Patents by Inventor Don Michael Pritchett

Don Michael Pritchett has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6127981
    Abstract: A multi-element, H plane, phase, dipole array antenna has a high gain over a wide angle in azimuth and over a controlled sector in elevation. Two printed wiring boards feed and physically support the dipole antenna elements. The phase and spacing of the dipole elements establish the radiation elevation angle, and a planar metallic reflector, spaced on the order of a half wavelength of the RF signal from the dipole array, interacts with the dipole-element pattern, to provide the wide angle azimuth gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Don Michael Pritchett, Matthew J. Milicic, Jr., Edward E. Greene
  • Patent number: 5767807
    Abstract: A reactively controlled directive antenna array that has a single central monopole or dipole as a radiating element excited directly by a feed system. A plurality of parasitic elements surround the radiating element and through changing the state of the parasitic impedance causing the antenna to be in an omni directional or beam pointing mode according to whether the parasitic elements are open circuited or short circuited. A computer modem and memory including stored programs control the antenna array in an omnidirectional or directive mode to locate, identify and communicate with nodes in a wireless communication network. A stored table is created in the memory indicating the antenna direction for communicating with each node in the network. Using the stored table, the computer initiates a communication sequence with a selected node, the sequence having the advantages of improved signal sensitivity and angular discrimination for wireless communication systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Don Michael Pritchett
  • Patent number: 5686928
    Abstract: A multi-element, H plane, phased, dipole array antenna has a high gain over a wide angle in azimuth and over a controlled sector in elevation. Two printed wiring boards feed and physically support the dipole antenna elements. The phase and spacing of the dipole elements establish the radiation elevation angle, and a planar metallic reflector, spaced on the order of a half wavelength of the RF signal from the dipole array, interacts with the dipole-element pattern, to provide the wide angle azimuth gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Don Michael Pritchett, Matthew J. Milicic, Jr., Edward E. Greene