Monopulse Patents (Class 342/149)
  • Patent number: 9952083
    Abstract: A method and a system for evaluating a content of a bin, the method may include (a) transmit multiple acoustic pulses by multiple acoustic transceiver arrays towards different areas of an upper surface of the content when the acoustic transceivers are positioned at different locations; wherein the multiple acoustic transceiver arrays are connected to a device that is moved according to a movement pattern between the different locations; receive by the multiple acoustic transceiver arrays multiple echoes of the multiple acoustic pulses; process by the multiple acoustic transceiver arrays the multiple echoes to provide multiple estimates of the different areas; associate with the multiple estimates of the different areas timing information indicative of a timing of the receiving of the multiple echoes to a computer; and obtain by an acoustic based location device, location information readings related to locations of the device at multiple points of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: APM AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS LTD
    Inventors: Avishai Bartov, Yossi Zlotnick
  • Patent number: 9947231
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling the flight of aircraft are disclosed. An example method includes in response to a first time of arrival at a first waypoint, determining first cruise speeds and corresponding first descent speeds for the first waypoint at the first time of arrival; in response to a second time of arrival at a second waypoint, determining second cruise speeds and corresponding second descent speeds for the second waypoint at the second time of arrival, at least one of the first waypoint or the second waypoint being in a descent phase of a flight; identifying a third cruise speed and a third descent speed based on the first cruise and descent speeds and the second cruise and descent speeds, the first cruise and descent speeds including the third cruise speed and the third descent speed, the second cruise and descent speeds including the third cruise speed and the third descent speed; and identifying a trajectory of an aircraft that satisfies the third cruise speed and the third descent speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: David Garrido Lopez
  • Patent number: 9846229
    Abstract: The various technologies presented herein relate to utilizing direction of arrival (DOA) data to determine various flight parameters for an aircraft A plurality of radar images (e.g., SAR images) can be analyzed to identify a plurality of pixels in the radar images relating to one or more ground targets. In an embodiment, the plurality of pixels can be selected based upon the pixels exceeding a SNR threshold. The DOA data in conjunction with a measurable Doppler frequency for each pixel can be obtained. Multi-aperture technology enables derivation of an independent measure of DOA to each pixel based on interferometric analysis. This independent measure of DOA enables decoupling of the aircraft velocity from the DOA in a range-Doppler map, thereby enabling determination of a radar velocity. The determined aircraft velocity can be utilized to update an onboard INS, and to keep it aligned, without the need for additional velocity-measuring instrumentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: National Technologies & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Armin W. Doerry, Douglas L. Bickel, Richard M. Naething, Volker Horndt
  • Patent number: 9733349
    Abstract: An apparatus is for use with an aircraft radar system having a radar antenna. The apparatus comprises processing electronics are configured to receive radar data associated with the radar antenna of the system. The processing electronics are also configured to detect periodic data associated with runway lights in the radar data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Wood, Carlo L. Tiana, Nathaniel S. Kowash, Richard D. Jinkins, Richard M. Rademaker
  • Patent number: 9645222
    Abstract: Provided herein is a compact and economical direction finding antenna using a mono-pulse antenna system, where a plurality of antenna elements are disposed in a circular array. The directional antennas may be formed by any type of antenna element, including a patch or reflector. The antenna beams of the directional antenna elements overlap, so that from any azimuthal direction, the point is covered by more than one antenna beam. Signals from each pair of adjacent antenna elements of the circular array are processed in order to determine the angle of arrival of a received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Joseph M. Carey, Russell Brinkmann
  • Patent number: 9599517
    Abstract: A circuit includes sensing circuitry including at least one sensing element configured to output at least one temperature-dependent voltage. A compare circuit is configured to generate at least one intermediate voltage in response to comparing the at least one temperature-dependent voltage to a feedback voltage. A control circuit is configured to generate at least one control signal in response to the intermediate voltage. A switching circuit is configured to couple a capacitor coupled to a feedback node to one of a first voltage supply and a second voltage supply in response to the at least one control signal to generate an output signal having a pulse width that is based on a temperature sensed by the sensing circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Szu-Lin Liu, Jaw-Juinn Horng, Yung-Chow Peng
  • Patent number: 9541651
    Abstract: Approaches to signal processing using tapered coherent integration time period durations. In this regard, signal processing of received signals (e.g., received satellite navigation signals) may be received at a receiver. The received signals may be processed in a coherent integration process whereby the duration of subsequent coherent integration time periods are reduced in response to errors resulting from frequency instability that grows in time. As such, relatively long durations for coherent integration times may result in improved signal to noise ratios (SNRs) for integrated signals in initial coherent integration time periods. However, as errors that are introduced into the signal processing due grow over time, the durations of subsequent coherent integration time periods may be reduced, thus reducing the effect of the error in a SNR of resulting integrated signals. In turn, receiver sensitivity may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: iPosi, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Neil Kurby
  • Patent number: 9535156
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for electronic countermeasures, and particularly to methods and systems for electronic countermeasures that employ radar jamming devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: SRC, INC.
    Inventors: Shawn B. Freed, Thomas J. Vitale, Jr., Michael E. Murphy
  • Patent number: 9488718
    Abstract: An angle-resolving radar sensor for motor vehicles having multiple antenna elements and multiple receive channels, at least two antenna elements connected to the same receive channel together having a directional characteristic having at least two main lobes having different primary sensitivity directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Binzer, Christian Waldschmidt, Volker Gross, Raphael Hellinger, Goetz Kuehnle, Andre Treptow
  • Patent number: 9473340
    Abstract: Devices and methods for reducing and/or substantially preventing nonlinearities and discontinuities during the translation stage from an I/Q signal into a polar coordinate OFDM signal are provided. By way of example, a method includes receiving an incoming data signal via a processor of a transmitter. The method further includes computing one or more roots of a first function representing a phase component of the data signal, computing a second function representing the phase component, and deriving one or more characteristics of the phase component based on the second function. The method further includes adjusting one of the one or more characteristics in a second domain to establish a substantially finite bandwidth of the phase component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Zohar Agon
  • Patent number: 9423498
    Abstract: In an example method, a vehicle configured to operate in an autonomous mode could have a radar system used to aid in vehicle guidance. The method could include a plurality of antennas configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals. The method may also include a one or more sensors configured to measure a movement of the vehicle. A portion of the method may be performed by a processor configured to: i) determine adjustments based on the movement of the vehicle; ii) calculate distance and direction information for received electromagnetic signals; and iii) recover distance and direction information for received electromagnetic signals with the adjustments applied. The processor may be further configured to adjust the movement of the autonomous vehicle based on the distance and direction information with adjustments applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Adam Brown
  • Patent number: 9372261
    Abstract: A radar device according to an embodiment includes a transmission unit, a reception unit, and a processing unit. The transmission unit emits a transmission wave relating to a frequency-modulated transmission signal. The reception unit receives a reflected wave acquired by reflecting the transmission wave on an object as a reception signal. The processing unit detects object data corresponding to the object from the reception signal, outputs the object data to the vehicle control device that controls the vehicle, and removes object data satisfying the removal condition that is a condition used for determining whether or not object data is to be removed from an output target for the vehicle control device and includes at least the distance and the relative speed of the object data with respect to the speed of the vehicle as conditions from output targets for the vehicle control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Masatoshi Aoki, Hisateru Asanuma, Yasuhiro Kurono
  • Patent number: 9304196
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle with a radar device (3, 4) which is designed for detecting an object (25) located in a detection zone (7, 8) of the radar device (3, 4), wherein the detection zone (7, 8) is defined by an elevation angle zone (?1, ?2) and an azimuth angle zone (?), wherein the elevation angle zone (?1, ?2) also covers at least such a partial angle zone (?1) which lies within an angle interval of 15° to 90° above a horizontal (33) defined with respect to the motor vehicle (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: VALEO Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventor: Udo Haberland
  • Patent number: 9304195
    Abstract: An object detection method includes outputting a radio wave, receiving a reflected wave of the radio wave, generating a plurality of object information each indicating a location of each of a plurality of objects with respect to a predetermined reference point based on the radio wave and the reflected wave, calculating a first distance between an observation reference line which represents a shape and a location of a target area for detection preset depending on a target object for detection, and each of the plurality of objects, based on the observation reference line information stored in advance indicating a shape and a location of the observation reference line and the object information, selecting a predetermined number or less of the object information in ascending order of the first distance among the plurality of the object information as the object information to be output, and outputting the selected object information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Junko Kajiki, Tomonori Ikeya, Mitsuru Ochi, Kazuhiko Shite
  • Patent number: 9240628
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with an antenna system comprising a tension member configured to be towed by an aerial platform and/or secured to an orbiting satellite. In some embodiments, a first end of the tension member may be secured to the aerial platform and the second end may extend unsecured from the aerial platform at a different elevation than the first end. A plurality of antenna assemblies, each comprising at least one antenna, may be secured to and spaced along the length of the tension member. Each of the plurality of antennas may be adapted for use with a particular frequency or frequency bandwidth. For example, each of the plurality of antennas may be adapted or tuned for one or more frequencies useful for synthetic aperture radar (SAR). In some embodiments, a receiving system, a communication link, and/or an antenna location system may be utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: ELWHA LLC
    Inventors: William D. Duncan, Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood
  • Patent number: 9229101
    Abstract: Systems and methods for creating a narrow vertical pathway of detection that permits the enforcement of a fixed “exclusion zone” that is narrow and does not widen with range. An advantage to this approach is that the zone or corridor does not widen with range, permitting a fixed exclusion zone that will ignore items that will pass above or below the wing. An exemplary system located on a vehicle includes at least two vertically separated antennas that receive radar reflection signals, a processor, and an output device. The processor receives the radar reflection signals received by the antennas, determines vertical position of any obstacles identified in the radar reflection signals and determines if the obstacles are within a predefined alert zone. The output device outputs an alert if any obstacle is within the alert zone. The predefined alert zone is related to a protruding portion of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: James C Kirk, Long Bui, David C Vacanti, Catherine L Freeman
  • Patent number: 9229100
    Abstract: A phased array radar apparatus and method for identifying targets in an environment includes a phased array radar transmitter, a first phased array radar receiver, a second phased array radar receiver, and a radar controller. The first and second phased array radar receivers are configured such that the first and second phased array radar receivers have effectively the same configuration. The radar controller uses the first and second receive beams to calculate an amplitude monopulse ratio and identify angle information of the targets within the environment. The present invention enables high precision estimation of target angle information while scanning over a wide field of view in a single scan. The radar apparatus further uses a complex amplitude monopulse ratio and a weighted target angle histogram to distinguish between closely separated targets that would otherwise be viewed as a single target by conventional monopulse radar apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Seung Lee, Paul Donald Schmalenberg, Liping Li
  • Patent number: 9194940
    Abstract: Provided is a signal processing apparatus configured to calculate an angle of a detection point corresponding to an object on the basis of received signals of a plurality of array antennas. A beat signal is generated by a difference between a transmitted signal and a received signal. Digital data is derived through AD conversion of the beat signal. The digital data is divided into a plurality of data groups. A fast Fourier transform is performed on the data groups to acquire a plurality of transformed data corresponding to the number of the data groups. The transformed data are divided into a plurality of sets, correlation matrices for the respective sets are acquired, and an average value of the correlation matrices is calculated. The angle of the detection point is calculated on the basis of the average value of the correlation matrices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventor: Hisateru Asanuma
  • Patent number: 9121930
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining the position of a target object using a two-channel monopulse radar. The radar may include two transmitting antennas and one common receiving antenna disposed in a coplanar arrangement. The transmitting antennas may be positioned on the focal plane of the radar along a focal plane axis that extends through, and that is perpendicular with, a boresight axis of the radar. The transmitting antennas may be spaced apart from one another in a first dimension a distance equal to about one half of one wavelength of the radar's center operating frequency. One of the transmitting antennas may be squinted at an angle of ?1 relative to the boresight axis and the other transmitting antenna may be squinted at an angle of ?2 relative to the boresight axis in a second dimension. The transmitting antennas are not squinted relative to one another in the first dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Xueru Ding, Jeff Schaefer, Matthew Marple
  • Patent number: 9024811
    Abstract: A processing device for providing radar data onto a local area network includes an analog-to-digital converter operable to receive analog radar data from an antenna and converter operable to convert the analog radar data into digital radar data. An interference rejector removes radar signals of other antennas from the digital radar data. A range bin decimator limits the digital radar data to a threshold number of range bins. A trigger-to-azimuth converter associates the digital radar data to particular azimuths of rotation of the antenna. A local area network manager places the digital radar data onto a local area network. The processing device may be located in the pedestal with the antenna. A plurality of processing devices associated with a plurality of antennas may provide digital radar data onto the local area network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignees: Raytheon Anschutz GmbH, Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Carsten Reiter, Steffen Kröger, Meinhard Wohlgemuth, Thomas Edward Wood
  • Patent number: 9019152
    Abstract: A standard wafer is provided including a substrate; a first layer of semiconductor material formed on the substrate; a bar formed over the first layer of semiconductor material with an interlayer interposed therebetween; and a first sidewall spacer and a second sidewall spacer formed on the opposite sides of the bar respectively, in which the bar and the first layer of semiconductor material are formed of a same semiconductor material, and the interlayer interposed between the first layer of semiconductor material and the bar is formed of a first oxide, and the first sidewall spacer and the second sidewall spacer are formed of a second oxide. A corresponding fabrication method of the standard wafer is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (Shanghai)
    Inventors: BoXiu Cai, YanLei Zu
  • Patent number: 8994581
    Abstract: In an example method, a vehicle is configured with a radar system used to aid in vehicle guidance. The method could include an array of antennas plurality of antennas configured to receive a radar signal. The array of antennas has a respective spacing between the given antenna and an adjacent antenna; however, the plurality of spacings includes at least two different spacings. A portion of the method may be performed by a processor configured to calculate a detection channel, based on a difference between differential phases associated with two antenna pairs in the array. The processor may also calculate an unambiguous angle based on the detection channel and the plurality of antenna spacings. Additionally, the processor may control the radar unit based on the calculated unambiguous angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Adam Brown
  • Publication number: 20150061921
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining the position of a target object using a two-channel monopulse radar. The radar may include two transmitting antennas and one common receiving antenna disposed in a coplanar arrangement. The transmitting antennas may be positioned on the focal plane of the radar along a focal plane axis that extends through, and that is perpendicular with, a boresight axis of the radar. The transmitting antennas may be spaced apart from one another in a first dimension a distance equal to about one half of one wavelength of the radar's center operating frequency. One of the transmitting antennas may be squinted at an angle of ?1 relative to the boresight axis and the other transmitting antenna may be squinted at an angle of ?2 relative to the boresight axis in a second dimension. The transmitting antennas are not squinted relative to one another in the first dimension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: AUTOLIV, INC.
    Inventors: Xueru Ding, Jeff Schaefer, Matthew Marple
  • Publication number: 20150061923
    Abstract: A phase monopulse radar system includes a transmitting antenna that transmits a transmission signal, a plurality of receiving antennas that receive reflected waves of the transmission signal as received signals, a target azimuth detecting unit that detects an azimuth of a target based on a phase difference of the received signals received by the receiving antennas, a phase inversion determining unit that determines whether a phase inversion occurs to any one of the received signals, at around a peak frequency of a frequency spectrum of the received signal, and a detection object excluding unit that does not use an azimuth based on the phase difference as a target azimuth, when the phase inversion determining unit determines that the phase inversion occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoh Sato, Akihiro Yanai, Kiyomi Nagamiya, Kazumichi Nishida, Takashi Yamada, Masaru Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20150048970
    Abstract: An angularly resolving radar sensor having multiple antenna elements that, in a direction in which the radar sensor is angularly resolving, are disposed in different positions, and having a control and evaluation device that is designed for an operating mode in which several of the antenna elements transmit signals that are respectively received by several of the antenna elements, and the angle (?) of a located object is identified on the basis of amplitudes and/or phase relationships between signals which correspond to different configurations of transmitting and receiving antenna elements, wherein the control and evaluation device is embodied to supply several of the transmitting antenna elements simultaneously with identical-frequency signals (f1-f4) in such a way that the common phase center of said signals is located between the positions of two adjacent antenna elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Michael SCHOOR
  • Patent number: 8933836
    Abstract: A multiple beam receiving system provides an angle estimate to targets. The system tracks movements of the targets over time and generates calibration information. The system uses the calibration information to more accurately estimate angle-to-target. The multiple beam receiving system can be part of a monopulse or other radar system, a traffic collision avoidance system, or other electromagnetic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Woodell, Jeffery A. Finley, David L. Van Dusseldorp
  • Patent number: 8896483
    Abstract: Method of automatic target angle tracking by sum-and-difference monopulse radar covers radiolocation sphere and specifically monopulse direction finding systems. It can be used in order to increase guidance accuracy, for example, for anti aircraft missiles and of unmanned aerial vehicles to radar targets such as: radio beacons; aerial vehicles reflecting the radio signal that illuminates them; aerial vehicles and ground-based devices radiating radio signals and jamming signals. The aim of the method consists in the assurance of reliability and stability and in the enhancement of guidance accuracy of automatic target angle tracking due to elimination of automatic tracking losses and great errors arising during the influence of the signals of orthogonal polarization or polarization close to it. The proposed method provides full protection from polarization jamming for all types of monopulse radars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: Evgeny Markin
  • Patent number: 8884810
    Abstract: A system and method for a single site beacon transceiver including an omni-directional transceiver, a plurality of directional receiving antennas for receiving a signal, and a digital receiver for processing the signal to determine an azimuth to the source of the received signal. The digital receiver includes a plurality of receiver channels that are calibrated periodically and at least one processor that estimates a coarse signal azimuth for the signal by calculating an amplitude monopulse ratio for the signal using the two directional receiving antennas receiving the highest amplitude signal, and estimates a final signal azimuth for the signal using an interferometer baseline between the two directional receiving antennas or, alternately, subtracts the complex ratio of the measurements from the complex ratio of the antenna array RF model to determine the angle corresponding to the minimum of the absolute value of the difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Saab Sensis Corporation
    Inventor: Elyahu Perl
  • Patent number: 8854257
    Abstract: A Luneburg lens is used in conjunction with a patch antenna array. The patch antenna array is conformed or adapted to cover a portion or backside of the Luneburg len's surface with the backplane of the conformed antenna array defining a field of regard (FOR) in which objects are detected and tracked. A processor is connected to a receiver/exciter module which connects to transmit/receive modules which are connected to the individual patch antennas through a network of MEMS switches. In a receive mode, selected subarrays of the conformed patch antenna array are scanned during selected time intervals with the sum and delta beams being formed coherently in amplitude and phase to realize amplitude monopulse sensing and angle tracking of an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Christopher A. Hamner, Robert A. Spencer
  • Publication number: 20140292561
    Abstract: A radar system including a plurality of mini radars may be conformable to a structure that it is attached or built into. A radar system includes a clock, a plurality of frequency modulated/continuous wave (FM/CW) radar units in signal communication with the clock and a processor in signal communication with the plurality of FM/CW radar units. Each of the plurality of FM/CW radar units includes a row of antenna elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Vacanti, Marc Pos
  • Patent number: 8816895
    Abstract: Embodiments of a target classifier and method for target classification using measured target epsilons and target glint information are generally described herein. The target classifier is configured to compare a total epsilon measurement with target glint information to determine whether to the target being tracked corresponds to an intended target type. Based on the comparison, the target classifier may cause target tracking circuitry of a target-tracking radar to either continue tracking the target or break-off from tracking the target. Glint of different target types may be characterized at different ranges and the target's glint characteristics may be used to distinguish intended from non-intended targets. Accordingly, intended targets such as incoming artillery may be distinguished from non-intended targets such as aircraft to help prevent countermeasures from being launched against non-intended targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Brett J. Young, Jason A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8816897
    Abstract: A method of estimating the angular position ?c of a target detected by a radar equipping a mobile carrier and emitting, via an steerable antenna, a signal, in the form of pulses, towards the target and receiving echoes from the reflection of said signal on the target, comprises: estimating, for each pulse or group of pulses of time index i, the angular position ?(i) of the antenna; estimating, for each pulse or group of pulses of time index i, the Doppler frequency fD(i) of the echo or echoes received; pairing, for each pulse or group of pulses of time index i, the angular position ?(i) and the Doppler frequency fD(i); and, estimating the angular position ?c at least by solving the equation ? ? ? f D ? ( i ) 2 = V a ? sin ? ? ? ? ( i ) ? ( ? c - ? ? ( i ) ) + V r , c , where ? is the wavelength of the radar, Va is the norm of the speed of the carrier and Vr,c is the radial speed of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Nicolas Bon, Jean-Michel Quellec
  • Patent number: 8760340
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, an apparatus comprises range matched filters and a Doppler-acceleration matched filter system. The matched filters are configured to receive radar return signals detected by an antenna and range match filter the radar return signals to place the radar return signals into range cells. The Doppler-acceleration matched filter system is configured to Doppler-acceleration process the radar return signals in the range cells to facilitate identification of one or more targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Winthrop W. Smith
  • Publication number: 20140159945
    Abstract: A method for determining a DOA (Direction of Arrival) comprises the following steps: (a) providing at least two antennas arranged with a squint angle; (b) producing at least two base beams between two adjacent base beams; (c) every two virtual beams of the multiple virtual beams which cross together at a specific angle are define to a virtual beam set; (d) synthesizing the two virtual beams of each one of the virtual beam sets to be a monopulse; and (e) determining the DOA of the object according to comparison between magnitude of demodulated signals corresponding to the monopulses. A device for estimating a DOA is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: Shyh-Jong CHUNG, Jen-Hao CHENG
  • Patent number: 8736485
    Abstract: A method for direction finding by means of monopulse formation in a radar system with electronically controlled group antenna and analog beam shaping of sum and difference channels, a self-test of the antenna being carried out to identify failed receiving elements, and the result of the self-test going directly into the monopulse formation and the test thereby being error corrected. The result of the self-test is converted into correction values that, independently of the antenna viewing direction, are combined with those from the sum channel signal and the difference channel signals of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Schneider
  • Publication number: 20140028493
    Abstract: An on-board radar apparatus includes a plurality of reception antennas that form a reception array antenna, the reception array antenna having two or more average pitches that do not have the relationship of integral multiplication, and an azimuth detecting unit configured to perform a phase shift so that an azimuth of the target is apparently changed by a predetermined angle, for a signal received by each reception array antenna, to perform an azimuth detection process of detecting the azimuth of the target based on the phase shift result, and to determine that the target is present in the azimuth detection range in the azimuth detection process when it is determined that the azimuths of the target detected based on the phase shift result for the signals received by the respective reception array antennas coincide with each other and to determine that the target is present outside the azimuth detection range when it is determined that the azimuths of the target do not coincide with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Honda elesys Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Honda elesys Co., Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8633851
    Abstract: A plurality of mini radars that make the radar system conformable to a structure that it is attached or built into. A radar system includes a clock, a plurality of frequency modulated/continuous wave (FM/CW) radar units in signal communication with the clock and a processor in signal communication with the plurality of FM/CW radar units. Each of the plurality of FM/CW radar units includes a row of antenna elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Vacanti, Marc Pos
  • Patent number: 8633850
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying locations of objects. A portion of a sum signal corresponding to angular locations and velocities with respect to a sensor system that are different from a selected angular location and a selected velocity with respect to the sensor system, respectively, is modified to form a set of modified sum signals. A portion of a difference signal corresponding to the angular locations and the velocities with respect to the sensor system that are different from the selected angular location and the selected velocity with respect to the sensor system, respectively, is modified to form a modified difference signal. An angular location of a target object is identified with respect to the sensor system using the set of modified sum signals and the modified difference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Kai-Bor Yu
  • Publication number: 20140002296
    Abstract: An on-board radar apparatus includes a transmission wave generating unit configured to generate a first modulated wave, a second modulated wave, and a third modulated wave which are different from each other, a transmitting antenna configured to transmit a transmission wave based on the first modulated wave, the second modulated wave, and the third modulated wave, a receiving antenna unit configured to receive a reception wave arriving by allowing the transmission wave to be reflected by an object, and an azimuth detecting unit configured to detect a signal based on the first modulated wave, the second modulated wave, and the third modulated wave from the reception, wave and to detect an azimuth of the object based on the detected signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventor: Itaru IZUMI
  • Publication number: 20130342384
    Abstract: Embodiments of a target classifier and method for target classification using measured target epsilons and target glint information are generally described herein. The target classifier is configured to compare a total epsilon measurement with target glint information to determine whether to the target being tracked corresponds to an intended target type. Based on the comparison, the target classifier may cause target tracking circuitry of a target-tracking radar to either continue tracking the target or break-off from tracking the target. Glint of different target types may be characterized at different ranges and the target's glint characteristics may be used to distinguish intended from non-intended targets. Accordingly, intended targets such as incoming artillery may be distinguished from non-intended targets such as aircraft to help prevent countermeasures from being launched against non-intended targets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Brett J. Young, Jason A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8593334
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic waves are transmitted in a selected direction toward a target object from a first array of antenna elements. Scattered electromagnetic waves generated from the electromagnetic waves are received at a first portion of a second array of antenna elements configured to receive the scattered electromagnetic waves in a first direction with respect to the selected direction and at a second portion of the second array of antenna elements configured to receive the scattered electromagnetic waves in a second direction with respect to the selected direction. First information in the scattered electromagnetic waves received by the first portion is subtracted from second information in the scattered electromagnetic waves received by the second portion to form difference data. An elevation angle is identified between a direction of the target object and the selected direction using the difference data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Sego, David Arthur Whelan
  • Patent number: 8576117
    Abstract: A radar apparatus including a transmit/receive antenna having a plurality of channels, a comparator coupled to the antenna channels for providing receive signal sum and difference channels, a radar receiver, a coupler for coupling the sum and difference channels to the radar receiver, a radar transmitter for providing a signal to be transmitted, a coupler for coupling the transmitter to a cross-channel port of the comparator, and an adjuster for adjusting a phase length of at least one antenna channel so that when the apparatus is transmitting, the transmitted signals from the antenna channels have a specified relative phase relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: MBDA UK Limited
    Inventor: David Lynam
  • Patent number: 8552907
    Abstract: In accordance with one of embodiments of the present invention, a frequency resolution processing unit calculates complex number data based on a beat signal caused by a receiving wave coming from a target and a transmission wave. A target detection unit detects a peak value from the intensities of beat frequencies, and then detects an existence of the target. The target link unit makes association between a target detected in the present detecting cycle and the target detected in the past detecting cycle. A direction estimating unit generates a generative complex number data based on the complex number data so as to correspond to a data generation unit. The direction estimating unit calculates, for each antenna, an incoming direction of the receiving wave based on each of normal equations formed by use of the complex number data of the beat frequency which an existence of the target is detected and the generative complex number data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Honda elesys Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junji Kanamoto
  • Patent number: 8547206
    Abstract: A noncontact IC medium direction detecting apparatus (1), method, and computer readable medium are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventor: Hidekatsu Nogami
  • Patent number: 8498758
    Abstract: Present novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for generating altitude data and/or height data are disclosed. A processor receives navigation data from an external source such as a global positioning system (“GPS”); receives navigation data from multiple internal sources; receives object data representative of terrain or surface feature elevation; determines an instant measurement of aircraft altitude as a function of these inputs; and generates aircraft altitude data responsive to such determination. In an additional embodiment, the processor receives reference point data representative of the elevation of the stationary reference point (e.g., a landing threshold point); determines an instant measurement of aircraft height as a function of this input and the instant measurement of aircraft altitude; and generates aircraft height data responsive to such determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A Bell, James H. Doty, Sarah Barber, Felix B. Turcios
  • Patent number: 8482457
    Abstract: Provided is a radar apparatus capable of accurately calculating the presence direction of an object. The radar apparatus radiates an electromagnetic wave, receives a reflected wave caused by the electromagnetic wave reflected from the object, and detects the presence direction of the object. The radar apparatus includes: an electromagnetic wave radiating section configured to radiate the electromagnetic wave; a reflected wave reception section configured to receive the reflected wave and detect information about the received reflected wave; and a reflected wave type estimation section configured to determine which the type of the received reflected wave received by the reflected wave reception section is, a single reflected wave which is just reflected from an object, or a composite reflected wave which is composed of a plurality of reflected waves, reflected from different objects, that have interfered with each other, based on the information about the received reflected wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ichiro Aizawa
  • Patent number: 8466829
    Abstract: A radar system comprises an electromagnetic transmitter and an array of antenna elements connected in Multiple-Input Multiple-Output manner for routing signals reflected from the target to a plurality of receive beam rotation processors. The receive beam rotation processing for each antenna element includes application of rotation frequency offsets to the received signals and summation in summing and differencing adders to generate I and Q components of the rotating beams. The I and Q components for each element are summed to generate received signals including angle-or-arrival (AOA) information. The AOA information is further processed by correlating with reference replica AOA signals and by averaging to determine the actual AOA. The transmitter may have multiple contrarotating beams generated by application of frequency offsets. The transmit and receive beam rotations may be synchronized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Vladimir Volman, John B. Stetson
  • Patent number: 8466830
    Abstract: An electronic scanning radar apparatus includes a transmission unit configured to transmit a transmission wave, and a receiving unit including a plurality of antennas receiving a receiving wave coming from a target. The receiving wave is formed from a reflection wave of the transmission wave reflected at the target. A beat signal generation unit is configured to generate beat signals in response to the transmission wave and the receiving wave. A frequency resolution processing unit is configured to obtain complex number data calculated from beat frequencies having signal levels obtained by performing a frequency resolution for the beat signals based on a predetermined frequency width. A peak detector is configured to detect an existence of the target by detecting peak signal levels of the beat frequencies, and a direction detecting unit is configured to calculate an incoming direction of the receiving wave based on a normal equation having an order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Elesys Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junji Kanamoto
  • Patent number: 8446312
    Abstract: An electronic scanning type radar device mounted on a moving body includes: a transmission unit transmitting a transmission wave; a reception unit comprising a plurality of antennas receiving a reflection wave of the transmission wave from a target; a beat signal generation unit generating a beat signal from the transmission wave and the reflection wave; a frequency resolution processing unit frequency computing a complex number data; a target detection unit detecting an existence of the target; a correlation matrix computation unit computing a correlation matrix from each of a complex number data of a detected beat frequency; a target consolidation processing unit linking the target in a present detection cycle and a past detection cycle; a correlation matrix filtering unit generating an averaged correlation matrix by weighted averaging a correlation matrix of a target in the present detection cycle and a correlation matrix of a related target in the past detection cycle; and a direction detection unit compu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Elesys Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji Kanamoto, Hiroyuki Akimoto
  • Patent number: 8441395
    Abstract: An electronic scanning radar apparatus includes a transmission unit configured to transmit a transmission wave, a receiving unit including a plurality of antennas receiving an incoming wave coming from a target, a beat signal generation unit configure to generate beat signals in response to the transmission wave and the incoming wave, a frequency resolution processing unit obtaining complex number data calculated from beat frequencies having signal levels obtained by performing a frequency resolution for the beat signals based on a predetermined frequency width, a peak detector detecting an existence of a present target by detecting peak signal levels of the beat frequencies, a target link unit associating between the present target detected in a present detecting cycle and a past target detected in past detecting cycles; and a direction detecting unit calculating a direction of the incoming wave based on the weighted averaging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Elesys Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junji Kanamoto