Patents by Inventor William E. McKinzie

William E. McKinzie 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: 7535312
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising an RF matching network connected to at least one RF input port and at least one RF output port and including one or more voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements, a voltage detector connected to the at least one RF output port via a variable voltage divider to determine the voltage at the at least one RF output port and provide voltage information to a controller that controls a bias driving circuit which provides bias voltage or bias current to the RF matching network, and wherein the RF matching network is adapted to maximize RF power transferred from the at least one RF input port to the at least one RF output port by varying the voltage or current to the voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements to maximize the RF voltage at the at least one RF output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Paratek Microwave, Inc.
    Inventor: William E. McKinzie, III
  • Publication number: 20090059464
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus, comprising a stack of at least three ferroelectric layers with a top side and bottom side of each of the ferroelectric layers contacting an electrode layer, wherein the ferroelectric layers and the electrode layers form a substantially periodic structure in the direction normal to said ferroelectric and electrode layers and wherein an acoustic characteristic impedance and thickness of each layer are selected to realize an acoustic bandgap over a desired frequency band for the purpose of improving device Q.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventor: William E. McKinzie, III
  • Publication number: 20090051467
    Abstract: A parallel plate waveguide structure configured to suppress parallel-plate waveguide modes is described. The electromagnetic material properties of individual layers disposed between the conductive plates of waveguide may be selected to allow an apparent stopband to form. Several physical examples of electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structures are presented that are analyzed by full wave simulations and transverse resonance models.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventor: William E. McKinzie, III
  • Patent number: 7495532
    Abstract: Systems and methods are taught for blocking the propagation of electromagnetic waves in parallel-plate waveguide (PPW) structures. Periodic arrays of resonant vias are used to create broadband high frequency stop bands in the PPW, while permitting DC and low frequency waves to propagate. Some embodiments of resonant via arrays are mechanically balanced, which promotes improved manufacturability. Important applications include electromagnetic noise reduction in layered electronic devices such as circuit boards, ceramic modules, and semiconductor chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: WEMTEC, Inc.
    Inventor: William E. McKinzie, III
  • Publication number: 20090039976
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising an RF matching network connected to at least one RF input port and at least one RF output port and including one or more voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements; a voltage detector connected to the at least one RF output port via a variable voltage divider to determine the voltage at the at least one RF output port and provide voltage information to a controller that controls a bias driving circuit which provides voltage or current bias to the RF matching network; a variable voltage divider connected to the voltage detector and implemented using a multi-pole RF switch to select one of a plurality of different resistance ratios to improve the dynamic range of the apparatus; and wherein the RF matching network is adapted to maximize RF power transferred from the at least one RF input port to the at least one RF output port by varying the voltage or current to the voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements to
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventor: William E. McKinzie, III
  • Patent number: 7479857
    Abstract: Systems and methods are taught for blocking the propagation of electromagnetic waves in parallel-plate waveguide (PPW) structures. Periodic arrays of resonant vias are used to create broadband high frequency stop bands in the PPW, while permitting DC and low frequency waves to propagate. Particular embodiments include clusters of small vias that effectively function as one large via, thereby increasing stop band bandwidth and maximizing parallel plate capacitance. Cluster vias can be configured to additionally provide a shielded and impedance matched route within the interior area of the cluster through which signal vias can connect transmission lines disposed in planes lying above and below the PPW. Important applications include electromagnetic noise reduction in layered electronic devices such as circuit boards, ceramic modules, and semiconductor chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: WEMTEC, Inc.
    Inventor: William E. McKinzie, III
  • Patent number: 7449982
    Abstract: Systems and methods are taught for blocking the propagation of electromagnetic waves in parallel-plate waveguide (PPW) structures. Periodic arrays of resonant vias are used to create broadband high frequency stop bands in the PPW, while permitting DC and low frequency waves to propagate. Some embodiments of resonant via arrays are mechanically balanced, which promotes improved manufacturability. Important applications include electromagnetic noise reduction in layered electronic devices such as circuit boards, ceramic modules, and semiconductor chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: WEMTEC, Inc.
    Inventor: William E. McKinzie, III
  • Patent number: 7411565
    Abstract: A magnetically-loaded artificial magnetic conductor surface provides enhanced bandwidth. The structure includes in one embodiment a thumbtack structure with a spacer layer that is loaded with a barium-cobalt hexaferrite based artificial magnetic material. Specifically, the geometry consists of a ground plane covered with thinly sliced ferrite tiles that are metallized and stacked. Each tile has a metal via running through its center that is electrically connected to the plated metallized surfaces. A foam spacer layer resides above the ferrite tiles. Atop the foam spacer layer rests a capacitive surface, which can be realized as a single layer array of metal patches, a multiple layer array of overlapping patches or other planar capacitive geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Titan Systems Corporation/Aerospace Electronic Division
    Inventors: William E. McKinzie, III, Rodolfo E. Diaz, Victor C. Sanchez, Eric Caswell
  • Publication number: 20080186111
    Abstract: Systems and methods are taught for blocking the propagation of electromagnetic waves in parallel-plate waveguide (PPW) structures. Periodic arrays of resonant vias are used to create broadband high frequency stop bands in the PPW, while permitting DC and low frequency waves to propagate. Some embodiments of resonant via arrays are mechanically balanced, which promotes improved manufacturability. Important applications include electromagnetic noise reduction in layered electronic devices such as circuit boards, ceramic modules, and semiconductor chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventor: William E. McKinzie
  • Publication number: 20080143621
    Abstract: An electromagnetic reactive edge treatment including an array of capacitively-loaded loops is disposed at or near an edge of a conductive wedge. The axes of the loops are oriented parallel to the edge of the wedge. This edge treatment may enhance or suppress the hard diffraction coefficient, depending on the resonant frequency f0) of the array of loaded loops. Diffraction of incident waves that are lower (higher) in frequency than f0 may be enhanced (suppressed) due to the increase (decrease) in effective permeability of the volume occupied by the array of loops. Applications include controlling antenna patterns, side lobe levels, and backlobe levels for antennas mounted on conductive surfaces near edges or corners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Rodolfo E. Diaz, William E. McKinzie
  • Publication number: 20080122553
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising an RF input port, an RF output port connected to the RF input port via a multichip adaptive impedance matching module (AIMM), and the multichip AIMM comprising one or more voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements, wherein the multichip AIMM is adapted to maximize RF power transferred from the at least one RF input port to the at least one RF output port by varying the bias voltage or bias current to the voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements to maximize the RF voltage at the at least one RF output port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: William E. McKinzie
  • Publication number: 20080106349
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising an RF matching network connected to at least one RF input port and at least one RF output port and including one or more voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements and wherein the RF matching network is adapted to maximize RF power transferred from the at least one RF input port to the at least one RF output port by varying the voltage or current to the voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements to maximize the RF voltage at the at least one RF output port. The variable reactive elements may be variable capacitances, variable inductances, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventor: William E. McKinzie
  • Publication number: 20080106350
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising an RF matching network connected to at least one RF input port and at least one RF output port and including one or more voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements, a voltage detector connected to the at least one RF output port via a variable voltage divider to determine the voltage at the at least one RF output port and provide voltage information to a controller that controls a bias driving circuit which provides bias voltage or bias current to the RF matching network, and wherein the RF matching network is adapted to maximize RF power transferred from the at least one RF input port to the at least one RF output port by varying the voltage or current to the voltage or current controlled variable reactive elements to maximize the RF voltage at the at least one RF output port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventor: William E. McKinzie
  • Patent number: 7342471
    Abstract: Systems and methods are taught for blocking the propagation of electromagnetic waves in parallel-plate waveguide (PPW) structures. Periodic arrays of resonant vias are used to create broadband high frequency stop bands in the PPW, while permitting DC and low frequency waves to propagate. Some embodiments of resonant via arrays are mechanically balanced, which promotes improved manufacturability. Important applications include electromagnetic noise reduction in layered electronic devices such as circuit boards, ceramic modules, and semiconductor chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Wemtec, Inc.
    Inventor: William E. McKinzie, III
  • Patent number: 7224313
    Abstract: A multiband antenna includes at least two resonators that are driven directly and resonate in different frequency bands and a parasitically coupled resonator that resonates in one of the frequency bands. The coupled resonator is grounded with a conductive trace at one end and is thus not directly fed by the RF feed of the antenna. The coupled resonator increases the efficiency bandwidth near the frequency of operation for the coupled resonator. The antenna is fabricated from a stamped metal that is bent around or overmolded by a spacer layer. A clip formed integrally with the antenna by bending a portion of the ground plane permits attachment to the metal shield of the display of a laptop computer and is thus grounded along its length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Actiontec Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. McKinzie, III, James Y. Scott, Jeramy M. Marsh, Gregory S. Mendolia, Yizhen Lin
  • Patent number: 7215007
    Abstract: Apparatus for suppressing noise and electromagnetic coupling in the printed circuit board of an electronic device includes an upper conductive plate and an array of conductive coplanar patches positioned a distance t2 from the upper conductive plate. The distance t2 is chosen to optimize capacitance between the conductive coplanar patches and the upper conductive plate for suppression of noise or electromagnetic coupling. The apparatus further includes a lower conductive plate a distance t1 from the array of conductive coplanar patches and conductive rods extending from respective patches to the lower conductive plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Wemtec, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. McKinzie, III, Shawn D. Rogers
  • Patent number: 7157992
    Abstract: Systems and methods are taught for blocking the propagation of electromagnetic waves in parallel-plate waveguide (PPW) structures. Periodic arrays of resonant vias are used to create broadband high frequency stop bands in the PPW, while permitting DC and low frequency waves to propagate. Some embodiments of resonant via arrays are mechanically balanced, which promotes improved manufacturability. Important applications include electromagnetic noise reduction in layered electronic devices such as circuit boards, ceramic modules, and semiconductor chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Wemtec, Inc.
    Inventor: William E. McKinzie, III
  • Patent number: 7123118
    Abstract: Systems and methods are taught for blocking the propagation of electromagnetic waves in parallel-plate waveguide (PPW) structures. Periodic arrays of resonant vias are used to create broadband high frequency stop bands in the PPW, while permitting DC and low frequency waves to propagate. Particular embodiments include clusters of small vias that effectively function as one large via, thereby increasing stop band bandwidth and maximizing parallel plate capacitance. Cluster vias can be configured to additionally provide a shielded and impedance matched route within the interior area of the cluster through which signal vias can connect transmission lines disposed in planes lying above and below the PPW. Important applications include electromagnetic noise reduction in layered electronic devices such as circuit boards, ceramic modules, and semiconductor chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Wemtec, Inc.
    Inventor: William E. McKinzie, III
  • Patent number: 7071889
    Abstract: DC inductive FSS technology is a printed slow wave structure usable for reduced size resonators in antenna and filter applications of wireless applications. It is a dispersive surface defined in terms of its parallel LC equivalent circuit that enhances the inductance and capacitance of the equivalent circuit to obtain a pole frequency as low as 300 MHz. The effective sheet impedance model has a resonant pole whose free-space wavelength can be greater than 10 times the FSS period. A conductor-backed DCL FSS can create a DC inductive artificial magnetic conductor (DCL AMC), high-impedance surface with resonant frequencies as low as 2 GHz. Lorentz poles introduced into the DCL FSS create multi-resonant DCL AMCs. Antennas fabricated from DCL FSS materials include single-band elements such as a bent-wire monopole on the DCL AMC and multi-band (dual and triple) shorted patches, similar to PIFAs with the patch/lid being a DCL FSS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Actiontec Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. McKinzie, III, Gregory S. Mendolia, Rodolfo E. Diaz
  • Patent number: 6937192
    Abstract: Lightweight, small antennas are described that have decreased material and fabrication/processing cost. The antennas may be used in consumer electronics products such as cellular phones, laptops and PDA's. Some of the antennas and fabrication techniques also provide lower part count and increased reliability. All antennas are fabricated with standard materials currently available in high volume production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Actiontec Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory S. Mendolia, William E. McKinzie, III, John Dutton