Patents by Inventor Gordon Coutts

Gordon Coutts 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).

  • Publication number: 20240006763
    Abstract: Technologies directed to overlaid shared aperture array with improved total efficiency are described. One RF structure includes a first antenna with a first set of antenna elements disposed on a first plane of a support structure and a second antenna with a second set of antenna elements disposed on a second plane of the support structure. A set of parasitic antenna elements are disposed on the first plane. Two adjacent antenna elements, including one from the first plurality of antenna elements and another one from the plurality of parasitic antenna elements, are separated by the second distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventor: Gordon Coutts
  • Patent number: 11843187
    Abstract: Technologies directed to overlaid shared aperture array with improved total efficiency are described. One RF structure includes a first antenna with a first set of antenna elements disposed on a first plane of a support structure and a second antenna with a second set of antenna elements disposed on a second plane of the support structure. A set of parasitic antenna elements are disposed on the first plane. Two adjacent antenna elements, including one from the first plurality of antenna elements and another one from the plurality of parasitic antenna elements, are separated by the second distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon Coutts
  • Patent number: 11705627
    Abstract: Technologies directed to a radio frequency (RF) structure that provides an electrically insulating gap between a ground plane of a circuit board and a chassis at direct current (DC) and an electrical connection between the ground plane and the chassis at RF frequencies. One RF structure includes a first conductor electrically coupled to the ground plane and a second conductor electrically coupled to the chassis. A physical arrangement of a portion of the first conductor and a portion of the second conductor causes the RF structure to provide an electrically insulating gap between the ground plane and the chassis at DC and an electrical connection between the ground plane and the chassis at RF frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon Coutts
  • Patent number: 11545752
    Abstract: Technologies directed to coupling structures for antenna feeds of phased array antennas are described. One circuit board includes a first layer with a first portion of a RF coupling structure, a second layer with a second portion of the RF coupling structure, and a first insulation layer located between the first layer and the second layer. The RF coupling structure is configured to electromagnetically couple a first conductive trace on the first layer and a second conductive trace on the second layer at RF frequencies. The circuit board also includes an RF shielding structure coupled to a ground connection on the second layer and located in the first insulation layer. The RF shielding structure is configured to operate as a RF short circuit between the ground connection and a third conductive trace on the first layer at RF frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon Coutts
  • Patent number: 11532884
    Abstract: Technologies directed to interleaved phased array antennas are described. One apparatus includes a support structure, a fist antenna array, and a second antenna array. The first antenna array includes a first set of antenna elements disposed on a surface of the support structure. The first set of antenna elements is spaced apart by a first distance. The second antenna array includes a second set of antenna elements disposed on the surface of the support structure. The second set of antenna elements is located in spaces between the first set of antenna elements on the surface and the second set of antenna elements is spaced apart by a second distance that is less than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Coutts, Alireza Mahanfar
  • Publication number: 20220344816
    Abstract: Technologies directed to overlaid shared aperture array with improved total efficiency are described. One RF structure includes a first antenna with a first set of antenna elements disposed on a first plane of a support structure and a second antenna with a second set of antenna elements disposed on a second plane of the support structure. A set of parasitic antenna elements are disposed on the first plane. Two adjacent antenna elements, including one from the first plurality of antenna elements and another one from the plurality of parasitic antenna elements, are separated by the second distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventor: Gordon Coutts
  • Patent number: 11211702
    Abstract: A communication system can include a support structure, a receiving phased array antenna, and a transmitting phased array antenna that is physically superimposed with the receiving phased array antenna on the support structure. The receiving phased array antenna can include a plurality of receiving antennas and/or transmitting/receiving antennas, and the transmitting phased array antenna can include a plurality of transmitting/receiving antennas and/or transmitting antennas, with at least a subset of transmitting/receiving antennas shared between the two phased array antennas. Appropriate spacing between the antennas of the receiving and transmitting phased array antennas can be achieved by overlaying the transmitting phased array antenna with a rotational offset compared to the receiving phased array antenna, and the different spacing of the antennas in the receiving phased array antenna and the transmitting phased array antenna permits the use of each array in different frequency bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alireza Mahanfar, Gordon Coutts
  • Patent number: 11088453
    Abstract: Technologies directed to vertical coupling structures for antenna feeds of phased array antennas are described. One circuit board includes a first layer with a first portion of a RF coupling structure, a second layer with a second portion of the RF coupling structure, and a first insulation layer located between the first layer and the second layer. The RF coupling structure is configured to electromagnetically couple a first conductive trace on the first layer and a second conductive trace on the second layer at RF frequencies. The circuit board also includes a third layer with a first antenna element and a second insulation layer located between the third layer and the first layer, the second insulation layer including a first via through which the first antenna element is coupled to the first conductive trace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon Coutts
  • Patent number: 10008764
    Abstract: An electronic device may have an antenna for providing coverage in wireless communications bands of interest such as a low frequency communications band and a high frequency communications band. The antenna may have an antenna ground and an antenna resonating element. The antenna resonating element may have a high band arm that contributes to a first high band resonance in the high band and may have a low band arm that exhibits a low band resonance in the low band. A passive filter that is coupled between first and second portions of the antenna resonating element may be configured to exhibit a short circuit impedance associated with a bypass path that allows the antenna resonating element to contribute to a second high band resonance in the high band. A tunable inductor coupled to the antenna resonating element may be used to tune the low band resonance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yi Jiang, Siwen Yong, Gordon Coutts, Lijun Zhang, Qingxiang Li, Robert W. Schlub
  • Patent number: 9965052
    Abstract: A computer stylus may have an elongated body with a metal tube that serves as an antenna ground for an antenna. An antenna resonating element for the antenna may be formed from metal traces that wrap around a longitudinal axis for the elongated body. The antenna may be an inverted-F antenna. A ground antenna feed terminal for the inverted-F antenna may be coupled to the metal tube with a sheet metal member, conductive fabric, and solder. A clip may run along a side of the elongated body at a location that does not overlap the metal traces of the antenna resonating element. The antenna may be fed at a location on an opposing side of the elongated body from the clip. Antenna signals from the inverted-F antenna may be reflected towards the tip by metal structures at the end of the elongated body opposing the tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Coutts, Qingxiang Li, Robert W. Schlub, Yi Jiang
  • Publication number: 20170005397
    Abstract: An electronic device may have an antenna for providing coverage in wireless communications bands of interest such as a low frequency communications band and a high frequency communications band. The antenna may have an antenna ground and an antenna resonating element. The antenna resonating element may have a high band arm that contributes to a first high band resonance in the high band and may have a low band arm that exhibits a low band resonance in the low band. A passive filter that is coupled between first and second portions of the antenna resonating element may be configured to exhibit a short circuit impedance associated with a bypass path that allows the antenna resonating element to contribute to a second high band resonance in the high band. A tunable inductor coupled to the antenna resonating element may be used to tune the low band resonance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Yi Jiang, Siwen Yong, Gordon Coutts, Lijun Zhang, Qingxiang Li, Robert W. Schlub
  • Patent number: 9496608
    Abstract: An electronic device may have an antenna for providing coverage in wireless communications bands of interest such as a low frequency communications band and a high frequency communications band. The antenna may have an antenna ground and an antenna resonating element. The antenna resonating element may have a high band arm that contributes to a first high band resonance in the high band and may have a low band arm that exhibits a low band resonance in the low band. A passive filter that is coupled between first and second portions of the antenna resonating element may be configured to exhibit a short circuit impedance associated with a bypass path that allows the antenna resonating element to contribute to a second high band resonance in the high band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yi Jiang, Siwen Yong, Gordon Coutts, Lijun Zhang, Qingxiang Li, Robert W. Schlub
  • Patent number: 9318793
    Abstract: A display cover layer may be mounted in an electronic device housing using housing structures such as corner brackets. A slot antenna may be formed from a corner bracket opening, metal traces on a hollow plastic support structure, or other conductive structures. The slot antenna may have a main portion with opposing ends. An antenna feed may be located at one of the ends. The slot antenna may have a slot with one or more bends. The bends may provide the slot antenna with a C-shaped outline. A side branch slot may extend from the main portion of the slot at a location between the two bends. The presence of the side branch slot may enhance antenna bandwidth. A hollow enclosure may serve as an antenna support structure and as a speaker box enclosing a speaker driver. The antenna feed may be positioned so as to overlap the speaker driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jiang Zhu, Qingxiang Li, Robert W. Schlub, Miroslav Samardzija, Gordon Coutts, Rodney A. Gomez Angulo, Yi Jiang, Boon W. Shiu, Salih Yarga, Emily B. McMilin, Ruben Caballero
  • Publication number: 20150363013
    Abstract: A computer stylus may have an elongated body with a metal tube that serves as an antenna ground for an antenna. An antenna resonating element for the antenna may be formed from metal traces that wrap around a longitudinal axis for the elongated body. The antenna may be an inverted-F antenna. A ground antenna feed terminal for the inverted-F antenna may be coupled to the metal tube with a sheet metal member, conductive fabric, and solder. A clip may run along a side of the elongated body at a location that does not overlap the metal traces of the antenna resonating element. The antenna may be fed at a location on an opposing side of the elongated body from the clip. Antenna signals from the inverted-F antenna may be reflected towards the tip by metal structures at the end of the elongated body opposing the tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Gordon Coutts, Qingxiang Li, Robert W. Schlub, Yi Jiang
  • Patent number: 9178268
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a speaker box antenna for transmitting and receiving radio-frequency signals. A speaker box antenna may be formed from a hollow dielectric speaker box containing a speaker driver. An opening in the speaker box adjacent to the speaker driver may be aligned with a speaker port opening in a conductive electronic device housing structure. The speaker box may be surrounded by conductive structures that form a cavity for the antenna. The conductive structures may include parts of the conductive electronic device housing structure. The speaker box may have opposing upper and lower surfaces. Metal plates may form parts of the upper and lower surfaces and may be shorted together using a conductive layer such as a strip of metal tape. Frequencies of operation may be selected for the antenna that suppress undesired cavity modes and enhance antenna performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jiang Zhu, Qingxiang Li, Rodney A. Gomez Angulo, Miroslav Samardzija, Gordon Coutts, Robert W. Schlub
  • Publication number: 20140009344
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a speaker box antenna for transmitting and receiving radio-frequency signals. A speaker box antenna may be formed from a hollow dielectric speaker box containing a speaker driver. An opening in the speaker box adjacent to the speaker driver may be aligned with a speaker port opening in a conductive electronic device housing structure. The speaker box may be surrounded by conductive structures that form a cavity for the antenna. The conductive structures may include parts of the conductive electronic device housing structure. The speaker box may have opposing upper and lower surfaces. Metal plates may form parts of the upper and lower surfaces and may be shorted together using a conductive layer such as a strip of metal tape. Frequencies of operation may be selected for the antenna that suppress undesired cavity modes and enhance antenna performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Jiang Zhu, Qingxiang Li, Rodney A. Gomez Angulo, Miroslav Samardzija, Gordon Coutts, Robert W. Schlub
  • Publication number: 20130293424
    Abstract: A display cover layer may be mounted in an electronic device housing using housing structures such as corner brackets. A slot antenna may be formed from a corner bracket opening, metal traces on a hollow plastic support structure, or other conductive structures. The slot antenna may have a main portion with opposing ends. An antenna feed may be located at one of the ends. The slot antenna may have a slot with one or more bends. The bends may provide the slot antenna with a C-shaped outline. A side branch slot may extend from the main portion of the slot at a location between the two bends. The presence of the side branch slot may enhance antenna bandwidth. A hollow enclosure may serve as an antenna support structure and as a speaker box enclosing a speaker driver. The antenna feed may be positioned so as to overlap the speaker driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Jiang Zhu, Qingxiang Li, Robert W. Schlub, Miroslav Samardzija, Gordon Coutts, Rodney A. Gomez Angulo, Yi Jiang, Boon W. Shiu, Salih Yarga, Emily B. McMilin, Ruben Caballero
  • Publication number: 20070279286
    Abstract: A multi-mode parasitic antenna array having two or more resonant frequencies. The multi-mode parasitic antenna array has at least two resonant modes resulting in substantially divergent radiation patterns, thereby providing the antenna with frequency dependent directivity. The array may be incorporated into a tag for an RFID system. The RFID system includes a reader capable of interrogating the tag at each of the resonant frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: MARK IV INDUSTRIES CORP.
    Inventors: Gordon Coutts, Raafat Mansour, Sujeet Chaudhuri, Wai-Cheung Tang
  • Patent number: 6104337
    Abstract: A golf distance indicator system provides measurement and display of the distance between a golfer and the pin on the green he is approaching. The system comprises a portable unit carried by the golfer and an target unit located on the pin. With the portable unit, the golfer selects the hole he is playing then activates the system. The portable unit sends a wireless coded message to an intended target unit. When a target unit receives a message, it analyzes the message to see if it should respond. If the target unit determines that it should respond, it sends a coded responding message to the portable unit. When the portable unit receives a responding message, it analyzes the responding message to see if the responding message originates from the intended target unit. If it does, the portable unit calculates a distance based on the elapsed time for the communications and the speed of the communications. The results are displayed on the portable unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Inventors: Gordon Coutts, Leslie Subryan, James Hendershot, Ken Goss