Image Production Patents (Class 342/179)
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Patent number: 8570208Abstract: A radar tomography apparatus and method determines one or more material properties of an object at a first number of positions distributed within a region of interest of said object. The apparatus includes one or more transmitters that transmit radiation, in particular microwave radiation, in the direction of the region of interest of the object, a plurality of receivers that receive radiation reflected from or transmitted through the region of interest of the object, a processor that processes the received radiation, said processor including a forward solver that determines electromagnetic field values at a second number of positions distributed in the region of interest from the received radiation.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2011Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Michel Sarkis
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Patent number: 8570207Abstract: A method, system, and software for using Brillouin precursors to enhance UWB, RF, and Microwave Remote Sensing systems by providing greater penetration depths and or resolution. Embodiments also include methods, software, and systems which provide a method to detect the formation of Brillouin precursor waveforms in any given dispersive media, for any transmitted signal and any frequency range.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2011Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Arrowhead Center, Inc.Inventors: Muhammad Dawood, Habeeb Ur Rahman Mohammed, Ana Vazquez Alejos
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Patent number: 8570213Abstract: This disclosure provides a fake image reduction device, which includes a target object detection module for being inputted with an echo signal from an antenna that transmits an electromagnetic wave and receives the echo signal, measuring a level of the echo signal to detect a target object, a reflecting body identifying module for identifying the detected target object as a reflecting body, and a fake image area setting module for setting a fake image area according to a distance and an azimuth direction from a transmitting position of the electromagnetic wave to the identified reflecting body.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2010Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Furuno Electric Company LimitedInventor: Koji Nishiyama
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Patent number: 8564473Abstract: A method for constructing focused radar images includes chopping the radar illumination period into p sub-periods, two successive sub-periods overlapping temporally; choosing n successive sub-periods from among the p sub-periods, and for each of the n chosen sub-periods, performing radar acquisitions to generate an image IM_0x of resolution R0; and applying an autofocus processing to each of the n images IM_0x generated; combining the n images so as to generate at least one new focused radar image IM_1x. The method is applied notably to the production of high-resolution SAR images with the help of an aircraft equipped with a radar antenna.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2011Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: ThalesInventors: Luc Bosser, Joan Broussolle, Julien Lafaix
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Patent number: 8559906Abstract: An embodiment of a system and method provides a carbon nanotube transistor (CNT) mixer with a low local oscillator power requirement and no inter-modulation products. Specifically, an embodiment of the system and method provides two kinds of device current-voltage (I-V) characteristics on the same integrated circuit: exponential and linear. The CNT I-V characteristics support both the ideal exponential control characteristic (determined by physics constants) and the ideal linear control characteristic (also determined by physics constants), resulting in an ideal multiplier. In other words, the CNT mixer is mathematically equivalent to an ideal multiplier. Such an ideal multiplier can be used as a mixer with low local oscillator power requirement and virtually no inter-modulation products.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2011Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems CorporationInventors: Dale E. Dawson, John X. Przybysz, Maaz Aziz
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Patent number: 8552350Abstract: The 6-axis position and attitude of an imaging vehicle's detector assembly is measured by mounting the detector assembly on a compliant isolator and separating the main 6-axis IMU on the vehicle from a secondary IMU comprising at least inertial rate sensors for pitch and yaw on the detector assembly. The compliant isolator couples low-frequency rigid body motion of the vehicle below a resonant frequency to the isolated detector assembly while isolating the detector assembly from high-frequency attitude noise above the resonant frequency. A computer processes measurements of the 6-axis rigid body motion and the angular rate of change in yaw and pitch of the isolated detector assembly to mitigate the drift and noise error effects of the secondary inertial rate sensors and estimate the 6-axis position and attitude of the detector assembly.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2012Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Michael S. Bielas, Edward C. Schlatter, Andrew B. Facciano, Philip C. Theriault, James A. Ebel, Robert J. LaPorte
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Publication number: 20130257646Abstract: A compressive scanning approach for millimeter wave imaging and sensing. A Hadamard mask is position to receive millimeter waves from an object to be imaged. A subset of the full set of Hadamard acquisitions is sampled. The subset is used to reconstruct an image representing the object.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2012Publication date: October 3, 2013Inventors: Nachappa GOPALSAMI, Shaolin Liao, Thomas W. Elmer, Eugene R. Koehl, Alexander Heifetz, Apostolos C. Raptis
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Patent number: 8547274Abstract: A millimeter wave object detection system includes a millimeter wave imager and a data entry device configured to assign assessment information to events where a concealed object is detected by an operator/observer or automated computer program interrogating imagery produced by the millimeter wave imager. A computer is programmed to store assessment data from the data entry device into a database, and statistical operations can be performed upon the database.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2008Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Microsemi CorporationInventor: Willem H. Reinpoldt, III
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Patent number: 8508403Abstract: A method and system for detecting the presence of subsurface objects within a medium is provided. In some embodiments, the imaging and detection system operates in a multistatic mode to collect radar return signals generated by an array of transceiver antenna pairs that is positioned across the surface and that travels down the surface. The imaging and detection system pre-processes the return signal to suppress certain undesirable effects. The imaging and detection system then generates synthetic aperture radar images from real aperture radar images generated from the pre-processed return signal. The imaging and detection system then post-processes the synthetic aperture radar images to improve detection of subsurface objects. The imaging and detection system identifies peaks in the energy levels of the post-processed image frame, which indicates the presence of a subsurface object.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2011Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: David W. Paglieroni, N. Reginald Beer
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Patent number: 8502728Abstract: New systems and methodologies that use radio tomography for object tracking.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2009Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: University of Utah Research FoundationInventors: Sarang Joshi, Anthony Joseph Wilson, Neal Patwari
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Publication number: 20130194129Abstract: This disclosure provides an image processing device, which includes a relative trail image memory for storing a relative trail data group indicating relative changes in position of a target object detected by echo signals obtained corresponding to detection signals transmitted while changing a transmitting azimuth direction, with respect to a transmitting position from which the detection signals are transmitted, and an approaching target object determination processing module for determining whether the target object detected with the detection signals is an approaching target object that approaches the transmitting position based on relative trail data existing on the same sweep line among the relative trail data group stored in the relative trail image memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2013Publication date: August 1, 2013Applicant: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY, LIMITED.Inventor: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY, LIMITED.
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Patent number: 8497797Abstract: Provided are a two-dimensional array antenna and a device for detecting an internal object using the same. The device includes a plurality of unit antennas in a two-dimensional array of m columns and n rows on a board (where m and n are integers greater than 1), a first switch selecting one or more transmitting antenna to radiate a pulse signal onto an internal object in a structure from among the unit antennas; a second switch selecting one or more receiving antenna to collect a signal reflected from the internal object from among the unit antennas, and a transceiving analysis module analyzing information about the position and shape of the internal object.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2010Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: Electronics and Telecomunication Research InstituteInventors: Dae Heon Lee, Sung Hyun Kim, Sang Woo Cho, Ji Eun Choi
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Patent number: 8497477Abstract: A system and technique for imaging a subject at a scene overcomes the weaknesses in the existing gain fluctuation techniques by switching the environmental temperature at the scene at a rate sufficiently fast enough to obtain subsequent samples in a time period where the gain has not fluctuated sufficiently to have a negative effect on detection sensitivity. This technique is utilized in conjunction with the method of subsequent subtraction of alternate samples which both reveals the reflectance of the scene and removes gain fluctuation.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2011Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: MVT Equity LLCInventor: Thomas D. Williams
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Patent number: 8493264Abstract: In the case where radar image data obtained from a radar device equipped in a flying body and optical image data of a district taken by the radar device are synthesized to produce a terrestrial object information judging image, the radar image data are approximated to a black and white panchromatic image character. The radar image data approximated to the black and white panchromatic character and the optical image data are aligned in position and then synthesized. As a suitable embodiment, in an approximation processing of the radar image data to the black and white panchromatic image character, histogram conversion processing is carried out in accordance with a histogram characteristic of the radar image data.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2008Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Pasco CorporationInventor: Tadashi Sasakawa
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Patent number: 8478521Abstract: A method and a terminal for providing a route in a navigation system using a satellite image are provided. The terminal includes a route calculation unit for calculating a route from a current location to a destination when a user inputs the destination, a satellite image requesting unit for requesting a satellite image server for satellite images corresponding to locations on the route and for downloading the requested satellite images, a satellite image storage unit for storing the downloaded satellite images, and a controller for retrieving a satellite image corresponding to the current location from the satellite image storage unit and for displaying the retrieved satellite image simultaneously while downloading the satellite images corresponding to the locations on the route.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2008Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hyun-Suk Min, Hee Jung, Kwang-Soo Kim, Jin-Won Kim
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Patent number: 8466834Abstract: A method of radar-imaging a scene in the far-field of a one-dimensional radar array, comprises providing an array of backscatter data D(fm, x?n) of the scene, these backscatter data being associated to a plurality of positions x?n, n=0 . . . N?1, N>1, that are regularly spaced along an axis of the radar array. The backscatter data for each radar array position x?n are sampled in frequency domain, at different frequencies fm, m=0 . . . M?1, M>1, defined by fm=fc?B/2+m??f, where fc represents the center frequency, B the bandwidth and ?f the frequency step of the sampling. A radar reflectivity image 1 (?m?, ?n?) is computed in a pseudo-polar coordinate system based upon the formula (2) with formula (3) where j represents the imaginary unit, formula (A) is the baseband frequency, FFT2D denotes the 2D Fast Fourier Transform operator, ?m?, m?=0 . . . M?1, and ?n?, n?=0 . . .Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2009Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: The European Union, Represented by the European CommissionInventor: Joaquim Fortuny-Guasch
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Patent number: 8463463Abstract: Methods for flying multiple aircraft in a predetermined formation in which a relative navigation grid is emitted from at least one of the aircraft, a spatial relationship is calculated based on the emitted relative navigation grid, and a relative position of at least one aircraft is altered to position the aircraft in the predetermined formation when the spatial relationship does not conform with the predetermined formation.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2012Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLCInventors: Michael Steven Feldmann, Jerry Lynne Page
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Patent number: 8456351Abstract: An apparatus, imager elements, and a method for detecting a radio frequency image using phased array techniques. An example apparatus includes an array of radio frequency antennas fabricated on one or more packaged integrated circuits. The apparatus also includes a controller configured to selectively phase shift radio frequency signals from the antennas such that the at least a portion of the radio frequency image is focused.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2010Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Dong G. Kam, Duixian Liu, Arun S. Natarajan, Scott K. Reynolds, Alberto Valdes Garcia
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Patent number: 8416128Abstract: The method of generating an image in the form of a disc portion on a display, the disc portion comprising a center and a maximum radius defining a limit of the image generated, the disc portion comprising a plurality of angular sectors, each angular sector comprising a plurality of disjoint areas, each disjoint area of an angular sector being delimited by two circular arcs defined between two radii, and each disjoint area being called a “ring”, is characterized in that it comprises: a first step of selecting a ring, a second step of comparing the area of the ring with at least one predefined value, dubbed the grain, a third step of generating the image of the ring as a function of the result of the comparison, a fourth step of incrementing the next ring to be selected.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2010Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: ThalesInventors: Rémi Breban, Sylvain Marchal, Thomas Espaignet
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Patent number: 8416125Abstract: An imaging array for sensing scene energy includes a plurality of sensors, a radiative noise source for radiating noise energy, a modulator for turning the radiative noise source on and off, and a coupling device for combining a first portion of the scene energy and a second portion of the noise energy to form a combined scene and noise energy for sensing by the plurality of sensors.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2009Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLCInventors: Jonathan J. Lynch, Robert G. Nagele
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Publication number: 20130082861Abstract: A method and system for detecting the presence of subsurface objects within a medium is provided. In some embodiments, the imaging and detection system operates in a multistatic mode to collect radar return signals generated by an array of transceiver antenna pairs that is positioned across the surface and that travels down the surface. The imaging and detection system pre-processes the return signal to suppress certain undesirable effects. The imaging and detection system then generates synthetic aperture radar images from real aperture radar images generated from the pre-processed return signal. The imaging and detection system then post-processes the synthetic aperture radar images to improve detection of subsurface objects. The imaging and detection system identifies peaks in the energy levels of the post-processed image frame, which indicates the presence of a subsurface object.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2011Publication date: April 4, 2013Inventors: David W. Paglieroni, N. Reginald Beer
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Patent number: 8410974Abstract: This disclosure provides an image processing device, which includes an actual trail image memory for storing an actual trail data group indicating absolute changes in position of a target object detected by echo signals obtained corresponding to detection signals transmitted while changing an azimuth direction of the transmission, and a moving target object determination processing module for determining whether the target object detected with the detection signals is a moving target object based on the actual trail data group.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2010Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Furuno Electric Company, LimitedInventor: Tatsuya Kojima
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Publication number: 20130076561Abstract: This disclosure provides an information display device, which includes a sensor signal acquirer for acquiring a sensor signal indicating a content detected by a sensor, a signal processor for performing first signal processing and second signal processing different from the first signal processing, on the sensor signal, and a display unit for displaying on a screen image, first information of the sensor signal after the first signal processing, and partial information of second information of the sensor signal after the second signal processing in a different display mode from the first information, the partial information being different from the first information.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2012Publication date: March 28, 2013Inventor: Yugo KUBOTA
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Patent number: 8405540Abstract: A method detects a target in a sequence of radar images, wherein each image is partitioned into a grid of cells, and wherein each cell has a corresponding position in an image coordinate system associated with a location in a world coordinate system. For each most recent image in a sliding temporal window of images, intensities of each cell are determined, and the subset of the cells having highest intensities is stored as a set of current needles. A set of hypotheses, obtained by using a state transition model and corresponding maximum limits, is determined for the current set of needles and appended to a set of queues. The hypotheses for the previous sets of needles to the corresponding set of queues are updated, and a maximum likelihood in the set of queues are selected to detect the location of targets.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2010Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: Fatih M. Porikli
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Patent number: 8395541Abstract: A method of providing weather radar images to a flight crew of an aircraft includes obtaining raw volumetric radar data corresponding to at least one signal reflected off of a weather system. Based on the radar data, the weather system is computationally classified as being of a first type of a plurality of weather-system types. After classifying the weather system, the radar data is image processed, the image processing yielding an image representing the weather system and corresponding to the first weather-system type. The image is displayed on a display device.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2008Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Ratan Khatwa, Santosh Mathan
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Patent number: 8384585Abstract: A real-time radar surveillance system comprises at least one land-based non-coherent radar sensor apparatus adapted for detecting maneuvering targets and targets of small or low radar cross-section. The radar sensor apparatus includes a marine radar device, a digitizer connected to the marine radar device for receiving therefrom samples of radar video echo signals, and computer programmed to implement a software-configurable radar processor generating target data including detection data and track data, the computer being connectable to a computer network including a database. The processor is figured to transmit at least a portion of the target data over the network to the database, the database being accessible via the network by at least one user application that receives target data from the database, the user application providing a user interface for at least one user of the system.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2011Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Accipiter Radar Technologies Inc.Inventors: Timothy J. Nohara, Al-Nasir Premji, Andrew M. Ukrainec, Peter T Weber, Graeme S. Jones, Carl E. Krasnor
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Patent number: 8373590Abstract: The invention relates to a method of processing an image sensed by an image sensor on board an aircraft fitted with an obstacle-locator system, in which the position and the extent of a zone in the sensed image, referred to as the zone of interest, is determined as a function of obstacle location data delivered by the obstacle-locator system, after which at least one parameter for modifying the brightness of points/pixels in said zone of interest is determined to enable the contrast to be increased in said zone of interest, and as a function of said modification parameter, the brightness of at least a portion of the image is modified.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2007Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: EurocopterInventor: Richard Edgard Claude Piré
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Patent number: 8368586Abstract: A system includes a multi-system approach to detecting concealed weapons and person borne improvised explosive devices (PBIED). A first and second radar system operate at different center frequencies to provide, respectively, isolation of a target of interest from clutter and fine detail information on the target, such as whether the target is a living person, whether a concealed object may be present, material composition of the object, and shape, size, and position of the target relative to the system. Circular polarized radar beam may be used to distinguish a suspect object from within a crowd of people. Radar image of the object may be overlaid on visual image of a person carrying the object. Radar tracking of the object is coordinated with visual tracking of the target provided by a camera system, with visual display and tracking of the target overlaid with the radar information.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2010Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Tialinx, Inc.Inventors: Farrokh Mohamadi, Mikko Oijala, Mohsen Zolghadri, Paul Strauch
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Patent number: 8368584Abstract: An airspace risk mitigation system includes a plurality of airspace input sources, an airspace data fusion and sensor coordination system, a communications link, and a risk mitigation support system. The airspace input sources includes a radar for generating radar data for an airspace, and an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) receiver for generating additional data for the airspace. The airspace data fusion and sensor coordination system is configured to receive airspace data from the plurality of airspace input sources, correlating airspace data with new or known objects in the airspace, fusing airspace data into a common airspace data set, and generating target and system status information. The risk mitigation support system is configured to calculate a risk associated with aircraft operation in the airspace as a function of the target and system status information.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2010Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: The University of North DakotaInventors: Mark Anthony Askelson, Benjamin M. Trapnell, Christopher Joseph Theisen, Ronald Arthur Marsh, Timothy Raymond Young, Hassan Reza
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Publication number: 20130027244Abstract: Systems and method for near-field millimeter wave imaging are provided, in particular, near-field millimeter wave imaging systems and methods that enable sub-wavelength resolution imaging by scanning objects with sub-wavelength probe elements and capturing and measuring phase and intensity of reflected energy to generate images.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2012Publication date: January 31, 2013Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Aydin Babakhani, Duixian Liu, Scott K. Reynolds, Mihai A. Sanduleanu
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Publication number: 20130027243Abstract: Systems and method for near-field millimeter wave imaging are provided, in particular, near-field millimeter wave imaging systems and methods that enable sub-wavelength resolution imaging by scanning objects with sub-wavelength probe elements and capturing and measuring phase and intensity of reflected energy to generate images.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2012Publication date: January 31, 2013Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Aydin Babakhani, Duixian Liu, Scott K. Reynolds, Mihai A. Sanduleanu
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Patent number: 8362947Abstract: The invention provides a method for obtaining the object-plane field without a pure theoretical estimation or a direct experimental measurement of a point spread function (PSF) of an imaging system. Instead, at least two image-plane fields have to be recorded. It is essential that the resolutions of the system producing the images have to be quite different from each other. Although both PSFs of the system are unknown, the recording conditions have to be chosen so that the second PSF could be expressed via the first PSF. Two integral equations—(1) a convolution of the object-plane field with the first PSF and (2) a convolution of the object-plane field with the second PSF (expressed via the first PSF)—can be reduced to one functional equation in the Fourier space. The reverse Fourier transform of the solution of this equation is the object-plane field.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2011Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Inventor: Victor Gorelik
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Patent number: 8362948Abstract: A long range millimeter wave imaging radar system. Preferred embodiments are positioned to detect foreign object debris objects on surface of the runway, taxiways and other areas of interest. The system includes electronics adapted to produce millimeter wave radiation scanned over a frequency range of a few gigahertz. The scanned millimeter wave radiation is broadcast through a frequency scanned antenna to produce a narrow scanned transmit beam in a first scanned direction (such as the vertical direction) defining a narrow, approximately one dimensional, electronically scanned field of view corresponding to the scanned millimeter wave frequencies. The antenna is mechanically pivoted or scanned in a second scanned direction perpendicular to the first scanned direction so as to define a two-dimensional field of view.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2011Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Trex Enterprises CorpInventors: Vladimir Kolinko, Chris Sexton, Grant Bishop, John Lovberg
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Patent number: 8362946Abstract: A short range millimeter wave surface imaging radar system. The system includes electronics adapted to produce millimeter wave radiation scanned over a frequency range of a few gigahertz. The scanned millimeter wave radiation is broadcast through a frequency scanned transmit antenna to produce a narrow transmit beam in a first scanned direction (such as the vertical direction) corresponding to the scanned millimeter wave frequencies. The transmit antenna is scanned to transmit beam in a second direction perpendicular to the first scanned direction (such as the horizontal or the azimuthal direction) so as to define a two-dimensional field of view. Reflected millimeter wave radiation is collected in a receive frequency scanned antenna co-located (or approximately co-located) with the transmit antenna and adapted to produce a narrow receive beam approximately co-directed in the same directions as the transmitted beam in approximately the same field of view.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2010Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Trex Enterprises Corp.Inventors: Grant Bishop, John A. Lovberg, Vladimir Kolinko
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Publication number: 20130009805Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2012Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Tetsuya Miyagawa, Koji Yano
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Patent number: 8350747Abstract: A surveillance system is disclosed. In some embodiments, the surveillance system may include at least one controller adapted to control operation of first and second screening apparatus and to produce image data and screening data, to relate the image data to the screening data, and to produce relational information data from the related image data and screening data. In some embodiments, the system may include a first screening apparatus adapted to screen a subject in a subject position, a second screening apparatus adapted to screen the subject in the subject position, and a controller adapted to produce first and second screening data from the first and second screening apparatus, respectively, relate the first and second screening data, and to produce relational information data from the related first and second screening data.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2007Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems, Inc.Inventors: Paul DeLia, Scott T. Trosper, Thomas E. Breen, John J. Reilly, Paul J. Hurd, Michael J. Lanzaro, Maya M. Radzinski, Thomas W. Grudkowski, Edward E. Bromberg, Joseph Carter
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Patent number: 8350750Abstract: A distributed time reversal mirror array (DTRMA) system includes a plurality of independent, sparsely distributed time reversal mirrors (TRMs). Each of the TRMs includes an antenna; a transceiver connected to the antenna for transmitting a signal toward a target, for receiving a return, reflected signal from the target, and for retransmitting a time-reversed signal toward the target: means for phase-locking and for maintaining spatial and temporal coherences between the TRMs; and a computer including a machine-readable storage media having programmed instructions stored thereon for computing and generating the time-reversed retransmitted signal, thereby providing a phased array functionality for the DTRMA while minimizing distortion from external sources. The DTRMA is capable of operating in an autonomous, unattended, and passive state, owing to the time-reversal's self-focusing feature. The beam may be sharply focused on the target due to the coherently synthesized extended aperture over the entire array.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2010Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Eung Gi Paek, Joon Y Choe
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Patent number: 8344934Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system including a receiver configured to receive a plurality of reflected radar pulses corresponding to a plurality of radar transmission pulses having been reflected from a target region. A processing controller divides the target region into a plurality of tiles at a highest data layer and each of the plurality of tiles into a plurality of sub-tiles corresponding to one of a plurality of data layers and iteratively processes a portion of pulse data corresponding to a given tile associated with a higher data layer to generate pulse data corresponding to a given sub-tile in a lower data layer. An image processor is configured to generate a radar image of the target region based on the pulse data corresponding to each of the plurality of sub-tiles associated with a lowest data layer of the plurality of data layers.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2010Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems CorporationInventor: Robert Ryland
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Patent number: 8339306Abstract: A detection system includes a detection processor configured to receive a frame of image data that includes a range/Doppler matrix, perform a rate-of-change of variance calculation with respect to at least one pixel in the frame of image data, and compare the calculated rate-of-change of variance with a predetermined threshold to provide output data. The range/Doppler matrix may include N down-range samples and M cross-range samples. The detection processor may calculate a rate-of-change of variance over an N×M window within the range/Doppler matrix.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2011Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Donald P. Bruyere, Ivan S. Ashcraft, John B. Treece
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Patent number: 8330647Abstract: 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) a 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: GrantFiled: June 8, 2007Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Vista Research, Inc.Inventors: Phillilp A. Fox, Joseph W. Maresca, Jr.
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Patent number: 8330643Abstract: A surveillance system for detecting targets with high cross-range resolution between targets. The system includes at least two radar antennae mounted on blades of a windmill and is configured to apply a compressive sensing technique when the blades do not rotate.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2010Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Thales Nederlands B.V.Inventors: Radmila Erkocevic-Pribic, Willem Andries Hol, Ton Peerdeman
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Patent number: 8330644Abstract: An expandable and reconfigurable instrument node includes a feature detection means and a data processing portion in communication with the feature detection means, the data processing portion configured and disposed to process feature information. The instrument node further includes a phase locked loop (PLL) oscillator in communication with the data processing portion, the PLL oscillator configured and disposed to provide PLL information to the processing portion. The instrument node further includes a single tone transceiver and a pulse transceiver in communication with the PLL oscillator, the single tone transceiver configured and disposed to transmit or receive a single tone for phase correction of the PLL oscillator and the pulse transceiver configured and disposed to transmit and receive signals for phase correction of the PLL oscillator.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2010Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Lawrence M. Hilliard, Manohar Deshpande
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Publication number: 20120306681Abstract: A hybrid mm-wave imaging system which increases the probability of detection and reduces false alarm rate. The system includes a large array of passive sensors (pixels) to provide an initial coarse picture of the environment and a small array of active sensors in the center of the large array, which is activated only when the initial passive scan detection is positive. The active array, without any mechanical scanning, illuminates the area to detect edges to provide clarity to the detected image, thereby increasing the probability of detection and reducing the false alarm rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2011Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Danny Elad, Evgeny Shumaker
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Patent number: 8310392Abstract: A radar device includes an antenna, from which a detection signal is transmitted while the antenna being rotated and by which a reflective wave of the transmitted detection signal is received to detect echo data, wherein image data is generated based on the detected echo data, a continuity detecting module for detecting a planar continuity of the currently detected echo data with respect to a pixel concerned in the image data, a behavior data generating module for generating behavior data indicative of a behavior of the echo data for a predetermined number of scans of the past in the pixel concerned based on behavior determination data, and an echo kind determining module for determining a kind of the echo data of the pixel concerned based on the planar continuity and the behavior data.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2010Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Furuno Electric Company, LimitedInventors: Tatsuya Kojima, Takumi Fujikawa, Hidetoshi Kaida, Yu Morita, Toshiaki Takaki, Katsunori Okamatu
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Publication number: 20120281096Abstract: A multi-sensor method and system for imaging and inspecting a storage tank that holds a liquid. The system includes an infrared sensor including a scanning vertical mount positioned outside the storage tank, an ultrasonic sensor array positioned outside the storage tank, and at least one of an ultrasonic sensor positioned inside the storage tank and a phased array radar positioned inside the storage tank secured to an interior top surface of the storage tank. The system further includes a processor coupled to receive multi-sensor data from the infrared sensor, ultrasonic sensor array and at least one of the ultrasonic sensor in the tank and the phased array radar. The processor fuses the multi-sensor data to generate a sludge level image profile for sludge in the storage tank, a liquid level image for liquid in the storage tank, and optionally an integrity profile for a shell of the storage tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2011Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: HONEYWELL-ENRAF B.V.Inventors: Mahesh Kumar Gellaboina, Lokesh Rayasandra Boregowda, Mohammed Ibrahim Mohideen, Dinesh Ramegowda, Bin Sai
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Publication number: 20120274504Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2012Publication date: November 1, 2012Inventor: Yugo KUBOTA
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Patent number: 8301377Abstract: A novel Parametric Systematic Error Correction (ParSEC) system is disclosed which provides improved system accuracy for image navigation and registration (INR). This system may be employed in any suitable imaging system and, more specifically, to all imaging systems that exhibit systematic distortion. The ParSEC system may be employed to any such system regardless of sensing type (remote or in situ) or imaging media (photon or charged particle) and is further applicable to corrected imaging of any celestial body currently detectable to remove distortion and systematic error from the imaging system employed. The ParSEC system of the instant invention comprises a software algorithm that generates at least about 12 correction coefficients for each of the INR system measurements such as stars, visible landmarks, infrared (IR) landmarks and earth edges.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2010Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, Inc.Inventors: Ahmed Kamel, Jonathan Sheffield, Mark McLaren
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Patent number: 8299957Abstract: A method for detecting a vehicle type, a vehicle speed and width of a detecting area by a vehicle radar sensor is disclosed. A radio wave is transmitted to a tracked vehicle. Subsequently, the reflective radio wave from the vehicle is received. The Doppler frequency versus time distribution is generated from the reflective radio wave. Because the reflective radio wave is influenced by the Doppler Effect, a parallelogram or a shape close to a parallelogram of a consecutive motion diagram is shown in the Doppler frequency versus time distribution of the vehicle. According to the consecutive motion diagram, certain information, such as the length and speed of the tracked vehicle and the width of the detecting area, can be acquired.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2010Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignees: Chien Cheng Technology Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ming-Te Tseng
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Publication number: 20120268315Abstract: An insect detection system including a transmitter array (201) for transmitting microwave signals into a region, a far field receiver array (202) for receiving far field signals reflected or scattered from the region illuminated by the transmitted microwave signals, a processor (500) for processing the received microwave signals; and a display for displaying images according to the processed far field signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2009Publication date: October 25, 2012Inventors: Anatol Zymunt Tirkel, Gerard Anthony Rankin, Nicholas William Desmond Le Marshall
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Patent number: 8289199Abstract: An antenna array for use within a microwave imaging system to capture a microwave image of a target is selectively programmed to optimize one or more parameters of the microwave imaging system. The array includes a plurality of antenna elements, each capable of being programmable with a respective phase shift to direct a beam of microwave radiation toward the target such that the microwave radiation from each of the plurality of antenna elements arrives at the target substantially in-phase. To optimize a parameter of the microwave imaging system, the phase shifts of selective ones of the antenna elements are altered, while still maintaining the substantially in-phase microwave radiation at the target.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2005Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Izhak Baharav, Robert C. Taber, Gregory S. Lee