By Radar Or Sonar Patents (Class 702/143)
  • Patent number: 11960023
    Abstract: A radar device is configured in such a manner that each of transmission radars uses, as the amount of phase modulation, a value determined from either one of a positive integer value that is less than or equal to a result of division obtained by dividing the number of hits of a transmission RF signal by the number of the transmission radars and a value of 0; a hit number h of the transmission RF signal; and the number of hits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuaki Maniwa, Satoshi Kageme, Teruyuki Hara
  • Patent number: 11933914
    Abstract: An interactive system includes a device configured to output a signal toward a surface such that the signal reflects off the surface at an angle and along a path of travel, and such that an object that interrupts the path of travel of the signal causes a return signal to travel in a reverse direction along the path of travel for receipt by the device. The interactive system also includes a control system communicatively coupled to the device. The control system is configured to receive data from the device, in which the data is associated with the receipt of the return signal by the device, and determine a position of the object relative to the device based on the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Universal City Studios LLC
    Inventors: Griffin Tang, Howard Bruce Mall
  • Patent number: 11899040
    Abstract: A method is provided that is performed by at least one first apparatus with the method including obtaining or causing obtaining information indicative of a variation in intensity of light emitted from at least two light sources positioned along a segment of a road; and obtaining or causing obtaining information indicative of a velocity of the at least one first apparatus based at least on the information indicative of the variation in intensity. A corresponding apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: HERE GLOBAL B.V.
    Inventors: Pavel Ivanov, Henri Jaakko Julius Nurminen, Lauri Aarne Johannes Wirola
  • Patent number: 11733371
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a radar apparatus including: an antenna including a first transmitting antenna, a second transmitting antenna, and a receiving antenna; a transmitter including a first modulator for generating a first transmission signal having an inverted phase of a source signal and transmitting the first transmission signal through the first transmitting antenna, and a second modulator for generating a second transmission signal having a shifted phase of the source signal and transmitting the second transmission signal through the second transmitting antenna; a receiver for receiving a reflection signal of the first transmission signal and the second transmission signal reflected from the object through the receiving antenna; and a controller for obtaining information for the object based on the reflection signal. According to the present disclosure, it is possible to efficiently detect the object using the antenna having a simple structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: HL KLEMOVE CORP.
    Inventors: Kyung Jin You, HaeSueng Lim
  • Patent number: 11436878
    Abstract: A method for determining the severity of a possible collision between a motor vehicle and another vehicle is disclosed. Sensor data which describes the other vehicle is received from at least one sensor of the motor vehicle by means of a control apparatus, a change in velocity which describes a difference between a velocity (V1) of the motor vehicle before the collision and a collision velocity (Vc) of the motor vehicle (1) after the collision is determined on the basis of the sensor data, and the severity of the possible collision is determined on the basis of the determined change in velocity, wherein a mass (m2) of the other vehicle is estimated by means of the control apparatus on the basis of the sensor data, and the severity of the possible collision is additionally determined on the basis of the estimated mass (m2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Miquel Testar, Malik Waqas
  • Patent number: 10945667
    Abstract: There is provided a restraint management apparatus. The restraint management apparatus comprises a processing unit arranged to: receive one or more types of sensor data; determine a status of a subject based on the received sensor data; determine, based on the determined subject status, a restraint parameter for a restraint device configured to restrain a body part of the subject; and output a signal based on the determined restraint parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Teun Van Den Heuvel, Yingrong Xie, Adrienne Heinrich, Thomas Falck, Esther Marjan Van Der Heide, Harald Greiner
  • Patent number: 9903945
    Abstract: Methods and systems for estimating motion of a vehicle are provided. Radar data pertaining to one or more stationary objects in proximity to the vehicle are obtained via one or more radar units of the vehicle. The motion of the vehicle is estimating using the radar data via a processor of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: gm global technology operations llc
    Inventors: Xiaofeng F. Song, Hualin Tan, Shuqing Zeng
  • Patent number: 9584976
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for determining a specific velocity of a device attached to a wireless network. The specific velocity can be determined using a handover count of the base station boundary transitions over a time window and/or using a set of sojourn time samples that each denote the duration the device remains in the zone of a particular base station. Techniques operate effectively in cellular networks having high base station densities. The specific velocity estimates may be inputs to components on the device or network to adjust a local device function or performance behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: The Florida International University Board of Trustees
    Inventors: Arvind Merwaday, Ismail Guvenc
  • Patent number: 9229023
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a processor configured to select a type of an object subject to measurement; calculate a first distance to the object, based on output of a first sensor configured to detect passing of the object; calculate a second distance to the object, based on output of a second sensor configured to detect passing of the object; obtain based on the first distance, a first time point at which the object passes the first sensor; obtain based on the second distance, a second time point at which the object passes the second sensor; and calculate based on the first and second time points and a distance between the first and second sensors, a velocity of the object. The processor drives the first and second sensors at measurement time intervals corresponding to the type, and causes the first and the second sensors to detect the passing of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Kouichirou Kasama
  • Patent number: 9075144
    Abstract: A method for determining a height above ground of an aircraft broadly comprises the steps of generating a transmit signal with a transmitter, transmitting the transmit signal with a first antenna, generating a local oscillator signal with a local oscillator, receiving a receive signal with a second antenna, mixing the receive signal with the local oscillator signal to generate a baseband signal, determining a frequency of interest of the baseband signal, and calculating an aircraft altitude corresponding to the frequency of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Garmin International, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward M. Straub, John C. Johnson, Heather M. Werling
  • Publication number: 20150025834
    Abstract: A ship's speed meter for measuring a speed relative to the water of a ship 10, the ship's speed meter including a wave transmitter 1 for emitting a sound wave toward a sea bottom 20, a wave receiver 2 for detecting a plurality of reflected waves, which are reflected waves of the sound wave having been emitted from the wave transmitter 1, reflected by a plurality of reflecting objects 30 positioned at different water depths, and an arithmetic processing unit 4 for calculating a ship's speed relative to the water of the ship 10 based on a frequency difference of the sound wave and the reflected wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideyuki Ando, Masatoshi Hori, Ryo Kakuta
  • Patent number: 8886394
    Abstract: Methods and systems for producing data describing states of a plurality of targets using a processor in a system having at least one onboard sensor. The method includes obtaining data from at least one onboard sensor and performing a first data fusion process on the obtained onboard sensor data to produce onboard sensor fused data. Data is also obtained from at least one off-board sensor, and a second, different data fusion process is performed on the obtained off-board sensor data and the onboard sensor fused data to produce target state data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: BAE Systems PLC
    Inventor: Colin Anthony Noonan
  • Patent number: 8775017
    Abstract: A method for wear control of vehicle tires, includes: detecting deformation of an inner surface of a first tire by means of a first sensor; determining a first level of wear of the first tire; detecting a deformation of an inner surface of a second tire by means of a second sensor; determining a second level of wear of the second tire; comparing the first and second levels of wear with each other; and generating a notification signal representative of the comparison. Also disclosed is a system for wear control of vehicle tires, a method of determining the wear of a tire and a system for determining the wear of a tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Massimo Brusarosco, Federico Mancosu
  • Patent number: 8762061
    Abstract: A neural network process for improving wind retrievals from wind profiler measurements is described. In this invention, a neural network is trained to retrieve (missing or incomplete) upper level winds from ground based wind profiler measurements. Radiosonde measurements in conjunction with wind profiler ground measurements for specific geographical locations are used as training sets for the neural network. The idea is to retrieve timely and spatially continuous upper level wind information from (fragmented or incomplete) wind profiler measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Inventor: Young Paul Yee
  • Patent number: 8738319
    Abstract: A sensor system for a host vehicle may detect whether another in-path vehicle is turning. The sensor system may include a transmitter, a receiver and a controller. Signals may be emitted by the transmitter over a detection area. The emitted signals may reflect off an object vehicle in the detection area and be received by the receiver. The receiver may include a number of channels, each corresponding to a different region of the detection area. The sensor system may determine whether the in-path vehicle is turning and in what direction based on the reflected signals received at each channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wilford Trent Yopp, Peter Gyumyeong Joh
  • Publication number: 20140142887
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a speed sensor and a speed sensing method for measuring relative speeds of receivers with respect to particles in a fluid by detecting individual particles. A receiver generates a plurality of signals related to reflections from particles in a region being monitored. A sampling circuit samples the signals, and a processing device processes the signals according to a particle detection scheme to determine speed. Concomitant use of the same receivers allows depth measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: Airmar Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Rolt, Frederic S. Boericke, II, Danny J. Fladung
  • Publication number: 20140136142
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a speed sensor and a speed sensing method for measuring relative speeds of receivers with respect to particles in a fluid by detecting individual particles. A receiver generates a plurality of signals related to reflections from particles in a region being monitored. A sampling circuit samples the signals, and a processing device processes the signals according to a particle detection scheme to determine speed. Concomitant use of the same receivers allows depth measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: AIRMAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth D. Rolt, Frederic S. Boericke, II
  • Patent number: 8692690
    Abstract: An automated vehicle speed measurement and enforcement method and system. Traffic can be continuously monitored utilizing an image capturing unit and a controller. The speed of one or more vehicles within an effective field of view of the image capturing unit can be estimated. A burst of radiation from an associated remote sensing device can be triggered when a vehicle is detected having a speed greater than a predetermined value. An accurate speed of the vehicle can then be determined. Additionally, a transverse velocity component associated with the vehicle can be computed by the image capturing unit in order to thereafter apply the transverse velocity component to a reading generated by the remote sensing device to correct a cosine error with respect to the remote sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Edul N. Dalal
  • Publication number: 20130173179
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for predicting whether a wood product originated from a butt log. In some embodiments, such methods include dividing the wood product into at least two sections and obtaining, for each of the at least two sections, one or more optical measurements. One or more slope values may then be calculate, each representing an estimated rate at which the one or more optical measurements vary across the wood product. The slope values may then be used in a prediction model to determine a predictive output, the predictive output indicating whether the wood product originated from a butt log. Further aspects of the disclosure are directed towards a computer-readable storage medium for executing methods according to embodiments of the disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: WEYERHAEUSER NR COMPANY
    Inventors: John N. Giovanini, John E. Jones, III, Stanley L. Floyd
  • Patent number: 8446467
    Abstract: A combination speed-detection, video-recording, and timing device that can be hand-held. The device contains one or more speed detection means, including, but not limited to, a radar detection or laser detection device. The device includes a camera able to capture video in digital form, and a timing device, similar in function to a stopwatch. The device is pointed at the object whose speed is to be measured, or the events to be recorded, and can be operated by means of a trigger on a handle. The device may further include a display, along with display controls. Storage means is used to store the speed, video and timer data. The device may contain its own power supply, or may be externally powered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Inventors: Scott K. Tilton, William Clifford Robinson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8428903
    Abstract: A device for determining a speed of an object, having a receiver for receiving a pulse, having a characteristic signal sequence, which is emitted or reflected from an object; a signal processing device for providing transformed signal sequences for various speeds, the signal sequences being determined from the characteristic signal sequence by transforming the time axis of the signal sequence according to a Doppler shift for the speed; and a data processing device for determining the speed of the object based on a correlation of the received pulse with the transformed signal sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Karl
  • Patent number: 8290207
    Abstract: A solar power device includes a solar panel, a rotating assembly, an image sensor, a image recognition system, and a control system. The rotating assembly is connected to the solar panel. The image sensor is positioned on the solar panel to generate an image signal. The image recognition system is connected to the image sensors to transfer the image signal to a recognition signal. The control system is connected to the image recognition system and the rotating assembly. The control system receives the recognition signal and directs the rotating assembly to re-position the solar panel according to the recognition signal. A method for controlling the solar power device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chih-Chen Lai
  • Publication number: 20120136621
    Abstract: A velocity measurement apparatus comprising: first and second surface profile sensors for acquiring first and second surface profile data, a memory for storing the first and second surface profile data, and a calculation unit for calculating a velocity of a moving object. Each surface profile sensors acquires the corresponding surface profile data by measuring signal levels of reflected waves corresponding to a radio wave emitted to a ground surface and then reflected from structures on the ground surface, and measuring propagation durations from the emission of the radio wave to the return of the respective reflected waves. The calculation unit compares the first and second surface profile data, determines a difference between their measurement times, and divides a distance between the first and second surface profile sensors by the difference between the measurement times to calculate the velocity of the moving object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji INOMATA, Masahiro Watanabe, Hiroshi Araki, Takahisa Murakami
  • Patent number: 7974813
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are directed at using LiDAR data to identify attributes of vegetation. In this regard, a method is provided that identifies the location of individual items of vegetation from raw LiDAR data. In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a coordinate position represented in the LiDAR data that generated a return signal. Then, a determination is made regarding whether the selected coordinate position is inside a geographic area allocated to a previously identified item of vegetation. If the selected coordinate position is not within a geographic area allocated to a previously identified item of vegetation, the method determines that the selected coordinate position is associated with a new item of vegetation. In this instance, a digital representation of the new item of vegetation is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser NR Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey Jay Welty, Earl T. Birdsall, Robert K. McKinney
  • Patent number: 7720629
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and a system for measuring flow layer velocities using correlation velocity measuring sonar. The present invention provides a new theoretical expression for fluid medium sonar array temporal and spatial correlation function, the velocities of each flow layer are derived by fitting experimental data and a theoretical function, or fitting absolute value operated and localized experimental data and a theoretical function. The fluid medium sonar array temporal and spatial correlation function of the present invention is succinctly expressed by Kummer function, and well coincided with the experiments. This function is applicable not only to far field region, i.e. planar wave region, but also Fraunhofer region, i.e. spherical wave region. The present invention has the merits of high measurement accuracy, small calculation load, good robustness and fast convergence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Institute of Acoustics, Chinese Academy of Science
    Inventors: Weiqing Zhu, Changhong Wang
  • Patent number: 7680545
    Abstract: This Invention provides for a method and system for speed measurement verification. The method comprises the step of automatically measuring the speed of a vehicle traveling on a surface which includes a fixed marker at a predetermined distance from a point where the speed of the vehicle is measured. The measured speed is automatically compared to a predetermined speed limit and if the speed limit is exceeded, the next step involves automatically calculating a time delay, which time delay is calculated according to the measured speed and the predetermined distance so as to predict when the vehicle, if traveling at the measured speed, will reach the marker. An image is then captured with a camera directed at the marker after expiration of the time delay so that, if the measured speed is accurate, the vehicle will be positioned proximate the marker so that the captured image showing the vehicle relative to the marker is able to serve as verification of the accuracy of the measured speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Inventor: Rudiger Heinz Gebert
  • Patent number: 7672797
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for measurement of flow velocity using the transmission of a sequence of coherent pulsed ultrasonic signals into the flow, and sampling the received response signal at a predetermined delay time relative to the pulse transmission that does not correspond to the signal transmission time. The sampling may be coherent with a frequency offset from the coherency frequency of the pulses. The received signal samples are then spectrally processed, typically by a Fourier process, to generate a frequency domain data set. A threshold technique is used on the frequency domain data set to determine a peak Doppler shift. Average velocity is then obtained by multiplying the peak Doppler shift by a factor, for example, 0.90. In one embodiment, the transmit pulse and receive samples are interleaved by alternating between transmitting a pulse and, after a delay, sampling the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: ADS LLC
    Inventor: Alan M. Petroff
  • Publication number: 20100030511
    Abstract: A device for determining a speed of an object, having a receiver for receiving a pulse, having a characteristic signal sequence, which is emitted or reflected from an object; a signal processing device for providing transformed signal sequences for various speeds, the signal sequences being determined from the characteristic signal sequence by transforming the time axis of the signal sequence according to a Doppler shift for the speed; and a data processing device for determining the speed of the object based on a correlation of the received pulse with the transformed signal sequences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventor: Matthias KARL
  • Publication number: 20090240464
    Abstract: A mobile device configured to estimate the speed at which it is moving. The mobile device includes a timing component configured to perform a plurality of Doppler shift measurements on a timing signal received by the mobile device. The mobile device also includes a processing component configured to correlate the size of the range of the plurality of Doppler shift measurements to the speed at which the mobile device is moving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: David Blaine DIETZ, Nagula Tharma SANGARY, Sean Bartholomew SIMMONS
  • Patent number: 7558695
    Abstract: Sensing vehicle speed is disclosed. A speed sensor is self powered. The speed sensor measures a speed data of multiple vehicles with one Doppler pulse. A sample is taken of speed sensor data from the speed sensor. The sample of speed sensor data is processed to calculate speed. The calculated speed is wirelessly transmitted to a server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: SpeedInfo, LLC
    Inventors: Theodore Calderone, Doug Finlay
  • Patent number: 7409323
    Abstract: A method is provided for automatically characterizing data sets containing data points, which may be produced by measurements such as with sonar arrays, as either random or non-random. The data points for each data are located within a Cartesian space and a polygon envelope is constructed which contains the data points. The polygon is divided into grid cells by constructing a grid over the polygon. A prediction is made as to how many grid cells would be occupied if the data were merely a random process. The prediction takes one of two forms depending on the sample size. For small sample sizes, an exact Poisson probability method is utilized. For large sample sizes an approximation to the exact Poisson probability is utilized. A third test is utilized to test the adequacy of the Poisson based model is adequate to assess the data set as either random or non-random.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Francis J. O'Brien, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7269538
    Abstract: A method is provided for characterizing sparse data as either signal or noise. In one embodiment, a two-dimensional area which contains a distribution of data points of the sparse data from a selected time period is divided into equal size cells wherein each cell has an expectation of containing at least one data sample. Based on the expected proportion of a plurality cells which will be nonempty in a random distribution, a Poisson distribution or a Binomial distribution is utilized to determine a data sample mean. A probability of a false signal is determined from the number of cells utilized. A probability is also computed from the sample mean and compared to the probability of a false signal to determine whether to characterize the sparse data as signal or noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Francis J. O'Brien, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7248991
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for measuring a rotational speed, in particular a rotational speed of a wheel of a motor vehicle, by means of a speed sensor, wherein the speed sensor produces an output signal characterizing the actual rotational speed and wherein the output signal of the speed sensor is sampled and further processed in accordance with sampled values thus obtained. For an—in hardware terms—simple realization, according to the invention it is provided that the output signal is sampled at a predetermined sampling rate over at least one measuring cycle, that in each case the amplitude of sampled values obtained in the measuring cycle is determined and that from the rate of occurrence of sampled values of an amplitude lying within a predetermined amplitude range at least one signal level occurring during the measuring cycle in the output signal is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Eugen Goebel, Manfred Fuss, Ingo Alfter
  • Patent number: 7165009
    Abstract: A sensor front end is disclosed that is able to discriminate objects based on their range from the sensor and to derive bearing information therefrom. The sensor system includes a signal source for transmitting at least a first and a second sensor signal toward the object and receiving a first and a second reflected signal pulse therefrom, and for generating a first and second information signal based on the first and the second reflected signals, respectively; and an information processor programmed to receive the first and second information signal from the signal source and to determine bearing information for the object based on a phase difference between the first and second information signal. The information processor is preferably capable of generating sample points from the first and second information signal and calculating the bearing information using these sample points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics AMP GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Rudolf Herbert Frank, Dirk Klotzbücher, Walter Poiger
  • Patent number: 6985827
    Abstract: A speed measurement system for measuring speeds of vehicles, capturing images of vehicles, and detecting violation of stop sign and traffic signal laws. The system includes a laser speed detector for determining a speed of a vehicle adjacent a stop sign. When a speed is determined, the detector generates a speed signal. The system includes a camera generally aligned with the speed detector operable to capture and store digital still images of vehicles in memory. The camera is programmed to respond to an image capture signal to generate and transmit a digital image file including a still image of the vehicle targeted by the detector. A portable processor is linked to the speed detector and the camera to first receive the speed signal, to compare the detected speed with a threshold speed, to transmit an image capture signal to the camera, and to receive the image file from the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignees: Laser Technology, Inc., Kama-Tech (HK) Limited
    Inventors: David W. Williams, Michael Phippen
  • Patent number: 6961665
    Abstract: A loop powered level measurement and time of flight ranging system with power management. The level measurement system includes a controller, a transducer for distance ranging, a power supply, and a power management stage. The power management stage comprises a shunt current regulator and a circuit for charging a storage capacitor. The shunt current regulator shunts excess current from the current loop and the circuit charges the storage capacitor. The charging of the capacitor is monitored and stored energy is applied to the transducer to make a level measurement. During charging, the controller continues to operate a user interface and communication module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Milltronics Process Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Marian Jozef Walter Slezak
  • Patent number: 6885968
    Abstract: A vehicle including a ground speed sensor arranged to detect the speed of travel of the vehicle on the ground and including a wave transmitter arranged to transmit waves toward the ground, a wave receiver arranged to received waves reflected from the ground and a processor coupled to the transmitter and receiver to determine the speed of travel based on the transmitted waves and received waves. The waves are transmitted in pulses or modulated such that the processor is able to determine the distance between a wave-transmission and reception point and the ground (by time of flight for ultrasonic and electromagnetic waves or phase difference-for electromagnetic waves) and the velocity of the vehicle (using Doppler analysis).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Automotive Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Breed, Wilbur E. DuVall, Wendell C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6819263
    Abstract: A vehicle speed verification device includes a housing including a display screen for illustration a vehicle speedometer. The housing is electrically connected to a vehicle transmission and a vehicle speedometer. The display screen preferably includes a LED meter and a speedometer needle cooperating with the LED meter for indicating a vehicle speed. The device further includes a system for detecting when a speed-measuring device locks onto a vehicle and another system for concurrently determining a vehicle speed and displaying same when the detecting system sends a signal to the determining system. The detecting system may include a laser and a radar detector. The device may further include a system for printing the speed of a vehicle. Such a system is connected to a central processing unit and preferably includes a data system for printing time, date, month and year of speed verification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Inventor: Ivan Lidell Kelly
  • Patent number: 6782326
    Abstract: A flow rate measuring apparatus capable of accurately measuring a flow rate of fluctuating fluid. A mode setting circuit selectively sets any one of a plurality of predetermined transmission modes different in transmission timing. The mode setting circuit sets any one of a first transmission mode which permits an ultrasonic wave to be transmitted at a predetermined timing for every period of a flow waveform of exhaust gas, a second transmission mode which permits an ultrasonic wave to be transmitted at a timing shifted by a predetermined time for every period of the flow waveform of the exhaust gas and a third transmission mode which permits an ultrasonic wave to be transmitted at predetermined intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignees: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan Automobile Research Institute, Kaijo Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Takamoto, Akira Yamasaki, Kenzo Hosoi, Satoshi Arai, Kazuyoshi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6775605
    Abstract: A pre-crash assessment system (1) includes a host vehicle (3) in motion and a high frequency sensor (4), which detects position and relative velocity of a target object in the near zone of the host vehicle (3). A safety device actuator (5) is also coupled to the host vehicle (3). A pre-crash algorithm provides a comparison of a future position prediction of the target object relative to the host vehicle (3). A safety device controller (9) is coupled to the host vehicle (3). The controller (9) generates a threshold assessment based on the target object future relative position and relative velocity. The controller (9) also controls the safety device actuator (5) by providing an actuation signal. The controller (9) operates through logic designed to estimate whether a potential for crash between the host vehicle (3) and the target object is within the threshold for the safety device actuator (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Manoharprasad K. Rao, Kwaku O. Prakah-Asante, Md Abul Masrur
  • Patent number: 6681195
    Abstract: A compact speed measurement system for field or onsite use in measuring speeds of vehicles and capturing images of select vehicles. The system includes a laser speed detector for determining a speed of a vehicle in a specific target area. When a speed is determined, the detector generates a speed signal. The system includes a camera generally aligned with the speed detector operable to capture and store digital still images of vehicles in memory. The camera is programmed to respond to an image capture signal to generate and transmit a digital image file including a still image of the vehicle targeted by the detector. A portable field processor is communicatively linked to the speed detector and the camera to first receive the speed signal, to process the speed signal and to transmit an image capture signal to the camera, and to receive the digital image file from the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Laser Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Poland, Eric A. Miller, Jeremy G. Dunne, David W. Williams, Mark Frischman, Bruce Kenneth Clifford
  • Patent number: 6651028
    Abstract: Modulating digital data onto a carrier frequency and then amplitude modulating the result with a waveform of a different frequency permits measuring position and velocity of an elevator cab while transmitting digital data to the cab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Lester H. Kosowsky, Richard Gryzbowski
  • Publication number: 20030142009
    Abstract: A distance and speed measuring method and a radar signal processing apparatus using the method are provided which are capable of obtaining highly reliable measurement results while reducing the number of false targets and undetectable targets, by obtaining the relative distance and the relative speed of each target based on the frequencies of a beat signal of up (or down) phase alone through the use of information in a time series direction of the frequencies of the beat signal of up (or down) phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Masashi Mitsumoto, Takamitsu Okada, Takahiko Fujisaka, Yoshio Kosuge, Koichi Kai
  • Patent number: 6594614
    Abstract: A warning system that warns an operator of an impending collision with an object while the operator is backing up. The system scans behind the vehicle with an emitter/sensor system and determines a time-to-collision with the object based on distance to the object and vehicle speed. Based upon the time-to-collision, a simple combination of visual and audio signals is designed to let the operator known of the imminency of a collision with the object so that the operator may react and make appropriate countermeasures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Glen Studt, Ronald Melvin Taylor
  • Patent number: 6577267
    Abstract: A device for non-contractual measurement of the speed of an object moving over a surface comprises a means for radiating a signal of fixed frequency at an angle onto the surface in or against the direction of motion, said angle being variable by the movement of the object, and for receiving a Doppler-shifted signal reflected at the surface. A means is provided for combining a plurality of reflected Doppler-shifted signals, which are received in temporal succession, so as to produce a combined spectrum. The device for non-contractual speed measurement additionally comprises a means for detecting from the combined spectrum the spectral portion having the highest or lowest frequency and exceeding a predetermined signal power, and a means for deducing the speed from the frequency of the detected spectral portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Forderung
    Inventors: Stefan Moedl, Norbert Weber, Josef Sauerer
  • Patent number: 6502053
    Abstract: A combination passive and active detection system including a passive speed and range detection system able to sense the speed and range of a moving object and an active speed detection system able to sense the speed and range of a moving object. The passive speed detection system is preferably an electro-optical speed and range detection system. The active speed detection system is preferably a laser speed and range detection system. The combination detection system preferably is selectively operable in a dual operational mode, a “passive-only” operational mode, and “active-only” operational mode, a triggering operational mode, and an active recording operational mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Inventors: Larry C. Hardin, Larry V. Nash
  • Patent number: 6338028
    Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor system (36) has a transducer (40) that emits an ultrasonic signal (54), in response to an electrical excitation signal (52) from driver/receiver circuitry (42), and outputs an electrical response signal (58), in response to receipt of a reflected ultrasonic signal (56) from an object, such as a vehicle occupant (14). The response signal (58) is an oscillating signal that has a voltage amplitude indicative of the strength of the reflected ultrasonic signal (56). A receiver circuit (68) of driver/receiver circuitry (42) processes the response signal (58) from said transducer (40) and outputs an analog, non-oscillating signal (60). The analog signal (60) has a voltage amplitude indicative of the voltage of the electrical response signal (58). A comparator (84) of a comparator preprocessor (44) compares the voltage of the analog signal (60) to a predetermined reference voltage (VREF1) and outputs a digital signal (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis James Shelton, Stephen R. W. Cooper
  • Patent number: 6272443
    Abstract: The invention concerns a test procedure for measuring the speed of individual objects, in which the test objects (5) are recorded one after another by three sensors (1, 2, 3) arranged on the trajectory. The time that the test object takes to go the distance from the first sensor (1) to the second sensor (2) is determined by means of a time-interval measuring device controlled by the sensors through the test signals (11a, 11b). The test signal outcome (11b) occurring at the second sensor (2) is stored and, during the recording of the test object through the third sensor (3), cross-correlated with the test signal outcome (11c) occurring at this occasion, whereby a corrected value results through the proposed assessment procedure in real time for the first-recorded time test value, which greatly reduces its test error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Inventor: Friedrich Motzko
  • Patent number: 6266627
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for measuring the speed of a vehicle by transmitting a wave beam directed at the vehicle, receiving a part of the wave beam reflected by the vehicle, comparing the reflected beam part with the transmitted wave beam and deriving from this comparison the speed of the vehicle, wherein during the speed measurement the position of the vehicle is also determined. A vehicle committing an offense can thus be identified unambiguously in a recording which is made after detection of the speeding offense. The speed of the vehicle can be determined from a difference in wavelength detected during the comparison between the reflected beam part and the transmitted wave beam, while the position of the vehicle is determined from a time lag detected during the comparison between the moment of transmitting and the moment of receiving the reflected beam part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventor: Tom Gatsonides
  • Patent number: 6230107
    Abstract: Correction for compensating for errors caused by the pitching movement of a vehicle is executed with high accuracy at low cost. The ground speed of the vehicle sensed by a Doppler sensor is corrected with angular velocities with respect to the center of gravity of the vehicle. In this correction, the center of rotation of the vehicle and the rotation of the Doppler sensor itself during the pitching movement of the vehicle are taken into account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Yamamoto, Hidekazu Nagase, Yasuo Kitahara