Patents by Inventor Robert Bennett

Robert Bennett 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: 20200076088
    Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments, a surface wave launcher includes a launcher body configured to surround, at least in part, a transmission medium. A planar antenna includes a first antenna element, a second antenna element and an aperture, the first antenna element and the second antenna element having first portions on opposing sides of the launcher body and second portions on an aperture end of the launcher body, wherein the second portions are perpendicular to the launcher body and the transmission medium and wherein the planar antenna is configured to transmit and receive guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path. A reflector, configured to direct transmission and reception of the first guided electromagnetic wave to and from the aperture, is electrically coupled to the conductive launcher body on an end of the launcher body opposite to the aperture end of the conductive launcher body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Bennett, Robert S. Roman, Peter Wolniansky, Paul Shala Henry, Farhad Barzegar, Giovanni Vannucci, Irwin Gerszberg
  • Patent number: 10581275
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, supplying an alternating voltage waveform to a winding coupled to a magnetic core of an inductive power supply to regulate an alternating magnetic flux in the magnetic core. The alternating voltage waveform can be generated by selectively enabling one or more switches coupled to a storage device. The subject disclosure may further include configuring the one or more switches according to a configuration during a portion of a period of the alternating voltage waveform, and measuring a characteristic of an alternating current flowing in a conductor coupled to the magnetic core during the portion of the period of the alternating voltage waveform. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Giovanni Vannucci, Paul Shala Henry, Thomas M. Willis, III, Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Robert Bennett, Harold Rappaport, Donald J. Barnickel
  • Patent number: 10581486
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a waveguide system for determining an event associated with a mode of transmitting or receiving electromagnetic waves on a surface of a transmission medium, identifying according to the event an updated mode for transmitting or receiving adjusted electromagnetic waves on the surface of a transmission medium, and transmitting or receiving the adjusted electromagnetic waves based on the updated mode. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Shala Henry, Robert Bennett, Irwin Gerszberg, Farhad Barzegar, Donald J. Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Publication number: 20200067625
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a transmission device that includes at least one transceiver configured to modulate data to generate a plurality of first electromagnetic waves. A plurality of couplers are configured to couple at least a portion of the plurality of first electromagnetic waves to a transmission medium, wherein the plurality of couplers generate a plurality of mode division multiplexed second electromagnetic waves that propagate along the outer surface of the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Shala Henry, Robert Bennett, Irwin Gerszberg, Farhad Barzegar, Donald J. Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 10574294
    Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments, a communication network includes a surface wave transceiver, mounted on a coaxial cable of a broadband cable network, configured to bidirectionally communicate wireless network data via guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along a surface of the coaxial cable. A plurality of analog surface wave repeater pairs, and a plurality of digital surface wave regenerator pairs, are also mounted on the coaxial cable. A plurality of access points, supported by corresponding ones of a plurality of utility poles that also support the coaxial cable, is configured to wirelessly transmit the wireless network data to a plurality of client devices in accordance with a wireless network protocol and to wirelessly receive client data from the plurality of client devices in accordance with the wireless network protocol. A plurality of surface wave add/drop multiplexer pairs, is also mounted on the coaxial cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Thomas M. Willis, III, Paul Shala Henry, Robert Bennett, Donald J. Barnickel, Giovanni Vannucci
  • Patent number: 10574293
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example a housing defining an open volume therein where the housing includes a connection structure for connecting with a utility structure, a first wireless device contained in the housing where the first wireless device is coupled with a first antenna extending outside of the housing, and a second wireless device contained in the housing where the second wireless device is coupled with a second antenna extending outside of the housing. The first and second wireless devices can be coupled to each other. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Irwin Gerszberg, Robert Bennett, Donald J. Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III, Farhad Barzegar, Paul Shala Henry, Henry Kafka
  • Patent number: 10569863
    Abstract: A mechanical lock (10) for a vehicle assembly such as an aircraft landing gear assembly. The lock is either pivotally mounted and substantially mass balanced, or part of an aircraft landing gear assembly (30) and arranged to be mechanically operated from the ground by a mechanical actuation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Safran Landing Systems UK LTD
    Inventor: Ian Robert Bennett
  • Patent number: 10574349
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a transmission system having a coupling device, a bypass circuit, a memory and a processor. The coupling device can facilitate transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves that propagate along a surface of a transmission medium. The memory can store instructions, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform operations including restarting a timer to prevent the bypass circuit from disabling the transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves by the coupling device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Irwin Gerszberg, Farhad Barzegar, Paul Shala Henry, Robert Bennett, Donald J. Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 10566696
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, receiving an electrical signal, and generating on an outer surface of a transmission medium, according to the electrical signal, electromagnetic waves having a target wave mode. At least a portion of electric fields of the electromagnetic waves has a spatial alignment that reduces a propagation loss of the electromagnetic waves when the electric fields of the electromagnetic waves propagate through a substance disposed on the outer surface of the transmission medium in a direction of propagation of the electromagnetic waves. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Shala Henry, Thomas M. Willis, III, Robert Bennett, Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Donald J. Barnickel
  • Patent number: 10567911
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, detecting, by a first receiver of the first group of receivers, a first disturbance in one of a first group of electromagnetic waves and detecting, by a second receiver of a second group of receivers, a second disturbance in one of the second group of electromagnetic waves. A processing system can determine a position of a physical object in proximity to the transmission medium according to locations of the first and second receivers with respect to the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Bennett, Paul Shala Henry, Irwin Gerszberg, Farhad Barzegar, Thomas M. Willis, III, Donald J. Barnickel
  • Publication number: 20200052738
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, receiving a signal, and launching, according to the signal, an electromagnetic wave along a transmission medium, where the electromagnetic wave propagates along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, and where the electromagnetic wave has a phase delay profile that is dependent on an azimuth angle about an axis of the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Giovanni Vannucci, Peter Wolniansky, Paul Shala Henry, Robert Bennett, Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Donald J. Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 10560191
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a node device includes an interface configured to receive first signals. A plurality of coupling devices are configured to launch the first signals on a transmission medium as a plurality of first guided electromagnetic waves at corresponding plurality of non-optical carrier frequencies, wherein the plurality of first guided electromagnetic waves are bound to a physical structure of the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Shala Henry, Irwin Gerszberg, Robert Bennett, Farhad Barzegar, Donald J. Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 10560201
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system for generating electromagnetic waves having a fundamental wave mode, and directing the electromagnetic waves to an interface of a transmission medium for guiding propagation of the electromagnetic waves. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Shala Henry, Robert Bennett, Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Donald J. Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 10560153
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a transmission device that includes a first coupler that guides a first electromagnetic wave to a first junction to form a second electromagnetic wave that is guided to propagate along the outer surface of the transmission medium via one or more guided-wave modes. These mode(s) have an envelope that varies as a function of angular deviation and/or longitudinal displacement. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Bruce Stuckman, Paul Shala Henry, Robert Bennett, Irwin Gerszberg, Farhad Barzegar, Donald J Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 10560144
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system for receiving first electromagnetic waves via a transmission medium without utilizing an electrical return path, and inducing second electromagnetic waves at an interface of the transmission medium without the electrical return path. In an embodiment, the first and second electromagnetic waves have a non-optical frequency range. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Bennett, Paul Shala Henry, Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Donald J. Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 10560943
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a repeater device having a first coupler to extract downstream channel signals from first guided electromagnetic waves bound to a transmission medium of a guided wave communication system. An amplifier amplifies the downstream channel signals to generate amplified downstream channel signals. A channel selection filter selects one or more of the amplified downstream channel signals to wirelessly transmit to the at least one client device via an antenna. A second coupler guides the amplified downstream channel signals to the transmission medium of the guided wave communication system to propagate as second guided electromagnetic waves. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Bennett, Paul Shala Henry, Irwin Gerszberg, Farhad Barzegar, Donald J. Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 10560145
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a waveguide system detecting a degradation of an electromagnetic wave propagating along a transmission medium. The waveguide system launches a modified electromagnetic wave including a hybrid wave mode according to the degradation that is detected. The modified electromagnetic wave propagates along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Shala Henry, Robert Bennett, Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Donald J. Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 10560148
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a transmission medium having a core. A conductive layer forms an uninsulated outer surface of the transmission medium. The conductive layer is configured to impede accumulation of water to support propagation of first electromagnetic waves guided by the uninsulated outer surface. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Farhad Barzegar, Donald J Barnickel, Robert Bennett, Irwin Gerszberg, Paul Shala Henry, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 10554258
    Abstract: In accordance with the present disclosure, a communication network includes a surface wave transceiver, mounted on a medium voltage power line, configured to bidirectionally communicate wireless network data via guided electromagnetic waves that propagate along a surface of the medium voltage power line. A plurality of analog surface wave repeater pairs, a plurality of digital surface wave regenerator pairs, are mounted on the medium voltage power line. A plurality of access points, supported by corresponding ones of a plurality of utility poles that also support the medium voltage power line, is configured to wirelessly transmit the wireless network data to a plurality of client devices in accordance with a wireless network protocol and to wirelessly receive client data from the plurality of client devices in accordance with the wireless network protocol. A plurality of surface wave add/drop multiplexer pairs, is also mounted on the medium voltage power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Thomas M. Willis, III, Paul Shala Henry, Robert Bennett, Donald J. Barnickel, Giovanni Vannucci
  • Patent number: 10554259
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a coupling device includes a circuit that receives a signal. At least one passive electrical circuit element generates an electromagnetic field in response to the signal. A portion of the electromagnetic field is guided by a surface of a transmission medium to propagate as a guided electromagnetic wave longitudinally along the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Shala Henry, Robert Bennett, Irwin Gerszberg, Farhad Barzegar, Donald J. Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III