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: 10320053
    Abstract: A thin, flexible antenna that has particular application to be mounted to a dielectric structure on a vehicle, such as vehicle glass, where the antenna has a wideband antenna geometry for various communications applications, and where the conductive portion of the antenna can employ transparent conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Hyok Jae Song, Timothy J. Talty, James H. Schaffner, Keerti S. Kona, Amit M. Patel, Duane S. Carper, Eray Yasan
  • Publication number: 20190148821
    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: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Timothy J. Talty, Hyok Jae SOng, James H. Schaffner, Duane S. Carper, Eray Yasan
  • Patent number: 10247999
    Abstract: An electro-optic modulation structure comprises a first electrode and a second electrode and a first electro-optic strip; wherein the first electrode has a slab portion and a first ridge protruding from the slab portion of the first electrode, and the second electrode has a slab portion and a first ridge protruding from the slab portion of the second electrode, the first protruding ridge of the first electrode and the first protruding ridge of the second electrode being disposed on opposite sides of the first electro-optic strip and both protruding ridges abut the first electro-optic strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Yap, James H. Schaffner
  • Patent number: 10205216
    Abstract: A connector assembly that provides a proper impedance connection between a CPW antenna mounted on automotive glass to a FAKRA-type connector. The connector assembly includes a PCB having a top surface and a bottom surface and being adhered to the glass. Vias are provided through the PCB to make electrical contact between metallization planes on the top surface and the bottom surface of the PCB. Terminals that are part of the connector extend through some of the vias, where ground terminals provide mechanical stability and make electrical contact with the metallization planes on the bottom surface of the PCB and a signal terminal provides an electrical connection to the antenna radiating element. The PCB is adhered to a substrate on which the antenna is mounted so that the metallization planes and microstrip lines make electrical contact with a CPW feed structure that feeds the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Talty, Keerti S. Kona, Hyok Jae Song, James H. Schaffner, Amit M. Patel, Duane S. Carper, Eray Yasan
  • Publication number: 20190018112
    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: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Keyvan Sayyah, Oleg Efimov, Pamela Patterson, Raymond Sarkissian, James H. Schaffner, Biqin Huang, David Hammon
  • Publication number: 20190018121
    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: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Keyvan Sayyah, Oleg Efimov, Pamela R. Patterson, Raymond Sarkissian, James H. Schaffner, Biqin Huang, David Hammon
  • Publication number: 20190018113
    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: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Keyvan Sayyah, Oleg Efimov, Pamela R. Patterson, Raymond Sarkissian, James H. Schaffner, Biqin Huang, David Hammon
  • Publication number: 20190018114
    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: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Pamela R. Patterson, Biqin Huang, James H. Schaffner, Keyvan Sayyah, Oleg Efimov, Raymond Sarkissian
  • Publication number: 20180356528
    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: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: 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. Eimov
  • Publication number: 20180337696
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus for simultaneously receiving and processing a satellite signal and a WCS signal. The system and method is operative to receive the signals, amplify and bandwidth covering both signals, splitting the amplified signal into a first and second portions, filtering the first portion to reduce the WCS signal, amplifying the first portion to amplify the satellite signal in the first portion, and processing the satellite signal in the first portion. The system and method is further operative to processing the WCS signal in the second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Timothy J. TALTY, Duane S. CARPER, Eray YASAN, David M. GEORGE, James H. SCHAFFNER, Hyok Jae SONG, Walter S. WALL
  • Patent number: 9972905
    Abstract: A reconfigurable electro-magnetic tile includes a laser layer including a plurality of lasers, and a pixelated surface comprising a plurality of metal patches and a plurality of switches, wherein each respective switch of the plurality of switches is in a gap between a first respective metal patch and a second respective metal patch, wherein each respective switch is optically coupled to at least one respective laser of the plurality of lasers, and wherein each switch of the plurality of switches comprises a phase change material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: James H. Schaffner, Hyok J. Song, Keyvan R. Sayyah, Pamela R. Patterson, Jeong-Sun Moon, Alan E. Reamon, Keerti S. Kona, Joseph S. Colburn
  • Patent number: 9941584
    Abstract: A reconfigurable radio frequency aperture including a substrate, a plurality of reconfigurable patches on the substrate, and a plurality of reconfigurable coupling elements on the substrate, wherein at least one reconfigurable coupling element is coupled between a reconfigurable patch and another reconfigurable patch, and wherein the reconfigurable coupling elements affect the mutual coupling between reconfigurable patches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Keerti S. Kona, James H. Schaffner, Hyok J. Song
  • Publication number: 20180035535
    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 stucture within the antenna radome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Walter S. Wall, James H. Schaffner, Hyok Jae Song, David S. Hammon, Timothy J. Talty, Duane S. Carper, Eray Yasan
  • Publication number: 20170324143
    Abstract: A connector assembly that provides a proper impedance connection between a CPW antenna mounted on automotive glass to a FAKRA-type connector. The connector assembly includes a PCB having a top surface and a bottom surface and being adhered to the glass. Vias are provided through the PCB to make electrical contact between metallization planes on the top surface and the bottom surface of the PCB. Terminals that are part of the connector extend through some of the vias, where ground terminals provide mechanical stability and make electrical contact with the metallization planes on the bottom surface of the PCB and a signal terminal provides an electrical connection to the antenna radiating element. The PCB is adhered to a substrate on which the antenna is mounted so that the metallization planes and microstrip lines make electrical contact with a CPW feed structure that feeds the antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: TIMOTHY J. TALTY, KEERTI S. KONA, HYOK JAE SONG, JAMES H. SCHAFFNER, AMIT M. PATEL, DUANE S. CARPER, ERAY YASAN
  • Publication number: 20170324141
    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: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: TIMOTHY J. TALTY, AMIT M. PATEL, KEERTI S. KONA, HYOK JAE SONG, JAMES H. SCHAFFNER, DUANE S. CARPER, ERAY YASAN
  • Publication number: 20170324139
    Abstract: A thin film, flexible, co-planar waveguide (CPW), dual-polarized antenna structure suitable to be mounted on vehicle glass and that has particular application for MIMO LTE applications in the frequency band of, for example, 0.46-3.8 GHz. The antenna structure includes two U-shaped antenna radiating elements that receive signals that are linearly polarized in two orthogonal horizontal (H) and vertical (V) directions, where the radiating elements are separated by a ground plane line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: TIMOTHY J. TALTY, KEERTI S. KONA, HYOK JAE SONG, AMIT M. PATEL, JAMES H. SCHAFFNER, DUANE S. CARPER, ERAY YASAN
  • Publication number: 20170324138
    Abstract: An antenna structure including a dual-band WiFi CPW antenna formed on a dielectric substrate and a frequency selective impedance surface formed on the substrate and at least partially surrounding the antenna. The antenna includes a ground plane defining a gap and an antenna radiating element including a radiating portion positioned proximate to the ground plane and a feed line extending into the gap. The frequency selective impedance surface can be a ring that is configured around the radiating portion of the radiating element, where the frequency selective impedance ring receives surface waves propagating along the dielectric substrate generated by the antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Timothy J. TALTY, Hyok Jae SONG, James H. SCHAFFNER, Duane S. CARPER, Eray YASAN
  • Publication number: 20170324140
    Abstract: A thin film, flexible antenna that has particular application to be adhered to vehicle glass, where the antenna 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 an outer perimeter portion defining a slot therein and having a plurality of sides. A T-line tuning stub extends from one of the sides into the slot, a curved spur-line tuning stub extends from a corner where two sides of the perimeter portion meet and extends into the slot, and a radiating element electrically isolated from the perimeter portion extends into the slot. The perimeter portion is operable to generate circularly polarized signals to be received by the radiating element where the tuning stubs provide phase tuning of the circularly polarized signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Timothy J. Talty, Keerti S. Kona, Amit M. Patel, Hyok Jae Song, James H. Schaffner, Duane S. Carper, Eray Yasan
  • Publication number: 20170324142
    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: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: TIMOTHY J. TALTY, AMIT M. PATEL, KEERTI S. KONA, JAMES H. SCHAFFNER, HYOK JAE SONG, DUANE S. CARPER, ERAY YASAN
  • Publication number: 20170324144
    Abstract: A thin film, flexible, leaky-wave CPW antenna that can mounted to a dielectric substrate on a vehicle, such as vehicle glass, where the antenna has application for a MIMO LTE cellular system, and where the conductive portion of the antenna can employ transparent conductors. The antenna includes a ground plane having opposing first and second ground lines defining a gap therebetween and an antenna radiating element extending between the ground lines in the gap. The antenna radiating element includes a plurality of leaky-wave tuning stubs crossing the antenna radiating element at predetermined intervals that operates to change the radiation pattern of the antenna to be more parallel to the ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: TIMOTHY J. TALTY, KEERTI S. KONA, AMIT M. PATEL, HYOK JAE SONG, JAMES H. SCHAFFNER, DUANE S. CARPER, ERAY YASAN