Direction-finding Receiver Only Patents (Class 342/417)
  • Patent number: 10048349
    Abstract: A method of direction finding (DF) positioning involving main lobe and grating lobe identification in a wireless communication network is proposed. A receiver performs DF algorithm on radio signals associated with multiple antennas over a first channel frequency and estimates a first set of DF solutions. The receiver performs DF algorithm on radio signals associated with multiple antennas over a second channel frequency and estimates a second set of DF solutions. The receiver then identifies the correct DF solution (e.g., the main lobe direction) by comparing the first set of DF solutions and the second set of DF solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: James June-Ming Wang, Kai-Chun Chou, YungPing Hsu
  • Patent number: 9997845
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a rotationally triply symmetric three axis magnetic antenna system having substantial isolation among the three axes, including a three axis skew orthogonal magnetic antenna system and device utilizing the antenna system. The antenna system comprising three substantially identical magnetic antenna elements disposed symmetrically about a reference point such that the magnetic axes from the three antenna elements are orthogonal to one another in direction and do not intersect one another. The three antenna elements are positioned in a substantial cross coupling null from one another to minimize cross coupling. The arrangement yields packaging efficiency for compact electronic devices. A 1, 1, diameter embodiment is disclosed. A location system utilizing the antenna system is disclosed. Methods for producing the antenna are disclosed. A moldable triple coil holder for the antenna system is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Q-Track Corporation
    Inventors: Hans Gregory Schantz, Christopher David Pittman, James Lee Richards, Stephen A. Werner
  • Patent number: 9945943
    Abstract: A radar system has different modes of operation. In one mode the radar operates as a single-input, multiple-output (SIMO) radar system utilizing one transmitted signal from one antenna at a time. Codes with known excellent autocorrelation properties are utilized in this mode. At each receiver the response after correlating with various possible transmitted signals is measured in order to estimate the interference that each transmitter will represent at each receiver. The estimated effect of the interference from one transmitter on a receiver that correlates with a different code is used to mitigate the interference. In another mode, the radar operates as a MIMO radar system utilizing all the antennas at a time. Interference cancellation of the non-ideal cross correlation sidelobes when transmitting in the MIMO mode are employed to remove ghost targets due to unwanted sidelobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Uhnder, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne E. Stark, Jean P. Bordes, Curtis Davis, Raghunath K. Rao, Monier Maher, Manju Hegde, Otto A. Schmid
  • Patent number: 9913082
    Abstract: A wireless communication device (WCD) establishes an ad-hoc communication link with a second WCD within operating range. A replica of at least a portion of a display of the first WCD may be shared with the second WCD utilizing wireless broadband signals that are communicated via the established one or more ad-hoc communication links. The first WCD and the second WCD are operable to communicate the wireless broadband signals at a power level that is below a spurious emissions mask. The transmitted wireless broadband signals are spread so they occupy a designated frequency spectrum band. The shared replica of at least a portion of the display of the first WCD includes one or more applications, text, video and/or data content. A user of the first WCD may interact with content that is displayed on a display of the second WCD and vice-versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Maxlinear, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis Ling, Timothy Gallagher
  • Patent number: 9910131
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method, which mainly includes: calculating location information of a estimated point by using a set algorithm according to location information of an original point; and calculating a wireless eigenvalue of the estimated point according to a wireless eigenvalue of the original point obtained by measuring; when a wireless eigenvalue reported by a terminal is received, positioning a location of the terminal according to the wireless eigenvalue of the original point and the wireless eigenvalue of the estimated point. In this way, in a mathematical model manner, location information and a wireless eigenvalue of an unmeasured raster point are fitted, with no need to increase an additional measurement workload, thereby saving a resource. In addition, a division granularity of raster measurement may be changed according to an actual requirement, thereby improving accuracy of terminal positioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jie Cui, Anjian Li, Dengkun Xiao, Yongtong Wu, Qiming Sun
  • Patent number: 9869554
    Abstract: A system suitable for determining a location of an emitter emitting a radiation signal from an unknown location has a vehicle with a location position determining apparatus to receive a location datum, so the location of the vehicle can be determined when the radiation signal is received. A sensor connected to a receiver is positioned on the vehicle to detect and receive the radiation signal at a plurality of locations. A processor having a program executing therein determines the power level of the radiation signal at each measurement location and determines the location of the emitter from the change in power level of the radiation signal between measurement locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: SOFTRONICS, LTD.
    Inventor: Robert Sternowski
  • Patent number: 9696405
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting the trajectory of a projectile is presented. One system includes a flash detection sensor, an acoustic sensor, an optical sensor and a processor logic mounted on a vehicle. The flash detection sensor detects a flash of a projectile being launched. The acoustic sensor detects when a blast wave associated with the firing of the projectile reaches the vehicle. The optical sensor takes two or more images of the same projectile. The images are typically not in the visible light spectrum. The processor logic calculates a trajectory of the projectile based on the images and data collected by the acoustic sensor associated with the blast wave. The processor logic may generate a warning signal to warn an operator of the vehicle about the projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: George Succi, Eldon M. Sutphin, Edward C. Real, Philip J. Haney, William O. Devine
  • Patent number: 9689955
    Abstract: A ranging system includes at least one beacon and a control module. The at least one beacon is configured to scan each segment in a plurality of segments of an arc with a narrow radio frequency (RF) beam and receive a response signal from an end user node in at least one segment. Each segment of the arc is scanned at a specified time interval. The control module is configured to communicate with the at least one beacon. The control module is further configured to calculate at least one of an angle-of-arrival (AOA) and a time-of-flight (TOF) of a response signal from the end user node to the beacon and generate an end user node location relative to a beacon location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Corvus Technologies Corp
    Inventor: Glen Var Rosenbaum
  • Patent number: 9602189
    Abstract: A method and system for estimating a path-length difference between two paths followed by a target signal transmitted by a spacecraft or aircraft to a first receiving antenna and a second receiving antenna of a receiving base, respectively. A useful-phase difference is measured between signals that correspond to the target signal received by the first receiving antenna and second receiving antenna. The path-length difference is estimated in accordance with the useful-phase difference measurements. The measurement of the useful-phase difference comprises either correlating the signals received by the first receiving antenna and second receiving antenna, respectively, with a reference target signal, or analyzing the signals received by the first receiving antenna and second receiving antenna, respectively, using an FFT or a PLL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SAS
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Aymes, Raphael Sanchez, Frederic Voulouzan
  • Patent number: 9584974
    Abstract: In a general aspect, motion of an object is detected based on wireless signals. In some aspects, a receiver in a space receives wireless signals; the wireless signals are based on transmissions of a reference signal by a transmitter. Each of the received wireless signals is based on a respective transmission of the reference signal at a distinct time. Channel responses are determined based on the received wireless signals and the reference signal. Each channel response is determined based on a respective one of the received wireless signals. Motion of an object in the space is detected based on the channel responses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Cognitive Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Mohammad Omer, Yunfeng Piao, Mikhail Alexand Zakharov, Marco Paulo dos Santos Nogueria, Stephen Arnold Devison
  • Patent number: 9383432
    Abstract: A tracking error covariance matrix updating unit 6 that updates a tracking error covariance matrix Pk (?) before update at a sampling time k by using a nominal distance difference error parameter ??rnom and that outputs the tracking error covariance matrix Pk (+) after update is disposed, and a TrackDOP calculating unit 7 calculates an evaluation index TrackDOP for tracking accuracy for a target by using both the tracking error covariance matrix Pk (+) after update, and the nominal observation error parameter ??rnom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Matsuzaki, Yuki Takabayashi, Hiroshi Kameda, Kenta Ida
  • Patent number: 9317138
    Abstract: A system includes circuitry to exchange multiple radio signals with a peripheral device. The system further includes a processing device configured to identify time periods for the multiple radio signals to travel between the circuitry and the peripheral device, wherein the processing device is configured to determine a distance and direction of movement of the peripheral device according to the identified time periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: David Wright
  • Patent number: 9301285
    Abstract: Provided are a method of performing contention based channel access by classifying a contention period into a beamformable contention period in which a beamforming is allowed and a non-beamformable contention period in which the beamforming is interrupted so as to resolve an issue regarding channel access occurring due to an introduction of a directional antenna for handling a path loss in a wideband wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a method for maximizing a spatial reuse gain by managing, for each direction, information about a transmission time of a message received from a dispersion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: INTELLECTUAL DISCOVERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seung Eun Hong, Yong Sun Kim, Woo Yong Lee, Hyun Kyu Chung
  • Patent number: 9294254
    Abstract: Disclosed systems and methods mitigate interference in heterogeneous networks. Embodiments include adaptive or selective inter-cell interference coordination, adaptive multi-user zero forcing, adaptive power, and/or combinations of the foregoing. Techniques may be used to favor one group of users (e.g., femto users or macro users) over another. Certain embodiments focus quality of service (QoS) improvements on a first group of users, while using constraint processes to provide a threshold QoS for a second group of users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmed S. Ibrahim, Hani H. Elgebaly, Esraa Makled, Ahmed M. Darwish
  • Patent number: 9237689
    Abstract: A lawn mower robot system, comprising: a lawn mower robot disposed with a moving device; a mowing device disposed in the lawn mower robot and mowing lawns; a first communication device disposed in the lawn mower robot and transmitting an inquiry signal for state information; a plurality of boundary display apparatuses, arranged in a lawn presence region, disposed with a second communication device for receiving the inquiry signal for the state information from the first communication device and for transmitting an acknowledge signal for the state information to the first communication device; a controller for recognizing a plurality of absolute coordinates from the lawn presence region based on the acknowledge signal for the state information received from the second communication device and for controlling the mowing device within the limit of the plurality of absolute coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyuchun Choi, Geunbae Hwang, Hyunsup Song
  • Patent number: 9024812
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing antenna calibration can be used in a variety of applications. A method of calibrating an antenna array for use in a traffic advisory system or traffic alert and collision avoidance system provide a mechanism that renders complex combining circuitry unnecessary in the array. A method can include receiving an unsolicited reply that contains absolute position information of an intruder aircraft. The method can also include determining a bearing of a signal encoding the reply based on a phase relationship of the signals from an antenna array not configured to operate with an internal self-test phase calibration mechanism. The method can further include comparing the bearing based on the phase relationship with a bearing calculated by a comparison of the absolute positions of a host aircraft and the intruder aircraft. The method can additionally include calibrating the antenna array based on the result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems LLC
    Inventor: Mark D. Smith
  • Publication number: 20150102963
    Abstract: A differential signal strength direction determination systems (DSSDDS) may be programmed to provide an output that will enable an individual to determine a direction in which a source of a signal of interest is located with increased accuracy. The programming of the DSSDSS may improve accuracy by consolidating corresponding parts of a signal over time, by modifying a signal strength scale to enable an individual to better discern between the strengths of various signals and/or by providing a user-perceptible output that enables an individual to better discern between the strengths of various signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: David L. Marshall
  • Patent number: 9002279
    Abstract: Provided is a method of generating a transmit beamforming vector and a receive beamforming vector to substantially eliminate the effect of interference transmitted from macro terminals to a pico base station in a hierarchical cell environment. Also, provided is a method of selecting, from a plurality of macro terminals, a macro terminal for transmitting data to a macro base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won Jae Shin, Nam Yoon Lee, Chang Yong Shin, Kyung Hun Jang, Won Jong Noh, Hyun Ho Choi
  • Publication number: 20150054689
    Abstract: At least two input signals, each characterizing a radio signal having a radio frequency (RF), are received. The input signals are converted into at least three output signals. The output signals have a unique combination of corresponding magnitudes for each RF phase difference between the input signals. A set of magnitudes corresponding to the output signals is measured using a mobile measuring device. An RF phase angle value is determined based the measured set of magnitudes. The RF phase angle value is converted into an angle value indicative of the direction of arrival of the radio signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Fluke Corporation
    Inventor: Peter Q. Oakley
  • Patent number: 8948718
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described using a Hermetic Transform, as well as related transforms, for applications such as directional reception and/or transmit of signals using phased-array devices and systems. The systems and methods an include identifying a direction of arrival for a mobile communicating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Hobbit Wave, Inc.
    Inventor: Harvey C. Woodsum
  • Publication number: 20150009072
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a geolocation system and method for a multi-path environment. The geolocation system comprises one or more emitters (201a . . . 201n), one or more sensors (202a . . . 202n) comprising at least one processor. A first processor (204) estimates angle of arrival (AOA) and time of arrival (TOA) from the signals received from said one or more emitters (201a . . . 201n). A second processor (205) determines clusters based on the (AOA) and (TOA) data. The system also comprises a central node (207) in communication with at least one sensor (202a . . . 202n) and configured to estimate geolocation of one or more emitters (201a . . . 201n) wherein, said second processor (205) clusters data for the one or more emitters (201a . . . 201n) by executing a non-parametric Bayesian technique and said central node (207) utilizes hybrid angle of arrival-time difference of arrival (AOA-TDOA) technique to determine geolocation of each of the emitters (201a . . . 201n).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: ROCKWELL COLLINS INC
    Inventor: Yogesh Anil Nijsure
  • Patent number: 8929192
    Abstract: Method, apparatus, and computer program product example embodiments provide short-range communication based direction finding. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method comprises transmitting by a target device, information in one or more advertising packets, including preferences of the target device for using data signing associated with direction finding; and receiving by the target device from a tracker device, one or more direction finding request packets including a request for data signing corresponding with the target device preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Antti Kainulainen, Juha Salokannel
  • Publication number: 20140327581
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a receiver for Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) verification of a target aircraft including a first input for receiving flight tracking information from a target aircraft that indicates positional information of the target aircraft. The receiver further includes a second input for receiving positional and heading information indicating the location and orientation of a multi-element array antenna configured to be attached to the receiver, and a processing module that generates a measured bearing derived from angle of arrival data, and an expected bearing of the target aircraft derived from the indicated positional information of the target aircraft and the positional and heading information defining the receiver location and orientation. A comparator compares the expected bearing to the measured bearing and verifies the ADS-B flight tracking information of the target aircraft and outputs an indication of authenticity based on the verification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: The Boeing Company
  • Publication number: 20140292581
    Abstract: A location of a smartkey is determined by first determining coordinates of a set of candidate vertices of an array of receive antennas at a receiver based on maximal magnetic field voltages in the receive antennas due transmitting a radio signal (RF) by the smartkey. A set of candidate locations of the transmitter is determined based on the coordinate of the set of vertices. A set of final candidate locations is determined based on a predetermined threshold of the voltages. The final candidate locations are then combined to determine the location of the smartkey.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Orlik, Santosh Seran
  • Patent number: 8847587
    Abstract: A magnetic field generator includes a substrate, a main generator coil, at least one field sensor, at least one shim coil, a driver circuit and a correction circuit. The main generator coil, the field sensor, and the shim coil are all disposed on the substrate. The driver circuit is coupled to drive the main generator coil with a driving current at a selected frequency. The correction circuit is coupled to receive a signal at the selected frequency from the at least one field sensor and, in response to deviations in the signal from a predefined baseline, to drive the at least one shim coil with a driving current having an amplitude configured to return the signal to the baseline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd.
    Inventors: Assaf Govari, Andres Claudio Altmann, Yaron Ephrath
  • Publication number: 20140266908
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, the orientation of a wireless device, such as an access point (AP) can be determined based on the location of neighboring wireless devices and the observed angle of arrival of signals from the wireless device at the neighboring wireless devices. For example, the angle of orientation can be determined by comparing an observed angle of arrival with the known actual angle between wireless devices. If a plurality of wireless devices measure the signal, the mean or median of the difference between observed angle of arrival of a signal from the wireless device with the actual angle for the plurality of wireless devices may be employed to determine the angular orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Santosh PANDEY
  • Publication number: 20140253387
    Abstract: Embodiments of a high-resolution link-path delay estimator and method are generally described herein. The high-resolution link-path delay estimator may estimate a signal-path delay of a signal path between a master and remote device. The high-resolution link-path delay estimator may phase-shift a transmit signal of alternating symbols by phase-shift values and may sample a loopback signal. A noise-reduced version of the sampled signal output may be correlated with a step function to generate a correlation value for each of the phase-shift values. One of the phase-shift values may be selected to generate a fine-delay estimate which may be added to a coarse delay estimate to determine the signal-path delay. The coarse delay estimate may be an estimate of the signal-path delay to a nearest symbol period of the transmit signal and the fine-delay estimate may be an estimate to within a fraction of the symbol period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventor: Raytheon Company
  • Patent number: 8760347
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein that extend well-known direction finding (DF) and geolocation (GEO) concepts and approaches to a plurality of RF sensors to form a System of Systems (SoS) DF-GEO approach. The RF sensors may be collocated or spatial separated, and are able to exchange or share DF/GEO data. The SoS DF-GEO approach opportunistically leverages both on-board and off-board processing resources and DF-GEO measures for cooperative processing, situation awareness sharing, and performance optimization. The off-board processing resources and DF-GEO measures may be shared via networking. Thus, the SoS DF-GEO approach primarily bases measurements upon RSS or energy obtained from a one-antenna system or from a two-antenna system of a single RF sensor, as well as from other RF sensors via networking. By adopting the innovative SoS DF-GEO concept approach as described herein, optimized DF-GEO performance can be obtained by using the system of systems approach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Exelis Inc.
    Inventor: Ning Hsing Lu
  • Publication number: 20140152495
    Abstract: A device, method and system are provide which permits the methodology used to make the position determination to change dynamically in connection with achieving a position fix of a desired accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Sanjeev Khushu
  • Publication number: 20140152452
    Abstract: An RF directional detection system created for alerting hunters of nearby friendlies who are located in critical areas defined by the ability to communicate their directional position to the hunters for safety purposes. These systems utilize a Yagi directional antenna to provide the radiation pattern necessary for directional detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Wilburn Ray Whittington, Raj Prahbu, Shane Andrew Brauer
  • Publication number: 20140125524
    Abstract: An apparatus for radio direction finding, the apparatus comprising: a receiver configured to receive target signals to be subjected to the direction finding of signal sources, which are acquired by an antenna array; a channel profiler configured to produce profiles of the target signals received through the receiver; a pre-analyzer configured to preemptively process in a narrowband the wideband target signals based on the profiles that are produced by the channel profiler to produce pre-analyzed information for the wideband target signals; and a direction finder configured to perform the direction finding on the signal sources using the pre-analyzed information and the profilers of the target signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Kanghee KIM, Ki Cheol TAE, Chung Sup KIM
  • Patent number: 8674879
    Abstract: An antenna arrangement including at least two antenna functions arranged to cover a certain angular sector, each antenna function comprising a corresponding antenna port. The antenna arrangement is configured to perform: a first direction of arrival (DOA) estimation for a transmitting device at a first frequency, and a second DOA estimation for the transmitting device at a second frequency, wherein the second frequency has a larger magnitude than the first frequency, and wherein at least one second frequency grating lobe is apparent in the angular sector at the second frequency. The antenna arrangement is configured to: distinguish the at least one second frequency grating lobe from a second frequency main lobe using results from the first DOA estimation, and identify a pointing direction of the second frequency main lobe as a resulting DOA estimation. Related methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
    Inventors: Andreas Nilsson, Fredrik Athley
  • Publication number: 20140070996
    Abstract: In a non-limiting and example embodiment, a method is provided for facilitating direction calculation, comprising: detecting, by an apparatus at least one indication frame from another apparatus, determining properties associated with transmission of at least one subsequent frame from the another apparatus on the basis of the at least one indication frame, and gathering measurement information for direction calculation on the basis of the determined properties and the at least one subsequent frame from the another apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Jarkko Kneckt, Jukka Reunamäki, Antti Kainulainen, Heikki Berg, Mauri Honkanen
  • Patent number: 8599071
    Abstract: A device for estimating a direction-of-arrival of a radio wave, the device comprising an array antenna including a plurality of antenna elements for receiving a high frequency signal, a demultiplexer for demultiplexing the received high frequency signal for each of the plurality of antenna elements to generate a plurality of frequency component signals and a direction estimating unit for estimating the direction-of-arrival of the radio wave by using two or more of the plurality of frequency component signals which are contiguous in a frequency direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Kishigami, Takashi Fukagawa, Yasuaki Yuda, Keiji Takakusaki, Shoji Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20130307729
    Abstract: A first user device transmits a first signal, and a second user device transmits a second signal. A processing unit receives the first signal and the second signal. The processing unit identifies the first user device as an active target and the second user device as an active tracking device based on a predefined rule set including a plurality of selection criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventors: Benjamin Alan Stensland, Kevin Luke Mace, David Mark McClelland
  • Patent number: 8587467
    Abstract: A method for determining locations of a moving emitter is disclosed. Initially, a set of emitter pulses is collected when a collector platform moves over a collection baseline. In addition, the time and location of the collection platform are recorded each time an emitter pulse is collected. A set of time-tagged pulse time-of-arrival (TOA) values is then generated by associating a recorded collection time value to each of the collected emitter pulses. Next, a set of time-tagged and position-tagged pulse TOA values is generated by associating a recorded collection location value to each of the time-tagged pulse TOA values. Finally, a set of location values and velocity values of a moving emitter is estimated based on the time-tagged and position-tagged pulse TOA values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Paul D. Zemany
  • Patent number: 8576121
    Abstract: Method for localization of the lateral position of the wheels of a vehicle equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system. Each wheel of the vehicle includes an electronic unit fixed onto a rim of radius R. Each unit notably includes two accelerometers, disposed perpendicular to one another and one measuring a radial component F1 of the acceleration, and the other a tangential component F2 of the acceleration. These components are out of phase by a predetermined phase-shift angle ?. The method includes: I) measuring, per wheel rotation, at given intervals of time (Tmeasurement), a number (N) of acceleration values by each of the accelerometers (5a, 5b), II) calculating a physical value (P) representative of the sign of the phase-shift angle ? between the two accelerometers, III) determining the lateral position of the wheel, based on the physical value (P) representative of the sign of the phase-shift angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive France
    Inventor: Nicolas Guinart
  • Publication number: 20130278463
    Abstract: An antenna arrangement including at least two antenna functions arranged to cover a certain angular sector, each antenna function comprising a corresponding antenna port. The antenna arrangement is configured to perform: a first direction of arrival (DOA) estimation for a transmitting device at a first frequency, and a second DOA estimation for the transmitting device at a second frequency, wherein the second frequency has a larger magnitude than the first frequency, and wherein at least one second frequency grating lobe is apparent in the angular sector at the second frequency. The antenna arrangement is configured to: distinguish the at least one second frequency grating lobe from a second frequency main lobe using results from the first DOA estimation, and identify a pointing direction of the second frequency main lobe as a resulting DOA estimation. Related methods are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Andreas NILSSON, Fredrik Athley
  • Patent number: 8559883
    Abstract: A signal path configuration method and apparatus of a wireless device are provided for avoiding radiation performance degradation caused by holding a specific part of the wireless device. A wireless device of the present invention includes a Radio Frequency (RF) unit that includes a plurality of antennas, an RF connector for RF calibration, and a detection unit for detecting connection of an RF cable, a switch for switching a signal path to one of the plurality of antennas, and a control unit for distinguishing between communication modes based on a detection signal output by the detection unit and for generating a control signal for controlling the switch to connect the signal path to one of the antennas according to the communication mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang Gwon Chung, Hyun Seok Shin
  • Publication number: 20130252568
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described using a Hermetic Transform, as well as related transforms, for applications such as directional reception and/or transmit of signals using phased-array devices and systems. The systems and methods an include identifying a direction of arrival for a mobile communicating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: HOBBIT WAVE, INC.
    Inventor: Harvey C. WOODSUM
  • Publication number: 20130229310
    Abstract: A system for identifying a real-world geographic location of an emission source emitting electromagnetic energy includes a platform configured for movement and an apparatus disposed on the platform and configured to collect and process, in a passive manner and during movement of the platform, at least a pair of successive samples of the electromagnetic energy emission and define angular and spatial coordinates of the emission source. The apparatus includes at least a pair of antennas, a receiver coupled to antennas and a processor executing a predetermined logic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: NOKOMIS, INC.
    Inventors: Brandon Scott Parks, Walter J. Keller, III, Jennting Timothy Hsu
  • Publication number: 20130207844
    Abstract: A hybrid direction apparatus and method that rapidly and accurately detects a direction of a radio signal source based on a direction detecting scheme by comparing an amplitude or signal strength, a virtual Doppler scheme, a phase difference comparison scheme while removing an ambiguity based on an amplitude or signal strength scheme, and identify a direction relatively precisely based on a phase difference scheme using only two antennas. Also, an arrival direction of a relative radio wave when an arrival direction of a radio wave is vertical to a single rotating axis may be precisely identified by mounting a directional antenna and a phase comparison antenna on the single rotating axis, and rotating the two antennas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
  • Publication number: 20130169485
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the range, radial velocity, and bearing angles of scattering objects reflecting RF signals or for determining the range, radial velocity, and bearing angles of sources RF signals. An array of antenna elements is utilized, the array of antenna elements each having an associated two state modulator wherein transmitted and/or received energy is phase encoded according to a sequence of multibit codes, the bits of the multibit codes each preferably having two states with approximately a 50% probability for each of the two states occurring within each given multibit code in said sequence of multibit codes, thereby allowing the determination of range, radial velocity, and bearing angles through digital computation after the scattered signals have been received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: HRL LABRORATORIES, LLC
    Inventor: HRL LABRORATORIES, LLC
  • Publication number: 20130093626
    Abstract: Provided is a non-transitory machine readable medium on which is stored a computer program including instructions to adapt a computer system having at least one processor as a simultaneous radio detection and bearing system, including: an RF conditioning subsystem for connection to a plurality of arrays of Frequency Range signal receiving channels, the RF conditioning subsystem operable to combine the signals from the arrays as a first internal data stream; and a coherent multi-channel digitizer subsystem coupled to the RF conditioning system, the coherent multi-channel digitizer subsystem operable to generate a time domain snapshot of the first internal data stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: On Target Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: On Target Enterprises, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8405550
    Abstract: A system and method for geolocating an RF emitter disposed on or near the ground includes receiving a signal from the RF emitter at each antenna of an array of N non-collinear antennas, wherein N is an integer greater than 2; routing the signal received at each of the antennas to one of a bank of N corresponding receivers; downconverting the N received signals to N downconverted signals; digitizing the N downconverted signals to digitized signals on N corresponding channels; using a processor to determine phase and amplitude variations across the N channels and to determine a Direction Vector corresponding to the signal received from the RF emitter; using a 2-dimensional pre-determined calibration table to look up a best match to the Direction Vector to determine a Bearing Vector to the RF emitter; transforming the Bearing Vector into locally level reference frame; and geolocating the RF emitter by determining an intersection between the locally level reference frame Bearing Vector and a dataset containing lo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Applied Signal Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard P. Gooch, Alan W. Roscow
  • Patent number: 8405549
    Abstract: A method for determining whether a target is within a direction sector of interest of a direction finder and a device for carrying out the method are disclosed. The method calls for (a) predefining the sector of interest; (b) providing at least two antennas; (c) generating an in-phase reference pattern, and establishing wireless communication between the direction finder and the target; (d) attenuating the wireless communication signal between the direction finder and the target and recording the attenuation value which corresponds to the loss of wireless communication as the R reference value; (e) generating an out-of-phase null pattern, and re-establishing wireless communication between the direction finder and the target; (f) repeat step (d) except this time recording the attenuation value which corresponds to the loss of wireless communication as the N null value; (g) determining whether the difference R?N is above or below the threshold difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hisep Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Uri Vered, Yariv Erad, Gad Vered
  • Patent number: 8405551
    Abstract: Location estimation systems, methods, and non-transitory computer program products. The system includes: storage means provided in the computer, means for storing the vector datasets in the storage means of the computer, means for calculating the similarity between the vector dataset without any location label and each neighboring vector dataset with a location label, by using any one of a q-norm where 0?q?1 and an exponential attenuation function, and means for estimating the location label of the vector data without any location label from the calculated similarities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shohei Hido, Tsuyoshi Ide, Hisashi Kashima, Shoko Suzuki, Akira Tajima, Rikiya Takahashi, Toshihiro Takahashi, Yuta Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 8390514
    Abstract: A bank of order statistic filters applied to a set of antenna or transducer beams are used to detect and determine the line-of-bearing to the source of transient RF (or other, e.g., acoustic) signals. By applying order statistic filters to signals received by a set of antenna or transducer beams, this system sets a detection threshold that is unaffected by transient signals, thereby allowing the detection of these transient signals. Knowing which antenna beam the transient signals are located within allows the determination of a line of bearing to the source of the transient signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James Bryan Baker, Gary A. Ray
  • Patent number: 8378922
    Abstract: A method of estimating an arc-position of a distal transmitter is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes: (1) receiving radio frequency signals from said distal transmitter into an antenna having an array of feed horns and a Luneberg lens portion and (2) estimating an arc-position of said distal transmitter based on signal strengths provided by ones of said feed horns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignees: Location & Tracking Technologies, LLC, Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Ralph E. Hayles, Jr., James A. Moryl
  • Publication number: 20130009821
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating location of wireless stations in a wireless communication network are provided. An estimation of a bearing angle of a wireless station from a reference point of a multi-beam antenna pattern is made based on a plurality of beaming angles of a multi-beam antenna pattern and a received signal property, at the wireless station, of each of a plurality of wireless signals transmitted on respective beams of the multi-beam antenna pattern for each of the plurality of beaming angles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: David STEER, Scott WIDDOWSON