Echo Systems Patents (Class 367/87)
  • Publication number: 20120184877
    Abstract: System using on- or in-body communication technologies such as body-sound communication (BSC) or body-coupled communication (BCC) to obtain information on the body composition of a patient (e.g. water content/hydration level on bone density/joint status). The system, in a preferred embodiment, comprises a transmitter, receiver and processor connected to the receiver. The transmitter is arranged to transmit a signal through a medium (the body of the patient), the signal comprising a plurality of different frequency components and transmission technologies. The receiver is arranged to receive the signal following propagation through the said medium. The processor is arranged to generate, at a first time, one or more transfer functions from the received signal, each transfer function defining values for a predetermined signal parameter at different frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Oscar Garcia Morchon, Thomas Falck
  • Patent number: 8220584
    Abstract: A measurement instrument comprises a sensor circuit comprising a drive circuit for transmitting a pulse signal at a target of interest and a receive circuit receiving reflected echoes of the pulse signal and developing an analog signal representative of the reflected echoes. An analog processing circuit is operatively coupled to the sensor circuit for receiving the analog signal and comprising a gate for selectively transferring the analog signal to a comparator that compares the gated analog signal to a select threshold level to develop a data signal representative of location of the target of interest. A programmed digital processing circuit is operatively coupled to the sensor circuit and the analog processing circuit and comprises a measurement module to control the drive circuit and evaluate the data signal to determine material location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Magnetrol International, Incorporated
    Inventors: Kevin M. Haynes, Christopher P. Turcotte
  • Patent number: 8213262
    Abstract: A monostatic sodar system includes an array of essentially identical acoustic transducers. Each transducer includes a cone transducer element which generates and receives sound and a horn which guides the sound to and from the cone to a circular or hexagonal active region from which sound is emitted during a sound emission and into which sound is received during a reception of emitted sound that has been reflected by the atmosphere. Each transducer defines a generally hexagonal perimeter shape and occupying a generally hexagonal area of the array. The system includes a signal generator that generates signals that are used to drive the transducers, a phase and switching control, a receiver that receives signals from the transducers, a processor, an open-top enclosure, and a sound reflector within the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Second Wind Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Niels LaWhite, Louis Manfredi, Walter L. Sass
  • Publication number: 20120163124
    Abstract: Provided is an ultrasonic detection device including: a capacitive electromechanical transducer including a cell that includes a first electrode and a second electrode disposed so as to oppose with a space; a voltage source for developing a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode; and an electric circuit for converting a current, which is caused by a change in electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode due to vibration of the second electrode, into a voltage, in which the capacitive electromechanical transducer provides an output current with a high-pass characteristic having a first cutoff frequency with respect to a frequency, the electric circuit provides an output with a low-pass characteristic having a second cutoff frequency with respect to the frequency, and the second cutoff frequency is smaller than the first cutoff frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Akiyama, Makoto Takagi, Kazunari Fujii, Hidemasa Mizutani
  • Patent number: 8203909
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting and locating underwater obstacles in the path of a ship or boat. The apparatus includes a pulsed wide-angle sonar projector (100) controlled by a digital signal processor (400) that emits sound pulses at frequencies of 30 kHz and less that can penetrate sediment-laden water hundreds of meters or more ahead of the ship or boat. The projector generates echoes from submerged objects. A vector sound-intensity probe (200) receives the echoes and transmits them to the digital signal processor. The digital signal processor determines the location of submerged obstacles ahead of the ship or boat from the echoes received by the probe. This information is displayed on an output device (500). The sonar projector and vector sound-intensity probe are contained separately in streamlined housings aimed in the forward direction under the bow of the ship or boat. The processor, output device and other electronics are located on board the ship or boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Inventor: Robert Hickling
  • Publication number: 20120147698
    Abstract: An embodiment is a method and apparatus for ultrasonic contact imaging. A thin-film transistor (TFT) array is deposited on a substrate. A receiver having a plurality of receiver elements is deposited on the TFT array to receive a received signal. A transmitter adjacent to the receiver generates a transmit signal at an ultrasonic frequency. The transmit signal is reflected from a surface to produce a reflected signal. The received signal is a superposition of the transmit signal and the reflected signal as result of interference. The received signal is representative of differences in acoustic impedances across the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Serena Han Ying Wong, Jeng Ping Lu, Raj B. Apte
  • Publication number: 20120140595
    Abstract: An ultrasound probe connected to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus configured to transmit an ultrasound beam to a target object is provided. The ultrasound probe includes a switching unit including N/2 channels, each channel configured to switch between a first pole and a second pole, wherein N is a natural number, N/2 first transducer elements connected to the first pole and placed in two-dimensions, wherein a placement is defined in an x-axis direction and a y-axis direction, and N/2 second transducer elements connected to the second pole and placed in two-dimensions, wherein the placement is defined in the x-axis and y-axis directions, wherein a placement of a channel number of the first transducer elements and a placement of a channel number of the second transducer elements differ in the x-axis and y-axis directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventor: Shinichi Amemiya
  • Patent number: 8189427
    Abstract: Embodiments for filtering clutter signal from Doppler signal in an ultrasound system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a Doppler signal acquiring unit may transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to acquire Doppler signal. A signal processing unit performs filtering upon the Doppler signal by using a first clutter filter having a first cutoff frequency and compute an input signal power to filtered input signal power rate (IFR) for the Doppler signal. The signal processing unit is further configured to be responsive to the IFR to modulate the Doppler signal and perform filtering upon the modulated Doppler signal by using the first clutter filter or to perform filtering the Doppler signal by using a second clutter filter having a second cutoff frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Medison Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang Ju Lee, Jong Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 8184503
    Abstract: A process measurement instrument with target rejection comprises a sensor circuit. The sensor circuit comprises a drive circuit for transmitting a pulse signal at a target of interest and a receive circuit receiving reflected echoes of the pulse signal and developing an analog receive signal representative of the reflected echoes. An analog processing circuit receives the analog receive signal and comprises a summer subtracting an analog target rejection signal from the analog receive signal to develop a corrected receive signal. A programmed digital processing circuit is operatively coupled to the analog processing circuit and comprises a memory storing target rejection signal value data representing false target reflections and developing the analog target rejection signal for transfer to the analog processing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Magnetrol International, Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher P. Turcotte, Kevin M. Haynes
  • Publication number: 20120120758
    Abstract: Methods for tracking the identity of die after singulation from a wafer. The product chips and die include a pattern of features formed in a metallization level of a back-end-of-line (BEOL) wiring structure. The features in the pattern contain information relating to the die, such as a unique identifier that includes a wafer identification used to fabricate the die and a product chip location for the die on a wafer. The features may be imaged with the assistance of a beam of electromagnetic radiation that penetrates into a packaged die and is altered by the presence of the features in a way that promotes imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John M. Cohn, Mark J. Flemming, John C. Malinowski, Karl V. Swanke
  • Publication number: 20120119943
    Abstract: There is described a method for determining a Doppler centroid in a synthetic aperture imaging system, comprising: receiving raw data representative of electromagnetic signals reflected by a target area; selecting, among the raw data, at least two sets of sub-area data each representative of electromagnetic signals reflected by a corresponding sub-area of the target area, the sub-areas being substantially aligned along an azimuth axis of the target area and having a substantially identical surface area; for each one of the sets of sub-area data, generating an image corresponding to the corresponding sub-area; and measuring a mean intensity of the image; and estimating the Doppler centroid from a skew of an intensity function representing the mean intensity as a function of a look number for the corresponding sub-area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Alain Bergeron, Linda Marchese
  • Patent number: 8177721
    Abstract: The invention as disclosed is a non-contact method and apparatus for continuously monitoring a physiological event in a human or animal, such as blood pressure, which involves utilizing a laser-based interferometer system in combination with a laser tracking system and a signal processor to produce a waveform that is representative of a continuous physiological event such as blood pressure or respiration in a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Lynn T. Antonelli, Candida L. Desjardins
  • Publication number: 20120106298
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a gesture recognition apparatus and method. The gesture recognition apparatus includes an ultrasound transmitter, an ultrasound receiver, a dividing module, a computing module, a gesture library, and a recognition module. The dividing module is configured to divide reflected ultrasound signals into a plurality of frames according to time intervals. The computing module is configured to obtain an eigenvalue of each frame. The classifying module is configured to filter the eigenvalues to obtain gesture eigenvalues, and to obtain a matrix of probabilities of the gesture eigenvalues. The recognition module is configured to search reference matrices of probabilities from the gesture library for matching with the matrix of probabilities, and to recognize the gesture eigenvalues as a reference gesture corresponding to the reference matrix of probabilities if the reference matrix of probabilities is found.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicants: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: LING-WEI LIU
  • Publication number: 20120098748
    Abstract: A computer mouse includes a housing and a button assembly. The button assembly includes a button, a circuit board, an infrasonic emitter, and an infrasonic receiver. The infrasonic emitter is mounted on the circuit board and emits infrasonic wave. The infrasonic receiver is mounted on the circuit board and is separated from the infrasonic emitter. The infrasonic receiver receives the infrasonic wave from the infrasonic emitter. When the button is pressed, the button impedes a passage of the infrasonic wave from the infrasonic emitter to the infrasonic receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: HSIEN-TA LIN
  • Publication number: 20120099397
    Abstract: An ultrasonic detection device is constructed in such a way as to include a discriminating processing unit (a time width detecting part 13 and a pulse width discrimination part 14) for approximating the shape of each signal which is a reflection signal which is reflected from an object as a result of transmitting a ultrasonic pulse toward the object, or a noise as an isosceles triangle and computing a pulse time width equal to the length of the base of the approximating isosceles triangle, and for discriminating between the reflection signal and the noise signal by determining whether the computed pulse time width exceeds a predetermined pulse width discrimination threshold. Therefore, the ultrasonic detection device can determine the pulse time width with stability, and carry out the discriminating process with a high degree of reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Satoru Inoue, Ryotarou Suzuki, Kunihiko Araki
  • Patent number: 8154438
    Abstract: The present invention can find the exact location anywhere in the nautical world (latitude/longitude coordinates) by correlating or matching radar returns with maps produced by a digital nautical chart called a Chart Server, because each pixel location on the Chart Server maps can be traced back to a latitude/longitude coordinate. An obstacle avoidance module called a Chart Server provides digital nautical charts to create a map of the world. To determine the current world location of a vehicle, the invention combines the Chart Server maps with a radar return, which also appears to display prominent features such as coastlines, buoys, piers and the like. These return features from the radar are correlated or matched with features found in the Chart Server maps. The radar then reports its current location inside of its local map, which when translated to the Chart Server map, correlates to a latitude/longitude registration location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Jacoby Larson, Michael Bruch
  • Publication number: 20120075956
    Abstract: An active sonar system comprising a transmitter for providing a sonar signal, a receiver for receiving a reflected return signal, a processor of processing and extracting both magnitude and phase information from the return signal, and display unit for presenting both magnitude and phase information from the return signal to an operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Thaddeus J. Kurpiewski, Byron W. Tietjen
  • Patent number: 8125849
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring the flow of water in cross-section of a body of water is presented. The system and method comprises a housing having a first transducer and a plurality of second transducers, wherein the first transducer produces an acoustic signal for determining the depth of the body of water, and the second transducers each produce an acoustic signal for determining the velocity of a volume of water by measuring the Doppler frequency shift in the returned echo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: YSI Incorporated
    Inventors: Ramon Cabrera, John Sloat, Steve Maier, Matthew J. Hull
  • Patent number: 8116169
    Abstract: An active sonar system and associated method combine signals from a plurality of receive beams in order to reduce a noise in a reference one of the signals from the plurality of receive beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Qin Jiang, Shubha L. Kadambe
  • Publication number: 20120020187
    Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a plurality of vibration elements (1) that transmit and receive an ultrasonic beam; a plurality of transmission circuits (2) that are connected to the respective vibration elements and output a transmission driving signal to be used for driving the vibration elements; and a transmission power source (3) that supplies electric power to the transmission circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Kunita, Yasuhiro Nakamura, Takashi Sakai, Takehiko Suginouchi
  • Publication number: 20120013498
    Abstract: An expandable and reconfigurable instrument node includes a feature detection means and a data processing portion in communication with the feature detection means, the data processing portion configured and disposed to process feature information. The instrument node further includes a phase locked loop (PLL) oscillator in communication with the data processing portion, the PLL oscillator configured and disposed to provide PLL information to the processing portion. The instrument node further includes a single tone transceiver and a pulse transceiver in communication with the PLL oscillator, the single tone transceiver configured and disposed to transmit or receive a single tone for phase correction of the PLL oscillator and the pulse transceiver configured and disposed to transmit and receive signals for phase correction of the PLL oscillator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Hilliard, Manohar Deshpande
  • Patent number: 8098912
    Abstract: A method of tracking position and velocity of objects' borders in two or three dimensional digital images, particularly in echographic images. A sequence is acquired of at least two consecutive ultrasound image frames of a moving tissue or a moving object. The frames are separated by a certain time interval. Reference points define a border of the moving tissue or object and the border is automatically tracked by estimating the position of the reference points in following image frames on the basis of the ultrasound image data of the acquired sequence of image frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignees: Esoate S.p.A., Amid Srl
    Inventors: Gianni Pedrizzetti, Giovanni Tonti
  • Patent number: 8089393
    Abstract: An exemplary system and method are for tracking a target in a decentralised network having a plurality of sensing nodes. Each node makes observations of a target, performs a multiple models tracking algorithm based on the observations, and updates tracking information stored therein. Each node communicates the updated track information to selected other nodes in the network. In response to receiving track information from another node, each node fuses the receiving track information with local track information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: BAE Systems PLC
    Inventors: Eric William Nettleton, Christopher Mark Lloyd
  • Publication number: 20110311944
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a system and method for measuring the structural characteristics of an object. The object is subjected to an energy application processes and provides an objective, quantitative measurement of structural characteristics of an object. The system may include a device, for example, a percussion instrument, capable of being reproducibly placed against the object undergoing such measurement for reproducible positioning. The structural characteristics as defined herein may include vibration damping capacities, acoustic damping capacities, structural integrity or structural stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: PERIMETRICS, LLC
    Inventors: James C. Earthman, Cherilyn G. Sheets
  • Patent number: 8073634
    Abstract: A signal analysis method extracts transient target signals of known type from a raw data source signal that contains an unknown number of target signals. The method can enhance the analysis of data obtained from in-line oil-debris sensors. The method comprises steps of: defining signatures of the known target signal, and of at least one of the intrinsic noise and interfering signals; performing a mathematical transform that decomposes the raw data into distinct data sets; using the signal signatures to identify and nullify the data sets containing noise and interfering signal signatures; using the target signal signatures to identify the data sets containing target signal components, or may further use a thresholding rule to remove intrinsic noise from said data sets, and finally applying the inverse transform to the processed data sets in order to reconstruct an enhanced output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: University of Ottawa
    Inventors: Ming Liang, Tet Hin Yeap, Xianfeng Fan, Iman Soltani Bozchalooi
  • Publication number: 20110292201
    Abstract: An underwater scouting camera comprising: an outer cover, a door, a memory storage, a battery, and an internal housing which includes a flash, a shutter, a display frame, and a sonar sensor. When the sonar sensor emits a pulse in order to detect any fish, upon detection the flash and the shutter trigger to take a digital picture that may be saved on a memory device. After the picture is taken, the date and time appear on the display frame, and a notification is transmitted to a personal handheld device. The scouting camera allows a user to remotely track fish without having to continuously monitor the underwater scouting camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: WAYLON WESTPHAL, Wade Westphal
  • Publication number: 20110273962
    Abstract: An array of transducers for a sodar system, and the operation of the array in a monostatic sodar system. The array is made up of a number of individual sound transducers. Each transducer emits sound into the atmosphere and senses emitted sound that has been reflected by the atmosphere. The transducers have a generally circular cross-sectional shape. The transducers are arranged in a generally planar, generally hexagonal grid packing arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Second Wind Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Niels LaWhite, Louis Manfredi, Walter L. Sass
  • Publication number: 20110242305
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention teach an advantageous means of conducting and controlling multimedia communication. Real-world communication involving sight, sound and body language is fully supported, without requiring that the user wear or touch any special apparatus. A novel Device-Area-Network (DAN) method is introduced to allow devices contained in compatible apparatus external to the Immersive Multimedia Terminal (IMT) to be discovered and fused to the devices within the IMT. Said method allows seamless integration of cellphones, laptops and other compatible apparatus so that they can use the IMT as a high-performance terminal. Said method also allows the IMT to fully integrate resources that exist in said external compatible apparatus. Examples of said resources are microphones, environmental sensors, disk drives, flash memory, cameras, and wired or wireless communication links.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Harry W. Peterson, Erik Yann Peterson, Jean Gabriel Peterson, Diana Hawkins Manuelian
  • Patent number: 8018793
    Abstract: An edge detecting apparatus for using in an automatic device and configured for detecting edges of a surface on which the automatic device moves is provided. The edge detecting apparatus includes an emitter, a guiding member, and a receiver. The emitter is configured for emitting projecting signal. The guiding member is around the automatic device. The guiding member and the surface define a signal channel, and the signal channel is configured for guiding the projecting signal to travel around the automatic device, if no edge of the surface exists under the signal channel. The receiver is configured for receiving the projecting signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kim-Yeung Sip
  • Publication number: 20110213234
    Abstract: A system and method for using orthogonally-coded active source signals for reflected signal analysis, such as in seismic exploration, sonar, and/or ultrasound applications. One method comprises inputting an orthogonally-coded active source signal to a target site, where the orthogonally-coded active source signal is sufficiently random to not interfere with a delayed version of itself. A reflected signal is received from the target site, and based at least in part on the sufficiently random orthogonal coding of the active source signal, a determination is made whether the received signal is a reflection of the input active source signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: UTI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Chris Leskiw, Ian Gates
  • Patent number: 8009513
    Abstract: An array of transducers for a sodar system, and the operation of the array in a monostatic sodar system. The array is made up of a number of individual sound transducers. Each transducer emits sound into the atmosphere and senses emitted sound that has been reflected by the atmosphere. The transducers have a generally circular cross-sectional shape. The transducers are arranged in a generally planar, generally hexagonal grid packing arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Second Wind Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Niels LaWhite, Louis Manfredi, Walter L. Sass
  • Publication number: 20110202302
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for identifying a human being and an animal are disclosed to properly identifying whether or not a target is a human being or an animal. The apparatus for distinguishing between a human being and an animal includes: a target stimulation unit generating a stimulation signals for selectively stimulating the senses of a human being and an animal and providing the generated stimulation signal to a target; and a target identifying unit detecting the reaction of a target to the simulation signal to identify whether or not the target is a human being or an animal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Pil Jae PARK, Hyun Kyu Yu, Seong Do Kim, Sung Chul Woo
  • Publication number: 20110196568
    Abstract: Safety systems and methods are provided for use in a vehicle with a closure that defines a pivoting range when open. The safety system includes a sensor configured to collect data associated with an object in a target zone at least partially surrounding the vehicle; and a processor coupled to the sensors and configured to selectively operate in a first mode and a second mode based on a vehicle characteristic. The processor is configured to, in the first mode, detect the object and generate a first warning based on the object; and in the second mode, detect the object and determine a collision threat between the object and the pivoting range of the closure, and generate a second warning based on the collision threat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: JAMES N. NICKOLAOU, PAUL R. WILLIAMS
  • Publication number: 20110176388
    Abstract: The patent application describes a switching power supply, wherein the supply has a first output voltage, wherein the first output voltage was generated by a first working voltage with a first frequency and a first phase, wherein the supply is adapted to configure the first frequency and/or the first phase in such a way that disturbances m devices powered by the supply are reduced, wherein the disturbances are caused of electromagnetic interferences. In an embodiment the switching power supply is adapted to configure the first frequency in such a way that the first frequency and its harmonies are different from the operating frequency of the powered device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Tony Brock-Fisher, Michael C. Bradshaw II
  • Patent number: 7973705
    Abstract: A plotting system and method for plotting radar and/or sonar signals on a bump map, with a simulated height of each data point representing a corresponding signal strength. The plotting system may comprise a processing device for associating particular signal strengths with normal vectors. The normal vectors may be used to determine the simulated heights to be illustrated on the bump map. The plotting system may also comprise a display for graphically displaying the bump map. Furthermore, the processing device may also associate particular signal strengths with particular colors, such that both color and simulated height may illustrate the strength of the plotted signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Garmin Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Michael D. Cunning, Minchun Liu
  • Publication number: 20110160582
    Abstract: A wireless ultrasonic scanning system comprises an ultrasonic sensor, a motor, an ultrasonic transceiver, a high-speed data sampling module, a motor controller and a master control module. The ultrasonic sensor, which moves in accordance with control of the motor controller, is mounted on the motor. The ultrasonic transceiver activates the ultrasonic sensor and amplifies a received ultrasonic signal. The high-speed data sampling module wirelessly transmits radio-frequency ultrasonic data to the master control module. The master control module sets a scanning mode, initiates a scanning process, and wirelessly transmits control signals and control parameters to the high-speed data sampling module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Yongping Zheng, Xin Chen, James Chungwai Cheung, Junfeng He, Yanping Huang, Zhengming Huang
  • Publication number: 20110149688
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a fluid carrying conduit by introducing an acoustic pulse into the conduit, and interrogating an optic fibre positioned along the path of said conduit to provide distributed acoustic sensing. By measuring the response at each of a plurality of locations, a conduit condition profile can be derived. A condition profile can be obtained quickly and easily with minimum disruption to the pipeline infrastructure and contained flow. Existing optic fibres running along the path of a pipe can be employed for sensing purposes, allowing relatively long spans of pipeline to be monitored with only limited access to the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: QINETIQ LIMITED
    Inventors: David John Hill, Magnus McEwen-King
  • Patent number: 7957224
    Abstract: A human echolocation system emits toward a target a series of sound pulses beginning at a low frequency and progressing stepwise to a high frequency. Echoes of the pulses enable the user to estimate location, distance and dimensions of the target. Target location and distance are estimated based on a stretched echo delay, while target dimensions are estimated based on a musical pitch corresponding to the echo frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Inventor: Douglas Tremper
  • Publication number: 20110096629
    Abstract: An acoustic signal generation system may include a cylindrical-like object having a cylindrical-like surface which is configured to reflect an acoustic signal directed to a location on the surface in substantially different directions as the cylindrical-like object is rotated. The cylindrical-like surface may be on the exterior of the cylindrical-like object or form an interior surface of the cylindrical-like object. The cylindrical-like surface may be formed by a plurality of substantially flat surfaces connected to one another in a substantially cylindrical configuration. The flat surfaces may have different angular orientations with respect to the axis of rotation. An acoustic transducer may be configured and oriented so as to direct an acoustic signal to a location on the cylindrical-like surface as the cylindrical-like object rotates. A motor may be configured to cause the cylindrical-like object to rotate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
    Inventor: DAVID T. RAPHAEL
  • Publication number: 20110063950
    Abstract: A method for measuring a mechanical property of a subject includes using an ultrasonic transducer to apply ultrasonic vibration pulses to a vibration origin in the subject in an on-off time sequence in order to impart a harmonic motion at a prescribed frequency to the subject, and when the vibration pulses are off, preferably using the same transducer to apply ultrasonic detection pulses to a motion detection point and to receive echo signals therefrom in order to sense the harmonic motion on the subject at the motion detection point The ultrasonic detection pulses are interspersed with the vibration pulses and can be applied in a non-uniform manner From the received ultrasonic echo signals, a harmonic signal is detected and a characteristic such as amplitude or phase of the detected harmonic signal is calculated using a Kalman filter or interpolation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: James F. Greenleaf, Shigao Chen, Yi Zheng, Aiping Yao
  • Publication number: 20110052495
    Abstract: Fullerenes, when irradiated with electromagnetic radiation, generate acoustic waves. A photoacoustic tomography method using a material comprising fullerenes is disclosed that includes irradiating the material with a radiation beam such as a laser. The resultant photoacoustic effect produced by the material is detected by at least one detector. A photoacoustic tomography system using a material comprising fullerenes is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Vijay Krishna, Brij M. Moudgil, Benjamin L. Koopman, Stephen Grobmyer, Iwakuma Nobutaka, Qiang Wang, Qizhi Zhang, Huabei Jiang, Parvesh Sharma, Amit Kumar Singh
  • Publication number: 20110051554
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device (1) for the insonification of an environment or medium, which is designed to generate a beam of focussed waves around a point in a so-called focus zone (20), used for imaging the medium or changing the properties of the medium, with the insonification device (1) having an intrinsic or extrinsic support structure on which is installed a network of a predetermined number of ultrasound transducers (12) that are designed to be controlled independently for generation of the focussed wave beam. According to the invention, the transducers (12) used for the generation of the focussed wave beam are located in a homogeneous spatial distribution along at least two concentric spirals (11) that are wound onto a three-dimensional concave area (10) whose shape and size are chosen to allow optimal focusing of the beam at a predetermined focal length, and whose concave side is oriented toward the focus zone (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: SUPER SONIC IMAGINE
    Inventors: Francois Varray, Mathieu Pernot, Yves Martin
  • Publication number: 20110044133
    Abstract: A storage unit (106) stores pieces of information regarding intensities of ultrasound waves detected by multiple oscillators (101) in time series. The multiple oscillators (101) receives an ultrasound wave reflected on an object (107), to which a second ultrasound wave (108) generated by an ultrasound probe (102) is focused, in order from an oscillator closest to the object (107). The second ultrasound wave (108) is transmitted in a direction different from that of a first ultrasound wave (103). Information regarding an intensity of the ultrasound wave reflected on the object (107), which is obtained by storing in the storage unit (106) in order from the oscillator closest to the object (107), is obtained. This information is subtracted from the pieces of information stored in the storage unit (106). Thus, a received signal from a side lobe is extracted to be subtracted from a whole received signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshinobu Tokita
  • Publication number: 20110005374
    Abstract: A method and device for impeding the progress of a swimmer or a diver included a plurality of tendrils that can be launched into the path of a target and entangle the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Martin A. Martinez, Patrick A. Barnhill
  • Patent number: 7868812
    Abstract: A system and method for providing entry-point, boundary-line, and presence intrusion detection by means of an intelligent controller process capable of driving both field alert/alarm systems and security station monitoring devices and for providing occupancy warnings and critical status alerts, one embodiment providing runway occupancy warnings and critical runway status alerts to both flight crew approaching an airfield and air traffic controllers managing ground traffic, the system including: a detection system, airfield output devices (including all FAROS, GAROS and CTAF Runway Occupancy Radio Signals (RORS)), an airfield communications network, a centralized data processing unit that contains all of the algorithms to drive light control, logging, and an optional administrative network layer that hosts a graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Patriot Technologies, LLP
    Inventors: Virginia Lorraine Huthoefer, Gerald Wallace Huthoefer
  • Publication number: 20110002191
    Abstract: An active sonar detection system may include a transmitter, which may project into the transmissive medium signals of any frequency, amplitude or phase using one or more transducers. A transmit beamformer to provide transmission directionality may also be included. Generated transmit waveforms may have different temporal and frequency spectra that are adapted for different purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Alion Science & Technology
    Inventors: Martin Paul DeMaio, John T. Green, Larry Freeman, Donald T. Lerro, Atul R. Shah
  • Publication number: 20100322033
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sonar surveillance system for coastal protection and port surveillance comprising: an anchoring structure; a support mast designed to be mounted on the structure and arranged on the latter so as to adopt a substantially vertical position; a platform mounted on the top of the mast and receiving a sonar head; a float fixed to the mast, in proximity to the top, the buoyancy of which is sufficient to keep the mast in the vertical position, when the latter is subjected to the action of movement of the water masses in which it is immersed. The length of the mast is determined so as to position the sonar head at a depth for which the latter offers maximum performance in terms of detection range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: Thales
    Inventors: Herve Le Gras, Christian Bergogne
  • Patent number: 7855674
    Abstract: The present invention provides a coherent radar system based on a modification of standard non-coherent radar without Moving Target Indication. Typical radars in this class are Navigation radars which are mass produced with low cost components. These radars utilize a magnetron in the transmitter which is a random phase device. In the present invention, the received signal is extracted just prior to amplitude detection process (where phase information is lost), and digitized using an analogue to digital converter providing coherent detection based on correlation between the transmitted pulse and the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Public)
    Inventor: Per Atle VĂ¥land
  • Publication number: 20100307251
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for finding, extracting and for providing of echoes with detail functions are described. In particular, an echo extraction method for extracting an echo from an echo function is described. The method comprises receiving the echo function and decomposing the echo function in at least one detail function. The at least one detail function comprises a plurality of first coefficients. Each of the at least one detail functions represents a different degree of detail of the echo function. The degree of detail relates to a form of a base function. Furthermore, the method comprises eliminating at least one of the plurality of first coefficients and applying a reconstruction regulation or scheme, which depends on the form of the base function, for generating a smoothed echo function. Thereafter, at least one echo is determined from the smoothed echo function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Roland Welle, Karl Griessbaum
  • Publication number: 20100290314
    Abstract: A process measurement instrument with target rejection comprises a sensor circuit. The sensor circuit comprises a drive circuit for transmitting a pulse signal at a target of interest and a receive circuit receiving reflected echoes of the pulse signal and developing an analog receive signal representative of the reflected echoes. An analog processing circuit receives the analog receive signal and comprises a summer subtracting an analog target rejection signal from the analog receive signal to develop a corrected receive signal. A programmed digital processing circuit is operatively coupled to the analog processing circuit and comprises a memory storing target rejection signal value data representing false target reflections and developing the analog target rejection signal for transfer to the analog processing circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Christopher P. Turcotte, Kevin M. Haynes