Patents by Inventor Colin Z. Sheldon

Colin Z. Sheldon 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).

  • Apparatus and method for establishing and maintaining a communications link
    Patent number: 10771135
    Abstract: An example apparatus for establishing a communications link is provided. The example apparatus may include a phased array antenna, a radio frequency beamformer, and a processor. The processor may be in operable communication with the radio frequency beamformer and configured to operate as an antenna controller. As the antenna controller, the processor may be configured to direct the radio frequency beamformer to steer an antenna beam generated by the phased array antenna in a plurality of beam directions across an operating range of the phased array antenna, determine a signal strength of a source signal received by the phased array antenna at each beam direction, determine a current beam direction, and direct the radio frequency beamformer to steer the antenna beam to the current beam direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Colin Z. Sheldon, Marshall J. Jose, Robert F. Henrick, Jennifer N. Dumiak
  • Apparatus and Method for Establishing and Maintaining a Communications Link
    Publication number: 20170223749
    Abstract: An example apparatus for establishing a communications link is provided. The example apparatus may include a phased array antenna, a radio frequency beamformer, and a processor. The processor may be in operable communication with the radio frequency beamformer and configured to operate as an antenna controller. As the antenna controller, the processor may be configured to direct the radio frequency beamformer to steer an antenna beam generated by the phased array antenna in a plurality of beam directions across an operating range of the phased array antenna, determine a signal strength of a source signal received by the phased array antenna at each beam direction, determine a current beam direction, and direct the radio frequency beamformer to steer the antenna beam to the current beam direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Colin Z. Sheldon, Marshall J. Jose, Robert F. Henrick, Jennifer N. Dumiak