Patents Examined by Jacob Y. Choi
  • Patent number: 8514139
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to an antenna structure and are particularly suited to array antennas. An antenna according to an embodiment of the invention employs an enclosure having an aperture in one end; in preferred arrangements the aperture provides the enclosure with a substantially open end, over which the cover is placed. The cover has a slot therein, of a smaller size than the size of the aperture presented by the open ended enclosure and the slot in the cover then acts as the radiating slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Apple, Inc.
    Inventors: David Adams, Andrew Urquhart, William Waddoup, Dean Kitchener, Steven Hall, Simon Gale
  • Patent number: 8508430
    Abstract: An antenna reflector (100, 700) comprising a centrally located hub (120), inner ribs (108) rotatably secured at a proximal end to the hub, outer ribs (110) extendible from the inner ribs, and a guideline truss structure (132, 160) configured to support a flexible antenna reflector surface (122). The inner ribs are rotatable from a stowed position in which they are generally aligned with a central axis of the hub, to a rotated position in which they extend in a radial direction relative to the central axis. The guideline truss structure is secured to each outer rib using standoff cords attached at intermediate locations along a length of the outer rib between opposing ends (116, 118) thereof. The outer ribs are configured to be linearly displaced respectively along an elongated length of the inner ribs from a proximal position adjacent to the hub, to an extended position distal from the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Palmer, Bibb B. Allen, Sr., Angelo Bersani
  • Patent number: 8508423
    Abstract: The present invention provides a small antenna device realizing both miniaturization including lower profile and a broader band in a frequency band of hundreds MHz to 5 GHz and which can be mounted on a small device such as a cellular phone. An antenna device includes: a finite ground plane; a rectangular conductor plate provided above the finite ground plane, whose one side is connected to the finite ground plane, and having a bent portion substantially parallel with the one side; an antenna disposed substantially parallel with the finite ground plane above the finite ground plane, extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the one side, and having a feeding point positioned near the other side facing the one side of the rectangular conductor plate; and a magnetic material provided in at least a part of space between the finite ground plane and the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tomohiro Suetsuna, Makoto Higaki, Kouichi Harada, Seiichi Suenaga, Mitsuru Ishibashi, Maki Yonetsu
  • Patent number: 8508420
    Abstract: An antenna device and a wireless communication apparatus that are capable of obtaining a plurality of resonant frequencies and varying the plurality of resonant frequencies over a wide range are provided. A first antenna unit of an antenna device includes a feed electrode, a first radiation electrode, and a first frequency-variable circuit. The first frequency-variable circuit includes first and second reactance circuits each including a variable-capacitance diode. A control voltage is applied to the first frequency-variable circuit, and the resonant frequency of the first antenna unit can thus be varied. A second antenna unit includes the feed electrode, a second radiation electrode, and a second frequency-variable circuit. The second frequency-variable circuit includes first and third reactance circuits each including a variable-capacitance diode. A control voltage is applied to the second frequency-variable circuit, and the resonant frequency of the second antenna unit can thus be varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Fujieda, Kazunari Kawahata, Kenichi Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 8491151
    Abstract: A lighting device is generally illustrated having a light body having forward facing light sources including a visible white light source, visible colored light source and an infrared light source. Additionally, a side facing light source is provided. The light body also includes switches for activating the visible light sources and a three-position switch for activating the IR light source and the side facing light source. At least one switch is provided for turning at least one of the light sources on and off and further adjusting light intensity of the light source. The light source of the lighting device may further be controlled based on a detected chemistry composition of the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: EVEREADY Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Spartano
  • Patent number: 8487536
    Abstract: A dense plasma focus device is disclosed as having an anode with a non-constant radius and a cathode coupled to the anode, the cathode also having a non-constant radius. The anode and/or the cathode may be tapered. In addition, a ratio of the non-constant radius of the anode and the non-constant radius of the cathode may be held constant along the length of the dense plasma focus device in order to maintain constant inductance. Alternatively, the inductance may be varied by varying the ratio of the anode and cathode radii along the length of the dense plasma focus device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: National Security Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Edward Christopher Hagen, Bernard Timothy Meehan, III
  • Patent number: 8482464
    Abstract: A mobile communication device includes a ground plane, a dielectric substrate, and an antenna. The antenna is disposed on one surface of the dielectric substrate and includes a radiating portion, a feeding portion, and a shorting portion. The radiating portion includes a first radiating portion and a second radiating portion. The first radiating portion has at least one bending. One end of the first radiating portion is left open. The second radiating portion is a shunt metal strip. Both ends of the second radiating portion are electrically connected to the first radiating portion such that the second radiating portion forms a closed loop with a segment of the first radiating portion. The feeding portion couples the electromagnetic energy to the radiating portion through a coupling gap, and one end of the feeding portion is the antenna's feeding point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Acer Inc.
    Inventors: Kin-Lu Wong, Shu-Chuan Chen
  • Patent number: 8474776
    Abstract: An apparatus for manually maintaining the level of a radar antenna mounted on a stern pole affixed to the deck or transom of a vessel providing a platform pivotably mounted to a distal end of the pole and oriented to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the centerline of the vessel. A controller at the lower end of the pole proximal to the cockpit permits manual adjustment of the horizontal angle of the radar antenna to maintain level due to heeling of the boat. The controller utilizes a first plate secured to the pole having a series of detent positions angularly spaced around and equidistant from a center point and a second plate rotatably secured at the center point. A grip handle projecting from the front surface of the second plate permits rotation of the plate when a cooperatively aligned release handle is grasped to withdraw one or more pins extending through holes in the second plate engage the detent positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventor: Rodney Carroll
  • Patent number: 8466849
    Abstract: An antenna device for a portable terminal, in which a first radiator is installed within the portable terminal, a second radiator is elongated lengthwise and installed to be retractable into and extendable from the portable terminal, and a switch portion has at least one plate spring and connects a communication circuit portion of the portable terminal selectively to the first radiator or the second radiator. When the second radiator is retracted into the portable terminal, the communication circuit portion is connected to the first radiator through the at least one plate spring, and when the second radiator is extended from the portable terminal, the communication circuit portion is connected to the second radiator through the at least one plate spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jun Yoon, Yeong-Moo Ryu, Kwon-Sik Min
  • Patent number: 8465189
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp, wherein a light source unit for light distribution formation is accommodated inside a lamp chamber defined by a lamp body and a front cover, includes a metal heat transfer member that serves as a light source unit structural member; a light-emitting element that serves as a light source; a fan for cooling the light-emitting element provided inside the lamp chamber; and a lighting circuit that controls lighting of the light-emitting element. The light-emitting element, the fan, and the lighting circuit are each attached to the metal heat transfer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Inoue, Takanori Namba
  • Patent number: 8466843
    Abstract: An integrated antenna system is disclosed which may include a first antenna sub-system. The integrated antenna system may further include a second antenna sub-system. The first antenna sub-system may be a Ku-band antenna sub-system. The second antenna sub-system may be one of: an L-band antenna sub-system or a C-band antenna sub-system. The second antenna sub-system may be tightly/seamlessly integrated with the first antenna sub-system, thereby providing a system with integrated antenna bands which provides omni-directional coverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan P. Doane, Brian J. Herting, Lee M. Paulsen, Jeremiah D. Wolf, Wajih A. El Sallal
  • Patent number: 8462061
    Abstract: The present invention relates to printed or single-sided compound field antennas. The single-sided compound loop antennas have coplanar electric field radiators and magnetic loops with electric fields orthogonal to magnetic fields that achieve performance benefits in higher bandwidth (lower Q), greater radiation intensity/power/gain, and greater efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Dockon AG
    Inventor: Forrest James Brown
  • Patent number: 8461772
    Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp ballast performs driving with a synthesized current waveform comprising a combination of first and second sets of current waveforms. The ballast controls content rates of each of the sets per unit time; detects a rotation synchronization signal for a color wheel; applies a synthesized current waveform in accordance with the synchronization signal and the content rates to a high pressure discharge lamp; and detects a lamp voltage. A period of each of the first and second sets equals to one rotation of the color wheel. The number of inversions of the second set is larger than that of the first set. The content rate of the second set is set to RL% when the lamp voltage exceeds a value V, and the content rate of the second set is set to RH% when lamp voltage falls below a value V?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Iwasaki Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Tooru Nagase, Yoshiaki Komatsu, Shinichi Suzuki, Makoto Ohkahara, Hirokazu Harasawa, Yoshiaki Kuroda
  • Patent number: 8456366
    Abstract: A communications structure may include a ground plane, a ground conductor electrically coupled to the ground plane and extending from the ground plane, and a feed conductor. A first antenna branch may be electrically coupled to the ground conductor, with an electrical coupling between the first antenna branch and the ground conductor being spaced apart from an electrical coupling between the ground plane and the ground connector. A second antenna branch may be electrically coupled to the feed conductor, with the first and second antenna branches being spaced apart. In addition, a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and/or receiver may be provided with the ground plane and the feed conductor being electrically coupled to the RF transmitter and/or receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications AB
    Inventor: Scott LaDell Vance
  • Patent number: 8451185
    Abstract: A multi-feed dipole antenna and method. Provides a volumetrically efficient antenna with wide radiation pattern bandwidth and wide impedance bandwidth that are relatively independent. Driving the antenna at multiple locations provides for a half wavelength dipole antenna with a wider frequency range than any other known fat dipole of similar volume. The apparatus is constructed from brass or any other suitable metal without requiring dielectric loading and without requiring direct coupling on the outside of the tubes. The apparatus utilizes a parasitic center tube with two end tubes that are driven by a collinearly mounted metal rod that is driven from the midpoint. Insulators hold the parasitic tube to the end tubes. The parasitic tube allows for induced currents to flow on the surface of the tube which allow for operation of the dipole over a wide frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Antennasys, Inc.
    Inventor: Spencer L. Webb
  • Patent number: 8446322
    Abstract: Disclosed is a micropatch antenna comprising a radiating element and a ground plane separated by an air gap. Small size, light weight, wide bandwidth, and wide directional pattern are achieved without the introduction of a high-permittivity dielectric substrate. Capacitive elements are configured along the perimeter of at least one of the radiating element and ground plane. Capacitive elements may comprise extended continuous structures or a series of localized structures. The geometry of the radiating element, ground plane, and capacitive elements may be varied to suit specific applications, such as linearly-polarized or circularly-polarized electromagnetic radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Topcon GPS, LLC
    Inventors: Dmitry Tatarnikov, Andrey Astakhov, Anton Stepanenko, Pavel Shamatulsky
  • Patent number: 8436777
    Abstract: A measurement apparatus includes an anechoic chamber, a DUT board, rotation units, and a feeding arm. The anechoic chamber has inner-walls. Each inner-wall is covered with a radio wave absorber. One of the inner-wall is a first wall with an aperture and the other inner-walls are second walls. The DUT board holds a first antenna to be measured with radiation property and a probe to detect a signal from the first antenna. A part of the DUT board is inserted into the anechoic chamber through the aperture opened in the first wall. One end of the feeding arm holds a second antenna radiating a radio wave to the first antenna in the anechoic chamber. Each rotation unit provides on each second wall and is selectively attached to the other end of the feeding arm for rotating the second antenna and for feeding to the second antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ito, Yukako Tsutsumi, Shuichi Obayashi, Hiroki Shoki
  • Patent number: 8436775
    Abstract: A circuit-board mountable antenna (50, 80, 90) has a substrate (12,14) compliant with the IPC/JEDEC J-STD_0202C and IEC-norm standard 60068, which specifies the spacing and pin arrangements for a printed circuit board (PCB) mountable connector commonly known in the automotive electronic art as a “FAKRA” or “Fakra.” A radio frequency (RF) energy transducer or antenna (54) is applied to or formed over the substrate (12, 14) which is provided with at least one mounting pin (16) and a signal lead (18), the spacing and locations of which are compliant with the Fakra ISO-compliant hole pattern. The antennae (50, 80, 90) thus provide a circuit board (70) mountable antenna, compliant with the Fakra standard. The Fakra-compliant antenna or a Fakra-compliant connector can be attached to the circuit board (70) for a communications device (100) at the time of assembly to enable the communications device to use either a concealed or concealable antenna or an external antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Brey, David Teteak, Bhavna Mantha, Peter Saladin
  • Patent number: 8432101
    Abstract: A display device includes a display unit in which display elements provided with pixel circuits are arranged so as to have a sequence of three different colors in a row direction and the colors are shifted in a column direction by 1.5 columns. A scanning line is provided in every row of the display unit, a signal line is provided in every column of the display unit, and a column control circuit outputs a display signal for every column. The positions of the pixel circuits are displaced in the row direction with respect to the arrangement of the display elements, and are thus aligned in the column direction and also connected to the signal line only on one side of the signal line. No inversion of the pixel circuit pattern occurs and variations of the circuit characteristics in every row are suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Somei Kawasaki, Masami Iseki, Tatsuhito Goden
  • Patent number: 8427068
    Abstract: There are provided a reference signal generator and a PWM control circuit for LCD backlight. The reference signal generator and the PWM control circuit for LCD backlight may be configured to respectively include: a current control unit that controls generation of a variable current sequentially changing; a current generating unit that generates a variable current changing sequentially; and a reference signal generating unit that controls charging until a charged voltage charged by the variable current generated by the current generating unit reaches a first reference voltage level, starts discharging when the charged voltage reaches the first reference voltage level, controls discharging until the charged voltage reaches a second reference voltage level, and generates a triangular wave reference signal that has a frequency buffering interval in which a frequency sequentially changes when the initial driving completion signal or the protection signal is input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu Jin Jang, Jeong In Cheon