Patents by Inventor Frank Taormina
Frank Taormina 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: 7339520Abstract: A low cost and low profile antenna for commercial use, either in a fixed or mobile condition is disclosed. The antenna has a generally flat circular plate that rotates to seam the azimuth direction. A plurality of radiation elements are positioned on the surface of the circular plate. The received signals are multiplexed, digitally converted, digitally beamformed, and then transferred to a digital receiver.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2000Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.Inventors: Donald C. D. Chang, William W. Mayfield, John I. Novak, III, Frank A. Taormina
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Patent number: 6807397Abstract: Methods for increasing the efficiency of satellite constellation operations are disclosed. The steps of the present invention comprise calculating the maximum number of communications signals that each satellite in the satellite constellation can generate, determining an operational constraint on each satellite, the operational constraint limiting the number of communications signals that each satellite can radiate substantially simultaneously, determining an operational space for each satellite wherein the operational space is defined using the operational constraint and the calculated number of signals, and using the operational space for each satellite in the constellation to determine the operational point for the constellation.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2002Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: Hughes Electronics CorporationInventors: Donald C. D. Chang, Kar W. Yung, David C. Cheng, Urban A. Von Der Embse, John I. Novak, III, Frank A. Taormina, Ming U. Chang
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Patent number: 6766987Abstract: A satellite communication system has a first deployment of a plurality of satellites deployed in a medium earth orbit and two later deployments of a plurality of satellites deployed in the medium earth orbit. The first deployment is spaced so that the second deployment may be easily deployed and interleaved into the first deployment. A ground terminal is used for communicating with the satellites in the first and second deployments.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2002Date of Patent: July 27, 2004Assignee: Hughes Electronics CorporationInventors: Frank Taormina, Donald C. D. Chang, Kar W. Yung, David C. Cheng, William W. Mayfield, John Novak, III, Arthur W. Wang
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Publication number: 20040056148Abstract: A satellite communication system has a first deployment of a plurality of satellites deployed in a medium earth orbit and two later deployments of a plurality of satellites deployed in the medium earth orbit. The first deployment is, spaced so that the second deployment may be easily deployed and interleaved into the first deployment. A ground terminal is used for communicating with the satellites in the first and second deployments.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2003Publication date: March 25, 2004Applicant: Hughes Electronics CorporationInventors: Frank Taormina, Donald C. D. Chang, Kar W. Yung, David C. Cheng, William W. Mayfield, John Novak, Arthur W. Wang
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Patent number: 6606307Abstract: Methods for operating a satellite constellation are disclosed that utilize spatial diversity and directional gain antennas at ground terminal locations to provide multiple data rate services on a single frequency channel. One method comprises receiving a signal at a first and second satellite in the satellite constellation from a first communications device. A communications channel at a first frequency from the first satellite is used to communicate with the first communications device. A signal from a second communications device is received only at the second satellite at the first frequency, and the second satellite is used to communicate with the second communications device at the first frequency without substantially interfering with the communications with the first communications device.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 1999Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: Hughes Electronics CorporationInventors: Donald C. D. Chang, Kar W. Yung, David C. Cheng, Urban A. Von Der Embse, John I. Novak, III, Frank A. Taormina, Ming U. Chang
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Publication number: 20030129942Abstract: Methods for increasing the efficiency of satellite constellation operations are disclosed. The steps of the present invention comprise calculating the maximum number of communications signals that each satellite in the satellite constellation can generate, determining an operational constraint on each satellite, the operational constraint limiting the number of communications signals that each satellite can radiate substantially simultaneously, determining an operational space for each satellite wherein the operational space is defined using the operational constraint and the calculated number of signals, and using the operational space for each satellite in the constellation to determine the operational point for the constellation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Applicant: Hughes Electronics CorporationInventors: Donald C. D. Chang, Kar W. Yung, David C. Cheng, Urban A. Von Der Embse, John I. Novak, Frank A. Taormina, Ming U. Chang
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Publication number: 20030022623Abstract: Methods for increasing the efficiency of satellite constellation operations are disclosed. The steps of the present invention comprise calculating the maximum number of communications signals that each satellite in the satellite constellation can generate, determining an operational constraint on each satellite, the operational constraint limiting the number of communications signals that each satellite can radiate substantially simultaneously, determining an operational space for each satellite wherein the operational space is defined using the operational constraint and the calculated number of signals, and using the operational space for each satellite in the constellation to determine the operational point for the constellation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 1999Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: DONALD C. D. CHANG, KAR W. YUNG, DAVID C. CHENG, URBAN A. VON DER EMBSE, JOHN I. NOVAK III, FRANK A. TAORMINA, MING U. CHANG
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Publication number: 20030001048Abstract: A satellite communication system has a first deployment of a plurality of satellites deployed in a medium earth orbit and two later deployments of a plurality of satellites deployed in the medium earth orbit. The first deployment is spaced so that the second deployment may be easily deployed and interleaved into the first deployment. A ground terminal is used for communicating with the satellites in the first and second deployments.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2002Publication date: January 2, 2003Applicant: Hughes Electronics CorporationInventors: Frank Taormina, Donald C.D. Chang, Kar W. Yung, David C. Cheng, William W. Mayfield, John Novak, Arthur W. Wang
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Patent number: 6501941Abstract: Methods for increasing the efficiency of satellite constellation operations are disclosed. The steps of the present invention comprise calculating the maximum number of communications signals that each satellite in the satellite constellation can generate, determining an operational constraint on each satellite, the operational constraint limiting the number of communications signals that each satellite can radiate substantially simultaneously, determining an operational space for each satellite wherein the operational space is defined using the operational constraint and the calculated number of signals, and using the operational space for each satellite in the constellation to determine the operational point for the constellation.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 1999Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: Hughes Electronics CorporationInventors: Donald C. D. Chang, Kar W. Yung, David C. Cheng, Urban A. Von Der Embse, John I. Novak, III, Frank A. Taormina, Ming U. Chang
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Patent number: 6460808Abstract: A satellite communication system has a first deployment of a plurality of satellites deployed in a medium earth orbit and two later deployments of a plurality of satellites deployed in the medium earth orbit. The first deployment is spaced so that the second deployment may be easily deployed and interleaved into the first deployment. A ground terminal is used for communicating with the satellites in the first and second deployments.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2001Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: Hughes Electronics CorporationInventors: Frank Taormina, Donald C. D. Chang, Kar W. Yung, David C. Cheng, William W. Mayfield, John Novak, III, Arthur W. Wang
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Publication number: 20020053627Abstract: A satellite communication system has a first deployment of a plurality of satellites deployed in a medium earth orbit and two later deployments of a plurality of satellites deployed in the medium earth orbit. The first deployment is spaced so that the second deployment may be easily deployed and interleaved into the first deployment. A ground terminal is used for communicating with the satellites in the first and second deployments.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2001Publication date: May 9, 2002Applicant: Hughes Electronics CorporationInventors: Frank Taormina, Donald C.D. Chang, Kar W. Yung, David C. Cheng, William W. Mayfield, John Novak, Arthur W. Wang
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Publication number: 20020050946Abstract: A low cost and low profile antenna for commercial use, either in a fixed or mobile condition is disclosed. The antenna has a generally flat circular plate that rotates to seam the azimuth direction. A plurality of radiation elements are positioned on the surface of the circular plate. The received signals are multiplexed, digitally converted, digitally beamformed, and then transferred to a digital receiver.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2000Publication date: May 2, 2002Inventors: Donald C. D. Chang, William W. Mayfield, John I. Novak, III, Frank A. Taormina
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Publication number: 20020003192Abstract: A satellite communication system has a first deployment of a plurality of satellites deployed in a medium earth orbit and two later deployments of a plurality of satellites deployed in the medium earth orbit. The first deployment is spaced so that the second deployment may be easily deployed and interleaved into the first deployment. A ground terminal is used for communicating with the satellites in the first and second deployments.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2001Publication date: January 10, 2002Applicant: Hughes Electronics CorporationInventors: Frank Taormina, Donald C.D. Chang, Kar W. Yung, David C. Cheng, William W. Mayfield, John Novak, Arthur W. Wang
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Patent number: 6336612Abstract: A satellite communication system has a first deployment of a plurality of satellites deployed in a medium earth orbit and two later deployments of a plurality of satellites deployed in the medium earth orbit. The first deployment is spaced so that the second deployment may be easily deployed and interleaved into the first deployment. A ground terminal is used for communicating with the satellites in the first and second deployments.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2001Date of Patent: January 8, 2002Assignee: Hughes Electronics CorporationInventors: Frank Taormina, Donald C.D. Chang, Kar W. Yung, David C. Cheng, William W. Mayfield, John Novak, III, Arthur W. Wang
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Patent number: 6257526Abstract: A satellite communication system has a first deployment of a plurality of satellites deployed in a medium earth orbit and two later deployments of a plurality of satellites deployed in the medium earth orbit. The first deployment is spaced so that the second deployment may be easily deployed and interleaved into the first deployment. A ground terminal is used for communicating with the satellites in the first and second deployments.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 1998Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Hughes Electronics CorporationInventors: Frank Taormina, Donald C. D. Chang, Kar W. Yung, David C. Cheng, William W. Mayfield, John Novak, III, Arthur W. Wang
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Patent number: 4616195Abstract: A coaxial phase shifter for shifting the phase of a signal being transmitted along a transverse electromagnetic transmission line. The phase shifter is in line with the transmission line's inner conductor, such that it is very compact and such that the transmission line's outer conductor need not be modified. The phase shifter includes electrically-conductive fingers arranged in spaced, confronting relationship with each other, to capacitively couple the signal from one segment of the transmission line's inner conductor to another. In addition, the phase shifter is configured to provide an input impedance at both of its ends that matches the characteristic impedance of the transmission line.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 1985Date of Patent: October 7, 1986Assignee: Hughes Aircraft CompanyInventors: Robert D. Ward, Frank A. Taormina, Mon N. Wong
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Patent number: 4458217Abstract: A compact power coupler comprises a first waveguide short-circuited at one end, a resonant cavity slot-coupled to the shorted end of the first waveguide, and a coaxial transmission line coupled to the resonant cavity. Power at 6 gigahertz is coupled from the waveguide to the transmission line in a unit that is 3.5 inches long. Alternatively, a second waveguide can be slot-coupled to a narrow-wall of the first waveguide (a quarter-wavelength from the short-circuit) to couple 4 gigahertz power, thereby forming a compact diplexer.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 1981Date of Patent: July 3, 1984Assignee: Hughes Aircraft CompanyInventors: Mon N. Wong, Frank A. Taormina