With Frequency Modulation Patents (Class 342/128)
  • Patent number: 7176830
    Abstract: An image processing system to be mounted to a vehicle includes a radar adapted to measure distance and direction to an object based on reflected electromagnetic waves which are outputted to scan the exterior of the vehicle, an image-taking device such as a camera for obtaining an image, and an image processor for carrying out image processing on a specified image processing area in an image obtained by the image-taking device. The image processor is adapted to determine a center position of the image processing area according to a measurement point of an object detected by the radar and the size of the image processing area according to a beam profile of electromagnetic waves outputted from the radar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Horibe
  • Patent number: 7170440
    Abstract: A FM-CW radar system comprises a frequency modulated continuous wave digital generator that produces both in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) outputs to orthogonally oriented transmitter antennas. A linearly polarized beam is output from a switched antenna array that allows a variety of I-and-Q pairs of bowtie antennas to be alternately connected to the transmitter and receiver. The receiver inputs I-and-Q signals from another bowtie antenna in the array and mixes these with samples from the transmitter. Such synchronous detection produces I-and-Q beat frequency products that are sampled by dual analog-to-digital converters (ADC's). The digital samples receive four kinds of compensation, including frequency-and-phase, wiring delay, and fast Fourier transform (FFT). The compensated samples are then digitally converted by an FFT-unit into time-domain signals. Such can then be processed conventionally for range information to the target that has returned the FM-CW echo signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: LandRay Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick L. Beckner
  • Patent number: 7164382
    Abstract: An on-vehicle radar system capable of detecting a range error from range data based on an echo from a target (6). Range error is detected when amplitudes of beat frequency components in two adjacent range gates are substantially equal. The system includes a transmitting unit (1, 2, 4, 5) for radiating a modulated wave having frequency increasing and decreasing repetitively after pulse modulation, a receiving unit (8, 9, 10, 11, 12) for receiving the echo, and an arithmetic unit (13) for detecting a range error ascribable to aberration of modulation band width due to frequency increase and decrease of transmission wave (W1) by comparing a range corresponding to the range gate with that determined from a frequency difference between transmission wave and echo. The arithmetic unit (13) detects the range error on the basis of frequency difference components having substantially same amplitudes in adjacent range gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Kai
  • Patent number: 7151484
    Abstract: A pulse compression processor 20 compressing a modulated pulse signal correlately received by a receiver, includes a coefficient calculator 30 calculating a set of filtering coefficients for converting sampled output signal values outside a vicinity of main-lobe of a compressed pulse signal into zero as well as for minimizing S/N loss in a peak value of the main-lobe, and a pulse compression filter 40 compressing the modulated pulse signal based on the set of the filtering coefficients calculated by the coefficient calculator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Shinonaga, Shinkichi Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 7148840
    Abstract: A radar apparatus comprises: a transmitter unit having a high-frequency oscillating unit whose oscillation frequency is variable, and a pulse amplitude modulating unit for amplitude-modulating a pulse of a transmission high-frequency signal output from the high-frequency oscillating unit with a first control pulse signal; a receiver unit having a gating unit for controlling ON/OFF of an input of a received high-frequency signal with a second control pulse signal; and a controlling and signal processing unit for controlling the transmitter unit and the receiver unit, and for switching a first operation mode for making the apparatus function as an FM-CW radar, and a second operation mode for making the apparatus function as a pulse radar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Dooi, Satoshi Ishii, Hiroyuki Yatsuka, Nobukazu Shima, Masaki Hitotsuya
  • Patent number: 7145502
    Abstract: A distance can be measured with high resolution. A frequency controller (7) controls a voltage control oscillator (2) so as to change a signal source frequency f in a range containing two center frequencies f1 and f2 and transmits it as a traveling wave from an antenna (4) to a target (5). A reflected wave reflected by the target (5) and the traveling wave interfere each other and form a standing wave. A power detector (6) detects power corresponding to the amplitude of the standing wave and performs Fourier transform based on the two center frequencies f1 and f2 in Fourier transform means (11, 12), respectively, thereby calculating radar image functions P1(x), P2(x). The distance d to the target (5) satisfies the conditions that the phase difference of the two radar image functions zero-crosses and the amplitude of the radar image functions becomes maximum. The zero cross point of the phase difference is a zero cross point of a linear function and can be identified with high resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Manufacturing Limited
    Inventors: Tetsuji Uebo, Tadamitsu Iritani
  • Patent number: 7142153
    Abstract: A unique hardware architecture that combines short pulse, stepped frequency and centerline processing. The inventive architecture implements a radar system having a transmitter for transmitting short pulses, each pulse being stepped in frequency and a receiver receiving the pulses and providing an output signal in response thereto. In the illustrative embodiment, the transmitter includes a frequency source, an RF switch coupled to the source and a controller for controlling the RF switch. The receiver includes a signal processor implemented with a center line roughing filter. The signal processor has multiple channels each of which has a range gate and a digital filter. The digital filter includes a Fast Fourier Transform adapted to output a range Doppler matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Wesley H. Dwelly, Vinh N. Adams
  • Patent number: 7138939
    Abstract: A radar has a transmission section, a reception section that receives a reflected wave of the transmission wave, a transmission switch section, a delay section that delays a predetermined timing, a reception switching section, a difference processing section, and a calculation section. The transmission section switches between a first frequency and a second frequency to transmit a transmission wave having one of the frequencies. The transmission switch section switches between turning-on and turning-off of an operation of the transmission section at the predetermined timing. The reception switching section switches between turning-on and turning-off of an operation of the reception section according to the timing delayed. The difference processing section outputs a difference between the transmission wave and the reflected wave. The calculation section calculates a distance on a basis of a delay amount, when a detection waveform has a difference frequency between the first frequency and the second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventor: Kanako Honda
  • Patent number: 7132976
    Abstract: An automotive radar which can process signals at high speed to detect a target in a wide angle range is provided. The automotive radar comprises a transmitting antenna which emits an electromagnetic wave, two receiving antennas which receive the electromagnetic wave reflected by a target, an antenna plate on which the transmitting antenna and two receiving antennas are arranged. It also includes a drive which rotates the antenna plate in an azimuth direction, which corresponds to the direction of arrangement of the two receiving antennas, to scan a detection angle formed by the two receiving antennas. The drive has rest time between scans to stop rotation. The automotive radar also includes a signal processor which detects the azimuth angle of the target with respect to a reference direction during the rest time according to received signals from the two receiving antennas and the rotation angle of the antenna plate at rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shinoda, Toshiyuki Nagasaku, Hiroshi Kondoh
  • Patent number: 7123183
    Abstract: An FM-CW radar apparatus capable of detecting a stationary object, in particular, an overbridge, located above the road ahead in a simple manner uses a traveling wave antenna as a transmitting antenna, and includes a means for varying, in upward and downward directions the projection angle of a combined beam pattern of a transmitted wave radiated from the traveling wave antenna, and an overbridge is detected by varying the projection angle of the combined beam pattern in the upward direction using the varying means. Further, a phase shifter for varying the projection angle of the beam pattern in upward/downward directions by controlling the phase of the radio wave to be transmitted or received is provided on either a transmitting antenna or a receiving antenna or on a transmitting/receiving antenna, and an overbridge is detected by controlling the phase shifter and varying the projection angle of the beam pattern in the upward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventors: Masayoshi Shouno, Masaki Hitotsuya
  • Patent number: 7095363
    Abstract: A pulse radar apparatus uses different frequencies, for example, frequencies one of which is a multiple or a submultiple of the other for a signal which becomes a reference of a control pulse for controlling a gate operation for a reception signal and a signal which becomes a base of generation of a transmission pulse. As a result, even if noise is caused by the gate operation, its influence can be removed in the processing of reception signals having different frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Ishii, Yoshikazu Dooi, Hiroyuki Yatsuka, Tetsuo Seki
  • Patent number: 7079071
    Abstract: A radar apparatus includes: a modulation signal generating circuit that generates a modulation signal; a carrier wave generating circuit that generates a carrier wave; a modulation circuit that outputs a high frequency signal generated by modulating the carrier wave using the modulation signal that has been inputted; a modulation signal extracting circuit that extracts the modulation signal from the high frequency signal that has been inputted; and a detection signal generating circuit that generates a detection signal, which can be used to measure a distance to a measured object, based on the modulation signal extracted by the modulation signal extracting circuit from a component, out of the high frequency signal that has been transmitted via a transmission antenna, the component having been reflected by the measured object and received by a reception antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7061424
    Abstract: The present invention provides a radar device mounted on a moving object that moves along a continuous plane, having (1) a transceiver part for transmitting a signal having a main lobe in the direction of the movement of the moving object and a side lobe directed towards the continuous plane, that receives a first reflection signal from a target in the direction of the main lobe and a second reflection signal from the continuous plane in the direction of the side lobe, and (2) control processing means for detecting the frequency of a beat signal of the second reflection signal received by the transceiver part and the signal emitted by the transceiver part and for detecting information correlated to the attitude of the radar device with respect to the continuous plane based on that frequency. This enables detection of changes of mounting attitude for the moving object without requiring additional hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kuroda, Kazuaki Takano, Fumihiko Okai
  • Patent number: 7057550
    Abstract: A system and method for calibrating a vehicular traffic surveillance Doppler radar are disclosed. In one embodiment, a modulation circuit portion generates double-modulated FM signals. An antenna circuit portion transmits the double-modulated FM signals to a target and receives reflected double-modulated FM signals therefrom. A calibration circuit portion responds to the reflected double-modulated FM signals by sending a calibration signal to the modulation circuit. The calibration signal is indicative of a relationship between a first range measurement derived from phase angle measurements associated with the reflected double-modulated FM signals and a second range measurement derived from speed and time measurements associated with the reflected double-modulated FM signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Applied Concepts, Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Aker
  • Patent number: 7053816
    Abstract: An on-vehicle radar system capable of detecting a range error from range data based on an echo from a target (6). Range error is detected when amplitudes of beat frequency components in two adjacent range gates are substantially equal. The system includes a transmitting unit (1, 2, 4, 5) for radiating a modulated wave having frequency increasing and decreasing repetitively after pulse modulation, a receiving unit (8, 9, 10, 11, 12) for receiving the echo, and an arithmetic unit (13) for detecting a range error ascribable to aberration of modulation band width due to frequency increase and decrease of transmission wave (W1) by comparing a range corresponding to the range gate with that determined from a frequency difference between transmission wave and echo. The arithmetic unit (13) detects the range error on the basis of frequency difference components having substantially same amplitudes in adjacent range gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Kai
  • Patent number: 7034743
    Abstract: An FM-CW radar detects at least one of the relative distance and the relative speed of a predetermined object based on the frequencies of projection portions observed in the frequency spectrums of beat signals in an ascending-modulation section and a descending-modulation section, where the projection portions are generated by one and the same object. The radar determines the moving speed of a predetermined moving object such as a vehicle or the like having the radar mounted thereon, and the frequency difference between the projection portions observed in the frequency spectrums of the beat signals in the ascending-modulation section and the descending-modulation section is inversely calculated, where the frequency difference corresponds to the stationary object, and a predetermined pair corresponding to the frequency difference is extracted on a priority basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoi Nakanishi, Toru Ishii, Tetsu Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7026976
    Abstract: In a radar apparatus, when the width of a target cannot be determined, the width is estimated in such a manner as not to erroneously identify the lane in which the target is traveling. Denoting the actual width of the target by D, the distance to the target by R, and the scanning step width of projection angle by A, the estimated value W for the width of the target is computed in accordance with the equation W=D?2R tan A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventor: Hirofumi Higashida
  • Patent number: 7023378
    Abstract: The synthesizer and method provide a relatively wideband swept frequency signal and include generating a first swept frequency signal with a first generator, and successively switching between different frequency signals with a second generator. Such switching creates undesired phase discontinuities in the output swept frequency signal. The first swept frequency signal is combined with the successively switched different frequency signals to produce the relatively wideband swept frequency signal, and the second generator is calibrated to reduce the undesired phase discontinuities during switching based upon the output swept frequency signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: John Roger Coleman, Travis Sean Mashburn
  • Patent number: 7023356
    Abstract: A monitoring system includes a wireless identification tag and interrogator. The tag includes memory that stores information associated with a person or object associated with the wireless identification tag. The interrogator wirelessly transmits an interrogation signal, which includes a sequence of interrogation codes, to the wireless identification tag. If one of the interrogation codes is associated with the wireless identification tag, the tag wirelessly transmits an acknowledgment signal associated with the tag. The interrogator receives the acknowledgment signal, which indicates that the wireless identification tag has been monitored within an area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Aero-Vision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald P. Burkhardt, Frederick M. Ganz, Philip E. Burkhardt
  • Patent number: 7019681
    Abstract: The invention is a system and method for verifying the radar signature of a pair of aircraft. The system includes a radar transmitter and receivers located in the leading and trailing edge of the wing at the wing tip of the aircraft such that when flying the aircraft in formation with one aircraft behind the other aircraft, each aircraft can illuminate the other and verify the radar signature of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Larry F. Pellett, Scott Kennedy
  • Patent number: 7009552
    Abstract: A radar device for measuring distance within short range is provided. The radar device has a first wave-detecting circuit for multiplying radio wave voltage being transmitted from a transmitting antenna by radio wave voltage being received by a receiving antenna, in addition, the device has a second wave-detecting circuit for multiplying radio wave voltage being transmitted from the transmitting antenna by radio wave voltage shifted by the shifting means from the radio wave being received by the receiving antenna. Alternatively, the second wave-detecting circuit may multiply radio wave voltage shifted by the shifting means from the radio wave being transmitted from the transmitting antenna by radio wave voltage being received by the receiving antenna. Based on output voltages from the first and second detecting circuit, the distance to the target may be decided unambiguously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Sako
  • Patent number: 7006033
    Abstract: An embodiment comprises a unit generating a control pulse signal by delaying a basic signal in generating a transmission pulse, and a unit performing a gate operation on a received signal using the control pulse signal. Another embodiment comprises a unit generating a control pulse signal by delaying a signal generated using a first basic signal, a second signal for phase modulation having a lower frequency than the first signal, and a pseudo-random signal generated at an intermediate frequency between the frequencies of the first and second signals, and a unit performing the gate operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Ishii, Yoshikazu Dooi, Hiroyuki Yatsuka, Tetsuo Seki, Kazuaki Hamada
  • Patent number: 7002512
    Abstract: In an FM-CW radar system, a frequency modulating wave output from said modulating signal generator has a frequency variation skew with respect to a time axis (modulation skew), and the radar system includes a means for varying the modulation skew by controlling the modulation frequency amplitude or modulation period of the modulating signal. The radar system further includes a means for discriminating a signal component varying in response to the variation of the modulation skew, thereby discriminating a signal related to a target object from other signals. In the case of an FM-CW radar system that performs transmission and/or reception by time division ON-OFF control, the radar system includes a means for discriminating a signal which, when the frequency used to perform the ON-OFF control is varied, varies in response to the variation of the frequency, thereby discriminating a signal related to a target object from other signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventor: Osamu Isaji
  • Patent number: 7002511
    Abstract: A millimeter wave pulsed radar system includes a radar synthesizer having a voltage controlled oscillator/phase locked loop (VCO/PLL) circuit, direct digital synthesizer (DDS) circuit and quadrature modulator circuit that are operative to generate an intermediate frequency local oscillator signal (IF/LO signal). A radar transceiver is operative with the radar synthesizer for receiving the IF/LO signal. A transmitter section has a frequency multiplier that multiplies the IF/LO signal up to a millimeter wave (MMW) radar signal and a receiver section and includes a direct conversion mixer that receives a MMW radar signal and the IF/LO signal to produce I/Q baseband signals that are later digitized and processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Xytrans, Inc.
    Inventors: Danny F. Ammar, David M. Bills, Gavin Clark, Matt H. Shafie
  • Patent number: 6989782
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for radar systems using multiple pulses that are shorter than the expected range delay extent of the target to be imaged. In one implementation, a method for performing radar includes the steps of: transmitting a plurality of pulses, each pulse having a different center frequency and a time duration shorter than an expected range delay extent of a target, wherein a total bandwidth is defined by a bandwidth occupied by the plurality of pulses; receiving reflections of the plurality of pulses; and performing pulse compression on the received pulse reflections to generate a detection signal having a radar resolution approximately equivalent to the transmission and reception of a single pulse having the total bandwidth. In preferred form, the pulses comprise ultrawideband (UWB) pulses each occupying a sub-band of the overall system bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: General Atomics
    Inventors: Michael L. Walker, David S. Furuno, Naiel K. Askar, Gerald D. Rogerson
  • Patent number: 6980151
    Abstract: A bi-static continuous wave radar system and related methods for detecting incoming threats from ballistic projectiles includes a remote source of RF illumination, and a local receiver installed in one or more target aircraft. A first receiving channel acquires direct path illumination from the source and provides a reference signal, and a second receiving channel acquires a scatter signal reflected by a projectile. A processor coupled to each receiver corrects scatter signal Doppler offset induced by relative source motion, isolates narrowband Doppler signals to derive signatures characteristic of the projectile, and by executing appropriate algorithms, compares the derived signatures to modeled signatures stored in memory. If the comparison yields a substantial similarity, the processor outputs a warning signal sufficient to initiate defensive countermeasures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul L. Mohan
  • Patent number: 6970129
    Abstract: Provided is a radar apparatus capable of continuously and stably making a detection of a target even if a reflected wave from a target already detected falls into obscurity due to the presence of low-frequency noises or reflected waves from other targets. An estimated value of information on a target to be obtained when the target is detected in the present cycle are acquired from the target detected in a previous cycle. When a peak compatible with the estimated value is detected in only one of a frequency-rising section and a frequency falling section of a radar wave, if the frequency of the non-detected peak pertains a low-frequency noise domain or if a side-by-side travel flag is set with respect to the target detected in the previous cycle, the non-detected peak is considered as buried by low-frequency noises or peaks of other targets, and a peak pair corresponding to the detected target is extrapolated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kumon, Yukimasa Tamatsu
  • Patent number: 6965341
    Abstract: A stepped-frequency chirped waveform improves SAR groundmapping for the following reasons. Range resolution in SAR image is inversely proportional to the transmitted signal bandwidth in nominal SAR systems. Since there is a limit in the transmitted bandwidth that can be supported by the radar hardware, there is a limit in range resolution that can be achieved by processing SAR data in conventional manner. However, if the frequency band of the transmitted signal is skipped within a group of sub-pulses and received signal is properly combined, the composite signal has effectively increased bandwidth and hence improvement in range resolution can be achieved. The proposed new and practical approach can effectively extend the limit in range resolution beyond the level that is set by the radar hardware units when conventional method is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Kwang Myung Cho, Leo H. Hui
  • Patent number: 6956523
    Abstract: A system and method for rapidly determining the source of an incoming projectile applies controlled, active RF energy source(s) to illuminate a target area/projectile, and exploits Doppler induced frequency shifts from multiple receivers to develop a vector solution. The preferred solution applies continuous wave (CW) RF illuminators to flood a local region with a controlled source of radio frequency energy and one or more displaced receiver elements. The system operates multi-statically and as an incoming projectile enters the illuminated region, reflected energy from one or more illuminators is detected by one or more displaced RF receivers. Doppler shifts imparted on the reflected signals are detected by the receivers as the projectile moves through the region. Appropriate processing of the receiver outputs generates Doppler time-frequency profiles that are used to derive an estimate of the projectile flight vector in 3-space (x,y,z).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Veridian Systems
    Inventor: Paul Mohan
  • Patent number: 6927726
    Abstract: A radar suppresses a dc component so as to improve the precision in processing a signal that belongs to a low-frequency band. The radar comprises a mixer that mixes a transmitted signal and a received signal, and an A/D converter that analog-to-digital converts an output signal of the mixer. The radar further includes: a removing unit that removes a dc voltage component by subtracting a predetermined removal voltage value from output data of the A/D converter; and an analyzing unit that Fourier-transforms data, which has the dc voltage component removed therefrom by the removing unit, so as to analyze the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventor: Osamu Isaji
  • Patent number: 6924762
    Abstract: A radar is provided which transmits a radar wave whose frequency is so modulated as to rise, fall, and be kept constant cyclically. The radar uses beat signals produced by the radar wave and radar echoes received by two antennas to produce radar data on a target. When it is impossible to pair frequency peaks of the beat signals in a modulated frequency-rising and -falling ranges, the radar determines that the frequency peaks have arisen from different objects so that they overlap each other and uses frequency peaks of the beat signals in a constant modulated frequency range to acquire the radar data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Miyake, Kazuma Natsume
  • Patent number: 6900754
    Abstract: A method that can locate the center of a target even when the target is a large vehicle, and that, when a plurality of beams are reflected, determines whether the reflected beams are from the same target or not, wherein, of peaks generated based on a radar signal reflected from the target, peaks whose frequencies are substantially the same and whose reception levels are not smaller than a predetermined value are selected and, when a plurality of such peaks are selected, a center angle between the angles of the leftmost and rightmost peaks is obtained, and the thus obtained center angle is taken as an angle representing the target. Further, the plurality of peaks are paired up to detect a distance, relative velocity, and displacement length for each of reflecting points on the target, and when the differences in these values are all within respectively predetermined values, the plurality of peaks are determined as being peaks representing the same target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu Tem Limited
    Inventors: Daisaku Ono, Masayuki Kishida
  • Patent number: 6894641
    Abstract: To provide a radar system mounted on a vehicle that reliably detects the reception of the interference wave with high-performance and inexpensively. There is provided a radar system mounted on a vehicle for detecting a target object, including a transmitter for transmitting an electromagnetic wave, a receiver for receiving the electromagnetic wave reflected by the target object, a signal processor for measuring a distance between a vehicle of his/her own and the target object and a relative velocity on the basis of the transmitting electromagnetic wave and the receiving electromagnetic wave, and an interference detector for suspending a transmit operation of the transmitter under a control of the signal processor to detect an interference signal from another external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki
    Inventors: Naohisa Uehara, Koichi Kai
  • Patent number: 6891497
    Abstract: A chirp-based method and apparatus measures phase variation through a reference frequency transport cable for a phased array antenna. A chirp is injected into the a signal transport path from a remote transmit/receive portion of the antenna, so that the chirp is conveyed over the signal path, reflected from an upstream bandpass filter at a local transmit/receive portion of the antenna, and returned to a remote transmit portion of the antenna. Energy in the returned chirp is extracted by a downstream bandpass filter and correlated in a delay lock loop with energy in an auxiliary chirp signal, that is delayed relative to the injected chirp. The delay of the auxiliary chirp is adjusted to maximize the correlation output and provide an indication of the delay through the signal path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: John Roger Coleman, Jr., Travis Sean Mashburn
  • Patent number: 6888494
    Abstract: An inventive frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar system realizes both a quick detection of a higher relative speed provisional target and a sure detection of a smaller relative speed provisional target. The number of detection cycles used for a paring validity check, used to see if a detected target or a pair of frequencies is an actual target or a pair for an actual target, is set in response to the relative velocity enabling the target information for a target of higher relative velocity to be output more quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yukimasa Tamatsu, Hiroaki Kumon
  • Patent number: 6882304
    Abstract: A device for a radar system, the device being supplied with the received signals of at least two receiving antennas as input signals, and in which the output signals of this device are supplied to at least one unit for evaluating the received signals which includes at least two evaluation channels. Different input channels are allocated to the at least two evaluation channels as a function of supplied control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Winter, Hermann Mayer, Bernhard Lucas, Thomas Beez, Juergen Hildebrandt, Joachim Hauk, Herbert Olbrich, Andreas Kugler, Wolfgang Ehrlinger
  • Patent number: 6876324
    Abstract: To provide a filter cover which has little electromagnetic effect on a dielectric resonator and is able to lengthen the life of a press mold without impairing isolation between transmission and reception. A VCO comprising a dielectric resonator, a high-frequency oscillator, a base, a cover, in which the distance between the surface of the cover facing the dielectric resonator and the surface of the base facing the dielectric resonator is half or below of the effective wave length of the oscillator frequency, and the cover has periodic projections facing the dielectric resonator which are a quarter of effective wave length of the oscillator frequency, wherein the nearest distance between the surface of the dielectric resonator facing the cover and the surface of the cover facing the dielectric resonator is a quarter or over of the effective wave length of the oscillator frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Sasada, Atsushi Koshizaka, Terumi Nakazawa, Shiro Oouchi
  • Patent number: 6861974
    Abstract: A radar, sonar, lidar or like active detection, tracking system calculates the clutter which would occur with various different transmit waveforms, and selects from among those waveforms that one which, given the current clutter, is expected to minimize variation or variability of the clutter. The calculation is performed by generating a clutter kernel for the current transmitted or other reference waveform, and calculating the clutter which would result with alternate transmit waveform(s). The variability of the various clutter responses is determined, and the transmit waveform exhibiting the least clutter variability is selected for a later transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Randall Charles Poe, Carl Edward Hein
  • Patent number: 6861975
    Abstract: A chirp-based arrangement derives a measure of phase variation through a reference frequency transport cable of a phased array antenna architecture, such as a spaceborne synthetic aperture radar system. A direct digital synthesized chirp signal is injected in an upstream direction into the transport cable from a downstream end thereof, so that the chirp signal is transmitted in an upstream direction, reflected from an upstream bandpass filter, and returned in a downstream direction. At each of a plurality of nodes that are distributed along the transport cable, the two chirp signals are extracted and frequency domain-processed to derive said measure of transport delay through the cable between the source of the reference frequency signal and each of the nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: John Roger Coleman Jr., Travis Sean Mashburn
  • Patent number: 6859167
    Abstract: A method used to increase the ambiguity distance of FSK radars implements a waveform made up of patterns consisting of frequency plateaux whose frequencies are alternately shifted by plus or minus a value ?f?. With this waveform, the method associates processing operations to eliminate ambiguous echoes and image signals. This method has the advantage of not modifying the repetition period of the radar to which it is applied. The method according to the invention can be applied especially to radars in automobiles and especially to anti-collision radars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Artis
  • Patent number: 6859164
    Abstract: In a position detecting system used to monitor a suspicious person and to give an alarm by using a radar which transmits/receives a microwave or a millimeterwave, the shape of a detectable area of the radar and that of the area to be monitored are not always equal to each other, and thus, an alarm may be erroneously given in response to the object outside the area to be monitored. For its solution, the area to be monitored is surrounded by a plurality of reflectors, and the coordinate values of the reflectors and the detecting object are calculated based on the signals reflected from the reflectors and the detecting object and then compared. When the coordinate value of the detecting object is inside the area to be monitored, it is determined that the detecting object is an intruding person or the like and an alarm is given.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Kurita, Hiroshi Kondoh, Mikito Tsubota
  • Patent number: 6859168
    Abstract: Disclosed is a radar apparatus which receives a transmitted signal reflected from an object by switching between a plurality of antennas, wherein the plurality of antennas are divided into a plurality of groups, and at least one of the plurality of antennas contained in each of the groups is a common antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventor: Osamu Isaji
  • Patent number: 6856276
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for HF radar frequency sharing with GPS time modulation multiplexing. A method is provided that includes generating clock signals from the time information contained in a GPS signal. Radio frequency signals are transmitted and received in a sequence whose start times are dictated by the clock signals. The clock signals also control the modulation of the radio frequency signals. The radio frequency signals are modulated by using a sweep modulation. An apparatus to implement the method includes a GPS receiver, a state machine, a clock generator, a microprocessor, a memory chip, a signal synthesizer, and a digital data output device. The GPS receiver extracts time information from GPS signals. The state machine controls radar functions versus time. The microprocessor performs modulation multiplexing on radar signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Codar Ocean Sensors, Ltd.
    Inventors: Donald E. Barrick, Peter M. Lilleboe, Calvin C. Teague
  • Patent number: 6856278
    Abstract: A radar performs accurate and appropriate pairing even if peaks of approximately identical signal intensities or even if a plurality of peak groups having identical representative beam bearings exist in the frequency spectrum. First, the peak frequency of a peak which appears in the frequency spectrum is determined for each of an up-modulating interval and a down-modulating interval in predetermined beam bearings, and signal-intensity profiles in the beam bearings are extracted with regard to a plurality of beam portions which are adjacent to the beam bearings. Next, the correlation level between the signal-intensity profiles at the up-modulating interval and the down-modulating interval is determined, and pairing is performed in sequence starting from the profiles having a higher correlation level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoi Nakanishi, Toru Ishii, Tetsu Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6856280
    Abstract: A method for determining the directional angle of radar objects using a multibeam radar, including the steps of: (a) recording the frequency spectra of the radar echoes for a plurality of beams; (b) seeking a measuring frequency near a frequency maximum assigned to the radar object; and (c) comparing the phases and/or amplitudes of the radar echoes at the measuring frequency with reference patterns known for various directional angles, steps (b) and (c) being executed repeatedly, each time for different measuring frequencies, and the directional angles obtained for the various measuring frequencies being checked for consistency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Sonja Eder, Benoit Budiscak
  • Patent number: 6844843
    Abstract: A signal from CW radar is received, and the received power detected by the CW radar's swinging in all directions is averaged in each direction. Then, the maximum value and the minimum value of the received power are detected for each direction, and the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value is computed. An average power value of obtained power is also computed. On a 2-dimensional plane on which the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value and the average power value are used for coordinate axes, slice processing is performed using a threshold indicated by a line graph or a curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventors: Satoshi Ishii, Yoshikazu Dooi, Sadanori Matsui
  • Publication number: 20040263383
    Abstract: A radar device for measuring distance within short range is provided. The radar device has a first wave-detecting circuit for multiplying radio wave voltage being transmitted from a transmitting antenna by radio wave voltage being received by a receiving antenna, in addition, the device has a second wave-detecting circuit for multiplying radio wave voltage being transmitted from the transmitting antenna by radio wave voltage shifted by the shifting means from the radio wave being received by the receiving antenna. Alternatively, the second wave-detecting circuit may multiply radio wave voltage shifted by the shifting means from the radio wave being transmitted from the transmitting antenna by radio wave voltage being received by the receiving antenna. Based on output voltages from the first and second detecting circuit, the distance to the target may be decided unambiguously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: Makita Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Sako
  • Patent number: 6831595
    Abstract: Disclosed is a radar apparatus equipped with a function for detecting an abnormality of modulation width. Distance rt2 at time t2 is calculated from the values of the distance Rt1 and the relative velocity Vt1 measured at time t1 and the elapsed time t2−t1, and the difference relative to the actual measured value Rt2 is compared with a threshold value C1. If the difference relative to the actual measured value exceeds the threshold value C1, the modulation width is judged to be abnormal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventor: Osamu Isaji
  • Publication number: 20040246168
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a radar device for forming multi-beams in multiple channels from reflected waves of a transmitted wave by using a minimum number of antennas. The device has: antennas used for both transmission and reception A1-A4; transmission/reception switching means 5 of each antenna; a transmitter 2; and a receiver 4 for receiving the reflected waves of the transmitted wave. The ratio of the distance between adjacent antennas A1 and A2 to the distance between adjacent antennas A2 and A3 or A3 and A4 is 1:2. The transmitted signal is transmitted from each of the antennas selected sequentially and the received signal is processed by DBF in a signal processing controller 1, wherein eleven channels can be implemented by using four antennas and a space for six antennas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventor: Osamu Isaji
  • Patent number: 6825799
    Abstract: Disclosed is a radar apparatus equipped with a function for detecting an abnormality of noise floor level. An abnormality of noise floor level is detected by measuring the level in a region not lower than 60 kHz when FM modulation is stopped or modulation width is made infinitely small by instruction from a CPU to a modulating signal generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventor: Osamu Isaji