2105 results about "Signal detector" patented technology

The present invention discloses a system and method for confining a robot to a particular space. The system includes a portable barrier signal transmitter that produces a barrier signal primarily along an axis, and a mobile robot capable of avoiding the barrier signal upon detection of the barrier signal. In the preferred embodiment the barrier signal is emitted in an infrared frequency and the robot includes an omni-directional signal detector. Upon detection of the signal, the robot turns in a direction selected by a barrier avoidance algorithm until the barrier signal is no longer detected.

The present invention discloses a system and method for confining a robot to a particular space. The system includes a portable barrier signal transmitter that produces a barrier signal primarily along an axis, and a mobile robot capable of avoiding the barrier signal upon detection of the barrier signal. In the preferred embodiment the barrier signal is emitted in an infrared frequency and the robot includes an omni-directional signal detector. Upon detection of the signal, the robot turns in a direction selected by a barrier avoidance algorithm until the barrier signal is no longer detected.

A signal detector employs a coherent accumulation system that coherently combines the correlation results derived from segments of samples of a received signal. The segments may have non-uniform lengths and may have been obtained over different and non-overlapping time periods. The segments are obtained during sampling windows of arbitrary length and at arbitrary times, and the results of processing the segments are successively combined in a coherent manner (separate magnitude and phase accumulation) until a threshold signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) has been achieved. Coherent integration is enabled by introducing a carrier phase offset as well as a code phase offset, so that different segments are aligned in carrier phase as well as code phase. Although not limited to this application, in one implementation example, the signal detector is used in connection with and as part of a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

A system for transmitting or receiving signals may include an integrated circuit (IC), a transducer operatively coupled to the IC for converting between electrical signals and electromagnetic signals; and insulating material that fixes the locations of the transducer and IC in spaced relationship relative to each other. The system may further include a lead frame providing external connections to conductors on the IC. An electromagnetic-energy directing assembly may be mounted relative to the transducer for directing electromagnetic energy in a region including the transducer and in a direction away from the IC. The directing assembly may include the lead frame, a printed circuit board ground plane, or external conductive elements spaced from the transducer. In a receiver, a signal-detector circuit may be responsive to a monitor signal representative of a received first radio-frequency electrical signal for generating a control signal that enables or disables an output from the receiver.

A multimedia processing system includes a selector, an output playback apparatus, a controller, and an A / V signal detector. The selector has a plurality of input ports for receiving multimedia signals and for selecting and outputting one of the multimedia signals according to a selection control signal. The output playback apparatus is used for playing the multimedia signal outputted by the selector in the output playback apparatus. The controller is used for generating the corresponding selection control signals to the selector. The A / V signal detector is used for detecting whether the input ports of the selector have received a newly inputted multimedia signal. When a newly inputted multimedia signal is detected, the A / V signal detector outputs a specific selection signal to the controller, so the controller subsequently generates the corresponding selection control signal to the selector for selecting and outputting the newly inputted multimedia signal to the output playback apparatus.

A weather alert system to warn a user when an emergency signal has been broadcast and to simultaneously activate a television or other visual information source and to select a predetermined informational channel. The weather alert system includes a signal detector for detecting a broadcast alarm signal and for generating an activation signal upon detection of the alarm signal. A remote controller is operatively connected to the signal detector for producing a remote control signal in response to said activation signal. The remote control signal is utilized to trigger the activation of a visual information source such as a television or a computer to provide visual information relating to the hazardous condition.

An audio control system may receive a plurality of audio input signals. A switch or multiplexer may switch one of the plurality of audio input signals from respective audio sources to a power amplifier. A controller in communication with the multiplexer may control switching of the multiplexer. A display may provide the user with information regarding the switching of the audio signal inputs. A user interface may permit the user to manually switch the audio source. A signal detector in communication with an audio input signal may detect a signal from a priority source. When the signal from the priority source is detected, the controller may direct the multiplexer to route the signal from the priority source to the power amplifier.

A signaling system for detecting power line discontinuity in a power distribution system having a local power generator in a feeder line employs a signal generator that provides a local generator control signal with a preset protocol continuously and is located in the power distribution system upstream of said local power generator. A power detector terminates the local generator control signal and a signal detector in said feeder line detects the presence of the signal and triggers the shutdown of the local generator when the signal is not detected by the signal detector for a predefined period of time.

A plurality of base stations communicate with a plurality of mobile units. Each base station includes a base station transceiver that receives inbound information from the mobile units and transmits outbound information to the mobile units. A mobile switching center (MSC) is coupled to the base stations and communicates the inbound information and outbound information with the base stations. The base stations each include signal detectors that detect signal strength of the inbound information, co-channel information and adjacent channel information. The MSC maintains a table of signal strength per communication channel and allocates communication channels to the base stations based on the signal strength information. The inventive dynamic channel allocation includes several channel allocation algorithms that can be active at the same time. Only one of the algorithms is active at a time. The choice of the algorithm is based on current interference conditions and traffic load. The invention is implemented in the MSC and base stations of a digital cellular network using wideband technology for its air interface. While the decision-making mechanism and the channel allocation algorithms are implemented in the MSC, the protocol between the MSC and base stations is extended to support the proposed concept for dynamic channel allocation. Advantages of the invention includes improved communication and reduced interference.

A system for remote quantitative detection of fluid leaks from a natural gas or oil pipeline by use of an airborne platform; including at least one laser light source for nearly simultaneous illuminating two or more target fluids and a background, wherein the two or more target fluids are characterized by two or more absorption wavelengths, and wherein the background has a different wavelength than either of the two or more target fluids. The illumination source is pointed based on a positioning system while in a geometric area along a path two or more target fluids are scanned for using the illumination sources. A signal detector detects the two or more target fluids using quantitative signal processing. Also included are a controller, a path planning and path finding tool for the positioning of the airborne platform, and a communicator for communicating the presence of the detected leak.

A signal detector is provided in which correlation analyses of multiple segments of a received signal from separate and distinct periods of time are combined to improve the detection capability of the signal detector. In one embodiment, the signal detector is part of a GPS receiver.

Proximity of a user body part can be detected by measuring the effects such proximity has on antenna impedance mismatches. The amount of mismatch affects the amount of RF signal energy reflected back into a transmission line connecting the antenna to a RF signal source. A directional coupler has a main line electrically connected to the transmission line, as well as a coupled line. The directional coupler produces a signal on its coupled line in relation to the magnitude of reflected energy on the transmission line; the amount of reflected energy varies in response to how well the antenna impedance matches the transmission line impedance. A signal detector is electrically connected to the coupled line, and responds to signals produced in the coupled line by the main line. The signal detector output is then used to determine whether a body part is in proximity. Other aspects the invention include an adaptive algorithm to adjust a threshold for proximity determination.

A touch-sensitive apparatus comprises a panel configured to conduct signals from a plurality of peripheral incoupling points to a plurality of peripheral outcoupling points. Actual detection lines are defined between pairs of incoupling and outcoupling points to extend across a surface portion of the panel. The signals may be in the form of light, and objects touching the surface portion may affect the light via frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR). A signal generator is coupled to the incoupling points to generate the signals, and a signal detector is coupled to the out-coupling points to generate an output signal. A data processor operates on the output signal to enable identification of touching objects. The output signal is processed (40) to generate a set of data samples, which are indicative of detected energy for at least a subset of the actual detection lines. The set of data samples is processed (42) to generate a set of matched samples, which are indicative of estimated detected energy for fictitious detection lines that have a location on the surface portion that matches a standard geometry for tomographic reconstruction. The set of matched samples is processed (44, 46) by tomographic reconstruction to generate data indicative of a distribution of an energy-related parameter within at least part of the surface portion.

A repeater (200) facilitates wireless communication between a first communication device (100) and a second communication device (105) in a wireless network using a time division duplex protocol for data transmission. The repeater (200) includes a receiver (310, 315) for receiving a signal on either of at least two bi-directional communication frequencies simultaneously. A signal detector (362) is operatively coupled to the receiver (300, 310, 315) for determining if the signal is present on at least one of the two bi-directional frequencies. A frequency converter (320, 321, 323, 324, 360, 361) is for converting the signal present on one of the bi-directional frequencies to a converted signal on the other of the bi-directional frequencies. A transmitter (300, 325, 330, 335, 345, 350) is for transmitting the converted signal on the other of said bi-directional frequencies.

A laser-based atomic magnetometer (LBAM) apparatus measures magnetic fields, comprising: a plurality of polarization detector cells to detect magnetic fields; a laser source optically coupled to the polarization detector cells; and a signal detector that measures the laser source after being coupled to the polarization detector cells, which may be alkali cells. A single polarization cell may be used for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) by prepolarizing the nuclear spins of an analyte, encoding spectroscopic and / or spatial information, and detecting NMR signals from the analyte with a laser-based atomic magnetometer to form NMR spectra and / or magnetic resonance images (MRI). There is no need of a magnetic field or cryogenics in the detection step, as it is detected through the LBAM.

A position detecting device is provided. The position detecting device includes a position pointer which transmits a position-pointing signal using a power supply stored in a rechargeable power storage unit, and a tablet which detects a position pointed to by the position pointer when receiving the position-pointing signal. The position pointer includes a coil, a charging circuit for charging the power storage unit, and a transmitter for transmitting the position-pointing signal. The tablet includes an excitation coil wound around a periphery of a position detecting area of the tablet, an excitation circuit for supplying an alternating voltage to the excitation coil, a position-pointing signal detector for detecting the position-pointing signal received from the position pointer, and an excitation controller for controlling a supply of the alternating voltage to the excitation coil based on the detected position-pointing signal.

A pre-amplifier (column region unit) of a solid-state imaging device includes a pixel-signal controller. The pixel-signal controller, for each vertical signal line, detects the level of each pixel signal independently by a pixel-signal detector on the output side of a pixel-signal amplifier, and sets a gain independently to the pixel-signal amplifier according to the level of the signal. At a subsequent stage of the solid-state imaging device, an analog-to-digital (A / D) converter and a signal extending unit are provided. The A / D converter digitizes a pixel signal, and the digitized pixel signal is corrected by a gain set to the pixel-signal amplifier with reference to a classification signal from the pixel-signal detector, so that the dynamic range of signals of one screen is extended.

Laser Doppler Perfusion Imaging system including a laser light source (2), an image detector (4), and signal detector (6); the laser light source (2), in use, being arranged for illuminating a selected area of interest (12) on a sample (10) for determining perfusion related data of the sample (10), the image detector, in use, being arranged for capturing an image of the sample (10), and the signal detector (6), in use, being arranged for detecting a laser Doppler signal from the selected area of interest (12) on the sample (10), wherein the laser light source (2) comprises optical means (3) for creating a laser beam comprising a plurality of beams.

A spread spectrum detector employs a Doppler phase correction system that improves correlation of pseudo-noise (PN) codes to a received spread spectrum signal by combining phase shifts, in the time domain, to correlation values that compensate for the Doppler shift error that is inherent in the signal and that is imposed upon the signal by movement between the signal source and receiver. In architecture, the Doppler phase correction system includes a receiver to receive a spread spectrum modulated signal having the Doppler shift error, a multiplier to produce a plurality of complex first correlation values based upon the signal and a code. A phase shifter generates a plurality of complex second correlation values respectively from the first correlation values. The second correlation values being phase shifted by respective different amounts from corresponding first correlation values, so that the second correlation values exhibit less of the Doppler shift error than the first correlation values. The phase shifter can be implemented with a look-up table that stores a plurality of phase shift values, a counter that produces indices for the look-up table, and a multiplier that multiplies the phase shift values that are output from the look-up table with the first correlation values to produce the second correlation values. Finally, a combiner, such as an integrator, combines, or integrates, the second correlation values to derive a third correlation that indicates a degree of correspondence of the code with the signal.

A radar detector is used with a radio link, the radio link characterized by high duty factor operation of a radio transmitter. The radar detector is located a sufficient distance from the radio transmitter that the radar detector is not overwhelmed by the radio transmission signal in that channel and can detect sufficiently low level radar signals to ascertain potential radio interference at the radar from said radio transmitter. The results of the radar detection are communicated to the transmitter in a way that impacts the transmitter's use of the sensed channel. This communication can occur reactively when a radar detection is achieved (the absence of which indicates no radar has been detected) and / or can be a periodic or event-driven indication that the channel is available for operation (the information expiring if the result is not refreshed). A highly sensitive radar detector apparatus that can detect wideband radar signals at very low levels and overcome the disparity of detection range versus interference range is described. A signal detector is also described that detects energy from other users that is not in the operating channel or operating band of the transmitter to determine if the out of band emissions or out of channel emissions of the operating transmitter's signal need to be adjusted through such settings as transmit power, operating channel, filtering, or a combination.

An adaptive noise canceling system for extracting a desired signal, comprising an adaptive noise cancellation filtering circuit for suppressing noise from a first input signal using a second input signal as a reference signal, and generating an output filtered signal representing the desired signal; and an adaptive noise cancellation controller for receiving the first and second input signals and the output filtered signal, and generating an output control signal for controlling coefficients of at least one adaptive filter of the adaptive noise cancellation filtering circuit, comprising a silence detector unit for detecting whether an acoustical signal is present in the input signals and the output filtered signal, and generating a first output signal which indicates whether the acoustical signal is present; a signal detector unit for detecting whether the desired signal is present in the input signals and the output filtered signal, and generating a second output signal which indicates whether the desired signal is present; and an adaptive noise cancellation filter (ANCF) controller unit for receiving the first and second output signal to determine the characteristic of the input signals, and generating the output control signal which represents an updated coefficient parameter for updating the coefficients of the at least one adaptive filter of the adaptive noise cancellation filtering circuit.

A system for monitoring reverse paths of a bi-directional cable communication network such as a CATV network, to detect and analyze ingress signals entering a reverse path and ending at a network sub-headend or headend through a corresponding one of communication lines, comprises a plurality of radio frequency signal detectors connected thereto. The radio frequency signal detectors are provided with bandpass filter for receiving a radio frequency signal within the frequency band used, to generate corresponding output signals indicative of the strength of the received radio frequency signal. The output signal generated by the frequency signal detector which is coupled to the communication line corresponding to the ingress signal carrying path is indicative of the strength of the received ingress signal with received reverse signals. The system further comprises a signal processor for analyzing the detector output signals through comparison with one or more predetermined ingress thresholds to generate an alarm signal whenever the ingress signal is detected. The system further comprises a control computer receiving the alarm signal to generate monitoring sequence control data indicative of the communication line corresponding to the ingress signal carrying path to be monitored. The system also comprises a selector switch having a plurality of inputs being connected to the communication lines and being responsive to the monitoring sequence control data to select the input connected to the communication line to be monitored, and signal monitoring instrumentation such as a spectrum analyzer and a broadband analyzer coupled to an output of the switching device and being responsive to the monitoring sequence control data for analyzing the ingress signal and generating alarm message data accordingly. The control computer receives the alarm message data to further generate diagnostic sequence control data for the monitoring instrumentation also used to determine source characteristics of the ingress signal.

The invention relates to a PFC constant current controller and a control method of the PFC constant current controller. Unlike the traditional mode of additionally adding a PFC circuit besides a PWM controller, the PFC constant current controller integrates a single-stage PFC circuit and the PWM controller. The PFC constant current controller comprises a peak value sampling device, a feedback signal detector, a sigma delta modulator, a digital signal processor, a digital to analog converter, a comparator, a PWM generator and a power switch driver. The PFC constant current controller can obtain sampled signals of current output by a flyback switching power supply system, and the sampled signals serve as feedback signals to generate a constant-current control signal to be used for controlling averagely-output current. Therefore, the averagely-output currents are limited within a preset reference value, and accordingly the target of constant-current control is achieved.

A fluorescent immunoassay employing the interior surface of a capillary tube is provided. Devices to permit immunoassays using one or more capillary tubes, an apparatus for use with the devices, and a process for screening for analyte in a sample using the devices and apparatus are also provided. Samples suspected of containing analyte are added to a disposable self-contained sample tray containing one or more sample wells, mixed with a reagent, drawn into one or more spaced-apart capillary tubes held within a disposable cartridge connected to an analytical apparatus, reacted with a binding member on the surface of the capillary tube, washed to stop the reaction, and dried by the apparatus. The capillary tube is then exposed to a signal generation device to create a fluorescence signal that is detected using a signal detector. The apparatus determines the presence of the analyte and optionally determines the amount of analyte present in the sample, and presents the results to the operator.

An apparatus for measuring ignition charge signals produced by coils of coil-on-plug devices of an internal combustion engine. A signal detector comprises an insulating substrate having a first conductive planar layer on a first side and a second conductive planar layer on a second side. The first layer is coupled to a signal wire and the second layer is coupled to a ground wire. When the signal detector is held in close proximity to the coil of the coil-on-plug, ignition signals generated by the coil and passing to the plug are detected. The detected signals may be coupled to a signal analyzer for display and analysis. The amplitude of the signal that is output by the signal detector may be adjusted to different coils having different output signal strengths by modifying the ratio of the surface areas of the first layer and the second layer.

A fiber optic network transmits data between a hub node and a plurality of local nodes connected by at least one unidirectional fiber ring. Downstream data streams are carried on wavelength-division-multiplexed optical carriers from the hub node to the local nodes. An optical carrier corresponding to a specific wavelength carries downstream data streams to a specific local node. Downstream data streams are multiplexed onto an optical carrier via orthogonal frequency division multiplexing. A parallel signal detector in each local node detects all downstream optical carriers. A signal processing module demultiplexes the data stream from the optical carrier having the specific wavelength corresponding to the local node. An upstream data stream is multiplexed via orthogonal frequency division multiplexing onto an upstream optical carrier having the same specific wavelength and transmitted from the local node to the hub node. Upstream data awaiting transmission is allocated to specific subcarriers and time slots.

A method and system for providing and aggregating bioelectrical signal data comprising: providing a stimulus configured to prompt an action in both a first user and a second user; at a first biosignal detector and a second biosignal detector, automatically collecting a first bioelectrical signal dataset from the first user as the first user performs the action and a second bioelectrical signal dataset from the second user as the second user performs the action; generating a first anonymized bioelectrical signal dataset from the first bioelectrical signal dataset and a second anonymized bioelectrical signal dataset from the second bioelectrical signal dataset; coupling the first and the second anonymized bioelectrical signal datasets with an action tag characterizing the action; and generating an analysis based upon the first the second anonymized bioelectrical signal datasets. An embodiment of the system comprises a biosignal detector and a processor configured to implement an embodiment of the method.