Patent of the Month: Time Separated Quadrature Detection of Doppler Effects
The Montana State Patent of the Month for August 2026 goes to an outstanding innovation from Blackmore Sensors and Analytics Inc., a pioneering technology company that is transforming how autonomous vehicles perceive the world.
Their groundbreaking patent, US Patent Number 10401495, titled “Method and system for time separated quadrature detection of doppler effects in optical range measurements,” simplifies the complex hardware traditionally required for FMCW LiDAR systems, making it a true game changer in the photonics and autonomous navigation industry.
Why This Invention is Highly Innovative
Traditional continuous wave LiDAR systems require complex and expensive optical receivers to capture both the range and the directional velocity of an object simultaneously. This invention is incredibly innovative because it separates the in-phase and quadrature mixing into distinct, non-overlapping time intervals. By doing so, a single detector can sequentially process the signals to form a complex digital output. This elegant approach drastically reduces the hardware cost and complexity while maintaining the ability to calculate a signed Doppler frequency shift via Fourier transform. Ultimately, it allows for highly precise, long-range, interference-free 3D imaging that tracks the exact velocity and direction of moving objects without the need for cumbersome optical architectures.
Winning the August 2026 Montana State Patent of the Month
Blackmore Sensors and Analytics Inc., originally founded in Bozeman, Montana, has helped establish the state as a thriving hub for optics and photonics. This invention won the prestigious Patent of the Month award for August 2026 because of its profound impact on autonomous vehicle safety and its massive contribution to Montana’s reputation in the high-tech sector. As the autonomous freight industry continues to scale globally in 2026, this technology ensures vehicles can navigate safely by instantly calculating the speed and distance of surrounding objects, proving to be a cornerstone of modern transportation infrastructure.
Eligibility for the US R&D Tax Credit
The practical applications of this patent present clear opportunities for businesses to claim the US Research and Development Tax Credit. Developing commercial systems based on this time-separated quadrature detection method requires significant experimentation to overcome technological uncertainties. Engineering teams must design specialized broadband LiDAR hardware, develop custom signal processing algorithms to perform the required Fourier transforms, and integrate these optical sensors into vehicle control systems. The expenses related to these activities, including engineering wages, testing materials, and prototype development, directly align with the strict requirements of the R&D tax credit. Companies investing in the adaptation and improvement of this Doppler correction technology are actively resolving technical challenges, making their development costs highly eligible for these federal tax incentives.
