Patents by Inventor John C. Mather

John C. Mather 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: 9024834
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a dual-polarized antenna array including a first BAVA, a second BAVA and a cradle assembly. The cradle assembly includes first, second and third U-channel modules connected via first and second frame portions. The first U-channel module, the second U-channel module, and the first frame portion receive first, second and third edge portions of a substrate of the first BAVA, respectively. The second U-channel module, the third U-channel module, and the second frame portion receive first, second and third edge portions of a substrate of the second BAVA, respectively. When received within the cradle assembly, the substrate of the first BAVA is oriented perpendicular to the substrate of the second BAVA. The first BAVA is a vertical polarization input and the second BAVA is a horizontal polarization input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Modhwajih A. ElSallal, John C. Mather, Lee M. Paulsen, James B. West
  • Patent number: 8872713
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a radiating element assembly including radiating element integrated with a radome. The radiating element assembly may be dual-polarized. Further, the radiating element assembly may operate over a frequency band of 10.9 GHz-14.5 GHz and may be configured for minimizing polarization cross-talk at Array Normal Scan of well below ?30 decibels over the entire frequency band. Still further, the radiating element assembly may provide return loss at Array Normal Scan of less than or equal to ?10 dB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Buckley, Brian J. Herting, John C. Mather, Wajih A. El Sallal
  • Patent number: 8598969
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a piezo-electrically actuated membrane (ex.—a tuner) configured for use with a tunable cavity filter. The piezo-electrically actuated tuner may be formed of printed circuit board materials and may be placed over the cavities of the tunable cavity filter. Further, the piezo-electrically actuated tuner may promote high level performance of the tunable cavity filter, while allowing the tunable cavity filter to be tunable across wide bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Anders P. Walker, Thomas J. Journot, Todd A. Freeman, John C. Mather, Jonathan A. Lovseth
  • Patent number: 8576023
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an interface for connecting a waveguide manifold of a transition to a stripline manifold of the transition. The interface may include a plurality of metamaterial layers, each including a metamaterial(s). The interface may further include a ground plane layer which may be connected to both the plurality of metamaterial layers and to the stripline manifold. Further, the interface may include a plurality of ground vias which may form channels through each of the layers of the interface and through the stripline manifold for providing a ground structure for the interface. The interface is further configured for forming a resonant structure which provides a low-loss, broadband conversion between a stripline mode and a waveguide mode for electromagnetic energy traversing through the interface between the waveguide manifold and the stripline manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Buckley, Wajih A. El Sallal, Brian J. Herting, John C. Mather
  • Patent number: 8514032
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a matched load. The matched load may include a stripline section and multiple resist material sections. The multiple resist material sections may be connected to the stripline section and may each include a resist material. The resist material may be a metal alloy film. Further, the load may be configured for operating over a frequency band ranging from 9 GHz to 18 GHz. Still further, the load may be configured for providing a return loss of less than ?25 dB at each operating frequency included in the 9 GHz to 18 GHz frequency band. Still further, the load is compact, such that multiple loads may fit into a dual polarized radiating element cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Buckley, Jeremiah D. Wolf, Brian J. Herting, John C. Mather
  • Patent number: 8497809
    Abstract: An aperture of an antenna for a radar system comprises a first waveguide comprising a first protrusion and a second protrusion, each protrusion extending longitudinally along one side of the first waveguide. The aperture further comprises a second waveguide comprising a third protrusion and a fourth protrusion, each protrusion extending longitudinally along one side of the second waveguide. The first and third protrusions and second and fourth protrusions adjoin to form a radio frequency choke at least partially suppressing cross polarization of radio frequencies between the first and second waveguides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Herting, James B. West, Wajih A. ElSallal, John C. Mather, Bret W. Spars, Daniel L. Woodell
  • Patent number: 8466846
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a dual-polarized antenna array including a first BAVA, a second BAVA and a cradle assembly. The cradle assembly includes first, second and third U-channel modules connected via first and second frame portions. The first U-channel module, the second U-channel module, and the first frame portion receive first, second and third edge portions of a substrate of the first BAVA, respectively. The second U-channel module, the third U-channel module, and the second frame portion receive first, second and third edge portions of a substrate of the second BAVA, respectively. When received within the cradle assembly, the substrate of the first BAVA is oriented perpendicular to the substrate of the second BAVA. The first BAVA is a vertical polarization input and the second BAVA is a horizontal polarization input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Modhwajih A. Elsallal, John C. Mather, Lee M. Paulsen, James B. West
  • Patent number: 8230581
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method for producing a multi-band waveguide reflector antenna feed. The antenna feed includes a first tube and a second tube. The first and second tubes are connected to form a concentric multi-band waveguide feed array. The first tube includes a surface(s) which is/are at least partially covered by metamaterial(s), thereby forming a first waveguide feed. The second tube also includes a surface(s) which is/are at least partially covered by metamaterial(s). A radial separation is established between the first tube and the second tube, thereby forming a second waveguide feed. The radial separation may be maintained between the first tube and the second tube by one or more of: a loading material, support structures, strings, and wires. The loading material, support columns, strings, and/or wires also structurally interconnect the first tube and the second tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross K. Wilcoxon, John C. Mather, Wajih A. El Sallal, James B. West
  • Patent number: 8098207
    Abstract: An aperture of an antenna for a radar system comprises a first waveguide comprising a first protrusion and a second protrusion, each protrusion extending longitudinally along one side of the first waveguide. The aperture further comprises a second waveguide comprising a third protrusion and a fourth protrusion, each protrusion extending longitudinally along one side of the second waveguide. The first and third protrusions and second and fourth protrusions adjoin to form a radio frequency choke at least partially suppressing cross polarization of radio frequencies between the first and second waveguides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Herting, James B. West, Wajih A. ElSallal, John C. Mather, Bret W. Spars, Daniel L. Woodell
  • Patent number: 8098189
    Abstract: An antenna system for a weather radar system includes a first transceiver and a second transceiver. The polarization of the first transceiver is orthogonal to the polarization of the second transceiver. The first transceiver and the second transceiver are interlaced to occupy the same volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Woodell, James B. West, Wajih A. ElSallal, John C. Mather, Brian J. Herting
  • Patent number: 8076622
    Abstract: The present invention is a device which includes an antenna and circuitry. The antenna may receive a circularly-polarized signal as first and second linearly-polarized signals. The circuitry is connected to the antenna and is configured for combining the first and second linearly-polarized signals to produce at least two reception patterns. The reception patterns are created by summing the first and second linearly-polarized signals via phase shifting. The reception patterns are optimized for at least two substantially different directional orientations. Further, the antenna may simultaneously allow/provide spec-compliant Global Positioning System operation and spec compliant Height of Burst operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee M. Paulsen, Donald L. Michaels, Robert J. Thompson, Michael J. Cook, John C. Mather
  • Patent number: 7170446
    Abstract: A phased array antenna is provided having a plurality of phase shifter devices for phase shifting and beam steering a radiated beam of the phased array antenna. The plurality of phase shifter devices are interconnected with an interconnect structure comprising a plurality of linear array substrate slats. Each linear array substrate slat includes a plurality of radiating elements formed using first and second metal layers of the substrate slat, a plurality of phase shifter devices and a common RF feed conductor for the plurality of radiating elements. The common RF feed conductor is formed on a third metal layer of the substrate slat that is disposed between the first and second metal layers. The common RF feed conductor is configured to include a single location for electrical connections to receive RF signals for the plurality of radiating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: James B. West, John C. Mather
  • Patent number: 7091927
    Abstract: A mosaic display system includes a number of tiles. Each of the tiles includes a matrix of pixel elements. The pixel elements selectively provide light at a first surface of the tile in response to address signals. The pixel elements are coupled to an address circuit via conductors at a second surface. The first surface is opposite the second surface. The display system also includes a medium having a mounting surface. The tiles are attached to or above the mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: John K. Hagge, John C. Mather, Ross K. Wilcoxon, James R. Wooldridge
  • Patent number: 6995726
    Abstract: A phased array antenna is made up of linear arrays. Each of the linear arrays has a printed circuit board spine. Split waveguides are formed from two symmetrical portions conductively joined to ground on opposite sides of the printed circuit board spine. Planar transmission line-to-waveguide transitions are mounted on the printed circuit board spine within the split waveguides. Phase shifter/TTD devices are mounted on the circuit board spine within the split waveguides for steering the phased array antenna beam. Bias and control circuitry is etched on the circuit board spine for biasing and controlling the phase shifter/TTD devices. The phased array antenna may be made up of the linear arrays combined into a two-dimensional array and fed with a waveguide feed or a printed feed manifold attached to the printed wiring board spine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins
    Inventors: James B. West, John C. Mather
  • Patent number: 6972727
    Abstract: An electronically scanned slotted waveguide antenna radiates an RF signal as a scannable beam. The antenna has radiation waveguides positioned in an array. Radiation slots in the radiation waveguides radiate the scannable beam. A feed waveguide is coupled to the radiation waveguides. The feed waveguide feeds the RF signal to the radiation waveguides through coupling slots. The feed waveguide has sidewalls with tunable electromagnetic crystal (EMXT) structures thereon. The EMXT structures vary the phase of the RF signal in the feed waveguide to scan the radiated beam in one dimension. The radiation waveguides may also have tunable EMXT structures on the sidewalls to vary the phase of the RF signal to scan the radiated beam in a second dimension. The EMXT structures may be discrete EMXT devices or a EMXT material layer covering the feed and radiation waveguide sidewalls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins
    Inventors: James B. West, John C. Mather, Don L. Landt
  • Patent number: 6950062
    Abstract: A phased array antenna is formed from an array of apertures having walls containing phase shifter devices for phase shifting and beam steering a radiated beam of the phased array antenna. The phase shifter devices are interconnected with an interconnect structure formed from substrate slats that form the walls of the apertures. The substrate slats may be thin film circuitized column slats having a metal substrate, dielectric layers, metal bias/control circuitry, a shielding layer, and circuit terminations to connect to a phase shifter device attached to the substrate slat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins
    Inventors: John C. Mather, Christina M. Conway, James B. West
  • Patent number: 6822617
    Abstract: A phased array antenna with an egg crate array structure is formed from metallic row slats that form a floor and ceiling of each array element. Column slats with slots engage the row slots to form the egg crate array structure. EMXT devices are located on the column slats such that a pair of EMXT devices form array element walls. The column slats are formed from U-shaped column strips configured such that a left side of the U-shape forms a left-hand side of each array element in a column and a right side of the U forms an opposing right-hand side. The column strips sides are mounted back-to-back with sides of adjacent column strips to form the column slats. Circuit devices for operation of the antenna are mounted on the U-shaped column strip and a connector is mounted at an apex of the U-shaped column slat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins
    Inventors: John C. Mather, Christina M. Conway, James B. West, Gary E Lehtola, Joel M. Wichgers
  • Patent number: 6200407
    Abstract: A multilayer circuit board or laminated circuit board for use in a motor controller is described. The multilayer circuit board is preferably utilized as a power substrate module. The power substrate module includes a mounting area provided in a recess, window or portion of the circuit board where the circuit board is only a single layer thick. The insulated mounting area is provided in a blind via in the multilayer circuit board. The single circuit board layer at the mounting area provides a heat conductive yet highly electrically insulated mounting area for receiving a heat sink. The heat sink can be mounted on a side opposite the electrical device. The heat sink may be standard heat sink or a copper coil directly soldered to the circuit board. The multilayer circuit board includes an enhanced conductive layer for receiving the surface mount device. The enhanced conductive layer preferably includes an insulative frame which holds copper slugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Rockwell Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher J. Wieloch, Thomas E. Babinski, John C. Mather
  • Patent number: 5835356
    Abstract: A power substrate module having a multilayer circuit board or laminated circuit board for use in a motor controller is described. The power substrate module includes pair of switching devices coupled across a direct current bus for converting direct current power from the bus to controlled alternating current power in response to control signals. The circuit board includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer and an insulative layer separating the conductive layers. The first and second conductive layers each include a conductive bus region, one of which is coupled to the first switching device and forms a high side of the direct current bus, and the other of which is coupled to the second switching device and forms the low side of the direct current bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Allen Bradley Company, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher J. Wieloch, Thomas E. Babinski, John C. Mather
  • Patent number: 5670749
    Abstract: A multilayer circuit board or laminated circuit board for use in a motor controller is described. The multilayer circuit board is preferably utilized as a power substrate module. The power substrate module includes a mounting area provided in a recess, window or portion of the circuit board where the circuit board is only a single layer thick. The insulated mounting area is provided in a blind via in the multilayer circuit board. The single circuit board layer at the mounting area provides a heat conductive yet highly electrically insulated mounting area for receiving a heat sink. The heat sink can be mounted on a side opposite the electrical device. The heat sink may be standard heat sink or a copper coil directly soldered to the circuit board. The multilayer circuit board includes an enhanced conductive layer for receiving the surface mount device. The enhanced conductive layer preferably includes an insulative frame which holds copper slugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Allen-Bradley Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Wieloch, Thomas E. Babinski, John C. Mather