e Duplex printer apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In accordance with one embodiment, a duplex printer apparatus comprises a first printing section configured to use an inkjet mechanism for carrying out printing on a first surface of a paper wound in a roll shape; a second printing section configured to be arranged at the downstream side of the first printing section in a paper conveyance direction and use a thermal printing mechanism for carrying out printing on a second surface serving as the back side of the first surface of the paper; and a heat amount changing section configured to change, according to the difference of printing by the first printing section, a driving condition of the thermal printing mechanism when the second printing section applies heat to a paper. Full Article
e Optical writing controller, image forming apparatus, and optical writing control method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An optical writing controller that controls a light source to expose a photoconductor and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor calculates a correction value for correcting a superimposing position where the developed images for different colors developing each of the electrostatic latent images formed on each of the multiple photoconductors are superimposed based on the detection signal output by a pattern detection sensor that detects a pattern for correcting the superimposing position, controls the multiple light sources to draw a predetermined pattern repeatedly in the sub-scanning direction so that stepwise patterns whose width in the main scanning direction varies with repetition are formed, and determines the width in the main scanning direction of the patterns for correcting based on the strength of the detection signal output by the pattern detection sensor. Full Article
e Image forming apparatus in which the light irradiated on a non-imaging portion is adjusted By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An image forming apparatus including a control unit configured to cause the light irradiation unit to irradiate the photosensitive member at an image forming portion to which toner particles adhere with light emitted from the light source by a first light emission amount, and cause the light irradiation unit to irradiate the photosensitive member at a non-image forming portion to which no toner particles adhere with light emitted from the light source by a second light emission amount that is smaller than the first light emission amount. The image forming apparatus further includes an adjusting unit configured to adjust the first light emission amount and the second light emission amount, and an acquisition unit configured to acquire information relating to a speed of surface of the photosensitive member. The adjusting unit is configured to change the second light emission amount according to information acquired by the acquisition unit. Full Article
e Optical scanning device, optical scanning device control method, and image forming apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An optical scanning device includes: a driving unit that drives a light source that outputs multiple light beams; a deflecting unit that scans a scanning surface in a main-scanning direction by deflecting the light beams, the scanning surface moving at a predetermined line speed in a sub-scanning direction; and a control unit that changes number of the light beams according to the line speed by controlling the driving unit, changes a scanning speed of the deflecting unit in the main-scanning direction according to a difference between an exposure amount per unit length in the main-scanning direction after a change in the number of the light beams and a predetermined exposure amount, and changes light intensity of each of the light beams output by the light source according to an amount of a change in the scanning speed. Full Article
e Laser scanning unit and image forming apparatus including the same, with laser light intensity detection, adjustment, and control By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A laser scanning unit includes a laser light source, rotating polygon mirror, drive motor, and entry detection, intensity detection, intensity adjustment, and drive control portions. The laser light source radiates first and second laser lights in first second directions, respectively. The drive motor rotates the polygon mirror reflecting the first laser light. The intensity adjustment portion adjusts the first laser light in accordance with the second laser light detected by the intensity detection portion, until a second time after a first time has elapsed since the first laser light entry detection by the entry detection portion. The drive control portion, upon adjustment by the intensity adjustment portion, drives the drive motor at a first rotation speed, wherein a return light entry timing is included within the first time or from when the second time has elapsed to the timing of the entry detection portion detection. Full Article
e Optical print head and image forming apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An optical print head, including: a light emitting substrate which includes a light emitting element on a base; a rod lens array which focuses light emitted from the light emitting element onto an image carrier, the rod lens array having a larger linear expansion coefficient than the base of the light emitting substrate; and expansion suppressing members which are attached to both lateral surfaces of the rod lens array in a direction that is perpendicular to an optical axis direction and is a shorter direction, each of the expansion suppressing members having a smaller linear expansion coefficient than the rod lens array. Full Article
e Image forming device with smoothing correction for plural light emitting segments By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An image forming device includes a photoreceptor drum including a target surface that is scanned in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction, an exposure head including a plurality of light emitting segments aligned in parallel to the main scanning direction, an exposure driving unit which selectively drives the plural light emitting segments, a storing unit which stores a profile where the respective positions of the plural light emitting segments correspond to a correction amount from the main scanning direction toward the sub-scanning direction at every position, and a correcting unit which smoothes a local change of the correction amount in the profile. Full Article
e 2-D straight-scan on imaging surface with a raster polygon By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A 2-D scanning system uses a fast-rotating raster-polygon as a single scanning component to produce straight scan lines over a 2-D image surface. An approach angle of incident light beams to the raster-polygon is selected to minimize pin-cushion distortion of scan lines introduced by polygon scanning on the image surface, and a tilt angle of the rotational axis of the raster-polygon is selected to position said polygon-scanning distortion symmetrically on the image surface. In addition, scan optics are configured to generate a predetermined amount of barrel distortion of scan lines on the image surface to compensate for pin-cushion distortion introduced by polygon scanning. Full Article
e Selecting printing masks optimized for line features and area fill features of image data By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT For each totally black pixel of image data to be printed using a fluid-ejection printing device, it is determined whether the pixel is part of a line feature or an area fill feature of the image data. Where the pixel is part of a line feature, a first printing mask selected that is optimized for printing line features. Where the pixel is part of an area fill feature, a second printing mask is selected that is optimized for printing area fill features. Each mask specifies a number of fluid droplets to be printed and positions where the fluid droplets are to be printed. The selected mask is applied to the pixel. The pixel is printed using the mask that has been applied. The fluid-ejection printing device prints the pixel by ejecting the number of fluid droplets specified by the mask at the positions specified by the mask. Full Article
e Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT A liquid ejecting head comprises a pressure generation chamber communicating with a nozzle opening, a vibrating wall provided as one surface of the pressure generation chamber and vibrates so that ejects the liquid from the nozzle opening, and a resin portion having a recessed arc-shape and formed in a corner of the pressure generation chamber and formed of a resin material having a Young's modulus of less than or equal to 10 GPa. A ratio r/w of a radius r of the surface of the resin portion to a width w of the pressure generation chamber defined by the vibrating wall is greater than or equal to 0.017 and less than or equal to 0.087. Full Article
e Substrate for inkjet head and inkjet head having protection layer including individual sections corresponding to heating resistors By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT There are provided a substrate for an inkjet head and an inkjet head wherein in a case where a protection layer of heating resistors is energized, an electrical connection with portions around the protection layer is more reliably cut. A first protection layer provided for the substrate for an inkjet head includes individual sections provided at positions corresponding to the plurality of heating resistors and a common section which commonly connects the plurality of individual sections. The individual sections and the common section are connected via connect sections which are eluted and connect in a case where an electrochemical reaction occurs between the connect sections and ink when electricity flow therethrough, so that an electrical connection between the individual sections and the common section is cut. Full Article
e Cover and liquid container By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cover for a liquid container which exposes at least a portion of a detecting member, having a liquid supply portion to a liquid ejecting apparatus through communicating with the liquid containing unit, and a first surface provided with a first container side engagement portion arranged between the liquid supply portion and the detecting member. The cover includes a first cover side engagement portion engaging with the first container side engagement portion. Full Article
e Method of detecting drops By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Sep 2015 08:00:00 EDT A liquid dispensing device (10), including a drop ejection device (12) including an orifice (18) adapted for ejecting drops therefrom, a single detection device (28) positioned to receive drop information from the ejected drops of the drop ejection device, and a controller (40) that receives the drop information and uses the drop information to determine a number of drops ejected from the drop ejection device. Full Article
e Tray unit and image recording device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Oct 2015 08:00:00 EDT A tray unit includes a first tray, a second tray, and a cover. The first tray includes a first holding surface for holding thereon a first sheet. The second tray includes a second holding surface for holding thereon a second sheet. The second tray is configured to slide above and along the first holding surface between a first second-tray position and a second second-tray position, and is configured to pivot between the second second-tray position and a third second-tray position in which the second tray stands upward with respect to the first holding surface. The cover is configured to cover from above at least a part of the second tray when the second tray is in the second second-tray position, and is configured to pivot between a first cover position in which the cover extends along the first holding surface and a second cover position in which the cover stands upward with respect to the first holding surface. Full Article
e Disposable digital camera with printing assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Oct 2015 08:00:00 EDT A digital camera includes an image capture assembly; a print media transport assembly; a pagewidth ink jet printhead; a roll of print media; an internal chassis serving as a frame on which the image capture assembly, the print media transport assembly, and the printhead are directly supported; and an external casing completely encasing therewithin the internal chassis. The external casing is openable, and the internal chassis together with the assemblies and printhead supported thereon are removable from the external casing. The internal chassis is provided as an integral frame configured with pre-molded fittings adapted to receive and support the assemblies and printhead. Full Article
e Piezoelectric element, liquid ejecting head, and liquid ejecting apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Dec 2015 08:00:00 EST A piezoelectric element comprises a piezoelectric layer made of a perovskite compound containing sodium, potassium, lithium, niobium and tantalum and bismuth manganate and electrodes for applying a voltage to the piezoelectric layer. Full Article
e Method and system for locating signal emitters using cross-correlation of received signal strengths By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and system for determining a location of a first device that emits a signal: provide at least three sensors separated and spaced apart from each other; at each of the sensors, receive the signal emitted by the first device; determine the received signals for each of the sensors; determine cross-correlations of the received signals for pairs of the sensors; and determine the location of the first device from the magnitudes of the cross-correlations of the received signals. Full Article
e Interrogator and system employing the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An interrogator and system employing the same. In one embodiment, the interrogator includes a receiver configured to receive a return signal from a tag and a sensing module configured to provide a time associated with the return signal. The interrogator also includes a processor configured to employ synthetic aperture radar processing on the return signal in accordance with the time to locate a position of the tag. Full Article
e Electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber includes: an electromagnetic wave absorbing apparatus installed in an intended space of the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber for adjusting a reflection characteristic of an inside of the electromagnetic wave reverberation chamber, wherein the electromagnetic wave absorbing apparatus have an electromagnetic bandgap structure including a plurality of unit cells arranged periodically. Full Article
e Detection sensor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is a detection sensor, which can detect various detection regions even with a small-sized antenna. Full Article
e Air defense system architecture combining passive radars and active radars By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The architecture includes a passive radar using opportunistic transmitters and a plurality of active radars that cooperate in the form of a coalition to assure the surveillance of an area of space. The passive radar and the active radars that form the architecture include means for exchanging information and the passive radar is configured to adopt two alternate operating modes: (i) a “watching” mode in which the passive radar carries out surveillance of the area of space concerned and generates detection information, and (ii) an “on-demand data feed” mode in which the passive radar executes at the request of one or more active radars an object search in a given sector of the area under surveillance or an analysis of certain characteristics of the signal received in a given sector. Full Article
e Measurement device, measurement system, measurement method, and program By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a technique capable of suppressing the deterioration in azimuth resolution and distance resolution in even a modulated and transmitted or received signal or a signal reflected by an object and varied in intensity when acquiring waveform information. A measurement device comprise: a plurality of sensors which receive waves propagating through a space; and a sampling timing calculation means which obtains, on the basis of the relative positions of the sensors and the velocities of the waves, the difference between the arrival times of the waves received by the respective sensors and calculates, for each sensor, sampling timing for acquiring the waveform information relating to the waves, on the basis of the difference between the arrival times. Full Article
e Optimizing switching sequence in the case of switched antenna arrays By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An antenna array for a radar sensor, wherein the antenna array has a number of antenna elements linearly arranged next to one another. The antenna elements are designed for transmitting or receiving a radar signal, and the antenna array has a switching unit, which is designed to connect the antenna elements according to a predetermined switching sequence individually, one after the other in time, with a transmitting or receiving unit of the radar sensor. The switching sequence, according to which the antenna elements are connected one after the other with the transmitting or receiving unit, deviates from the spatial sequence of the antenna elements in the antenna array. Full Article
e Intermittent filling level determination with dynamically determined number of measurements By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of determining a filling level of a product contained in a tank using a level gauge system, comprising the steps of: transmitting a first signal towards a surface of the product; receiving a first echo signal; determining a present echo characteristic value based on the first echo signal; and comparing the present echo characteristic value and a stored echo characteristic value. If a difference between the present echo characteristic value and the stored echo characteristic value is greater than a predefined value, the method further comprises transmitting at least a second transmit signal towards the surface; receiving at least a second echo signal; and determining the filling level based on the at least second electromagnetic echo signal. Full Article
e Method for monitoring the state of a fill level measuring device operating according to the radar principle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for monitoring the state of a fill level measuring device (1) operating according to the radar principle and such a fill level measuring device, wherein the fill level measuring device (1) has at least one transceiver unit (2) for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals, and at least one antenna (3) for guiding, radiating and receiving electromagnetic signals. The antenna (3) has at least one interior space (4), and wherein the antenna (3) has a transmission characteristic with regard to the transmission of electromagnetic signals. Electromagnetic signals are emitted or directed at least partially in the direction of a wall section (5) of the interior space (4) of the antenna (3), the received electromagnetic signals are evaluated with respect to the transmission characteristic of the antenna (3), and the result of the evaluation is compared to at least one stored reference value. Full Article
e System and method of radar location By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method of radar location comprises radar signal emission means, an emitted pulse of duration T1 and index i starting at instant T2(i); means receiving reflected radar signals; means determining correlation between reconstruction of an emitted pulse and signal received during the time interval between T2(i)+2*T1 and T2(i+1). The means determining a correlation can reconstruct a set, of at least one truncated pulse j of duration T3(j), less than T1, corresponding to the final part of said emitted pulse, said truncated pulses having increasing respective durations, determining at least one first correlated signal j by correlation of said truncated pulse j and signal received during time interval between T2(i)+T1 and T2(i)+T1+T3(j) and determining a second signal, based on first correlated signals j, by copying the time interval, of said correlated signal j, between T2(i)+T1+T3(j) and T2(i)+T1+T3(j+1), onto the time interval, of said second signal, between T2(i)+T1+T3(j) and T2(i)+T1+T3(j+1). Full Article
e Portable biometric monitoring devices having location sensors By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Assisted-GPS for a portable biometric monitoring device is provided. The portable biometric monitoring device may obtain updated ephemeris data from an associated secondary device via a short-range, low-power communication protocol. The secondary device may be a computing device such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Various rules may control when the ephemeris data is updated. The ephemeris data may be used in the calculation of the global position of the portable biometric monitoring device. Additionally, the portable biometric monitoring device may communicate downloaded position fixing data to the associated secondary device. The associated secondary device may then calculate the global position from the position fixing data. Full Article
e Satellite differential positioning receiver using multiple base-rover antennas By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A rover processor determines position of a rover based upon the interaction between multiple antennas located at the rover and multiple antennas located at a base. The rover antennas may include a rover master antenna having a phase center located at the centroid of the antennas patterns of at least two auxiliary rover antennas. The rover processor may determine the position of the rover master antenna based upon the relative positions of at least two rover antennas (e.g., the rover master antenna and at least one rover auxiliary antenna, or at least two rover auxiliary antennas) with respect to at least two antennas of a base transceiver. Full Article
e Positioning using a local wave-propagation model By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus for assisting the calculation of the position of a receiver device (1200), by observing a transmitted signal having a known structure. The method comprises: comparing (S220) the time of arrival, at a reference position (X1), of a first portion of the signal with the time of arrival at the receiver, at an unknown position (Y1), of a second portion of the signal; obtaining (S230) a local wave propagation model of the signal, the model comprising an estimate of the direction of propagation of the signal in the neighborhood of the reference position and unknown position; and using (S240) the direction of propagation and the result of the comparison to assist in the calculation of the unknown position relative to the reference position. Full Article
e Communication system, apparatus and methods for calibrating an antenna array By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for calibrating (700) an antenna array comprises a plurality of antenna elements coupled to a plurality of respective receive paths in a wireless communication system. The method comprises, in receive mode, applying a test signal to an individual single receive path (715) of the plurality of receive paths; and feeding back the test signal via a switched coupler network. The method further comprises running a receive calibration measurement routine to determine at least one measurement value used to calibrate the individual signal receive path and waiting for at least one converged measurement value; and extracting (720) the converged measurement value for at least one individual receive path. The steps of applying, running, extracting for a next individual single receive path are repeated until the calibration routine has completed (725). The method further comprises selecting a converged measurement value of at least one individual receive path from a plurality of receive paths (730) to form a reference receiver calibration result (730); normalizing a plurality of at least one measurement values of the plurality of receive paths using the reference receiver calibration result (730); and applying a normalized value to at least one of the plurality of receive paths. Full Article
e Wide area positioning systems and methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Devices, systems, and methods for sending positional information from transmitters/beacons are disclosed. In one implementation a transmitter generates a range block including a ranging signal and a hybrid block including positioning data, and sends the range block and hybrid block in predefined slots in a transmit frame. A receiver in a user device receives signals from a plurality of transmitters and generates position/location information using trilateration and measured altitude information in comparison with transmitter altitude information. Full Article
e Wireless communication terminal By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A wireless communication terminal includes a communication status measurement element for measuring communication status data representing a communication status of the self terminal at the time of wireless communications; a reference data storage element for storing respective pieces of preset reference data representing communication statuses of a terminal which can be measured at respective locations at the time of wireless communications, in association with respective pieces of location data identifying the respective locations, and a location specifying element for comparing the communication status data measured by the communication status measurement element with the respective pieces of reference data stored in the reference data storage element, and based on the comparison result, specifying a location corresponding to the location data associated with a particular piece of reference data as a location of the self terminal. Full Article
e Time of arrival (TOA) estimation for positioning in a wireless communication network By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Techniques for determining time of arrivals (TOAs) of signals in a wireless communication network are described. Each cell may transmit (i) synchronization signals on a set of contiguous subcarriers in the center portion of the system bandwidth and (ii) reference signals on different sets of non-contiguous subcarriers distributed across the system bandwidth. A UE may determine TOA for a cell based on multiple signals transmitted on different sets of subcarriers. The UE may perform correlation for a first signal (e.g., a synchronization signal) from the cell to obtain first correlation results for different time offsets. The UE may perform correlation for a second signal (e.g., a reference signal) from the cell to obtain second correlation results for different time offsets. The UE may combine the first and second correlation results and may determine the TOA for the cell based on the combined correlation results. Full Article
e System and method for processing and displaying wake turbulence By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method to display, when within an envelope of an ownship's flight path, a symbol representing wake turbulence from another aircraft based on aircraft type and flight parameters received from the other aircraft, the symbol being formatted to indicate the severity of portions of the wake turbulence. The format is modified periodically in accordance with the aircraft's flight path and a decay rate of the wake turbulence. Full Article
e System and method for modifying adaptive cruise control set points By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A driver performance mapping system for a vehicle system is disclosed. The system may include a GPS receiver generating GPS data indicative of a current location of the vehicle. In addition, the system may also have a radar device generating current gap data indicative of a current gap distance from the vehicle to a lead vehicle. Further, the system may include an electronic controller configured to generate learned gap data based on the current gap data and stored gap data, and then assign the learned gap data with the GPS data. Full Article
e Unmanned aircraft with built-in collision warning system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An unmanned aircraft, unmanned aviation system and method for collision avoidance during the flight operation of an unmanned aircraft are provided. The unmanned aircraft includes a lift and propulsion system and a flight control system having a flight control unit, a navigation system and an actuator system. The flight control unit has an autopilot unit. The flight control unit calculates control commands using data from the navigation system and/or the autopilot unit, which can be conveyed to the actuator system for actuating the lift and propulsion system. A collision warning system is connected with the flight control system, the collision warning system detects a collision situation and makes collision avoidance data available. A connection between the collision warning system and the autopilot unit is provided, in order to initiate an obstacle avoidance maneuver by the autopilot unit with the help of the collision avoidance data. Full Article
e Route re-planning using enemy force lethality projection By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method, system and computer readable media for route re-planning including generating enemy force movement predictions to be used during mission planning. During a mission, enemy force movements can be compared to the predictions. By using enemy force movement predictions for an initial comparison, the enemy force movements may only need to be compared to the own force mission plan if the enemy forces deviate from the predictions. When enemy force movement deviates from the predictions, new enemy force movement predictions can be generated. The new enemy force movement predictions can then be compared to the own force mission plan to determine if a route re-plan is needed. The route can be re-planned to determine a route that reduces or eliminates the chance of a lethal encounter with an enemy or threat. Full Article
e Methods and apparatus for electromagnetic signal polarimetry sensing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method of identifying changes utilizing radio frequency polarization includes receiving a reflected and/or transmitted polarized radio frequency signal at a receiver, filtering, amplifying and conditioning the received signal, converting the received signal from an analog format to a digital format, processing the digital signal to elicit a polarization mode dispersion feature of the received signal, and comparing the polarization mode dispersion features to a known calibration to detect a change in a characteristic of the target object. Full Article
e Device and method for determining a sample rate difference By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In embodiments, a device is illustrated for determining a sample rate difference between a first information signal and a second information signal including an offset determiner for determining for each of a plurality of segments of the first information signal, associated offset values which temporally align the plurality of segments with respect to the second information signal and a calculator for calculating the sample rate difference on the basis of the offset values. Full Article
e SAR autofocus for ground penetration radar By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of synthetic aperture radar autofocus for ground penetration radar. The method includes transmitting a signal via an antenna; receiving a reflected signal comprising a plurality of image blocks via the antenna; reading each image block from the reflected signal via a processor; locating prominent targets in each image block via the processor; estimating ground penetration phase error via the processor in each image block via phase error inputs including pulling range and quantization level by generating a 1D phase error and converting the 1D phase error into a 2D phase error of an image spectra; refocusing each image block according to estimated ground penetration phase error for that image block via the processor; and forming an image mosaic comprising each refocused image block via the processor. Full Article
e Vectorization approach to isolating local maxima in an N-dimensional dataset By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Identification of maximum power scatters in an N-dimensional dataset generally requires two basic steps. The first step is to identify the max power scatters of the dataset and the second step removes neighboring power scatters (e.g., “hits”) of lower power. Current naïve approaches utilize an inefficient and computationally intensive brute force implementation which requires multiple comparisons of each initial “hit” power to all “hits” of lesser power. Such brute force implementations require 2×N×(M−1)! comparisons, where N is the number of dimensions and M is the number of “hits.” Embodiments of the present disclosure utilize vectorization to identify a plurality of neighboring hits for each max power scatter and removes the neighboring hits of lesser power that are within a predetermined isolation region. Advantageously, embodiments of the present invention perform M−1 comparisons. Full Article
e Apparatus and method for assisting vertical takeoff vehicles By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT According to one aspect of the present invention, a radar system is provided which accurately measures the surface profile in a wide sector beneath and forward of a helicopter, to aid low level transit and landing in poor visibility. This uses an electronic beam synthesis technique to form multiple beams directed at the area of interest, each measuring the distance to the first reflected signal received by each beam. These distances represent the profile of the ground and any objects on the ground. A processor then compares the measured profile with the ideal ground profile for safe landing. If the deviations from straight and level exceed the specified requirement for safe landing, or if sufficient rotor clearance is not detected, then a warning is given to the operator. A display will show the measured ground profile highlighting the unsafe regions, allowing the operator to seek a safe region to land. The novelty lies in the way the beams are formed to measure and display the ground profile and provide a warning system. This beam-forming technique is simpler and more cost effective than with a conventional phased array radar. Full Article
e Object detection device and object detection method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is an object detection device capable of improving object detection accuracy by preventing erroneous combination detection. In this device, a detection object region correction unit (103) corrects a detection object region set by a detection object region set unit (102) on the basis of moving speed map information associated with a coordinate group in a reference image plane and the detected moving speed on each coordinate, which is detected by a radar. Thus, the detection object region can be amended by the use of the moving speed map information even when the detection object region is obtained as a result of erroneous combination. As a result, the object detection accuracy can be improved. Full Article
e Systems and methods for determining a radar device coverage region By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system for determining a coverage region of a radar device is disclosed. The system may have one or more processors and a memory. The memory may store instructions that, when executed, enable the one or more processors to receive radar data generated by a radar device and lidar data generated by a lidar device. The radar data may include radar data points representing objects detected by the radar device and the lidar data may include lidar data points representing objects detected by the lidar device. The one or more processors may be further enabled to determine a radar coverage region for the radar device by comparing one or more radar data points to one or more lidar data points, and to generate data used to display a graphical representation of the radar coverage region. Full Article
e Device and method for controlling tracking information, and radar device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT This disclosure provides a tracking information control device. The device includes a receiver for receiving, from two radar devices, data relating to a target echo received by a radar antenna of one of the radar devices, and data relating to a target echo received by a radar antenna of the other radar device, the data being obtained from tracking the target echoes, respectively, a determiner for determining whether the target echoes indicate the same target object, an ID applier for applying the same ID to the target echoes when the determiner determines that the target echoes indicate the same target object, and a transmitter for transmitting the same IDs to the radar devices in order to inform whether the target echoes displayed by the radar devices, respectively, indicate the same target object. Full Article
e Method, device and program for processing signals, and radar apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
e Radar sensor and method of detecting object using the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
e Target tracking apparatus, storage medium stored a target tracking program, target tracking system, and target tracking method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT According to one embodiment, a target tracking apparatus acquires a first determination result by determining which combination of N-dimensional tracks is for the real target, acquires a second determination result by determining which combination of N-dimensional angular observation values is for the real target, selects the first determination result when an observation environment is an environment other than a dense environment, selects the second determination result when the observation environment is a dense environment, and calculates distance information to thereby generate an (N+1)-dimensional track for each target. Full Article
e RF based tracker for rotating objects By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An RF beam is used to probe the presence or absence of a rotating blade in a known field of view. Timing of appearance or disappearance or “zero-crossing” of a reflected signal is correlated with timing of the blade movement. Blades which are leading or lagging versus other blades will produce different timing signatures representative of alignment of the blades. Full Article
e Determining the location of a load for a tower crane By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A tower crane load location determiner is disclosed. One example includes a load location measurer to provide load location measurement information for a load coupled with a tower crane. In addition, a load position determiner utilizes the load location measurement information to determine a location of the load. A user accessible load location provider provides the determined location of the load. Full Article