With Frequency Modulation Patents (Class 342/128)
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Patent number: 8604971Abstract: A method and apparatus is devised for detecting objects of interest in which frequency-scanned RF in the HF region of the electromagnetic spectrum is projected out across a given area and returns are detected and converted into image data in which phase, amplitude, range and frequency associated with the incoming data is correlated with frequency-dependent range templates to determine the existence of, the range of and the direction of the objects of interest.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2009Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.Inventors: John T. Apostolos, Richard J. Millard
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Patent number: 8581778Abstract: A non-linear FM pulse compression system includes a non-linear FM transmitter adapted to receive an input signal and transmit an output signal. The non-linear FM transmitter is adapted to modulate the frequency of the output signal by at least one of the following: increasing the frequency of the output signal as a logarithmic function of the frequency of samples in the input signal; modulating the frequency of the output signal in inversely proportional relationship to the frequency of samples in the input signal; and modulating the frequency of the output signal according to a random permutation of the frequency of the input signal. At least one antenna interfaces with the non-linear FM transmitter. A non-linear FM receiver interfacing with the at least one antenna. The non-linear FM receiver is adapted to auto-correlate the output signal with a return signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2010Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Scidea Research, Inc.Inventor: Pat Sankar
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Patent number: 8558730Abstract: A method for detecting precipitation in a region monitored by radar beams includes ascertaining a first average power of a first backscattered radar signal, ascertaining a second average power of a second backscattered radar signal, and detecting an existence of a homogenous medium when the average powers conform.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2007Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Alebel Arage Hassen
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Publication number: 20130268173Abstract: An object detecting device includes a signal transmitting and receiving unit configured to generate intermediate frequency signals based on transmission signals obtained by frequency modulation in multiple modulation periods and reception signals corresponding to reflected waves of the transmission signals, a distance detecting unit configured to calculate distances based on peak frequencies of the intermediate frequency signals generated by the signal transmitting and receiving unit, and a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the distances calculated by the distance detecting unit and corresponding to the multiple modulation periods are equal to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2013Publication date: October 10, 2013Applicant: Honda elesys Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takeshi KAMBE
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Patent number: 8537049Abstract: Provided is a multi-function radar apparatus capable of measuring both a distance to a target object and a temperature of the target object with high accuracy. A transmission signal produced from a high-frequency signal generating unit (9) is amplified by a transmission signal amplifying unit (12) while intermittently stopped by a transmission intermittent stop switch (11), and is emitted to a target object (13) via a circulator unit (2). A reflected wave from the target object (13) is input as a reception signal to a transmitting and receiving antenna (1) while the transmission signal is emitted, and a radiated wave from the target object (13) is input as the reception signal thereto while the transmission signal is not emitted. The reception signal is amplified by a reception signal amplifying unit (3) via the circulator unit (2), and is mixed by a frequency converting unit (4) with the transmission signal branched by a high-frequency signal branching unit (10) to thereby generate a beat signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2010Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.Inventor: Eiichi Hase
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Publication number: 20130214963Abstract: One embodiment is directed towards a FMCW radar having a single antenna. The radar includes a transmit path having a voltage controlled oscillator controlled by a phase-locked loop, and the phase-locked loop includes a fractional-n synthesizer configured to implement a FMCW ramp waveform that ramps from a starting frequency to an ending frequency and upon reaching the ending frequency returns to the starting frequency to ramp again. The radar also includes a delay path coupled between a coupler on the transmit path and a mixer in a receive path. The delay path is configured to delay a local oscillator reference signal from the transmit path such that the propagation time of the local oscillator reference signal from the coupler to the mixer through the delay path is between the propagation time of signal reflected off the antenna and the propagation time of a leakage signal through a circulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2012Publication date: August 22, 2013Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.Inventor: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
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Patent number: 8514982Abstract: Systems and methods for mitigating multipath signals in a receiver are provided. In this regard, a representative system, among others, includes a radio frequency (RF) front-end and at least one analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The RF front-end receives FM signals and down-converts the received frequency signals to intermediate frequency (IF) signals. The analog-to-digital converter (ADC) receives the intermediate frequency signals and digitizes multiple FM channels around a desired FM channel associated with the down-converted signals. The system further includes multiple sets of digital processing components that are configured to simultaneously receive and process the digitized multiple channels. The multiple sets of digital processing components include at least two parallel channel selection and demodulation paths in which the respective digitized multiple channels are processed therethrough.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2008Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: CSR Technology, IncInventors: Noshir Dubash, Siva Bonasu, Peter Naji, Douglas W. Schucker
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Patent number: 8497799Abstract: A level gauge using microwaves to determine a distance to a surface of a product in a tank, wherein a measurement signal comprises a first frequency sweep, and a second frequency sweep, and a mixer is arranged to mix the measurement signal with an echo signal to form a first IF signal based on the first frequency sweep, and a second IF signal based on the second frequency sweep. Processing circuitry is adapted to sample the first IF signal and the second IF signal, to form a combined sample vector including samples from each tank signal, and to determine the distance based on the combined sample vector. By combining the samples from two (or more) different sweeps, the number of samples and the bandwidth can both be increased, thus maintaining the range L. However, as the samples are obtained from two separate sweeps, the sweep time for each individual sweep does not need to be increased, and the average power consumption can be maintained.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2011Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: Rosemount Tank Radar ABInventor: Mikael Kleman
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Patent number: 8493265Abstract: A method includes: generating a frequency-modulated continuous signal, an emission sequence being formed of successive ramps centered on a carrier frequency; fixing a modulation band ?F and the duration Tr of a recurrence in such a way that at the range limit, a reception ramp appears shifted by at least one given frequency with respect to the corresponding emission ramp, on account of the propagation delay for the outward-return journey to a target kTr+?, k being an integer and ? a duration less than Tr; demodulating the signal received by the signal emitted, the resulting signal including a first sinusoid at the frequency ?Fdim=(1?(?/Tr)·?F and a second sinusoid at the frequency ?Fd=(?/Tr)·?F; sampling the resulting signal and performing a first fast Fourier transformation on this resulting signal over the duration of each emission ramp; detecting in the resulting spectrum the spectral lines appearing at the frequencies ?Fd and ?Fdim, and performing the vector sum of these two spectral lines after resettingType: GrantFiled: December 16, 2010Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: ThalesInventors: Pascal Cornic, Patrick Le Bihan, Stéphane Kemkemian
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Patent number: 8477063Abstract: A obstacle detection system comprises a transmission antenna operable to radiate a radio frequency (RF) signal and a transmitter operable to control transmission of the RF signal from the antenna. The obstacle detection system also comprises a receiver antenna operable to receive a reflection of the RF signal; and processing circuitry operable to analyze a plurality of characteristics of a radar cross section (RCS) of the received reflection to identify an obstacle and one or more physical attributes of the obstacle.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2008Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: David W. Meyers, Long Bui, Yi-Chi Shih, Alan G. Cornett
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Patent number: 8471705Abstract: A multifunction detector for detecting energy reflected from the surface, the detector comprising: a focal plane array in communication with the optical receiving path; and an optical receiving path; a read-only integrated circuit in communication with the optical receiving path, integrated with a focal plane array; and a processor programmed to operate the focal plane array and read-out integrated circuit in a first mode to process signals in a first frequency band, and in a second mode to process signals in a second, wider frequency band.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2009Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: William Yenisch, Richard LeBlanc
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Patent number: 8427361Abstract: The radar apparatus includes a target candidate detecting means for detecting a peak frequency at which the intensity of the power spectrum of a beat signal peaks as a target candidate, a road shape recognizing means to sequentially connect, along a predetermined direction, the target candidates detected to be stationary and present within a reference distance from one of the target candidates set as a reference target candidate for one or more measurement cycles and recognize an area formed by the sequentially connected target candidates as an edge of the road, a cruise environment estimating means to determine whether the cruise environment is a closed space or an open space based on the power spectrum, and a reference distance correcting means to shorten the reference distance when the cruise environment is determined to be a closed space.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2011Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Koichi Sato
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Patent number: 8421669Abstract: A synthetic aperture processing system that includes a signal transmission unit for generating and radiating a plurality of chirp waves to an irradiation region from measuring sites, a signal reception unit for receiving a plurality of reflected waves caused by the plurality of chirp waves, a range compression unit for range-compressing each of the reflected waves and generating reception data consisting of sinc functions, a cross-correlation computation unit for, based on a plurality of model data segments, calculating correlation values representing a degree of correlation between each of the model data segments and the reception data, and image output unit for outputting the correlation values calculated by cross-correlation computation unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2008Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and TechnologyInventor: Takao Sawa
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Patent number: 8416121Abstract: A frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) system includes a first memory receiving a clock signal and storing voltage digital values of I FMCW signals, a second memory receiving the clock signal and storing the voltage digital values of the Q FMCW signals, a first digital-to-analog converter (DAC) connected to the first memory and receiving the clock signal for converting the voltage digital values of the I FMCW signal to a first analog voltage, a second digital-to-analog converter (DAC) connected to the second memory and receiving the clock signal for converting the voltage digital values of the Q FMCW signal to a second analog voltage, an I low-pass filter connected to the first DAC smoothing the I FMCW signal and a Q low-pass filter connected to the second DAC smoothing the Q FMCW signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2010Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Howard H. Chen, Kai D. Feng, Duixian Liu
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Patent number: 8410976Abstract: An object ranging system operates by transmitting pulses derived from a frequency-swept signal and determining the beat frequency of a combination of the frequency-swept signal and its reflection from an object. A second (or higher) order harmonic is derived from the combination signal. Accordingly, determination of the beat frequency, and hence object range, is significantly enhanced. The frequency sweep is such that frequency changes occur at a substantially higher rate at the beginning of each the pulse repetition interval than at the end. Accordingly, because the frequency changes are concentrated in the period of pulse transmission, even reflections 'from a close object, where the time delay between the source signal and the reflection is very short, will cause a high beat frequency.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2006Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Jerzy Wieslaw Szajnowski, Paul Ratliff, Wojciech Machowski
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Patent number: 8405541Abstract: A radar system operable to detect objects within multiple ranges using common components is provided. The radar system includes a transmitter antenna, a first and second microwave radiation source, and a receiver. The first and second microwave radiation sources both are transmitted through the transmitter antenna. The echoes are received by the same receiver. The first microwave radiation source is a frequency modulated wave form and the second microwave radiation source is an ultra-wide band wave form. A multiplexer selectively connects one of the first and second microwave radiation sources to the transmitter antenna.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2010Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Jae Seung Lee, Paul D. Schmalenberg
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Patent number: 8400349Abstract: The spurious-free dynamic range of a wideband radar system is increased by apportioning de-ramp processing across analog and digital processing domains. A chirp rate offset is applied between the received waveform and the reference waveform that is used for downconversion to the intermediate frequency (IF) range. The chirp rate offset results in a residual chirp in the IF signal prior to digitization. After digitization, the residual IF chirp is removed with digital signal processing.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2010Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Dale F. Dubbert, Bertice L. Tise
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Patent number: 8391336Abstract: To generate a pulse for ranging, a kernel is convolved with a spreading sequence. The spreading sequence is parametrized by one or more ordered (length, sparsity) pairs, such that the first sparsity differs from the bit length of the kernel and/or a subsequent sparsity differs from the product of the immediately preceding length and the immediately preceding sparsity. Alternatively, a kernel is convolved with an ordered plurality of spreading sequences, all but the first of which may be non-binary. The pulse is launched towards a target. The reflection from the target is transformed to a received reflection, compressed by deconvolution of the spreading sequence, and post-processed to provide a range to the target and/or a direction of arrival from the target.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2011Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: A.P.M. Automation Solutions LtdInventor: Alex Chiskis
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Patent number: 8390506Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 21, 2008Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Thomas Focke, Joerg Hilsebecher, Arne Zender, Thomas Schoeberl, Thomas Hansen
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Patent number: 8339305Abstract: In a method for detecting an object with an FMCW (frequency modulated continuous wave) ranging system a superior accuracy and resolution is obtained by determining the strongest sinusoidal component in the frequency spectrum and removing the determined component from the spectrum, repeating the preceding step at least once, adding one of the components determined in the two preceding steps to the spectrum, re-determining the then strongest sinusoidal component in the spectrum and removing the re-determined component from the spectrum, repeating the preceding step for each remaining of the determined sinusoidal components, and repeating the last two steps until a desired degree of convergence is reached.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2010Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Jean-René Larocque, Michael Shenouda
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Patent number: 8334802Abstract: A radar system includes radars and a controller. The controller controls waveform patterns of the radars. As a signal processing unit of each of the radars receives an instruction from the controller, the signal processing unit selects a frequency modulation pattern of a VCO between an FM-CW mode and a CW mode stored in a waveform memory to perform mode switching, and then outputs a radio wave from a transmission antenna. Then, the controller instructs each signal processing unit for a frequency modulation pattern of each radar or an output timing of each pattern so that a time, at which continuous wave signals output from the radars have the same frequency, is not continuous.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2009Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masaru Ogawa
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Patent number: 8334800Abstract: A radar device includes: a frequency modulating unit for modulating a frequency of a transmission signal by a triangular wave; a transmitting unit for pulsing the frequency modulated transmission signal to transmit the pulsed transmission signal as a transmission pulse; a receiving unit for generating a beat signal based on a frequency difference between a frequency modulated transmission signal and a reflected received pulse; a range gate setting unit for setting a range gate that determines a sampling timing of the received pulse based on a transmitting timing of the transmission pulse; a sampling unit for sampling the beat signal in each of range gates; a distance and relative velocity calculating unit for calculating a distance to a target and a relative velocity based on the sampled beat signal; and a control unit for controlling a transmission pulse width and a range gate width depending on a subject vehicle velocity.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2010Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventor: Kei Hayase
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Publication number: 20120313810Abstract: A radar apparatus for obtaining a higher range resolution than conventional radar apparatus without increasing the bandwidth comprises a transmitter antenna that transmits a frequency modulated transmit signal having a transmit bandwidth and a receiver antenna that receives a receive signal reflected from said scene in response to the transmission of said transmit signal. A mixer mixes said receive signal with said transmit signal to obtain a mixed receive signal, a sampling unit samples said mixed receive signal to obtain receive signal samples from a period of said receive signal, and a processor processes said receive signal samples by defining a measurement matrix and determines the positions of one or more targets of the scene by applying compressive sensing using said measurement matrix and said receive signal samples.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2012Publication date: December 13, 2012Applicant: Sony CorporationInventor: Juan NOGUEIRA-NINE
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Patent number: 8310585Abstract: Provided is a range finder. The range finder comprises a light-emitting unit, a light-receiving unit, a reflection mirror, an actuator, and a controller. The light-emitting unit emits a light pulse, and a light-receiving unit detects reflected light incident thereto. The reflection minor reflects the light pulse emitted from the light-emitting unit to a measurement space, and reflecting the reflected light reflected by an object in the measurement space so that the reflected light is incident to the light-receiving unit. The actuator allows the reflection minor to move. The controller obtains distance information from a signal detected by the light-receiving unit, and obtains location information from the actuator.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2008Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ki Min Lee, Jun Ki Lee
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Patent number: 8305259Abstract: The radar includes a PCB having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a processor mounted on the bottom surface of the PCB. The radar includes a second liquid crystal polymer layer formed on the top surface of the printed circuit board, a second microstrip array printed on the second liquid crystal polymer layer, the second microstrip array having a patch, a first liquid crystal polymer layer formed on the second liquid crystal polymer layer, a first microstrip array printed on the first liquid crystal polymer layer, the first microstrip array having a perforated patch, an antenna positioned underneath the patch and connected to the second microstrip array, and a transmit/receive module connected to a bottom surface of the second liquid crystal polymer layer and configured to transmit a first frequency signal to the first microstrip array and a second frequency signal to the second microstrip array.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2011Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventor: Alexandros Margomenos
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Patent number: 8305256Abstract: A radar system achieves unambiguous target range at a given PRI, in conjunction with unambiguous Doppler, by transmitting CW-LFM pulses and then separating the return signal into subpulses, without requiring any modifications to the transmit waveform. The CW-LFM pulses may be contiguous. The return signals are bandpass-filtered to generate the subpulses, and downconverted to a common frequency such as baseband. Each downconverted subpulse is matched-filtered to the FM slope, and the resulting matched-filtered subpulses are time-aligned. The time-aligned subpulses are Doppler-filtered to determine target velocity.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2010Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Arul Manickam, Gregory P. Fonder
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Patent number: 8284099Abstract: According to one embodiment, an FMCW signal generation circuit includes a voltage-controlled oscillator, a digital phase detector, a differentiator, a comparator, a low-pass filter, an amplifier, a D/A converter, and an integrator. The voltage-controlled oscillator generates an FMCW signal including an oscillation frequency corresponding to a control signal. The digital phase detector detects phase information of the FMCW signal to generate a detection signal. The differentiator differentiates the detection signal once to generate a differential signal. The comparator compares the differential signal with a target frequency to generate an error signal. The low-pass filter suppresses a high-frequency component of the error signal to generate a filtered signal. The amplifier amplifies the filtered signal to generate an amplified signal. The D/A converter converts the amplified signal to analog to generate an analog signal. The integrator integrates the analog signal to generate the control signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2010Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Hiroki Sakurai
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Publication number: 20120235855Abstract: Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus for signal processing that reduces the average power used in a small size, frequency modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar. Such a small size, frequency modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar is referred to herein as a micro radar. Specific embodiments of the invention can be used to detect and/or track personnel, vehicle, and/or other targets.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2012Publication date: September 20, 2012Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC.Inventors: JAMES LYNN KURTZ, Charles Henry Overman, IV, Philip Russell Carlson
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Patent number: 8264401Abstract: A micro-radar is disclosed that is operated based upon two Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) outputs that control its internal timing and Intermediate Frequency (IF) signal frequency. Calibration and temperature compensation is done through estimating the duty cycle of the transmit signal and possibly the reception signal that stimulate a pulse generator to create the transmit pulse and the reception pulse and adjusting one or both DAC outputs. Sensor processors, wireless sensor nodes and wireline sensor nodes are disclosed for operating the micro-radar. An integrated circuit is disclosed implementing all or portions of the micro-radar. Access points, servers as well as systems that include but are not limited to a traffic monitoring system, a traffic control system, a parking management system and/or a production management system are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2012Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Sensys Networks, Inc.Inventor: Robert Kavaler
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Patent number: 8254430Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling the operative association of electronic devices that each employ spread spectrum EMI noise reduction. The method includes the detection of frequency modulation and the generation of a modulation detection signal that conveys the modulation extent and type. The modulation detection signal is then used to accommodate the modulation technique and make it compatible with the receiving electronic device. The apparatus of the invention includes an FM modulator that creates an FM signal from an input signal, an FM detector that detects the FM content of the incoming signal and represent this information by means of either voltage or current signals, and a circuit to process this FM information and perform functions such as modification of the FM content and generating a new signal with this new content, complete removal of the content, and “no-action,” whereby the signal is passed on with no alteration to the content.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2001Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Inventor: Narendar Venugopal
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Patent number: 8232914Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus comprising a transmission antenna to radiate a transmission radio wave; a reception antenna to receive a reflected signal from a target; an analog-to-digital converter to perform an analog-to-digital conversion for converting a reception signal; and a signal processing unit to process the converted signal and to detect the target, in which a transmission frequency of the transmission radio wave to be radiated is switched at a timing synchronized with a sampling frequency of the analog-to-digital conversion, the transmission frequency is switched in accordance with an arbitrary pattern within a frequency band, and the reception signal is rearranged in order on the basis of the arbitrary pattern at a time of the transmission to then be subject to a radar signal processing.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2008Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Kuroda, Kazuo Matsuura
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Publication number: 20120169529Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting a distance between a radar system and a reflecting surface. The method comprises the steps of transmitting a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar signal from the radar system and receiving a reflected FMCW radar signal being the transmitted signal that has been reflected by the reflecting surface. Further, the method comprises the steps of providing a beat signal having a frequency that is equal to the frequency difference between the transmitted signal and the received signal and determining harmonics of the beat signal. The method also comprises the step of using phase shift information of at least one of said harmonics for determining a distance between the radar system and the reflecting surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2010Publication date: July 5, 2012Applicant: NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPASTInventors: René Prevo, Johannes Antonius Andreas Janssen, Robért Michael Evert van Heijster
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Patent number: 8212713Abstract: An object detecting apparatus including: an object detecting device that causes electromagnetic waves to be reflected from an object and receives the reflected waves to detect the object while scanning a predetermined scan range; a rotating device that changes a direction of the object detecting device; an imaging device that captures images; a display device that displays an image captured by the imaging device; a setting device that sets the scan range of the object detecting device on the image displayed by the display device; and a control device that instructs the rotating device to rotate the object detecting device based on the set scan range, and instructs the object detecting device to scan the scan range.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2008Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshimitsu Aiga, Takeshi Sasajima, Takashi Asaba
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Publication number: 20120146838Abstract: Described is a device as well as a method for measuring a change in distance between a stationary initial point and an object, wherein frequency-modulated, continuous electromagnetic microwaves are emitted as an emitting signal (4) in the direction of the object such that the emitting signal (4) is reflected by the object and an echo signal (5) generated at the object following the reflection of the emitting signal (4) is received and evaluated. The method described or the FMCW radar apparatus designed according to the invention, respectively, is based on a hardware extension of a standard FMCW radar apparatus and offers the possibility of evaluating a time-independent part of the mixed signal phase (6) by means of evaluation electronics (18) while taking into account a propagation time of the emitting (4) and/or echo signal (5) between emitting unit (2) and object so that a change in distance between emitting unit (2) and object can be detected as a result of a change in propagation time.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2010Publication date: June 14, 2012Inventor: Gerhard Peters
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Publication number: 20120139774Abstract: A method and a radio beacon for determining a distance of a vehicle passing a radio beacon of a road toll system, from beacon. The vehicle is equipped with an onboard unit, which emits a signal with a known curve of its frequency over time. The method includes receiving the signal in the radio beacon during passage of the vehicle and recording a curve of its frequency over time in relation to the known frequency curve; detecting a change in the recorded frequency curve exceeding a predetermined threshold value; looking for two far regions in the frequency curve lying before and after the detected change in time and showing a frequency change below a threshold value; scaling the recorded frequency curve in such a manner that the far regions assume predetermined values; and determining the said distance from a gradient of the scaled frequency curve in an inflection point thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2011Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicant: KAPSCH TRAFFICCOM AGInventor: Oliver Nagy
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Patent number: 8188908Abstract: Distance to a modulated backscatter tag is measured with a RFID reader that measures changes in phase with frequency of modulated backscattered RF signals. Measured distances are linked to a specific tag. The effects of other sources of reflected and interfering signals are mitigated. The techniques eliminate the need for high RF bandwidth used in time-of-flight methods, and may be used with linear, limiting or other types of amplifiers in the reader receiver. Unambiguous distance to a tag may be found using the derivative of phase with RF frequency of the modulated signal backscattered by a tag. The distance to a tag can be measured with an accuracy on the order of a centimeter. The techniques utilize the characteristics of cooperative backscatter tags (transponders, labels, etc.). New readers implement the techniques which may use unmodified tags.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2010Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Amtech Systems, LLCInventor: Jeremy A. Landt
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Patent number: 8188911Abstract: A signal generation system suitable for use in a radar system comprises a local oscillator (LO) and an intermediate frequency (IF) oscillator, wherein the IF oscillator is a Direct Digital Synthesizer (DDS), and the LO is a free running oscillator not itself locked to another oscillator but which acts as a clock reference for the DDS and is the highest frequency oscillator in the system. The LO may also act as a reference for a receive chain digitizer. The invention exploits phase noise advantages of a free running oscillator at some distance from the carrier whilst maintaining coherency with other system components. The system typically finds application in FMCW radars.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2008Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Qinetiq LimitedInventor: Patrick David Lawrence Beasley
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Publication number: 20120119939Abstract: A radar apparatus includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a signal processor. The transmitter outputs a radar wave. The receiver includes a plurality of receiving antennas and a plurality of receiving devices. Each of the receiving devices mixes a reception signal from the corresponding receiving antenna with a local signal and outputs a beat signal. The signal processor samples the beat signal while selecting one of the receiving devices in order with a selecting period that is less than a half of a sampling period. The signal processor samples the beat signal with the sampling period and derives position information of a target by pair matching of peaks of a rising-modulation signal and a falling-modulation signal of the beat signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2011Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Akiyoshi Mizutani, Kazuma Natsume, Yoshihiro Abe
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Patent number: 8179307Abstract: A signal processing method performs operations of coherent processing making it possible notably to purge the useful signal of the spurious signals (in particular the reference signal and its multiple reflections), to regenerate the transmission signal and to perform a coherent integration of the signal received by computing the cross-ambiguity between the signal received and the regenerated transmission signal. It also performs operations of non-coherent processing making it possible in particular to carry out extraction and Doppler distance purification operations making it possible to form blips and to eliminate the spurious blips present among the blips formed. The method applies notably to passive radars operating on non-cooperating opportunity transmissions, such as FM transmissions intended for the public.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2007Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: ThalesInventors: Emmanuel De Gramont, Guy Desodt, Sébastien Allam
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Patent number: 8174434Abstract: An apparatus and a method for determining a distance (r) to a target object (200) proposes transmitting electromagnetic waves in the form of a transmission signal (120a) by a transmitter (111a), receiving at least one part of said transmission signal (120a) reflected by a the target object (200) in the form of a reception signal (120c, 120d) by receiving device (111b) and evaluating the reception signal (120c, 120d) according a reference signal (1230b) which has a known phase difference with respect to the transmission signal (120a) and a frequency equal to the frequency thereof. The reference (120) and reception (120c, 120d) signal frequencies are reduced in a frequency divider (113) with the same predefined divider factor (x) while preserving the existing phase difference between the reference signal (120b) and the reception (120c, 120d) signal in such a way that a reduced frequency reception signal (120b?) and a reduced frequency reception signal (120d) are obtained.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2006Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbHInventors: Frank Künzler, Udo Haberland, Robert Rehner, Jochen Weinzierl, Lorenz-Peter Schmidt
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Patent number: 8138961Abstract: A step frequency inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) includes a transmitter configured to transmit a transmission pulse at a transmission frequency to a near earth object (NEO), the transmission frequency having a frequency range comprising a starting frequency, an ending frequency, and a step size; a receiver configured to receive a pulse response from the NEO, the pulse response corresponding to the transmission pulse; and a computer configured to determine a 3-dimensional image of the interior of the NEO from the pulse response.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2009Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventor: Manohar D. Deshpande
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Patent number: 8125372Abstract: In a method for checking the plausibility of objects in driver assistance systems for motor vehicles is described, two measured variables are derived from position data from two object position-finding systems of the vehicle that operate independently of one another, for an object located by the two position-finding systems, one variable for each position-finding system, these variables representing one and the same physical parameter, and the two measured variables are then checked for consistency, which is characterized by the fact that the parameter is the time to collision of the vehicle with the object, which is calculated in advance.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2008Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Thomas Focke, Jan-Carsten Becker, Joerg Hilsebecher, Arne Zender, Mario Mueller-Frahm, Jans Sparbert, Thomas Schoeberl, Fred Oechsle, Andreas Grimm, Andreas Simon
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Patent number: 8125373Abstract: For use in conjunction with a microwave antenna having a radiator array configured to scan in a horizontal direction, a method for scanning in the vertical direction. A first FMCW microwave signal having a first bandwidth is transmitted at a first microwave frequency and the echo, if any, is received by the radiator array. A second FMCW microwave signal having a second bandwidth is also transmitted at a different center frequency and the echo, if any, is received by the radiator array. The different frequencies cause an elevational shift in the received signal. The receipt of the echoes is then processed to identify the location or locations of the object or objects causing the echo and communicating such location or locations to a user.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2010Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Jae Seung Lee, Paul D. Schmalenberg
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Patent number: 8125375Abstract: A radar that detects the presence or absence of interference when detecting a target based on a frequency spectrum of a beat signal of a transmission signal and a reception signal. Whether or not the number of peaks exceeding a noise threshold in the frequency spectrum exceeds a predetermined number is determined. According to the determination result, the presence or absence of interference on the beat signal is detected. If “interference exists”, the threshold for extraction of target peaks that appear on the frequency spectrum is increased. This allows detection of the presence or absence of a spike noise superposed on the beat signal to be performed more certainly, thereby enabling processing according to the presence or absence of interference.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2007Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.Inventor: Motol Nakanishi
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Publication number: 20120044104Abstract: A device and method for three-dimensional positioning are provided. The three-dimensional positioning of a common reference point is determined by fusion of supplied measurements, taking into account a lever arm compensation between the reference point, a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver antenna, at least one radar antenna, and an inertial measuring unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2011Publication date: February 23, 2012Applicant: Astrium GmbHInventor: Susanne SCHLOETZER
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Patent number: 8120524Abstract: Whether or not the CW radar is utilized for through-the-wall detection, additional one or more sensors are used with the CW radar to confirm the motion detection result or to in fact turn on the CW radar once motion or the physical presence of an individual has been sensed, thereby to provide confirmation of a less-reliable sensor with the use of the more reliable CW radar. Thus, the addition of other sensors provides lower power consumption, lower false alarm rates and better discrimination and classification of moving objects.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2006Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.Inventor: Paul D. Zemany
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Patent number: 8120522Abstract: A wind turbine blade inspection system includes a frequency modulated continuous wave radar system configured to be movable with respect to a wind turbine blade while transmitting reference microwave signals and receiving reflected microwave signals and a processor configured for using a synthetic aperture analysis technique to obtain a focused image of at least a region of the wind turbine blade based on the reflected microwave signals.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2010Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Nilesh Tralshawala, Waseem Ibrahim Faidi
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Patent number: 8116968Abstract: The invention provides a method for identification of traffic lane boundary. Firstly the microwave signal is received, and the noise reduction is treated for the microwave signal. Then the frequency domain information is employed to calculate the legal set of closed interval, in order to form the frequency span information. Finally, the probability density function model is employed to calculate the frequency span information in order to identify the traffic lane boundary.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2008Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: National Chiao Tung UniversityInventors: Yow-Jen Jou, Hsun-Jung Cho, Yu-Kuang Chen, Heng Huang, Chia-Chun Hsu, Rih-Jin Li, Chien-Lun Lan, Ming-Te Tseng
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Patent number: 8115666Abstract: A method and system for examining subsurface targets utilizing an elevated or airborne platform. A broad spectrum of frequencies is transmitted from the platform and is directed at the various subsurface targets. A plurality of chirp signals would be utilized to transmit the entire frequency range. These signals are reflected from the various subsurface targets and are received by the platform. The received chirp signals are combined in a manner to allow the visualization of the subsurface target.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2009Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Mirage Systems, Inc.Inventors: George J. Moussally, Philip A. Fialer, Gary R. Dorff
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Publication number: 20120026030Abstract: Provided is a multi-function radar apparatus capable of measuring both a distance to a target object and a temperature of the target object with high accuracy. A transmission signal produced from a high-frequency signal generating unit (9) is amplified by a transmission signal amplifying unit (12) while intermittently stopped by a transmission intermittent stop switch (11), and is emitted to a target object (13) via a circulator unit (2). A reflected wave from the target object (13) is input as a reception signal to a transmitting and receiving antenna (1) while the transmission signal is emitted, and a radiated wave from the target object (13) is input as the reception signal thereto while the transmission signal is not emitted. The reception signal is amplified by a reception signal amplifying unit (3) via the circulator unit (2), and is mixed by a frequency converting unit (4) with the transmission signal branched by a high-frequency signal branching unit (10) to thereby generate a beat signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2010Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.Inventor: Eiichi Hase