Patents by Inventor James H. Schaffner

James H. Schaffner 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: 11735823
    Abstract: An antenna is disclosed. The antenna can include a coplanar antenna structure. The coplanar antenna structure can include a substrate and a radiating portion that is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation and is disposed over the substrate. The radiating portion defines a slot having a width to length ratio of at least approximately 0.4. The antenna also includes a scattering element disposed over the substrate and at least partially surrounds the radiating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Duane S. Carper, Hyok Jae Song, James H. Schaffner, Patrick Edward Leavy
  • Publication number: 20230223697
    Abstract: An antenna is disclosed. The antenna can include a coplanar antenna structure. The coplanar antenna structure can include a substrate and a radiating portion that is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation and is disposed over the substrate. The radiating portion defines a slot having a width to length ratio of at least approximately 0.4. The antenna also includes a scattering element disposed over the substrate and at least partially surrounds the radiating portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Duane S. Carper, Hyok Jae Song, James H. Schaffner, Patrick Edward Leavy
  • Patent number: 11637357
    Abstract: A windshield, vehicle and antenna assembly for the vehicle is disclosed. The antenna assembly includes an antenna and a signal coupler. The antenna is embedded within the windshield of the vehicle. The antenna is configured to receive signals over a first frequency band and a second frequency band separated from the first frequency band. The signal coupler electromagnetically couples to the antenna through the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Duane S. Carper, Hyok Jae Song, James H. Schaffner, Raymond Gary Acker
  • Publication number: 20230068756
    Abstract: A windshield, vehicle and antenna assembly for the vehicle is disclosed. The antenna assembly includes an antenna and a signal coupler. The antenna is embedded within the windshield of the vehicle. The antenna is configured to receive signals over a first frequency band and a second frequency band separated from the first frequency band. The signal coupler electromagnetically couples to the antenna through the windshield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Duane S. Carper, Hyok Jae Song, James H. Schaffner, Raymond Gary Acker
  • Patent number: 11579303
    Abstract: A vehicle, Lidar system and method of detecting an object is disclosed. The Lidar system includes a photonic chip, and a laser integrated into the photonic chip. The laser has a front facet located at a first aperture of the photonic chip to direct a transmitted light beam into free space. A reflected light beam that is a reflection of the transmitted light beam is received at the photonic chip and a parameter of the object is determined from a comparison of the transmitted light beam and the reflected light beam. A navigation system operates the vehicle with respect to the object based on a parameter of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Keyvan Sayyah, Oleg Efimov, Biqin Huang, Raymond Sarkissian, James H. Schaffner, David Hammon, Richard Kremer, Timothy J. Talty, Michael Mulqueen, Pamela R. Patterson
  • Patent number: 11569684
    Abstract: An energy conversion device disposed in series with an RF driver circuit and an RF antenna, the energy conversion device being arranged to convert a portion of available RF power from the RF driver circuit into a different form of energy (direct current, thermal, or higher frequency electromagnetic waves such as light) which is converted, if needed, to DC and stored in an energy storage device coupled with the RF driver circuit for supplying recycled electrical energy thereto. The RF antenna may be an electrically small antenna and thus a antenna matching network may be provided between the RF driver circuit and the RF antenna. The energy conversion device may comprise, for example, (i) a transformer in combination with a rectifying circuit, (ii) a full wave rectifier, (iii) a half wave rectifier, (iv) a heat and/or light producing device, an energy converter (such as a generator) or a combination of the foregoing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: HRL LABORATORIES, LLC
    Inventors: Carson R. White, Walter S. Wall, Christopher P. Henry, Christopher S. Roper, James H. Schaffner, Ignacio Ramos
  • Patent number: 11444367
    Abstract: An antenna assembly configured to be mounted on a glass structure. The antenna assembly comprises a multilayer structure comprising i) a superstrate layer comprising a thin dielectric material; ii) an antenna layer on which the superstrate layer is disposed, the antenna layer comprising an electrically conducting material; and ii) a first substrate layer on which the antenna layer is disposed. The antenna assembly further comprises a housing in which the multilayer structure is disposed. The housing is adapted for attachment to a surface of the glass structure. A dielectric characteristic of the superstrate layer compensates for a dielectric characteristic of the glass structure in order to reduce the variability of the operating frequency of the antenna assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Brockett, Hyok Jae Song, James H. Schaffner, Duane S. Carper, Raymond G. Acker
  • Publication number: 20220052434
    Abstract: An antenna assembly configured to be mounted on a glass structure. The antenna assembly comprises a multilayer structure comprising i) a superstrate layer comprising a thin dielectric material; ii) an antenna layer on which the superstrate layer is disposed, the antenna layer comprising an electrically conducting material; and ii) a first substrate layer on which the antenna layer is disposed. The antenna assembly further comprises a housing in which the multilayer structure is disposed. The housing is adapted for attachment to a surface of the glass structure. A dielectric characteristic of the superstrate layer compensates for a dielectric characteristic of the glass structure in order to reduce the variability of the operating frequency of the antenna assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Timothy BROCKETT, Hyok Jae Song, James H. Schaffner, Duane S. Carper, Raymond G. Acker
  • Patent number: 11223140
    Abstract: A holographic antenna includes a transmission line and a plurality of interdigital capacitor (IDC) slots respectively formed along the transmission line. The holographic antenna also includes an active tuning device connected to each IDC slot from the plurality of IDC slots. Each active tuning device is configured to provide a holographic pattern on the plurality of IDC slots in response to the holographic antenna transmitting or receiving an electromagnetic signal. The holographic pattern is controllable for scanning an electromagnetic beam by the holographic antenna. The holographic antenna also includes a biasing source coupled to each active tuning device and configured to control its respective operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Hanseung Lee, Ryan G. Quarfoth, Amit Madanlal Patel, James H. Schaffner
  • Publication number: 20210328358
    Abstract: A holographic antenna includes a transmission line and a plurality of interdigital capacitor (IDC) slots respectively formed along the transmission line. The holographic antenna also includes an active tuning device connected to each IDC slot from the plurality of IDC slots. Each active tuning device is configured to provide a holographic pattern on the plurality of IDC slots in response to the holographic antenna transmitting or receiving an electromagnetic signal. The holographic pattern is controllable for scanning an electromagnetic beam by the holographic antenna. The holographic antenna also includes a biasing source coupled to each active tuning device and configured to control its respective operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Hanseung Lee, Ryan G. Quarfoth, Amit Madanlal Patel, James H. Schaffner
  • Patent number: 11067670
    Abstract: A lidar system includes a photonic chip including a light source and a transmit beam coupler to provide an output signal for transmission. The output signal is a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) signal. A transmit beam steering device transmits the output signal from the transmit beam coupler of the photonic chip. A receive beam steering device obtains a reflection of the output signal by a target and provides the reflection as a received signal to a receive beam coupler of the photonic chip. The photonic chip, the transmit beam steering device, and the receive beam steering device are heterogeneously integrated into an optical engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Pamela R. Patterson, Biqin Huang, James H. Schaffner, Keyvan Sayyah, Oleg Efimov, Raymond Sarkissian
  • Patent number: 11002832
    Abstract: A LIDAR system, LIDAR chip and method of manufacturing a LIDAR chip. The LIDAR system includes a photonic chip configured to transmit a transmitted light beam and to receive a reflected light beam, a scanner for directing the transmitted light beam towards a direction in space and receiving the reflected light beam from the selected direction, and a fiber-based optical coupler. The photonic chip and the scanner are placed on a semiconductor integrated platform (SIP). The fiber-based optical coupler is placed on top of the photonic chip to optically couple to the photonic chip for directing the a transmitted light beam from the photonic chip to the scanner and for directing a reflected light beam from the scanner to the photonic chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Keyvan Sayyah, Oleg Efimov, Pamela R. Patterson, Raymond Sarkissian, James H. Schaffner, Biqin Huang, David Hammon
  • Patent number: 10976414
    Abstract: A chip-scale coherent lidar system includes a photonic chip that includes a light source, a transmit beam coupler to provide an output signal, and a receive beam coupler to receive a received signal based on a reflection of the output signal by a target. The system also includes a transmit beam steering device to transmit the output signal out of the system, and a receive beam steering device to obtain the received signal into the system. A transmit beam curved mirror reflects the output signal from the transmit beam coupler to the transmit beam steering device. A receive beam curved mirror reflects the received signal from the receive beam steering device to the receive beam coupler. The transmit beam curved mirror and the receive beam curved mirror are formed in a substrate that is heterogeneously integrated with the photonic chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Keyvan Sayyah, Oleg Efimov, Pamela Patterson, Raymond Sarkissian, James H. Schaffner, Biqin Huang, David Hammon
  • Patent number: 10928519
    Abstract: A continuous wave (CW) heterodyne light detection and ranging (LIDAR) air velocity sensor system that comprises a first light emitting structure arranged to send a signal light in a first direction in space; a second light emitting structure arranged to produce a local oscillator light having a wavelength different from the wavelength of the signal light by a predetermined wavelength; a receiver arranged to receive light from said first direction in space; and a first optical mixer for mixing the received light with said local oscillator light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: James H. Schaffner, Richard M. Kremer, Raymond Sarkissian, Andrew C. Keefe, Pamela R. Patterson, Erik S. Daniel, Brian N. Limketkai, Guillermo A. Herrera, Keyvan R. Sayyah, Oleg M. Efimov
  • Patent number: 10914821
    Abstract: A lidar system includes a light source to generate a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) signal, and a waveguide splitter to split the FMCW signal into an output signal and a local oscillator (LO) signal. A transmit coupler provides the output signal for transmission. A receive lens obtains a received signal resulting from reflection of the output signal by a target. A waveguide coupler combines the received signal and the LO signal into a first combined signal and a second combined signal. A first phase modulator and second phase modulator respectively adjust a phase of the first combined signal and the second combined signal to provide a first phase modulated signal and a second phase modulated signal to a first photodetector and a second photodetector. A processor processes a first electrical signal and a second electrical signal from the first and second photodetectors to obtain information about the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Pamela R. Patterson, Keyvan Sayyah, Oleg Efimov, Raymond Sarkissian, James H. Schaffner, Biqin Huang, David Hammon
  • Patent number: 10854940
    Abstract: A window assembly includes a first radio frequency device disposed between a first window substrate and a second window substrate. An embedded coplanar waveguide is disposed between the first window substrate and the second window substrate, and is attached to the first radio frequency device. An exterior coplanar waveguide is disposed adjacent an exterior side surface of the first window substrate, and is disposed opposite the embedded coplanar waveguide for communicating electromagnetic waves therebetween. A printed circuit board is attached to and interconnects the exterior coplanar waveguide and a radio frequency cable connector. The radio frequency cable connector is configured for connection to a second radio frequency device. An adhesive layer bonds the printed circuit board to the exterior side surface of the first window substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Hyok Jae Song, Timothy J. Talty, James H. Schaffner, Duane S. Carper, Eray Yasan
  • Patent number: 10764993
    Abstract: The present application electromagnetic signal filtering. More specifically, the application teaches a system and method for affixing a frequency selective surface to an existing antenna radome, such that unwanted signals are attenuated before reaching an antenna structure within the antenna radome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Inventors: Walter S. Wall, James H. Schaffner, Hyok Jae Song, David S. Hammon, Timothy J. Talty, Duane S. Carper, Eray Yasan
  • Patent number: 10707554
    Abstract: A thin film, flexible, co-planar waveguide (CPW), antenna structure suitable to be mounted on vehicle glass and that has particular application for MIMO LTE applications in, for example, the 0.46-3.8 GHz frequency band. The antenna structure includes a planar antenna formed on a substrate that includes a ground plane having an elliptical cut-out slot section defined within an outer perimeter portion of the ground plane and an antenna radiating element extending into the slot from the perimeter portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Talty, Amit M. Patel, Keerti S. Kona, James H. Schaffner, Hyok Jae Song, Duane S. Carper, Eray Yasan
  • Patent number: 10707553
    Abstract: A thin film, flexible antenna that has particular application to be adhered to vehicle glass, where the antenna has a wideband antenna geometry and is operable to receive right-hand or left-hand circularly polarized signals from, for example, GPS and SDARS satellites. The antenna is a printed planar antenna formed to the substrate and includes a ground plane having a slot formed therein and a tuning sleeve having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion. The planar antenna further includes a radiating element positioned adjacent to the tuning sleeve and including a feed portion positioned within the slot, where the radiating element includes a first horizontal portion and a second horizontal portion extending from a vertical portion towards the vertical portion of the sleeve. The ground plane is operable to generate circularly polarized signals to be received by the radiating element where the sleeve provides phase tuning of the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Talty, Amit M. Patel, Keerti S. Kona, Hyok Jae Song, James H. Schaffner, Duane S. Carper, Eray Yasan
  • Patent number: 10608330
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to antennas embedded in or on glass structures. More specifically, the application teaches a method and apparatus for camouflaging near-transparent conductors by adding additional conductive or non-conductive materials of non-conductive areas by applying the additional materials in the same plane or a different plane than the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Talty, Hyok Jae Song, James H. Schaffner, Duane S. Carper, Eray Yasan