With Particular Circuit Patents (Class 342/175)
  • Patent number: 9205835
    Abstract: Systems and methods use cameras to provide autonomous navigation features. In one implementation, a driver-assist object detection system is provided for a vehicle. One or more processing devices associated with the system receive at least two images from a plurality of captured images via a data interface. The device(s) analyze the first image and at least a second image to determine a reference plane corresponding to the roadway the vehicle is traveling on. The processing device(s) locate a target object in the first two images, and determine a difference in a size of at least one dimension of the target object between the two images. The system may use the difference in size to determine a height of the object. Further, the system may cause a change in at least a directional course of the vehicle if the determined height exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: MOBILEYE VISION TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Gideon Stein, Amnon Shashua
  • Patent number: 9159172
    Abstract: An apparatus and system that ensures that defined equipment systems are monitored and checked before the equipment may be used is described. The invention includes apparatus that encourages the equipment operator to perform specified monitoring checks on specified systems at specified intervals, and requires that the check is done by the operator physically removing a check device such as a crankcase or transmission dipstick, radiator cap, air filter, and so on. Failure to perform the required monitoring task results in the equipment being disabled or locked out so that the operator is unable to use the equipment; for example, a starter motor may be locked out so that the engine cannot start until a specified monitoring check has been completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Safe T Start, LLC
    Inventors: Vito Ignatius Bartolotta, Justin Green
  • Patent number: 9125299
    Abstract: Examples of electronic components and printed circuit board assemblies which may be configured for directional heat transport are described herein. A circuit board assembly according to the examples herein may include a plurality of stacked planar layers, including a signal layer with a plurality of signal traces, a ground layer separated from the signal layer using an insulating layer, and a plurality of heat sink traces extending from the ground layer through at least a portion of the thickness of the insulating layer, each of the plurality of heat sink traces being electrically insulated from the signal traces and coupled to ground. The circuit board assembly may further include one or more electronic components electrically coupled to the signal layer using one or more of the signal traces, with the heat sink traces arranged around the one or more electronic components such that heat is selectively directed from one location of the board (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Michael B. Wittenberg, Nicholas G. Merz, Shayan Malek
  • Patent number: 9063214
    Abstract: A radar sensor for motor vehicles includes a plurality of transmission and receiving antennas, which differ in their azimuthal directivity characteristic and to which a separate mixer is assigned, which mixes a transmitted signal with a received signal, at least one of the mixers being a transfer mixer, and at least one other of the mixers having a lower transfer output, wherein the assignment of the transmission and receiving antennas is asymmetrical with respect to the mixers differing in their transfer output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Klar, Thomas Binzer, Dirk Steinbuch, Dirk Freundt, Bernhard Lucas
  • Patent number: 9041592
    Abstract: A radar sensor and a method of detecting an object by using the same are provided. The method includes: receiving at least one radar signal reflected from the object; converting the received at least one radar signal to at least one signal in a frequency domain; accumulating the converted at least one signal for a predetermined time and extracting at least one feature from the accumulated at least one signal; and identifying the object by comparing the extracted at least one feature with at least one reference value stored in a database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG TECHWIN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ki-Yong Jeon
  • Patent number: 9041599
    Abstract: There is provided a radar receiver that effectively prevents local oscillator signals from leaking out from an antenna. A receiver 21 includes a local oscillator 5, a mixer 6, a buffer amplifier 11, and a mode switcher 16. The local oscillator 5 outputs a local oscillation signal LO. The mixer 6 mixes a high-frequency signal RF received by a radar antenna 2 with the local oscillation signal LO. The buffer amplifier 11 is disposed between the local oscillator 5 and the mixer 6. The mode switcher 16 switches at least between a standby mode in which power is supplied to the local oscillator 5 and no power is supplied to the buffer amplifier 11 and a reception mode in which power is supplied to both the local oscillator 5 and the buffer amplifier 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Akio Funae
  • Patent number: 9041595
    Abstract: A tower crane load location determiner is disclosed. One example includes a load location measurer to provide load location measurement information for a load coupled with a tower crane. In addition, a load position determiner utilizes the load location measurement information to determine a location of the load. A user accessible load location provider provides the determined location of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: John F. Cameron, Kurt Maynard
  • Patent number: 9035820
    Abstract: Provided is a technique capable of suppressing the deterioration in azimuth resolution and distance resolution in even a modulated and transmitted or received signal or a signal reflected by an object and varied in intensity when acquiring waveform information. A measurement device comprise: a plurality of sensors which receive waves propagating through a space; and a sampling timing calculation means which obtains, on the basis of the relative positions of the sensors and the velocities of the waves, the difference between the arrival times of the waves received by the respective sensors and calculates, for each sensor, sampling timing for acquiring the waveform information relating to the waves, on the basis of the difference between the arrival times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hisashi Shiba
  • Patent number: 9035821
    Abstract: An antenna array for a radar sensor, wherein the antenna array has a number of antenna elements linearly arranged next to one another. The antenna elements are designed for transmitting or receiving a radar signal, and the antenna array has a switching unit, which is designed to connect the antenna elements according to a predetermined switching sequence individually, one after the other in time, with a transmitting or receiving unit of the radar sensor. The switching sequence, according to which the antenna elements are connected one after the other with the transmitting or receiving unit, deviates from the spatial sequence of the antenna elements in the antenna array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser GmbH +Co. KG
    Inventor: Peter Feil
  • Patent number: 9035824
    Abstract: A system and method of radar location comprises radar signal emission means, an emitted pulse of duration T1 and index i starting at instant T2(i); means receiving reflected radar signals; means determining correlation between reconstruction of an emitted pulse and signal received during the time interval between T2(i)+2*T1 and T2(i+1). The means determining a correlation can reconstruct a set, of at least one truncated pulse j of duration T3(j), less than T1, corresponding to the final part of said emitted pulse, said truncated pulses having increasing respective durations, determining at least one first correlated signal j by correlation of said truncated pulse j and signal received during time interval between T2(i)+T1 and T2(i)+T1+T3(j) and determining a second signal, based on first correlated signals j, by copying the time interval, of said correlated signal j, between T2(i)+T1+T3(j) and T2(i)+T1+T3(j+1), onto the time interval, of said second signal, between T2(i)+T1+T3(j) and T2(i)+T1+T3(j+1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Stéphane Kemkemian, Jean-Paul Artis, Jean-Michel Quellec
  • Publication number: 20150130659
    Abstract: The planar antenna has a dielectric substrate; an antenna main body portion including first and second antenna elements on first and second sides, respectively, of the dielectric substrate and functioning as a balanced antenna; a signal line portion including first and second feed lines on the first and second sides, respectively, and a coplanar line on the first side and formed by a signal line and the first ground conductors, the signal line connected to the first feed line; a second ground conductor on the second side and connected to the second feed line; and via holes connecting the first ground conductors to the second ground conductor provided at ends of edges of the first ground conductors facing the end of the signal line where the signal line connects to the first feed line, to allow the first and second feed lines to function as balanced transmission lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Yasunari MORI, Kyouji DOI, Takayoshi YUMII, Yumi ASANO
  • Publication number: 20150130657
    Abstract: Embodiments of a drain modulator that uses high power switch sensing to control active pulldown are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a logic and sense module is arranged to receive a control signal for controlling an on and an off state of an input of a switch to turn a high power voltage at an output of the switch on and off. A pullup module and a pulldown module are coupled to the input of the switch. An active pulldown module coupled to the output of the switch. The logic and sense module monitors the input to the switch and activates the active pulldown module to drain the output of the switch to a zero voltage when the input of the switch transitions to the off state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Mark T. Richardson, Denpol Kultran, George W. Gerace, Richard D. Young, Mark E. Stading, Jeffrey H. Saunders
  • Publication number: 20150130658
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a receiver having a single sideband mixer with all pass networks to remove unwanted sidebands down conversion of signals. In exemplary embodiments, a single chip receive/transceiver can be used in phased array radars. Since the need for bulky off-chip switch filter banks is eliminated, the number of chips for phased array antenna elements can be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Richard Hennegan
  • Patent number: 9030353
    Abstract: This disclosure provides an information display device. The information display device includes an acquirer for acquiring positional information on one or more display targets including at least one of a landmark serving as a reference mark used when a movable body is in move, another movable body, and a location registered by an operator, and a controller for displaying positional information and circumferential information on the movable body in an information display area, associating at least one of the one or more display targets of which a position is outside the information display area with a direction to which the at least one of the one or more display targets is located centering on the movable body, and displaying the at least one of the one or more display targets in an outer circumferential area of the information display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Company Limited
    Inventor: Yugo Kubota
  • Patent number: 9030351
    Abstract: A land-based Smart-Sensor System and several system architectures for detection, tracking, and classification of people and vehicles automatically and in real time for border, property, and facility security surveillance is described. The preferred embodiment of the proposed Smart-Sensor System is comprised of (1) a low-cost, non-coherent radar, whose function is to detect and track people, singly or in groups, and various means of transportation, which may include vehicles, animals, or aircraft, singly or in groups, and cue (2) an optical sensor such as a long-wave infrared (LWIR) sensor, whose function is to classify the identified targets and produce movie clips for operator validation and use, and (3) an IBM CELL supercomputer to process the collected data in real-time. The Smart Sensor System can be implemented in a tower-based or a mobile-based, or combination system architecture. The radar can also be operated as a stand-alone system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Vista Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip A. Fox, Joseph W. Maresca, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150123840
    Abstract: A transmission signal generating unit generates a transmission signal by multiplying one (selected in prescribed order) of 2N+1 (N: an integer of 1 or more) codes of a Spano code sequence by one code (selected in prescribed order), having a length 1, of one of a first code or a second code each having a code length 2N+1 in every transmission cycle. A transmission RF unit converts the transmission signal into a radio-frequency radar transmission signal and transmits it from a transmission antenna. As for codes used in adjacent two transmission cycles for two times 2N+1 transmission cycles, the sum total of inner products of codes having a length 1 of the first code, inner products of codes having a length 1 of the second code, and inner products of codes of the first code and the second code becomes equal to 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Morita, Takaaki Kishigami
  • Patent number: 9024807
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of verifying a measurement accuracy of a level gauge system. The method comprises determining a first measurement value indicative of a time-of-flight of a first electromagnetic reflection signal to a reference reflector and back; determining a measurement unit verification measurement value based on a response signal from a verification arrangement; determining a second measurement value indicative of a time-of-flight of a second electromagnetic reflection signal to the reference reflector and back; and determining a verification result based on the first measurement value, the second measurement value and the measurement unit verification measurement value. Through embodiments of the present invention, it will be verified that the measurement unit is functioning correctly and that level gauge system works as it should also after being reconnected to the propagation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Rosemount Tank Radar AB
    Inventors: Christoffer Widahl, Michael Larsson
  • Patent number: 9024802
    Abstract: An automatic frequency control is used to keep a continuous wave (CW) transmission tuned to the resonant frequency of a resonant microwave patch antenna (RMPA). Changes in loading and the bulk dielectric constant of the mixed media in front of the RMPA will affect its resonant frequency and input impedance. A significant shift in the measured input impedance is interpreted as an object moving nearby, and the phase angle of the measured input impedance is used to estimate the direction of an object's movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Stolar, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry G. Stolarczyk
  • Patent number: 9024805
    Abstract: Methods and systems of determining the altitude of an aircraft are provided. The method includes receiving data associated with aircraft position, a position of a first point and a second point on the runway, and an altitude of the first point and the second point, radar returns from the runway. The method includes determining a first range and second range between the aircraft, and the first point and the second point. The method includes determining a first angle and a second angle between the first point and second point, and the aircraft. The method includes determining a corrected angle. The method includes determining the altitude of the aircraft based on the corrected angle, the runway altitude of at least one of the first point and the second point, and at least one of the first range and the second range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Jinkins, Daniel L. Woodell, Richard M. Rademaker
  • Patent number: 9024816
    Abstract: A radar or sonar system amplifies the signal received by an antenna of the radar system or a transducer of the sonar system is amplified and then subject to linear demodulation by a linear receiver. There may be an anti-aliasing filter and an analog-to-digital converter between the amplifier and the linear receiver. The system may also have a digital signal processor with a network stack running in the processor. That processor may also have a network interface media access controller, where the system operates at different ranges, the modulator may produce pulses of two pulse patterns differing in pulse duration and inter-pulse spacing, those pulse patterns are introduced and used to form two radar images with the two images being derived from data acquired in a duration not more than twenty times larger than the larger inter-pulse spacing, or for a radar system, larger than one half of the antenna resolution time. One or more look-up tables may be used to control the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Raymarine UK Limited
    Inventors: Richard Jales, Andrew Lawrence, Matthieu Maindrou
  • Patent number: 9024815
    Abstract: A direct-to-digital software defined radar system includes a high-speed digitizer coupled directly to a receive antenna and outputs a digital signal to a processor which receives the digitized signal, along with an arbitrarily-defined reference signal provided by signal generator, and indexes the signal data according to time and geo-location, arranges the data according to a three-dimensional data structure, declutters and filters and refines the data for storage or display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Brooks Engineering International, LLC
    Inventor: John W. Brooks
  • Patent number: 9024814
    Abstract: One or more human attributes extracted from a micro-impulse radar (MIR) signal is correlated to a temporary identity or phenotypic identity of a person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Mahalaxmi Gita Bangera, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Eric C. Leuthardt, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Clarence T. Tegreene, David B. Tuckerman, Thomas A. Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9024808
    Abstract: A method of determining a filling level comprising transmitting a first transmit signal exhibiting a first ratio between bandwidth number of frequencies; receiving a first reflection signal; mixing the first transmit signal and the first reflection signal to form a first intermediate frequency signal; and determining a first data set indicative of a first set of surface echo candidates based on the first intermediate frequency signal. The method further comprises transmitting a second transmit signal exhibiting a second ratio between bandwidth and number of frequencies being different from the first ratio; receiving a second reflection signal; mixing the second transmit signal and the second reflection signal to form a second intermediate frequency signal; and determining a second data set indicative of a second set of surface echo candidates based on the second intermediate frequency signal. The filling level determined based on subsets of the first and second sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Rosemount Tank Radar AB
    Inventor: Mikael Kleman
  • Patent number: 9024804
    Abstract: A sensor assembly that integrates a camera and a radar sensor is described herein. The sensor assembly includes a housing configured to partially enclose the camera and the radar sensor, and define a partial radome that partially intrudes into the radar beam. The partial radome is configured such that after passing through the partial radome a first phase angle of the first portion of the radar beam differs from a second phase angle of the second portion of the radar beam by an amount substantially corresponding to an integer number of three hundred sixty degrees (360°) of phase angle shift. The partial radome provides glare shield to the camera, protection to assembly, and is configured to minimally effect radar performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn Shi, David Jay Vess
  • Patent number: 9024813
    Abstract: An antenna device is provided. The antenna device includes a radiator for radiating an electromagnetic wave, and a dielectric body arranged on an electromagnetic wave radiating side of the radiator, and having a plurality of dielectric members arrayed in a longitudinal direction of the radiator, wherein boundaries between the plurality of adjacent dielectric members are asymmetric with respect to a virtual line perpendicularly passing through the center of the dielectric body in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Miyagawa, Koji Yano
  • Patent number: 9019146
    Abstract: A method for indicating a weather threat to an aircraft is provided. The method includes inferring a weather threat to an aircraft and causing an image to be displayed on an aviation display in response to a determination by aircraft processing electronics that the inferred weather threat to the aircraft is greater than a measured weather threat to the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery A. Finley, Roy E. Robertson, Hubert C. Dyche, Gregory J. Koenigs, Charles J. Dickerson
  • Publication number: 20150109166
    Abstract: A radar unit and a method for operating a radar unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas Hesse
  • Patent number: 9013346
    Abstract: A radar system including a switching mode power converter. A pulse radar unit is configured to transmit RF pulses with a pulse repetition frequency. The power converter includes a switching controller that is configured to control at least one switching element. The switching controller is configured to receive a frequency modulated input signal. The modulation frequency of the input signal is configured to be derived from the pulse repetition frequency of the radar unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventor: Bo Nettelbland
  • Publication number: 20150102958
    Abstract: A radar antenna device is provided for rotating an antenna unit which successively emits transmission signals. It is configured to reduce the capacity of an electric power source for supplying electric power to a transmission circuit, a drive unit and the like. A radar antenna device is comprised with an antenna unit and a control unit. The antenna unit is driven by a drive unit to rotate and emits successively transmission signals generated by a transmission circuit into an outer space. After electric power is supplied to the drive unit to be driven, the control unit controls the transmission circuit in response to the transmission start signal from the transmission start signal producer so that the electric power for the transmission will be supplied to the transmission circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshifumi OHNISHI, Suminori EKUNI, Motoji KONDO
  • Patent number: 9007259
    Abstract: Phase noise analyzing system that analyzes phase noise in radio frequency (RF) signals provided by a device under test when coupled thereto includes a low noise receiver that receives at a first input, signal from the device under test when coupled thereto, a low noise synthesizer that provides output to the receiver, a frequency domain analyzer that receives output from the receiver, a time domain analyzer that receives output from the receiver, a switching system that controls signal flow to and from the receiver, the synthesizer, the frequency domain analyzer and the time domain analyzer, and a computer that controls the switching system to perform the analysis of phase noise in signals provided by the device under test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Testing Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Shahen Minassian, Richard Engel, Eli Levi
  • Publication number: 20150097720
    Abstract: A high-frequency circuit is described as having lines crossing each other on a printed circuit board for high-frequency signals, wherein the sections of the lines, lying on both sides of a crossing point as well as a coupler forming the crossing point are situated in a common plane on the printed circuit board and the sections of the lines are connected to four ports of the coupler situated in a quadrangle, which are connected to one another via a plurality of coupling paths in such a way that the components of a signal supplied at a port, which propagate on various coupling paths, interfere destructively at the adjacent ports and constructively at the diagonally opposite port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias STEINHAUER, Juan PONTES, Oliver BRUEGGEMANN
  • Patent number: 9000974
    Abstract: Systems and methods for allowing dual-mode radar operation. An exemplary transmission system includes a hybrid coupler that receives a signal produced by a synthesizer and couples the received signal to two output ports. A pulse transmitter receives a pulse transmit-activate signal from a controller, receives an input signal from the hybrid coupler and, if the activate signal has been received, amplifies the received signal based on a predefined desired pulse output transmission setting. A frequency-modulation continuous-wave (FMCW) transmitter receives an FMCW transmit-activate signal from the controller, receives an input signal from the hybrid coupler and, if the activate signal has been received, amplifies the received input signal based on a predefined desired FMCW output transmission setting. An isolator protects the pulse transmitter during FMCW operation and also the FMCW transmitter from receiving power reflected off of pulse transmitter components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: David C. Vacanti
  • Patent number: 9000973
    Abstract: A personal electronic device such as a smart phone can include a micro-impulse radar (MIR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8994579
    Abstract: An RF pulse signal generation switching circuit for controlling an output of a power FET for amplifying a high frequency signal to generate an RF pulse signal that is the high frequency signal pulse formed into a pulse-wave shape is provided. The circuit includes first and third n-type FETs of which gates are inputted with a control pulse that supplies a rise timing and a fall timing of a pulse, and a second n-type FET of which a gate is connected with a drain of the first FET. A source of the first FET and a source of the third FET are grounded, respectively. The drain of the first FET is applied with a first drive voltage via a resistor. A drain of the second FET is applied with a second drive voltage. A source of the second FET is connected with a drain of the third FET and the connection point therebetween is connected with the power FET. A capacitor is connected between the connection point and an end of the resistor from which the first drive voltage is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: FURUNO Electric Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomonao Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8994585
    Abstract: A method is provided. A first edge on a first gating signal is generated, and a local oscillator and a shared clocking circuit with the first edge on the first gating signal. A second edge on a second gating signal is generated following the first edge on the first gating signal, and a receiver circuit is activated with the second edge on the second gating signal, where the receiver circuit includes a mixer. A transmit pulse following the first edge on the first gating signal is generated with the transmit pulse having a third edge. A switch that short circuits outputs of the mixer is then released following the later of the third edge of the transmit pulse and a delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian P. Ginsburg, Srinath M. Ramaswamy, Vijay B. Rentala, Eunyoung Seok, Baher S. Haroun
  • Publication number: 20150084811
    Abstract: A radar assembly for linear and nonlinear radar transmission and reception comprising a signal generator; at least one filter operatively connected to the signal generator; a transmitter operatively connected to the at least one filter for transmitting radar signals; a receiver operative to receiving received signals comprising linear and nonlinear responses from the reflected transmitted signals; the receiver comprising a first channel for processing the linear response of the received signal; a second channel for the processing the nonlinear response of the received signal; at least one switch operative to select one of the first or second channels; at least one high pass filter operatively connected to the second channel to attenuate the linear response; at least one amplifier to amplify the nonlinear response; and at least one display operatively connected to both the first and second channels for displaying both linear and nonlinear responses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Gregory J. Mazzaro, Kelly D. Sherbondy, DaHan Liao
  • Patent number: 8988274
    Abstract: A radar data acquisition system including a polarimetric phased array antenna and a radar control and processing system. The polarimetric phased array antenna includes a support system, an array of panels and a switching network. One or more of the panels include a dual pole antenna for at least one of transmitting and receiving a dual polarization electromagnetic beam. The switching network communicates with the panels such that at least one of power, radar and control signals are sent to and received from one or more selected panels. The radar control and processing system communicates with the switching network for forming electromagnetic signals directed to one or more selected panels such that the selected panels form a dual polarization electromagnetic beam, and for reading signals sensed by one or more selected panels and for decoding the signals into an electronic radar output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
    Inventors: Guifu Zhang, Robert D. Palmer, Dusan S. Zmic, Richard J. Doviak
  • Patent number: 8988281
    Abstract: A reversing radar Sensor Component presented by the invention includes a sensor, a damping rubber ring sleeved on a peripheral portion of the sensor, a base cover for receiving a front portion of the sensor and damping rubber ring therein, and a top cover capable of being mounted with the base cover and having an opening defined therein for exposing the front portion of the sensor therefrom. Both the base cover and top cover have several walls formed thereon. Several grooves are defined in the wall of the top cover. A buffer rubber ring is disposed between the wall of the top cover and wall of the base cover. The buffer rubber ring has plural protruding posts corresponding to the grooves. The buffer rubber ring and circular rubber sleeve and damping rubber ring form together double damping construction which increases the protection of the sensor from vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Steelmate Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Zhitao Li
  • Publication number: 20150077287
    Abstract: A comparator of a mono-pulse radar and a signal generation method thereof are provided. The comparator includes an antenna array, a TEM mode cavity power combiner and a switch device. The antenna array includes N antennas. The TEM mode cavity power combiner includes a combination port and M input port sets, and each of the input port sets has a positive input port and a negative input port, wherein N and M are integer greater than 1. The switch device is coupled between the antenna array and the TEM mode cavity power combiner and is used for transmitting the reflected signal received by the antenna array to the positive input port or the negative input port of one of the input port sets. The combination port of the TEM mode cavity power combiner generates an output signal according to the reflected signals received from the input port sets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Ruey-Bing Hwang, Fang-Yao Kuo
  • Publication number: 20150077286
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to monopulse radar antenna synthesis and methods thereof. An antenna array includes a number of sub-arrays operatively arranged in a first direction (e.g., azimuth), and each of the sub-arrays includes a number of antenna elements grouped as a first group and a second group adjacent to each other in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The antenna array can perform monopulse processing in the elevation direction by synthesizing two monopulse antennas by to form monopulse antennas with phase centers that differ in elevation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Michael J. Linnig
  • Patent number: 8981988
    Abstract: A radar system is provided. The system includes a radar transceiving device equipped in a movable body and for transmitting an electromagnetic wave at a first frequency, and a transponder device arranged in a beacon and for transmitting a response wave upon receiving the electromagnetic wave. The transponder device includes a response wave transmitting module for transmitting, when a radar classification of the radar transceiving device is a solid-state radar, a response wave at a second frequency different from the first frequency in response to receiving the transmitted electromagnetic wave. The radar transceiving device includes a transmitting module for transmitting the electromagnetic wave, a receiving module for receiving a radar echo at the first frequency and the response wave at the second frequency, and a display controlling module for displaying, on a predetermined radar display unit, locations of the beacon and another movable body existing around the movable body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Company Limited
    Inventors: Tatsuya Kojima, Jun Yamabayashi
  • Patent number: 8981989
    Abstract: A projectile detection system, and method of detecting a projectile (for example a bullet), for use on a vehicle (100) (for example a helicopter), the projectile detection system comprising: a radar antenna array (4) arranged to transmit and receive microwave signals so as to provide a plurality of detection segments (40, 42, 44, 46) of a volume of airspace (38); one or more processors (3) arranged to: determine which segments (40, 42, 44, 46) microwave signals reflected by a projectile (10) are received from; determine timing information relating to a time order in which the received microwave signals are received; and determine directional information relating to a direction of travel of the projectile (10) using the determined segments (40, 42, 44, 46) and the determined timing information; wherein the microwave signals have a frequency between 1 GHz and 30 GHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventors: Dale Martin Gould, Robert Ian Henderson, David John Shephard, Barbara Helen Wright
  • Patent number: 8982831
    Abstract: Data packets are transmitted from a terminal of a broadband radio communication system. For each transmission cycle in a transmission period data is received at a data interface of the terminal and buffered, and transmission of radio signals comprising the received data is enabled on expiry of a repetition interval from the start of a previous transmission. The repetition intervals are controlled to reduce a proportion of the transmission period for which transmission may occur at an allowed pulse repetition interval of a radar with which the terminal may interfere. The presence of radar pulses is checked during a wait period for each cycle while the terminal is not transmitting. If radar pulses are present, the transmission of radio signals which may interfere with the radar pulses is inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Cambium Networks Limited
    Inventors: Martin Richard Crowle, Jan Jerzy Cynk
  • Patent number: 8981991
    Abstract: Mixer unit for a radar sensor for motor vehicles, having an I mixer and a Q mixer which are connected in parallel branches between an oscillator port and an RF port with the aid of power splitters. A switch is situated between each of the power splitters and the Q mixer which allows the signal arriving from the power splitter to be selectively decoupled from the Q mixer and switched to a high-frequency ground. A transformation element is provided between the high-frequency ground and the particular node point of the power splitter which transforms the high-frequency ground into an open line at the node point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Dirk Steinbuch
  • Patent number: 8976060
    Abstract: Distance between two radio frequency devices is estimated by receiving a plurality of spread spectrum chirp signals frequency offset from one another, and evaluating the received plurality of spread spectrum chirp signals for relative phase shifts between the plurality of spread spectrum chirp signals. A fine propagation time is derived using the phase shifts between the spread spectrum chirp signals. A frequency domain despreading window is shifted to reduce the influence of time-delayed near multipath signals in receiving the plurality of spread spectrum chirp signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Digi International Inc.
    Inventor: Terry M. Schaffner
  • Patent number: 8976061
    Abstract: A radar system (100) is described including a transmitting assembly (10), a receiving assembly (20), a control unit (30) and a signal processing unit (40). The transmitting assembly (10) receives an input signal (31) and transmits an incident radar signal (2). The transmitting assembly (10) includes a Rotman lens (12) having a lens cavity (74), a plurality of beam ports (60), a plurality of array ports (62) and a patch antenna assembly (14). The lens cavity (74) has a lens gap (h) between 10 microns to 120 microns, and preferably 40 microns to 60 microns. The patch antenna assembly (14) includes a plurality of antenna arrays (130) operable to receive a plurality of time-delayed, in-phase signals from the Rotman lens (12) and to transmit the incident radar signal (2) towards a target (4). The receiving assembly (20) receives a reflected radar signal (6) and produces an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Sazzadur Chowdhury
  • Patent number: 8976056
    Abstract: Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) collect and transmit information about ice floe thickness; this is combined with SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR images from satellites to identify and track dangerously thick regions of ice. The overlayed data is presented graphically to allow tracking of the thick ice regions over time. This information is used to alert drilling platforms in icy ocean conditions of pending ice floe dangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Rolf Christer Broman, Dominique P. Berta, Khalid A. Soofi, Peter G. Noble
  • Publication number: 20150061925
    Abstract: A circuit for millimeter wave signals, having a housing, mounted on a circuit board, that accommodates a high-frequency component, wherein the housing forms, on at least one housing wall facing away from the circuit board, a coupling structure for millimeter wave signals to which a hollow conductor is coupled outside the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Juergen HASCH
  • Publication number: 20150061924
    Abstract: A semiconductor module has: an integrated circuit, which includes at least one oscillator for generating a radar signal; a rewiring layer for the external connection of the integrated circuit; and at least two antenna structures integrated into the semiconductor module for transmitting and/or receiving radar signals, at least one of the at least two antenna structures being connected to the integrated circuit, and at least one first one of the antenna structures being embedded in a housing material of the semiconductor module outside a height region of the rewiring layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Binzer, Delf Mittelstrass
  • Patent number: 8970424
    Abstract: A radar level gauge system for determining a filling level in a tank. The radar level gauge system comprises a transceiver, a horn antenna having a first opening connected to the transceiver and a second opening facing a surface of the product in the tank, and processing circuitry connected to the transceiver for determining the filling level based on an electromagnetic surface reflection signal. The horn antenna is configured in such a way that an electrical distance from the first opening to the second opening, along a path defined by an intersection between a wall of the horn antenna and a half-plane starting from and extending in parallel with a cone axis of the horn antenna, is different for different orientations of the half-plane with respect to the cone axis. Hereby, disturbance from an antenna reflection signal can be reduced, which provides for improved measurement of high filling levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Rosemount Tank Radar AB
    Inventor: Olov Edvardsson