Patents by Inventor Cornelis Frederik du Toit
Cornelis Frederik du Toit 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: 9948270Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a circuit including an antenna having a tunable component. The tunable component can be operable to receive a variable signal to cause the tunable component to change a reactance of the antenna. The tunable component can include a first conductor coupled to the antenna, a second conductor, and a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor, where at least one of the first conductor or the second conductor, or both are adapted to receive the variable signal to cause the change in the reactance of the antenna. Additional embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2016Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: BlackBerry LimitedInventors: Cornelis Frederik Du Toit, Deirdre A. Ryan, Gregory Mendolia, James Martin, Izz Khayo, Heinz Bachmann, William E. McKinzie
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Patent number: 9768752Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an impedance matching circuit including a matching network. The matching network includes a first port and a second port, and one or more variable reactance components. The one or more variable reactance components are operable to receive one or more variable voltage signals to cause the one or more variable reactance components to change an impedance of the matching network. At least one of the one or more variable reactance components includes a first conductor coupled to one of the first port or the second port of the matching network, a second conductor, and a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor. Additionally, at least one of the first conductor and the second conductor are adapted to receive the one or more variable voltage signals to cause the change in the impedance of the matching network. Additional embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2014Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: BlackBerry LimitedInventors: Cornelis Frederik du Toit, Deirdre A. Ryan, Gregory Mendolia, James Martin, Izz Khayo, Heinz Bachmann, William E. McKinzie
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Publication number: 20160336916Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a circuit including an antenna having a tunable component. The tunable component can be operable to receive a variable signal to cause the tunable component to change a reactance of the antenna. The tunable component can include a first conductor coupled to the antenna, a second conductor, and a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor, where at least one of the first conductor or the second conductor, or both are adapted to receive the variable signal to cause the change in the reactance of the antenna. Additional embodiments are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2016Publication date: November 17, 2016Inventors: CORNELIS FREDERIK DU TOIT, DEIRDRE A. RYAN, GREGORY MENDOLIA, JAMES MARTIN, IZZ KHAYO, HEINZ BACHMANN, WILLIAM E. MCKINZIE
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Patent number: 9431990Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a circuit including an antenna having a tunable component. The tunable component can be operable to receive a variable signal to cause the tunable component to change a reactance of the antenna. The tunable component can include a first conductor coupled to the antenna, a second conductor, and a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor, where at least one of the first conductor or the second conductor, or both are adapted to receive the variable signal to cause the change in the reactance of the antenna. Additional embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: BlackBerry LimitedInventors: Cornelis Frederik du Toit, Deirdre A Ryan, Gregory Mendolia, James Martin, Izz Khayo, Heinz Bachmann, William E. McKinzie
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Publication number: 20150042537Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an impedance matching circuit including a matching network. The matching network includes a first port and a second port, and one or more variable reactance components. The one or more variable reactance components are operable to receive one or more variable voltage signals to cause the one or more variable reactance components to change an impedance of the matching network. At least one of the one or more variable reactance components includes a first conductor coupled to one of the first port or the second port of the matching network, a second conductor, and a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor. Additionally, at least one of the first conductor and the second conductor are adapted to receive the one or more variable voltage signals to cause the change in the impedance of the matching network. Additional embodiments are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2014Publication date: February 12, 2015Inventors: Cornelis Frederik du Toit, Deirdre A. Ryan, Gregory Mendolia, James Martin, Izz Khayo, Heinz Bachmann, William E. McKinzie
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Patent number: 8912974Abstract: Disclosed herein is an antenna feed design for transmitting or receiving a circularly polarized microwave signal, and a communication device using that antenna feed design. Resonating disks are bowl-shaped to balance E-plane and H-plane magnetic field patterns, decreasing cross-polarization, and providing mechanical rigidity. A non-planar circuit replaces planar microstrip transmission lines for transmitting the signal, with 90° phase shifts, from an input point to excitation points. This non-planar circuit overcomes some of the layout problems encountered in planar circuits. It maintains impedance matching from the input point to the excitation points by progressively tapering down the characteristic transmission line impedance of each successive section. The non-planar circuit has sufficient mechanical strength and rigidity to allow it to be supported at only two anchor points. Similarly, the non-planar disks are also of sufficient strength to require only a single anchor point each.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2011Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: The United State of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics Space AdministrationInventors: David Green, Cornelis Frederik Du Toit
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Patent number: 8896391Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an impedance matching circuit including a matching network. The matching network includes a first port and a second port, and one or more variable reactance components. The one or more variable reactance components are operable to receive one or more variable voltage signals to cause the one or more variable reactance components to change an impedance of the matching network. At least one of the one or more variable reactance components includes a first conductor coupled to one of the first port or the second port of the matching network, a second conductor, and a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor. Additionally, at least one of the first conductor and the second conductor are adapted to receive the one or more variable voltage signals to cause the change in the impedance of the matching network. Additional embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2013Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Blackberry LimitedInventors: Cornelis Frederik du Toit, Deirdre A. Ryan, Gregory Mendolia, James Martin, Izz Khayo, Heinz Bachmann, William E. McKinzie
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Patent number: 8744384Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising an input port and a dynamic impedance matching network capable of determining a mismatch at the input port and dynamically changing the RF match by using at least one matching element that includes at least one voltage tunable dielectric capacitor. The matching network may be a “Pi”, a “T”, or “ladder” type network and the apparatus may further comprise at least one directional coupler capable of signal collection by sampling a portion of an incident signal, a reflected signal or both.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2010Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: BlackBerry LimitedInventors: Gregory Mendolia, James Andrew Martin, III, Izz Khayo, Cornelis Frederik Du Toit, Heinz Bachmann, William McKinzie
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Publication number: 20140118205Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a circuit including an antenna having a tunable component. The tunable component can be operable to receive a variable signal to cause the tunable component to change a reactance of the antenna. The tunable component can include a first conductor coupled to the antenna, a second conductor, and a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor, where at least one of the first conductor or the second conductor, or both are adapted to receive the variable signal to cause the change in the reactance of the antenna. Additional embodiments are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2014Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: BlackBerry LimitedInventors: Cornelis Frederik du Toit, Deirdre A. Ryan, Gregory Mendolia, James Martin, Izz Khayo, Heinz Bachmann, William E. McKinzie
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Patent number: 8693963Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a variable impedance circuit including an antenna having a tunable component. The tunable component can be operable to receive a variable signal to cause the tunable component to change an impedance of the antenna. The tunable component can include a first conductor coupled to the antenna, a second conductor, and a tunable material positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor, where at least one of the first conductor or the second conductor, or both are adapted to receive the variable signal to cause the change in the impedance of the antenna. Additional embodiments are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2013Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: BlackBerry LimitedInventors: Cornelis Frederik du Toit, Deirdre A Ryan, Gregory Mendolia, James Martin, Izz Khayo, Heinz Bachmann, William E. McKinzie
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Publication number: 20130050048Abstract: Disclosed herein is an antenna feed design for transmitting or receiving a circularly polarized microwave signal, and a communication device using that antenna feed design. Resonating disks are bowl-shaped to balance E-plane and H-plane magnetic field patterns, decreasing cross-polarization, and providing mechanical rigidity. A non-planar circuit replaces planar microstrip transmission lines for transmitting the signal, with 90° phase shifts, from an input point to excitation points. This non-planar circuit overcomes some of the layout problems encountered in planar circuits. It maintains impedance matching from the input point to the excitation points by progressively tapering down the characteristic transmission line impedance of each successive section. The non-planar circuit has sufficient mechanical strength and rigidity to allow it to be supported at only two anchor points. Similarly, the non-planar disks are also of sufficient strength to require only a single anchor point each.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2011Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicants: Space AdmiInventors: David Green, Cornelis Frederik Du Toit
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Publication number: 20120119843Abstract: An impedance matching circuit includes a matching network for coupling to a variable load, where the matching network has a first port and a second port, and where the variable load is coupled to one of the first port or the second port. The matching network can have one or more variable dielectric capacitors, where the one or more variable dielectric capacitors are operable to receive one or more variable voltage signals to cause the one or more variable dielectric capacitors to change an impedance of the matching network, and where the change in the impedance of the matching network causes an increase in power transferred from the first port to the second port or from the second port to the first port.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2011Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: PARATEK MICROWAVE, INC.Inventors: Cornelis Frederik du Toit, Deirdre A. Ryan
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Publication number: 20120119844Abstract: A variable impedance circuit includes a matching network for coupling to a tunable device, where the matching network has a first port and a second port, where the tunable device is coupled to one of the first port or the second port, and where the matching network has one or more variable dielectric capacitors. The one or more variable dielectric capacitors can be operable to receive a first of one or more variable voltage signals to cause the one or more variable dielectric capacitors to change a first impedance of the matching network. The tunable device can be operable to receive a second of one or more variable voltage signals to cause a change in a second impedance of the tunable device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2011Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: PARATEK MICROWAVE, INC.Inventors: Cornelis Frederik du Toit, Deirdre A. Ryan
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Patent number: 7969257Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising a power amplifier with a tunable impedance matching circuit including a plurality of tunable dielectric varactors and a DC voltage source interface capable of providing voltage to said plurality of saud tunable dielectric varactors.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2008Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Paratek Microwave, Inc.Inventors: Cornelis Frederik du Toit, Deirdre A Ryan
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Publication number: 20110063042Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising an input port and a dynamic impedance matching network capable of determining a mismatch at the input port and dynamically changing the RF match by using at least one matching element that includes at least one voltage tunable dielectric capacitor. The matching network may be a “Pi”, a “T”, or “ladder” type network and the apparatus may further comprise at least one directional coupler capable of signal collection by sampling a portion of an incident signal, a reflected signal or both.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: PARATEK MICROWAVE, INC.Inventors: Greg Mendolia, James Andrew Martin, III, Izz Khayo, Cornelis Frederik Du Toit, Heinz Bachmann, William McKinzie
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Patent number: 7865154Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising an input port and a dynamic impedance matching network capable of determining a mismatch at the input port and dynamically changing the RF match by using at least one matching element that includes at least one voltage tunable dielectric capacitor. The matching network may be a “Pi”, a “T”, or “ladder” type network and the apparatus may further comprise at least one directional coupler capable of signal collection by sampling a portion of an incident signal, a reflected signal or both.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2005Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Paratek Microwave, Inc.Inventors: Greg Mendolia, James Andrew Martin, III, Izz Khayo, Cornelis Frederik du Toit, Heinz Bachmann, William McKinzie
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Patent number: 7795990Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a power amplifier, comprising tunable impedance matching circuit including a plurality of tunable dielectric varactors and a DC voltage source interface capable of providing voltage to said plurality of said tunable dielectric varactors.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2008Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Paratek Microwave, Inc.Inventors: Cornelis Frederik du Toit, Deirdre A Ryan
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Patent number: 7728693Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising a filter; and a matching network coupled to the filter, the matching network including a plurality of voltage tunable dielectric varactors.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2008Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Paratek Microwave, Inc.Inventors: Cornelis Frederik du Toit, Deirdre A Ryan
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Patent number: 7714678Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising a delay line and a matching network coupled to the delay line, the matching network including a plurality of voltage tunable dielectric varactors.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2008Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Paratek Microwave, Inc.Inventors: Cornelis Frederik du Toit, Deirdre A Ryan
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Publication number: 20080169879Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising a filter; and a matching network coupled to the filter, the matching network including a plurality of voltage tunable dielectric varactors.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2008Publication date: July 17, 2008Inventors: Cornelis Frederik du Toit, Deirdre A. Ryan