Patents by Inventor Jody H. Akens

Jody H. Akens 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: 9806758
    Abstract: An improved venting and sealing assembly for a portable communication device is provided. The venting and sealing assembly is formed of a housing enclosure having a walled aperture with a bottom surface and an offset through-hole passing therethrough. A flexible substrate having a vent hole is coupled to the housing enclosure across the walled aperture such that the vent hole is offset from the offset through-hole. A breathable membrane is coupled across the vent hole of the flexible substrate. A rigid plate having an opening is coupled to the breathable membrane, the opening of the rigid plate being aligned with the vent hole of the flexible substrate. A closed-loop sealing rib is formed around the vent hole of the flexible substrate and/or upon the bottom surface of the walled aperture of the housing enclosure. The assembly provides a vent path and a self-sealing enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew P. Miehl, Jody H. Akens, Peter B. Gilmore, Anthony M. Kakiel, Charles E. Kline
  • Publication number: 20170230071
    Abstract: An improved venting and sealing assembly for a portable communication device is provided. The venting and sealing assembly is formed of a housing enclosure having a walled aperture with a bottom surface and an offset through-hole passing therethrough. A flexible substrate having a vent hole is coupled to the housing enclosure across the walled aperture such that the vent hole is offset from the offset through-hole. A breathable membrane is coupled across the vent hole of the flexible substrate. A rigid plate having an opening is coupled to the breathable membrane, the opening of the rigid plate being aligned with the vent hole of the flexible substrate. A closed-loop sealing rib is formed around the vent hole of the flexible substrate and/or upon the bottom surface of the walled aperture of the housing enclosure. The assembly provides a vent path and a self-sealing enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew P. Miehl, Jody H. Akens, Peter B. Gilmore, Anthony M. Kakiel, Charles E. Kline
  • Publication number: 20170230070
    Abstract: An improved venting and sealing assembly for a portable communication device is provided. The venting and sealing assembly is formed of a housing enclosure having a walled aperture with a bottom surface and an offset through-hole passing therethrough. A flexible substrate having a vent hole is coupled to the housing enclosure across the walled aperture such that the vent hole is offset from the offset through-hole. A breathable membrane is coupled across the vent hole of the flexible substrate. A rigid plate having an opening is coupled to the breathable membrane, the opening of the rigid plate being aligned with the vent hole of the flexible substrate. A closed-loop sealing rib is formed around the vent hole of the flexible substrate and/or upon the bottom surface of the walled aperture of the housing enclosure. The assembly provides a vent path and a self-sealing enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew P. Miehl, Jody H. Akens, Peter B. Gilmore, Anthony M. Kakiel, Charles E. Kline
  • Publication number: 20170179991
    Abstract: An improved venting and sealing assembly for a portable communication device is provided. The venting and sealing assembly is formed of a housing enclosure having a walled aperture with a bottom surface and an offset through-hole passing therethrough. A flexible substrate having a vent hole is coupled to the housing enclosure across the walled aperture such that the vent hole is offset from the offset through-hole. A breathable membrane is coupled across the vent hole of the flexible substrate. A rigid plate having an opening is coupled to the breathable membrane, the opening of the rigid plate being aligned with the vent hole of the flexible substrate. A closed-loop sealing rib is formed around the vent hole of the flexible substrate and/or upon the bottom surface of the walled aperture of the housing enclosure. The assembly provides a vent path and a self-sealing enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew P. Miehl, Jody H. Akens, Peter B. Gilmore, Anthony M. Kakiel, Charles E. Kline
  • Patent number: 9667297
    Abstract: An improved venting and sealing assembly for a portable communication device is provided. The venting and sealing assembly is formed of a housing enclosure having a walled aperture with a bottom surface and an offset through-hole passing therethrough. A flexible substrate having a vent hole is coupled to the housing enclosure across the walled aperture such that the vent hole is offset from the offset through-hole. A breathable membrane is coupled across the vent hole of the flexible substrate. A rigid plate having an opening is coupled to the breathable membrane, the opening of the rigid plate being aligned with the vent hole of the flexible substrate. A closed-loop sealing rib is formed around the vent hole of the flexible substrate and/or upon the bottom surface of the walled aperture of the housing enclosure. The assembly provides a vent path and a self-sealing enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew P. Miehl, Jody H. Akens, Peter B. Gilmore, Anthony M. Kakiel, Charles E. Kline
  • Publication number: 20160323001
    Abstract: A radio housing (100) is formed of a front plate (102) having screw mount receptacles (222, 223, 224, 228, 229, 230) and first and second side plates (104, 106). The first and second side plates (104, 106) have a plurality of non-symmetrical, three-dimensional (3-D), dovetail sections (108, 110, 112, 114) for aligning and capturing the screw mount receptacles (222, 223, 224, 228, 229, 230) of the front plate (102). The front plate (102) and first and second side plates (104, 106) are formed of an injection molded thermoplastic material. The three pieces (102, 104, 106) are coupled together. The three-piece injection housing formed of injunction molded materials allows the housing (100) to be customized to specific customer requests not currently available with past overmolded materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher D. CRAWFORD, Jody H. AKENS, Charles E. KLINE, Eduardo J. MORALEJO, Adrian F. RUBIO
  • Publication number: 20160322695
    Abstract: A rotary control (102) having an antenna radiating element (202) integrated therein is provided. The rotary control (102) is formed of a knob housing (112) providing an axis of circumferential rotation (120). The antenna radiating element (202) is rotatable along the axis of circumferential rotation (120) in response to rotation of the knob housing (112). The antenna radiating element (202) is coupled to a rotatable antenna feed electrode (230). The rotary control (102) having the integrated antenna radiating element (202) may be mounted to a communication device housing having a stationary capacitive feed electrode (220). The stationary capacitive feed electrode (220) and rotatable antenna feed electrode (230) provide capacitive coupling for the transfer of RF signals to and from antenna radiating element (202) regardless of the position of rotation of the knob housing (112).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: PATRICK S. CLAEYS, ANTONIO FARANO, GIORGI BIT-BABIK, JODY H. AKENS, JONATHAN D. STEINBERG
  • Patent number: 8542194
    Abstract: A keypad assembly (100) provides improved backlighting in a slim-line from factor with a minimal number of LEDs (130). The keypad assembly (100) utilizes side-firing LEDs (130) mounted to a keypad flex (112) which protrude through subsequent thin layers of substrates. A light-guide film (104) disposed over the layers includes corresponding cut-outs through which the side-firing LEDS partially protrude. The light-guide film includes light dispersion areas (114) formed thereon. A cover (102) seals the side-firing LEDs (130) protruding through the light-guide film (104). An interconnect flex (132) couples to the keypad flex (112) to provide flexible coupling of the keypad assembly to an electronic device. The light-guide film (104) provides both light dispersion and sealing to the keypad assembly (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jody H. Akens, Salvador P. Magana
  • Patent number: 8432323
    Abstract: A radio is presented in which a short-range antenna, along with a speaker, is contained within a non-conductive speaker bracket. The antenna is a PIFA that is bent and extends through the speaker bracket so that the distance between the free end of the PIFA and various metallic components of the radio including the chassis and speaker is maximized. The structure containing the PIFA is flexible and also contains a contact area where feed/ground contact for the PIFA is made as well as contact for audio components including a speaker and microphone. A flexible cable and extension portion of the flexible structure routes the signals to the audio components far enough away from the PIFA so that the amount of crosstalk is insignificant. The free end of the PIFA and launch pad where feed/ground contact for the PIFA is made are non-planar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Giorgi Bit-Babik, Jody H. Akens, Thomas J. Chappell
  • Patent number: 8220361
    Abstract: A rotary knob assembly (100) includes a fixed raised boss (110) having a boss cavity (107) and a knob (102) optionally having a rotary switch stem (104) therein. The knob can include a portion that axially resides within the boss cavity such that impacts to the knob transfers to the fixed raised boss. The knob can further include a rigid core member (106) and an outer over-molded portion (108) over-molded on to the rigid core member. The fixed raised boss can include an outer circumference (118) and an inner circumference (116). The inner circumference of the boss and a portion of the rigid core member and the outer circumference of the boss and the outer mover-molded portion form a knob-boss interface (117) that sustains impacts to the rotary knob assembly while isolating a rotary switch (112) from impacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jamie L. Slavin, Jody H. Akens, Scott H. Richards
  • Publication number: 20120050170
    Abstract: A keypad assembly (100) provides improved backlighting in a slim-line from factor with a minimal number of LEDs (130). The keypad assembly (100) utilizes side-firing LEDs (130) mounted to a keypad flex (112) which protrude through subsequent thin layers of substrates. A light-guide film (104) disposed over the layers includes corresponding cut-outs through which the side-firing LEDS partially protrude. The light-guide film includes light dispersion areas (114) formed thereon. A cover (102) seals the side-firing LEDs (130) protruding through the light-guide film (104). An interconnect flex (132) couples to the keypad flex (112) to provide flexible coupling of the keypad assembly to an electronic device. The light-guide film (104) provides both light dispersion and sealing to the keypad assembly (100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: Jody H. Akens, Salvador P. Magana
  • Publication number: 20120026046
    Abstract: A radio is presented in which a short-range antenna, along with a speaker, is contained within a non-conductive speaker bracket. The antenna is a PIFA that is bent and extends through the speaker bracket so that the distance between the free end of the PIFA and various metallic components of the radio including the chassis and speaker is maximized. The structure containing the PIFA is flexible and also contains a contact area where feed/ground contact for the PIFA is made as well as contact for audio components including a speaker and microphone. A flexible cable and extension portion of the flexible structure routes the signals to the audio components far enough away from the PIFA so that the amount of crosstalk is insignificant. The free end of the PIFA and launch pad where feed/ground contact for the PIFA is made are non-planar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: GIORGI BIT-BABIK, JODY H. AKENS, THOMAS J. CHAPPELL
  • Publication number: 20110001635
    Abstract: A method (400) and a system (125) for monitoring traffic. A warning zone (130) can be defined based, at least in part, on a present location of a mobile traffic monitoring system (125). With the mobile traffic monitoring system, the warning zone can be optically monitored for movement of an object (175). Responsive to identifying the movement of the object in the warning zone, an alert (135) can be generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: Jody H. Akens, Scott A. Fudally, Ali H. Zaidi
  • Patent number: 7829786
    Abstract: A sealing system for sealing a component (102) within an electronic device (100) is provided. The system includes one or more apertures (206) within an internal housing (202). Further the system includes an adhesive (602), adhered on a first surface to a ledge (502) and bottom perimeter surface 402 of the component. Furthermore, the system includes an external housing (204). The external housing presses the perimeter of the component onto the ledge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Fuerstenberg, Christopher D. Crawford, Jorge L. Garcia, Jody H. Akens, Salvador P. Magana
  • Publication number: 20090071748
    Abstract: A sealing system for sealing a component (102) within an electronic device (100) is provided. The system includes one or more apertures (206) within an internal housing (202). Further the system includes an adhesive (602), adhered on a first surface to a ledge (502) and bottom perimeter surface 402 of the component. Furthermore, the system includes an external housing (204). The external housing presses the perimeter of the component onto the ledge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: Robert M. Fuerstenberg, Christopher D. Crawford, Jorge L. Garcia, Jody H. Akens, Salvador P. Magana
  • Publication number: 20080236329
    Abstract: A rotary knob assembly (100) includes a fixed raised boss (110) having a boss cavity (107) and a knob (102) optionally having a rotary switch stem (104) therein. The knob can include a portion that axially resides within the boss cavity such that impacts to the knob transfers to the fixed raised boss. The knob can further include a rigid core member (106) and an outer over-molded portion (108) over-molded on to the rigid core member. The fixed raised boss can include an outer circumference (118) and an inner circumference (116). The inner circumference of the boss and a portion of the rigid core member and the outer circumference of the boss and the outer mover-molded portion form a knob-boss interface (117) that sustains impacts to the rotary knob assembly while isolating a rotary switch (112) from impacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Jamie L. Slavin, Jody H. Akens, Scott H. Richards
  • Publication number: 20080148392
    Abstract: An apparatus and method provide a user with the ability to store, retrieve and view numerous passcodes in a simple yet secure fashion. Components (300) including a memory (314), a display (112/312), a keypad (108/308), a universal serial bus (USB) port (104/304) and a fingerprint scanning module (106/206/306) are incorporated into a portable housing (102/200/400) or integrated within a cell phone (200) or two-way radio design. A user's passcodes are downloaded via the USB and stored for later retrieval. Upon validation of the user's fingerprint and personal identifier, an individual's passcodes are displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: MOTOROLA, INC.
    Inventors: Jody H. Akens, George Mtchedlishvili, Robert J. Sanchez
  • Patent number: 7381078
    Abstract: A connector assembly (100) provides improved locking and retention through the use of a cylindrical body (102) having locking arms (104) extending therefrom and a malleable collar (106) that includes an integrally molded interior lip (114) and exterior bumps (116). The malleable collar (106) is slid over a portion of the cylindrical body (102) such that the bumps (116) align with the locking arms (104). Upon insertion of the connector (100) into a housing receptacle, the locking arms (104) compress the bumps (116) thereby providing resistance to aid with retention while the interior lip (114) abuts the cylindrical body (102) which facilitates sealing the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: George Mtchedlishvili, Jody H. Akens, Adrian F. Rubio
  • Patent number: 7249861
    Abstract: A keypad assembly (100) for a communication device (200) utilizes two boards, a main circuit board (102) with electronic components including light emitting diodes (LEDs) (104) and a keypad board (108). A lightguide (106) is sandwiched between the two boards (102, 108), the lightguide having window protrusions (112) to accommodate the LEDs (104). The keypad board (108) has openings (116) within which the window protrusions (112) align in order to provide backlighting and sealing to the communication device (200).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis R. Coleman, Jody H. Akens, Christopher D. Crawford, Ali H. Zaidi
  • Patent number: 7206422
    Abstract: An assembly (100) for acoustic sealing of a transducer (104) in a communication device is provided. The assembly (100) allows for assembly along one axis (112) and acoustical sealing along another axis (115). The assembly (100) allows for another transducer (106) to be acoustically sealed on a different plane than that of the first transducer (104). Through the use of a compliant member (204) and rigid member (108) coupled to the transducer (104) a floating seal is formed between the chassis (102) and the housing (103) of the communication device (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Jody H. Akens, Jeffrey W. Ashton, Jorge L. Garcia