Trw Limited

Time Domain Corporation

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Northrop Grumman Space & Mission Systems Corporation

Gregory A Shreve

George W McIver

John Joseph Berenz

Joseph W Niesen

Barry Dunbridge

Susan J Glenn

Hsi-Shen E Tsou

Robert Bruce Stokes

Barry Ross Allen

Marshall Y Huang

David Langford

Robert W Hulvey

Mark T Core

Philip J Moffa

Peter L McAdam

Samuel Talmadge

James G Harrison

Thomas G Schnerk

Martin M LaCon

James Carl Schatzman

Katherine E MacQueen

Catherine L Im

Zhang Liu

Michael J Nieburg

Kim S Guzzino

A satellite communications system includes a plurality of satellites that generate communications data over a plurality of channels. A plurality of antennas receives the communications data over the plurality of channels generated by the plurality of satellites. Each of the antennas receives a separate signal from each of the plurality of satellites over the channels. A converter digitizes each of the separate signals from each of the plurality of satellites received at the plurality of antennas. A processor forms separate digital beams from each of the separate signals digitized by the converter.

Array processing for satellite communications

Systems and methods are provided for orienting an antenna in a communications system on a mobile platform to orient a peak of the antenna pattern in a direction associated with a signal source. A signal from a signal source is received at the antenna. A signal strength is measured from the received signal. A signal strength and a misalignment of the antenna along at least one axis are predicted according to a previous estimate of the signal strength, a previous estimate of the misalignment of the antenna, an estimated change in the signal strength, and a known change in the antenna orientation. The predicted signal strength and misalignment of the antenna are updated according to the measured signal strength to provide an estimate of a current misalignment of the antenna. The orientation of the peak of the antenna pattern is adjusted according to the estimated current misalignment of the antenna.

Tracking arrangement for a communications system on a mobile platform

An imaging system () for providing vehicle security and convenience features that employs face recognition software to identify and track a person. The system () employs infrared emitters () that emit an infrared signal along a predetermined field-of-view, and an infrared sensor (), such as a CMOS sensor used as a video signal array, that receives reflected infrared illumination from objects in the field-of-view. A processor () including the face recognition software, is employed to detect human faces to identify and track the person. Once a face is detected, it can be compared to a data base to identify the person. Various applications for the imaging system () to provide driver convenience and security include determining driver identification as the driver approaches the vehicle, determining if a potential thief is in the vehicle by face recognition, providing driver seat adjustment, rear and side mirror adjustment and steering wheel adjustment, providing vehicle speed control, automatically starting the vehicle, etc.

Application of human facial features recognition to automobile security and convenience

A system and method are described that use impulse radio technology to enhance the capabilities of a robot. In one embodiment, a system, a robot and a method are provided that use the communication capabilities of impulse radio technology to help a control station better control the actions of the robot. In another embodiment, a system, a robot and a method are provided that use the communication, position and/or radar capabilities of impulse radio technology to help a control station better control the actions of a robot in order to, for example, monitor and control the environment within a building.

Method and system for controlling a robot

Direct-path-signal (DPS) detector circuitry includes a standard deviation calculator circuitry configured to determine a standard deviation of a plurality of data values within a data frame. The data frame corresponds to a radio-frequency signal received via a communication link. The DPS detector circuitry also includes a threshold circuitry configured to detect a direct-path signal depending on the relative values of the standard deviation and a threshold signal.

Direct-path-signal detection apparatus and associated methods

A vehicle occupant airbag deployment system () that detects, identifies and tracks a person () in the passenger seat () of a vehicle (), and provides a signal for no fire, soft fire or hard fire of the airbag () depending on the location of the person () in a crash event. The airbag deployment system () employs infrared emitters () that emit an infrared signal towards the passenger seat () of the vehicle () and an infrared detector () that receive reflected radiation from objects in the seat (). Processing circuitry (), including face recognition software, is employed to detect human face features to provide the necessary detection and tracking of the person (). In this manner, the system () prevents the airbag () from firing if the seat () is not occupied by a person (), prevents the airbag () from firing if a person () is detected, but is too close to the airbag (), and provides a soft fire if a person () is detected, but is within a soft fire range of the airbag ().

Human presence detection, identification and tracking using a facial feature image sensing system for airbag deployment

A system for providing the identification and tracking of motor vehicles that includes a probe device that transmits a radio frequency modulated signal to a transponder unit that is located within a vehicle registration tag of a vehicle. The transponder unit responds to the probe unit's request by transmitting its own radio frequency modulated signal containing any information requested by the probe device.

Smart license tag system

A human presence detection system ( ) that employs a frame differencing technique for subtracting out background interference from images generated by the system. The system ( ) includes an infrared source ( ) that generates a beam of infrared radiation, and an infrared detector ( ) that receives infrared radiation reflected from objects in the path of the beam. Face recognition software is employed to determine the presence of a person ( ) from the reflected radiation. The infrared source ( ) is pulsed on and off and the detector ( ) is synchronously shuttered to the pulses so that image frames are generated at different times, where one frame includes reflected radiation and background radiation and another frame includes only background radiation. The frames are subtracted to separate out the background radiation. In one embodiment, the detector ( ) includes a pixel array of photodiodes ( ) and first and second capacitor storage sites ( ) for storing the image frames on a single CMOS chip ( ). The storage sites ( ) are subtracted in a summation device ( ) that is also on the CMOS chip ( ). In an alternate embodiment, the frames are stored and subtracted at an off-chip site.

Optimized human presence detection through elimination of background interference

A system and method for determining angular offset of an impulse radio transmitter using an impulse radio receiver coupled to two antennae. The antennae are separated by some known distance, and, in one embodiment, one antennae is coupled to the radio with cable delay. Impulse signals from the antennae are measured to determine the time difference of arrival of one such signal received by one antenna compared to that of the other antenna. Time differential is measured by autocorrelation of the entire impulse radio scan period, by detecting the leading edges of both incoming signals or various combinations of these methods. Using a tracking receiver, the pulses may be continuously tracked thus providing real time position information.

Impulse radio receiver and method for finding angular offset of an impulse radio transmitter

A voice-activated microphone and transceiver system includes an interrogator unit for transmitting a signal, receiving a modulated signal, and demodulating the modulated signal such that the difference between the transmitted signal and the modulated signal correspond to a unique sound wave signal. An acoustically driven microphone unit is also included for receiving the signal from the interrogator unit, modulating the signal with the sound wave signal, wherein the sound wave signal contains instructions for controlling an electronic device, and transmitting the modulated signal back to the interrogator unit for analysis by a signal processor.

Passive voice-activated microphone and transceiver system

An imaging system ( ) for providing vehicle safety features that employs face recognition software to identify and track a person. The system ( ) employs infrared emitters ( ) that emit an infrared signal along a predetermined field-of-view, and an infrared sensor ( ), such as a CMOS sensor used as a video signal array, that receives reflected infrared illumination from objects in the field-of-view. A processor ( ) including the face recognition software, is employed to detect human faces to identify and track the person. Once a face is detected, it can be compared to a data base to identify the person. Various applications for the imaging system ( ) for providing vehicle safety features include identifying the driver or passenger for personalizing the vehicle's airbags, providing pre-crash collision avoidance, providing blind spot detection, providing vehicle crash recording, and providing a warning signal if the driver appears drowsy.

Application of human facial features recognition to automobile safety

A digital phase error detector for locking to a color subcarrier signal in an analog video signal. The digital phase error detector includes a digitizer responsive to a sample clock which generates a first digital data stream from the analog video signal. Filtering circuitry filters the first digital data stream to generate a second data stream by substantially eliminating DC offset of the color subcarrier signal digitized by the digitizer. A mixer mixes the second digital data stream to generate a third digital data stream representing sum and difference frequencies of a product of the color subcarrier signal and a reference clock. An accumulator accumulates this product which represents a phase error between the color subcarrier signal and the reference clock. A voltage controlled oscillator is responsive to this phase error for generating the sample clock.

Digital phase error detector for locking to color subcarrier of video

A radar system includes a radar transceiver for generating transmit signals and for receiving signals reflected by targets. The radar system includes a mixer for combining the transmit signals and the reflected signals into a mixer signal. A radar signal processor includes a sampling device, connected to the mixer, for sampling the mixer signal and for generating a sampled mixer signal. A spectrum estimation device, connected to the sampling device, generates a range profile signal including a plurality of range bins each containing a magnitude of a spectral component. A threshold device, connected to the spectrum estimation device, generates a target space array from the range profile signal. A target decision device, connected to the threshold device, generates estimated range and speed signals for a closest target from the target space array.

Growing community of inventors

Huntsville, AL, United States of America

Gregory A Shreve