Patents by Inventor Perry A. Macdonald

Perry A. Macdonald 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: 8058935
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a structure, an array of oscillator units, a plurality of waveguides in the structure, and a synchronizing cavity located within the structure. The array of oscillator units has a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns associated with the structure. Oscillator units in a row within the array of oscillator units are directly coupled to each other. The plurality of waveguides is configured to couple the array of oscillator units to the synchronizing cavity. The synchronizing cavity is configured to cause the array of oscillator units to operate at substantially a common frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jonathan James Lynch, Perry A. Macdonald
  • Publication number: 20110193659
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a structure, an array of oscillator units, a plurality of waveguides in the structure, and a synchronizing cavity located within the structure. The array of oscillator units has a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns associated with the structure. Oscillator units in a row within the array of oscillator units are directly coupled to each other. The plurality of waveguides is configured to couple the array of oscillator units to the synchronizing cavity. The synchronizing cavity is configured to cause the array of oscillator units to operate at substantially a common frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jonathan James Lynch, Perry A. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 5835128
    Abstract: A system for redistributing a television signal to a multiplicity of receiver units within a multiple dwelling unit (MDU) includes a main receiving antenna which receives a broadband television signal and a translation device that translates the broadband television signal into a different carrier frequency band. One or more broadcasting antennas, located at advantageous sites within the MDU, transmit the translated television signal along one or more walls of the MDU to be received by antennas associated with one or more individual receiver units. Each receiver unit demodulates the received television signal and provides a user-specified channel to a television set for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Perry A. Macdonald, Lawrence Larson, Jeffrey B. Shealy, Michael Case, Mehran Matloubian
  • Patent number: 5757074
    Abstract: A microwave/millimeter wave circuit structure supports discrete circuit elements by flip-chip mounting to an interconnection network on a low cost non-ceramic and non-semiconductor dielectric substrate, preferably Duroid. The necessary precise alignment of the circuit elements with contact pads on the substrate network required for the high operating frequencies is facilitated by oxidizing the interconnection network, but providing the contact pads from a non-oxidizable material to establish a preferential solder bump wetting for the pads. Alternately, the contact bumps on the flip-chips can be precisely positioned through corresponding openings in a passivation layer over the interconnection network. For thin circuit substrates that are too soft for successful flip-chip mounting, stiffening substrates are laminated to the circuit substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Mehran Matloubian, Perry A. Macdonald, David B. Rensch, Lawrence E. Larson
  • Patent number: 5695155
    Abstract: A sensor is provided for detecting the presence of dielectric media, e.g., ice. The sensor includes a plurality of microstrip resonators which are positioned for electromagnetic coupling with a microstrip transmission line. The resonators produce amplitude minima in a radio-frequency signal that is carried over the transmission line. The resonance of the resonators changes in response to the addition of a dielectric coating. Each resonator can be configured with a different resonant frequency which serves as a signature that identifies the respective resonator's position. The sensor has a thin aerodynamic profile, can conform to nonplanar surfaces and its installation requires no intrusion into an aircraft skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Perry A. Macdonald, Jennifer M. Butler
  • Patent number: 5633613
    Abstract: The microwave impedance across an aperture in a conductive shield member of a transmission structure is varied as a microwave signal transits the aperture. The impedance is changed by positioning a variable impedance device across the aperture. A slit divides the shield member into two portions to facilitate the application of a modulating signal (56) across the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics
    Inventor: Perry A. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 5629241
    Abstract: A microwave/millimeter wave circuit structure supports discrete circuit elements by flip-chip mounting to an interconnection network on a low cost non-ceramic and non-semiconductor dielectric substrate, preferably Duroid. The necessary precise alignment of the circuit elements with contact pads on the substrate network required for the high operating frequencies is facilitated by oxidizing the interconnection network, but providing the contact pads from a non-oxidizable material to establish a preferential solder bump wetting for the pads. Alternately, the contact bumps on the flip-chips can be precisely positioned through corresponding openings in a passivation layer over the interconnection network. For thin circuit substrates that are too soft for successful flip-chip mounting, stiffening substrates are laminated to the circuit substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Mehran Matloubian, Perry A. Macdonald, David B. Rensch, Lawrence E. Larson
  • Patent number: 5608413
    Abstract: A slot radiator and a patch radiator are formed in a single antenna which is connected to a handheld, wireless telephone. The antenna can be pivoted to operational positions and excited to radiate linearly-polarized signals or circularly-polarized signals whose radiation patterns are respectively directed azimuthally and elevationally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Perry A. Macdonald
  • Patent number: 5581217
    Abstract: Shielding structures are provided for microwave circuits with substrate members and shield members which are formed from conventional substrates. The shield members are shaped and joined to the substrate members to form conductive compartments that substantially surround the microwave circuits and the compartments are closed with a conductive cover. The substrate members and shield members form parallel-plate waveguides which communicate between the compartments. The loss of these waveguides is increased with air-dielectric posts to obtain greater isolation between compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventor: Perry A. Macdonald
  • Patent number: 5528209
    Abstract: A monolithic microwave integrated circuit is formed by positioning a distributed, transmission-line network over a microwave-device structure. The ground plane of the transmission-line network adjoins an interconnect system of the microwave-device structure and signal lines of the transmission-line network are adapted to communicate with the microwave-device structure through orifices of the ground plane. The invention facilitates the use of low-cost silicon-based transistors in monolithic microwave integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Perry A. Macdonald, Lawrence E. Larson, Michael G. Case, Mehran Matloubian, Mary Y. Chen, David B. Rensch