Image Production Patents (Class 342/179)
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Patent number: 8044846Abstract: A method for displaying information relating to the range and Doppler of a remote target includes transmitting electromagnetic energy toward the target, and receiving reflected signals defining a two-dimensional (range-Doppler) radar image. The reflected signals are matched-filtered, which tends to blur the image. The image is deblurred while the features of thermal noise enhancement and irregularity of the deconvolved output are constrained to produce a single point deblurring output.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2007Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Harry Urkowitz, Jeff D. Cammerata
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Publication number: 20110254727Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2010Publication date: October 20, 2011Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Dong G. Kam, Duixian Liu, Arun S. Natarajan, Scott K. Reynolds, Alberto Valdes Garcia
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Patent number: 8040273Abstract: According to one embodiment, a radar includes multiple antenna elements coupled to an image processing application. The antenna elements have a differing vertical spatial separation relative to one another and are configured to transmit a radio-frequency signal toward a stationary object and receive multiple reflected radio-frequency signals from one or more internal features of the building. The image processing application receives the reflected radio-frequency signals as the antenna elements are moved horizontally with respect to the stationary object. From these reflected radio-frequency signals, the image processing application generates imagery of the stationary object according to phase variations in the plurality of received radio-frequency signals. The imagery depicting vertical characteristics of the one or more internal features of the building.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2009Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: John L. Tomich, Raymond Samaniego, Jerry M. Grimm
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Publication number: 20110241933Abstract: The disclosed device generates a plurality of pixel data in an XY coordinate system. The pixel data includes first pixel data generated on a first sweep line, according to a distance from a transmitting source, based on an echo of a detection signal from the source toward a first direction, and second pixel data generated on a second sweep line, according to a distance from the source, based on an echo of a detection signal from the source toward a second direction different from the first direction. The device includes a module for converting the first and second pixel data into data in the XY coordinate system, a module for generating pixel data of an interpolation target pixel located between a first pixel as an observing pixel on an interpolation axis parallel to X-axis or Y-axis and a second pixel as a corresponding pixel on the same interpolation axis, based on the pixel data on the first and second sweep lines.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2011Publication date: October 6, 2011Inventors: Koji NISHIYAMA, Kazuya Nakagawa
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Publication number: 20110234443Abstract: A communication device includes an oscillator to generate an oscillation signal; a harmonic generator to generate a higher harmonic wave from the oscillation signal; a first filter to take out a first high frequency signal; a second filter to take out a second high frequency signal; a down conversion mixer to use the second high frequency signal to perform down conversion of a signal obtained by receiving a reflected signal of the first high frequency signal; a hybrid coupler to generate a first intermediate frequency signal and a second intermediate frequency signal, which are orthogonal with each other; a first mixer to take out a first baseband signal by mixing an output from the down conversion mixer with the first intermediate frequency signal; and a second mixer to take out a second baseband signal by mixing an output from the down conversion mixer with the first intermediate frequency signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2011Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: Fujitsu LimitedInventor: Yasuhiro NAKASHA
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Patent number: 8026841Abstract: Disclosed is a method, means for and computer program for enhancing range and azimuth resolution in a two-dimensional (2D) image generated by a frequency modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar for providing enhanced situational awareness in autonomous approach and landing guidance (AALG) system by forming and displaying a two-dimensional (2D) model of landing conditions from received range and azimuth real beam radar (RBR) signals by rendering one or more target locations and amplitudes in both range and azimuth, selecting a region of interest from the displayed 2D model to enhance the one or more target locations in the selected region of interest, selectively applying range and azimuth resolution enhancement using a first and second beamforming approach or applying azimuth only resolution enhancement by using just the second beamforming approach to obtain an one or more accurate target location estimations and combining the enhanced one or more target locations to render an enhanced 2D image.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2008Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS Controls Inc.Inventors: Guoqing Liu, Ken Yang
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Publication number: 20110221630Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed for a super-resolution imaging radar (SRIR). The SRIR employs a pulse signal generator that propagates bursts of radio frequency (RF) energy. Each burst contains a number of pulses. One pulse of each burst is an ancilla pulse, and the remaining pulses are propagated towards an object. An array bucket detector (ABD) collects pulses that are reflected from the object. Also, the ancilla pulses are propagated through a virtual lens. A virtual scanning detector detects the virtual ancilla electric field. A processor calculates a virtual ancilla electric field, which would be present at the scanning detector. Further, a coincidence circuit calculates a cross-time correlation function of the electric fields of the reflected pulses that are collected by the ABD and the virtual ancilla electric field. The coincidence circuit uses cross-time correlation function results to generate pixels of an image of the object.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2010Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Barbara A. Capron, Claudio Gilbert Parazzoli, Minas H. Tanielian
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Patent number: 8009080Abstract: A weather radar includes an antenna unit of an active phased array system in which a plurality of antenna elements configured to transmit a radar pulse and receive a reflected pulse are arranged in a vertical direction, a transmission beam formation unit configured to divide an observation range in the elevation angle direction into a plurality of observation elevation angles, subdivide each observation elevation angle into a plurality of regions, assign a set of a plurality of regions not adjacent to each other to a pulse repetition interval (PRI), and form a fan-shaped transmission beam in the elevation angle direction for each of the regions in the set, and a reception beam formation unit configured to form a plurality pencil-shaped reception beams for each of the plurality of regions.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2010Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Fumihiko Mizutani, Masakazu Wada
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Publication number: 20110199254Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2010Publication date: August 18, 2011Inventors: Grant Bishop, John A. Lovberg, Vladimir Kolinko
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Patent number: 7999726Abstract: A system for estimating an antenna boresight direction. The novel system includes a first circuit for receiving a Doppler measurement and a line-of-sight direction measurement corresponding with the Doppler measurement, and a processor adapted to search for an estimated boresight direction that minimizes a Doppler error between the Doppler measurement and a calculated Doppler calculated from the estimated boresight direction and the line-of-sight direction measurement. The line-of-sight direction measurement is measured relative to the true antenna boresight, and the calculated Doppler is the Doppler calculated for a direction found by applying the line-of-sight direction measurement to the estimated boresight direction. In a preferred embodiment, the first circuit receives a Doppler measurement and a line-of-sight direction measurement from each of a plurality of pixels, and the processor searches for an estimated boresight direction that minimizes a sum of squares of Doppler errors for each of the pixels.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2008Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Ralph Guertin, David Faulkner, John Treece, Donald Bruyere
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Publication number: 20110187585Abstract: A system and method is shown for receiving microwave/millimeter-wave signals. The system and method are balanced and can be effectively implemented on a silicon substrate using single pole double throw switches.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2010Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Brian A. Floyd, Vipul Jain, Arun S. Natarajan, Scott K. Reynolds
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Publication number: 20110181461Abstract: The present invention relates to a passive radiometric imaging device and a corresponding method for scanning a scene and reconstructing an image of said scene. To provide an improved image quality, the proposed device comprises a radiometer configured to detect radiation emitted in a predetermined spectral range from a plurality of spots of said scene to obtain a data set of radiation samples including at least one radiation sample per spot, and a processor configured to subsequently determine pixel values of pixels of the image to be reconstructed, said processor being configured to determine a pixel value of one of said pixels from a data sub-set of radiation samples from said data set, said data sub-set including the radiation samples detected at the spot corresponding to or being closest to the pixel, whose pixel value is to be determined, and/or radiation samples detected at neighboring spots.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2011Publication date: July 28, 2011Applicant: Sony CorporationInventor: Michel SARKIS
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Patent number: 7986260Abstract: Circularly-polarized antennas and their methods of use for active holographic imaging through barriers. The antennas are dielectrically loaded to optimally match the dielectric constant of the barrier through which images are to be produced. The dielectric loading helps to remove barrier-front surface reflections and to couple electromagnetic energy into the barrier.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2009Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Douglas L McMakin, Ronald H Severtsen, Wayne M Lechelt, James M Prince
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Patent number: 7982665Abstract: The present invention provides a GPS-installed all-azimuth camera, comprising at least a pair of GPS antennas (29a and 29b) disposed on up and down in parallel to each other, a plurality of cameras (28a-28f) which are disposed on a plane running in parallel to the GPS antennas and are capable of obtaining images in all azimuths, and a case (27) for accommodating the cameras and the GPS antennas, wherein a reference position of the GPS antennas is concurred with an image reference position of the cameras.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2009Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha TOPCONInventors: Kaoru Kumagai, Fumio Ohtomo
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Patent number: 7982656Abstract: A millimeter wave imaging apparatus and method capable of identifying the presence of relatively thin dielectric materials is disclosed. The method involves taking a plurality of millimeter wave images of a scene at different frequencies and analyzing the images at different frequencies to look for frequency dependent effects in the scene. Relatively thin dielectric materials can lead to interference effects which can be detected. In one embodiment the imaging apparatus comprises a millimeter wave imager (2) connected to a processor (16) and at least one variable frequency illumination source (22a . . . d, 24a . . . d). The or each illumination source sweeps the illumination frequency across a reasonably wide bandwidth and the imager captures radiation returned from the scene at a number of different illuminating frequencies.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2005Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: QinetiQ LimitedInventors: Peter R Coward, Neil A Salmon
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Publication number: 20110169685Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2010Publication date: July 14, 2011Inventor: Koji NISHIYAMA
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Publication number: 20110169683Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method comprises receiving sensor data generated by one or more sensors in response to sensing a structure. The sensor data is filtered to identify edge data and reverberation data each describing the same structural feature of the structure. Image data for a filtered image of the structure is generated from the edge data, but not from the reverberation data.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2010Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: Raytheon CompanyInventor: Daniel W. Otts
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Patent number: 7978120Abstract: A radar imaging system for capturing an image of an object within an area of interest through at least one visual impairment. The radar imaging system comprises at least one radar array. The radar array includes a plurality of transmitter elements and a plurality of receiver elements for receiving a plurality of coded return signals from an object through the at least one visual impairment.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2010Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Inventor: Ian Dennis Longstaff
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Publication number: 20110163912Abstract: A method and system for generating images from projection data comprising: at least one processor for processing input data, the input data comprising positional data and image data, the image data comprising frequency data for a pre-determined number k frequencies the at least one processor operating to: a) set the frequency data to zero for a predetermined percentage of the k frequencies to form modified frequency data; b) form a preliminary image comprising an array of retained pixel values based upon first positional data and the modified frequency data; c) set the frequency data to zero for a predetermined percentage of the k frequencies to form modified frequency data; d) form a modified image comprising an array of pixels based upon the positional data and the modified frequency data; e) compare the retained array of pixel values to the pixel values of the modified image formed at step (d); f) retain the minimum pixel value at each pixel location to form an image comprising minimum pixel values; g) repType: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2011Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: U.S. Government as represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventors: Kenneth I. Ranney, Jeffrey P. Sichina, Lam H. Nguyen
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Patent number: 7973705Abstract: A plotting system and method for plotting radar and/or sonar signals on a bump map, with a simulated height of each data point representing a corresponding signal strength. The plotting system may comprise a processing device for associating particular signal strengths with normal vectors. The normal vectors may be used to determine the simulated heights to be illustrated on the bump map. The plotting system may also comprise a display for graphically displaying the bump map. Furthermore, the processing device may also associate particular signal strengths with particular colors, such that both color and simulated height may illustrate the strength of the plotted signals.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2009Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbHInventors: Michael D. Cunning, Minchun Liu
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Patent number: 7973697Abstract: A surveillance system is disclosed. In some embodiments, the surveillance system may include at least one controller configured to receive information data from at least one upstream information source and to control operation of at least one controllable downstream information source based, at least in part, on the information data. A surveillance method also is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method may include analyzing screening data, obtaining information data, and reanalyzing the screening data based, at least in part, on the obtained information data.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2007Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems, Inc.Inventors: John J. Reilly, Thomas E. Breen, Paul J. Hurd, Michael J. Lanzaro, Maya M. Radzinski, Thomas W. Grudkowski, Edward E. Bromberg, Joseph Carter
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Patent number: 7966147Abstract: According to one embodiment, generating images according to intersection points includes obtaining samples of signals from transmitter-receiver pairs. A transmitter-receiver pair is configured to transmit a signal and receive the signal reflected by an object. Intersection points are determined, where an intersection point indicates an intersection for integer multiples of a sample-time distance. A subset of samples corresponding to the intersection points is selected. Image data is generated from the selected subset of samples, where the image data is used to generate an image of the object.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2008Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: William T. Jennings, Dache′ P. Barnhart
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Publication number: 20110140954Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2009Publication date: June 16, 2011Inventor: Joaquim Fortuny-Guasch
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Patent number: 7952515Abstract: Narrow virtual transmit pulses are synthesized by differencing long-duration, staggered pulse repetition interval (PRI) transmit pulses. PRI is staggered at an intermediate frequency IF. Echoes from virtual pulses form IF-modulated interference patterns with a reference wave. Samples of interference patterns are IF-filtered to produce high spatial resolution holographic data. PRI stagger can be very small, e.g., 1-ns, to produce a 1-ns virtual pulse from very long, staggered transmit pulses. Occupied Bandwidth (OBW) can be less than 10 MHz due to long RF pulses needed for holography, while spatial resolution can be very high, corresponding to ultra-wideband (UWB) operation, due to short virtual pulses. X-Y antenna scanning can produce range-gated surface holograms from quadrature data. Multiple range gates can produce stacked-in-range holograms. Motion and vibration can be detected by changes in interference patterns within a range-gated zone.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2009Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: McEwan Technologies, LLCInventor: Thomas Edward McEwan
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Publication number: 20110122018Abstract: An exemplary example of the present disclosure proposes an electromagnetic conductor reflecting plate including a perfect electronic conductor and at least two artificial magnetic conductors, wherein the each of the artificial magnetic conductor is disposed on arbitrary one side of the perfect electronic conductor, and a boundary between the perfect electronic conductor and each of the artificial magnetic conductor forms a virtual radiation unit. In addition, an exemplary example of the present disclosure further proposes an antenna array including an antenna and the electromagnetic conductor reflecting plate, wherein the antenna is disposed on the electromagnetic conductor reflecting plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2010Publication date: May 26, 2011Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTEInventors: Jenn-Hwan Tarng, Li-Yuan Chang, Chin-Chung Nien, Ya-Chung Yu, Jun-Yen Huang
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Patent number: 7944391Abstract: A near field radar imaging system looks at the distance between the several points under evaluation, and corrects image strength based upon varying distances such that a more accurate image of the object under evaluation is provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2008Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Kenneth L. Brand, Alun L. Buttermore
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Patent number: 7944390Abstract: The transmission antenna (10) of the high-resolution synthetic aperture side view radar system comprises a plurality of sub-apertures (7, 8, 9). In each individual transmission pulse, said sub-apertures are controlled in such a manner that a spatiotemporally non-separable multi-dimensional high-frequency waveform is produced as an transmission signal pulse form, such that the modulation of each transmission pulse has a spatiotemporal diversity which is not described by the product having functions which are independent from each other and which are dependent on, respectively, only one spatial dimension. The thus produced transmission pulse form is combined to a capture-sided spatial filtering by means of digital beamforming adapted to said transmission signal pulse form.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2007Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.Inventors: Gerhard Krieger, Nicolas Gebert, Alberto Moreira
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Patent number: 7940208Abstract: An image processor includes an optical processor and a microwave processor. The optical processor is configured to extract optical image information from optical image data provided by a sensor, the optical image data representing an optical image of an object. The microwave image processor is configured to produce microwave image data representing a microwave image of the object in response to the extracted optical image information and microwave measurements provided by a microwave imager based on illuminating the object with microwave radiation.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2005Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Izhak Baharav, Robert C. Taber, S. Jeffrey Rosner
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Patent number: 7940206Abstract: 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: April 20, 2005Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: 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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Publication number: 20110102233Abstract: An active millimeter wave imaging system and method. The system includes a spatially distributed broadband millimeter-wave illuminating source for illuminating a field of view and a millimeter-wave imaging receiver for imaging the field of view. The subject area to be imaged is illuminated simultaneously from many different angles by the distributed source. Reflections from the subjected area are then collected and used to form images. These images in preferred embodiments are compared with passive images made without the millimeter wave illumination from the millimeter wave source. The spatially distributed illumination source in preferred embodiments includes a broadband millimeter-wave noise generator producing millimeter wave radiation at frequencies at which the passive receiver is sensitive and a large reflector. In preferred embodiments the reflector has the shape of a section of an ellipse defining two foci.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2008Publication date: May 5, 2011Inventor: PAUL JOHNSON
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Publication number: 20110102248Abstract: This disclosure provides a target object detection signal processing device, which includes a reception data output module, to which a reception signal is inputted, for outputting reception data indicative of a signal level of the reception data, a scan-to-scan correlation processing module for performing scan-to-scan correlation processing between the reception data and previous reception data indicative of a reception level of previously acquired reception signal to output scan-to-scan correlation data, and an output selection module, to which the reception data and the scan-to-scan correlation data are inputted, for selectively outputting either one of the data.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2010Publication date: May 5, 2011Inventors: Hitoshi Maeno, Youichi Maruyama, Kazuya Nakagawa, Koji Nishiyama
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Publication number: 20110095941Abstract: A partitioning system includes a decomposer module, a supply and cell commonality computation module, a network structure setup module, a seed selection module, an optimization setup module, a solver module, and a boundary creation module. A network structure is created by connecting each cell to each of its neighboring cells using bi-directional arcs. Each bi-directional arc is assigned a flow value and a cell commonality metric. The optimization program is solved to determine the flow value for each bi-directional arc and to determine a plurality of open seeds. Each determined seed represents one partition. Partition boundaries are created by grouping cells when they are connected to each other via one of the updated set of bi-directional arcs into cell clusters. Cells within cell clusters are merged to create the predetermined number of contiguous partitions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2010Publication date: April 28, 2011Applicant: METRON AVIATION, INC.Inventor: Arash Yousefi
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Patent number: 7928893Abstract: Method and apparatus for developing radar scene and target profiles based on Compressive Sensing concept. An outgoing radar waveform is transmitted in the direction of a radar target and the radar reflectivity profile is recovered from the received radar wave sequence using a compressible or sparse representation of the radar reflectivity profile in combination with knowledge of the outgoing wave form. In an exemplary embodiment the outgoing waveform is a pseudo noise sequence or a linear FM waveform.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2007Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Richard G. Baraniuk, Theo P. H. Steeghs
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Patent number: 7928894Abstract: A polarimetric radar with V and H polarized array antenna elements which transmit a V component modulated by a V code and the H component modulated by an H code orthogonal thereto. Unwanted polarization errors occur at off-boresight angles, which tend to obscure the polarization characteristics of the target. Radar returns are processed to form four independent channels by convolving the signals received by the V and H antennas with the mutually orthogonal V and H codes. This overcomes the polarization obscuration and allows determination of the polarimetric ratio of the target with high accuracy.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2009Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventor: Peter W. Fox
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Patent number: 7928901Abstract: Systems and methods for producing radar images are provided. In illustrated embodiments, a representative system includes: a transmitter operative to transmit a pulsed signal; a receiver operative to sample the pulsed signal after reflection; a Doppler-shifting mechanism operative to create a Doppler shift in the pulsed signal; and a platform upon which the transmitter and the Doppler-shifting mechanism are mounted, the Doppler shift being associated with relative motion between the Doppler-shifting mechanism and the platform.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2008Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventor: Benjamin D. Huebschman
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Publication number: 20110080316Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2010Publication date: April 7, 2011Applicant: THALES NEDERLAND B.V.Inventors: Radmila Erkocevic-Pribic, Willem Andries Hol, Ton Peerdeman
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Patent number: 7911372Abstract: An active imaging system uses communication satellites to identify the location and physical attributes of a target. A transmitter emits a time-synchronized signal directed to a target. The transmitter radiates L-band RF signals. The transmitter can be positioned on an airborne or ground platform. A constellation of communication satellites receives and time stamps the time-synchronized signal reflected from the target to form an active image of the target. The constellation of communication satellites have multiple roles other than active imaging, such as providing voice and data communications. The time-synchronized signal reflected from the target can be received by multiple satellites within the constellation of communication satellites or by multiple antenna disposed on one satellite within the constellation of communication satellites.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2009Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Kinetx, Inc.Inventor: Mark D. Nelson
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Publication number: 20110063163Abstract: 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: September 9, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tatsuya Kojima, Takumi Fujikawa
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Patent number: 7907081Abstract: An imaging system operative in a frequency range starting from X band and including the terahertz region has a receiving antenna having a spheroidal reflector. One or more arrays of detectors disposed at the focus adjacent to the reflector of the receiving antenna provides for imaging targets within a range of a few meters around the second focus of the spheroidal reflector. Images of targets such as of concealed objects under clothing are generated and displayed as is known in the art. A method for manufacturing reflectors of receiving antennae given a detection range and a focal range is provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 25, 2006Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Rafael - Armament Development Authority Ltd.Inventor: Yonatan Noyman
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Publication number: 20110050480Abstract: A method and a device for the spatially resolved detection and reconstruction of objects using microwaves is described, in which at least one object to be detected is subjected to microwaves that are generated by a plurality of microwave antennas and microwave fractions reflected by the object are detected and converted into microwave signals that can be analyzed, based on which an analysis for the spatially resolved object detection is carried out.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2008Publication date: March 3, 2011Inventors: Michael Kroning, Andrey Bulavinov, Roman Pinchuk
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Publication number: 20110050479Abstract: A system includes a radar unit configured to provide raw data from scanning an exterior of a structure; and a signal processing and imaging module configured to: process the raw data into markers of interior locations of the structure; and display an image of interior structural features based on the markers. A method includes: scanning a building structure from the exterior of the structure using a radar unit to provide raw data; processing the raw data into markers of interior locations of the structure; estimating locations of interior structural features of the structure from the markers; and displaying an image of the interior structural features.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2009Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: Tialinx, Inc.Inventors: Farrokh Mohamadi, Soumya K. Nag
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Patent number: 7898458Abstract: A ground surface as an image acquiring object is acquired by a synthetic aperture radar mounted on an artificial satellite at a usual time before occurrence of a disaster and thereby radar image data are obtained. After the occurrence of the disaster, an image of the ground surface as the image acquiring object is acquired within days shorter than the number of orbit returning days and by comparing this radar image data with the radar image data acquired at the usual time so as to try to early grasp a damaged situation. At a recovering and rebuilding time after the occurrence of the disaster, images of the image acquiring object are periodically acquired so as to prepare a recovering and rebuilding plan and prevent secondary disasters.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2007Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Pasco CorporationInventors: Takashi Shibayama, Takashi Nonaka, Yoichi Sugimoto
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Patent number: 7898468Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image generating device includes an image former coupled to a radar that transmits and receives electro-magnetic radiation at multiple frequencies. The image former generates an image using information received from the radar, adjusts the image according to a material characteristic of the object, and combines the image with other images received at differing frequencies to form a resulting image.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2009Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Raymond Samaniego, Stanley V. Birleson
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Patent number: 7898461Abstract: Systems and methods of error handling in interferometric signal processing for a ground based slope monitoring system are described. Uncorrected movement data is extracted from interferometric radar measurements of a relatively stable reference. The movement data is corrected for changes in atmospheric conditions as a function of changes in a refractive index of the air and an offset induced at zero range.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2010Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: GroundProbe Pty. Ltd.Inventors: Glen Stickley, Bryan Reeves
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Patent number: 7889113Abstract: An inspection system that can detect contraband items concealed on, in or beneath an individual's clothing. The system employs millimeter wave radiation to detect contraband items. The system is described in connection with a check point security system that includes temperature controlled walls to enhance imaging of contraband items. Also, a millimeter wave camera is used in conjunction with a visible light camera that forms images. To address privacy concerns of displaying images of people made with millimeter wave cameras that effectively “see through” clothes, the millimeter wave images are not displayed directly. Rather, computer processing produces indications of suspicious items from the underlying raw millimeter wave images. The indications of suspicious items are overlaid on the image formed by the visible light camera.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2004Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems Inc.Inventors: Apostle G. Cardiasmenos, Paul J. DeLia
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Publication number: 20110032140Abstract: The method of generating an image in the form of a disc portion on a display, the disc portion comprising a centre 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: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2010Publication date: February 10, 2011Applicant: THALESInventors: Rémi Breban, Sylvain Marchal, Thomas Espaignet
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Patent number: 7880671Abstract: In one aspect, a system to generate radar signatures for multiple objects in real-time includes a first module including at least one processor to perform a shooting and bouncing (SBR) technique to solve for physical optics and multi-bounce characteristics of the objects. The at least one processor includes a central processing unit to perform dynamic ray tracing and a graphics processing unit (GPU) to perform far field calculations. The GPU includes a hit point database to store entries associated with rays that intersect an object.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2008Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Chul J. Lee, Axel R. Villanueva
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Publication number: 20110018756Abstract: A synthesized aperture radar imaging system is disclosed. The system includes an antenna reflector and a radar signal transceiver configured to generate a plurality of radar transmission signals and to receive a respective plurality of reflected radar signals. The system also includes a wave reflection device configured to sequentially reflect each of the plurality of radar transmission signals onto separate respective spot-portions of the antenna reflector. The plurality of radar transmission signals can be transmitted from the antenna reflector to a target and reflected from the target as the respective plurality of reflected radar signals. The system further includes a synthesized aperture radar controller configured to integrate the plurality of reflected radar signals and to generate a high-resolution, three-dimensional image of the target from the integrated plurality of reflected radar signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2009Publication date: January 27, 2011Inventors: Carl D. Wise, Norman F. Powell
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Patent number: 7876257Abstract: A method compresses synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data by sampling the SAR data into blocks and transforming each block to a corresponding block of transform coefficients. Each block of transform coefficient is quantized according to a quantization parameter to obtain a corresponding block of quantized transform coefficients, which are demultiplexed into sets of blocks of quantized transform coefficients. The quantized transform coefficients in the blocks in each set are arithmetically encoding in parallel according to a probability model to produce an intermediate bitstream for each set of blocks. The encoding of the quantized transform coefficients of one block is independent of the quantized transform coefficients of a successive block. The intermediate of bitstreams are then multiplexed to a compressed bitstream, which can be transmitted, or stored, for subsequent decoding to construct an SAR image.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2008Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Vetro, Shan Liu, Jian Lou, Stephen R. Burgess
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Patent number: 7876258Abstract: A collision sense and avoidance system and method and an aircraft, such as an Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) and/or Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV), including the collision sense and avoidance system. The collision sense and avoidance system includes an image interrogator identifies potential collision threats to the aircraft and provides maneuvers to avoid any identified threat. Motion sensors (e.g., imaging and/or infrared sensors) provide image frames of the surroundings to a clutter suppression and target detection unit that detects local targets moving in the frames. A Line Of Sight (LOS), multi-target tracking unit, tracks detected local targets and maintains a track history in LOS coordinates for each detected local target. A threat assessment unit determines whether any tracked local target poses a collision threat. An avoidance maneuver unit provides flight control and guidance with a maneuver to avoid any identified said collision threat.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2006Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Michael R. Abraham, Christian C. Witt, Dennis J. Yelton, John N. Sanders-Reed, Christopher J. Musial