Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Bockrath

Thomas A. Bockrath 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: 5673056
    Abstract: A pair of dual-gridded shaped reflectors (10) and (20) are arranged one behind the other for transmitting and receiving orthogonally polarized energy waves. A front reflector (10) has a first shaped reflective surface (12) formed on a first body surface (14) for providing a first shaped beam coverage. A rear reflector (20) has a second reflective surface (22) formed on a second body surface (24) for providing a second shaped beam coverage. The first and second reflective surfaces (12) and (22) have substantially identical surface contours and include reflective grids (13) and (23). The reflective grids (13) and (23) are orthogonal with respect to each other so as to handle orthogonally polarized energy. The first and second shaped reflective surfaces (12) and (22) are arranged offset and tandem from each other so as to provide first and second focal points (16) and (26) separate from each other while providing substantially identical first and second shaped beam coverages (15) and (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics
    Inventors: Parthasarathy Ramanujam, Eng-Chong Ha, Thomas A. Bockrath
  • Patent number: 4823143
    Abstract: Two reflecting surfaces (102, 104) pass through each other at an intersection line (450) lying in a plane of symmetry (106). The two surfaces share a common aperture (101) and the surface contours of the two surfaces are preferably mirror images of each other and are arranged such that the respective two foci (110, 120) of the two surfaces are equidistant (108) from the center of the shared aperture and offset from each other in equal and opposite directions (109a, 109b) from the plane of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Thomas A. Bockrath
  • Patent number: 4796033
    Abstract: A non-furlable paraboloidal radio frequency reflector (10) is formed of a mesh-like flexible reflective surface (18) supported by a central hub (12) and a peripheral rim (14). The hub and rim are interconnected by flexible spoke-like structural cables (16, 24) acting in tension to establish the desired spatial relationship. Reflector surface-positioning cables (20, 26) are secured at their ends to the hub, rim or structural cables and are further secured to the reflector surface at points of intersection (22) therewith intermediate their ends to thereby establish an approximation of the desired curved shape of the reflector surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Charles P. Rubin, Thomas A. Bockrath
  • Patent number: 4119932
    Abstract: A polarization selective screen allowing only electromagnetic waves having a desired linear polarization to pass therethrough, the screen includes an array of relatively thin, parallel and evenly spaced conductive flat ribbons supported between end portions of a frame structure, the broad surface of the ribbons being orthogonal to the plane of the screen and being supported and maintained in place under a predetermined tensional force by tension means such as spring-loaded ribbon hangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1978
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Thomas A. Bockrath