Patents by Inventor Richard W. Meadors

Richard W. Meadors 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: 7161457
    Abstract: A common mode choke may include a generally rectangular body including bottom and top ferrite portions, at least one pair of laterally spaced apart interior conductors between the bottom and top ferrite portions and extending between the first and second ends of the generally rectangular body, and a dielectric material layer between the bottom and top ferrite portions. Moreover, the dielectric material layer may also extend laterally between the at least one pair of interior conductors and may also at least partially encapsulate the at least one pair of interior conductors at portions thereof opposite at least one of the bottom and top ferrite portions. The choke may also include end conductors on the opposite ends of the generally rectangular body and connected to the interior conductors. A compact footprint is provided for the common mode choke while maintaining a high level of electrical performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Steward, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Meadors, Henry G. Paris, James A. Fitzsimmons
  • Patent number: 6911889
    Abstract: A filter device may include a plurality of ferrite filters laminated together in vertically stacked relation, where each ferrite filter may include a pair of ferrite layers laminated together in vertically stacked relation and a lateral conductor extending therebetween. The filter device may also include at least one vertical conductor connecting the lateral conductors together in series. Moreover, at least some of the ferrite filters may have different operating characteristics. In particular, the different operating characteristics may be different impedance versus frequency characteristics to thereby broaden an attenuation frequency band of the filter device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Steward, Inc.
    Inventors: Lesley Paige Bodley, Marjorie E. Smith, Richard W. Meadors, Henry G. Paris, James A. Smith
  • Publication number: 20040000967
    Abstract: A filter device may include a plurality of ferrite filters laminated together in vertically stacked relation, where each ferrite filter may include a pair of ferrite layers laminated together in vertically stacked relation and a lateral conductor extending therebetween. The filter device may also include at least one vertical conductor connecting the lateral conductors together in series. Moreover, at least some of the ferrite filters may have different operating characteristics. In particular, the different operating characteristics may be different impedance versus frequency characteristics to thereby broaden an attenuation frequency band of the filter device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Applicant: Steward, Inc.
    Inventors: Lesley Paige Bodley, James A. Smith, Marjorie E. Smith, Richard W. Meadors, Henry G. Paris
  • Publication number: 20010025410
    Abstract: The method may include joining together a bottom layer, a top layer and at least one intermediate layer therebetween, with the bottom and top layers including a non-magnetic material, and the at least one intermediate layer including a non-magnetic material. The method may also include dividing the joined together layers into a plurality of closed-shape cores each having at least one magnetic flux gap therein provided by the non-magnetic material. The closed-shape cores may be toroidal, for example. The method may also include winding at least one conductor on each closed-shape core to form the inductors. In some embodiments the joined together layers may be divided into a plurality of strips. The method may also include punching each strip to form a plurality of closed shape cores, with toroidal core having at least one magnetic flux gap therein provided by the non-magnetic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Applicant: Steward, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry G. Paris, Richard W. Meadors, Dennis M. Daniels
  • Publication number: 20010026205
    Abstract: A toroidal inductor includes a toroidal core including magnetic material and having at least one magnetic flux gap therein, and at least one conductor wound on the core. The magnetic flux gap may include a non-magnetic material having a substantially uniform thickness between respective adjacent magnetic material portions. In some embodiments, the non-magnetic material may have a shrinkage factor during sintering substantially equal to a shrinkage factor of the magnetic material. For example, the magnetic material may include ferrite, and the non-magnetic material may include alumina or zinc ferrite. In some embodiments, the flux gap may be provided by an air gap. The substantially uniform thickness of the at least one magnetic flux gap is readily and accurately produced in accordance with associated manufacturing aspects of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Applicant: STEWARD, INC.
    Inventors: Henry G. Paris, Richard W. Meadors, Dennis M. Daniels
  • Patent number: 6288626
    Abstract: A common mode choke includes a plurality of joined together ferrite layers defining a generally rectangular body and comprising a bottom ferrite layer, a top ferrite layer, and at least one intermediate ferrite layer. The at least one intermediate ferrite layer preferably has an opening therein defining a cavity in the generally rectangular body extending from adjacent a first end thereof to adjacent a second end thereof. The choke also preferably includes at least one first pair of interior conductors extending on the at least one intermediate ferrite layer on opposite sides of the cavity. The choke may also include first and second pairs of end conductors on the first and second ends of the body that are connected to the interior conductors. The interior conductors may also have respective side edge portions exposed to the cavity in the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Steward, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig P. Cameron, Michael A. Bradley, Richard W. Meadors
  • Patent number: 6249205
    Abstract: An inductor, such as for electromagnetic interference (EMI) suppression, comprises a plurality of ferrite layers arranged in stacked relation and joined together to define a ferrite body, and a first electrical conductor extending between a first pair of adjacent ferrite layers. The inductor includes first respective opposing portions of the first pair of adjacent ferrite layers being sintered together, and second respective opposing portions of the first pair of adjacent ferrite layers being in spaced apart relation to define at least one first gap therebetween. Moreover, the device includes a sintering blocking material associated with the at least one first gap. The sintering blocking material causes the gap to form in the ferrite body to selectively block the magnetic path to thereby retain a higher inductance than would otherwise be possible at relatively high currents. In a surface mounting embodiment of the inductor, the ferrite body has a generally rectangular shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Steward, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Meadors, James A. Smith, Craig P. Cameron, Phuong Le