Determining Velocity Patents (Class 342/104)
  • Patent number: 5455588
    Abstract: A method for determining velocity of a target object comprises transmitting a propagating wave emitted from a wave transmitter and detecting a reflected wave reflected back by the target object by using a wave receiver, and determining of a phase angle difference between two alternating electrical signals respectively representing the transmitted wave departing the wave transmitter and the reflected wave arriving at the wave receiver, wherein the velocity of the target object is determined as a function of the time rate of change of the phase angle difference between the two alternating electrical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Inventors: Hyok S. Lew, Yon S. Lew
  • Patent number: 5434570
    Abstract: The sky is scanned with transmitted radar pulse beam of electromagnetic radiation from a high gain antenna with a narrow viewing angle, and by monitoring the echoes with a low gain receiving antenna that has a wide, or moderate, viewing angle of the sky. The source of echo signals along the direction of the radar puls beam path are defined by synchronizing the sampling of the echo signal at the receiving station with the transmission of radar pulses at the transmitting station. The receiving station defines the location of an echo signal source by knowing the locations of the transmitting and receiving antennas, the pointing angle of the transmitted beam and the relative time between transmission of the radar pulse and receipt of each echo signal sample of along the transmitted beam path. The relative time can be defined by synchronizing the sampling of the echo signal with each transmitted pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Inventor: Joshua M. A. R. Wurman
  • Patent number: 5410314
    Abstract: A multiple-Doppler radar network can be constructed using only one, traditional, transmitting pencil-beam radar and one or more passive, non-transmitting receiving sites. Radiation scattered from the pencil beam of the transmitting radar as it penetrates weather targets can be detected at the receive-only sites as well as at the transmitter. In a bistatic system, the location of targets in Cartesian space can be calculated from the pointing angle of the transmitting antenna and the time between transmission of a radar pulse from the transmitter and detection at a passive receiver site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: University Corporation For Atmospheric Research
    Inventors: Charles L. Frush, Joshua M. A. R. Wurman
  • Patent number: 5396253
    Abstract: A system and method of speed estimation for a cellular radio network includes a number of speed estimation units. Each unit comprises an averaging window of a different duration, a buffer store and variance calculator. The duration of each window is equivalent to the time taken by a mobile unit to traverse a distance of 20 wavelengths of the received signal at a particular speed. An incoming signal is applied to the units. The duration of the window determines the significance of the fast fade components in the signal which is related to mobile unit speed. When the average of a window is substantially constant, the speed corresponding to that window can be assumed to be achieved or exceeded. Decision logic is arranged to poll the outputs of the variance calculators to derive a speed estimation indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: British Telecommunications plc
    Inventor: Si T. S. Chia
  • Patent number: 5381155
    Abstract: A method of traffic control is disclosed which includes the steps of measuring the speed of a vehicle, automatically reading the license plate of the vehicle, automatically, in a computer system, matching the license plate number to information about the owner of the vehicle, and displaying the name of the owner of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Inventor: Eliot S. Gerber
  • Patent number: 5371718
    Abstract: A Doppler-effect speed detecting apparatus for detecting a ground speed of a vehicle, including a transmitter for transmitting a wave towards the ground surface, a receiver for receiving the wave reflected by the ground surface, and an output device for producing an output indicative of the ground speed according to the frequencies of the transmitted and reflected waves. The apparatus further includes a device for determining presence or absence of abnormality relating to the output of the output device, on the basis of an output level of the receiver as well as a speed difference between the ground speed obtained by the output device and an estimated vehicle speed which is obtained on the basis of rotating speeds of the vehicle wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Ikeda, Hiroshi Naganawa
  • Patent number: 5317315
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for measurement of the velocity of a moving target (20) in radio frequencies. From the measurement station (10) and from the target station (20), radio signals (S.sub.1,S.sub.2) are transmitted that are in different frequency ranges, as compared with each other, so that the receivers at the measurement station (10) and at the target station (20) are not subjected to interference. The radio signals (S.sub.1,S.sub.2) are received at stations (20,10) opposite to their transmission stations (10,20). The oscillator of the target station (20) is locked with the frequency transmitted by the measurement station (10) by means of a phase-locked loop (PLL). The frequency of said oscillator is passed to the transmitter part of the target station (20). The signal (S.sub.2) transmitted by the target station (20) is received at the measurement station (10). The Doppler shift (fd) of the frequency of the signal (S.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Vaisala Oy
    Inventors: Pentti Karhunen, Henry Andersson
  • Patent number: 5315306
    Abstract: Systems and methods that use a CW Doppler radar to monitor paint particle velocities as they are sprayed from a paint gun to optimize the application of sprayed paint onto the object, and provide a closed loop spray painting system and paint spraying method that controls the application of paint in real time using data generated by the radar. The Doppler radar and a signal analyzer are used to analyze the Doppler return signals and display data indicative of the velocity of the paint particles. The data may be used by an operator to manually adjust the paint spray system. In addition, the spectrum analyzer may be used to generate and couple control signals to the paint spray system to provide for closed loop feedback control of thereof. One method comprises the following steps. Spraying paint particles toward an object that is to be painted using a paint spray gun. Radiating Doppler radar signals at the paint particles that are moving toward the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: John K. Doughty, Gerald Brand, Jack Y. Josefowicz
  • Patent number: 5291206
    Abstract: A radar homing system in a guided missile for intercepting one of a group of targets, such as aircraft flying in formation. Offset circuitry places undesired Doppler target returns outside of the IF filter bandpass frequency of the system. The system is designed to take cognizance of the highest Doppler frequency derived from the targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1967
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Hughes Missile Systems Company
    Inventor: Richard M. Trostler
  • Patent number: 5243564
    Abstract: A Doppler-effect vehicle ground-speed detecting apparatus having a transmitter fixed to a vehicle body and transmitting a wave toward a road surface on which the vehicle is running, a receiver fixed to the body and receiving a portion of the wave reflected by the road surface, and a ground-speed determining device for determining a ground-speed of the vehicle relative to the road surface, on the basis of a transmitting frequency of the wave as transmitted by the transmitter and a receiving frequency of the wave as received by the receiver. The ground-speed determining device determines the ground-speed of the vehicle, on the basis of a parameter which changes with an angle of the vehicle body relative to the road surface in a plane parallel to a running direction of the vehicle and perpendicular to the road surface, as well as on the basis of a difference between the transmitting and receiving frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Ikeda, Masashi Mizukoshi
  • Patent number: 5239296
    Abstract: Optical receiving system (20) and method are provided for receiving optical signals used to determine vehicle velocity. The receiver system (20) comprises an optical receiver unit (22) mounted on a vehicle (30) to detect an optical signal incident thereupon. The optical receiver unit (22) includes a radio frequency transmitter (44) for generating and transmitting a radio frequency signal when the optical receiver unit (22) detects an optical signal incident thereupon. The detector system further comprises an indicator unit (24) which includes a radio receiver (46) for receiving the radio frequency generated by the radio frequency transmitter (44) and for providing an indication of the reception thereof. In one embodiment, the indicator unit is a convention radar detection device. In one embodiment, a plurality of optical receiver units (22') are provided for positioning at differing locations upon a vehicle (30'). In another embodiment, a linear array (122) of optical receivers is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Black Box Technologies
    Inventor: Charles S. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 5159396
    Abstract: An apparatus is described for measuring the velocity of an object by measuring the Doppler frequency shift of a reflected laser beam. A laser beam is projected onto a target area which is moving with respect to the inertial frame of the laser transmitter and the laser receiver. The reflected laser energy is mixed with a local oscillator beam and the mixed beam is focused onto a radiation detector. The Doppler frequency shift is measured, thus indicating the object's velocity. A sacrificial mirror is employed so that internal projectile velocity measurements may be made on the projectile. The laser beam permits measurement both external and internal to the barrel for large and small caliber weapons. Additionally, integration and differentiation means may be provided so that instantaneous position and acceleration data can also be generated for the projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Teledyne Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry J. Yuhas
  • Patent number: 5159345
    Abstract: An improved traffic speed radar unit, operating on the conventional doppler system, is disclosed wherein the unit includes means to verify that the internal time base frequency used to calculate vehicle speeds has not changed. Also, electronic memory is added both to facilitate an officer's work in taking notes and to allow for a more complete unit history to be maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Inventor: Wayne K. Young
  • Patent number: 5157402
    Abstract: For calculating motional characteristics, particularly of a projectile moving in a barrel of weapon, a microwave directed onto the projectile by a measuring structure is superimposed with the reflected wave and a a calculation of location-dependent velocity and acceleration is carried out based on the chronological curve of the phase difference by a one-time or, respectively, two-time differentiation. In order to reduce measured errors, the operating phase difference and, therefore, the location of the projectile is first assigned to each amplitude value in a registered interferometer signal. A compensation function for the time-dependent location of the projectile is then placed through the arc-cosine-transformed individual action points and the location-dependent projectile velocity is calculated by one-time differentiation and the acceleration is calculated by a further differentiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: AVL Gesellschaft fuer Verbrennungstraftmaschinen und Messtechnik mbH, Prof.Dr.Dr h.c. Hans List
    Inventors: Bernhard Zagar, Reinhard Boschanig
  • Patent number: 5148176
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and process which utilize the Doppler effect for measurement of the performance of blasting operations, in particular to the measurement of face velocity. The measuring device comprises radiation generating and receiving means and a signal analyzing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: ICI Australia Operations Proprietary Limited
    Inventors: Timothy A. Beattie, Jeffrey J. Felice
  • Patent number: 5055849
    Abstract: A method for measuring the velocity (v) of a moving target (A). Radio signals are transmitted by means of radio transmitter-receiver arrangements of both the measuring station (B) and the target station (A) and received at the opposite stations (A,B), the frequencies of which signal include Doppler shifts (fd) to be observed both at the measuring station (B) and in the measuring target (A). On the basis of the Doppler shifts (fd), the escape and/or approach velocity (v) of the target to be measured is determined relative to the measuring station (B). Radio signals are transmitted from the measuring station (B) and the target station (A), the frequencies of which signals deviate from each other by a relatively small frequency difference (fk) or by a Doppler frequency shift (fd), the absolute value of which small frequency difference remains at least as high as the absolute value of the largest expectable Doppler frequency shift (fd.sub.max).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Vaisala Oy
    Inventors: Henry Andersson, Eero Salasmaa
  • Patent number: 5051750
    Abstract: A method and a system for determining the wind velocity vector in a region in which a turn is being executed by an aircraft using a positional detection system to obtain aircraft positional data during the turn, calculating the ground speed vector of the aircraft at a plurality of points during the turn and determining the wind vector that best fits the ground speed vector data. The wind velocity vector can be calculated even when the aircraft airspeed vector is not constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Walter M. Hollister
  • Patent number: 5005661
    Abstract: A motorcycle mounting for a radar speed monitor in which the monitor can be readily mounted and removed. The motorcycle mounting includes a first support member with releasable strap for holding a radar monitor in position, second support members extending from each side of the first support member, each being attached at its upper end to the first support member, clamps may be used at the lower end of each second support member for attachment of the lower end of each second support member to the handlebar of a motorcycle; a further support member connected at one end to the first support member and including a pivotable connection at the other end for attachment to a structural member of a motorcycle forward of the handlebar; and a mounting bracket for mounting a radar transmitter/receiver on a motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Inventors: Keith Taylor, Roger Neal
  • Patent number: 4922255
    Abstract: An arrangement for measuring speeds between a first and a second object with the aid of microwave signals and including a microwave generator which is connected to a transmitter antenna, and two receiver antennae which are preferably placed on respective sides of the transmitter antenna for receiving microwave signals reflected against an object and each of which receiver antennae is connected to a respective receiver channel, the channels being connected to a correlator for correlating the signals received by the receiver antennae, the mutual time difference of said signals corresponding to the relative speed between the objects. According to the invention the microwave generator (11) is also connected to a respective mixer (13, 14, 15, 16) in each of the receiver channels, to which respective mixers (13-16) respective receiver antennae (6, 7) are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Stiftelsen Institutet for Mikrov.ang.gsteknik vid Tekniska Hogskolan i Stockholm
    Inventor: Eilert Berglind
  • Patent number: 4849760
    Abstract: A surface acoustic wave (SAW) radar doppler shift detection system is provided by transmitting a modulation signal having an up-chirp component followed by a downchirp component from a dispersive array SAW assembly to a target, and then receiving the radar return from the target by a receiver which also employs a similar dispersive array assembly. Dispersive array assemblies are constructed with two in line dispersive arrays. The dispersive arrays of the transmitter is positioned relative to two input SAW transducers and two output SAW transducers such that a pulse signal supplied to the two input transducers results in an expanded signal of the output transducers. The expanded signal acts as a modulation signal which is multiplied by an RF and transmitted. The receiving array assembly detects the radar return signal, and, after it is multiplied down to the SAW frequency, compresses it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventor: Leland P. Solie
  • Patent number: 4837718
    Abstract: A muzzle velocity chronograph method and apparatus for providing an accurate and precise measurement of the muzzle velocity of a projectile ejected from a gun.A conventional radar Doppler signal is sampled and digitized and arranged in a succession of groups, each group representing a separate time period. A fast-Fourier transform is then computed for each group of samples, and peak frequency measurements in the transformed data are tracked from one time period to the next. These peaks indicate the velocities of the projectile of interest and any other nearby moving objects. Finally, a least mean square error curve fit and standard regression algorithm are used to deduce the projectile's initial, muzzle velocity. The invention provides accurate muzzle velocity determinations even in circumstances where the Doppler signal contains substantial interference caused, for example, by random noise and the presence of moving fragments in the direction of the projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Lear Siegler, Inc.
    Inventor: Yair Alon
  • Patent number: 4754283
    Abstract: Windfinding apparatus is described in which receiver processing of the Global Positioning System (GPS) signals is without knowledge of the spread spectrum codes. The apparatus receiver ignores the bi-phase code and recovers the carrier frequency of all satellites in view of the receiving antenna. Two of these receivers are used in a windfinding system. One of the receivers is located on the ground at a known latitude and longitude. The other receiver is placed on a weather balloon sonde and launched into the atmosphere. A telemetry transmitter aboard the sonde transmits a signal that contains the GPS carrier frequency information to the ground-based telemetry receiver. The telemetry receiver output and the local codeless GPS receiver feed a set of tracking filters. The filtered signals are evaluated to obtain a measurement of the difference between the local GPS receiver carrier frequency and the sonde GPS receiver carrier frequency caused by the velocity of the sonde relative to the ground-based receiver (i.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignee: Tracor Aerospace Austin, Inc.
    Inventor: Clarence W. Fowler
  • Patent number: 4730189
    Abstract: A pulse Doppler radar system with variable pulse repetition frequency has a coherent integrator to which the reflected pulses are supplied in order to avoid deterioration of the indication of a moving target given over-the-horizon reception. The coherent integrator subjects the reflected pulses to a simplified vectorial addition by the use of a number of filters. A precondition for the modified coherent integration is a staggering of the pulse repetition periods such that their sums formed over successive pulse repetition periods are constant, and a phase reference for the signal amplitudes is obtained such that the phase difference is equal to zero after every second pulse repetition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Harald Siegel, Rudolf Hauptmann
  • Patent number: 4715707
    Abstract: A laser doppler velocimeter with laser backscatter discrimination for determining the relative velocity between an optical platform and another target where a laser beam is generated and directed toward the target. A detector produces a doppler signal in response to the detection of the laser beam. Noise and backscatter signals with bandwidths and amplitudes outside selected thresholds are rejected, and the legitimate doppler signal from the target is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventors: Albert H. Reynolds, III, Ernie C. McDaniel, Roland E. Juhala
  • Patent number: 4713665
    Abstract: An ultrasonic ground speed sensor has a vehicle-mounted transmitter and a receiver for receiving signals reflected from the transmitter to the receiver by terrain over which the vehicle travels. An attenuated and phase-shifted transmit frequency is superimposed upon an output of the receiver to cancel cross talk, thus providing a substantially pure reflected frequency. A phase-locked loop converts the reflected frequency to a voltage which represents the direction and speed of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: James J. Phelan
  • Patent number: 4713663
    Abstract: The apparatus according to the invention relates to a guided vehicle control process and apparatus which comprises passive beacons, as well as radars permitting the detection thereof. The presence or absence of a beacon permits the automatic control of a train, e.g. with a view to automating the driving thereof. The apparatus according to the invention uses retrodirectional beacons and/or beacons inducing a polarization rotation of the radiation received. The use of retrodirectional beacons induces a change of frequency by Doppler effect of the reflected radiation. The change of the Doppler frequency and/or the polarization rotation of the radiation improves the signal-clutter ratio and/or the separation of the transmission and reception channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Serge Drabowitch, Michel Baril, Guy Le Parquier
  • Patent number: 4698636
    Abstract: A ground speed determining radar system for take off roll and landings and roll out maneuvers has a ground based modulating radar reflector and a carrier based radar. The radar transmits microwave energy to the reflector where it is modulated by rotating spaced reflectors and returned to the radar receiver. The receiver is a heterodyne receiver having a log IF stage and a fast time control (FTC) circuit for attenuating clutter and an acquisition loop circuit, lock-on circuit and tracking loop circuit. The acquisition loop circuit includes a center, gate, modulation bandpass filter, switch, acquisition sweep generator and gate generator; the lock-on circuit adds a delay line and a good data indicator to the loop acquisition circuit, and the track loop circuit includes early/late gates, early/late gate low pass filters, subtractor, integrator, the switch and gate generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Inventors: Raymond Marlow, John L. Nelson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4696568
    Abstract: A method of and an arrangement for measuring the velocity and/or length of moving objects using the Doppler principle. Measurement of the velocity of objects over a wide range imposes stringent requirements on the bandwidth of the electronic apparatus which process the Doppler shift. The velocity and/or length are measured accurately using simple, narrow-band electronic processing circuits by imparting a pre-shift to the frequency of the electromagnetic wave directed towards the object to be measured. This pre-shift is opposite to the Doppler shift generated by the movement of the object and is realized by imaging a light beam originating from a laser onto the object via a rotating phase grating. The rate of rotation of the phase grating is controlled so that the total Doppler shift measured is always constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1987
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Marten P. Weistra
  • Patent number: 4673940
    Abstract: This radar system can be used as an independent entity or as an addition to n operating radar system for acquiring additional data from a radar target's returned signal that is not currently being utilized. The system is to separate the amplitude modulation and frequency modulation sidebands created by the target's surface motion or vibration into independently useable entities. The system measures near carrier AM and FM noises, together with techniques for integrating these elements into a working radar system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Thomas A. Barley, Tony D. Hodgens, Gustaf J. Rast, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4641137
    Abstract: Improved non-cooperative radar apparatus locates and type-classifies an agitated, vibrating reflective target (e.g., a vehicle with its engine running) - whether the target is moving or stationary.A homodyne-type receiver with a cooperating band pass filter extracts a reflected, frequency-shifted energy pattern which identifies the incidence of the agitated target. In accordance with further aspects of the instant invention, the particular energy distribution for the returned, reflected wave is then compared with a stored ensemble of such distributions, or target "signatures", to type-catagorize the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: Lockheed Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Opitz, Paul E. Chase
  • Patent number: 4641138
    Abstract: Improved non-cooperative radar apparatus locates and type-classifies an agitated, vibrating reflective target (e.g., a vehicle with its engine running)--whether the target is moving or stationary.A homodyne-type receiver with a cooperating band pass filter extracts a reflected, frequency-shifted energy pattern which identifies the incidence of the agitated target. In accordance with further aspects of the instant invention, the particular energy distribution for the returned, reflected wave is then compared with a stored ensemble of such distributions, or target "signatures", to type-categorize the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: Lockheed Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Charles L. Opitz