Patents by Inventor Christopher A. Snyder

Christopher A. Snyder 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: 7733285
    Abstract: An antenna configuration includes two closely spaced antennas each positioned so as to be orthogonally polarized with respect to the other. The antenna configuration increases antenna isolation and reduces electromagnetic coupling between donor side antenna and repeat side antenna. The antennas include printed dipoles connected to respective transceivers through respective baluns to balance the non-symmetrical portions of the antenna feed paths to reduce unwanted radiation therein. Printed features such as chokes and non-symmetrical and non-parallel structures are preferably included in the ground plane of a multi-layer circuit board to reduce or eliminate circulating ground currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Gainey, Christopher A. Snyder, James A. Proctor, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090284434
    Abstract: An antenna apparatus, which can increase capacity in a cellular communication system or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), such as an 802.11 network, operates in conjunction with a mobile subscriber unit or client station. At least one antenna element is active and located within multiple passive antenna elements. The passive antenna elements are coupled to selectable impedance components for phase control of re-radiated RF signals. Various techniques for determining the phase of each antenna element are supported to enable the antenna apparatus to direct an antenna beam pattern toward a base station or access point with maximum gain, and, consequently, maximum signal-to-noise ratio. By directionally receiving and transmitting signals, multipath fading is greatly reduced as well as intercell interference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: IPR LICENSING, INC.
    Inventors: Griffin K. Gothard, Alton S. Keel, JR., Christopher A. Snyder, Bing Chiang, Joe T. Richeson, Douglas H. Wood, James A. Proctor, JR., Kenneth M. Gainey
  • Publication number: 20090135745
    Abstract: A wireless communication node, such as a repeater, including a frequency translating repeater, a physical layer (PHY) repeater, time divisional duplex repeater (TDD) and the like, is configured with a pair of directional patch antennae and an omni-directional antenna. The patch antennae can be selected depending on the orientation of the repeater package to communicate with a station such as an access point or a base station. The omni-directional antenna can be directed toward another station such as a client. The patch antennae and the omni-directional antenna can be orthogonally polarized to increase isolation and reduce electromagnetic coupling. Multiple antennae can be used in multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Gainey, James A. Proctor, JR., Christopher A. Snyder, James C. Otto
  • Patent number: 7530180
    Abstract: A wireless mobile handset includes an antenna array. The antenna array includes a passive element disposed on a first portion of a dielectric substrate and an active element disposed on a second portion of the dielectric substrate. The passive element is configured to operate in a reflective mode to produce a bi-directional radiation pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Chiang, Christopher A. Snyder, Griffin K. Gothard, David C. Jorgenson
  • Patent number: 7528789
    Abstract: An antenna apparatus, which can increase capacity in a cellular communication system or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), such as an 802.11 network, operates in conjunction with a mobile subscriber unit or client station. At least one antenna element is active and located within multiple passive antenna elements. The passive antenna elements are coupled to selectable impedance components for phase control of re-radiated RF signals. Various techniques for determining the phase of each antenna element are supported to enable the antenna apparatus to direct an antenna beam pattern toward a base station or access point with maximum gain, and, consequently, maximum signal-to-noise ratio. By directionally receiving and transmitting signals, multipath fading is greatly reduced as well as intercell interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Griffin K. Gothard, Alton S. Keel, Jr., Christopher A. Snyder, Bing Chiang, Joe T. Richeson, Douglas H. Wood, James A. Proctor, Jr., Kenneth M. Gainey
  • Patent number: 7463200
    Abstract: A wireless communication node, such as a repeater, including a frequency translating repeater, a physical layer (PHY) repeater, time divisional duplex repeater (TDD) and the like, is configured with a pair of directional patch antennae and an omni-directional antenna. The patch antennae can be selected depending on the orientation of the repeater package to communicate with a station such as an access point or a base station. The omni-directional antenna can be directed toward another station such as a client. The patch antennae and the omni-directional antenna can be orthogonally polarized to increase isolation and reduce electromagnetic coupling. Multiple antennae can be used in multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Gainey, James A. Proctor, Jr., Christopher A. Snyder, James C. Otto
  • Patent number: 7463201
    Abstract: A wireless handset including an antenna array. The antenna array includes an active antenna element and two passive antenna elements. The active and passive antenna elements are arranged to form a triangle with a vertex. The vertex includes a vertex angle and the active antenna element is disposed at the vertex. The vertex angle is between 90 degrees and 180 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: InterDigital Corporation
    Inventors: Bing Chiang, Griffin K. Gothard, Christopher A. Snyder, William R. Palmer, Michael J. Lynch, Thomas E. Gorsuch, Kenneth M. Gainey, James A. Proctor
  • Patent number: 7333057
    Abstract: A stacked patch antenna including a distributed reactive network proximity feed, preferably implemented in a microstrip metallization network, coupled to an active antenna patch element to feed the active antenna patch element to emit a field to parasitically stimulate a parasitic antenna patch element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher A. Snyder
  • Patent number: 7215297
    Abstract: An antenna apparatus, which can increase capacity in a cellular communication system or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), such as an 802.11 network, operates in conjunction with a mobile subscriber unit or client station. At least one antenna element is active and located within multiple passive antenna elements. The passive antenna elements are coupled to selectable impedance components for phase control of re-radiated RF signals. Various techniques for determining the phase of each antenna element are supported to enable the antenna apparatus to direct an antenna beam pattern toward a base station or access point with maximum gain, and, consequently, maximum signal-to-noise ratio. By directionally receiving and transmitting signals, multipath fading is greatly reduced as well as intercell interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Griffin K. Gothard, Alton S. Keel, Jr., Christopher A. Snyder, Bing Chiang, Joe T. Richeson, Douglas H. Wood, James A. Proctor, Jr., Kenneth M. Gainey
  • Patent number: 7190313
    Abstract: A mobile communication handset includes at least one passive antenna element and an active antenna element adjacent to the passive antenna elements protruding from a housing. The active element is coupled to electronic radio communication circuits and the passive antenna elements are coupled to circuit elements that affect the directivity of communication signals coupled to the antenna elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Chiang, Christopher A. Snyder, Griffin K. Gothard, David C. Jorgenson
  • Patent number: 7176844
    Abstract: An antenna array that uses at least two passive antennas and one active antenna disposed above a ground plane, but electrically isolated from the ground plane, and a respective resonant strip positioned beneath each passive antenna. The passive antenna elements are positioned about the active element, and each of the at least two passive antenna elements is individually set to a reflective or a transmissive mode to change the characteristics of an input/output beam pattern of the antenna apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Chiang, Griffin K. Gothard, Christopher A. Snyder, William R. Palmer, Michael J. Lynch, Thomas E. Gorsuch, Kenneth M. Gainey, James A. Proctor, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7046202
    Abstract: An antenna array includes a dielectric substrate comprising an integral center hub including a pivotal center section therein, and a pivotal wings extending radially from the integral center hub. An active antenna element is on the pivotal center section of the integral center hub, and passive antenna elements are on the pivotal wings. The active antenna element and the passive antenna elements are pivotal between a stored position and an operational position. The active antenna element and the passive antenna elements are substantially planar when in the stored position, and are substantially perpendicular to the integral center hub when in the operational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Chiang, William R. Palmer, Griffin K. Gothard, Christopher A. Snyder
  • Patent number: 7034761
    Abstract: An antenna includes a dielectric substrate, an ative antenna element carried by the dielectric substrate, and passive antenna elements carried by the dielectric substrate. The passive antenna elements are laterally adjacent the active antenna element. A respective impedance element is selectively connectable to each passive antenna element for antenna beam steering. Image elements are carried by the dielectric substrate, and a respective image element is connected to each impedance element and ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Chiang, William R. Palmer, Griffin K. Gothard, Christopher A. Snyder
  • Patent number: 6989797
    Abstract: An antenna apparatus, which can increase capacity in a cellular communication system or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), such as an 802.11 network, operates in conjunction with a mobile subscriber unit or client station. At least one antenna element is active and located within multiple passive antenna elements. The passive antenna elements are coupled to selectable impedance components for phase control of re-radiated RF signals. Various techniques for determining the phase of each antenna element are supported to enable the antenna apparatus to direct an antenna beam pattern toward a base station or access point with maximum gain, and, consequently, maximum signal-to-noise ratio. By directionally receiving and transmitting signals, multipath fading is greatly reduced as well as intercell interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Griffin K. Gothard, Alton S. Keel, Jr., Christopher A. Snyder, Bing Chiang, Joe T. Richeson, Douglas H. Wood, James A. Proctor, Jr., Kenneth M. Gainey
  • Patent number: 6888504
    Abstract: An antenna array that uses at least two passive antennas and one active antenna disposed above a ground plane, but electrically isolated from the ground plane, and a respective resonant strip positioned beneath each passive antenna. The passive antenna elements are positioned about the active element, and each of the at least two passive antenna elements is individually set to a reflective or a transmissive mode to change the characteristics of an input/output beam pattern of the antenna apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Chiang, Griffin K. Gothard, Christopher A. Snyder, William R. Palmer, Michael J. Lynch, Thomas E. Gorsuch, Kenneth M. Gainey, James A. Proctor, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6876331
    Abstract: A mobile communication handset includes at least one passive antenna element and an active antenna element adjacent to the passive antenna elements protruding from a housing. The active element is coupled to electronic radio communication circuits and the passive antenna elements are coupled to circuit elements that affect the directivity of communication signals coupled to the antenna elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Chiang, Christopher A. Snyder, Griffin K. Gothard, David C. Jorgenson
  • Publication number: 20040259597
    Abstract: An antenna apparatus, which can increase capacity in a cellular communication system or Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), such as an 802.11 network, operates in conjunction with a mobile subscriber unit or client station. At least one antenna element is active and located within multiple passive antenna elements. The passive antenna elements are coupled to selectable impedance components for phase control of re-radiated RF signals. Various techniques for determining the phase of each antenna element are supported to enable the antenna apparatus to direct an antenna beam pattern toward a base station or access point with maximum gain, and, consequently, maximum signal-to-noise ratio. By directionally receiving and transmitting signals, multipath fading is greatly reduced as well as intercell interference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Griffin K. Gothard, Alton S. Keel, Christopher A. Snyder, Bing Chiang, Joe T. Richeson, Douglas H. Wood, James A. Proctor, Kenneth M. Gainey
  • Patent number: 6774852
    Abstract: An antenna array formed on a deformable dielectric material or substrate includes a center element and plurality of radial elements extending from a center hub. In the operative mode, the radial elements are folded upwardly into an approximately vertical position, with the center element at the center of the hub and the radial elements circumferentially surrounding the center element. In one embodiment the center element serves an active element of the antenna array and the radial elements are controllable in a directive or reflective state to effect a directive beam pattern from the antenna array. When not in use, the antenna elements are deformed into a plane and can therefore be integrated into a housing for compact storage. In a phased array embodiment, the center element is absent and the plurality of radial elements, are controllable to steer the antenna beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Chiang, William R. Palmer, Griffin K. Gothard, Christopher A. Snyder
  • Publication number: 20040150568
    Abstract: An antenna array that uses at least two passive antennas and one active antenna disposed above a ground plane, but electrically isolated from the ground plane, and a respective resonant strip positioned beneath each passive antenna. The passive antenna elements are positioned about the active element, and each of the at least two passive antenna elements is individually set to a reflective or a transmissive mode to change the characteristics of an input/output beam pattern of the antenna apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Applicant: Tantivy Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Chiang, Griffin K. Gothard, Christopher A. Snyder, William R. Palmer, Michael Lynch, Thomas Gorsuch, Kenneth Gainey, James A. Proctor
  • Patent number: 6762722
    Abstract: A directional antenna having a number, N, of outlying monopole antenna elements. These monopole elements are formed as a first upper conductive segment on a portion of a dielectric substrate. The array also includes the same number, N, of image elements. The image elements are formed as a second set of lower conductive segments on the same substrate as the upper conductive segments. The image elements, generally having the same length and shape as the monopole elements, are connected to a ground reference potential. To complete the array, an active antenna element is also disposed on the same substrate, adjacent to at least one of the monopole elements. In a preferred arrangement, the passive monopole elements and corresponding image elements are selectively connected to operate to in either a reflective or directive mode, such as via a switchable coupling circuit that selectively changes the impedances connected between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: IPR Licensing, Inc.
    Inventors: Bing Chiang, William R. Palmer, Griffin K. Gothard, Christopher A. Snyder