Patents by Inventor EDWARD MITCH BLALOCK

EDWARD MITCH BLALOCK 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).

  • Method and apparatus for beam-steerable antenna with single-drive mechanism
    Patent number: 9979082
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an antenna assembly is described. The antenna assembly includes and antenna and an antenna positioner coupled to the antenna. The antenna positioner includes a single drive interface and a plurality of gears. The plurality of rotate in a first manner in response to a first drive direction applied through the single drive interface, and rotate in a second manner in response to a second drive applied through the single drive interface. The antenna positioner also includes a threaded rod that moves in a first rod direction and a second rod direction in response to rotation of the plurality of gears in the first manner and the second manner respectively. The antenna positioner also includes a tilt plate contacting the threaded rod. The tilt plate tilts about a pivot line in response to movement of the threaded rod to move a beam of the antenna in a spiral pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: VIASAT, INC.
    Inventors: Donald L Runyon, Edward Mitch Blalock
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BEAM-STEERABLE ANTENNA WITH SINGLE-DRIVE MECHANISM
    Publication number: 20170047653
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an antenna assembly is described. The antenna assembly includes and antenna and an antenna positioner coupled to the antenna. The antenna positioner includes a single drive interface and a plurality of gears. The plurality of rotate in a first manner in response to a first drive direction applied through the single drive interface, and rotate in a second manner in response to a second drive applied through the single drive interface. The antenna positioner also includes a threaded rod that moves in a first rod direction and a second rod direction in response to rotation of the plurality of gears in the first manner and the second manner respectively. The antenna positioner also includes a tilt plate contacting the threaded rod. The tilt plate tilts about a pivot line in response to movement of the threaded rod to move a beam of the antenna in a spiral pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Applicant: VIASAT, INC.
    Inventors: DONALD L. RUNYON, EDWARD MITCH BLALOCK