Patents by Inventor Dean Kitchener

Dean Kitchener 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: 10431879
    Abstract: A fabric antenna for telecommunications is disclosed. The fabric antenna comprises a host yarn, which is substantially electrically non-conducting, and an antenna yarn, which is substantially electrically conducting. The host yarn and antenna yarn are knitted together to form a host fabric comprising an antenna grid. The antenna grid comprises a plurality of intersecting antenna tracks formed of antenna yarn. The tracks are separated by regions of the host fabric and are electrically coupled together at the regions where the tracks intersect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: Dean Kitchener, Christopher Bryce Wyllie, Robert Alan Lewis, Ingrida Juraite, Tilak Dias, William Hurley
  • Patent number: 10103443
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing and an antenna having an upper and lower loop. Upper loop comprising a first conductive loop defined by an upper conductor and a first conductive blade tapering outwardly to form a flare portion adjacent a distal end of the upper conductor. Lower loop comprising a second conductive loop defined by a base conductor and a second conductive blade tapering outwardly forming a flare portion adjacent a distal end of the base conductor. First and second conductive blades defining, between their facing edges, a notch opening outwardly from a feed region. Upper loop further comprising an elongate conductive vane extending at an angle from a first location on the upper conductor to a second location on the first conductive blade defining a pair of loops within the upper loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventors: Robert Alan Lewis, Murray Jerel Niman, Dean Kitchener, Christopher Bryce Wyllie
  • Patent number: 10044106
    Abstract: A wide band antenna comprising a signal generator coupled to a feed region of at least one antenna element comprising upper and lower loops. Upper loop comprising a first conductive loop element defined by an upper conductor and a first conductive blade tapering outwardly forming a flare portion adjacent a distal end of the upper conductor. Lower loop comprising a second loop defined by a base conductor and a second conductive blade tapering outwardly forming a flare portion adjacent a distal end of the base conductor, first and second conductive blades defining, between their facing edges, a notch opening outwardly from feed region. The method comprising matching an antenna element impedance to the transmission line; selecting an antenna element cut-off frequency; selecting an upper conductor length, and subsequently selecting dimensions of the upper loop such that they are substantially equal to a wavelength corresponding to the selected cut-off frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventors: Robert Alan Lewis, Murray Jerel Niman, Dean Kitchener, Christopher Bryce Wyllie
  • Publication number: 20180076510
    Abstract: A fabric antenna for telecommunications is disclosed. The fabric antenna comprises a host yarn, which is substantially electrically non-conducting, and an antenna yarn, which is substantially electrically conducting. The host yarn and antenna yarn are knitted together to form a host fabric comprising an antenna grid. The antenna grid comprises a plurality of intersecting antenna tracks formed of antenna yarn. The tracks are separated by regions of the host fabric and are electrically coupled together at the regions where the tracks intersect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: DEAN KITCHENER, CHRISTOPHER BRYCE WYLLIE, ROBERT ALAN LEWIS, INGRIDA JURAITE, TILAK DIAS, WILLIAM HURLEY
  • Patent number: 9871297
    Abstract: An antenna element for transmission and/or reception of signals within a frequency band comprises a ground plane (4), a patch radiator (2), a connection point (14a) for connection of the antenna element to a feed network and a probe (8a) having two ends. The probe (8a) is located between the ground plane (4) and the patch radiator (2) and the patch radiator (2) is disposed in a parallel relationship with the ground plane (4) to form a resonant cavity between the patch radiator (4) and the ground plane (2). The antenna element comprises a transmission line (10a) which is disposed in a parallel relationship with the ground plane (4) and the transmission line (10a) is connected to an end (9a) of the probe (8a) and is arranged to have a length such that an impedance at the end (9a) of the probe is transformed. The transmission line (10a) is contained within the resonant cavity between the patch radiator (2) and the ground plane (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: ACE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dean Kitchener
  • Publication number: 20170179605
    Abstract: A wide band antenna comprising a signal generator coupled to a feed region of at least one antenna element comprising upper and lower loops. Upper loop comprising a first conductive loop element defined by an upper conductor and a first conductive blade tapering outwardly forming a flare portion adjacent a distal end of the upper conductor. Lower loop comprising a second loop defined by a base conductor and a second conductive blade tapering outwardly forming a flare portion adjacent a distal end of the base conductor, first and second conductive blades defining, between their facing edges, a notch opening outwardly from feed region. The method comprising matching an antenna element impedance to the transmission line; selecting an antenna element cut-off frequency; selecting an upper conductor length, and subsequently selecting dimensions of the upper loop such that they are substantially equal to a wavelength corresponding to the selected cut-off frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Robert Alan Lewis, Murray Jerel NIMAN, Dean Kitchener, Christopher Bryce Wyllie
  • Publication number: 20170179604
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing and an antenna having an upper and lower loop. Upper loop comprising a first conductive loop defined by an upper conductor and a first conductive blade tapering outwardly to form a flare portion adjacent a distal end of the upper conductor. Lower loop comprising a second conductive loop defined by a base conductor and a second conductive blade tapering outwardly forming a flare portion adjacent a distal end of the base conductor. First and second conductive blades defining, between their facing edges, a notch opening outwardly from a feed region. Upper loop further comprising an elongate conductive vane extending at an angle from a first location on the upper conductor to a second location on the first conductive blade defining a pair of loops within the upper loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Robert Alan Lewis, Murray Jerel NIMAN, Dean Kitchener, Christopher Bryce Wyllie
  • Patent number: 9373886
    Abstract: A radiator in which power is fed through a slot of a reflection plate and which can be manufactured in a simple manner and an antenna including the same are disclosed. The antenna includes a reflection plate and a radiator. The radiator includes feed sections disposed on a first surface of the reflection plate, first and second radiation elements extending perpendicular to the feed section or inclined towards the reflection plate, and first and second base plates configured to support the balanced parallel strip feed sections. Here, the first and second base plates are capacitively coupled to the reflection plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Ace Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Dean Kitchener
  • Publication number: 20150349425
    Abstract: An antenna element for transmission and/or reception of signals within a frequency band comprises a ground plane (4), a patch radiator (2), a connection point (14a) for connection of the antenna element to a feed network and a probe (8a) having two ends. The probe (8a) is located between the ground plane (4) and the patch radiator (2) and the patch radiator (2) is disposed in a parallel relationship with the ground plane (4) to form a resonant cavity between the patch radiator (4) and the ground plane (2). The antenna element comprises a transmission line (10a) which is disposed in a parallel relationship with the ground plane (4) and the transmission line (10a) is connected to an end (9a) of the probe (8a) and is arranged to have a length such that an impedance at the end (9a) of the probe is transformed. The transmission line (10a) is contained within the resonant cavity between the patch radiator (2) and the ground plane (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventor: Dean Kitchener
  • Patent number: 9203482
    Abstract: To reduce costs in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and other wireless communication systems an arrangement is described whereby adaptive combination is used at user equipment in order to produce two or more directional antenna beams. Improvements in carrier to interference levels result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Smith, Dawn Power, Sonya Amos, Dean Kitchener
  • Publication number: 20140218254
    Abstract: A radiator in which power is fed through a slot of a reflection plate and which can be manufactured in a simple manner and an antenna including the same are disclosed. The antenna includes a reflection plate and a radiator. The radiator includes feed sections disposed on a first surface of the reflection plate, first and second radiation elements extending perpendicular to the feed section or inclined towards the reflection plate, and first and second base plates configured to support the balanced parallel strip feed sections. Here, the first and second base plates are capacitively coupled to the reflection plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: ACE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dean Kitchener
  • Patent number: 8599072
    Abstract: A broadband antenna structure has an electrically conductive enclosure with a closed end, over which a non-electrically conductive cover is placed. A radiating portion of an antenna feed layer comprising a conductive patch antenna element is placed in between the enclosure and the cover. The patch antenna element design is inherently broader band than that of conventional cavity-backed slot-radiating antennas, which are constrained in bandwidth by the need to keep the cavity formed in the enclosure small. The dielectric constant of the dielectric material of the cover reduces the required size of the conductive antenna element. The broadband antenna structure may be connected with an electronic device to form an antenna arrangement in which a portion of the antenna feed layer extends through an opening in a surface of an antenna housing, the portion being within an electronic device enclosure of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Reed, Simon Bates, Graham Dolman, David Adams, William Waddoup, Dean Kitchener
  • Patent number: 8525733
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an RE antenna structure that includes a planar structure and a loading plate, such that the planar structure is mounted between a ground plane and the loading plate to form an RF antenna. The loading plate may be about parallel to the ground plane and the planar structure may be about perpendicular to the loading plate and the ground plane. The loading plate may allow the height of the RF antenna structure above the ground plane to be relatively small. For example, the height may be significantly less than one-quarter of a wavelength of RF signals of interest. The planar structure may include two conductive matching elements to help increase the bandwidth of the RF antenna structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Kitchener, Andrew Urquhart
  • Patent number: 8514139
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to an antenna structure and are particularly suited to array antennas. An antenna according to an embodiment of the invention employs an enclosure having an aperture in one end; in preferred arrangements the aperture provides the enclosure with a substantially open end, over which the cover is placed. The cover has a slot therein, of a smaller size than the size of the aperture presented by the open ended enclosure and the slot in the cover then acts as the radiating slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Apple, Inc.
    Inventors: David Adams, Andrew Urquhart, William Waddoup, Dean Kitchener, Steven Hall, Simon Gale
  • Patent number: 8416137
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an RF antenna structure that includes a planar structure and a loading plate, such that the planar structure is mounted between a ground plane and the loading plate to form an RF antenna. The loading plate may be about parallel to the ground plane and the planar structure may be about perpendicular to the loading plate and the ground plane. The loading plate may allow the height of the RF antenna structure above the ground plane to be relatively small. For example, the height may be significantly less than one-quarter of a wavelength of RF signals of interest. The planar structure may include two conductive matching elements to help increase the bandwidth of the RF antenna structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Kitchener, Andrew Urquhart
  • Publication number: 20120274537
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an RF antenna structure that includes a planar structure and a loading plate, such that the planar structure is mounted between a ground plane and the loading plate to form an RF antenna. The loading plate may be about parallel to the ground plane and the planar structure may be about perpendicular to the loading plate and the ground plane. The loading plate may allow the height of the RF antenna structure above the ground plane to be relatively small. For example, the height may be significantly less than one-quarter of a wavelength of RF signals of interest. The planar structure may include two conductive matching elements to help increase the bandwidth of the RF antenna structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Rockstar BIDCO LP
    Inventors: Dean Kitchener, Andrew Urquhart
  • Patent number: 8040289
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an RF antenna structure that includes a planar structure and a loading plate, such that the planar structure is mounted between a ground plane and the loading plate to form an RF antenna. The loading plate may be about parallel to the ground plane and the planar structure may be about perpendicular to the loading plate and the ground plane. The loading plate may allow the height of the RF antenna structure above the ground plane to be relatively small. For example, the height may be significantly less than one-quarter of a wavelength of RF signals of interest. The planar structure may include two conductive matching elements to help increase the bandwidth of the RF antenna structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Dean Kitchener, Andrew Urquhart
  • Publication number: 20110181482
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to an antenna structure and are particularly suited to array antennas. Conventionally, an antenna of the cavity-backed slot-radiating type comprises a slot formed in an end of an electrically conductive enclosure, which slot may be energised by a radiating element in registration with the slot. A feed network may connect to the radiating element via a transmission line formed by a conductive track on a feed layer located between the enclosure and an electrically conductive cover. A slot is formed in the section of the cover that covers the end of the cavity in which a slot is formed, such that the two slots are of substantially the same size and shape. A problem with this structure is that the cavity is difficult to mould in one piece and it can be difficult to achieve alignment of respective slots; as a result it is relatively costly to manufacture. Also, it is difficult to insert dielectric material into the enclosure to adjust the performance parameters of the antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: David Adams, Andrew Urquhart, William Waddoup, Dean Kitchener, Steven Hall, Simon Gale
  • Publication number: 20090303135
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a broadband antenna structure and an antenna arrangement comprising the antenna structure and an electronic device. In one aspect, the antenna employs an electrically conductive enclosure with a closed end, over which a non-electrically conductive cover is placed. A radiating portion of the antenna feed layer comprising a conductive patch antenna element is placed in between the enclosure and the cover. This patch antenna element design is inherently broader band than that of conventional cavity-backed slot-radiating antennas, which are constrained in bandwidth by the need to keep the cavity formed in the enclosure small, so that the column elements may be arranged in an array at substantially half-wavelength spacing. The new design suffers less compromise in terms of bandwidth in achieving the same size constraint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITED
    Inventors: Christopher Reed, Simon Bates, Graham Dolman, David Adams, William Waddoup, Dean Kitchener
  • Publication number: 20090273536
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an RF antenna structure that includes a planar structure and a loading plate, such that the planar structure is mounted between a ground plane and the loading plate to form an RF antenna. The loading plate may be about parallel to the ground plane and the planar structure may be about perpendicular to the loading plate and the ground plane. The loading plate may allow the height of the RF antenna structure above the ground plane to be relatively small. For example, the height may be significantly less than one-quarter of a wavelength of RF signals of interest. The planar structure may include two conductive matching elements to help increase the bandwidth of the RF antenna structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Dean Kitchener, Andrew Urquhart