Patents by Inventor Christopher Clifton

Christopher Clifton 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: 12244274
    Abstract: A device for amplification of an input signal, the device comprising: amplification circuitry comprising a plurality of switchable transistors; a variable voltage input connected to the amplification circuitry; and controller circuitry; wherein the controller circuitry is configured to: set a target output power level of the device; and control at least one of: a state of connection between the plurality of switchable transistors to change an effective physical dimension of the amplification circuitry; or a level of the variable voltage input; in accordance with a load impedance of an output of the amplification circuitry, to amplify the input signal to the target output power level for that load impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: John Christopher Clifton
  • Publication number: 20220190457
    Abstract: A signal level control element comprises a substrate having conductive formations defining a substrate integrated wave-guide arrangement disposed at least partly within the substrate; the substrate integrated waveguide arrangement providing a quadrature hybrid coupler having first and second pairs of signal ports, such that a signal introduced to a port of one pair of the first and second pairs is provided with equal amplitude but a 90 degree phase difference to both ports of the other pair of the first and second pairs; in which a port of the first pair is configured to receive an input signal and the other port of the first pair is configured to provide an output signal; and termination circuitry connected to the ports of the second pair, the termination circuitry providing, for each port of the second pair, a respective termination having a variable impedance dependent upon a respective control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kamal SAMANTA, John Christopher CLIFTON
  • Publication number: 20220131508
    Abstract: A device for amplification of an input signal, the device comprising: amplification circuitry comprising a plurality of switchable transistors; a variable voltage input connected to the amplification circuitry; and controller circuitry; wherein the controller circuitry is configured to: set a target output power level of the device; and control at least one of: a state of connection between the plurality of switchable transistors to change an effective physical dimension of the amplification circuitry; or a level of the variable voltage input; in accordance with a load impedance of an output of the amplification circuitry, to amplify the input signal to the target output power level for that load impedance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: John Christopher CLIFTON
  • Patent number: 11184066
    Abstract: A communications apparatus comprises a power amplifier configured to amplify a signal for transmission, a controllable switch coupled to an output of the power amplifier, an omnidirectional antenna coupled to a first output of the controllable switch, an antenna array coupled to a second output of the controllable switch, the antenna array comprising a plurality of antennas configured to form the signal into a beam of transmitted signals, the beam having a directional bias with respect to a location of the communications apparatus, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the controllable switch to switch a between a first mode of operation of the communications apparatus in which the signal for transmission from the output of the power amplifier is fed to the omnidirectional antenna, and a second mode of operation of the communications apparatus in which the signal from the output of the power amplifier is fed to the antenna array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: John Christopher Clifton
  • Publication number: 20200274586
    Abstract: A communications apparatus comprises a power amplifier configured to amplify a signal for transmission, a controllable switch coupled to an output of the power amplifier, an omnidirectional antenna coupled to a first output of the controllable switch, an antenna array coupled to a second output of the controllable switch, the antenna array comprising a plurality of antennas configured to form the signal into a beam of transmitted signals, the beam having a directional bias with respect to a location of the communications apparatus, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the controllable switch to switch a between a first mode of operation of the communications apparatus in which the signal for transmission from the output of the power amplifier is fed to the omnidirectional antenna, and a second mode of operation of the communications apparatus in which the signal from the output of the power amplifier is fed to the antenna array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: John Christopher Clifton
  • Patent number: 10651907
    Abstract: A communications apparatus comprising a power amplifier configured to amplify a signal for transmission, a switch coupled to an output of the power amplifier, an omnidirectional antenna coupled to a first output of the switch, an antenna array coupled to a second output of the switch, the antenna array comprising a plurality of antennas configured to form the signal into a beam of transmitted signals, the beam having a directional bias with respect to a location of the communications apparatus, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the switch to switch a between a first mode of operation of the communications apparatus in which the signal for transmission from the output of the power amplifier is fed to the omnidirectional antenna, and a second mode of operation of the communications apparatus in which the signal from the output of the power amplifier is fed to the antenna array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: John Christopher Clifton
  • Publication number: 20190260442
    Abstract: A communications apparatus comprising a power amplifier configured to amplify a signal for transmission, a switch coupled to an output of the power amplifier, an omnidirectional antenna coupled to a first output of the switch, an antenna array coupled to a second output of the switch, the antenna array comprising a plurality of antennas configured to form the signal into a beam of transmitted signals, the beam having a directional bias with respect to a location of the communications apparatus, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the switch to switch a between a first mode of operation of the communications apparatus in which the signal for transmission from the output of the power amplifier is fed to the omnidirectional antenna, and a second mode of operation of the communications apparatus in which the signal from the output of the power amplifier is fed to the antenna array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: John Christopher Clifton
  • Patent number: 10362486
    Abstract: A method of reducing interference to reception of streams of television content received at a television receiver in which each of the streams of television content are transmitted on one of a plurality of frequency channels in accordance with a channel map which defines on which of the plurality of frequency channels each stream of television content is transmitted and the interference being caused by a base station transmitting data to or receiving data from one or more mobile devices via radio communication signals in a vicinity of the television receiver. The method includes identifying the channel map and adapting a transmission of the radio communication signals between the base station and the one or more of mobile devices in accordance with the identified channel map to reduce interference at the television receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY EUROPE LIMITED
    Inventors: John Christopher Clifton, John Nicholas Wilson
  • Patent number: 10149283
    Abstract: A communications device transmits/receives data from/to a mobile communications network including one or more network elements arranged to form a wireless access interface for transmitting/receiving data. An up-link includes a control channel for transmitting signalling information from the communications device to the mobile communications network in accordance with a predetermined format in which signals which representing the signalling information occupy, in the time domain, the predetermined number of frequency division multiplexed symbols of the control channel. A controller is configured to control a transmitter unit to transmit the signals and a receiver unit to receive the signals to transmit or receive the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew William Webb, John Christopher Clifton
  • Patent number: 10128994
    Abstract: A communications device transmits/receives data to/from a mobile communications network including one or more network elements forming a wireless access interface for transmitting/receiving the data. An up-link includes a shared channel for transmitting the data to the mobile communications network. A controller controls a transmitter and receiver to transmit to the mobile communications network a request to transmit data in a smaller number of frequency division multiplexed symbols than available on the shared channel, to receive from the mobile communications network an indication of a sub-set of the predetermined number of frequency division multiplexed symbols in which the communications device should transmit the data on the shared channel, and to transmit signals representing the data in the shared channel to occupy a smaller number of frequency division multiplexed symbols than the number of the predetermined number of frequency division multiplexed symbols of the time period of the shared channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew William Webb, John Christopher Clifton
  • Patent number: 10091230
    Abstract: Identity data for a user is aggregated from multiple sources into a global profile, the contents of which is distributed under the control of the user to trusted risk engines. The collected identity data is related to the user's use of online services provided by multiple independent service providers. The collected identity data is aggregated into a private, global profile. The user must authorize the portion(s) of the aggregated identity data that is/are distributed, and one or more trusted risk engines to which the aggregated identity data may distributed. The global profile may be distributed to individual trusted risk engines, further based on requests received from individual ones of the trusted risk engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: EMC IP Holding Company LLC
    Inventors: Salah Machani, Kayvan Alikhani, Lawrence N. Friedman, Christopher Clifton McLaren, Marcelo Blatt
  • Publication number: 20170374556
    Abstract: A method of reducing interference to reception of streams of television content received at a television receiver in which each of the streams of television content are transmitted on one of a plurality of frequency channels in accordance with a channel map which defines on which of the plurality of frequency channels each stream of television content is transmitted and the interference being caused by a base station transmitting data to or receiving data from one or more mobile devices via radio communication signals in a vicinity of the television receiver. The method includes identifying the channel map and adapting a transmission of the radio communication signals between the base station and the one or more of mobile devices in accordance with the identified channel map to reduce interference at the television receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicants: SONY CORPORATION, SONY EUROPE LIMITED
    Inventors: John Christopher CLIFTON, John Nicholas WILSON
  • Patent number: 9749869
    Abstract: A method of reducing interference to reception of streams of television content received at a television receiver in which each of the streams of television content are transmitted on one of a plurality of frequency channels in accordance with a channel map which defines on which of the plurality of frequency channels each stream of television content is transmitted and the interference being caused by a base station transmitting data to or receiving data from one or more mobile devices via radio communication signals in a vicinity of the television receiver. The method includes identifying the channel map and adapting a transmission of the radio communication signals between the base station and the one or more of mobile devices in accordance with the identified channel map to reduce interference at the television receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY EUROPE LIMITED
    Inventors: John Christopher Clifton, John Nicholas Wilson
  • Patent number: 9613330
    Abstract: A computer-implemented process for an endpoint for automated fulfillment, includes: in an Automatic Fulfillment (AF) server: creating an endpoint on the AF server; selecting supported commands; and for each command, defining required and optional parameters and endpoint type specific implementation details; and in a Compliance Manager (CM): running discovery to find new endpoint and create metadata for it in the CM; for each command to be automated, filling in mappings for at least all required parameters; and enabling the command; enabling the endpoint; binding the endpoint to a business source; and ensuring that the business source uses a fulfillment process that uses the AF server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: EMC IP Holding Company LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Clifton McLaren, Prashant R. Juvekar, Prashant Darisi
  • Patent number: 9495393
    Abstract: A system for reviewing role definitions includes a database that stores a plurality of roles. Each of the plurality of roles associates an identifier with at least one entitlement. The system also includes a second database that stores role review definitions. The review definitions define role review processes for the plurality of roles. The system further includes a processor that is in communication with the role database and the review definition database. The processor executes the role review processes defined by the review definitions at the appropriate times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: EMC IP Holding Company, LLC
    Inventors: James Ducharme, Michael Sean Miller, Christopher Clifton McLaren, Dan Uwe Zehme, Deepak Taneja
  • Publication number: 20160174213
    Abstract: A communications device transmits/receives data from/to a mobile communications network including one or more network elements arranged to form a wireless access interface for transmitting/receiving data. An up-link includes a control channel for transmitting signalling information from the communications device to the mobile communications network in accordance with a predetermined format in which signals which representing the signalling information occupy, in the time domain, the predetermined number of frequency division multiplexed symbols of the control channel. A controller is configured to control a transmitter unit to transmit the signals and a receiver unit to receive the signals to transmit or receive the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew William WEBB, John Christopher CLIFTON
  • Publication number: 20160037351
    Abstract: A method of reducing interference to reception of streams of television content received at a television receiver in which each of the streams of television content are transmitted on one of a plurality of frequency channels in accordance with a channel map which defines on which of the plurality of frequency channels each stream of television content is transmitted and the interference being caused by a base station transmitting data to or receiving data from one or more mobile devices via radio communication signals in a vicinity of the television receiver. The method includes identifying the channel map and adapting a transmission of the radio communication signals between the base station and the one or more of mobile devices in accordance with the identified channel map to reduce interference at the television receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Applicants: SONY CORPORATION, SONY EUROPE LIMITED
    Inventors: John Christopher CLIFTON, John Nicholas WILSON
  • Patent number: 9215720
    Abstract: A method of reducing interference to reception of streams of television content received at a television receiver in which each of the streams of television content are transmitted on one of a plurality of frequency channels in accordance with a channel map which defines on which of the plurality of frequency channels each stream of television content is transmitted and the interference being caused by a base station transmitting data to or receiving data from one or more mobile devices via radio communication signals in a vicinity of the television receiver. The method includes identifying the channel map and adapting a transmission of the radio communication signals between the base station and the one or more of mobile devices in accordance with the identified channel map to reduce interference at the television receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Europe Limited
    Inventors: John Christopher Clifton, John Nicholas Wilson
  • Patent number: 9025647
    Abstract: A device including a power input supplying external AC power to the device via a power cord, a filter filtering noise from outside of the supplied external AC power and thereby generating a filtered AC power, at least one power socket supplying the filtered AC power to at least one other device, and a PLC modem configured to be connected to the at least one power socket and to transmit data to or receive data from the at least one other device via power line communication using the filtered AC power. The device may be used in power line communication systems. A power line communication method uses the device for isolating a power line communication network from a mains grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: SONY Corporation
    Inventors: Andreas Schwager, Dietmar Schill, John Christopher Clifton
  • Publication number: 20150066572
    Abstract: A computer-implemented process for an endpoint for automated fulfillment, includes: in an Automatic Fulfillment (AF) server: creating an endpoint on the AF server; selecting supported commands; and for each command, defining required and optional parameters and endpoint type specific implementation details; and in a Compliance Manager (CM): running discovery to find new endpoint and create metadata for it in the CM; for each command to be automated, filling in mappings for at least all required parameters; and enabling the command; enabling the endpoint; binding the endpoint to a business source; and ensuring that the business source uses a fulfillment process that uses the AF server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Clifton McLaren, Prashant R. Juvekar, Prashant Darisi