Automatic Target Detection Patents (Class 342/90)
  • Patent number: 9823344
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for tracking moving objects. A sensor system is configured to measure a position of each of a plurality of moving objects as a set of measurements. A track assignment component is configured to accept the set of measurements from the sensor system and assign a subset of the measurements to respective tracks. The tracks represents the motion of respective objects. The track assignment component represents a cost calculation component configured to provide a cost matrix from at least a change point detection analysis of a feature associated with the set of measurements and an object assignment component configured to assign the subset of the measurements to respective tracks. A filtering component is configured to update respective associated states of tracks representing the plurality of moving objects according to the set of measurements and the assignment of the subset of the measurements to respective tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan D. Turner, Steven Bottone, Clay J. Stanek
  • Patent number: 9791541
    Abstract: A method includes receiving first tracking data and a first confidence value at a tracker selection system from a first tracking system. The method includes receiving second tracking data and a second confidence value at the tracker selection system from a second tracking system. The tracking systems may be configured to track an object in a sequence of images, and the first and second tracking data may indicate locations of regions where the corresponding tracking system has tracked the object in an image of the sequence of images. The confidence values may indicate likelihoods that a corresponding tracking system is tracking the object. The method further includes providing output data to the first tracking system and to the second tracking system. The output data may include data selected from the first tracking data and the second tracking data based on a result of a comparison of the confidence values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kyungnam Kim, Changsoo Jeong, Yuri Owechko
  • Patent number: 9778199
    Abstract: Pressure variations within a solid propellant rocket motor produce like variations in the optical radiance of the motor exhaust plume. The periodicity of the variation is related to the length L of the rocket motor or speed of sound in the rocket motor combustion chamber to length ratio a/L. The optical radiance is collected and converted to electrical signals that are sampled at or above the Nyquist rate. An array of single-pixel photo detectors is well suited to provide amplitude data at high sample rates. The sampled data from the one or more detectors is assembled to form a high fidelity time sequence. A window of sampled data is processed to form a signal frequency spectrum. The mode structure in the frequency spectrum is related to the rocket motor length or speed of sound in the rocket motor chamber to length ratio. The rocket motor length or speed of sound to length ratio is used alone or in combination with other information to either classify or identify the rocket motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Raytheon Command and Control Solutions LLC
    Inventor: James W. Rakeman
  • Patent number: 9766324
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for detecting objects, including humans, using a mobile communications device. A communication space is scanned with a beam-shaped signal transmitted by a phased antenna array of the mobile communications device. Information is discerned from one or more attenuated signals received from the communication space based on the beam-shaped signal. The information is analyzed to determine an object in the communication space. Whether the object is likely at least a portion of a human is determined. A communication signal transmitted by the phased antenna array is modified in response to determining that the object is likely at least a portion of a human, and that the at least a portion of the human has a predetermined spatial relationship with the phased antenna array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Marshall Joseph Katz, Charbel Khawand
  • Patent number: 9729865
    Abstract: Various embodiments enable a primary user to be identified and tracked using stereo association and multiple tracking algorithms. For example, a face detection algorithm can be run on each image captured by a respective camera independently. Stereo association can be performed to match faces between cameras. If the faces are matched and a primary user is determined, a face pair is created and used as the first data point in memory for initializing object tracking. Further, features of a user's face can be extracted and the change in position of these features between images can determine what tracking method will be used for that particular frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Cheng-Hao Kuo, Jim Oommen Thomas, Tianyang Ma, Stephen Vincent Mangiat, Sisil Sanjeev Mehta, Ambrish Tyagi, Amit Kumar Agrawal, Kah Kuen Fu, Sharadh Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 9692658
    Abstract: There is provided a wireless network monitoring device, method and device in a wireless communication system, the wireless network monitoring device including: a network distribution space information acquiring unit configured to acquire network distribution space information of a three dimensional distribution space of a network to be monitored; a network status information acquiring unit configured to acquire position information of network nodes in the three dimensional distribution space and performance information of the network nodes, thereby obtaining network status information about the three dimensional distribution space; and a display unit configured to display the network distribution space information and the network status information which are superimposed. According to embodiments of the disclosure, it enables a user to obtain better network service experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xin Guo, Chen Sun
  • Patent number: 9514361
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for classifying range profiles, generated for example by a radar, lidar or sonar. In the method, each in a set of objects of interest is modeled with a probabilistic model. The probabilistic model represents the probabilities of occurrence of different possible sequences of distances between selected features of the object, in different orientations, that are likely to result in peaks of backscatter in a range profile of the object. The probabilistic model is derived from a first probabilistic representation of each selected feature, generated to represent the uncertainty in locating the feature and the uncertainty in observing the feature in a range profile. Classification is achieved by calculating, for each probabilistic model, the probability that the model would generate a given sequence of distances between observed backscatter events in a given range profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventor: Robert James Miller
  • Patent number: 9453911
    Abstract: A target tracking system which tracks targets using a plurality of virtual particles includes a detector which detects the targets based on a signal wave from the targets and outputs a detected results as a detected target positions, a fluctuation distribution unit which generates fluctuations arising from at least disturbances and measurement errors, and an estimation unit which sets virtual particles based on the fluctuations and estimates a true target positions based on the detected target positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hisashi Shiba
  • Patent number: 9344855
    Abstract: Provided are an indoor wireless positioning system and method capable of more accurately performing indoor wireless positioning by predicting signal attenuation due to a floor or wall within a multi-floor building. The indoor wireless positioning method includes calculating floor loss information of a floor on which the user terminal is located within the building, a higher floor, and a lower floor, calculating the floor on which the user terminal is located by comparing the calculated floor loss information to pre-stored previous floor loss information, calculating information about wall loss in the floor on which the user terminal is located, and acquiring position information on a horizontal plane of the user terminal according to received signal strength of the user terminal and the information about the wall loss. When the position of the user terminal is detected, detection accuracy is improved and more efficient wireless positioning is possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Foundation of Soongsil University-Industry Cooperation
    Inventors: Yoan Shin, Xiao Fan, Jian Shi, Kwangyul Kim
  • Patent number: 9305224
    Abstract: A method for instant recognition of traffic lights countdown image that can quickly scan and confirm the circular feature image of a traffic light, and retrieve the countdown image thereof by calculating the displacement ratio from the circular image, then enhance, cut and converse the countdown image to display a feature image thereof, and proceed similarity comparison with collected data to calculate the percentage of similarity. The method eventually brings out a result from the image comparisons, so as to fulfill the effectiveness of searching and instantly recognizing the countdown image of a traffic light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Yuan Ze University
    Inventors: Duan-Yu Chen, Yi-Tung Chou
  • Patent number: 9268008
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detection and tracking of one or more objects in land clutter, including strong clutter and low observable (LO) objects such as a humans, animals, vehicles, and small, low-flying aircraft using a non-coherent radar or the amplitude output of a coherent radar. The preferred embodiment of the method and apparatus uses an X-band, maritime, non-coherent radar and the Doppler spectra computed from the high-frequency amplitude modulations produced by the object interacting with the land-based clutter to determine the presence, velocity, and track of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Vista Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Abileah, Phillip A. Fox, Joseph W. Maresca, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9244159
    Abstract: A method and target detector for detecting targets. A number of bright pixels are identified in an image. Each of the number of bright pixels belongs to a line detected in the image in which the line represents a candidate for a target. A number of feature vectors are identified for the number of bright pixels in the image. Each of the number of feature vectors is classified as one of a target vector representing the target and a clutter vector representing clutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Dmitriy V. Korchev, Yuri Owechko
  • Patent number: 9188666
    Abstract: A method for target detection includes: receiving input data via an input signal; generating a histogram from the received data by a processor; rank-ordering the received data based on power or amplitude of the received input signal; comparing the ranked data received in a current time period to the ranked data received in a previous time period to calculate a Bivariate Conditional Exceedance function (BCEF); utilizing the calculated BCEF to estimate a Gumbel Copula parameter; accumulating a log-likelihood statistic from the estimated Gumbel Copula parameter and the generated histogram; comparing the log-likelihood statistic with a threshold value; and determining a detection of the target, when the log-likelihood statistic is below the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Applied Signal Technology
    Inventors: Andrew J. Pomerance, Richard Hugh Anderson, Kurt James Lightner, Katherine S. H. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9171212
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting a swarm attack based on a plurality of convergence hypotheses related to correlated movements of entities in an area of interest. Projected tracks for the entities are determined based on position reports received for the entities. At least one of the convergence hypotheses are updated based, at least in part on the projected tracks and a convergence hypotheses is output when a score assigned to the hypothesis exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: James C. Rosswog, Thomas Norton, Larry Holmquist
  • Patent number: 9136571
    Abstract: The invention relates to a driver assistance device (2) for a vehicle (1), having a radar apparatus (3, 4) for detecting objects which are external to the vehicle, which radar apparatus (3, 4) has an antenna unit (14) for irradiating and/or receiving electromagnetic waves (S0, SE) and a damping element (24, 25, 26) which is coupled to the antenna unit (14) and has the purpose of directing and damping the electromagnetic waves (S0, SE), by means of which damping element (24, 25, 26) the antenna unit (14) can be coupled to a transmitter and/or receiver device (16, 17) of the radar apparatus (3, 4), wherein the damping element (24, 25, 26) has a branching unit (31) with a first line branch (32) for directing the damped electromagnetic waves (S0, SE) between the transmitter and/or receiver device (16, 17), on the one hand and the antenna unit (14) on the other, as well as a second line branch (33) which is coupled to the first line branch (32) and is terminated with a reflection-free terminating element (35, 37).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter Und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Papziner, Frank Kuenzler
  • Patent number: 9116915
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for scanning data. In some embodiments, this includes examining attributes of a first directory, wherein the attributes include at least one from a group comprising a next tentative scan date, a modified time, and a dirty indicator, determining if the dirty indicator has been set, if the dirty has been set, scanning files in the first directory, if the dirty indicator has not been set, determining if the first directory has been modified, if the first directory has not been modified, determining if the next tentative scan date equals to a system date, if the next tentative scan date equals to the system date, scanning the files, if the next tentative scan date does not equal to the system date, examining attributes of a second directory, and if the first directory has been modified, scanning the files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Nagaraja Mandya Lakshman, Priyank Tiwari
  • Patent number: 9097793
    Abstract: A system for detecting munitions in flight comprises a radar transmitter, receiver, and associated antennas, wherein the antennas are oriented to include ground level coverage, and where a receive antenna is arranged to provide a plurality of receive beams. The system further incorporates a Doppler filter arranged to reject targets that have velocity profiles that do not match those expected of targets of interest. If a target of interest is detected then an indication is provided, preferably in the form of an audible alert, allowing those nearby time to take cover. The system provides a simple munitions detection capability that may operate in CW mode to allow rapid detection, and may also have means such as switchable FMCW, and elevation measurement to allow estimation of possible landing areas of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: QINETIQ LIMITED
    Inventors: Stephen A Harman, Andrew L Hume
  • Patent number: 9073548
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted radar apparatus for transmitting radar waves toward the outside of a vehicle mounting the apparatus thereon and receiving the radar waves reflected from an object to thereby acquire information about the object. In the apparatus, a target detection unit transmits and receives the radar waves to detect positions of targets. An object position determination unit determines a position of the object reflecting the radar waves on the basis of the positions of the targets. A representative target selection unit selects a representative target from the targets. A same-object target selection unit selects targets belonging to the same object as the representative target. A large-vehicle determination unit determines whether or not the object is a large vehicle on the basis of a number of targets selected by the same-object target selection unit and reflection wave received powers for the respective targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Mizutani, Keiji Matsuoka, Koji Shimizu, Haruki Okazaki
  • Patent number: 9045999
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a blade monitoring system includes: at least one computing device configured to monitor a compressor during a load change by performing actions comprising: extracting a dynamic component of a blade time-of-arrival (TOA) deviation signal in response to the load change on the compressor; calculating, using the dynamic component, at least one of: a natural frequency of the GT compressor blade during the load change, an overshoot of the GT compressor blade during the load change, a rise time of the compressor blade during the load change, a damping factor of the compressor blade during the load change, or a settling time of the GT compressor blade after the load change; and determining whether the GT compressor blade is damaged based upon the at least one of: the natural frequency, the overshoot, the rise time, the damping factor, or the settling time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Vivek Venugopal Badami
  • Patent number: 9041591
    Abstract: A signal processing device, which includes an echo signal input module for inputting echo signals from an antenna discharging electromagnetic waves to a predetermined area and receiving the echo signals reflected on a target object, an echo signal level detection module for detecting a level of each of the echo signals from each location within the predetermined area, a target object detection module for detecting the target object based on the levels of the echo signals, a correlation processing module for performing scan-to-scan correlation processing of a plurality of scans, and a level adjustment module for adjusting the levels of the echo signals after the scan-to-scan correlation processing. The level adjustment module adjusts the levels of the echo signals corresponding to the locations where the target object detection module detects the target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: FURUNO ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Kazuya Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 9041592
    Abstract: A radar sensor and a method of detecting an object by using the same are provided. The method includes: receiving at least one radar signal reflected from the object; converting the received at least one radar signal to at least one signal in a frequency domain; accumulating the converted at least one signal for a predetermined time and extracting at least one feature from the accumulated at least one signal; and identifying the object by comparing the extracted at least one feature with at least one reference value stored in a database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG TECHWIN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ki-Yong Jeon
  • Patent number: 9030347
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving vehicle survivability. In some embodiments, threat information relating to at least one potential threat against at least one vehicle during a mission may be accessed. The threat information may comprise threat location information indicative of at least one likely location for the at least one potential threat and at least one model associated with the at least one potential threat. Prior to commencing the mission, the threat information may be used to assign a numerical measure to each potential action of a plurality of potential actions for the at least one vehicle based at least in part on at least one measure of the at least one vehicle resulting from executing the potential action. The plurality of potential actions may be compared based at least in part on the respective numerical measures assigned to the plurality of potential actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Carl R. Herman, James C. Rosswog
  • Patent number: 9030350
    Abstract: The invention consists of a method that makes it possible to produce an association of bistatic blips, formed by the different bistatic bases of a multistatic radar system comprising a plurality of transmitters and receivers remote from one another, this association making it possible to transmit to the tracking means only bistatic blips that probably correspond to one and the same target so as to facilitate the work of the tracking means. The association of blips that is produced takes into account the parameters defining, in three dimensions, the bistatic measurements (distance and speed), as well as the azimuth measurement, relating to the corresponding target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Nicolas Millet, Sébastien Allam, Mathieu Klein, Thierry Malherbe
  • Patent number: 9024814
    Abstract: One or more human attributes extracted from a micro-impulse radar (MIR) signal is correlated to a temporary identity or phenotypic identity of a person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Mahalaxmi Gita Bangera, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Eric C. Leuthardt, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Clarence T. Tegreene, David B. Tuckerman, Thomas A. Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9019149
    Abstract: One or more micro-impulse radars (MIRs) are configured to determine the movement of at least one person. Media can be output to the person responsive to the movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Mahalaxmi Gita Bangera, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Eric C. Leuthardt, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Clarence T. Tegreene, David B. Tuckerman, Thomas A. Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 9000973
    Abstract: A personal electronic device such as a smart phone can include a micro-impulse radar (MIR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150070204
    Abstract: A detection and ranging apparatus includes a probe signal generating unit that generates a probe signal according to a first modulation method, a transmitting unit that transmits the generated probe signal, a receiving unit that receives a signal including at least one of a reflection signal and an interference signal according to a second modulation method, a demodulating unit that demodulates the reception signal according to a method corresponding to at least one of the first modulation method and the second modulation method, an interference signal detecting unit that detects the interference signal from the demodulated signal, an interference signal identifying unit that identifies specifications and a delay amount of the interference signal from the demodulated signal, and an interference signal removing unit that removes the interference signal within the reception signal by using the identified specifications and the identified delay amount of the interference signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventor: Kazuo Shirakawa
  • Patent number: 8963765
    Abstract: A method for tracking an object using radar includes detecting a wideband radio frequency (“RF”) energy at a first radar sensor tracking the object and determining in a computer process if a booster is propelling the object based on the wideband RF energy. The object is tracked in a computer process based on a ballistic trajectory if the booster is not propelling the object, and the object is tracked in a computer process based on a non-ballistic trajectory if the booster is propelling the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Richard N. Pedersen
  • Patent number: 8930063
    Abstract: A vehicle system and method that can determine object sensor misalignment while a host vehicle is being driven, and can do so without requiring multiple sensors with overlapping fields-of-view. In an exemplary embodiment where the host vehicle is traveling in generally a straight line, the present method uses an object sensor to track the path of a stationary object as it moves through the sensor's field-of-view and compares the sensed object path to an expected object pat*h. If the sensed and expected paths of the stationary object deviate by more than some amount, then the method determines that the object sensor is skewed or otherwise misaligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Gandhi, Satish Rayarapu, Dmitriy Feldman
  • Patent number: 8912950
    Abstract: This invention relates to sense through the wall radar. A main channel of a radar system (12) is operated at a frequency capable of penetrating opaque barriers such as the wall (24) of a building (22) to sense targets (16) therein. The main channel performance may be impaired by multipath interference, i.e., radar returns resulting from targets (20) outside the building (22) illuminated by reflection from the wall (24). A guard channel of the radar, operating at a higher frequency which does not penetrate the wall (24), is used to identify targets (20) outside the building (22) and suppress the multipath interference they produce in the main channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Scott E. Adcook
  • Patent number: 8912946
    Abstract: A submillimeter wavelength radar system has a receiver (20, 27, 90) for receiving and downconverting signals from content in a field of view of the system and a signal processor (30) arranged to determine information about the content from the downconverted signals, the radar system being arranged to obtain signals of the same points in the field of view from different illumination or receiving angles by having multiple illumination or receive positions, and the signal processor being arranged to use the determined information from the signals from the two or more angles to determine location or orientation of the content. By using information from different angles, it becomes possible to address or overcome the drawback of submillimeter wavelengths that most of the reflection is specular and so only surfaces of an object facing the radar system are detectable, meaning that many objects are unrecognisable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA
    Inventors: Hiromichi Yanagihara, Mineki Soga, Harald Franz Arno Merkel
  • Patent number: 8890744
    Abstract: A method for detecting an object, comprising the steps of defining expected characteristics of scattered electromagnetic radiation to be received at a receiver; attenuating at least a portion of electromagnetic radiation received at the receiver by a presence of an object within a path of electromagnetic information; and detecting the attenuation to indicate a presence of the object. The object may be a low radar profile object, such as a stealth aircraft. The electromagnetic radiation is preferably microwave, but may also be radio frequency or infrared. By using triangulation and other geometric techniques, distance and position of the object may be computed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventor: James L. Geer
  • Patent number: 8890745
    Abstract: A method of detecting an object includes receiving first reflected radio frequency (RF) signals from a region using an antenna and generating a first backscattering signature of the region from the first reflected RF signals. The method further includes receiving second reflected RF signals from the region subsequent to receiving the first reflected RF signals and generating at least one second backscattering signature of the region from the second reflected RF signals. The method further includes detecting a difference between the first backscattering signature and the second backscattering signature, and providing a warning indication in response to the difference between the first backscattering signature and the second backscattering signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Gary Fred Wahlquist, Kuang-Yuh Wu
  • Patent number: 8884809
    Abstract: A personal electronic device is configured to provide enhanced user awareness of the environment responsive to data from a micro-impulse radar (MIR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8884813
    Abstract: One or more computers are configured to determine a human stress condition corresponding to one or more physical or physiological parameters extracted from one or more micro-impulse radar (MIR) signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Mahalaxmi Gita Bangera, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Eric C. Leuthardt, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Elizabeth A. Sweeney, Clarence T. Tegreene, David B. Tuckerman, Thomas Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., Victoria Y. H. Wood
  • Patent number: 8872693
    Abstract: An information theoretic method for testing and/or validating the suitability of a multi-radar signature database to be used on radar systems having automatic target recognition. The database may include measured data and/or modeled synthetic data. The technique allows measured data to be compared to the synthetic data using modal mutual information. The present invention further includes an information theoretic method for real time calculation of automatic target recognition using modal mutual information calculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as respresented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: John A Malas
  • Publication number: 20140313068
    Abstract: A method of obtaining information about at least one target, includes transmitting a stepped frequency signal, obtaining a return radar signal corresponding to the transmitted stepped frequency signal from at least one target, bandpass filtering the return radar signal based on the frequencies of the transmitted frequency signal, converting the bandpass filtered return radar signal to a digital bandpass filtered return radar signal, and digitally mixing the digital bandpass filtered return radar signal with a digital mixing signal related to the stepped frequency signal to obtain information about the at least one target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
    Inventors: Robin John Evans, John Zhong-Chen Li, Efstratios Skafidas, William Moran, Mark Richard Morelande
  • Patent number: 8866666
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a signal processing device, which includes a reception signal acquiring module for acquiring reception signals received by a radar antenna, an identifying module for identifying a kind of each reception signal, an extracting module for extracting the reception signal for each kind, and a kind-base signal processing module for performing individual signal processing for each kind of the extracted reception signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Company, Limited
    Inventor: Masahiro Nakahama
  • Patent number: 8866668
    Abstract: In a radar apparatus, a peak extractor performs frequency analysis on a beat signal to obtain a frequency spectrum for each of first and second detection modes based on the beat signal for a corresponding one of the first and second detection modes. The peak extractor extracts a plurality of first peak-signal components from the frequency spectrum obtained for the first detection mode, and a plurality of second peak-signal components from the frequency spectrum obtained for the second detection mode. A determiner compares each of the plurality of first peak-signal components with a corresponding one of the plurality of second peak-signal components to deter mine whether a noise is included in the beat signal according to a result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 8860602
    Abstract: In cognitive radar information networks (CRINs) human-like cognitive abilities of attention and intelligence are built into radar systems and radar information networks (RINS) to assist operators with information overload. A CRIN comprises a plurality of radar sensing nodes monitoring an environment, a repository or memory, and a cognitive radar controller. Each radar sensing node includes a radio frequency transmitter, a transmitting antenna, and a receiver and receiving antenna. The receiver includes a digital radar processor for generating receiver information from the received echoes about the environment. The repository is configured for receiving and storing the receiver information generated by the digital radar processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Accipiter Radar Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nohara, Simon Haykin
  • Patent number: 8854251
    Abstract: Provided is an object identification device and a method for the same that are capable of identifying a three-dimensional object and a road surface static object, irrespective of situations. The object identification device identifies an object, based on a transmission signal and a reflection signal caused by the object reflecting the transmission signal. The object identification device includes: a measurement section configured to measure at least one of the relative distance and the relative velocity with respect to the object; an intensity detection section configured to detect the intensity of the reflection signal; and an object identification section configured to identify the object which can be an obstacle object, based on at least one of the relative velocity and the variation in the relative distance, and on the variation in the intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Setsuo Tokoro
  • Patent number: 8842035
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an extendable wand, and a sensor head coupled to the wand. The sensor head includes a continuous wave metal detector (CWMD) and a radar. When the wand is collapsed, the wand and the sensor head collapse to fill a volume that is smaller than a volume filled by the sensor head and the wand when the wand is extended. Frequency-domain data from a sensor configured to sense a region is accessed, the frequency-domain data is transformed to generate a time-domain representation of the region, a first model is determined based on the accessed frequency-domain data, a second model is determined based on the generated time-domain representation, the second model being associated with a particular region within the sensed region, and a background model that represents a background of the region is determined based on the first model and the second model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert Duvoisin, III, Juan Antonio Torres-Rosario, Christopher Gary Sentelle, Douglas O. Carlson, Glen A. Holman, Marquette Trishaun
  • Patent number: 8836573
    Abstract: A signal processor (30) for a submillimeter wavelength active radar system (10, 20, 30) processes signals received and downconverted by the radar system, the downconverted signals corresponding to a given pixel of the field of view having time varying amplitude and phase components which have a periodic component which is dependent on content. Information about the content is discriminated from the periodic component. By using phase rather than only amplitude, there is additional information in the downconverted signals. The phase is more sensitive to changes in the content such as objects, background and atmospheric conditions, than amplitude alone. The phase information enables the periodic component to be retained which can be characteristic of the content owing to content flutter, changes in submillimeter standing waves and interference fringes in received reflections of submillimeter illumination if surface layers have a thickness of a number of half wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA
    Inventors: Hiromichi Yanagihara, Mineki Soga, Harald Franz Arno Merkel
  • Patent number: 8830113
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a radar device, which detects an object of interest from image data produced based on an input signal containing echo signals caused by transmitted signals reflecting on objects. The radar device includes a memory module for storing template image data produced based on one or more characteristics of the echo signals of the object of interest, a pattern matching module for performing pattern matching of the image data and the template image data, an identifying module for identifying an area within the image data containing the object of interest corresponding to the template image data, when the object of interest is detected from the image data as a result of the pattern matching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: FURUNO Electric Company Limited
    Inventor: Koji Nishiyama
  • Publication number: 20140247180
    Abstract: There is provided a radar apparatus. A derivation unit derives this time-decided transverse distance of the target of this time processing, by filtering, with a predetermined filter constant, this time transverse distance of paired data of this time processing, and a predicted transverse distance. A change unit changes, when the transverse distance of an object moving target moving in a traveling direction of a vehicle mounted with the radar apparatus and the transverse distance of a specific target satisfy a predetermined relation, the filter constant for filtering this time transverse distance and the predicted transverse distance of the object moving target so that a reflection amount of this time transverse distance is reduced in comparison to before the change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Takumi MORIUCHI, Masayuki KISHIDA, Hisateru ASANUMA
  • Patent number: 8823581
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting dangerous objects and substances are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method comprises generating a microwave signal that is reflected by a target to render one or more reflected signals. The one or more reflected signals are received at an antenna array. The one or more reflected signals are converted into digital reflected signals. The microwave signal is converted into a digital signal. The digital reflected signals and the digital signal are processed to determine the three dimensional position of the target. The digital reflected signals and the digital signal are processed to identify the target. The digital reflected signals and the digital signal are processed to determine a state of the target; and determine whether the target a dangerous object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Radical Development Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Kirill Mostov, Kfim Liptsen
  • Publication number: 20140240166
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for passively or actively detecting a target which scatters a useful signal and which is immersed in an observed area comprising elements that are likely to generate clutter echoes forming a non-useful signal, the useful signal having a coherent scattering lobe that is greater than that of the non-useful signal for a given wavelength and given direction, said device including means for receiving the signal scattered by the target, said receiving means including: at a given moment t, at least two separate reception portions having the same polarization, each portion including at least one receiver and one phase center; and a processing means enabling the mutual correlation between at least two received signals, or between at least two signals constructed from signals received at a moment t, each of said received signals being received by a receiver of one of said at least two separate reception portions, characterized in that the phase centers of said at least two reception po
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: OFFICE NATIONAL D'ETUDES ET DE RECHERCHES AEROSPATIALES (ONERA)
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Cortambert, Jacques Dulost, Dominique Medynski, Serge Roques
  • Patent number: 8816899
    Abstract: A method of target discrimination and identification, on a computer including a processing unit and a non-volatile storage device, from a radar signal having a plurality of radar return signals, is presented. The method includes: modeling, on the computer, the radar return signals by linear prediction to produce linear prediction equations; solving, on the computer, the linear prediction equations by the Burg algorithm to produce linear prediction coefficients for a linear prediction coefficient polynomial; computing, on the computer, roots of the linear prediction coefficient polynomial to produce scattering modes; computing, on the computer, a distance of each of the scattering modes to a unit circle; computing, on the computer, a complex envelope for each mode of the scattering modes; and selecting, on the computer, target scattering modes from among the scattering modes based on the distance of the mode to the unit circle and the complex envelope of the mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Theagenis J. Abatzoglou, Kenneth Ho, Leo H. Hui
  • Patent number: 8816895
    Abstract: Embodiments of a target classifier and method for target classification using measured target epsilons and target glint information are generally described herein. The target classifier is configured to compare a total epsilon measurement with target glint information to determine whether to the target being tracked corresponds to an intended target type. Based on the comparison, the target classifier may cause target tracking circuitry of a target-tracking radar to either continue tracking the target or break-off from tracking the target. Glint of different target types may be characterized at different ranges and the target's glint characteristics may be used to distinguish intended from non-intended targets. Accordingly, intended targets such as incoming artillery may be distinguished from non-intended targets such as aircraft to help prevent countermeasures from being launched against non-intended targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Brett J. Young, Jason A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8803730
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for radar pulse detection using a digital radar receiver are disclosed herein. In electronic warfare (EW), radars operate in an environment with highly dense electronic waveforms. As a result, the radars may receive thousands or millions of radar pulses every second. To detect and sort out radar pulses emitted from different radars is a challenging problem in electronic warfare. The present disclosure teaches a radar pulse detection system that utilizes digital channelization and joint-channel detection techniques to detect and separate radar pulses that are sent from different radar emitters. The main features of the present disclosure are: 1.) a digital channelization technique to separate radar pulses from their mixtures; 2.) a multi-channel detection technique to detect radar pulses; and 3.) an innovative technique to separate overlapped radar pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Qin Jiang