With Plural Frequencies Transmission Patents (Class 342/112)
  • Patent number: 11971468
    Abstract: A method for detecting a target object implemented by a detection apparatus, where the detection apparatus transmits a radio signal on a frequency band on which mutual interference can be avoided to avoid or reduce interference caused by a transmit signal or a related signal of any detection apparatus when another detection apparatus determines a target. The detection apparatus divides a frequency band or a frequency domain raster based on a determined threshold to allow partial overlapping between frequency bands or rasters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sida Song, Sha Ma, Lutao Gao
  • Patent number: 11762086
    Abstract: A vehicle, radar system for a vehicle and a method of detecting a parameter of an object is disclosed. The radar system includes a base radar and a frequency converter. The base radar generates a first frequency source signal within a first frequency range and is receptive to a first frequency reflected signal within the first frequency range. The base radar is configured to determine a parameter of an object from the first frequency reflected signal. The frequency converter is configured to convert the first frequency source signal to a second frequency source signal within a second frequency range and to convert a second frequency reflected signal within the second frequency range to the first frequency reflected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Oded Bialer, Igal Kotzer, Amnon Jonas
  • Patent number: 11733368
    Abstract: An estimation is described of the speed of objects with the aid of a radar sensor that includes multiple transmitting antennas. Multiple nested sequences of frequency ramps are emitted with the aid of multiple transmitting antennas. An individual phase encoding takes place for each transmitting antenna with the aid of a harmonic code. For estimating the speed of the object, the ambiguities due to the code multiplex are resolved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Schoor, Benedikt Loesch
  • Patent number: 11644534
    Abstract: For example, a radar data compressor may include an input to receive input digital raw data comprising digital samples of received radar signals at a plurality of receive (Rx) antennas; a raw data compressor configured to compress the input digital raw data into compressed digital data, for example, by wiping off from the input digital raw data one or more wiped-off signals, e.g., based on a wipe-off criterion applied to the input digital raw data; and a compressor output to provide compressed data including the compressed digital data, and signal parameter information defining the one or more wiped-off signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lior Maor, Alon Cohen
  • Patent number: 11394094
    Abstract: Generally, this disclosure provides apparatus and systems for coupling waveguides to a server package with a modular connector system, as well as methods for fabricating such a connector system. Such a system may be formed with connecting waveguides that turn a desired amount, which in turn may allow a server package to send a signal through a waveguide bundle in any given direction without bending waveguides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Telesphor Kamgaing, Sasha Oster, Georgios Dogiamis, Adel Elsherbini, Shawna Liff, Aleksandar Aleksov, Johanna Swan, Brandon Rawlings
  • Patent number: 10992017
    Abstract: Embodiments may relate to a dielectric waveguide that includes a substrate and a waveguide material disposed within the substrate. The dielectric waveguide may further include a waveguide launcher electromagnetically and physically coupled with the waveguide material, wherein the waveguide launcher is exposed at a side of the dielectric substrate. Other embodiments may be described or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Telesphor Kamgaing, Georgios Dogiamis, Aleksandar Aleksov, Gilbert W. Dewey, Hyung-Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 10951830
    Abstract: An in-vehicle device comprises a direction controller configured to perform control of switching a direction of an in-vehicle camera that photographs an outside of a vehicle to acquire an image to a first direction which is a direction toward a side in front of the vehicle and a second direction which is a direction toward a lane opposite a lane along which the vehicle is traveling; a recognizer configured to periodically recognize license plate information included in the image acquired continuously from the in-vehicle camera; a transmitter configured to transmit data related to the recognized license plate information to a server device, wherein the direction controller switches the direction of the in-vehicle camera facing the first direction to the second direction when the recognizer has continuously recognized the same license plate information for a predetermined period or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichiro Hei
  • Patent number: 10901089
    Abstract: A coherent LIDAR method and apparatus are provided, in which two optical signals having a first frequency difference are reflected by an object. A difference in frequency between the corresponding received and reflected signals is determined. The frequency difference between the reflected signals differs from the first frequency difference due to Doppler effects. The object velocity is determined based on a comparison between the first frequency difference and the frequency difference in the reflected signals. The emitted signals can be produced by modulating a common light source. The reflected signals are inherently mixed at the receiver and further processed. Distance to the object can be determined by pulsing the emitted signals and measuring a time of flight by detecting corresponding pulse edges in the reflected signals, or by using phase sweeping. The emitter can be implemented using an optical phased array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chunshu Zhang, Patrick Dumais, Dominic John Goodwill
  • Patent number: 10886590
    Abstract: An interposer that acts as a buffer zone between a transceiver IC and a dielectric waveguide interconnect is used to establish two well defined reference planes that can be optimized independently. The interposer includes a block of material having a first interface region to interface with an antenna coupled to an integrated circuit (IC) and a second interface region to interface to the dielectric waveguide. An interface waveguide is formed by a defined region positioned within the block of material between the first interface region and the second interface region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Baher Haroun, Juan Alejandro Herbsommer, Gerd Schuppener, Swaminathan Sankaran
  • Patent number: 10742246
    Abstract: A receive path arrangement of a radar sensor of FMCW type comprising a first and second receive path configured to receive reflected radar signals for detection and ranging of objects in a space around the radar sensor; the first receive path configured to provide reflected radar signals between a first and second beat frequency to a first analogue to digital converter for subsequent digital signal processing and wherein; the second receive path includes a second-receive-path filter configured to provide filtered signals by attenuation of the reflected radar signals having frequencies below an intermediate beat frequency, the intermediate beat frequency between the first and second beat frequencies, the second receive path further including a second-receive-path amplifier arrangement configured to provide amplified signals by amplification of the filtered signals and provide the amplified signals to a second analogue to digital converter for subsequent digital signal processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Yu Lin
  • Patent number: 10718861
    Abstract: A method for constructing a frequency profile of an emitted signal suitable for use in a non-contact ranging system with multi-scale spectral analysis includes determining N stepped frequency chirps, wherein each frequency chirp of the N stepped frequency chirps has a linear FM modulation of predetermined bandwidth and slope, and wherein a starting frequency for each of the plurality of stepped frequency chirps is chosen so that a non-linear step profile is created which extends over a predetermined total bandwidth, sorting the plurality of N stepped frequency chirps into P sub-sequences, where P is equal to the product of decimation factors to be used in the multi-scale spectral analysis, and ordering the P sub-sequences end to end in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: HACH COMPANY
    Inventor: David L. Rick
  • Patent number: 10431099
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to generate image data based on avoidance areas for mobile targets and/or mobile structures. A collision avoidance system includes a logic device configured to communicate with a ranging sensor and/or a speed, position, and/or orientation sensor (SPOS) mounted to a mobile structure. The logic device may be configured to determine a projected course for a mobile target detected by the ranging sensor. The system may determine one or more avoidance areas based, at least in part, on the projected course for the mobile target and a speed, position, and/or orientation of the mobile structure detected by the SPOS. The system may generate image data based, at least in part, on the projected course, the one or more avoidance areas, and the detected orientation and/or position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR BELGIUM BVBA
    Inventors: Peter A. Stewart, John Wellbelove, Mark Rivers
  • Patent number: 10260889
    Abstract: An own position estimation device detects a landmark position of a landmark existing around a mobile body, detects a movement amount of the mobile body, and accumulates, as pieces of landmark position data, landmark positions each obtained by moving the detected landmark position by the movement amount. The device then acquires map information including landmark positions of landmarks existing on a map by the controller, matches the pieces of landmark position data in a certain range with the landmark positions included in the map information, and estimates the own position of the mobile body, the certain range being set based on movement records of the mobile body traveling to a current position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Yamaguchi, Hirotoshi Ueda
  • Patent number: 9784820
    Abstract: A radar system includes a plurality of antennas and a controller. The plurality of antennas is configured to detect a reflected radar signal reflected by an object in a field-of-view of the system. Each antenna of the plurality of antennas is configured to output a detected signal indicative of the reflected radar signal detected by the antenna. The controller is configured to receive detected signals from the plurality of antennas, and determine if a target is present in the field-of-view based on the detected signals. The controller is also configured to determine if the target includes more than one object based on an analysis of phases of the detected signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Alebel Hassen Arage
  • Patent number: 9557409
    Abstract: An altimeter system is provided. The altimeter system includes a receiver mixer including an antenna-input and a local-oscillator-input; a transceiver circulator communicatively coupled to an antenna via a transmission line having a selected length and communicatively coupled to the antenna-input of the receiver mixer; and a transmitter configured to output a transmitter signal to the antenna via the transceiver circulator. The transmitter signal is frequency modulated with a linear ramp. The transmitter is communicatively coupled to the receiver mixer to input a local oscillator signal at the local-oscillator-input of the receiver mixer. The receiver mixer is communicatively coupled to input a target-reflected signal from the antenna at the antenna-input of the receiver mixer. The selected length of the transmission line is set so that a composite-leakage signal at the antenna-input of the receiver mixer has a linear phase across a sweep bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Paul David Ferguson
  • Patent number: 9547077
    Abstract: In a dual-frequency CW radar apparatus, first/second beat signals that include reflection components of radar waves conforming to transmission signals of first/second frequencies are generated for each antenna element and the generated signals are Fourier transformed. A power spectrum average of the beat signals is used as a basis for the detection of a peak frequency fp corresponding to the frequency of the reflection components. A second eigenvalue ?2 of a correlation matrix: Ry=(½)·[y1,y2][y1,y2]H is calculated, the matrix being based on first received vector y1/second received vector y2 having elements that are Fourier transformed values of the peak frequency fp. Based on the magnitude of the eigenvalue ?2, whether or not the reflection components corresponding to the peak frequency fp are synthetic components of the reflected waves from a plurality of targets is decided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuu Watanabe, Koichiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9523760
    Abstract: In a general aspect, motion of an object is detected based on wireless signals. In some aspects, wireless signals based on a repeated wireless transmission are received at a wireless sensor device in a space. The received wireless signals are analyzed, by operation of a processor, to detect movement of an object in the space. The analysis includes determining complex values representing the relative phases and amplitudes of respective frequency components of each of the received wireless signals, and detecting movement of an object in the space based on a change in the complex values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Cognitive Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Oleksiy Kravets, Tajinder Manku
  • Patent number: 9519050
    Abstract: An altimeter system is provided. The altimeter system includes a receiver mixer including an antenna-input and a local-oscillator-input; a transceiver circulator communicatively coupled to an antenna via a transmission line having a selected length and communicatively coupled to the antenna-input of the receiver mixer; and a transmitter configured to output a transmitter signal to the antenna via the transceiver circulator. The transmitter signal is frequency modulated with a linear ramp. The transmitter is communicatively coupled to the receiver mixer to input a local oscillator signal at the local-oscillator-input of the receiver mixer. The receiver mixer is communicatively coupled to input a target-reflected signal from the antenna at the antenna-input of the receiver mixer. The selected length of the transmission line is set so that a composite-leakage signal at the antenna-input of the receiver mixer has a linear phase across a sweep bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Paul David Ferguson
  • Patent number: 9519052
    Abstract: An optical device is disclosed that may be employed in distance measuring devices. In at least one embodiment, the optical device includes a control unit that is adapted to cause at least one control signal generator unit to generate at least one control signal according to a predetermined temporal function on the basis of an elapsed time from a predetermined point in time. On the basis of the generated at least one control signal, at least one parameter of a receiver unit may be adjusted during the travel time of the optical pulse, wherein the at least one parameter affects the dynamic range of the receiver unit. In this way, the dynamic range of the receiver unit may be increased. A method is further disclosed for operating such an optical device, along with a distance measuring device including such an optical device and a surveying instrument including such a distance measuring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Trimble AB
    Inventor: Yuri P. Gusev
  • Patent number: 9400325
    Abstract: Described herein is an automotive radar system and related processing techniques utilizing a three channel switched antenna to improve the angular resolution of an azimuth tracking radar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Valeo Radar Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Millar
  • Patent number: 9354312
    Abstract: A sonar system using frequency bursts. A sonar system for use with a vessel may include a sonar module having a transmitting element configured to generate a transmit signal, where the transmit signal comprises one or more bursts, and where at least one burst comprises a first portion having a first frequency and a second portion having a second frequency different than the first frequency. The sonar system may also include a transducer array in communication with the sonar module, where the transducer array is configured to (i) receive the transmit signal from the transmitting element, (ii) produce one or more sonar beams based on the first frequency and the second frequency, and (iii) receive one or more sonar return signals from an underwater environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: NAVICO HOLDING AS
    Inventor: Alan Proctor
  • Publication number: 20150145714
    Abstract: In a dual-frequency CW radar apparatus, first/second beat signals that include reflection components of radar waves conforming to transmission signals of first/second frequencies are generated for each antenna element and the generated signals are Fourier transformed. A power spectrum average of the beat signals is used as a basis for the detection of a peak frequency fp corresponding to the frequency of the reflection components. A second eigenvalue ?2 of a correlation matrix: Ry=(½)·[y1,y2][y1,y2]H is calculated, the matrix being based on first received vector y1/second received vector y2 having elements that are Fourier transformed values of the peak frequency fp. Based on the magnitude of the eigenvalue ?2, whether or not the reflection components corresponding to the peak frequency fp are synthetic components of the reflected waves from a plurality of targets is decided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Yuu Watanabe, Koichiro Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20150084807
    Abstract: An apparatus that detects creeping of radar waves includes: a transmitter transmitting radar waves; a receiver receiving incoming waves from a target; a distance detecting unit detecting a first distance which is a distance up to the target; a speed derivation unit deriving a relative speed relative to the target; a distance estimating unit estimating, based on the relative speed, a second distance which is a distance up to the target; and a creeping detecting unit determining whether or not a creeping has occurred in accordance with whether or not the differential distance representing a deviation quantity between the first distance and the second distance is larger than or equal to a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Toyohito NOZAWA, Tatsuya NAMIKIRI
  • Publication number: 20140320335
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing personal radar, object presence detection, and object localization are provided. Multiple devices that perform high-resolution ranging can be operated to perform radar in an area, detect objects and motion of objects in the area, and generate a virtual steerable antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Greina Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Lee, Thomas Schmid
  • Patent number: 8873339
    Abstract: Herein is presented, a low power on-die 60 GHz distribution network for a beamforming system that can be scaled as the number of transmitters increases. The transmission line based power splitters and quadrature hybrids whose size would be proportional to a quarter wavelength (˜600 ?m) if formed using transmission lines are instead constructed by inductors/capacitors and reduce the area by more than 80%. An input in-phase I clock and an input quadrature Q clock are combined into a single composite clock waveform locking the phase relation between the in-phase I clock and quadrature Q clock. The composite clock is transferred over a single transmission line formed using a Co-planar Waveguide (CPW) coupling the source and destination locations over the surface of a die. Once the individuals the in-phase I and quadrature Q clocks are required, they can be generated at the destination from the composite clock waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Tensorcom, Inc.
    Inventor: Jiashu Chen
  • Publication number: 20140253365
    Abstract: In a method for cyclically measuring distances (d) and relative velocities (v) of objects using an FMCW radar sensor, the frequency (f) of a transmitted signal of the radar sensor is periodically modulated, each period (P) including at least two differing modulation patterns, a relationship between distance (d) and velocity (v) of the object being derived from a signal received for a single modulation pattern, and the signals received for multiple modulation patterns being adjusted to one another in order to determine one value each for the distance and the velocity per each measuring cycle. For the adjustment between a signal obtained for a modulation pattern in the instantaneous measuring cycle and the signal(s) obtained for other modulation patterns, the signals from at least one previous measuring cycle are utilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas KIRSCH, Michael SCHOOR
  • Patent number: 8738263
    Abstract: A method of detecting a vehicle speed is disclosed in the present invention. The method includes outputting a detecting wave, receiving a reflecting wave from an external object when the external object passes through a covering range of the detecting wave, calculating a variation between the detecting wave and the reflecting wave, and reading a table for executing an application program according to information of the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Tung-Ming Wu, Meng-Kai Lin
  • Publication number: 20130222176
    Abstract: A signal processor is configured to: derive, using a first process, at least one of a distance and a relative speed included in the object data set; and derive, using a second process different from the first process, at least one of the distance and the relative speed included in the object data set when the distance included in the object data set is below a predetermined distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventor: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
  • Patent number: 8390506
    Abstract: An FMCW radar locating device includes a transmitting device having a controllable transmitting-signal-generating device generating a transmitting signal having a frequency corresponding to an input control signal; a control device connected to the transmitting-signal-generating device and generating the input control signal which controls the transmitting signal such that it rises periodically in a discontinuous, inconsistent linear fashion in first frequency segments, and drops periodically in a discontinuous, inconsistent linear fashion in second frequency segments; and a receiving device for receiving an echo signal reflected by an object and locating an object based on the received echo signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Focke, Joerg Hilsebecher, Arne Zender, Thomas Schoeberl, Thomas Hansen
  • Patent number: 8203481
    Abstract: In a frequency-modulated radar system and method for detecting the surroundings, a compensation of interfering effects is achieved by varying one of the following values: a) a time spacing or temporal distance between the transmitted frequency ramps or the time gap between the frequency ramps, b) a time from the start of the respective transmitted frequency ramp to the beginning of the scanning of the received signal, c) a frequency at the start of the transmitted frequency ramp, and d) a sign of the slope of the transmitted frequency ramps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: ADC Automotive Distance Control Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Wintermantel, Hansjerg Goelz
  • Patent number: 8184040
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a radar device including a transmission module for sequentially transmitting two or more kinds of pulse signals having different pulse widths by a predetermined transmitting pattern, a memory module for storing a predetermined number of pulse reply data corresponding to each kind of the pulse signals, the predetermined number being number of transmissions of the kind of the pulse signals, a pulse integrating module for performing pulse integration of the pulse reply data stored in the memory module for each kind of the pulse signal, and an image generating module for generating a radar image using the results of the pulse integration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Company Limited
    Inventors: Masaya Takase, Hitoshi Maeno
  • Patent number: 8164511
    Abstract: In order to prevent delays in output of detection results, even when a plurality of frequency modulation methods with different frequency change rates are used, an FM-CW radar device employing frequency modulation with two different frequency change rates, has distance/velocity detection unit for detecting the relative distance or relative velocity of a target object based on beat signals of transmission signals with the same frequency change rate and for detecting the relative distance or relative velocity using beat signals when the frequency change rates are different, and distance/velocity confirmation unit for adding evaluation values for relative distances or relative velocities detected in the detection processing, and for confirming the relative distance or relative velocity based on the evaluation value which has reached a criterion value. As a result, more data can be obtained in one detection cycle, and the same advantageous results as when executing a plurality of detection cycles can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventors: Masayuki Kishida, Hisateru Asanuma, Kohsuke Noda, Tomoya Kawasaki
  • Publication number: 20120013499
    Abstract: A circuit board is provided. The circuit board includes a substrate, a waveguide line and a laminated waveguide. The waveguide line is at least partially positioned on a first surface of the substrate. The waveguide line transmits a high frequency signal. The laminated waveguide is formed inside the substrate. The laminated waveguide is electromagnetically coupled to the waveguide line, and has a lead-out portion led out from inside the substrate to a surface other than the first surface. The laminated waveguide includes a dielectric layer, a pair of main conductive layers and a through conductor group. The pair of main conductive layers sandwiches the dielectric layer in a thickness direction thereof. In the through conductor group, a plurality of through conductors are arranged along a high frequency signal transmitting direction. The plurality of through conductors electrically connect the pair of main conductive layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuki Hayata
  • Publication number: 20110309968
    Abstract: In operating a radar sensor, a modulation sequence having a number n of successive linear frequency ramps having different slopes an is cyclically repeated. A received radar signal reflected from an object is mixed with the emitted radar signal to form an intermediate frequency signal, which is analyzed for each frequency ramp with respect to its frequency spectrum. Peaks occurring in the frequency spectra of the intermediate frequency signal correspond to ambiguity lines in a distance/velocity space. Possible objects are assumed at intersection points of the ambiguity lines. The expected position which the possible objects would have at the point in time of the repetition of the modulation sequence is precalculated. The slope an of at least one of the frequency ramps is established for a subsequent modulation sequence in such a way that none of the expected positions of a possible object in the distance/velocity space is at an intersection point of precalculated ambiguity lines of the other possible objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Marcus Steffen Reiher, Dirk Bechler
  • Patent number: 8026843
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for detecting a range and velocity of a target. In this method, an electromagnetic wave is transmitted over a frequency range, where a period of the wave comprises a number of consecutive ramps. A first ramp in the period is transmitted over a first portion of the frequency range, and a second ramp in the period is transmitted over a second portion of the frequency range that differs from the first portion. The second ramp is offset by a frequency shift relative to the first ramp. A scattered wave is received from the target and processed to determine the range and the velocity of the target. Other methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Volker Winkler
  • Patent number: 7907084
    Abstract: This radar device includes: a transmitter to transmit a transmitting signal whose frequency is periodically increased/decreased at a predetermined rate of change; a mixer to generate a beat signal by multiplying a received signal being transmitted by the transmitter and reflected back from an object to be detected and the transmitting signal; a frequency detector to detect a frequency of the beat signal; and a controller to control the rate of change of the frequency of the transmitting signal so that the frequency of the beat signal detected by the frequency detector becomes equal to or larger than a cut-off frequency of a flicker noise caused by the mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takahiro Sekiguchi, Ichiro Seto
  • Publication number: 20100289692
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for detecting a range and velocity of a target. In this method, an electromagnetic wave is transmitted over a frequency range, where a period of the wave comprises a number of consecutive ramps. A first ramp in the period is transmitted over a first portion of the frequency range, and a second ramp in the period is transmitted over a second portion of the frequency range that differs from the first portion. The second ramp is offset by a frequency shift relative to the first ramp. A scattered wave is received from the target and processed to determine the range and the velocity of the target. Other methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventor: Volker Winkler
  • Patent number: 7817081
    Abstract: Provided is a radar apparatus that detects an object, and includes: an oscillating unit for generating carrier waves; first and second transmission units for spreading the carrier waves, respectively using a first pseudo-random code and a second pseudo-random code different from the first pseudo-random code; a first transmission antenna for transmitting the carrier waves spread by the first transmission unit; a second transmission antenna for transmitting the carrier waves spread by the second transmission unit and have a directional characteristic different from that of the carrier waves transmitted by the first transmission antenna; a reception antenna for receiving reflected waves that are the carrier waves that have been transmitted by the first and second transmission antennas and have been reflected from the object; and a reception unit for despreading the reflected waves, using the first pseudo-random code and despreading the reflected waves, using the second pseudo-random code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Inoue, Daisuke Ueda
  • Patent number: 7791528
    Abstract: A radar apparatus and method for determining the range to and velocity of at least one object comprising, transmitting a plurality of RF signals, each comprising a particular frequency and being transmitted during a particular unique finite period, the plurality of signals collectively comprising at least one first subset of signals having the same frequency and at least one second subset of signals having different frequencies, receiving the plurality of signals after reflection from an object, determining a phase difference between each of the signals and the corresponding reflected signal, each piece of phase difference information herein termed a sample, organizing the samples in two-dimensions wherein, in a first dimension, all samples have the same frequency and, in a second dimension, all consecutive samples are separated from each other by a fixed time interval; processing the samples in the first dimension to determine a phase rotation frequency corresponding to the samples in the first dimension, th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Dirk Klotzbuecher, Walter Poiger
  • Patent number: 7786927
    Abstract: In a sensor and a radar for measuring the distance and the moving speed of a target by radiating a radio frequency, particularly a millimeter wave, compatibility between cost reduction and high detection performance has been conventionally a significant problem. In the present invention, the frequency of a transmitted signal changes during a fixed time while performing digitally-frequency-modulation on frequency sweeping straight lines extending, with different slopes relative to the time axis, from plural slightly different initial values serving as starting points, the signal is transmitted after being modulated so as to periodically repeat the sweep time serving as a unit, signal components corresponding to the respective sweeping slopes are digitally sampled, in synchronization with the transmitted modulation signal, from a received signal which is reflected and returned from a target, and the received signal is analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kondoh
  • Patent number: 7768445
    Abstract: A radar system utilizing a CW radar system, including an FMCW radar, is capable of avoiding interference wave generation and of simultaneously covering a number of radar systems within limited frequency modulation bands. The radar system 1 for emitting into space transmission radio waves based on a frequency-modulated continuous wave reference, and receiving transmission radio waves reflected from an external object, as well as for obtaining beat signals, from the received signals and the continuous wave reference, and computing from the beat signals obtained, a distance to and a velocity of the external object, comprises a pulse generation means 13 for pulsing the continuous-wave reference at an interval unique to the radar system, and an antenna 16 for emitting into space, the pulse transmit signals as the transmission radio waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Inaba
  • Publication number: 20100127915
    Abstract: A radar apparatus and method for determining the range to and velocity of at least one object comprising, transmitting a plurality of RF signals, each comprising a particular frequency and being transmitted during a particular unique finite period, the plurality of signals collectively comprising at least one first subset of signals having the same frequency and at least one second subset of signals having different frequencies, receiving the plurality of signals after reflection from an object, determining a phase difference between each of the signals and the corresponding reflected signal, each piece of phase difference information herein termed a sample, organizing the samples in two-dimensions wherein, in a first dimension, all samples have the same frequency and, in a second dimension, all consecutive samples are separated from each other by a fixed time interval; processing the samples in the first dimension to determine a phase rotation frequency corresponding to the samples in the first dimension, th
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: DIRK KLOTZBUECHER, Walter Poiger
  • Patent number: 7652616
    Abstract: A time needed until measurement values are obtained in a two-frequency continuous wave radar systems is reduced. An object detection system that emits transmission signals, as transmission waves, whose frequencies have been modulated successively into a plurality of stepped frequencies, and receives echoes of the transmission waves reflected from target objects, thereby calculating relative velocities of the target objects by frequency-analyzing reception signals obtained from the received echoes. The target object detection system includes: a frequency modulation component that repeatedly executes frequency-modulation processes to successively modulate the transmission signals into those of the stepped frequencies, within a minimum measurement time in which a desired velocity resolution is achieved; and a frequency-analysis component that frequency-analyzes throughout the repeated frequency-modulation processes the reception signals processed by the frequency-modulation component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Inaba
  • Publication number: 20090278727
    Abstract: A radar system utilizing a CW radar system, including an FMCW radar, is capable of avoiding interference wave generation and of simultaneously covering a number of radar systems within limited frequency modulation bands. The radar system 1 for emitting into space transmission radio waves based on a frequency-modulated continuous wave reference, and receiving transmission radio waves reflected from an external object, as well as for obtaining beat signals, from the received signals and the continuous wave reference, and computing from the beat signals obtained, a distance to and a velocity of the external object, comprises a pulse generation means 13 for pulsing the continuous-wave reference at an interval unique to the radar system, and an antenna 16 for emitting into space, the pulse transmit signals as the transmission radio waves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventor: Takayuki Inaba
  • Patent number: 7616148
    Abstract: A dual mode motion sensor for detecting both motion of a moving target and a range of the moving target. The dual mode motion sensor normally operates in a pulse transmission mode. If motion is detected, the sensor automatically switches to a frequency modulated continuous wave transmission mode. This will allow the sensor to determine the range of the moving target. The sensor includes a microcontroller that compares the determined range of the moving target with a predetermined maximum detection range. If the determined range is outside or exceeds the predetermined maximum detection range the sensor will ignore the motion. If the determined range is within the predetermined maximum detection range, an alarm will be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaodong Wu, Harold L. Holvick, Leslie K. Green, James N. Helland
  • Patent number: 7605744
    Abstract: A method for extension of unambiguous range and velocity of a weather radar. To avoid pulse overlaying, the pulse repetition time of a single pulse can be extended such that any return echo will arrive at the radar before the next pulse is transmitted. When pulse repetition time is increased, the maximum unambiguous range increases while the maximum unambiguous velocity decreases. The pulse overlaying can be avoided if consecutive pulses are sent on different frequencies that are far enough from each other to allow separation of pulses arriving simultaneously at the radar. When different frequencies are used an unknown phase difference is generated by distributed atmospheric targets to the return signals. This normally prevents use of the shorter pulse repetition time for velocity calculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Vaisala OYJ
    Inventors: Pentti Karhunen, Sebastian Torres, Alan Siggia, Richard Passarelli
  • Patent number: 7508337
    Abstract: The radar apparatus of the present invention can obtain distance to a target and speed with higher accuracy even when multiple targets are running within a detecting field of a radar. The radar apparatus can transmit a radio wave by alternately switching a section having a frequency slope and a section having no frequency slope with the radar for simultaneously transmitting a couple of frequencies having a frequency difference. Measurement of distance to the target and relative speed is conducted in the above two sections, results of measurement are compared with each other in the adjacent sections, and the result of measurement is determined correct only when there is no inconsistency in these measurement results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsutoshi Morinaga, Keiichiro Nagatsuka
  • Patent number: 7492309
    Abstract: A range detection apparatus comprising a transmitter adapted to transmit a microwave signal and a receiver adapted to receive an echo signal reflected from a target which corresponds to a portion of the transmitted signal; a signal generating means adapted to generate a drive signal to be applied to the transmitter to produce the transmitted signal, the signal generator producing a drive signal which includes a first signal frame comprising at least two frequencies and a second signal frame comprising at least two frequencies, the second signal frame differing from the first, and a processor adapted to process the echo signal together with the transmitted signal so as to determine the distance to the target that produced the echo signal. The apparatus may reduce ambiguity in range measurements and is particularly suited for Frequency Shift Key (FSK) radar in automotive, typically adaptive cruise control functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignees: TRW Limited, Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: David Charles Hurst, Brian Keith Taylor, Michael Hard
  • Publication number: 20080068251
    Abstract: A measuring device , e.g., a measuring device for a motor vehicle, is for measuring a distance between the measuring device and at least one object and/or measuring a difference in speed between the measuring device and the at least one object. The measuring device includes an emitting apparatus for transmitting a transmission signal encompassing at least two sequences of signal portions, a first sequence of signal portions and a second sequence of signal portions with two respective temporally alternating signal portions. The frequency of at least two signal portions of a sequence of signal portions differs by one respective difference frequency, the difference frequency of the first sequence of signal portions being different from the difference frequency of the second sequence of signal portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Marc-Michael Meinecke, Ralph Mende, Marc Behrens, Thanh-Binh To
  • Patent number: RE41630
    Abstract: A system is provided for generating multiple frequencies in a specified frequency band, with a specified step size between frequencies, in which the spectral purity of the frequencies is assured. The switching speed between frequencies is very fast, limited only by the speed of the switches used. In one embodiment, only five tones are generated as the base for the rest of the synthesis, in which the relationship of the five tones is f0+/??f0 and +/? 1/16f0. The subject system may be utilized in air defense systems for generating the transmit channels to be able to permit a missile seeker to transmit a signal at the appropriate frequency. In one embodiment, spectral purity is achieved by providing a number of stages of up converting, expanding, and dividing down of an input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Inventor: Michael Koechlin