Patents by Inventor James B. West

James B. West 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: 10950952
    Abstract: An antenna array system includes a feed antenna and circuit boards. Each circuit board has pickup antenna elements disposed on a curved edge portion of a first edge of the circuit board, radiating elements disposed on a second edge portion of the circuit board, and transmit receive modules disposed between the pickup elements and the radiating elements on the circuit board. The antenna array can be part of an active electronically scanned array (AESA) antenna assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. West, Jeremiah D. Wolf, Aimee M. Matland
  • Patent number: 10950939
    Abstract: In one aspect, the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to an antenna array system employing a current sheet array (CSA) wavelength scaled aperture. The CSA wavelength scaled aperture can include a first frequency region associated with a first operating frequency band and a second frequency region associated with a second operating frequency band. The first operating frequency band can include one or more current sheet sub-arrays having a respective plurality of first unit cells scaled to support the first operating frequency band. The second operating frequency band can include one or more current sheet sub-arrays having a respective plurality of second unit cells scaled to support the second operating frequency band. The CSA wavelength scaled aperture can include one or more capacitors each of which coupled to a respective first unit cell of the first frequency region and a respective second unit cell of the second frequency region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: James B. West
  • Patent number: 10892796
    Abstract: A log periodic antenna is used in a communication system that utilizes multiple channels to drive distinct frequency sub-bands within an ultra-wide band. The driving elements are active and specifically tuned to the operating sub-band of the channel. Each driving element may be synchronized via a single local oscillator. Driving element includes a modem and analog-to-digital converters to digitize a portion of the signal intended for the sub-band within the channel. Actively driven log periodic antennas can jam an ultra-wide band of the spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. West, Vadim Olen
  • Patent number: 10811787
    Abstract: An electronically scanned antenna array (ESA) includes a first band including first antennas and a second band including second antennas. Each first antenna operates over a first frequency bandwidth from a first frequency to a second frequency. At least two adjacent first antennas are spaced from one another by a first value of a wavelength scale parameter that corresponds to the second frequency. Each second antenna operates over a second frequency bandwidth from the first frequency to a third frequency greater than the first and less than the second frequency. At least two adjacent second antennas are spaced from one another by a second value of the wavelength scale parameter that corresponds to the third frequency. A second subset of the plurality of second antennas is adjacent to a first subset of the plurality of first antennas and spaced from the first subset based on the wavelength scale parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. West, Aimee M. Matland
  • Patent number: 10809375
    Abstract: The hazard warning system includes processing system for detecting an HVB condition. The aircraft warning system can use at least two types of radar returns and can measure decorrelation time to detect the HVB condition. Warnings of HVB conditions can allow an aircraft to avoid threats posed by such conditions including damage to aircraft equipment and engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger A. Dana, James B. West, Kevin M. Kronfeld, Jeffery A. Finley
  • Patent number: 10749258
    Abstract: An antenna system and method use an electronically-scanned antenna array and a hybrid beam former architecture. The antenna system includes a matrix of antenna elements and a feeder network. The feeder network includes a first layer including phase shifters. Each of the phase shifters is for a respective antenna element of the antenna elements. The feeder network also includes a second layer and a third layer. Each of the first set of the first time delay units in the second layer is for a respective first subarray of the first subarrays of the antenna elements. Each of the second set of the second time delay units in the third layer is for a respective second subarray of the second subarrays of the first subarrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. West, Peter M. Sahayda, Ted J. Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 10714840
    Abstract: An antenna array system can including a plurality of antenna subarray panels assembled together to form a single wavelength scaled aperture (WSA) antenna array. Each antenna subarray panel can include a corresponding plurality of antenna elements such that at least two antenna elements of the plurality of antenna subarray panels have different antenna element sizes. The antenna array system can include one or more beamformer circuits. Each of the one or more beam former circuits can be communicatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of antenna subarray panels. For each adjacent pair of the plurality of antenna subarray panels, each antenna element adjacent to a gap separating the adjacent pair of antenna subarray panels along an elongated boundary of the gap is greater than a predetermined value. The predetermined value can be determined based on a predefined width of the gap separating the pair of adjacent antenna subarray panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. West, Matilda Gabriela Livadaru, Jeremiah Damien Wolf, Theodore Jay Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 10694637
    Abstract: An antenna assembly includes a plurality of RF card assemblies, a backplane circuit board, a plurality of connectors, and a chassis. Each of the RF card assemblies includes a circuit board having a number of antenna elements. The backplane circuit board includes a top surface with at least one set of power supply rails. The connectors are arranged in rows along a top surface of the backplane circuit board. Each of the connectors has an inlet configured to receive one of the RF card assemblies along a plane perpendicular to the top surface of the backplane circuit board. The bottom surface includes power supply pins configured to engage the power supply rails. The chassis is configured to enclose the backplane circuit board, the RF card assemblies, and the connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremiah D. Wolf, Scott J. Sellner, James B. West, Eric D. Baldwin
  • Patent number: 10686250
    Abstract: A cup antenna radio includes a tubular dielectric medium having a hollow portion. The cup radio antenna also includes electronics located in the hollow portion, the electronics being configured for satellite communication. The cup radio antenna also includes a spiral element disposed on top of the tubular dielectric medium, and a helical element disposed on an outside sidewall of the tubular dielectric medium. The helical element includes a first member coupled to a first arm of the spiral element and a second member coupled to a second arm of the spiral element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Sasha N. Oster, James B. West
  • Publication number: 20200185830
    Abstract: In one aspect, the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to an antenna array system employing a current sheet array (CSA) wavelength scaled aperture. The CSA wavelength scaled aperture can include a first frequency region associated with a first operating frequency band and a second frequency region associated with a second operating frequency band. The first operating frequency band can include one or more current sheet sub-arrays having a respective plurality of first unit cells scaled to support the first operating frequency band. The second operating frequency band can include one or more current sheet sub-arrays having a respective plurality of second unit cells scaled to support the second operating frequency band. The CSA wavelength scaled aperture can include one or more capacitors each of which coupled to a respective first unit cell of the first frequency region and a respective second unit cell of the second frequency region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Applicant: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: James B. West
  • Patent number: 10673148
    Abstract: An antenna array includes a printed circuit board including printed circuit board elements circumferentially disposed at locations on a surface of the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board elements are disposed in opposing pairs at diametrically opposite locations and include a first member and a second member. The first member intersects the second member which is curved. The antenna array can be an ultra-ultra wide band (UUWB) wavelength scaled array (WSA) tightly coupled dipole array (TCDA) active electronically scanned array (AESA) aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: James B. West
  • Patent number: 10594031
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses include a radiating element, a radio frequency integrated circuit and a feed manifold. The radio frequency integrated circuit includes a splitter/combiner in communication with the radiating element, a transmit beam gain control block in communication with the splitter/combiner and structured to apply a Taylor weighting distribution, a receive beam gain control block in communication with the splitter/combiner and structured to apply a Bayliss weighting distribution, a transmit beam steering control block in communication with the transmit beam gain control block, and a receive beam steering control block in communication with the receive beam gain control block. The feed manifold is in communication with the transmit beam steering control block and the receive beam steering control block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC.
    Inventors: James B. West, Michael L. Hageman, Russell D. Wyse
  • Patent number: 10581147
    Abstract: An antenna is used in a radar, sensor, communication, discovery, electronic warfare and/or networking system. The antenna system includes a disc-shaped conductive substrate, a ring-shaped conductive substrate being positioned generally parallel with respect to the disc-shaped conductive substrate, the ring-shaped conductive substrate having an outer diameter generally coincides with an outer diameter of the disc-shaped conductive substrate. Antenna elements, such as, Balanced Antipodal Vivaldi Antenna (BAVA) elements, are disposed between the disc-shaped conductive substrate and the ring-shaped conductive substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC.
    Inventor: James B. West
  • Patent number: 10564256
    Abstract: A radar system, such as a weather radar system, includes a radar antenna and a processor. The processor is configured to cause a first radar beam to be provided using a first portion of the radar antenna. The processor is configured to cause a second radar beam to be provided using a phase adjusted portion of the antenna and a remaining portion of the radar antenna. A radar method and system can allow multiple low-loss overlapping radar beams to be rapidly generated to support a sequential lobbing process which may be used to generate intra-beam target angle estimates. The production of these overlapping beams does not require mechanical antenna movement but beam selection is controlled by a simple electronic switch in some embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC.
    Inventors: James B. West, Daniel L. Woodell, Richard D. Jinkins, Richard M. Rademaker, Robert D. Pond
  • Patent number: 10541476
    Abstract: An antenna array system includes a feed antenna and circuit boards. Each circuit board has pickup antenna elements disposed on a curved edge portion of a first edge of the circuit board, radiating elements disposed on a second edge portion of the circuit board, and transmit receive modules disposed between the pickup elements and the radiating elements on the circuit board. The antenna array can be part of an active electronically scanned array (AESA) antenna assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC.
    Inventors: James B. West, Jeremiah D. Wolf, Aimee M. Matland
  • Patent number: 10505572
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses include a sniffer circuit, a radio frequency processor, and a beamforming radio frequency integrated circuit. The sniffer circuit is structured to receive spurious signals from a sniffer antenna and self-jamming signals, and to produce an interference signal based on the spurious signals and the self-jamming signals. The radio frequency processor is structured to receive wideband signals from a plurality of radiating elements, receive the interference signals from the sniffer circuit, execute a subtraction from the wideband signals based on the interference signals, and produce desired signals. The beamforming radio frequency integrated circuit is structured to receive the desired signals from the radio frequency processor, execute beamforming operations, and produce an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC.
    Inventors: James B. West, Ted J. Hoffmann, Russell D. Wyse, Michael L. Hageman
  • Patent number: 10454185
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses include a radio frequency feed configured to connect to a feedline, and a plurality of radiating elements coupled with the radio frequency feed. Each radiating element is arranged at an oblique angle relative to an antenna axis and configured to radiate at a wavelength (?). The plurality of radiating elements define a phase center distance between about 0.15? and about 0.2?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC.
    Inventors: Jiwon L. Moran, James B. West, Brandon C. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 10324166
    Abstract: A combined pulsed and FMCW AESA radar system is described. The radar system includes an AESA array of radiating elements, an array of TR modules, an RF combiner/splitter, a transmitter, a pulsed radar receiver and an FMCW radar receiver. Each TR module corresponds to a respective radiating element of the array of radiating elements. The transmitter is configured to transmit an excitation signal to excite selected or all radiating elements of the array of radiating elements via the TR modules. When the transmitter is in a pulsed radar mode, the pulsed radar receiver is configured to receive radar return signals via the RF combiner/splitter from radiating elements of the array of radiating elements via the TR modules. When the transmitter is in an FMCW radar mode, the FMCW radar receiver is configured to receive radar return signals from selected radiating elements of the array of radiating elements via the TR modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC.
    Inventors: James B. West, Eric Itcia
  • Patent number: 10224629
    Abstract: In one aspect, the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to an antenna array system employing a current sheet array (CSA) wavelength scaled aperture. The CSA wavelength scaled aperture can include a first frequency region associated with a first operating frequency band and a second frequency region associated with a second operating frequency band. The first operating frequency band can include one or more current sheet sub-arrays having a respective plurality of first unit cells scaled to support the first operating frequency band. The second operating frequency band can include one or more current sheet sub-arrays having a respective plurality of second unit cells scaled to support the second operating frequency band. The CSA wavelength scaled aperture can include one or more capacitors each of which coupled to a respective first unit cell of the first frequency region and a respective second unit cell of the second frequency region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC.
    Inventor: James B. West
  • Publication number: 20190013592
    Abstract: The system can include and the method can provide a first printed circuit board antenna tile. The first printed circuit board antenna tile comprises a repeating pattern of antenna element units. The antenna can also include and the method can also provide a second first printed circuit board antenna tile comprising the repeating pattern. The first printed circuit board antenna tile and the second first printed circuit board antenna tile can be attached such that the antenna elements maintain the same spacing in an X-Y plane associated with the repeating pattern across a boundary the first printed circuit board antenna tile and the second first printed circuit board antenna tile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. West, Matilda G. Livadaru, Christopher G. Olson