ar PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD HAVING HIGH-SPEED OR HIGH-FREQUENCY SIGNAL CONNECTOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A printed circuit board includes a substrate including a surface layer and a first ground layer; a high-frequency signal generation part provided in the surface layer of the substrate; at least one high-frequency signal connector mounting portion formed in the surface layer of the substrate; at least one high-frequency signal line formed in the surface layer of the substrate, and extend from the high-frequency signal generation part to the at least one high-frequency signal connector mounting portion; and at least one high-frequency signal connector disposed in the at least one high-frequency signal connector mounting portion, wherein an end of the first ground layer is exposed to a side surface of the substrate, and when the high-frequency signal connector is disposed in the at least one high-frequency signal connector mounting portion, a ground of the high-frequency signal connector is in contact with the end of the first ground layer. Full Article
ar BUSBAR, CONSUMER UNIT, USE OF SUCH A CONSUMER UNIT, POWER TRANSMISSION DEVICE AND BUILDING ELEMENT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a busbar having a profiled body which forms an elongate receiving channel, a first and a second groove being formed in the channel floor, and the electrical conductors being arranged in the first and second groove. Furthermore, the invention relates to a consumer unit for securing to such a busbar and for drawing current or data from such a busbar, and the use of the consumer unit in conjunction with such a busbar. Further aspects of the invention form a power transmission device having such a busbar and such a consumer unit, as well as a building element in which such a busbar is installed. Full Article
ar CARD HOLDING MEMBER AND CARD CONNECTOR SET By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A card holding member able to be inserted into a card connector via an insertion slot in an outer member and able to hold a card equipped with terminal members, the card holding member comprising a card accommodating portion able to accommodate the card, a connecting base portion connected to the card accommodating portion, a movable sleeve mounted on the connecting base portion slidably in the insertion and ejection directions of the card holding member, a first sealing member forming a seal between the connecting base portion and the movable sleeve, and a second sealing member forming a seal between the insertion slot and the movable sleeve. Full Article
ar ADAPTERS FOR ADAPTING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE TO A MODULAR ELECTRONIC DEVICE SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT There is provided an adapter for adapting an electronic device to a modular electronic device system. The adapter generally has a housing having two lateral edges, a cavity between the lateral edges and being adapted to receive the electronic device, each of the two lateral edges of the housing having at least one magnetic coupler electrically connectable with at least one magnetic coupler of the modular electronic device system by magnetically engaging the at least one magnetic coupler of the adapter with the at least one magnetic coupler of the modular electronic device system, and an internal electric conductor network electrically connected to the magnetic couplers of the adapter and electrically connected to an internal connector which is electrically connectable to the electronic device when received in the cavity of the housing. Full Article
ar Distributed Power Harvesting Systems Using DC Power Sources By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A distributed power harvesting system including multiple direct current (DC) power sources with respective DC outputs adapted for interconnection into a interconnected DC power source output. A converter includes input terminals adapted for coupling to the interconnected DC power source output. A circuit loop sets the voltage and current at the input terminals of the converter according to predetermined criteria. A power conversion portion converts the power received at the input terminals to an output power at the output terminals. A power supplier is coupled to the output terminals. The power supplier includes a control part for maintaining the input to the power supplier at a predetermined value. The control part maintains the input voltage and/or input current to the power supplier at a predetermined value. Full Article
ar Arrangement with circuit carrier for an electronic device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An arrangement for an electronic device is disclosed. A plurality of electrically conductive pins is positioned in respective vias of the circuit carrier, the pins extend from a first face of the circuit carrier to a contact end in order to electrically contact one or more components. The arrangement is equipped with an electrically insulating layer on a circuit carrier face, which is the first or a second face, in the region of the pin, the insulating layer having a prefabricated element which is positioned on the face of the circuit carrier. A portion of each pin, the portion being arranged adjacently to the respective via on the face, is surrounded by the material of the insulating layer in a continuously lateral manner. Full Article
ar Linear edge connector with activator bar and contact load spring By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An example apparatus for connecting linear edge cards includes a housing to hold at least one set of conductive contacts facing perpendicularly towards a mating plane. The apparatus further includes an activator bar coupled to the housing, the activator bar to hold two parts of the housing apart via two opposing normal forces. The apparatus also includes a contact load spring coupled to the housing, the contact load spring to apply two forces parallel to the direction of the conductive contacts and against the two opposing normal forces of the activator bar. The apparatus further includes an ejector spring coupled to the contact load spring and the activator bar. The ejector spring is to apply a force perpendicular to the two opposing normal forces of the activator bar and in a direction of an opening of the housing. Full Article
ar SOCKET APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A socket apparatus, including a plate for being held by sockets of a wall outlet in contact with a front surface of the wall outlet, the plate shaped complementary to the front surface of the wall outlet and comprising holes shaped and located corresponding to the sockets of the wall outlet; metal apertures, each extending from one of the holes of the plate, the metal apertures for receiving electric supply from the sockets of the wall outlet, and for inserting prongs of a plug of an electric appliance thereinto; an electric gadget, for providing an electric function; and an electric circuit, for receiving electric supply from the metal apertures, and for converting the electric supply to the electric function. The wall socket further includes a foldable or removable extension pin, for allowing attaching thereof to at least one of the prongs of the plug of the electric appliance, for extending thereof. Full Article
ar RADIALLY AND AXIALLY-COMPRESSED CERAMIC SEALING METHOD AND APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a system and method for providing a seal for an electrical penetrator in a subsea environment. More specifically, the present invention provides for a system for creating a seal about an electrical penetrator without using o-rings or independent seals. The present invention provides for a set of supporting apparatuses to be placed in compression about a central ceramic penetrator element. The geometry of the central ceramic penetrator element and the interior of the supporting apparatuses forms a hermetic seal when under a constant radial and axial, or axial compressive force. Full Article
ar Universal linear edge connector By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus comprises a cable connector including: a first connector body portion including a first plurality of electrical contacts arranged to contact electrical contacts of a first surface of an edge connector substrate; a second connector body portion separate from the first connector body portion and including a second plurality of electrical contacts arranged to oppose the first plurality of electrical contacts of the first connector body portion and to contact electrical contacts of a second surface of the edge connector substrate, wherein the first and second plurality of electrical contacts are electrically coupled to one or more cables; and a joining mechanism configured to join the first connector body portion and the second connector body portion together and to apply a bias force to the edge connector substrate when the edge connector substrate is arranged between the first connector body portion and the second connector body portion. Full Article
ar CARD EDGE CONNECTOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A card edge connector includes an insultive housing, a plurality of conductive terminals retained in the insultive housing and a metal frame retained in the insultive housing. The insultive housing defines two sidewalls extending along a longitudinal direction and two endwalls connected to the longitudinal ends of the sidewalls. The metal frame is integrally formed in the insulative housing and defines an elongated flat portion and a pair of fixing portions extending downwardly from both longitudinal ends of the flat portion, the flat portion is embedded into an upper portion of the insulative housing. Full Article
ar Nano-fabricated structured diamond abrasive article By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention describes a microfabricated or nanofabricated structured diamond abrasive with a high surface density array of geometrical protrusions of pyramidal, truncated pyramidal or other shape, of designed shapes, sizes and placements, which provides for improved conditioning of CMP polishing pads, or other abrasive roles. Three methods of fabricating the structured diamond abrasive are described: molding of diamond into an array of grooves of various shapes and sizes etched into Si or another substrate material, with subsequent transferal onto another substrate and removal of the Si; etching of an array of geometrical protrusions into a thick diamond layer, and depositing a thick diamond layer over a substrate pre-patterned (or pre-structured) with an array of geometrical protrusions of designed sizes, shapes and placements on the surface. Full Article
ar High porosity abrasive articles and methods of manufacturing same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An abrasive article includes a polymer matrix and abrasive grains dispersed in the polymer matrix, wherein the abrasive article has a void volume of at least 50%. The polymer matrix is polymerized from a monomer including at least one double bond. Full Article
ar Methods of fabricating polycrystalline diamond products using a selected amount of graphite particles By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the invention relate to polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) fabricated by sintering a mixture including diamond particles and a selected amount of graphite particles, polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”) having a PCD table comprising such PCD, and methods of fabricating such PCD and PDCs. In an embodiment, a method includes providing a mixture including graphite particles present in an amount of about 0.1 weight percent (“wt %”) to about 20 wt % and diamond particles. The method further includes subjecting the mixture to a high-pressure/high-temperature process sufficient to form PCD. Full Article
ar Abrasive articles including abrasive particles of silicon nitride By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An abrasive article includes a body having abrasive particles contained within a bond material. The abrasive particles can include a majority content of silicon nitride and a minority content of sintering material including at least two rare-earth oxide materials. In an embodiment, the rare-earth oxide materials can include Nd2O3 and Y2O3. In a particular embodiment, the abrasive particles comprise a content (wt %) of Nd2O3 that is greater than a content of Y2O3 (wt %). Full Article
ar Bonded abrasive article and method of forming By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of forming an abrasive article includes providing a green body having abrasive particles including microcrystalline alumina, and heating the green body via microwave radiation to form a bonded abrasive body including the abrasive particles and a bond material comprising a vitreous phase. Full Article
ar Polycrystalline ultra-hard material with microstructure substantially free of catalyst material eruptions By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Polycrystalline ultra-hard materials and compacts comprise an ultra-hard material body having a polycrystalline matrix of bonded together ultra-hard particles, e.g., diamond crystals, and a catalyst material disposed in interstitial regions within the polycrystalline matrix. The material microstructure is substantially free of localized concentrations, regions or volumes of the catalyst material or other substrate constituent. The body can include a region extending a depth from a body working surface and that is substantially free of the catalyst material. The compact is produced using a multi-stage HPHT process, e.g., comprising two HPHT process conditions, wherein during a first stage HPHT process the catalyst material is melted and only partially infiltrates the precursor ultra-hard material, and during a second stage further catalyst material infiltrates the precursor ultra-hard material to produce a fully sintered compact. Full Article
ar Imide cross-linked binders for abrasive articles By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An abrasive article includes a fibrous substrate, a binder disposed on the fibrous substrate, and abrasive grains in contact with the binder. The binder includes an imide cross-linked urethane derived from a blocked isocyanate component and an anhydride component. Full Article
ar Abrasive article for use in grinding of superabrasive workpieces By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An abrasive article including a bonded abrasive having a body formed of abrasive grains contained within a bond material, wherein the body grinds a superabrasive workpiece having an average Vickers hardness of at least about 5 GPa at an average specific grinding energy (SGE) of not greater than about 350 J/mm3, at a material removal rate of at least about 8 mm3/sec, and wherein grinding is a centerless grinding operation. Full Article
ar Methods of fabricating a polycrystalline diamond body with a sintering aid/infiltrant at least saturated with non-diamond carbon and resultant products such as compacts By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the invention relate to methods of fabricating a polycrystalline diamond compacts and applications for such polycrystalline diamond compacts. In an embodiment, a method of fabricating a polycrystalline diamond body includes mechanically milling non-diamond carbon and a sintering aid material for a time and aggressiveness sufficient to form a plurality of carbon-saturated sintering aid particles and sintering a plurality of diamond particles in the presence of the plurality of carbon-saturated sintering aid particles to form the polycrystalline diamond body. Full Article
ar Bonded abrasive article and method of forming By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An abrasive article having an abrasive body including abrasive grains contained within a bond material, wherein the abrasive grains comprise microcrystalline alumina, and wherein the bond material includes less than about 1.0 mol % phosphorous oxide (P2O5), and a ratio measured in mol % between a total content of sodium oxide (Na2O) and a total content of potassium oxide (K2O) defined by [K2O/Na2O] having a value greater than about 0.5. Full Article
ar Methods for orienting superabrasive particles on a surface and associated tools By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods of making a superabrasive tool precursor are disclosed, along with such precursors and associated tools. Particularly, methods are disclosed for orienting superabrasive particles in a viscous binding material in order to provide tools based thereupon and having desired performance characteristics. Full Article
ar CMP pad with local area transparency By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A CMP polishing pad comprising (a) a polishing layer having a polishing surface and a back surface opposite said polishing surface; said polishing layer having at least one cured opaque thermoset polyurethane region and at least one aperture region; said at least one cured opaque thermoset region has a porosity from about 10% to about 55% by volume; said at least one aperture region having (1) a top opening positioned below the polishing surface, (2) a bottom opening that is co-planar with said back surface and (3) straight line vertical sidewalls extending from said aperture top opening to said aperture bottom opening; said at least one aperture region filled with a cured plug of thermoset polyurethane local area transparency material that has a light transmission of less than 80% at a wavelength from 700 to 710 nanometers and is chemically bonded directly to a thermoset polyurethane opaque area; (b) an aperture-free removable release sheet covering at least a portion of said back surface of the polishing layer; and(c) an adhesive layer interposed between said polishing layer and said release sheet; said adhesive layer capable of adhering the polishing layer to a platen of a CMP apparatus after said release sheet has been removed. Full Article
ar Polycrystalline diamond compact including a polycrystalline diamond table with a thermally-stable region having at least one low-carbon-solubility material and applications therefor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the invention relate to polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”) comprising a polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) table including a thermally-stable region having at least one low-carbon-solubility material disposed interstitially between bonded diamond grains thereof, and methods of fabricating such PDCs. In an embodiment, a PDC includes a substrate, and a PCD table bonded to the substrate. The PCD table includes a plurality of diamond grains exhibiting diamond-to-diamond bonding therebetween and defining a plurality of interstitial regions. The PCD table further includes at least one low-carbon-solubility material disposed in at least a portion of the plurality of interstitial regions. The at least one low-carbon-solubility material exhibits a melting temperature of about 1300° C. or less and a bulk modulus at 20° C. of less than about 150 GPa. Full Article
ar Abrasive particles having particular shapes and methods of forming such particles By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An abrasive article includes a shaped abrasive particle including a body having a first height (h1) at a first end of the body defining a corner between an upper surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface, and a second height (h2) at a second end of the body opposite the first end defining an edge between the upper surface and a third side surface, wherein the average difference in height between the first height and the second height is at least about 50 microns. The body also includes a bottom surface defining a bottom area (Ab) and a cross-sectional midpoint area (Am) defining an area of a plane perpendicular to the bottom area and extending through a midpoint of the particle, the body has an area ratio of bottom area to midpoint area (Ab/Am) of not greater than about 6. Full Article
ar Shearing die and method for manufacturing the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a shearing die having longer life and a method for manufacturing the same. The shearing die includes a pair of substrates, at least one of which has a hard film formed by an arc ion plating method and located at least on a region of a curved surface and on an adjacent region from the end part of the curved surface on the side facing to the surface of the sheet or plate material to 300 μm along the surface of the substrate. The hard film comprises Al and one or more of Ti and Cr, and has a thickness of 1 to 5 μm, such that a number of metal particles having a diameter of 20 μm or more, which are present on a line segment having a length of 10 mm on a surface of the hard film, is 2 or less. Full Article
ar Polishing composition and method utilizing abrasive particles treated with an aminosilane By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The inventive method comprises chemically-mechanically polishing a substrate with an inventive polishing composition comprising a liquid carrier and abrasive particles that have been treated with a compound. Full Article
ar Abrasive articles including abrasive particles bonded to an elongated body, and methods of forming thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An abrasive article includes an elongated body, a bonding layer including a metal overlying a surface of the elongated body, and a coating layer including a polymer material overlying the boding layer. The abrasive article further includes abrasive grains contained within the bonding layer and coating layer, and wherein the bonding layer comprises an average thickness (tbl) at least about 40% of the average grit size of the abrasive grains. Full Article
ar Shaped abrasive particles and method of making By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of making shaped abrasive particles including forming an abrasive flake comprising a plurality of precursor shaped abrasive particles and a frangible support joining the precursor shaped abrasive particles together; transporting the abrasive flake through a rotary kiln to sinter the abrasive flake; and breaking the sintered abrasive flake into individual shaped abrasive particles. The method is useful to make small shaped abrasive particles having insufficient mass to be efficiently individually sintered in a rotary kiln without joining two or more of the shaped abrasive particles together. Full Article
ar Super-hard construction and method for making same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for making a super-hard construction comprising a first structure comprising a first material joined to a second structure comprising a second material, in which the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and Young's moduli of the materials of each material are substantially different from each other. The method includes forming an assembly comprising the first material, the second material and a binder material arranged to be capable of bonding the first and second materials together, the binder material comprising metal; subjecting the assembly to a sufficiently high temperature for the binder material to be in the liquid state and to a first pressure at which the super-hard material is thermodynamically stable; reducing the pressure to a second pressure at which the super-hard material is thermodynamically stable, the temperature being maintained sufficiently high to maintain the binder material in the liquid state; reducing the temperature to solidify the binder material; and reducing the pressure and the temperature to an ambient condition to provide the super-hard construction. Full Article
ar FMCW RADAR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed herein is a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar. The FMCW radar includes: a transmission signal generator that generates a frequency-modulated transmission signal; a transmission signal sender that sends the transmission signal; a receiver that receives a reflected wave of the transmission signal; an adjuster that adjusts the amplitude and phase of a cancel signal, which cancels a leakage signal component in a received signal, in accordance with a variation in the frequency of the transmission signal; and a superimposer that superimposes the cancel signal over the received signal to cancel the leakage signal component. Full Article
ar DETECTION APPARATUS, UNDERWATER DETECTION APPARATUS AND RADAR APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A Continuous Transmission Frequency Modulated (CTFM) detection apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a projector, a sensor, and a hardware processor. The projector is configured to transmit a frequency modulated transmission wave at a given transmission period. The sensor is configured to receive a reflected wave, the reflected wave comprising a reflection of the transmission wave on a target object. The hardware processor is programmed to at least generate a beat signal based at least in part on the transmission wave and the reflected wave, extract asynchronously from the transmission period a processing signal from the beat signal, and generate information related to the target object based on the processing signal. Full Article
ar A METHOD, A SYSTEM, A TRANSPONDER, AND A POSITION DETECTION APPARATUS FOR A PRECISE MEASUREMENT OF A POSITION By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a system for determining a distance, a transponder, a position detection apparatus, and a method therefor. The method for determining a distance comprises providing a position detection apparatus (101), and a transponder (105). The method further comprises generating (201) a pseudo number sequence, transmitting (202) the pseudo number sequence, receiving (203) the pseudo number sequence; modulate (204) the received pseudo number sequence by means of delaying the recieved pseudo number sequence a predetermined number of clock cycles from a group of at least two predetermined number of clock cycles. The method further comprises transmitting (205) the modulated pseudo number sequence, recieving (206) the modulated pseudo number sequence, detecting (207) a path time of the pseudo number sequence, by means of delaying and correlating the generated pseudo number sequence with the received modulated pseudo number sequence, wherein the delay time corresponds to the path time, The method further comprises detecting (208) a clock correction factor for the transponder (105) using the received modulated pseudo number sequence, calculating (209) a flight time of the pseudo number sequence between the position detection apparatus and the transponder by means of the path time, the clock correction factor, and the predetermined number of clock cycles of the transponder, and calculating (210) the distance between said position detection apparatus and said transponder by means of the flight time. Full Article
ar HYBRID MAGNETIC-RADAR DETECTOR FOR SPACE MANAGEMENT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Methods and systems for detection of an occupancy status of a space monitored by a system (100) are described herein. The method comprises detecting a magnetic field value at the space by a magnetic field sensor (210) of a sensing device (104). The detected magnetic field value with a reference magnetic field value, to determine a magnetic occupancy status (MOS) of the space. The MOS is indicative of the change in the occupancy status of the space. The change in the occupancy status is indicative of one of a change from empty to occupied occupancy status, and a change from occupied to empty occupancy status. Further, when the MOS indicates the change in the occupancy status of the space, a radar sensor (212) of the sensing device (104) is activated to determine a radar occupancy status (ROS) by generating at least one radar reading from the radar sensor (212). The ROS is indicative of the change in the occupancy status of the space. Thereafter, the change in the occupancy status of the space is established when the ROS indicating the change in the occupancy status of the space is in agreement with the MOS. Further, the established change of the occupancy status in the space is communicated to a central unit (102) of the system (100). Full Article
ar GENERATING ESTIMATES OF UNCERTAINTY FOR RADAR BASED PRECIPITATION ESTIMATES By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method and system for estimating uncertainties in radar based precipitation estimates is provided. In an embodiment, gauge measurements at one or more gauge locations are received by an agricultural intelligence computer system. The agricultural intelligence computer system obtains precipitation estimates for the one or more gauge locations that correspond to the gauge measurements and computes the differences between the precipitation estimates and the gauge measurements. Using the precipitation estimates and the computed differences, the agricultural intelligence computer system then models a dependence of the uncertainty in the precipitation estimates on the value of the precipitation estimates. When the agricultural intelligence computer system receives precipitation estimates for a location where gauge measurements are unavailable, the agricultural intelligence computer identifies an uncertainty for the precipitation estimate based on the value of the precipitation estimate and the model of the dependence of the uncertainty on the precipitation estimate values. Full Article
ar ELECTRONICALLY SCANNED ANTENNA ARRAYS WITH RECONFIGURABLE PERFORMANCE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus may include a plurality of antenna elements forming an antenna array. The apparatus may further include a beamformer that determines one or more of phase and amplitude shifts to cause the plurality of antenna elements to produce a beam in the direction of a target. The apparatus may further include a null limiter comprising dither circuits. The dither circuits may dither the one or more of phase and amplitude shifts by adding noise to cause a side lobe of the beam to increase above a threshold value. The dither circuits may be enabled by a control signal, and the dithered one or more of phase and amplitude shifts may be provided to the antenna elements to produce the beam in the direction of the target with the side lobes above the threshold value. Full Article
ar Array Antenna and Antenna System By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An array antenna forms a main beam, and the main beam is toward a beam direction. The array antenna includes a plurality of radiating elements with a plurality of central line segments, where the plurality of radiating elements are arranged along a straight line, and the straight line is connecting the plurality of central line segments; and a plurality of meanders connecting the plurality of radiating elements; where the array antenna is disposed on a first plane, the beam direction has a nonzero deviating angle with a normal direction of the first plane, and the normal direction is perpendicular to the first plane. Full Article
ar RADAR APPARATUS AND CONTROLLING METHOD THEREOF By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A vehicle-mounted radar apparatus includes transmission antenna members and a transmitting section provided with an oscillator and phase shifters, a controller controlling the phase shifter, a reception antenna member, and a receiving section. The oscillator generates radio waves for the radar waves transmitted from the transmission antenna. Each phase shifters changes a phase of the radio waves generated and supplies the phase-shifted radio waves to a corresponding one of the transmission antenna members. The reception antenna member receives reflected waves of the radar waves. The receiving section generates a reception signal including the reflected waves. For the noise reduction process, the controller controls the phase control, so that, of the received signals generated at the receiving section, a first leak component which is from reflected waves from objects other than a target object is subtracted from a second leak component leaking from the transmitting section to the receiving section. Full Article
ar DUAL-POLARIZED, DUAL-BAND, COMPACT BEAM FORMING NETWORK By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A spacecraft communications payload includes a beam forming network (BFN), wherein the BFN includes a first feed waveguide and a first set of branch waveguides, each branch waveguide in the first set operating in a frequency band having a characteristic waveguide wavelength λg1. A proximal portion of the first set of branch waveguides is communicatively coupled with the first feed waveguide. A distal portion of the first set of branch waveguides is communicatively coupled by way of an array of slots with a plurality of radiating elements. A separation distance between adjacent slots in the array is approximately equal to λg, and the array of slots is configured as a honeycomb-like triaxial lattice. In some implementations, a compact BFN may be configured to simultaneously operate at two different polarizations (“dual-polarized”) and/or frequency bands (“dual-band”). Full Article
ar System for Transmission and/or Reception of Signals Having Electromagnetic Modes With Orbital Angular Momentum, and Device and Method Thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A system is described, along with the related device and method, for transmission and/or reception of signals having electromagnetic modes with orbital angular momentum (OAM), wherein the device is adapted to receive, at its input, electromagnetic signals from at least one transmitter, and is configured to apply a discrete Fourier transform to the electromagnetic signals in order to generate the signals having electromagnetic modes with orbital angular momentum. Full Article
ar METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING A POSITION OF USER EQUIPMENT, AND AN ANTENNA SET THEREFOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT There is provided a method for positioning of user equipment. The method for positioning of user equipment, includes: receiving, by the user equipment, a signal from an external antenna, the signal being radiated in a cyclic pattern; measuring, by the user equipment, strength of the received signal, characterizing, by the user equipment, the measured strength to form a signal pattern over a time period; and determining a position of the user equipment based on the signal pattern. Full Article
ar POLARIZATION TECHNIQUES FOR SUPPRESSION OF HARMONIC COUPLING AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A system comprising: an interrogator device, comprising: a first transmit antenna configured to transmit radio-frequency (RF) signals circularly polarized in a first rotational direction; and a first receive antenna configured to receive RF signals circularly polarized in a second rotational direction different from the first rotational direction; and a target device, comprising: a second receive antenna configured to receive RF signals circularly polarized in the first rotational direction and a second transmit antenna configured to transmit, to the interrogator device, RF signals circularly polarized in the second rotational direction. Full Article
ar CIRCUITS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING CHIRP SIGNAL LINEARITY AND PHASE NOISE OF A FMCW RADAR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A testing device for FMCW radar includes an input for receiving a chirp signal generated by the radar. An IQ down-converter coupled to the input down-converts the chirp signal. A digitizer extracts digitized IQ signals from the down-converted chirp signal. A processor coupled to the digitizer determines at least one of frequency linearity and phase noise of the chirp signal. Full Article
ar Method in a Radar System, Radar System, and/or Device of a Radar System By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a method in a radar system, wherein: in a first non-coherent transmitting-receiving unit (NKSE1), a first signal (sigTX1) is generated and is transmitted, in particular emitted, via a path (SP); in a further, in particular second non-coherent transmitting-receiving unit (NKSE2), a first signal (sigTX2) is generated and is sent, in particular emitted, via the path (SP); in the first transmitting-receiving unit (NKSE1), a comparison signal (sigC12) is formed from the first signal (sigTX1) of the first transmitting-receiving unit and from such a first signal (sigTX2) received from the further transmitting-receiving unit (NKSE2) via the path (SP); and in the further transmitting-receiving unit (NKSE2), a further comparison signal (sigC21) is formed from the first signal (sigTX2) of the further transmitting-receiving unit and from such a first signal (sigTX1) received from the first transmitting-receiving unit (NKSE1) via the path (SP), wherein the further comparison signal (sigC21) is transmitted, in particular communicated, to the first transmitting-receiving unit (NKSE1) by the further transmitting-receiving unit (NKSE2). The invention further relates to a radar system and to a device of a radar system that perform such a method. Full Article
ar RADAR SENSOR, CORRESPONDING OPERATING METHOD AND VEHICLE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A radar sensor for detecting at least one object, having a control device to receive a control input signal; a signal generator to generate a transmit signal having a multitude of signal cycles, each signal cycle having a multitude of signal sequences, and a series of blocks being formed, each block having precisely one frequency ramp of each signal sequence, and the signal generator furthermore being designed to select a predefined quantity of blocks from the transmit signal based on the control input signal and to output them as output signal; an antenna device to transmit the output signal that is output by the signal generator and to receive a receive signal; and an evaluation device which is designed to ascertain, by superpositioning the transmit signal and the receive signal, a quantity with regard to an angle and/or a distance and/or a relative speed of the at least one object. Full Article
ar ON-BOARD RADAR APPARATUS AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A radar apparatus generates a strength distribution indicating a correspondence relationship between a relative speed parameter related to an observation point relative speed and a reflection strength parameter related to reflection strength of radar waves reflected at an observation point, for a plurality of observation points. Furthermore, the radar apparatus determines that a traveling vehicle is detected when the reflection strength parameter decreases as the relative speed parameter increases from a center relative speed parameter that is the relative speed parameter corresponding to a peak in the reflection strength, the reflection strength parameter decreases as the relative speed parameter decreases from the center relative speed parameter, and a distribution of the reflection strength parameter is symmetrical with the center relative speed parameter at the center. Full Article
ar SNOW QUALITY MEASURING APPARATUS AND SNOW QUALITY MEASURING METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A snow quality measuring apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of reflectors, at least one transmitter, at least one receiver, and a measuring device. The plurality of reflectors are respectively arranged at a plurality of prescribed heights above the ground. The transmitter emits radio waves towards the plurality of reflectors, and the receiver receives the reflected waves of the radio waves from the plurality of reflectors. The measuring device measures snow quality of snow on the ground at the prescribed plurality of heights based on the respective reflected waves to from the plurality of reflectors as received by the receiver. Full Article
ar ROBUST DUAL-RADAR-BEAM SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRAFFIC MONITORING By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A first method includes receiving a first reflected radar signal from a target in a first field of view and receiving a second reflected radar signal from a target in a second field of view offset from the first field of view by a predetermined distance; transforming the first and second reflected radar signals to obtain first and second sets of frequency coefficients, from which a frequency-dependent phase difference is obtained; and calculating a time-delay from the slope of the frequency dependence. A second method includes obtaining summed difference values between the first and second radar responses, where each of the summed difference values corresponds to different time shifts between the first and second radar response, and deriving from the summed difference values a time-delay associated with the target's motion from the first field of view to the second field of view. A third method combines the time-delays or associated speeds obtained from independent estimators. Full Article
ar MOTORCYCLE BLIND SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM AND REAR COLLISION ALERT USING MECHANICALLY ALIGNED RADAR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A blind spot detection system for a motorcycle, which includes an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a detection device for detecting the presence of a vehicle in at least one blind spot. The accelerometer detects a gravity force vector, and the gyroscope detects the position of the motorcycle relative to the gravity force vector such that a lean angle of the motorcycle is calculated. The detection device is then configured to maintain the same position of the motorcycle relative to the gravity force vector and compensate for the position of the motorcycle if the lean angle is greater or less than 90°, such that the detection device is able to detect the presence of the vehicle in the at least one blind spot, independent of the lean angle of the motorcycle. Full Article
ar ON-BOARD RADAR APPARATUS, NOTIFICATION SYSTEM, AND TRAVELLING VEHICLE DETECTION METHOD OF ON-BOARD RADAR APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A radar apparatus detects an observation point distance and an observation point azimuth. In addition, the radar apparatus calculates an observation point lateral position and an observation point vertical position based on the observation point distance and the observation point azimuth. Furthermore, the radar apparatus determines that a traveling vehicle is detected when a number of observation points included within a side determination range is equal to or greater than a predetermined traveling vehicle determination count, based on the observation point lateral position and the observation point vertical position. The side determination range is set so as to include a passing determination line so as to extend in a direction at 90 degrees relative to a front-rear direction of the vehicle to the side of the vehicle. Full Article