics are averaged to determine the appropriate characteristic of the particular tone or angle. The position of the STA is calculated from the AoD of one or more APs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Yuval Amizur, Nir Dvorecki
  • Publication number: 20170212205
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining an angle of arrival of an incident plane wave received by an antenna array. The method includes receiving signals from a plurality of antenna receiving channels, determining a set of possible angles of arrival of the incident plane wave based on the signals received at the plurality of receiving channels, measuring a pulse delay of the incident plane wave between the signals received at the plurality of receiving channels, and calculating the angle of arrival of the incident plane wave based on the set of possible angles of arrival and the measured pulse delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Oded Bialer, Igal Bilik
  • Publication number: 20170212206
    Abstract: A method for performing positioning for estimating position in a wireless communication system according to the present invention comprises transmitting, by a first UE, a positioning request message for performing the positioning to an eNB; transmitting, by the eNB, an anchor request message to neighboring UEs within a cell to find UEs which may become a second UE; receiving, the eNB, an anchor response message corresponding to a response to the anchor request message from at least one UE from among neighboring UEs within the cell; and determining, by the eNB, the second UE based on the received anchor response message.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicants: LG Electronics Inc., SNU R&DB Foundation
    Inventors: Hakseong KIM, Hanbyul SEO, Seonik SEONG, Kwangbok LEE, Sunghyun CHOI
  • Publication number: 20170212207
    Abstract: A method for assisting in locating a position of a mobile wireless device comprises: obtaining visible-station indications identifying base stations that are visible from the mobile wireless device, the base stations comprising at least one cooperative terrestrial base station and at least one uncooperative WiFi terrestrial base station capable of bi-directional communications and configured to prevent data and/or voice communications with the mobile wireless device; sending, to an almanac processor, an indication of an approximate location of the mobile wireless device that comprises the visible-station indications; receiving an almanac of base stations comprising at least some of the visible-station indications and location indications indicating locations of the base stations visible from the mobile wireless device that correspond to the at least some of the visible-station indications; and determining a location of the mobile wireless device using the location indications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventor: Leonid SHEYNBLAT
  • Publication number: 20170212208
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fifth-generation (5G) or pre-5G communication system to support a higher data transmission rate, following a fourth-generation (4G) communication system including long term evolution (LTE). A method for operating an electronic device is provided. The method includes determining the properties of a first signal and a second signal that are transmitted through different frequency bands and performing line-of-sight (LoS) determination based on the determined properties of the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Sangkyu BAEK, Youngbin CHANG
  • Publication number: 20170212209
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improved location accuracy are provided. For example, some systems can include a location engine, and a plurality of location anchors. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of location anchors can transmit or receive signals to or from an object for determining an angular orientation of the object with respect to the plurality of location anchors, and based on the angular orientation, the location engine can estimate a location of the object. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of location anchors can transmit first signals to the location engine, the location engine can receive a second signal from an object, based on the first signals and the second signal, the location engine can determine a differential pressure between the plurality of location anchors and the object, and based on the differential pressure, the location engine can estimate an altitude of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Patrick S. Gonia, Soumitri Kolavennu
  • Publication number: 20170212210
    Abstract: A time-reversal positioning system includes a storage storing first data representing channel impulse responses derived from probe signals sent from a plurality of positions and second data representing coordinates of the positions. A data processor determines a position of a terminal device based on the stored channel impulse responses and a time-reversed signal determined based on a time-reversed version of a channel impulse response that is estimated based on a channel probing signal sent from the terminal device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Yan CHEN, Hung-Quoc Duc LAI, Yi HAN, Chen CHEN, Zhung-Han WU, K.J. Ray LIU
  • Publication number: 20170212211
    Abstract: Estimating range bias in a timing-based radio positioning network. Systems and methods estimate range bias, and use the estimated bias to adjust an estimated range measurement for use in estimating a position of a receiver. Estimated range bias may be based on surveyed range errors associated with locations near the position of the receiver, or may alternatively be based on comparisons of different range measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: CHRISTIAN GATES, ARUN RAGHUPATHY
  • Publication number: 20170212212
    Abstract: Described herein are techniques for determining a location of a device. In an example, a group of access points may be selected, Time-of-flight (ToF) measurements relative to the device may be received from each of the access points in the group. A respective distance of the device from each access point may be determined using the ToF measurements and a baseToF value. Location coordinates of the device and a new baseToF value may be determined based on the determined distances and the location coordinates of each access point in the group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Souvik Sen, Dongho Kim
  • Publication number: 20170212213
    Abstract: A radar device includes: radar transmitting circuitry which, in operation, generates Nt radar signals by modulating Nt transmission code sequences and transmits the radar signals via Nt transmission antennas, Nt being more than 1; and radar receiving circuitry which, in operation, receives reflection wave signals via Nr reception antennas and performs Doppler frequency analysis, Nr being more than 1. The radar transmitting circuitry stores a predetermined pulse sequence and Nt or more orthogonal code sequences, second half elements of the Nt or more orthogonal code sequences are arranged in an order reverse to first half elements of the Nt or more orthogonal code sequences and generates each of the Nt transmission code sequences by multiplying elements of the predetermined pulse sequence by elements of the Nt or more orthogonal code sequences different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventor: TAKAAKI KISHIGAMI
  • Publication number: 20170212214
    Abstract: A radar system is provided that includes a receive channel configured to receive a reflected signal and to generate a first digital intermediate frequency (IF) signal based on the reflected signal, a reference receive channel configured to receive a reflected signal and to generate a second digital IF signal based on the reflected signal, and digital mismatch compensation circuitry coupled to receive the first digital IF signal and the second digital IF signal, the digital mismatch compensation circuitry configured to process the first digital IF signal and the second digital IF signal to compensate for mismatches between the receive channel and the reference receive channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Sriram Murali, Karthik Subburaj, Karthik Ramasubramanian
  • Publication number: 20170212215
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining misalignment of a radar sensor unit mounted to a vehicle includes providing targets on an alignment apparatus. A vehicle is located at predetermined location on a test station an exact given distance from the alignment apparatus. The actual locations and distances of the targets from each other and from radar sensor unit of the vehicle at the test station are known and pre-stored. At least one target is a greater distance from the vehicle than the other targets. The targets receive and return a radar wave from the radar sensor unit. The radar sensor unit determines locations and distances of the targets and compares with the given or actual locations and distances of the targets to determine misalignment of the radar sensor unit. A calibration program automatically calibrates azimuth and elevation to adjust for misalignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Raphael Hellinger, Oliver F. Schwindt
  • Publication number: 20170212216
    Abstract: A measuring device for measuring a radar signal is provided. The radar signal is generated from a digital reference signal. The measuring device comprises a memory configured to store a digitized radar signal derived from the radar signal and the digital reference signal. The measuring device further comprises a radar compression filter configured to filter the digitized radar signal, resulting in a correlation of the digitized radar signal with the digital reference signal. The measuring device further comprises a frequency shifter configured to successively perform a frequency shift of either the digital reference signal or the radar signal with at least two simulated Doppler shift frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Luke CIRILLO, Steffen HEUEL
  • Publication number: 20170212217
    Abstract: A radar antenna system includes a single transmitter for creating pulses from a wideband waveform. A splitter divides each pulse into half-power pulses, and sends them along respective paths. On one path, successive half-power pulses are alternately modulated with a phase shift ?A or ?F. On the other path, the half-power pulses are not modulated. Each modulated half-power pulse is then combined with an un-modulated half-power pulse to transmit pulses of a full aperture beam with either ?A or ?F. This establishes two degrees of freedom for the system. Two separate receivers then simultaneously receive the pulse echoes and a signal processor uses the consequent four degrees of freedom to create a radar indicator with mitigated clutter and useable azimuth estimation. A coherent processing interval can then be selected for multi-mode operation of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventor: Jameson S. Bergin
  • Publication number: 20170212218
    Abstract: Lidar is an acronym for Light Detection And Ranging. The technology may be used to measure distance by illuminating a target with a laser beam and performing analysis on the reflected laser beam light. In the atmospheric sciences, Lidar may be used to study the optical depth of clouds, the impact of aerosols on clouds, and the interactions between aerosols and clouds on the climate. The present application proposes a lidar-based technology using a diode laser (101) beam sent through a tapered semiconductor optical amplifier (106) and an axicon pair expander (108) wherein the laser light may be transmitted through a telescope (110) at an object to be studied. Upon striking the object to be studied, the laser (101) is reflected and recovered by the telescope (110). The reflected laser is then sent through a heated rubidium vapor cell (115) and a total detection channel (116) for analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicants: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Scott Spuler, Matthew Hayman, Bruce Morley, Edwin W. Eloranta
  • Publication number: 20170212219
    Abstract: A shared optics and telescope, a filter, and a micropulse differential absorption LIDAR are provided, with methods to use the same. The shared optics and telescope includes a pair of axicon lenses, a secondary mirror, a primary mirror including an inner mirror portion and an outer mirror portion, the inner mirror portion operable to expand the deflected annular transmission beam, and the outer mirror portion operable to collect the return signal. The filter includes an etalon and a first filter. The micropulse differential absorption LIDAR includes first and second laser signals, a laser transmission beam selection switch, a first laser return signal switch, and a toggle timer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicants: University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Montana State University, NASA Langley Research Center
    Inventors: Scott M. SPULER, Kevin S. Repasky, Amin R. Nehrir
  • Publication number: 20170212220
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes optoelectronic modules with low- and high-power illumination modes for distance measurements and/or multi-dimensional imaging. Various implementations are described that include low- and high-power emitters. In some instances, a low-power mode may be used to monitor a scene where object movement can activate a high-power mode. In such instances, power reduction may be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Gerald Dahlmann
  • Publication number: 20170212221
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus, comprising first and second photoelectric conversion portions, a charge holding portion, and first and second transferring portions for transferring charges generated in the first and second photoelectric conversion portions, respectively, to the charge holding portion, wherein a first ratio is a ratio of an amount of electrons transferred by the first transferring portion to an amount of the electrons generated in the first photoelectric conversion portion, a second ratio is a ratio of an amount of holes transferred by the second transferring portion to an amount of the holes generated in the second photoelectric conversion portion, and a ratio of the first ratio to the second ratio is lower than a ratio of mobility of electrons to mobility of holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Tatsuhito Goden, Hajime Ikeda, Keisuke Ota, Yoichi Wada, Toshinori Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20170212222
    Abstract: A rotary scanner is described. The rotary scanner includes a housing; a motor fixedly mounted relative to the housing; a structure mounted to the housing so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis by the motor; and a reflector assembly mounted to the structure via a pivot joint so as to be pivotable around a pivot axis between a rest angle and at least one other angle. The reflector assembly is biased to the rest angle and has a reflector plane parallel to the pivot axis. The rotary scanner also includes an optical source fixedly mounted relative to the housing and operable to emit an optical beam along the rotation axis and towards the reflector assembly during use; and a control interface allowing to control the rotation speed of the motor between a first rotation speed and at least one other rotation speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Bruno LEDUC, Nichola DESNOYERS
  • Publication number: 20170212223
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are related to a Lidar device, comprising: a vibrating fiber optic cantilever system on a transmit (TX) path; and a two-dimensional (2D) light sensor array on a receive (RX) path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Volodimir SLOBODYANYUK, Karim ARABI, Evgeni GOUSEV
  • Publication number: 20170212224
    Abstract: A range-finding device including a light-emitting device, an imaging unit, a calculator, and a controller. The image unit receives pulsed light reflected from an object within the space for a plurality of time periods in a time-division manner, electrically converts the pulsed light into an electrical signal, and accumulates electric charge of the electrical signal for each of the plurality of time periods. The calculator calculates a time difference between emission of the pulsed light and reception of the pulsed light reflected from the object based on the electric charge accumulated for each of the plurality of time periods and determine a distance to the object based on the time difference. The controller controls the timing of reception of the pulsed light for each of the plurality of time periods at the imaging unit according to an intensity of the pulsed light reflected from the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Masahiro ITOH, Shu TAKAHASHI, Yasuhiro NIHEI, Takeshi OGAWA, Hiroaki TANAKA, Koji MASUDA
  • Publication number: 20170212225
    Abstract: The present invention provides a time-of-flight sensor (22) including at least one time-of-flight pixel (23) for demodulating a received modulated light beam (Sp2), wherein the time-of-flight pixel (23) comprises at least two integrating nodes (Ga, Gb) and the integration nodes (Ga, Gb) are connected to a device (500) for charge compensation, wherein the charge compensation device (500) comprises at least two SBI input transistors (M1, M2) which at a potential (Ua, Ub) of the integration nodes (Ga, Gb) which according to the amount exceeds an SBI threshold value (USBI) drive SBI current transistors (M3, M4) such that at both integration nodes (Ga, Gb) a compensating current (ik) of the same level flows, wherein the source terminals of the SBI-current transistors (M3, M4) are not connected to a supply voltage (UDD) but are connected to a working voltage (URES, Uarb) (FIG. 7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: PMD Technologies AG
    Inventors: Michael Sommer, Jens Prima, Christoph Kamerow
  • Publication number: 20170212226
    Abstract: An object detection system is for object detection within a field of view. A light source provides detection illumination to the field of view and a sensor senses reflected light from the field of view. Time of flight analysis is used to provide distance or presence information for objects within the field of view. The controller is adapted to derive a signal quality parameter relating to the distance or presence information and to control the light source intensity in dependence on the signal quality parameter. In this way, energy savings are made possible by adapting the detection system settings to the scene being observed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: HARRY BROERS, RUBEN RAJAGOPALAN
  • Publication number: 20170212227
    Abstract: The present invention achieves a sensor that can be used more efficiently than before. The sensor (1) includes: an operator (11) that accepts a mechanical operation of a user, and generates an operation input value corresponding to the operation; a communication portion (12) that receives a communication input value; and a CPU (14) that changes sensitivity of the sensor (1) according to a later input one of the operation input value and the communication input value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Ryosuke TSUZUKI, Koyo OZAKI, Shoichi OHNAKA, Hikaru ARITA
  • Publication number: 20170212228
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for binning TOF data from a scene, for increasing the accuracy of TOF measurements and reducing the noise therein, the TOF data comprising phase data and confidence data, the method comprising the steps of acquiring a plurality of TOF data by illuminating the scene with a plurality of modulated signals; associating each modulated signal with a vector defined by a phase and a confidence data, respectively; adding the plurality of vectors for obtaining a binned vector; determining the phase and confidence of the binned vector; processing the phase and confidence data of the binned vector for obtaining depth data of the scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Applicant: SOFTKINETIC SENSORS NV
    Inventor: Daniel VAN NIEUWENHOVE
  • Publication number: 20170212229
    Abstract: A method is provided that involves mounting a transmit block and a receive block in a LIDAR device to provide a relative position between the transmit block and the receive block. The method also involves locating a camera at a given position at which the camera can image light beams emitted by the transmit block and can image the receive block. The method also involves obtaining, using the camera, a first image indicative of light source positions of one or more light sources in the transmit block and a second image indicative of detector positions of one or more detectors in the receive block. The method also involves determining at least one offset based on the first image and the second image. The method also involves adjusting the relative position between the transmit block and the receive block based at least in part on the at least one offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Gaetan Pennecot, Pierre-yves Droz