Patents Issued in April 2, 2020
  • Publication number: 20200103466
    Abstract: An open wire detection system and method are provided. A semiconductor device includes a first diode having an anode terminal coupled to a first terminal and a cathode terminal coupled to a second terminal. The first and second terminals are configured for connection to a first battery cell terminal by way of a first conductive path and a second conductive path. A detect circuit is coupled to the first diode and is configured to provide a first open wire indication when a first voltage across the first diode exceeds a first threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Henricus Cornelis Johannes Büthker, Marijn Nicolaas van Dongen
  • Publication number: 20200103467
    Abstract: A battery pack diagnosing device mediating signal communication between a battery pack and a user terminal includes a controller generating a wake-up signal based on a user input to a third switch and transmitting the generated wake-up signal to the battery pack, and establishing a communication connection according to a first communication method with the battery pack turned on based on the wake-up signal and receiving state information of the battery pack through the established communication connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Soojin LEE, Imsu CHOI
  • Publication number: 20200103468
    Abstract: A state of charge estimation apparatus that estimates a state of charge of a secondary battery includes a processor and associated memory configured to: obtain a voltage measurement value, a current measurement value, and a temperature measurement value of the second battery; calculate a state of charge estimation value of the secondary battery based on the current measurement value; determine whether or not the voltage measurement value of the secondary battery has reached a predetermined voltage threshold during charge or discharge of the secondary battery; and in a case where the voltage measurement value of the secondary battery is determined to have reached the voltage threshold, correct the state of charge estimation value based on the current measurement value and the temperature measurement value that are obtained at a correction time point at which the voltage measurement value of the secondary battery has reached the voltage threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Takahiro WATANABE, Masato HISANAGA, Takashi SHIMOMACHI
  • Publication number: 20200103469
    Abstract: Disclosed is a charging method and apparatus which is optimized based on an electrochemical model, the charging method includes estimating an internal state of a battery, determining a charging limitation condition corresponding to a plurality of charging areas based on the internal state, and charging the battery based on the charging limitation condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daeryong JUNG, Duk Jin OH, Ju Wan LIM
  • Publication number: 20200103470
    Abstract: Various examples provide systems and methods in which a capacitor is charged by an active first power factor correction module and a voltage across the capacitor is determined while the second power factor correction module is exclusively active. A health state of the second power factor correction module may be determined based on the determined voltage across the capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Mohamed Amin Bemat, Daniel Humphrey, Michael Delany
  • Publication number: 20200103471
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus for testing an adaptor, a method for testing an adaptor, and a computer storage medium. The apparatus includes a testing module, a host computer, and an electronic load. The testing module is coupled with the electronic load to simulate a working state of an electronic device, to acquire a simulated battery voltage value corresponding to the working state. The testing module is configured to be coupled with an adaptor to-be-tested to control, according to the simulated battery voltage value, the adaptor to-be-tested to be in a target output state. The testing module is coupled with the host computer, to detect the target output state of the adaptor to-be-tested to obtain output information of the adaptor to-be-tested and send the output information to the host computer. The host computer is configured to output a test result of the adaptor to-be-tested according to the output information of the adaptor to-be-tested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Chen TIAN
  • Publication number: 20200103472
    Abstract: A plasma-generating device capable of detecting a short circuit or electrical discharge of a cable. In response to a detection voltage detected by a current transformer becoming equal to or greater than a threshold voltage, a touchscreen panel of the plasma-generating device reports a current abnormality. When a short circuit or a discharge occurs between the first cable and the second cable, which are a pair of cables, an induced current flows through the shield member by electromagnetic induction. Therefore, the detector can detect a current abnormality due to a short circuit or electrical discharge between the first cable and the second cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro JINDO, Shinji TAKIKAWA, Akihiro HIGASHIDA, Wataru KUSAKA
  • Publication number: 20200103473
    Abstract: A configurable AC/DC readout architecture that can be operated in an AC measurement mode or a DC measurement mode is disclosed. The configurable AC/DC architecture can utilize shared circuitry such as amplifiers and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). The configurable AC/DC readout can be used other sensor configurations where both AC and DC measurement signals can captured and require readout and conversion to digital signals. The configurable AC/DC readout architecture can include a filter configured to filter out a DC signal component in the AC measurement mode. The configurable AC/DC readout architecture can include a bypass witch to bypass the filter in the DC measurement mode. A programmable gain amplifier can adjust the signal amplitude of DC or AC signals to allow use of a shared analog-to-digital converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Jian Guo, Harish Venkataraman
  • Publication number: 20200103474
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor including at least one magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a magnetic field signal indicative of a magnetic field associated with a target and a detector responsive to the magnetic field signal and to a threshold level to generate a sensor output signal containing transitions associated with features of the target in response to the magnetic field signal crossing the threshold level further includes a threshold generator to generate an adaptive threshold. The threshold generator is configured to generate the threshold level to achieve a predetermined fixed hard offset and that adapts with a variation in the airgap in order to minimize an error between times or angles of the transitions of the sensor output signal over the variation in the airgap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Foletto, Florian Kulla
  • Publication number: 20200103475
    Abstract: High-sensitivity multi-channel atomic magnetometers are described. Methods for operating multi-channel atomic magnetometers are also described. Moreover, devices incorporating a plurality of multi-channel atomic magnetometers are described. A multi-channel atomic magnetometer may use the spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) technique. A multi-channel atomic magnetometer may achieve multi-channel operation in a single module, reducing the cost of sensors. A multi-channel atomic magnetometer may be a 16-channel atomic magnetometer. A multi-channel atomic magnetometer may include a single large vapor cell including alkali-metal atoms and at least one buffer gas that restricts motion of atomic spins of the alkali-metal atoms, thereby making relatively small internal cell volumes act as a multiple independent local sensing channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Triad National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Young Jin Kim, Igor Mykhaylovych Savukov
  • Publication number: 20200103476
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device includes a housing, a roller positioned inside the housing, a display panel rollable on the roller, and a guide roller positioned at an edge inside the housing. A state of the display panel with respect to the roller includes a first state in which the display panel is rolled on the roller and a second state in which the display panel is unrolled from the roller. The roller includes an outer frame which rotates when the display panel is rolled on or unrolled from the roller, and an inner frame positioned inside the outer frame and fixed to an inside of the housing regardless of rolling and unrolling the display panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Choonghwan Shin, Yongtae Kim, Byunghwa Lee
  • Publication number: 20200103477
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating a magnetic fingerprint map. Information representing orientation and position of each portable device is obtained along with magnetic field measurements that are correlated with positions determined from the information. Uncertainties associated with the magnetic field measurements are estimated and the magnetic field measurements and associated uncertainties are converted from a device frame to a unified fingerprint frame using the orientations determined from the information. Parameters of a probability distribution function for magnetic field measurements and contaminating measurements are mitigated at each determined position based at least in part on the converted magnetic field measurements and associated uncertainties. Correspondingly, the magnetic fingerprint map is generated from the determined parameters of the probability distribution functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Gennadii Berkovich, Dmitry Churikov
  • Publication number: 20200103478
    Abstract: Attenuation of microwaves is reduced or prevented when vacuum windows are provided in microwave waveguides of a DNP-NMR probe. A DNP-NMR probe has an inner container and an outer container. The inner container has therein a sample tube containing a sample to which radicals are added. The outer container keeps a space between the outer container and the inner container in the outer container in a vacuum state. The outer container has an outer container waveguide that has a vacuum window at an inner end portion and guides microwaves. The inner container has a vacuum window facing the vacuum window of the outer container waveguide through vacuum, and guides microwaves transmitted from the outer container waveguide to the sample. The window-to-window distance between the vacuum window of the outer container and the vacuum window of the inner container is adjusted by means of adjustment bolts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Toshimichi Fujiwara, Yoh Matsuki, Hiroki Takahashi, Shinji Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20200103479
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance apparatus includes a scanner, a patient accommodating region, a patient support apparatus which can be moved within the patient accommodating region and a patient communication device. The patient communication device includes at least one communication element which has a radio-frequency transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Jan Bollenbeck
  • Publication number: 20200103480
    Abstract: In a parameter value determination method, parameter values are determined based on at least two previously determined most similar comparison signal curves. As a result, the parameters for determining can be determined with a resolution greater than the resolution, underlying the comparison signal curves, of the values of the parameters to be determined. Advantageously, the determination of the parameter values are not limited to the values of the comparison signal curves, in other words, are not limited to the lattice/grid of the dictionary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Mathias Nittka, Gregor Koerzdoerfer, Peter Speier, Jens Wetzl
  • Publication number: 20200103481
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) method for determining parameter values in pixels of an examination object can use a magnetic resonance system with, for example, a constant magnetic field strength (e.g. of less than 1.5 tesla or a constant magnetic field strength of less than 0.5 tesla). The MRF method can be adapted for conditions that prevail with such low-field magnetic resonance systems, thus enabling the parameter values to be advantageously determined efficiently while simultaneously maintaining a high degree of quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Gregor Koerzdoerfer, Mathias Nittka, Peter Speier
  • Publication number: 20200103482
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry generates, from a first image influenced by a magnetic field distortion, a second image in which the influence of the distortion is corrected, receives a first area setting in the second image and calculates, by a method of the calculation depending on an imaging purpose, an excitation area in the imaging based on the first area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Canon Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Kensuke SHINODA, Yoshimori KASSAI, Yoshiteru WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20200103483
    Abstract: A method is provided that includes acquiring coil data from a magnetic resonance imaging device. The coil data includes undersampled k-space data. The method includes processing the coil data using an image reconstruction technique to generate an initial undersampled image. The method includes generating a reconstructed image based on the coil data, the initial undersampled image, and multiple iterative blocks of a residual deep-learning image reconstruction network. A first iterative block of the residual deep-learning image reconstruction network receives the initial undersampled image. Each of the multiple iterative blocks includes a data-consistency unit that preserves the fidelity of the coil data in a respective output of a respective iterative block utilizing zeroed data consistency. The initial undersampled image is added to an output of the last iterative block via a residual connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Judson Hardy, Itzik Malkiel
  • Publication number: 20200103484
    Abstract: In a method for simultaneous generation of measurement data of at least two subvolumes of an examination object by means of a slice multiplexing EPI-method, after an RF excitation pulse, at least three navigator signals, but a total of at least one navigator signal per possible polarity and per subvolume to be simultaneously recorded, are recorded in the absence of phase encoding gradients. From the recorded navigator signals, subvolume-specific correction data is determined, which can be used in a reconstruction of image data from acquired raw data for correcting shifts caused by phase errors in the MR raw data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Mario Zeller
  • Publication number: 20200103485
    Abstract: A method is provided for calibrating a test system, including an RF source combined with a VNA connected to or embedded in a test instrument. The method includes connecting to a power meter at the test port; generating an RF signal at an RF source as an incident signal, and providing the incident signal to the power meter through the test port; measuring a forward power wave of the incident signal using a first receiver; measuring a reverse power wave of a reflected signal using a second receiver; measuring output power at the test port using the power meter; and calculating magnitude errors of the first receiver and the second receiver using the measured forward power wave, the measured reverse power wave, and the measured output power by the power meter, and determining magnitude error correction terms of the forward and reverse power waves to remove the magnitude errors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Keith F. Anderson, Alex Grichener
  • Publication number: 20200103486
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that may be implemented to modify information of an audio data transmission based on one or more measured signal reception and/or transmission characteristics of a radio frequency (RF) signal data transmission that contains or otherwise conveys the audio data transmission. The modified audio data may then be acoustically reproduced in analog form as sound waves. Examples of signal reception characteristics of a RF signal data transmission that may be measured and used as a basis for modifying information of audio data of an audio data transmission include, but are not limited to, time Difference of Arrival (TDOA), Angle of Arrival (AoA), measured received signal strength, etc. Example signal transmission characteristics of a RF signal that may be measured and used as a basis for modifying information of audio data include, but are not limited to, Angle of Departure (AoD).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Jere M. Knaappila
  • Publication number: 20200103487
    Abstract: A system and method for locating a mobile device relative to a vehicle using mechanical waves and modulation techniques. A high frequency carrier wave that is generally inaudible to humans is modulated with a low frequency baseband signal that provides for accurate localization in order to generate a modulated signal. The modulated signal is a mechanical or pressure wave, as opposed to an electromagnetic (EM) wave, that is transmitted by one or more speaker(s) and is received by one or more microphone(s). In one example, the modulated signal is transmitted from a speaker on the mobile device (e.g., a smart phone) to a number of microphones mounted on the vehicle at specific distances apart, so as to establish multiple localization paths whose differences in phase can be used to determine the location of the mobile device, relative to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Eli Tzirkel-Hancock, Noam Shabtai, Nadav Lavi
  • Publication number: 20200103488
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining or holding available a radio map that has been determined based on radio node observation data of radio signals emitted from radio nodes of a radio node network. The method obtains asset observation data of one or more radio signals that have been emitted from an asset and observed by radio nodes of the radio node network. The method also determines a position estimate of the asset based on the asset observation data and the radio map. A corresponding system is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: HERE GLOBAL B.V.
    Inventors: Lauri Aarne Johannes WIROLA, Mikko BLOMQVIST
  • Publication number: 20200103489
    Abstract: Using a location sensor, a location including a latitude and a longitude of a device is determined. Using an air pressure sensor, a first elevation of a device is determined. Using the location, a corresponding street address is determined. Using the street address and the first elevation, a floor number is determined. The street address and the floor number are reported to an emergency response system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charles D. Wolfson, SUSHAIN PANDIT, DAVID A. SELBY, BRENT GROSS
  • Publication number: 20200103490
    Abstract: At an emergency response system, a first location including a latitude and a longitude at which a first device is located is received. At an emergency response system, an air pressure reading measured by the first device is received. Using the air pressure reading and a mean sea-level barometric measurement, a first elevation of a device is computed. Using the first location, a corresponding street address is computed. Using the street address and the first elevation, a floor number is computed. The street address and the floor number are transmitted to a second device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Charles D. Wolfson, Sushain Pandit, David A. Selby, Brent Gross
  • Publication number: 20200103491
    Abstract: A technique is provided for estimating time of arrival of a signal transmitted as a pulse and received as a sum of pulses. The received signal is filtered with a novel filter that lowers the early side lobes of the received signal to noise level. A first energy rise point is identified at a point of the main lobe of the filtered received signal, at which the energy is higher than the noise by a predetermined level. Starting from the identification of the first energy rise points, the time of arrival is estimated via curve matching, in which the shape of the filtered received signal is matched to the shape of a reference curve composed by a sum of one or more reference curves that are shifted both in time and in energy. The reference curves are found by applying to the transmitted signal the same filter applied to the received signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Rabih Chrabieh
  • Publication number: 20200103492
    Abstract: Radio-frequencies (RF) antennas for use in micro-localization systems are described. The RF antennas described herein may enable localization of objects with high resolutions, such as in the order of one centimeter or less. The RF antennas may be further configured to reduce range error variability across different directions, so that the accuracy of a micro-localization system is substantially the same regardless of the position of the object. An illustrative RF antenna includes an emitting element having first and second conductive traces patterned to reduce the angular impulse delay variability of the RF antenna. The first conductive trace may form a first arm of a spiral and the second conductive trace may form a second arm of the spiral. At least one parameter of the spiral may be selected to reduce the angular impulse delay variability of the RF antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Andrew Habib Zai, Gregory L. Charvat
  • Publication number: 20200103493
    Abstract: A signal demodulation device includes an IQ mixer, a differential element and a signal processor. The IQ mixer is configured to output a first mixed signal and a second mixed signal. The differential element is electrically connected to the IQ mixer for receiving the first and second mixed signals and configured to differentiate the first and second mixed signals and output a first derivative signal and a second derivative signal. The signal processor is electrically connected to the differential element for receiving the first and second derivative signals and configured to demodulate the first and second derivative signals and output a first demodulated signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Fu-Kang Wang, Tzyy-Sheng Horng, Pin-Hsun Juan
  • Publication number: 20200103494
    Abstract: Disclosed active reflector apparatus and methods that inhibit self-induced oscillation. One illustrative apparatus embodiment includes an amplifier and an adjustable phase shifter. The amplifier amplifies a receive signal to generate a transmit signal, the transmit signal causing interference with the receive signal. The adjustable phase shifter modifies the phase of the transmit signal relative to that of the receive signal to inhibit oscillation. A controller may periodically test a range of settings for the adjustable phase shifter to identify undesirable phase shifts prone to self-induced oscillation, and may maintain the phase shift setting at a value that inhibits oscillation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tom HELLER, Danny ELAD
  • Publication number: 20200103495
    Abstract: To provide an improved radar apparatus capable of expanding the aperture length per antenna element and the aperture length of the virtual reception array antenna. One of a transmission array antenna and a reception array antenna includes a first antenna element group having m-pieces of antenna elements arranged at a first interval Dt along a first axis direction (m is an integer of 1 or larger), and the other one of the transmission array antenna and the reception array antenna includes a second antenna element group having (n+1)-pieces of antenna elements arranged at a second interval Dr(n) along the first axis direction (n is an integer of 1 or larger).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta IWASA, Hidekuni YOMO
  • Publication number: 20200103496
    Abstract: The invention relates to a simulation device for motor vehicle monitoring, wherein a radar sensor (2) and a camera sensor (3) and a LiDAR light receiving sensor (1) and a computer (4) are present, wherein the radar sensor (2) can be controlled via a radar signal transmitter, and the camera sensor (3) can be controlled via a lens, and the LiDAR light receiving sensor (1) can be controlled via a light transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: KONRAD GMBH
    Inventor: Michael Konrad
  • Publication number: 20200103497
    Abstract: A radar target simulation device for testing a device under test with respect to at least one radar scenario. The radar target simulation device includes a memory, a radar scenario simulator and at least two antennas. The memory stores the radar scenario(s) with respect to the device under test, and provides the radar scenario(s) to the radar scenario simulator. The radar scenario simulator receives radar signals from the device under test via the antennas to simulate the radar scenario(s) by manipulating the radar signals according to the radar scenario(s), generates resulting manipulated radar signals, and transmits the manipulated radar signals to the device under test via the antennas. The memory contains storage contents including storage cells, wherein each storage cell corresponds to the respective antenna of the at least two antennas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Sherif AHMED, Steffen HEUEL, Andreas REIL, Udo REIL
  • Publication number: 20200103498
    Abstract: Examples disclosed herein relate to an adaptive radar for near-far target identification. The radar includes an antenna module configured to radiate a transmission signal with an analog beamforming antenna in a plurality of directions using one or more phase control elements in a first radar scan and to generate radar data capturing a surrounding environment. The radar also includes a data pre-preprocessing module configured to receive the radar data and determine adjustments to transceiver parameters in the antenna module for a second radar scan subsequent to the first radar scan based at least on range. The radar also includes a perception module configured to detect and identify a target in the surrounding environment from the radar data. Other examples disclosed herein relate to methods of near-far target identification in a radar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Mark FRANK, Shoaib Mohammad SHAFI
  • Publication number: 20200103499
    Abstract: A method and system device provides a unique object identification process by obtaining information from one or more of radar signals, infrared signals, optical signals, audio signals, and other signals. The method includes continuously receiving object data at the device, applying by a machine learning system, a set of parameters to process the object identification and confidence level, and outputting or updating the object identification, confidence level, and actionable recommendations. The radar data includes a Doppler signature having a wrapped signal due to a sampling rate of the radar system. The Doppler signature is used to train the machine learning system to identify drone types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: David Preece, Mikko Valimaki, Mitchell Kay Oldroyd, Adam Eugene Robertson, Bryan Alan Davis, Matthew Elliott Argyle, David Thimm, James David Mackie
  • Publication number: 20200103500
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods involving Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR or lidar) systems. Namely, an example method includes causing a light source of a LIDAR system to emit light along an emission vector. The method also includes adjusting the emission vector of the emitted light and determining an elevation angle component of the emission vector. The method further includes dynamically adjusting a per pulse energy of the emitted light based on the determined elevation angle component. An example system includes a vehicle and a light source coupled to the vehicle. The light source is configured to emit light along an emission vector toward an environment of the vehicle. The system also includes a controller operable to determine an elevation angle component of the emission vector and dynamically adjust a per pulse energy of the emitted light based on the determined elevation angle component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Mark Alexander Shand
  • Publication number: 20200103501
    Abstract: A method for developing a map of objects in a region surrounding a location is disclosed. The method includes interrogating the region along a detection axis with a series of optical pulses and detecting reflections of the optical pulses that originate at objects located along the detection axis. A multi-dimensional map of the region is developed by scanning the detection axis about the location in at least one dimension. The reflections are detected via a single-photon detector that is armed using a sub-gating scheme such that the single-photon detector selectively detects photons of reflections that originate only within each of a plurality of zones that collectively define the detection field. In some embodiments, the optical pulses have a wavelength within the range of 1350 nm to 1390 nm, which is a spectral range having a relatively high eye-safety threshold and a relatively low solar background.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Evgenii Yuryevich Kotelnikov, William Paul Mordarski, Igor Kudryashov, Mark D. Entwistle, Sabbir Sajjad Rangwala
  • Publication number: 20200103502
    Abstract: A vehicle, Lidar system and method of detecting an object. The Lidar system includes an optical phase array and a mirror. The optical phase array directs a transmitted light beam generated by a laser along a first direction within a first plane. The mirror receives the transmitted light beam from the optical phase array and directs the transmitted light beam along a second direction within a second plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Timothy J. Talty, Michael Mulqueen, Richard Kremer
  • Publication number: 20200103503
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a road debris blocking system that provides a barrier to road debris at a surveying sensor. The vehicle includes a vehicle body and a processor. A road debris blocking device moves between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration relative to the vehicle body. An actuator moves the road debris blocking device between the stowed configuration and the deployed configuration. A wheel angle sensor provides a signal to the processor indicative of a wheel angle. A memory module is communicatively coupled to the processor that stores logic that, when executed by the processor, causes the system to receive the signal from the wheel angle sensor and instruct the actuator to move the road debris blocking device from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration based on the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott L. Frederick, Paxton S. Williams
  • Publication number: 20200103504
    Abstract: A vehicle, Lidar system and a method of detecting an object is disclosed. The Lidar system includes a first photonic chip, a second photonic chip, a mirror and a processor. The first photonic chip generates a first transmitted light beam, and the second photonic chip generates a second transmitted light beam. The mirror directs the first transmitted light beam over a first field of view and the second transmitted light beam over a second field of view, with an object being in at least one of the first and second fields of view. The processor determines a parameter of the object from at least one of a first reflection from the first field of view and a second reflection from the second field of view. A navigation system can be used to navigate the vehicle with respect to the object based on the parameter of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Timothy J. Talty, Michael Mulqueen, Richard Kremer
  • Publication number: 20200103505
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a multi-beam LiDAR system. The multi-beam LiDAR system includes a transmitter having an array of laser emitters. Each laser emitter is configured to emit a laser beam. The laser emitter array includes a first type of laser emitter board and a second type of laser emitter board. The second type of laser board includes two or more laser emitters. The second type of laser emitter board is not parallel to a predefined plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: SUTENG INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chunxin QIU, Letian LIU
  • Publication number: 20200103506
    Abstract: A lidar device for scanning a region to be scanned, using at least one beam, including at least one radiation source for generating the at least one beam, and at least two mirrors rotatable about an axis of rotation, in order to deflect beams reflected by an object, onto a detector oriented perpendicularly to the axis of rotation; the at least two mirrors having, in each instance, a reflectivity for a wavelength range and being connectable to each other at an angle, in a region of the axis of rotation. A method for scanning a region to be scanned, using a lidar device, is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Mustafa Kamil, Nico Heussner
  • Publication number: 20200103507
    Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a receiver configured to receive a reflected light beam from a receiving direction, the reflected light beam having an oblong shape that extends in a lengthwise direction. The LIDAR receiver includes a two-dimensional (2D) photodetector array including a plurality of pixel rows and a plurality of pixel columns, wherein the reflected light beam, incident on the 2D photodetector array, extends in the lengthwise direction along at least one receiving pixel column of the plurality of pixel columns according to the receiving direction; an analog readout circuit including a plurality of output channels configured to read out electrical signals; and a multiplexer configured to, for each reading cycle, selectively couple receiving pixels of the at least one receiving column to the plurality of output channels based on the receiving direction, while decoupling non-receiving pixels from the plurality of output channels based on the receiving direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Boris KIRILLOV, Thomas GIGL, Marcus Edward HENNECKE
  • Publication number: 20200103508
    Abstract: A multi-line Lidar is provided. The multi-line Lidar includes: a multi-line ranging laser emission module comprising one or more lasers; a multi-line ranging laser reception module comprising one or more photodetectors and adapted to detect a laser echo generated when a measurement laser emitted by the laser emission module is incident to an obstacle and is diffusedly reflected; a ranging information resolution module in electrical signal connection with the multi-line ranging laser emission module and the multi-line ranging laser reception module, and designed to calculate the distance, in each direction, to the obstacle by means of calculating the time difference between the emission of the measurement laser and the receiving of the laser echo; and a control circuit and an optical system correspondingly configured for the multi-line ranging laser emission module and the multi-line ranging laser reception module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Rui WANG, Na LI, Shaoqing XIANG, Yifan LI
  • Publication number: 20200103509
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for quantitatively characterizing performance of a laser steering galvanometer mirror directs a laser beam from a calibration “sensor” onto a side region of the mirror to directly determine rotational positioning, velocity, and/or acceleration thereof using interferometry, time-of-flight measurements, and Doppler measurements. Measured positioning errors can be compared with a database to predict required calibration adjustments. Embodiments automatically adjust digital calibrations. Mirrors, splitters, and/or a plurality of sensors can apply measurement beams simultaneously or sequentially to both sides of a mirror, and/or to more than one mirror. Large rotation ranges, for example larger than +/?15 degrees, can be accommodated by applying measurement beams from a plurality of directions. The calibration apparatus can be distinct, or integral with the galvanometer, and can be used to monitor and/or to control the mirror positioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: James MacMillan, Leonard Williams
  • Publication number: 20200103510
    Abstract: In one example, a LIDAR device includes a light sources that emits light and a transmit lens that directs the emitted light to illuminate a region of an environment with a field-of-view defined by the transmit lens. The LIDAR device also includes a receive lens that focuses at least a portion of incoming light propagating from the illuminated region of the environment along a predefined optical path. The LIDAR device also includes an array of light detectors positioned along the predefined optical path. The LIDAR device also includes an offset light detector positioned outside the predefined optical path. The LIDAR device also includes a controller that determines whether collected sensor data from the array of light detectors includes data associated with another light source different than the light source of the device based on output from the offset light detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Droz, Simon Verghese
  • Publication number: 20200103511
    Abstract: A 3D image sensor include a depth pixel and at least two polarization pixels adjacent to the depth pixel. The depth pixel includes a charge generation region in a substrate. The depth pixel is configured to generate depth information associated with a depth of an object from the 3D image sensor in a 3D scene based on detecting light reflected from the object. Each polarization pixel includes a photodiode in the substrate and a polarizer on the substrate in a light-incident direction. The polarization pixel is configured to generate shape information associated with a shape of a surface of the object in the 3D scene based on detecting light reflected from the object. The polarization pixels and the depth pixel collectively define a unit pixel. The respective polarizers are associated with different polarization directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-gu Jin, Young-chan Kim, Chang-rok Moon, Yong-hun Kwon, Tae-sub Jung
  • Publication number: 20200103512
    Abstract: A marine sonar display device comprises a display, a sonar element, a memory element, and a processing element. The display presents sonar images. The sonar element generates a sonar beam and presents transducer signals. The processing element is in communication with the display, the sonar element, and the memory element and receives the transducer signals, calculates sonar data from the transducer signals and generates a three-dimensional view of a portion of the body of water, wherein the view includes a plurality of sonar images. Each sonar image is generated from sonar data derived from a previously-generated sonar beam and includes representations of underwater objects and a water bed. The processing element also generates a cursor plane and a cursor positioned thereon, both of which appear on the three-dimensional view. The processing element further controls the display to present the three-dimensional view, the sonar images, the cursor plane, and the cursor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin A. Brown, Aaron R. Coleman
  • Publication number: 20200103513
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that may be implemented to configure and/or reconfigure device operating modes based on relative position of a wireless transmitter to a wireless receiver that is receiving a wireless radio frequency (RF) signal transmitted from the wireless transmitting device, or vice-versa. The relative position of a wireless transmitter to a wireless receiver may be determined using any suitable technique, e.g., using Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) of a signal received at separate antenna elements of an antenna array of the wireless receiver, using Angle of Arrival (AoA) of a signal received at an antenna array of the wireless receiver, using measured received signal strength (e.g., received signal strength indicator (RSSI) or received signal decibel-milliwatts (dBm)) of a signal received at different antenna elements of an antenna array of the wireless receiver, using Angle of Departure (AoD) of a signal transmitted from an antenna array of the wireless transmitter, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Jere M. Knaappila
  • Publication number: 20200103514
    Abstract: A method for monitoring and sustaining vitality of a target system (TS) dynamically by providing an object oriented information system (OOIS) for TS, receiving and monitoring information of surrounding environment of TS and information within TS by sensory units; creating received and monitored information wave packets (RMIWP); transform RMIWP into one or more processed information wave packets (PIWP) by translating frequencies of RMIWP into a common frequency; storing PIWP in ordered time sequence, space and logical classifications; recognizing strategic events (SE) based on stored PIWP, refining details of SE, recognizing a criteria for maximum vitality of TS, recognizing future plans (FP) based on SE and evaluating vitality of OOIS and recognizing a FP with maximum vitality, converting FP into steps in time and space for a motor unit for moving TS, monitoring movement of TS, comparing outcome with the criteria, and dynamically selecting a FP with maximum vitality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: HANKOOKIN, INC.
    Inventors: James Jiwen Chun, Andrew Youngho Chun, Angela Soyoung Chun, Jennifer Miseong Chun
  • Publication number: 20200103515
    Abstract: A radar apparatus includes a plurality of transmission antennae and a radar transmitter that transmits transmission signals by using the plurality of transmission antennae. In a virtual reception array including a plurality of virtual antennae formed of a plurality of reception antennae and the plurality of transmission antennae, disposition positions of at least two of the virtual antennae are the same as each other, and, transmission intervals of the transmission signals that are sequentially transmitted from transmission antennae corresponding to the at least two virtual antennae among the plurality of transmission antennae are an equal interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takaaki KISHIGAMI, Ryosuke SHIOZAKI, Hidekuni YOMO, Kenta IWASA