Scanning Patents (Class 342/158)
  • Patent number: 12117548
    Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) system includes an array of antennas to distinguish line-of-sight (LOS) paths from non-line-of-sight (NLOS) paths. The distance between adjacent antennas in the array of antennas is less than half the wavelength of the radio frequency (RF) signal of the system. Each antenna in the antenna array is also digitally controlled to change relative phase difference among the antennas, thereby allowing digital steering of the array of antennas across angles of arrival (AOAs) between 0 and ?. The digital steering generates a plot of signal amplitudes as a function of AOAs. LOS paths are distinguished from NLOS paths based on the shapes (e.g., depth, gradient, etc.) of local extremes (e.g., maxima or minima) in the plot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Automaton, Inc.
    Inventors: Spencer Hewett, Adam Blair, Ken Seiff, Michael Murphy, Mark Wieman, Tamara Adlin
  • Patent number: 11953584
    Abstract: System, computer products, and methods can improve the resolution of data from a sensor array. One of these methods include receiving, from an analog to digital converter, a series of measurements representing frequency samples and spatial samples from a sensor array. The method includes generating a plurality of factors based on a polynomial. The method includes applying one or more complex weights to the measurements based on the factors. The method includes combining the complex weighted measurements into a plurality of values. The method also includes identifying a characteristic of an object detected by the sensor array based on the plurality of values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: University of Massachusetts
    Inventors: Dayalan P. Kasilingam, Matthew J. Curtis, Murilo Souza Silva, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11933880
    Abstract: An implement for use with an excavator includes a lightweight housing, a first coupling feature, a ground penetrating radar antenna, a controller, a wireless communication circuit and a rotation unit. The lightweight housing has an upper surface, a lower surface and a cavity. The first coupling feature is located on the upper surface and cooperates with a second coupling feature on an excavator arm. The ground penetrating radar antenna is mounted near the lower surface. The controller is mounted within the cavity and provides outgoing signals to the radar antenna, receives incoming signals from the radar antenna and interprets the incoming signals so as to provide implement output information. The wireless communication circuit is mounted within the cavity and transmits the implement output information. The rotation unit is mounted within the cavity and rotates the housing vis-à-vis the excavator arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: RodRadar Ltd.
    Inventors: Simon Conway, Thomas James Martin, John Francis Roulston
  • Patent number: 11892557
    Abstract: The radar device includes a transmission section, a reception antenna section, a reception section, a frequency analysis section, a first correlation matrix generation section, and an averaging process section. The transmission section transmits a chirp at cycle periods, the number of the transmitted chirps being a repetition number. The first correlation matrix generation section generates, for the chirps, first correlation matrixes based on complex information on long-distance bins in distance spectra corresponding to respective reception antennas that have received the identical chirp. The averaging process section performs, for the respective long-distance bins, an averaging process for the repetition number of first correlation matrixes generated so as to correspond to the long-distance bins, to generate average correlation matrixes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takayuki Kitamura
  • Patent number: 11845376
    Abstract: Provided is a radar and light emission assembly for emitting light and radar radiation and for detecting at least reflected radar radiation including: a headlight including a light-transparent headlight cover, and a light source, and a light reflector; a radar module, which is arranged behind the headlight cover, integrated in the headlight and including a radar antenna unit. The radar and light emission assembly has at least one radar radiation-forming mechanism, in particular a frequency-selective radar radiation-forming mechanism, including a radar radiation-forming mechanism, which is integrated in the headlight cover. The application of the radar technology, integrated in the headlight, can be further optimized hereby. The invention further relates to a method and a use for a radar and light emission assembly of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e. V., Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen
    Inventors: Manuela Junghähnel, Thomas Preussner, Sebastian Winkler, Sofian Hamid, Korbinian Schraml, Jörg Pamp, Dirk Heberling, Christian Hördemann, Ludwig Pongratz, Patrick Gretzki, Arnold Gillner
  • Patent number: 11834186
    Abstract: An aircraft equipped with a distributed fan propulsion system and methods of operating such aircraft are provided. In one aspect, an aircraft includes a wing having a top surface and a bottom surface. The aircraft also has a distributed propulsion system that includes a suction fan array having one or more fans mounted to the wing and a pressure fan array having one or more fans mounted to the wing. The fans of the suction fan array are each positioned primarily above the top surface of the wing and the fans of the pressure fan array are each positioned primarily below the bottom surface of the wing. The fans of the suction fan array are controllable independent of the fans of the pressure fan array so that the air pressure above and/or below the wing can be locally controlled, allowing for adjustment of lift on the wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brendan Michael Freely, Kurt David Murrow, Michael James McMahon, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow
  • Patent number: 11808845
    Abstract: A radar device for a vehicle, the radar device including: an antenna provided on an inner surface of a lamp for a vehicle and configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic waves; and a signal processing module provided in the lamp and configured to process a signal received by the antenna, such that it is possible to obtain an advantageous effect of simplifying a structure and improving a degree of design freedom and spatial utilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung Sub Lim, Han Seong Yu, Myeong Je Kim
  • Patent number: 11791555
    Abstract: A nonreciprocal phased-array antenna includes an array of resonant antennas a1, . . . , an. During transmission, an outbound signal having a frequency f0 and a phase shift ?di caused by propagation through a data network feeds into each resonant antenna ai. Each resonant antenna ai upconverts the outbound signal using a modulation signal having a frequency fm and a phase shift ?mi caused by propagation through a modulation network to produce an upconverted radiated signal having a frequency f0+fm and a phase proportionate to ?di+?mi. During reception, an inbound signal of frequency f0+fm is received at each resonant antenna ai and is downconverted using the modulation signal to produce a downconverted signal having a frequency f0 and a phase proportionate to ??mi. After passing through the data network to the inbound port, the downconverted signal has a phase proportionate to ?di??mi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Juan Sebastián Gómez-Diaz, Alejandro Álvarez-Melcón, Jiawei Zang
  • Patent number: 11704394
    Abstract: In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, an electronic device is provided. The electronic device comprises an antenna array, a wireless communication module electrically connected to the antenna array and configured to form directional beams through the antenna array, at least one processor operatively connected to the wireless communication module; and a memory operatively connected to the at least one processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyunkee Min, Bokun Choi, Jongmu Choi, Sunkee Lee
  • Patent number: 11698448
    Abstract: The LIDAR system includes a first transform component configured to perform a complex mathematical transform on first signals. The LIDAR system also includes a second transform component configured to perform a real mathematical transform on second signals. Electronics are configured to use an output of the first transform component in combination with an output of the second transformation component to generate LIDAR data. The electronics are further configured to use a peak in the output of the first transform component to identify the peak in the output of the second transform component that is located at the beat frequency of the second signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: SiLC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley Jonathan Luff, Mehdi Asghari
  • Patent number: 11677449
    Abstract: Systems, methods, computer program products, and devices provide for computing an eigensystem from a first data set; computing updated eigenvalues that approximate an eigensystem of at least a second data set based on the eigensystem of the first data set; and evaluating a plurality of features in each of the first and at least second data sets using a cost function. The cost function uses fewer than the total number of eigenvalues and can include a condition number. The cost function can perform a coarse approximation of the eigenvalues to de-select at least one of the data sets. This can be useful for learning and/or online processing in an artificial neural network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Tybalt, LLC
    Inventor: Steve Shattil
  • Patent number: 11650303
    Abstract: A radar sensor in a motor vehicle has at least one antenna arrangement for emitting and receiving radar signals and a processing device for evaluating received radar signals. The antenna arrangement is controlled to simultaneously emit and receive radar signals both in a far frequency range and in a near frequency range, where the bandwidth of the near frequency range is greater than that of the far frequency range. The received radar signals of the near frequency range are evaluated as radar data of a higher distance resolution and received radar signals of the far frequency range are evaluated as radar data of a lower distance resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Niels Koch
  • Patent number: 11616492
    Abstract: A digitally controlled analog filter device. The digitally controlled analog filter device includes one or more digitally controlled analog signal amplifiers. The digitally controlled analog signal amplifiers are configured to have a gain of the digitally controlled analog signal amplifiers controlled by digital signals. The digitally controlled analog filter device further includes one or more analog time delay circuits coupled to signal input nodes of the digitally controlled analog signal amplifiers. The analog time delay circuits are configured to implement an analog signal delay. The digitally controlled analog filter device further includes a digital closed loop control circuit coupled to the digitally controlled analog signal amplifiers to digitally control the gain of the digitally controlled analog signal amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Janez Jeraj, Patrick M. Ryan, Osama S. Haddadin
  • Patent number: 11585890
    Abstract: A system comprises a first phased array radar assembly configured to be attached to a vehicle. The first phased array radar assembly includes a first plurality of antennas arranged in an array and attached to a circuit board. The system also includes one or more circuits attached to the circuit board. Each of the one or more circuits includes transmitter circuitry communicatively coupled to a subset of the first plurality of antennas and receiver circuitry communicatively coupled to the subset of the first plurality of antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: MaxLinear, Inc.
    Inventor: Curtis Ling
  • Patent number: 11555909
    Abstract: A radar system for air volume surveillance, the radar having a transmitter and receiver with separate antennas. The receiver aperture being relatively large compared with the transmitter aperture such that the receiving beam is narrower than the transmitting beam, which itself is relatively small compared with the volume to be surveyed. Multiple receiving beams can be configured so that collectively they substantially match the angular volume of the transmitting beam; and in which the transmitter is arranged, when operating, to transmit a signal with a duty cycle greater than fifty percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: LEONARDO UK LTD.
    Inventors: Anthony Kinghorn, Christopher Mountford
  • Patent number: 11552395
    Abstract: A system and method for ESA quadrant mechanical reconfiguration functions to shift some of the complexity from algorithmic manipulation of received radar data to mechanical transformation of a simple panel structure to achieve desired performance in a desired ESA boresight. The system receives a rotation trigger based on an external event such as altitude and mission and causes two or more simple ESA panels to rotate from a first azimuthal position to a second common azimuthal position without stopping at an intermediate azimuth. Once positioned, each individual rotational ESA panel is combined to function as a single aggregate ESA enabling desired performance in field of view, resolution, and range along a common boresight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob G. Teague, James B. West, Eric A. Casto, Richard Elliott
  • Patent number: 11545749
    Abstract: A nonreciprocal phased-array antenna includes an array of resonant antennas a1, . . . , an. During transmission, an outbound signal having a frequency f0 and a phase shift ?di caused by propagation through a data network feeds into each resonant antenna ai. Each resonant antenna ai upconverts the outbound signal using a modulation signal having a frequency fm and a phase shift ?mi caused by propagation through a modulation network to produce an upconverted radiated signal having a frequency f0+fm and a phase proportionate to ?di+?mi. During reception, an inbound signal of frequency f0+fm is received at each resonant antenna ai and is downconverted using the modulation signal to produce a downconverted signal having a frequency f0 and a phase proportionate to ??mi. After passing through the data network to the inbound port, the downconverted signal has a phase proportionate to ?di??mi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Juan Sebastián Gómez-Diaz, Alejandro Álvarez-Melcón, Jiawei Zang
  • Patent number: 11543515
    Abstract: A device for the non-destructive probing of a sample by means of electromagnetic wave reflection includes a metal body as part of its frame. The metal body forms a lateral wall and a separating wall enclosing an interior space. On a first side of the metal body, a shielding structure forms a plurality of shielded chambers for receiving RF circuitry. Interior space faces the second side of the metal body. A first circuit board containing driver and receiver circuitry is mounted to the first side of the metal body, and a second circuit board containing an antenna structure is mounted to the second side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: PROCEQ SA
    Inventors: Samuel Lehner, Ralph Mennicke
  • Patent number: 11528802
    Abstract: A method of manufacture and an integrated functional multilayer structure, includes a substrate film formed or formable so as to exhibit a selected shape; and a number of functional, preferably including optical, mechanical, optoelectrical, electrical and/or specifically, electronic, elements, such as conductors, insulators, components and/or integrated circuits, provided upon the substrate film in the proximity of the shape; wherein the substrate film has further been provided with a structural tuning element, optionally including an elongated, circumferential or other selected shape, said structural tuning element being configured to locally control induced deformation, optionally including stretching, bending, compression and/or shearing, of the substrate film within said proximity of the shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: TACTOTEK OY
    Inventors: Tapio Rautio, Tomi Simula, Minna Pirkonen, Jarkko Torvinen, Tuukka Junkkari, Janne Asikkala, Hasse Sinivaara
  • Patent number: 11515886
    Abstract: Disclosed are an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), an electronic device including the ADC, and an operating method of the ADC. The ADC includes a first stage that includes a plurality of channels, generates a first sampling signal by sequentially sampling a first analog signal based on time interleaving, and generates a first digital signal and a first residual signal corresponding to the first analog signal by performing analog-to-digital conversion based on the first sampling signal, an amplifier that amplifies the first residual signal, and a second stage that includes a plurality of channels, generates a second sampling signal by sequentially sampling the amplified first residual signal based on time interleaving, and generates a second digital signal and a second residual signal corresponding to the first analog signal by performing analog-to-digital conversion based on the second sampling signal. The number of the plurality of channels included in the first stage is odd-numbered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Konkuk University Industrial Cooperation Corp.
    Inventors: Hyungil Chae, Younggyun Oh
  • Patent number: 11360187
    Abstract: A radar sensor system including: a defined number of HF components; each HF component having at least one antenna for emitting and/or receiving radar waves and at least one antenna control for operating the at least one antenna; and a synchronization network that is connected to all HF components and via which an operating frequency of all HF components is synchronizable by at least one of the HF components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Marcel Mayer, Klaus Baur, Michael Schoor
  • Patent number: 11240402
    Abstract: An optical scanning device for displaying or capturing an image is used, the device including: an optical scanning unit configured to scan emitted light while drawing a spiral trajectory, wherein the unit includes: a light guide path configured to guide incident light to output the emitted light from an emission end; and a vibration unit configured to vibrate the emission end; a light emission control unit configured to control light emission of the emitted light; a polar coordinate generation unit configured to generate a radius and a deflection angle relating to the spiral trajectory; a driving signal generation unit configured to generate a driving signal for driving the vibration unit; an angle correction unit configured to perform calculation for correcting an angle based on information from the driving signal generation unit and output an corrected angle; and a coordinate calculation unit configured to calculate coordinates of an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinsuke Onoe, Toshiteru Nakamura, Kenichiro Yamada, Takahiro Matsuda, Yoshiho Seo
  • Patent number: 11199620
    Abstract: A radar device is provided which is capable of highly accurate distance calculation by a simple method. The radar device includes: a transmission circuit which transmits radio waves; an adjustment circuit which adjusts transmission angles of the radio waves transmitted from the transmission circuit; a reception circuit which receives plural signals which are the radio waves transmitted, based on adjustment made by the adjustment circuit, from the transmission circuit and respectively reflected from an object; and a signal processing circuit which, by processing the received signals, calculates a distance to the object. The signal processing circuit includes a buffer which stores signal strength data on the signals received by the reception circuit, the received signals respectively corresponding to the transmission angles, and a correction circuit which performs correction processing on equidistance-based portions of the signal strength data on the received signals stored in the buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuji Motoda
  • Patent number: 11029402
    Abstract: An improved Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) system is provided. The system advantageously employs full waveform digitization of a returning signal to significantly reduce the number of launch signals and allowing the amount of radiation emitted to stay within the limit set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), while producing a robust information detection signal. In addition, intermittent large latent-duty-cycle sampling employs a less expensive digitizer typically used in prior art GPRs. The system is scalable at low-cost to accommodate multi-antenna multi-static testing for subsurface tomographic imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: The University of Vermont and State Agricultural College
    Inventors: Dryver R Huston, Tian Xia, Dylan Burns
  • Patent number: 10976426
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for ascertaining object kinematics of a movable object include: a trajectory calculation filter for calculating an estimated movement direction of the object based on a predicted position of the object and based on a position of the object specified in radar measurement data of the object; and a calculation unit for calculating Cartesian speeds of the object depending on a measured radial object speed and a measured object angle, which are specified in the radar measurement data, and depending on the estimated movement direction of the object that is calculated in the trajectory calculation filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Eisenbarth, Yang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10871562
    Abstract: According to the invention, a device and a method are provided for determining the position of an object, in particular a moving object, in the three-dimensional space. The device comprises at least two switchable transmitting antennas having a different vertical position of the phase center as well as a plurality of receiving antennas which are arranged in series. The transmitting antennas are arranged in the horizontal direction and at a distance that corresponds to the distance of the receiving antennas. The transmitting antennas are vertically offset with respect to each other by a value that is less than or equal to half the free-space wavelength of the transmitted signal. The transmitting antennas can otherwise be arranged at any position around the receiving antenna. Horizontal beam sweep across a wide angular range is carried out according to the method of “digital beamforming”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Inventor: Guenther Trummer
  • Patent number: 10839179
    Abstract: A radiofrequency identification (RFID) reader device includes a radiofrequency device configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation through an antenna array. An RFID control computing device is coupled to the radiofrequency device and includes a memory coupled to a processor which is configured to be capable of executing programmed instructions comprising and stored in the memory to operate the radiofrequency device in a first mode to transmit a first radiofrequency beam to a scan area through the antenna array. A spatial location for RFID tags located within the scanned area is determined from a radar image. The radiofrequency device is operated in a second mode to transmit a second radiofrequency beam to at least one of the RFID tags, based on the determined spatial location of the RFID tags, to power an integrated circuit or sensor located on and to communicate with the at least one of the RFID tags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: VUBIQ NETWORKS, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Gregory Pettus
  • Patent number: 10794994
    Abstract: A radar control device is provided, which includes a signal generating module configured to generate a transmission pattern signal comprised of at least one kind of pulse signal that is set among pulse signals including first and second pulse signals, a transmitter configured to externally transmit the transmission pattern signal via a radar antenna, a detector configured to detect transmission power of each pulse signal included in the transmission pattern signal, and a processing circuit configured to control, when the transmission pattern signal includes the second pulse signal, the transmission power of the transmission pattern signal by using a control value calculated based on the transmission power of the second pulse signal, and control, when the transmission pattern signal consists of the first signal, the transmission power of the first pulse signal by using a control value previously used for controlling the transmission power of the second pulse signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Keisuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10709127
    Abstract: A wildlife deterrence aircraft lighting apparatus includes at least one species deterrent LED to provide non-lethal deterrence of avian species (i.e., birds) within a deterrence area in an immediate flight path of an aircraft. The species deterrent LED may be configured to emit mono-colored light at a wavelength within a sensitivity range of a short-wavelength-sensitive (SWS) photoreceptor of at least one avian species and with a light intensity in at least a portion of the deterrence area sufficient to induce an augmented behavioral response. The lighting apparatus may also control the species deterrent LED(s) and aircraft lighting LED(s) independently and may provide voltage control and temperature control to enable the wildlife deterrence function without interfering with the aircraft lighting functions. The lighting apparatus may further be configured to reduce luminous flux loss and to provide thermal management to accommodate both wildlife deterrence and aircraft lighting functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: LITE ENTERPRISES INC.
    Inventor: Donald Ronning
  • Patent number: 10649069
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a radar apparatus for estimating a position and a velocity of the plurality of obstacles. The radar apparatus includes a local oscillator that generates a first signal. A first transmit unit receives the first signal from the local oscillator and generates a first transmit signal. A frequency shifter receives the first signal from the local oscillator and generates a second signal. A second transmit unit receives the second signal and generates a second transmit signal. The frequency shifter provides a frequency offset to the first signal based on a routing delay mismatch to generate the second signal such that the first transmit signal is phase coherent with the second transmit signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Karthik Ramasubramanian, Karthik Subburaj, Sachin Bhardwaj
  • Patent number: 10620313
    Abstract: In order to acquire echo sound information about a long-distance target, an active sonar comprises a fan beam transmitter, a fan beam receiver, a propagation path calculator, a path time calculator, and a horizontal distance calculator. The active sonar transmits a plurality of transmitted fan beams horizontally wide and vertically narrow, and the elevation angles of them are mutually deferent, and receives received fan beams vertically wide and horizontally narrow. The propagation path calculator calculates a propagation path of each of the transmitted fan beams based on the profile of medium and the elevation angle of the transmission. The path time calculator calculates a path time which is the time period from the transmission to the reception. The horizontal distance calculator calculates a horizontal distance from the active sonar to a generation source point of each echo sounds based on the propagation path and the path time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Minoru Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10578726
    Abstract: An active sensing system includes an agent and at least one sensor operatively associated with the agent. The at least one sensor includes one or more emitters configured and disposed to establish a sensing zone. A conflict identification module is configured and disposed to identify one or more sensor conflict regions, and an active sensor controller is operatively connected to the at least one sensor and the conflict identification module. The active sensor controller is configured and disposed to form an adjustment zone within the sensing zone to accommodate the one or more sensor conflict regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael Aaron Connor
  • Patent number: 10571563
    Abstract: There is provided a radar device. A detecting unit is configured to detect a lateral location of a target relative to a vehicle equipped with the radar device, on the basis of reflected waves from the target. A selecting unit is configured to select a predetermined number of detection values from a detection value history including detection values of the lateral location detected by the detecting unit in chronological order. The predetermined number depends on a turning radius of the vehicle. A determining unit is configured to determine a definite value of the lateral location on the basis of the detection values selected by the selecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventor: Hisateru Asanuma
  • Patent number: 10476152
    Abstract: A method and system which enable the automatic adjustment of the rotational speed of a radar antenna in a radar system having a continuously rotating radar antenna based on where objects are being detected. The automatic adjustment of the rotational speed of the radar antenna is controlled by a controller integrated with the radar system and is based on the bearing of the emitting antenna relative to objects being detected. The method relies on continuously reading the angular position of the antenna and corresponding the presence of detected objects to this angular position so as to automatically adjust the speed of the antenna to slow down the antenna while it is directing wave signals towards detected targets and speed up the antenna while it is directing wave signals in a direction where there are no detected objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Jacoby Larson, Darren Powell
  • Patent number: 10338187
    Abstract: A spherically constrained optical seeker assembly includes a spherical lens having an outer surface, an optical sensor assembly associated with the spherical lens, and a gimbal assembly. The optical sensor assembly is coupled to the gimbal assembly. The gimbal assembly is configured to move the optical sensor assembly to at least one desired position on the outer surface of the spherical lens. A method of manipulating the optical sensor assembly includes positioning the optical sensor assembly with respect to the spherical lens and moving the optical sensor assembly to at least one desired position with respect to the outer surface of the spherical lens by the gimbal assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventor: Michael K. Burkland
  • Patent number: 10254145
    Abstract: An antenna apparatus for connection to a fill level measurement device for detecting a topology of a filling material surface is provided, including an antenna configured to emit a measurement signal towards the surface and to receive the measurement signal reflected from the surface; a drive shaft configured to rotate the antenna about the drive axis while the measurement signal is being emitted; a first energy store configured to supply the antenna apparatus with electrical energy, wherein the antenna includes an array of radiator elements configured to emit the measurement signal and to receive the reflected measurement signal, and wherein the first energy store is attached to the antenna apparatus such that it rotates with the antenna when the antenna is rotated by the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: VEGA GRIESHABER KG
    Inventors: Levin Dieterle, Roland Welle
  • Patent number: 10222178
    Abstract: A method of mapping a target region image to a referenced image includes steps of acquiring the target region image. The method also includes acquiring the referenced image overlapping the target region image. The method further includes determining a number of common subregions in an intersection of the referenced image and the target region image, determining offsets between the common subregions, computing a distortion map of the target region image over the intersection, and remapping the target region image to match the reference image. The method can be utilized in a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and the target image can be a SAR image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: LITEL INSTRUMENTS
    Inventors: Robert O. Hunter, Jr., Adlai H. Smith
  • Patent number: 10151825
    Abstract: A radar detection system that includes a signal transmitter, a signal receiver, a coupling module, two antennas and a switching module is provided. The coupling module includes a first and a second coupling paths each corresponding to a group of phase-shifting parameters. Under a first operation mode, the switching module connects the signal transmitter to the first coupling path to perform signal transmission from the two antennas along a first axis and connects the signal receiver to the second coupling path to perform signal receiving from the two antennas along a second axis. Under a second operation mode, the switching module connects the signal transmitter to the second coupling path to perform signal transmission from the two antennas along the second axis and connects the signal receiver to the first coupling path to perform signal receiving from the two antennas along the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Ta-Chun Pu, Chun-Yih Wu, Yen-Liang Kuo
  • Patent number: 10131446
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a time-of-flight ranging sensor that scans in two or more directions relative to the apparatus over a series of scanning cycles. A processor computes, and to communicates to the time-of-flight ranging sensor, a pulse repetition rate (PRR) for the time-of-flight ranging sensor for each of the two or more directions based on information about surrounding terrain of the apparatus and a sensor pointing schedule for the time-of-flight ranging sensor that indicates directions that the time-of-flight ranging sensor is scheduled to point at time during the scanning cycles. In addition or lieu of computing the PRR, the processor(s) matches returns from pulses of the time-of-flight ranging sensor to the pulses probabilistically based on a current map of the vehicle's surroundings and scan coherence analysis for shapes in the returns. The current map can then be updated based on the matched returns for the next iteration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: NEAR EARTH AUTONOMY, INC.
    Inventors: Adam Stambler, Lyle J. Chamberlain, Sebastian Scherer
  • Patent number: 10075221
    Abstract: A method is performed by a first communication device for directing an antenna beam based on motion. The method includes directing an antenna beam in a first direction. The method further includes receiving motion data that indicates movement of the first communication device or a second communication device. Moreover, the method includes determining, based on the motion data, a change in direction of the antenna beam from the first direction to a second direction toward the second communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC
    Inventors: Philip G Lee, Mark Braun, Ranjeet Gupta, Mary Hor-Lao
  • Patent number: 10042050
    Abstract: A vehicle radar system for monitoring a blind spot of a vehicle includes a radar transmitter mounted on the vehicle and a transmitting antenna coupled to the radar transmitter. The transmitting antenna transmits radiation in a pattern into a region adjacent to the vehicle, the pattern comprising a first radiation lobe and a second radiation lobe. A null region of the pattern between the first lobe and the second lobe is directed into the region approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the longitudinal axis running between a rear end of the vehicle and a front end of the vehicle and running along a line of travel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Veoneer US, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard De Mersseman, Olof Eriksson, Roine Andersson
  • Patent number: 10036800
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for the filtering of coherent noise signals. In an illustrative embodiment, a pulsed electronic signal receives varying phase shifts for each of its pulses prior to transmission. When coherent noise interferes with the transmitted signal, received signal receives a phase shift opposite of that applied prior to transmission such that the electronic signal is restored and the coherent noise becomes non-coherent. In another embodiment, width of each transmitted pulses can be varied prior to transmission, but a constant midpoint-to-midpoint time is maintained. After receiving a signal with coherent noise interference, the midpoints of the pulses are aligned causing the coherent noise to become non-coherent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: John Paul Schofield, III, Jack Eugene Fulton, Jr., Terry Wayne Lockridge
  • Patent number: 10031220
    Abstract: Error that occurs when an absolute velocity of a target object is measured by using an antenna installed on a ship body that rocks and drifts in a complex manner since it floats on the sea is reduced. An antenna is installed on a ship body and transceives electromagnetic waves. A roll angle and a pitch angle of the ship body are detected by using an inclination sensor. An antenna velocity calculator calculates an antenna velocity of the antenna by using the detected roll and pitch angles of the ship body. An antenna velocity compensator compensates the antenna velocity of the antenna for a relative velocity between the ship body and a target object, the antenna velocity calculated by the antenna velocity calculator, the relative velocity obtained based on reflection waves received by the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sae Takemoto
  • Patent number: 10018713
    Abstract: A radar system for motor vehicles has at least two radar sensors for emitting and receiving radar radiation for monitoring the surroundings of the motor vehicle, the at least two radar sensors being each positioned at an angle between 40 degrees and 50 degrees to an axis, and the at least two radar sensors being configured in such a way that the respective antenna has a pivotable visual range of an angle between at least ?60 degrees and +60 degrees, in particular between ?45 degrees and +45 degrees, relative to the main emission direction of the respective radar sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Binzer, Christian Waldschmidt, Raphael Hellinger
  • Patent number: 10012727
    Abstract: A method for detecting targets, implemented by a multifunction radar wherein the radar comprises an antenna subdivided into at least two portions and is configured to transmit at least two types of signals on distinct frequency bands and to perform at least one ground detection or imaging function. During the transmission phases of an antenna portion, the reception of each antenna portion of the radar is cut. The method comprises, for each range gate, a step of reception of signals, a step of estimation of the autocorrelation matrix associated with the interferences the ground returns and from the thermal noise of the radar and a step of target detection using a test of the generalized maximum likelihood. A multifunction radar configured to implement the method for detecting targets is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Cyrille Enderli, Jean-Yves Delabbaye
  • Patent number: 9958543
    Abstract: The present method and system relates to the determination of elevation angles for the case in which more than one target object is situated within a radar cell. Through the estimation according to the present invention of the elevation angles in multi-target scenarios, even in such cases both azimuth angles and elevation angles can be determined, and a reliable classification of the respective target objects can then take place. The present system also relates to a motor vehicle having a radar system that includes an azimuth and elevation angle estimation method and system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Schoor, Volker Gross
  • Patent number: 9910150
    Abstract: A method is provided for detecting at least two objects, particularly using a radar system having the steps of sending out a first radio signal using a first sending device, the first sending device being situated in a horizontal plane having at least two first antenna elements, receiving the radio signal using the at least two first antenna elements, receiving the radio signal using at least two second antenna elements, which are situated in different horizontal positions each above or below corresponding first antenna elements of the horizontally situated antenna elements, calculating respectively one azimuth angle and one angle of elevation from at least two objects located in front of the first antenna elements and the second antenna elements from the first radio signal received by the first antenna elements and from the first radio signal received by the second antenna elements. Furthermore, an antenna array, a radar system, and a vehicle are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Schoor, Goetz Kuehnle, Volker Gross, Benedikt Loesch
  • Patent number: 9897695
    Abstract: A frequency-modulation, continuous-wave (FMCW) radar system may include a transmit array including a number of transmit antenna elements in a first dimension that is greater than a number of transmit antenna elements in a second dimension. The transmit array may output an FMCW transmit beam that illuminates an area with a greater extent in a first illumination dimension than in a second illumination dimension. The radar system may include a transmit electronics module that electronically scans the transmit beam in the second illumination dimension, and a receive array comprising receive antenna elements. The radar system may include a receive electronics module that generates, using a plurality of receive signals, a plurality of receive beams within the area illuminated by the transmit beam and electronically scans each receive beam in the second illumination dimension such that scanning of each receive beam is coordinated with scanning of the transmit beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: David C. Vacanti
  • Patent number: 9891310
    Abstract: A radar system uses multiple-beam maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) during both search and tracking operations. During search, a four beam sequential beam cluster may be used to search for targets in a region-of-interest. During tracking, a three beam triad may be used to track one or more detected targets. In some embodiments, a beam selector switch may be used to allow two offset receive beams to time share a beamformer output port to generate the four beam sequential cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Kaichiang Chang, Yong Liu, David R. Schmidt, Stephen M. Sparagna, Frederic C. Stevens, IV
  • Patent number: 9859959
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for alignment of a first node with at least one secondary node in a wireless communication network. The first node includes first node antenna beams with corresponding designated pointing angles. For each such beam, the method comprises the steps of, for each secondary node: directing a first node antenna beam in its designated pointing angle; using a secondary node antenna beam where objects can generate signal reflections/diffractions; and detecting at least one signal property of reflected/diffracted signals. The method further comprises the steps: exchanging information between the nodes, regarding beam angles resulting in said signal property exceeding a corresponding threshold level; and selecting a first node beam angle and a secondary node beam angle from the beam angles for communication between the first node and each secondary node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Publ)
    Inventors: Anders Derneryd, Jan-Erik Berg, Ulrika Engström, Lars Manholm