Adjustable Length Patents (Class 343/823)
  • Patent number: 11938076
    Abstract: The present invention relates to therapeutic body massage devices, and more particularly, to an extendable and retractable massage device which is particularly effective in relieving tender and painful connective tissue and muscular conditions, including but not limited to trigger points. The present invention is directed to an appliance having an adjustable shaft that can access all points on both sides of the body and that allows an individual to place a pressure accessory element of the appliance between the body and a flat surface to apply sustained pressure to a treatment site with minimal effort without taxing other parts of the body and without the pressure accessory element dislodging from the treatment site. The present invention further provides a massage system and a method of self-administering massage therapy on a body or limb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Inventor: Thomas Almodovar
  • Patent number: 8923914
    Abstract: A re-reconfigurable built-in antenna of a portable terminal is provided. The antenna includes an antenna radiator having a feeding pad electrically connected to a feeding portion of a main board of the terminal and at least one ground pad disposed in a position different from that of the feeding pad for selectively establishing an electrical connection to a ground portion of the terminal, and a switching element, commonly connected to the at least one ground pad of the antenna radiator, for selectively establishing an electrical connection to the ground portion by a switching operation. The antenna radiator changes a shape of the antenna radiator by using the selective electrical connection of the ground portion so as to have various operational frequency bands and radiation properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-U Kim, Austin Kim, Dong-Hwan Kim, Jae-Ho Lee, Jung-Ho Park
  • Patent number: 8659480
    Abstract: A frequency reconfigurable antenna may include at least two antenna segments and a photonic crystal positioned between the at least two antenna segments. The photonic crystal may selectably electrically connect or isolate the at least two antenna segments with respect to each other based on a conductive state of the photonic crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Donald Frank Wilkins
  • Patent number: 7884775
    Abstract: A multi-band antenna for use, for example, in a wireless communications network, employs multi-resonant microstrip dipoles that resonate at multiple frequencies due to microstrip “islands.” Gaps in the microstrips create an open RF circuit except for desired frequencies. At a desired frequency, RF energy sees a gap as a short circuit between an island and the rest of a dipole antenna, thus, resonating at the desired frequency. In one instance, the multi-band antenna includes a first, second, third, and fourth dipole elements. Gaps between the first and third dipole elements and the second and fourth dipole elements are sufficiently small that the first, second, third, and fourth dipole elements form a second dipole having a corresponding dipole wavelength longer than that of the first dipole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventor: Lowell Lee Loyet
  • Patent number: 7817095
    Abstract: A tight-fitting garment comprising a dipole resonator which is adapted to vary its length and/or shape in conformity with the length and/or shape variations of a person wearing the garment. The length and/or shape of the resonator determines the resonance frequency which can be detected by a reflection analyzer. The dipole resonator comprises at least one elastic core around which a conductive wire is wound. The dipole resonator is further suitable to elastically deform along with the tight-fitting garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Inventors: Antonius Hubertus Joannes Gerardus Lommen, Hubregt Jannis Visser, Gerardus Johannes Nicolaas Doodeman, Helena de Voogd-Claessen
  • Patent number: 7812728
    Abstract: A radio frequency communication device and method are disclosed. In one aspect, an RFID tag includes an adjustable antenna having a main segment and one or more additional segments that are short relative to the main segment; and the antenna is adjustable to electrically isolate one or more of the additional segments from the main segment. In another aspect, an RFID tag includes an antenna having a first section and a second section short relative to the first section; and the antenna is adjustable to disconnect the first and second sections from each other at a predetermined location. In a further aspect, an RFID tag includes an antenna having a first section and a second section; and the first section is adjustable to decrease the first length of the first section and the second section adjustable to increase the second length of the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLC
    Inventor: David A. Cathey
  • Patent number: 7642968
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable compact antenna comprising a first radiating element of the dipole type, operating in a first frequency band and formed by a first and at least one second conductive arm supplied differentially, the first arm, called cold arm, forming at least one cover for an electronic card wherein the second arm, called hot arm, is extended by a conductive wire element, the length of the assembly formed by the first arm, the second arm and the wire element being chosen to provide an operation in a second frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Philippe Minard, Jean-François Pintos, Ali Louzir
  • Publication number: 20090121951
    Abstract: Tunable microstrip devices formed by capacitively coupled conductive strips are disclosed. Device parameters can be tuned by adjusting corresponding lengths of a resonator and a coupling section of the device by connecting one or more auxiliary segments to the conductive strips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventor: Noriaki Kaneda
  • Patent number: 7466997
    Abstract: A portable wireless device operating within a specific bandwidth is provided. Conductor elements such as the circuit board, the battery, the card slot, the multimedia socket and the resonator are installed inside the housing of a portable wireless device. The body of the resonator is made of dielectric material with the positive electrode and the negative electrode being formed on the two lateral sides of the dielectric material. The positive electrode and the negative electrode have a positive polarity regulating piece and a negative polarity regulating piece respective with capacitance effect existing between the positive and the negative regulating pieces regulating both the impedance matching and the phase thereof. The resonator, when operating within the range of resonance frequency, is able to couple the energy to conductor elements and generate a radiation field for the portable wireless device together with the conductor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Quanta Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Huei Lin, Nen-Yen Wu
  • Patent number: 7463211
    Abstract: An antenna system with at least one tunable dipole element with a length adjustable conductive member disposed. The element is made of two longitudinally aligned, hollow support arms made of non-conductive material. Disposed longitudinally inside each element is a length adjustable conductive member electrically connected at one end. Each conductive member is stored on a spool that is selectively rotated to extend the conductive member into the support arm. The support arms are affixed at one end to a rigid housing. During use, the conductive members are adjusted in length to tune the element to a desired frequency. The antenna can be optimally tuned at a specific frequency for maximum gain, maximum front-to-back ratio, as a bi-directional antenna, and to provide a desired feed point impedance. An electronic control system allows the length of the conductive members to be manually or automatically adjusted to a desired frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Fluid Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Mertel, Clayton B Curtiss, James E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7417549
    Abstract: A radio frequency communication device and method for tuning an antenna attached thereto are disclosed. A radio frequency communication device is disclosed comprising internal circuitry and an antenna having a plurality of antenna segments associated therewith. Each antenna segment is associated with the antenna in either series or parallel relation through at least one of a fuse and an antifuse. In testing and tuning, a comparison is made to indicate whether the antenna is too short or too long. If the antenna is too short, an antenna segment may be attached to the antenna by initiating an antifuse. If the antenna is too long, an antenna segment may be detached from the antenna by blowing a fuse. If it is indeterminate whether the antenna is too short or too long, an antenna segment may be either attached or detached, the test repeated, and the results of the repeated test compared with the prior test to determine whether the correct action was taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Keystone Technology Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: David A. Cathey
  • Patent number: 7388555
    Abstract: An adjustable-frequency two-element bowtie antenna includes a support member on which first and second non-conductive hollow element support arms are mounted. Each support arm includes first and second opposing segments. The first and second segments of each element support arm include a first section extending outwardly from the support member, a curved transition section, and a second section extending in a direction towards and joining the second section of the other element support arm. The spacing between the first sections of each segment of each element support arm increase as a function of the distance from the support member. A length-adjustable conductive member is disposed in each element support arm. Length adjusters are coupled to the conductive members to configure the lengths of antenna elements. A connector may be provided to couple a transmission-line to a pair of the conductive members comprising a driven element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Inventor: Michael E. Mertel
  • Publication number: 20070229386
    Abstract: An antenna system with at least one tunable dipole element with a length adjustable conductive member disposed. The element is made of two longitudinally aligned, hollow support arms made of non-conductive material. Disposed longitudinally inside each element is a length adjustable conductive member electrically connected at one end. Each conductive member is stored on a spool that is selectively rotated to extend the conductive member into the support arm. The support arms are affixed at one end to a rigid housing. During use, the conductive members are adjusted in length to tune the element to a desired frequency. The antenna can be optimally tuned at a specific frequency for maximum gain, maximum front-to-back ratio, as a bi-directional antenna, and to provide a desired feed point impedance. An electronic control system allows the length of the conductive members to be manually or automatically adjusted to a desired frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Michael E. Mertel, Clayton B. Curtiss, James E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7228156
    Abstract: An RF-actuated microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switch for use with switchable RF structures such as antennas and reflectors is disclosed. An antenna within each MEMS switch module is coupled to a circuit that provides a trigger voltage based on an RF control signal received at the antenna. The trigger voltage output of the circuit is used as the control the MEMS switch. This allows arrays of MEMS switch modules to be actuated by remotely generated radio frequency signals thus alleviating the need for running metallic conductors or optical fibers to each MEMS switch. Frequency response characteristics, phasing, reflectivity, and directionality characteristics may be altered in real-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Roland A Gilbert
  • Patent number: 7151501
    Abstract: A MEMS antenna is provided comprising a dielectric layer, and a conductive line radiator formed overlying the dielectric layer including at least one selectively connectable MEMS conductive section to vary the mechanical (physical) length of the radiator. The antenna may include a plurality of selectively connectable MEMS conductive sections and a plurality of fixed-length conductive section. The MEMS conductive sections may be parallely aligned along the radiator width, and/or parallely aligned along the radiator length. For example, the radiator may have a first length formed in response to connecting a first MEMS conductive section, and a second length, shorter than the first length, formed in response to disconnecting the first MEMS conductive section. Then, the radiator first length would be an effective quarter-wavelength odd multiple at a first frequency, and the second length would be an effective quarter-wavelength odd multiple at a second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Kyocera Wireless Corp.
    Inventor: Allen Tran
  • Patent number: 5894287
    Abstract: A polarization diversity device for reducing a fading effect. The polarization diversity device for reducing a fading effect, which has a microstrip disk type of antenna for outputting a signal received from a first position, in the form of a field dipole polarized in a direction of X, and outputting a signal received from a second position perpendicular to the first position, in the form of a field dipole polarized in a direction of Y, a phase shifter for phase-shifting the signal received from the second position, thereby to set the signal having the most appropriate value to a fading environment of a corresponding channel, and a combiner for combining the signal received from the first position, with the signal outputted from the phase shifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang-Jin An, Authur Roberts
  • Patent number: 5706018
    Abstract: A multi-band, variable, high-frequency antenna comprises a pair of transmission lines for conveyance of signals from and to a transceiver, and a pair of braided copper conductor elements, each in electrical communication at a proximal end thereof with one of the transmission lines. Each of the braided copper conductor elements is mounted on a non-conductive support cord, the braided copper conductor elements being expandable and retractable along the support cords on which the conductor elements are mounted. A cord lock is proximate a distal end of each of the conductor elements for releasably locking the distal end of the conductor element at a selected position on the support cord on which the conductor element is mounted. Release of the cord locks permits lengthening and shortening of the braided copper conductor elements, and locking of the cord locks is operative to lock the conductor elements in place on the support cords to selectively fix a length of each of the conductor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Inventor: Norbert E. Yankielun
  • Patent number: 5625367
    Abstract: A variable capacitance antenna allows individual adjustment of linear resonators on a beam antenna. A linear resonator is associated with each dipole element on a common support boom. A variable capacitance is positioned inside the boom and created using an arrangement of two coaxial conductive tubes as capacitive plates. One of the conductive tubes may be axially moved by a motor using a remote drive control. The movement of one conductive tube relative to the other can vary the capacitance from 0 to 100 picofarads, for example. The variable capacitance antenna can be used for both horizontal and vertical signal polarization applications. Such a variable capacitance antenna can receive and transmit electromagnetic signals on multiple frequency bands and in between frequency bands with high gain, high directivity, high efficiency, and low wind loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Inventor: Art Unwin
  • Patent number: 5221930
    Abstract: A drum is used to wind and unwind conductors that comprise the elements of an adjustable dipole antenna. The length of the elements is adjusted by rotating the drum. As the elements are unwound, they extend into tubular TEFLON guides that provide support for the elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Scott
  • Patent number: 5168279
    Abstract: An antenna for sensing stray RF radiation, such as from electronic equipment, is positioned within a dielectric enclosure. For the case of a dipole sensing antenna, the enclosure may take the form of a clear acrylic (i.e., Plexiglas) tube. This tube assures that no part of the equipment-under-test can be positioned nearer to the dipole antenna than the desired distance (which is fixed by the radius of the tube). The dipole elements themselves may be maintained coaxially disposed within the tube by spacer disks. If the dipole elements are telescopic, their lengths can readily be set by attaching the spacer disks to the outer-most telescoping member of each element and moving the spacer disks (and in so doing moving the ends of the dipole elements) into alignment with markings disposed on the tube. These markings may be calibrated either in terms of distance or the corresponding resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey B. Knight
  • Patent number: 5101214
    Abstract: An antenna device includes a base, a metal band having two opposite ends, a reel disposed within the base and having one end of the band connected thereto for winding the band thereon, the opposite end of the band being received in the base, and a guide receives the band outside the base for forming the band into substantially horizontal and vertical components, and for adjusting the length of the horizontal and vertical components of the band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: Tomy Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sohzo Ohtsuka, Yasushi Matsuyama, Kazuki Hosoya
  • Patent number: 4801943
    Abstract: A plane antenna assembly comprises a plurality of antenna bases and a signal composing means including amplifiers each connected to output part of each antenna base for composing respective outputs of the antenna bases amplified through the amplifiers, whereby a composite antenna output is obtained in correspondence to the number of the antenna bases and in an excellent S/N ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Yabu, Kazuhisa Akiyama, Toshio Abiko, Minoru Kanda, Mikio Komatsu, Hirohumi Ishizaki, Hidetsugu Nunoya, Yasumasa Ogawa, Hiroshi Yokota
  • Patent number: 4663632
    Abstract: The invention pertains to an extendable directionally adjusted dipole antenna particularly suitable for use with recreational vehicles. The antenna includes a vertical column having an extendable dipole arrangement at its upper end utilizing flexible actuators associated with a pair of reels whereby the actuators and associated telescoping antenna assemblies are simultaneously extended and retracted. An operating shaft for rotating the reels extends through the column and either manual or electric means rotate the shaft. The column is rotatable for directional adjustment, and under manual control the shaft extends through the vehicle roof permitting interior adjustments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: Barker Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack C. Budrow, Glenn A. Reed
  • Patent number: 4201990
    Abstract: A radio antenna having linear radiating elements, a loading coil electrically connected to these linear radiating elements and a tuning disc located within the loading coil and rotatable about a diameter of the loading coil whereby said antenna can be easily and accurately tuned to the exact frequency of operation selected. The disc is preferably electrically conductive such that when its plane is perpendicular to the axis of the coil the coil will have a minimum inductance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1980
    Assignee: Hustler, Inc.
    Inventor: John Altmayer
  • Patent number: 4028709
    Abstract: A yagi antenna having a director element, a half-wave active dipole element, and a reflector element mounted on an antenna boom. All antenna elements are rods that are telescopically adjustable in length from a collapsible position to an operating length for a predetermined frequency of operation, and removable from threaded mounting for storage. The director element and reflector element are slidably adjustable on the antenna boom for independent spacing with respect to the half-wave active dipole element. The antenna boom has two mast support holes; one for horizontal polarization and the other for vertical polarization. A ferrite core member surrounds a coaxial cable connecting the half-wave active dipole element to a coaxial connector, and provides balun action between the coaxial cable and a balanced antenna feed point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1977
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Field Operations Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission
    Inventors: Benjamin Berkowitz, Arthur Luedtke, William L. Kilpatrick, William F. Bentley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 3995276
    Abstract: An antenna primarily for receiving electromagnetic signals and for converting the same to electrical signals for input to a television, FM receiver, or the like, is readily adapted for customizing for maximum efficiency in signal reception at close, normal, and fringe areas relative to the broadcasting antenna. The customized antenna may include elongated generally tubular elements of different sizes, bow tie-shape reflector elements, and/or relatively flat elements, all of which are readily mounted on a support structure that may be attached to an interior or exterior wall, a conventional antenna mast, or the like. Moreover, various ones of the longitudinal elements may be electrically coupled by a conductive harness, and the transmission line leads may be adjustably connected to respective ones of the longitudinal elements. Further, the support structure may include a decorative panel behind which the various signal receiving elements are mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1976
    Inventor: Andrew Wolf
  • Patent number: 3958248
    Abstract: A dipole antenna adjustable in span and distance to the reflector provides higher gain reception for a television receiver. By maintaining the ratio of span to distance constant optimum tuning is possible over a given band of frequencies. Tuning adjustment control is obtained from behind the reflector to eliminate interference with the radiation pattern of the antenna. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to tunable communication antennas and more specifically to a directional antenna tunable over the UHF band of television frequencies.More and more in recent times VHF channels for television broadcasting in many areas of the country has become limited and the need has greatly increased for UHF channel utilization. Broadcasting in the UHF band, however, presents the problem of greater transmission path loss and higher gain antenna systems are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1976
    Inventors: Howard E. Holshouser, Julius Kemeny