Patents by Inventor Joseph A. Zennamo, Jr.

Joseph A. Zennamo, Jr. 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).

  • Publication number: 20080303610
    Abstract: A tuned filter having enhanced high frequency response includes a circuit board having first and second opposed major surfaces and first and second opposing sides. The opposed major surfaces are substantially parallel to a single plane and are bisected by a longitudinal axis. The first and second opposing sides are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. An input terminal and an output terminal are connected to the single circuit board. A filter section is associated with the first major surface. At least two ground paths are associated with the second major surface. One of the ground paths extends along a portion of the first side, and another one of the ground paths extends along a portion of the second opposing side. An isolation region separates the at least two ground paths, and extends along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: Eagle Comtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Zennamo, JR., Bradford R. Spoor, William Louise, Gary J. Clark
  • Patent number: 7332984
    Abstract: An electronic signal filter is provided, including a first filter housing having a filter cavity, a circuit board having a slot positioned within the filter cavity, and a ground clip. The ground clip includes a slot-retaining portion positioned within and in contact with an inner edge of the circuit board slot, at least one grounding arm engaged in solderless grounding contact with an inner surface of the filter cavity, and at least one grounding leg. Upon assembly, an end portion of a distal end of the slot-retaining portion intimately contacts a portion of the grounding leg interposed between the filter housing and the circuit board to achieve secure ground contact between the circuit board and the filter housing in a solderless manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Eagle Comtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo L. Panetta, Joseph N. Maguire, Joseph A. Zennamo, Jr., Kenneth J. Sojda
  • Patent number: 6989994
    Abstract: An electronic signal filter includes a cylindrical housing and a circuit board positioned therein having a plurality of peripheral edges and at least two circular through-holes formed therein. Each through-hole is inwardly spaced from one of the peripheral edges of the circuit board, defining a first distance between a respective one of the through-holes and a respective peripheral edge of the circuit board and defining a second distance between the through-holes. The filter also includes a ground strap attached to and spaced a distance above the circuit board. The ground strap includes a first portion, an integral second portion residing in and extending through each through-hole, and an integral third portion that contacts a portion of the second surface of the circuit board. At least a portion of the first portion of the ground strap contacts the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical housing to ground the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Eagle Comtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph N. Maguire, Joseph A. Zennamo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6949989
    Abstract: An electronic signal filter is provided, including a first filter housing member, a second filter housing member, and a circuit board positioned within a filter cavity. The circuit board includes a slot. A ground clip is also provided, including a slot-retaining portion positioned within the circuit board slot, at least one grounding arm in solderless grounding contact with at least an inner surface of the second filter housing member, and at least one grounding leg. Upon assembly, at least a portion of the grounding leg is positioned in an interface between the first and the second filter housing members to achieve a secure ground contact between the circuit board, the first filter housing member, and the second filter housing member in a solderless manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Eagle Comtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlo L. Panetta, Joseph N. Maguire, Joseph A. Zennamo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6933806
    Abstract: An electrical signal filter is provided, including a first filter housing member and an abutted second filter housing member that define an internal filter cavity. A circuit board positioned within the filter cavity has at least one plated hole passing from a first surface thereof to an opposed second surface thereof. At least one ground post is also provided, extending away from the inner surface of the first filter housing member and having at least a first portion with an outer dimension that is greater than an inner diameter of the at least one plated ground hole. The circuit board is positioned within the filter cavity such that at least a portion of the ground post extends into the plated hole and engages the surface of the plating to achieve secure ground contact between the circuit board and the first filter housing member in a solderless manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Eagle Comtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph N. Maguire, Joseph A. Zennamo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6842086
    Abstract: A tunable top-pole passive notch circuit for attenuating select frequencies of a multi-frequency CATV signal. The circuit includes an input for receiving a multi-frequency CATV signal, and an output for transmitting a portion of the multi-frequency CATV signal, A filter network for attenuating a band of frequencies from the multi-frequency signal is distributed been the input and the output. The filter network includes three parallel branches A, B, and C, each being arranged in series connection between the input and the output. Branch A includes an inductor. Branch B includes an adjustable parallel tank circuit Branch C includes a second adjustable electrical resonator. The filter has frequency response characteristics that are more stable than prior art two-pole notch filters, and similar to the response characteristics of more complex three pole or four pole notch filters. The two-pole tunable notch filter circuit provides a passband response to 1 GHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Eagle Comtronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph A. Zennamo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6842101
    Abstract: A tunable inductor is provided, including an elongate mandrel having a central axis, and having a helical groove of predetermined pitch formed on an outer surface thereof. A flange having at least one guide member is also included proximate a first end of the mandrel and positioned substantially perpendicular the central axis thereof. A wire is also included, positioned within the helical groove and wound about the central axis of the mandrel, as well as a turn member positioned a distance from the flange in the axial direction and protruding from the outer surface of the mandrel. The turn member is radially offset from one guide member by an amount substantially equal to a diameter of the wire, and redirects the wire in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis of the mandrel from the helical groove back toward the first end of the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Eagle Comtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph N. Maguire, Joseph A. Zennamo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6791436
    Abstract: A modular electronic signal filter assembly is provided, including a plurality of modular filter housing members joined to one another in a longitudinal direction via a plurality of coupling members. The outer peripheral surfaces of the filter housing members are provided with mechanical engagement members that engage and mate with a corresponding mechanical engagement member provided on the inner peripheral surface of the coupling members to secure the filter housing members to one another without solder. The coupling members also include an electrical connection member for electrically connecting the filter housing members in a solderless manner. The modularity of the filter housing assembly of the present invention provides heretofore unrealizable flexibility and applicability of a single filter housing unit for any filter application. Moreover, the present invention enables the assembly of modular filter housing and coupling member units without the need for solder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Eagle Comtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Zennamo, Jr., Joseph N. Maguire
  • Patent number: 6759927
    Abstract: An electronic signal filter is provided, including a cylindrical housing and a single circuit board having a first filter section and a second filter section being positioned within the interior compartment of the cylindrical housing such that it effectively divides the interior compartment of the cylindrical housing into a first compartment and a second compartment. A first shield member is also provided, extending from the first surface of the circuit board, and a second shield member radially opposing the first shield member and extending from the second surface of the single circuit board is also provided. The second shield member is a discrete component from, and electrically connected to, the first shield member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Eagle Comtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph N. Maguire, Joseph A. Zennamo, Jr., Gary Clark, Michael Lamb
  • Patent number: 6674342
    Abstract: An electrical signal filter including elongate upper and lower filter housing members abutted along a longitudinal seam between the housing members. The housing members hold at least one circuit board. A ground post is formed integrally with the lower filter housing member and is secured to the circuit board without solder. First and second mechanical engagement members are used to rotationally secure end caps to the housing members without solder. As a result, assembly of the filter components can be accomplished without the need for expensive soldering operations, thus reducing the overall manufacturing cost of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Eagle Comtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Zennamo, Jr., Joseph N. Maguire
  • Patent number: 6636129
    Abstract: A reduced length filter including a housing having a female connector end and an opposed male connector end, and a circuit board positioned within the housing. The circuit board has first and second filter sections positioned on upper and lower surfaces thereof, and a ground plane positioned therebetween. The first filter section is in electrical communication with the second filter section. A first isolation shield is provided in electrical communication with the ground plane, and extends from the upper surface of the circuit board in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto and proximate one of first and second ends of the circuit board, and a second isolation shield is provided in electrical communication with the ground plane, and extends from the lower surface of the circuit board in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto and proximate the other one of the first and second ends of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Eagle Comtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Zennamo, Jr., Joseph N. Maguire
  • Patent number: 6560087
    Abstract: An electronic signal filter is provided that includes a metal housing which has been adapted to be electrically grounded, and a circuit board positioned within the housing. The circuit board includes a first area and a second area, and has an electrically conductive trace formed on a portion of a top surface of the circuit board that provides electrical communication between the first and second areas of the circuit board. The filter further includes a metal shield connected to the housing, located between the first and second areas of the circuit board. The metal shield extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the circuit board and has a slot formed therein for receiving the portion of the circuit board on which the electrically conductive trace is formed. The slot is dimensioned to provide a space between the metal shield and the conductive trace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Eagle Comtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Zennamo, Jr., Joseph N. Maguire, William Louise, Dale W. Marland
  • Patent number: 6429754
    Abstract: An electrical signal filter including elongate upper and lower filter housing members abutted along a longitudinal seam between the housing members. The housing members hold at least one circuit board having first and second filter sections electrically connected to one another. An isolation shield is formed integrally with at least the lower filter housing member and extends inwardly and upwardly from the inner surface of the lower filter housing member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the housing member. The circuit board has at least one slot for receiving at least a portion of the isolation shield, and is positioned within the filter housing members such that the isolation shield provides magnetic isolation between the first and second filter sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Eagle Comtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Zennamo, Jr., Joseph N. Maguire
  • Patent number: 6273766
    Abstract: An electronic device of the type including a threaded female connector adapted to mate with a cable connector including a housing, a female connector extending from the housing, and a circuit board positioned within said housing and having a first presoldered conductor wire extending therefrom toward the female connector. The electronic device further includes a collet assembly positioned within a bore of the threaded female connector, wherein the collet assembly comprises a generally cylindrical insulating body having a first end and an opposed second end, an electrically conductive collet contact passing through the insulating body and having a first end proximate the first end of the insulating body and a second end proximate the second end of the insulating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Eagle Comtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Zennamo, Jr., Joseph N. Maguire
  • Patent number: 5770983
    Abstract: The invention provides a tuned filter of reduced overall length in which two coils (air core inductors) are placed side by side, in mounting locations that are transverse with respect to the longitudinal direction of the filter, instead of in-line or diagonal to each other. The transverse mounting of the coils, depending on the number of poles in the filter, results in a reduction in the overall length of the filter to at least 25% to greater than 50% than can be realized in comparison to conventional in-line filter designs. In addition, the transverse mounting configuration results in an improvement in the electrical performance for both the in band and high frequency responses of the tuned notch filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Eagle Comtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Zennamo, Jr., Joseph N. Maguire
  • Patent number: 5662494
    Abstract: A filter structure including a collet assembly of inexpensive design that provides a reliable seal and can be easily implemented during the manufacturing process is disclosed. The collet assembly includes a front cap, a rear insert body, a collet contact extension passing through the rear insert body, and a seal located between the front cap and the rear insert body. The collet assembly is inserted into a connector of a filter housing. The seal provides a seal between the interface of the filter housing and the collet assembly. The collet assembly also preferably includes a well in the rear insert body that is filled with a sealant material that seals the interface between the rear insert body and the collet contact extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Eagle Comtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Zennamo, Jr., Joseph N. Maguire
  • Patent number: 5202656
    Abstract: A technique is disclosed to independently tune different sections of a filter by momentarily frequency shifting a first tuned section, preferably by shorting certain nodes in the first tuned section, such that response of a second section can be determined and independently tuned. The first section is returned to normal operation after the second section is tuned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Eagle Comtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary J. Clark, Joseph A. Zennamo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5168251
    Abstract: A tuned filter having an improved Q is disclosed in which two or more inductors are placed in parallel to increase the net Q relative to a single inductor of the same net inductance and/or two or more capacitors are placed in series to increase the net Q relative to a single capacitor of the same net capacitance to improve the Q of a tuned filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Eagle Comtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Zennamo, Jr., Gary J. Clark
  • Patent number: 5148133
    Abstract: A tuned filter having an improved Q is disclosed in which two or more inductors are placed in parallel to increase the net Q relative to a single inductor of the same net inductance and/or two or more capacitors are placed in series to increase the net Q relative to a single capacitor of the same net capacitance to improve the Q of a tuned filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: Eagle Comtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Zennamo, Jr., Gary J. Clark