Patents by Inventor James L. Alford
James L. Alford 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).
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Publication number: 20240160800Abstract: The disclosed simulation environment, methods, and system support simultaneous design and analysis of assemblies with unified computer aided design (CAD) and finite element analysis (FEA). The system provides a simulation environment that is unified with the architecture of the assembly environment, which significantly reduces the amount of time it takes to set up structural simulations as compared to prior simulation tools. The system enables CAD designers to obtain accurate mechanical guidance such as strength and rigidity early and often in the design process, seeing the structural impact of CAD modifications at the sketch, part, and configuration level. Such guidance can be particularly helpful when CAD engineers are determining product fit and form, defining dimensions, and shaping the overall weight and volume of designs.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2024Publication date: May 16, 2024Inventors: Christopher L. Gromek, Joseph B. Alford, Gregory D. Brown, Adam Chacon, Jonathan D. Hiller, George R. Hudetz, Tej Kumar, Joshua A. Natarajan, K Evan Nowak, James Olliff
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Patent number: 8971796Abstract: A signal repeating element for repeating a signal includes a housing, at least one transmit antenna element positioned on one side of the housing and at least one receive antenna element positioned on the same one side of the housing. Receiver and transmitter circuitry is coupled with respective ones of the receive and transmit antenna elements. Phase circuitry for affecting the phase of signals from the at least one receive antenna element and at least one transmit antenna element is coupled between the respective receive or transmit antenna element and the receiver or transmitter circuitry.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2014Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Andrew LLCInventors: Mano D. Judd, Breck W. Lovinggood, David T. Tennant, Gregory A. Maca, William P. Kuiper, James L. Alford, Michael D. Thomas, Jonathon C. Veihl
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Publication number: 20140127989Abstract: A signal repeating element for repeating a signal includes a housing, at least one transmit antenna element positioned on one side of the housing and at least one receive antenna element positioned on the same one side of the housing. Receiver and transmitter circuitry is coupled with respective ones of the receive and transmit antenna elements. Phase circuitry for affecting the phase of signals from the at least one receive antenna element and at least one transmit antenna element is coupled between the respective receive or transmit antenna element and the receiver or transmitter circuitry.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2014Publication date: May 8, 2014Applicant: ANDREW LLCInventors: Mano D. Judd, Breck W. Lovinggood, David T. Tennant, Gregory A. Maca, William P. Kuiper, James L. Alford, Michael D. Thomas, Jonathon C. Veihl
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Patent number: 8630581Abstract: A repeater and associated method of use includes at least one antenna element for communicating in one direction and at least one antenna element for communicating in another direction. A radio frequency uplink path and a radio frequency downlink path are coupled between the antennas. At least one of the radio frequency uplink path or the radio frequency downlink path includes an adaptive cancellation circuit. The adaptive cancellation circuit is configured to generate a cancellation signal without requiring an injected signal. The cancellation signal, when added to a radio frequency signal in the respective uplink and downlink paths, substantially reduces feedback signals present in the radio frequency signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2013Date of Patent: January 14, 2014Assignee: Andrew LLCInventors: Mano D. Judd, Breck W. Lovinggood, David T. Tennant, Gregory A. Maca, William P. Kuiper, James L. Alford, Michael D. Thomas, Jonathan C. Veihl
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Patent number: 8358970Abstract: A repeater and associated method of use includes at least one antenna element for communicating in one direction and at least one antenna element for communicating in another direction. A radio frequency uplink path and a radio frequency downlink path are coupled between the antennas. At least one of the radio frequency uplink path or the radio frequency downlink path includes an adaptive cancellation circuit. The adaptive cancellation circuit is configured to generate a cancellation signal without requiring an injected signal. The cancellation signal, when added to a radio frequency signal in the respective uplink and downlink paths, substantially reduces feedback signals present in the radio frequency signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2011Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Andrew CorporationInventors: Mano D. Judd, Breck W. Lovinggood, David T. Tennant, Gregory A. Maca, William P. Kuiper, James L. Alford, Michael D. Thomas, Jonathon C. Veihl
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Publication number: 20110312269Abstract: A repeater and associated method of use includes at least one antenna element for communicating in one direction and at least one antenna element for communicating in another direction. A radio frequency uplink path and a radio frequency downlink path are coupled between the antennas. At least one of the radio frequency uplink path or the radio frequency downlink path includes an adaptive cancellation circuit. The adaptive cancellation circuit is configured to generate a cancellation signal without requiring an injected signal. The cancellation signal, when added to a radio frequency signal in the respective uplink and downlink paths, substantially reduces feedback signals present in the radio frequency signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2011Publication date: December 22, 2011Inventors: Mano D. Judd, Breck W. Lovinggood, David T. Tennant, Gregory A. Maca, William P. Kuiper, James L. Alford, Michael D. Thomas, Jonathon C. Veihl
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Patent number: 8010042Abstract: A repeater and associated method of use includes at least one antenna element for communicating in one direction and at least one antenna element for communicating in another direction. A radio frequency uplink path and a radio frequency downlink path are coupled between the antennas. At least one of the radio frequency uplink path or the radio frequency downlink path includes an adaptive cancellation circuit. The adaptive cancellation circuit is configured to generate a cancellation signal without requiring an injected signal. The cancellation signal, when added to a radio frequency signal in the respective uplink and downlink paths, substantially reduces feedback signals present in the radio frequency signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2009Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Andrew LLCInventors: Mano D. Judd, Breck W. Lovinggood, David T. Tennant, Gregory A. Maca, William P. Kuiper, James L. Alford, Michael D. Thomas, Jonathon C. Veihl
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Publication number: 20100029197Abstract: A repeater and associated method of use includes at least one antenna element for communicating in one direction and at least one antenna element for communicating in another direction. A radio frequency uplink path and a radio frequency downlink path are coupled between the antennas. At least one of the radio frequency uplink path or the radio frequency downlink path includes an adaptive cancellation circuit. The adaptive cancellation circuit is configured to generate a cancellation signal without requiring an injected signal. The cancellation signal, when added to a radio frequency signal in the respective uplink and downlink paths, substantially reduces feedback signals present in the radio frequency signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2009Publication date: February 4, 2010Applicant: ANDREW LLCInventors: Mano D. Judd, Breck W. Lovinggood, David T. Tennant, Gregory A. Maca, William P. Kuiper, James L. Alford, Michael D. Thomas, Jonathon C. Veihl
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Patent number: 7577398Abstract: A flat-panel repeater includes a housing having a pair of oppositely facing surfaces, at least one antenna element mounted to each of the surfaces for radiating energy in a direction opposite to that of an antenna element mounted to the other of the surfaces, and an electronic circuit mounted within the housing and operatively coupling signals between at least one antenna element on each of the oppositely facing surfaces of the module. Isolation between the antennas on opposite sides of the repeater is improved by various techniques, such as use of adaptive cancellation which removes a significant portion of the feedback signal power, therefore increasing the total system isolation by the same amount. This additional isolation can be used to achieve greater system gain, and therefore significantly extend the range of the system.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2001Date of Patent: August 18, 2009Assignee: Andrew LLCInventors: Mano D. Judd, Breck W. Lovinggood, David T. Tennant, Gregory A. Maca, William P. Kuiper, James L. Alford, Michael D. Thomas, Jonathon C. Veihl
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Patent number: 7411474Abstract: A multi-layer printed circuit board includes a first conductive layer including at least one conductor pattern and a plated through hole extending into the first conductive layer and intersecting the conductor pattern. A current diverting cutout in the conductor pattern is positioned proximate the intersection of the plated through hole and conductor pattern.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2005Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Andrew CorporationInventor: James L. Alford
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Patent number: 7027770Abstract: A repeater for use in connection with enhancing reception of wireless communications in an architectural structure utilizes a housing that incorporates both a null antenna capable of being oriented to provide an antenna beam directed into an interior portion of the architectural structure, and a repeater circuit that is configured to provide bi-directional exchange of radio frequency signals between the null antenna and a donor antenna. The donor antenna may also be mounted to the housing, or alternatively may be coupled to the housing via a cable or other communications path. The repeater is suitable for installation in an attic, or alternatively, within a room or other inhabitable area of a structure.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2002Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Andrew CorporationInventors: Mano D. Judd, James L. Alford
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Patent number: 6965515Abstract: A base station for a wireless communications system having a tower-mounted amplifier system with a low-noise amplifier transistor and a thermoelectric cooler that reduces the operating temperature of the low-noise amplifier transistor. The amplifier system has additional heat-generating components, such as filters, and additional electrical components mounted on a substrate to which the low-noise amplifier transistor is mounted. These heat-generating components are thermally isolated from the cold side of the thermoelectric cooler. As a result, the cooling capacity and electrical power requirement for the thermoelectric cooler is significantly reduced because only the low-noise amplifier transistor is cooled.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2003Date of Patent: November 15, 2005Assignee: Andrew CorporationInventors: James L. Alford, Mike Thomas
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Patent number: 6904666Abstract: A simplified method for forming passive microwave components, such as a filter, and passive microwave components formed by the method. The method includes forming a ceramic insert having a plurality of resonator regions and then die casting an outer casing of a conductive material about the ceramic insert. Each resonator region has a cavity that may be filled with the conductive material used to die cast the outer casing or, alternatively, may be filled with a resonator rod made of different materials than the encapsulating metal.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2003Date of Patent: June 14, 2005Assignee: Andrew CorporationInventor: James L. Alford
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Publication number: 20040110469Abstract: A flat-panel repeater includes a housing having a pair of oppositely facing surfaces, at least one antenna element mounted to each of the surfaces for radiating energy in a direction opposite to that of an antenna element mounted to the other of the surfaces, and an electronic circuit mounted within the housing and operatively coupling signals between at least one antenna element on each of the oppositely facing surfaces of the module. Isolation between the antennas on opposite sides of the repeater is improved by various techniques, such as use of adaptive cancellation which removes a significant portion of the feedback signal power, therefore increasing the total system isolation by the same amount. This additional isolation can be used to achieve greater system gain, and therefore significantly extend the range of the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2003Publication date: June 10, 2004Inventors: Mano D. Judd, Breck W. Lovinggood, David T. Tennant, Gregory A. Maca, William P. Kuiper, James L. Alford, Michael D. Thomas, Jonathon C. Veihl
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Publication number: 20020177401Abstract: A repeater for use in connection with enhancing reception of wireless communications in an architectural structure utilizes a housing that incorporates both a null antenna capable of being oriented to provide an antenna beam directed into an interior portion of the architectural structure, and a repeater circuit that is configured to provide bi-directional exchange of radio frequency signals between the null antenna and a donor antenna. The donor antenna may also be mounted to the housing, or alternatively may be coupled to the housing via a cable or other communications path. The repeater is suitable for installation in an attic, or alternatively, within a room or other inhabitable area of a structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2002Publication date: November 28, 2002Inventors: Mano D. Judd, James L. Alford
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Patent number: 4912436Abstract: A diplexer for communicating signals in two different frequency bands with separate polarizations in each band may, for example, concurrently separate low frequency received signals of orthogonal polarizations from high frequency transmitted signals, also of orthogonal polarizations. To this end a common square waveguide leads to serially disposed, axially displaced, orthogonal mode transitions at which branches are made to closely coupled lowpass filters that communicate with separate ports for low frequency signal bands. A smaller square waveguide coupled to the second of the orthogonal mode transitions communicates with another orthogonal mode transition at which axially displaced branches communicate with other ports for high frequency signal bands.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 1987Date of Patent: March 27, 1990Assignee: Gamma-F CorporationInventors: James L. Alford, Robert E. Terry
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Patent number: 4554552Abstract: A compact antenna feed system for orthogonally polarized RF signals includes a waveguide feed having orthogonally disposed internal ridges, a pair of wave detectors coupled to the waveguide feed to receive orthogonally oriented RF signals, and an amplifier housed as part of the feed system to amplify received RF signals prior to communication of the signals outside the feed system. The system is readily switchable by remote control to receive RF signals in either orientation and angular alignment to the orientation of the incoming signals is easily accomplished.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1981Date of Patent: November 19, 1985Assignee: Gamma-f CorporationInventors: James L. Alford, Robert E. Terry