Patents by Inventor B. Wayne Holt
B. Wayne Holt 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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Patent number: 11411305Abstract: A multiple-antenna positioning system with a single drive element, providing reduced weight and complexity over systems that have a drive element for each antenna. In certain examples, each antenna can be coupled with a rotating spindle, with each antenna spindle being coupled with a pair of link arms. By driving a single drive spindle, each of the antenna spindles in the system can be rotated by the associated pair of link arms. The link arms can have an adjustable length, such as through a turnbuckle mechanism, to reduce backlash in the system, and in some examples can apply a preload to the system. By reducing backlash, the multiple antenna positioning system can have improved responsiveness to a rotation of the single drive element, as well as improved stability of the positioning of each antenna when the drive element is held in a fixed position.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2021Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Viasat, Inc.Inventors: Jack C. Newkirk, B. Wayne Holt, Bradley H. Smith, Kevin M. Skinner, E. Mitchell Blalock
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Publication number: 20210351497Abstract: A multiple-antenna positioning system with a single drive element, providing reduced weight and complexity over systems that have a drive element for each antenna. In certain examples, each antenna can be coupled with a rotating spindle, with each antenna spindle being coupled with a pair of link arms. By driving a single drive spindle, each of the antenna spindles in the system can be rotated by the associated pair of link arms. The link arms can have an adjustable length, such as through a turnbuckle mechanism, to reduce backlash in the system, and in some examples can apply a preload to the system. By reducing backlash, the multiple antenna positioning system can have improved responsiveness to a rotation of the single drive element, as well as improved stability of the positioning of each antenna when the drive element is held in a fixed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2021Publication date: November 11, 2021Inventors: Jack C. Newkirk, B. Wayne Holt, Bradley H. Smith, Kevin M. Skinner, E. Mitchell Blalock
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Patent number: 10985449Abstract: A multiple-antenna positioning system with a single drive element, providing reduced weight and complexity over systems that have a drive element for each antenna. In certain examples, each antenna can be coupled with a rotating spindle, with each antenna spindle being coupled with a pair of link arms. By driving a single drive spindle, each of the antenna spindles in the system can be rotated by the associated pair of link arms. The link arms can have an adjustable length, such as through a turnbuckle mechanism, to reduce backlash in the system, and in some examples can apply a preload to the system. By reducing backlash, the multiple antenna positioning system can have improved responsiveness to a rotation of the single drive element, as well as improved stability of the positioning of each antenna when the drive element is held in a fixed position.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2020Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Viasat, Inc.Inventors: Jack C. Newkirk, B. Wayne Holt, Bradley H. Smith, Kevin M. Skinner, E. Mitchell Blalock
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Publication number: 20200215530Abstract: A multiple-antenna positioning system with a single drive element, providing reduced weight and complexity over systems that have a drive element for each antenna. In certain examples, each antenna can be coupled with a rotating spindle, with each antenna spindle being coupled with a pair of link arms. By driving a single drive spindle, each of the antenna spindles in the system can be rotated by the associated pair of link arms. The link arms can have an adjustable length, such as through a turnbuckle mechanism, to reduce backlash in the system, and in some examples can apply a preload to the system. By reducing backlash, the multiple antenna positioning system can have improved responsiveness to a rotation of the single drive element, as well as improved stability of the positioning of each antenna when the drive element is held in a fixed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2020Publication date: July 9, 2020Inventors: Jack C. Newkirk, B. Wayne Holt, Bradley H. Smith, Kevin M. Skinner, E. Mitchell Blalock
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Patent number: 10559875Abstract: A multiple-antenna positioning system with a single drive element, providing reduced weight and complexity over systems that have a drive element for each antenna. In certain examples, each antenna can be coupled with a rotating spindle, with each antenna spindle being coupled with a pair of link arms. By driving a single drive spindle, each of the antenna spindles in the system can be rotated by the associated pair of link arms. The link arms can have an adjustable length, such as through a turnbuckle mechanism, to reduce backlash in the system, and in some examples can apply a preload to the system. By reducing backlash, the multiple antenna positioning system can have improved responsiveness to a rotation of the single drive element, as well as improved stability of the positioning of each antenna when the drive element is held in a fixed position.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2018Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: Viasat, Inc.Inventors: Jack C. Newkirk, B. Wayne Holt, Bradley H. Smith, Kevin M. Skinner, E. Mitchell Blalock
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Publication number: 20190157749Abstract: A multiple-antenna positioning system with a single drive element, providing reduced weight and complexity over systems that have a drive element for each antenna. In certain examples, each antenna can be coupled with a rotating spindle, with each antenna spindle being coupled with a pair of link arms. By driving a single drive spindle, each of the antenna spindles in the system can be rotated by the associated pair of link arms. The link arms can have an adjustable length, such as through a turnbuckle mechanism, to reduce backlash in the system, and in some examples can apply a preload to the system. By reducing backlash, the multiple antenna positioning system can have improved responsiveness to a rotation of the single drive element, as well as improved stability of the positioning of each antenna when the drive element is held in a fixed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2018Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: Jack C. Newkirk, B. Wayne Holt, Bradley H. Smith, Kevin M. Skinner, E. Mitchell Blalock
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Patent number: 10135127Abstract: A multiple-antenna positioning system with a single drive element, providing reduced weight and complexity over systems that have a drive element for each antenna. In certain examples, each antenna can be coupled with a rotating spindle, with each antenna spindle being coupled with a pair of link arms. By driving a single drive spindle, each of the antenna spindles in the system can be rotated by the associated pair of link arms. The link arms can have an adjustable length, such as through a turnbuckle mechanism, to reduce backlash in the system, and in some examples can apply a preload to the system. By reducing backlash, the multiple antenna positioning system can have improved responsiveness to a rotation of the single drive element, as well as improved stability of the positioning of each antenna when the drive element is held in a fixed position.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2017Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: Viasat, Inc.Inventors: Jack C. Newkirk, B. Wayne Holt, Bradley H. Smith, Kevin M. Skinner, E. Mitchell Blalock
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Publication number: 20170237155Abstract: A multiple-antenna positioning system with a single drive element, providing reduced weight and complexity over systems that have a drive element for each antenna. In certain examples, each antenna can be coupled with a rotating spindle, with each antenna spindle being coupled with a pair of link arms. By driving a single drive spindle, each of the antenna spindles in the system can be rotated by the associated pair of link arms. The link arms can have an adjustable length, such as through a turnbuckle mechanism, to reduce backlash in the system, and in some examples can apply a preload to the system. By reducing backlash, the multiple antenna positioning system can have improved responsiveness to a rotation of the single drive element, as well as improved stability of the positioning of each antenna when the drive element is held in a fixed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2017Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: Jack C. Newkirk, B. Wayne Holt, Bradley H. Smith, Kevin M. Skinner, E. Mitchell Blalock
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Patent number: 9680199Abstract: A multiple-antenna positioning system with a single drive element, providing reduced weight and complexity over systems that have a drive element for each antenna. In certain examples, each antenna can be coupled with a rotating spindle, with each antenna spindle being coupled with a pair of link arms. By driving a single drive spindle, each of the antenna spindles in the system can be rotated by the associated pair of link arms. The link arms can have an adjustable length, such as through a turnbuckle mechanism, to reduce backlash in the system, and in some examples can apply a preload to the system. By reducing backlash, the multiple antenna positioning system can have improved responsiveness to a rotation of the single drive element, as well as improved stability of the positioning of each antenna when the drive element is held in a fixed position.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2015Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: ViaSat, Inc.Inventors: Jack C. Newkirk, B. Wayne Holt, Bradley H. Smith, Kevin M. Skinner, E. Mitchell Blalock
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Publication number: 20150380802Abstract: A multiple-antenna positioning system with a single drive element, providing reduced weight and complexity over systems that have a drive element for each antenna. In certain examples, each antenna can be coupled with a rotating spindle, with each antenna spindle being coupled with a pair of link arms. By driving a single drive spindle, each of the antenna spindles in the system can be rotated by the associated pair of link arms. The link arms can have an adjustable length, such as through a turnbuckle mechanism, to reduce backlash in the system, and in some examples can apply a preload to the system. By reducing backlash, the multiple antenna positioning system can have improved responsiveness to a rotation of the single drive element, as well as improved stability of the positioning of each antenna when the drive element is held in a fixed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2015Publication date: December 31, 2015Inventors: Jack C. Newkirk, B. Wayne Holt, Bradley H. Smith, Kevin M. Skinner, E. Mitchell Blalock