Receiver Patents (Class 342/89)
  • Patent number: 6661367
    Abstract: A signal processor includes a unit for forming designated groups from radar reflection signals, a memory unit for storing the designated groups of radar reflection signals individually, a first calculator for calculating a standard background signal SB from each of the designated groups of radar reflection signals stored individually. The signal processor further includes a second calculator for calculating differential signals between the individual radar reflection signals and the standard background signal SB separately for each of the designated groups and a unit for identifying the signal reflected from a search object out of the differential signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Sugiyama, Atsushi Abe
  • Patent number: 6653974
    Abstract: In a method for the determination of the unambiguous range for the measurement of the IF deviation in a frequency-regulated radar system, a frequency adjustment or tuning of the radar system is carried out during the reception of an echo signal by adjustingly setting respectively at least one value for the IF deviation around the value zero in the unambiguous range of the IF deviation as well as in an ambiguous range of the IF deviation. Then, the unambiguous range is recognized as such by comparison of the signal amplitude and/or the number of the detected targets during these adjustment settings, because the unambiguous range exhibits the highest signal amplitude and/or the greatest number of detected targets (i.e. echo signals).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Automotive Distance Control Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Ralph Speck, Joachim Flacke, Bruno Kaiser
  • Patent number: 6650278
    Abstract: A road antenna apparatus includes a road antenna 104 which is mounted on a post 103 and at an elevated position on a road R and establishes radio communication with an on-vehicle radio device 102 mounted in a vehicle 101 which is traveling over the road. A receiving rate of the established radio communication is detected. A transmission output is set based on detecting a suitable receiving rate for a desired communications area established between the transmitter and the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Terashima, Yoshiteru Hirano, Makoto Takemoto, Akihiro Inui
  • Patent number: 6642882
    Abstract: A mixer used in a millimeter-wave band and a microwave band capable of achieving loss reduction, a radar module, and a communication apparatus incorporating the mixer and having high efficiency. The mixer includes two electrodes formed on one main surface of a dielectric substrate and another electrode formed on another main surface thereof such that non-electrode portions on both main surfaces are opposed to each other via the dielectric substrate. Additionally, a diode is connected bridging a slit between the two electrodes on one main surface to constitute a circuit board. The circuit board and a dielectric strip are arranged between upper and lower conductive plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Iwatani, Sadao Yamashita
  • Patent number: 6636174
    Abstract: System and method for detection and tracking of targets, which in a preferred embodiment is based on the use of fractional Fourier transformation of time-domain signals to compute projections of the auto and cross ambiguity functions along arbitrary line segments. The efficient computational algorithms of the preferred embodiment are used to detect the position and estimate the velocity of signals, such as those encountered by active or passive sensor systems. Various applications of the proposed algorithm in the analysis of time-frequency domain signals are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Altratek Inc.
    Inventors: Orhan Arikan, Ahmet Kemal Ozdemir
  • Patent number: 6618001
    Abstract: A radar signal detecting apparatus is provided. The radar signal detecting apparatus includes a coupler diverging a part of signal from received signal, a local oscillator outputting local signal, a mixer converting the diverged signal multiplied the local signal into low frequency signal and a detector detecting, a radar signal from the low frequency signal by using a threshold above side lobe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideto Oura
  • Patent number: 6614386
    Abstract: A bistatic radar system and method. In the illustrative embodiment, a receiver is positioned in a horizontal plane. A transmitter is then positioned in Middle Earth Orbit at a position that is nearly vertical to the plane of the receiver. This configuration provides significant flexibility for the radar system. As such, the radar system may engage in flight patterns, in which the transmitter and receiver have velocity vectors in opposite directions (GMTI mode), the same direction (SAR mode) and variations in between (mixed mode). Lastly, a broad beam is generated from the transmitter and illuminates an area enabling several receivers to simultaneously observe the illuminated area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Moore, Chester L. Richards, Pileih Chen
  • Patent number: 6608586
    Abstract: A method of removing RFI from a SAR by comparing two SAR images on a pixel by pixel basis and selecting the pixel with the lower magnitude to form a composite image. One SAR image is the conventional image produced by the SAR. The other image is created from phase-history data which has been filtered to have the frequency bands containing the RFI removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventor: Armin W. Doerry
  • Patent number: 6597305
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for alerting a flight crew of weather radar return data collected, yet not presently being displayed. The system includes a memory, a processor, and an output device. The memory stores radar return information in a three-dimensional buffer. The processor determines if any radar return information stored in a three-dimensional buffer is within a threshold distance from an aircraft's present position and generates an image based on target data stored in the three-dimensional buffer and selected display parameters. The processor also generates a target alert if any target data is determined to be within a threshold distance from the aircraft's present position and is not included in the generated image. The output device presents the generated target alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Roland Y. Szeto, Bill G. Cornell
  • Patent number: 6549158
    Abstract: A combined defense and navigational system on a naval Vessel is disclosed. The disclosed system includes a track-while-scan pulse radar which is controlled to provide either navigational information or tracking information on selected targets. Additionally, the disclosed system includes a plurality of guided missiles, each of which may be vertically launched and directed toward intercept of a selected target either by commands from the track-while-scan radar or from an active guidance system in each such missile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: James T. Hanson
  • Patent number: 6538597
    Abstract: A radar system including a blanker and a sidelobe canceler is described including an open loop nulling circuit for introducing one or more nulls in the main beam and a blanker beam. With this arrangement, the blanker can be operated even in the presence of strong sidelobe jamming without the conventional problems attributable to noise amplification. Also described is an antenna configuration for implementing the open loop nulling, including a pair of orthogonal linear arrays. One of the arrays is omnidirectional in azimuth and directional in elevation and the other array is omnidirectional in elevation and directional in azimuth in order to point the main and blanker beams in the direction of jammers. In one embodiment, the radar system further includes a spoofer and the crossed linear arrays process the spoofer signals on transmit and process blanker signals on receive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Fritz Steudel
  • Patent number: 6529157
    Abstract: An improved radar signature evaluation apparatus for measuring and evaluating the radar signature for an aircraft, missiles, and other vehicle. The radar signature apparatus includes an instrumentation system for generating radar cross section data for the vehicle being evaluated and a computer for processing the radar cross section data and a printer for printing various plots derived from the radar cross section data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Dean L. Mensa, Andre C. Bati, Kenneth Vaccaro, Long D. To, Robert E. Dezellem, David P. Wirtz
  • Patent number: 6522286
    Abstract: A multi-channel radar apparatuses optimizes the number of channels used for detecting a body in terms of position detection precision and processing time reduction. The multi-channel apparatus detects the position of the body that produces reflecting waves by calculating, for example, the center of gravity using only the received signals of monostatic channels (B1, B3, and B5) when the level of the received signals is high and using the received signals of the monostatic channels (B1, B3, and B5), as well as the received signals of bistatic channels (B2 and B4) when the level of the received signals is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Ashihara
  • Patent number: 6515615
    Abstract: A signal processing method is particularly for use in object detection systems which allows a sensed target signal to be “held” once it has raised above a detection-threshold. The method involves reducing the detection-threshold values of the detection-threshold function within the target region. This method is useful for such applications as automotive radar sensors, airbag deployment systems, communication systems demodulation, security sensor systems, sanitary flushing systems and lighting systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Cambridge Consultants Limited
    Inventors: Michael H Burchett, Thomas Finbarr Livesey
  • Patent number: 6496137
    Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with this invention identify a buried object using array-based ground penetrating radar having a control device, a plurality of transmit antennas, and a plurality of receive antennas. Such methods and systems receive a transmit timing input signal and a receive timing input signal. Such methods and systems comprise a first delay circuit for receiving the transmit timing input signal and generating a number of intermediate transmit timing signals delayed with respect to each other by a delay time, and transmit output switch circuit to select either the transmit timing input signal or a corresponding one of the intermediate transmit timing signals as a corresponding output transmit timing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Mala GeoScience AB
    Inventor: Bernth A. T. Johansson
  • Patent number: 6492933
    Abstract: A dual channel microwave sensor employs single sideband Doppler techniques in innumerable vibration, motion, and displacement applications. When combined with an active reflector, the sensor provides accurate range and material thickness measurements even in cluttered environments. The active reflector can also be used to transmit multi-channel data to the sensor. The sensor is a homodyne pulse Doppler radar with phasing-type Doppler sideband demodulation having a 4-decade baseband frequency range. Ranging is accomplished by comparing the phase of the Doppler sidebands when phase modulated by an active reflector. The active reflector employs a switch or modulator connected to an antenna or other reflector. In one mode, the active reflector is quadrature modulated to provide SSB reflections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: McEwan Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas E. McEwan
  • Patent number: 6486826
    Abstract: An arrangement for the precise measuring of the distance with a FMCW radar device having a frequency-variable digitally-actuated oscillator to generate a transmitting frequency which can be tuned over a predetermined frequency range. The digital actuation involves the use of a digital frequency generator which derives in predetermined frequency steps a references signal from a fixed-frequency oscillator signal. The frequency of the frequency-variable oscillator is adjusted in a phase-locked loop linking it to the references signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Cramer, Berthold Zimmermann, Rolf Gluth
  • Patent number: 6469659
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting radar system blockage includes a radar system having an antenna unit configured to transmit radar signals and receive reflected radar signals. In one embodiment, fixed frequency continuous wave radar signals are transmitted, and corresponding reflected signals are sampled and processed to determine a mainbeam clutter signal peak in frequency bins near those corresponding to vehicle speed. If this peak is less than a power threshold, the antenna unit is at least partially blocked. In another embodiment, a number of most recent reflected tracking signal amplitudes are sampled, normalized to a predefined range value and filtered to produce a smoothed tracking amplitude. If the smoothed tracking amplitude drops below an amplitude threshold, the antenna unit is at least partially blocked. The two embodiments may be combined to determine a radar antenna blockage status as a function of both techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory George Lajiness, Stephen William Alland, James Fredrick Searcy
  • Patent number: 6469662
    Abstract: This invention concerns a procedure for the elimination of interferences, such as pulses and linear chirps, in a radar unit of the FMCW type. According to the procedure, the useable signal in the form of a beat signal, is subjected to time-frequency division of the type STFT for division of the signal into narrow-band frequency bands. Interference is detected and eliminated in each frequency band, after which the time signal freed from interference and its Discrete Fourier Transform, DFT, are calculated from the time-frequency division in narrow-band frequency bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Celsiustech Electronics AB
    Inventor: Bert-Eric Tullsson
  • Publication number: 20020126038
    Abstract: The Vehicle Sound and Alerting System is generally comprised of a conventional automobile stereo system that has police radar detection capabilities. When police radar is detected, the stereo's volume is immediately muted. An audible alert is then outputted through the vehicle's speaker system or a built-in speaker on the control panel, or a combination of both, depending on how the driver has it configured. A visual alert is also produced on the control panel, which displays the band of radar that was encountered, and its relative signal strength. The radar detector receives signals from the vehicle's antenna and an auxiliary antenna. The auxiliary antenna is attached to the vehicle's grille. This improves the signal reception ability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventor: Kevin Kroculick
  • Patent number: 6445336
    Abstract: A radar device in which a much more precise demodulation can be made with an inexpensive circuit, free of the output variation of the frequency-modulated transmission signal. The radar device includes an oscillator which produces and outputs a frequency-modulated electromagnetic wave to a switching circuit by way of a directional coupler. The switching circuit uses switching modulation to radiate the electromagnetic wave from a transmitting antenna. The radiated electromagnetic wave after being reflected from an obstacle is received at a reception antenna. A mixer mixes this reception signal and a local signal fed from the directional coupler to produce a mixing signal which is to be fed to a high pass filter. The high pass filter deletes a low frequency output variation noise which is contained in the mixing signal and which occurs in the frequency modulation in the oscillator. The resulting mixing signal is, with the noise deleted, fed by way of an AC amplifier, to a switching demodulating circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunihiko Soshi, Shoji Kawata, Mitsuyoshi Saiki
  • Patent number: 6429807
    Abstract: FM-CW radar equipment to solve a conventional problem of failure detection caused by the carrier level of amplitude modulation dispersing too largely to adjust to a constant level within a criterion range. A novel method is applied based on that a noise level greatly varies on occurrence of a failure in radio-frequency circuit. A failure can be detected by comparing the varied noise level with a noise level in normal condition. using this method, FM-CW radar equipment can be configured with a simple structure for detecting a failure in transmission/reception circuit. The equipment provides with a noise-level extraction circuit in radio-frequency circuit, and a comparator for comparing an output of the noise-level extraction circuit with a predetermined criterion value. An alarm is output when the comparator detects the output of the noise-level extraction circuit decreases to less than the predetermined criterion value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventors: Hideki Shiratori, Naoki Motoni
  • Patent number: 6426716
    Abstract: A range gated microwave motion sensor having adjustable minimum and maximum detection ranges with little response to close-in false alarm nuisances such as insects or vibrating panels. The sensor resolves direction of motion and can respond to target displacement in a selected direction and through a selected distance, in contrast to conventional hair-trigger motion sensors. A constant false alarm rate (CFAR) detector prevents false triggers from fluttering leaves, vibrating machinery, and RF interference. The sensor transmits an RF pulse and, after a modulated delay, mixes echo pulses with a mixer pulse. Thus, the echo pulses are modulated at the mixer output while transmit and mixer pulse artifacts remain unmodulated and easily filtered from the output. Accordingly, the sensor only responds to echoes that fall within its minimum and maximum range-gated region, and not to close-in or far-out objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: McEwan Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas E. McEwan
  • Publication number: 20020084930
    Abstract: A object detection system, such as a radar, and a method for improving the useful information provided thereby. The system is mounted on a vehicle for providing contact information to the vehicle operator. The method includes recording a baseline noise signal in a contact-free environment. When the system is later used in an operating environment, those returns which fall beyond the ranges of the baseline signal in any given direction, are excluded from the output of the object detection system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventor: Paul E. Bauhahn
  • Patent number: 6414624
    Abstract: An automobile antenna apparatus according to the present invention includes an antenna control section for electronically and variably controlling (beam-steering or beam-scanning) an emitting-beam pattern of each of antennas mounted on an automobile, based on high-precision positional information of the automobile, to optimize a function of using an electric wave for vehicle (for broadcast wave reception, mobile communications, positioning, obstruction detection and the like).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Harada Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Endo, Richard Langley
  • Patent number: 6396433
    Abstract: A spoken word-producing detector identifies objects by comparing signatures of detected objects with stored signatures of known objects. When the signatures compare, the detector produces stored word sounds associated with the detected object identifications. An annunciator produces the words from pre-digitized human voice sounds. A screen displays the words.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Niitek Inc.
    Inventor: James F. Clodfelter
  • Patent number: 6396454
    Abstract: A radio unit for computer systems for receiving and/or presenting data information transmitted within a commercial broadcast band and methods of manufacturing and using the same. The radio unit comprises an integrated antenna system, a first radio receiver, and an interface system for removably connecting the radio unit to a computer system. The integrated antenna system includes a first set of windings, a second set of windings, and a ferrite core with a first region and a second region. To reduce parasitic capacitance among the windings, the first set of windings are wound substantially in a first direction about a circumference of the first region, and the second set of windings are wound substantially in a second direction, substantially opposite said first direction, about a circumference of the second region and are coupled with the first set of windings at a junction between the first region and the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Cue Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Davis, Gordon E. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 6384768
    Abstract: AN FM pulse Doppler radar apparatus performs pulse modulation of modulating waves having repeatedly increasing and decreasing frequency, transmits thus modulated waves, receives at each range gate having an interval equivalent to a pulse width, reflected waves reflected from an object, determines a distance according to the range gate, and calculates the distance to the object and the relative velocity of the object based on the difference between frequencies of the transmission waves and the received waves. The apparatus includes a velocity determining unit for determining velocity of the radar-mounted vehicle and a comparison-and-detection unit for comparing the detected distance according to the range gate and the distance calculated based on the difference between the frequencies of the transmission waves and the received waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Kai
  • Patent number: 6373428
    Abstract: Two crystal oscillators are configured as a “plug-and-play” precision transmit-receive clock system that requires no calibration during manufacture. A first crystal oscillator generates a transmit clock and a second crystal oscillator generates a receive clock that operates at a small offset frequency &Dgr; from the transmit clock. A frequency locked loop regulates &Dgr; by regulating the frequency of the detected receive pulses from a radio, radar, laser, ultrasonic, or TDR system. The clock system further includes a wrong sideband reset circuit and a phase lock injection port. Applications include a timing system for automotive backup and collision warning radars, precision radar and laser rangefinders for fluid level sensing and robotics, precision radiolocation systems, and universal object/obstacle detection and ranging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: McEwan Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas E. McEwan
  • Patent number: 6369749
    Abstract: The present invention provide a method and system of dynamically estimating a coefficient of variation of the fluctuation of a waveform and an optimal binary detection threshold using the estimated coefficient of variation. The system discriminates between noise signals and signal-plus-noise signals of a digitized signal by comparison with a threshold. The noise and signal-plus-noise signals are further used to determine a mean noise floor level and a standard deviation, respectively. Subsequently, the system determines the coefficient of variation based on the ratio of standard deviation to mean. The optimal binary detection threshold is calculated using the coefficient of variation, presets for cumulative probability of false alarm and collection time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Lawrence Frey, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6362775
    Abstract: An apparatus to determine the three-dimensional location of an airborne platform relative to a target area using two separate antenna assemblies positioned on the airborne platform. The first antenna assembly is adapted to transmit energy downward toward a surface location directly beneath the airborne platform, while the second antenna assembly is adapted to transmit energy forward towards the target area remote from the surface location. A single transmitter is associated with both of the antenna assemblies for transmitting signals toward the surface location and the target area. A receiver coupled to the antenna assemblies receives and detects the signals corresponding to the transmitted energy as reflected by the target area and the surface location. A radar processor is coupled to the receiver and is adapted to determine the range between the airborne platform and the surface location and determine the three-dimensional height of the target area from the detected signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventors: Robert H. Goebel, Stacie K. Corrubia
  • Patent number: 6320533
    Abstract: A switching interface for routing RF signals. The interface comprises a buffer decoder which receives first, second and third control signals and then decodes the signals to selectively turn on five RF switches. The decoded output signals from the buffer decoder are supplied to five pair of switch drivers for the RF switches. When a logic one is provided to a switch driver, the switch driver sets the RF switch to an ON position. When a logic zero to a switch driver, the switch driver set the RF switch to an OFF position. A window comparator monitors the outputs of the switch drivers for each of the five RF switches. Whenever one of the two output signals from the switch drivers is within a preset voltage range the window comparator provides a logic one and a logic zero which are supplied to a bit decode circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Marvin L. Ryken, Paul H. Sailer
  • Patent number: 6310575
    Abstract: A method for the detection of a target by a radar in the presence of noise, the detection being performed on M antenna rotations, comprises at least: a first step for the estimation of the Doppler frequency ({circumflex over (f)}) of the target; a detection step, the target being detected if an associated variable Z is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold S, the variable Z being defined according to the following relationship: Z = MAX t ∈ D t , f ∈ D f ⁢ ( ∑
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Myriam Chabah, Gabriel Marchalot, Jean-Michel Quellec
  • Patent number: 6297764
    Abstract: An electronic counter-measure receiver can be colocated with a threat simulator radar, which transmits a radar signal. As a pulsed-Doppler signal, this transmitted radar signal is sampled as a reference signal by the receiver to determine quadrature, coherent matched filter coefficients. A return signal is received and processed with the reference signal as quadrature signal components with the quadrature, coherent matched filter coefficients within a matched filter. The return signal is processed as a first intermediate frequency via a mixer and local oscillator and a second quadrature intermediate frequency via a digital local oscillator and mixer. A fast Fourier transform is performed to determine Doppler information. In a continuous wave transmission for sampling arbitrary but unevenly spaced in time pulses are generated from a pulse generator source internal to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Terry Wormington, John S. Seybold, James Rhoa
  • Patent number: 6281833
    Abstract: A timing and control method and apparatus (111) for performing precise range rate aiding includes a range gate delay means (114) for generating an estimate of the range gate delay (135) each pulse repetition interval as a function of the initial range (134) and velocity (133) provided by a processor (104). The range gate delay (135) is converted into a coarse delay (138) defining the integral number of clock cycles preceding the range gate, and a fine delay (139) for positioning a range gate to within a fraction of a clock cycle. Fine temporal control is achieved using programmable delay lines (117) and (118), which retard various control signals, including the system clock signal (131), in accordance with the fine delay (139). A modified signal (126) then drives a counter means (119) which outputs a signal (128) that defines an analog-to-digital sampling window beginning at the elapse of the range gate delay (135).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Science and Applied Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Pringle, Charles T. McMurray
  • Patent number: 6272446
    Abstract: A system, and method of operating the system, for measuring a continuous signal, having at least two transducers for measuring the continuous signal and for each outputting a signal relating to the measured signal. The transducers receive controlling signals and operate in accordance therewith, the controlling signals being transmitted to the transducers along the same transmitting path consisting of no more than two electrical conductors or no more than one optical conductor or consisting of transmitters and receivers for wireless communication. Alternatively or optionally, the signal generator may receive power over two electrical conductors over which the signals are transmitted from the signal generator. The present system is especially useful in audio or in setups performing determination and analysis of vibration, acceleration, velocity or sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Bruel & Kjaer Sound & Vibration Measurement A/S
    Inventors: Jorgen Steen Baekke, Finn Brock Petersen, Orla Mayland Olsen, Jes Sorensen
  • Patent number: 6266004
    Abstract: The invention relates to a radar method for an automatic intelligent traffic control (AICC) in a motor vehicle. The use of a frequency modulation continuous wave method (FM-CM) is suggested in order to securely detect the distance to, relative speed and angle of a preceding motor vehicle. It is furthermore suggested according to the invention that when using an A/D converter 5 with 8-bit resolution, the necessary dynamics are generated by means of a level switchover, that the R, V information is generated in FFTs [Fast Fourier Transformations] 6 with blocked R and V-FFTs, that the useful signals are separated from the noise in a detection device 7 by means of a R-dependent adaptive CFAR threshold, that in a track formation 8, the detection is directly assigned to the tracks and that the association of a detection i to a track j is in the process computed as probability r (i, j).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Wolfram Pannert, Dieter Mann, Wieland Jacobi, Wolfgang Wittekind
  • Patent number: 6259396
    Abstract: A Radon transform based method that provides for target azimuth aspect estimation and target shape measurement. A Radon transform is applied to a binary (N×N pixels) target chip to extract target features that are then used to measure length, width, and diagonal features of the target. In parallel, these features are used to estimate the azimuth aspect angle, or size, of the target. The method is effective in discriminating targets from clutter. The method is also very time efficient and highly flexible in its operation because the features can automatically account for any target rotation or shift. The present invention also provides for a target acquisition system that employs the Radon transform based method for target azimuth aspect estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Quoc H. Pham, Albert Ezekiel
  • Patent number: 6255985
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing radar system performance is provided that is independent of any specific radar application. In one embodiment, an optimization system (110) includes an optimization engine (112) and various input modules including constraint module (114), a variable module (116) and an objectives module (118). The input modules provide information sufficient to define an optimization application under analysis. Based on these inputs, the optimization engine (112) identifies an appropriate optimization model and determines optimal radar system parameter values. In this manner, the optimization engine (112) need not be preprogrammed with knowledge of the application under consideration, and is applicable in a variety of context involving different radar system types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: George C. Towner, III, Fred Brace
  • Patent number: 6239739
    Abstract: Methods of associating a first target track and one of a group of target tracks measured by a radar system, in which the first target track is compared with each of the target tracks in the group of target tracks based on movement between two selected target positions, one in each of the two target tracks. Predetermined maximum numbers of changes in target parameters such as course and speed are assumed to have been able to take place during the movement, and a target parameter for the two positions is allowed to vary while other target parameters are kept constant. A possible range for the varying parameter is determined that is consistent with movement between the two positions, and if a measured value of the varying parameter lies within the range, target tracks are associated with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: David Thomson, Benny Bentland, Thomas Kronhamn
  • Patent number: 6239741
    Abstract: A highly sensitive, high-speed dual tunnel diode detector is described for use in Ultra Wideband (UWB) object detection systems, such as a radar. The extended capability of the detector to both extremely short (sub-foot) and long distance (tens of thousands of feet) ranges is unique and permits the application of low power UWB radar to a wide variety of applications including high resolution radar altimetry at altitudes exceeding 10,000 feet and for autonomous on-deck landing operations (e.g., one-foot altitudes), the detection of extremely low radar cross section (RCS) targets for such applications as suspended wire detection for helicopters and other manned and unmanned craft, etc. High noise and interference immunity of the detector permits co-location of a UWB radar sensor with other active systems. The invention has immediate and significant application to all areas, both military and commercial, of precision distance measurement, intrusion detection, targeting, etc. over a wide range of distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Multispectral Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Fontana, J. Frederick Larrick, Jeffrey E. Cade
  • Patent number: 6222481
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting and classifying objects using radar. The method means that a broadband radar signal comprising wavelengths that coincide with characteristic lengths of targets to be detected and classified is transmitted. Further, a returned echo signal is received and analysed, at which a signal analysis in a combined time-frequency domain is used, which comprises determining characteristic frequencies in the signal return and their mutual time relations. Finally, a comparison with the corresponding stored values of an analysis of possible targets is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Forsvarets Forskningsanstalt
    Inventors: Staffan Abrahamson, Dan Axelsson, Bertil Brusmark, Anders Gustafsson, Hans Strifors
  • Patent number: 6204798
    Abstract: A radar detector for alerting an operator of a motor vehicle to an incoming police radar signal. This radar detector includes a microprocessor; a circuit coupled to the microprocessor for detecting the incoming police radar signal; and a global positioning system receiver coupled to the microprocessor. Upon detection of an incoming radar signal, the radar detector can utilize the position, velocity, and/or heading data from the global positioning system receiver to determine whether to generate an alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Inventor: Hoyt A. Fleming, III
  • Patent number: 6191726
    Abstract: In a procedure for the elimination of interferences of short duration, such as pulses, in a radar unit of the FMCW type, the transmitted and received signals are combined to form a useable signal. According to the procedure, the contribution to the Fourier Transform of the interferences of short duration are filtered out of the Fourier Transform in the frequency domain by an FIR filter with complex coefficients. The procedure requires no additional signal processing between sampling and applying the Fourier Transform, gives very little widening of strong contrasts in the Fourier Transform and is fast and simple to implement in a signal processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Celsiustech Electronics AB
    Inventor: Bert-Eric Tullsson
  • Patent number: 6188350
    Abstract: In a method for the probabilistic estimation of measurements, based on a measurement signal in which an interference signal is superimposed on the value to be measured, the measurement signal is sampled at specified chronological intervals. A defined measurement range associated with the value to be measured is divided into discrete values and a model is formed of a process on which the measurement signal is based with discrete states that correspond to the discrete values of the measurement range. In the model, a probability value of the occurrence of each state is assigned for each sampling time, and the value to be measured is determined on the basis of the probability value of at least one state in this model. In addition, for each state of the model at a sampling time, a probability for the state to remain in its current state is determined, as well as a probability for the state to change to another state by the next sampling time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Daimler-Benz Transportation (Technology) GmbH
    Inventors: Dietmar Neumerkel, Thomas GrĂ¼nder
  • Patent number: 6188349
    Abstract: A frequency adjusting arrangement is disclosed whereby the frequency of a local oscillator, incorporating an Yttrium-Iron-Garnet filter as the frequency determining element, is controlled to follow a coded waveform having a bandwidth wider than the bandwidth of the circuit in which such filter is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: George R. Spencer, James Williamson
  • Patent number: 6177904
    Abstract: An efficient receiver system (80) adapted for use with a pulsed radar system. The receiver system (80) includes a first circuit (82) for receiving a first signal and providing a second signal in response thereto. A second circuit (96) compares the second signal to a predetermined sequence (98) and provides a compare signal in response thereto. A third circuit (104) stores information pertaining to the second signal in response to the compare signal. A fourth circuit (92) generates receiver system instructions based on the stored information. In a specific embodiment, the second signal is a digital signal and the sequence is a digital sequence. The pulsed radar system includes a circuit for receiving and collecting data during a first dwell and for processing the data during a subsequent dwell. An inter-dwell time interval exists between the first dwell and the second dwell. The first, second, third, and/or fourth circuits (82, 96, 104, and/or 92) operate during the inter-dwell period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Lance G. Coenen, Jeffrey R. Struthers, Michael B. Schober, Candi M. Goelz
  • Patent number: 6175325
    Abstract: A multi-band microwave detector includes an antenna, a plurality of reception systems connected to the antenna in a parallel arrangement, a judgement circuit for judging whether or not a microwave signal detected by the reception systems is a detection target microwave signal, an alarm circuit for outputting an alarm when the judgement circuit judges the detected microwave signal to be a detection target microwave signal, wherein each reception system is constructed from a superheterodyne reception circuit having a prescribed intermediate frequency that is mutually different from the intermediate frequencies of all the other reception systems, and wherein all the reception systems are operated simultaneously during one detection cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Yupiteru Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisao Ono
  • Patent number: 6175324
    Abstract: A novel frequency scheme for a police radar detector enables improved sweeping of the X, K, Ku and Ka radar bands. The novel frequency scheme requires two initial frequency conversions for detection of the X, K and Ka radar bands and a single initial frequency conversion for the Ku radar band with single initial frequency conversion being enabled by disabling the second mixer. During sweeping of the X, K and Ka bands, selectable, i.e., upper or lower, sideband suppression is employed to reduce undesired image sidebands and noise prior to the second frequency conversion. In addition, noise at the second IF frequency is reduced to prevent this noise from feeding through the second mixer into the second IF amplifier. During the Ku band sweep, the second mixer is bypassed and shunting of signals at the second IF frequency is disabled so that these signals enter the second IF amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: Valentine Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael David Valentine, Stephen Ray Scholl, Harry Joe Gould
  • Patent number: 6147638
    Abstract: In a method for operating a radar system, the object is to determine by simple means and at low cost the distance and/or the radial velocity of at least one target object with high resolution. For this purpose, in each measuring phase of the measurement process in the "pulse FMCW radar system", switchover between a transmission mode and a receiving mode is effected a multiple number of times and at short intervals of time. In the transmission mode, all receiving units of the radar system are switched off, while a pulse-shaped (frequency-modulated) transmission signal with time-successive transmission pulses having a specific pulse-on time and a specific carrier frequency is emitted from at least one transmitter unit of the radar system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Automotive Distance Control Systems
    Inventors: Hermann Rohling, Ralph Mende