Patents by Inventor Robert Wayne Ridgeway
Robert Wayne Ridgeway 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).
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Patent number: 9867291Abstract: A first printed circuit board (PCB) assembly can include an embedded electrical connector configured to be mechanically coupled to a corresponding tab-shaped portion of a second PCB assembly, such as to permit insertion of the tab-shaped portion of the second PCB assembly into the embedded electrical connector when the second PCB assembly is aligned in a specified orientation. In an example, the second PCB assembly can include an approximately planar conductive antenna.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2012Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Digi Internationl Inc.Inventors: John Clark Roberts, Robert Wayne Ridgeway
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Patent number: 9831552Abstract: An approximately planar antenna assembly can be formed or used, such as comprising a printed circuit board assembly. In an example, the approximately planar antenna assembly can include a dielectric material and a conductive loop comprising an outer loop portion having a first conic section an inner loop portion having a second conic section located within a footprint of the first conic section. The planar antenna assembly can be configured to support wireless transfer of information in at least two ranges of operating frequencies, such as two or more respective ranges used for cellular communications.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2012Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: Digi International Inc.Inventor: Robert Wayne Ridgeway
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Patent number: 9450299Abstract: A planar antenna, such as included as a portion of a printed circuit board assembly, can include a first conductive layer comprising a feed conductor and a patch. The planar antenna can include a second conductive layer comprising a reference conductor, a first arm defined by a first arm length and a first arm width, and a second arm located parallel to the first arm and defined by a second arm length and a second arm width. The first and second arms can be respectively coupled to the reference conductor, and at least a portion of the first arm and at least a portion of the second arm can overlap with a footprint of the patch projected vertically from a plane of the first conductive layer onto a plane of the second conductive layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2013Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: Digi International Inc.Inventor: Robert Wayne Ridgeway
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Patent number: 8970443Abstract: A planar antenna, such as included as a portion of printed circuit board assembly, can include a balanced configuration comprising a first conductive layer. The first conductive layer can include a first arm having a footprint extending in a first direction and a second arm having a footprint extending in a direction opposite the first direction. The second arm can be sized and shaped to be similar to the footprint of the first arm.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Digi International Inc.Inventor: Robert Wayne Ridgeway
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Publication number: 20140218252Abstract: A planar antenna, such as included as a portion of printed circuit board assembly, can include a balanced configuration comprising a first conductive layer. The first conductive layer can include a first arm having a footprint extending in a first direction and a second arm having a footprint extending in a direction opposite the first direction. The second arm can be sized and shaped to be similar to the footprint of the first arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2013Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: Digi International Inc.Inventor: Robert Wayne Ridgeway
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Publication number: 20140184448Abstract: A planar antenna, such as included as a portion of a printed circuit board assembly, can include a first conductive layer comprising a feed conductor and a patch. The planar antenna can include a second conductive layer comprising a reference conductor, a first arm defined by a first arm length and a first arm width, and a second arm located parallel to the first arm and defined by a second arm length and a second arm width. The first and second arms can be respectively coupled to the reference conductor, and at least a portion of the first arm and at least a portion of the second arm can overlap with a footprint of the patch projected vertically from a plane of the first conductive layer onto a plane of the second conductive layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2013Publication date: July 3, 2014Inventor: Robert Wayne Ridgeway
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Patent number: 8704714Abstract: An apparatus includes a dielectric sheet, and an antenna structure. The antenna structure comprises a first conductive portion located on an exterior surface of the dielectric sheet and a second conductive portion buried in the dielectric sheet and configured for coupling to a return portion of the wireless communication circuit. The second conductive portion includes a plane area adjacent to the first conductive portion in a region proximal to the feed portion and separated from the first conductive portion by a portion of the dielectric sheet, a curved transition portion, the transition portion including a lateral width that tapers along the length of the second conductive portion, and a distal portion comprising two parallel conductive strips, the distal portion electrically coupled to the plane area via the curved transition portion, wherein the parallel conductive strips are thinner in lateral width than the plane area.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2011Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Digi International Inc.Inventor: Robert Wayne Ridgeway
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Patent number: 8659483Abstract: A planar antenna, such as included as a portion of a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, can include a dielectric layer and a first conductive layer mechanically coupled to the dielectric layer. In an example, the first conductive layer can include a first arm having a shape defined by a first outer border comprising a first conic section and a first inner border comprising a second conic section, a feed line coupled to the first arm at a feedpoint location at or near a central axis of the first arm, and a second arm offset from the first arm along the central axis of the first arm, the second arm defined by a shape at least in part mirroring a shape of the first arm.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2012Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Digi International Inc.Inventor: Robert Wayne Ridgeway
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Patent number: 8599093Abstract: A planar antenna, such as included as a portion of a wireless communication assembly, can include a dielectric portion, a first conductive portion, extending along a surface of the dielectric portion, and a second conductive portion, parallel to the first conductive portion, extending along the surface of the dielectric portion, the second conductive portion laterally offset from the first portion to provide a specified lateral separation between the first and second conductive portions. The first and second conductive portions can be configured to provide respective resonant operating frequencies ranges offset from each other, and the first and second conductive portions can be configured to follow a commonly-shared path, including at least one bend, along the surface of the dielectric portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2010Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Digi International Inc.Inventor: Robert Wayne Ridgeway
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Patent number: 8576125Abstract: An approximately planar wideband antenna can include a first conductive portion coupled to a dielectric portion and mechanically supported by the dielectric portion, the first conductive portion including at least one edge corresponding to a planar conic section, such as including one or more of an elliptic, a parabolic, or a hyperbolic shape. Such an antenna can be electrically coupled to a matching circuit, the matching circuit configured provide a specified input impedance corresponding to a specified range of frequencies. Such a range of frequencies can span at least an octave, or more.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2010Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Digi International Inc.Inventor: Robert Wayne Ridgeway
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Publication number: 20130222188Abstract: A planar antenna, such as included as a portion of a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, can include a dielectric layer and a first conductive layer mechanically coupled to the dielectric layer. In an example, the first conductive layer can include a first arm having a shape defined by a first outer border comprising a first conic section and a first inner border comprising a second conic section, a feed line coupled to the first arm at a feedpoint location at or near a central axis of the first arm, and a second arm offset from the first arm along the central axis of the first arm, the second arm defined by a shape at least in part mirroring a shape of the first arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 29, 2012Publication date: August 29, 2013Inventor: Robert Wayne Ridgeway
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Publication number: 20130135836Abstract: A first printed circuit board (PCB) assembly can include an embedded electrical connector configured to be mechanically coupled to a corresponding tab-shaped portion of a second PCB assembly, such as to permit insertion of the tab-shaped portion of the second PCB assembly into the embedded electrical connector when the second PCB assembly is aligned in a specified orientation. In an example, the second PCB assembly can include an approximately planar conductive antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2012Publication date: May 30, 2013Inventors: John Clark Roberts, Robert Wayne Ridgeway
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Publication number: 20130135173Abstract: An approximately planar antenna assembly can be formed or used, such as comprising a printed circuit board assembly. In an example, the approximately planar antenna assembly can include a dielectric material and a conductive loop comprising an outer loop portion having a first conic section an inner loop portion having a second conic section located within a footprint of the first conic section. The planar antenna assembly can be configured to support wireless transfer of information in at least two ranges of operating frequencies, such as two or more respective ranges used for cellular communications.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2012Publication date: May 30, 2013Inventor: Robert Wayne Ridgeway
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Patent number: 8433269Abstract: An apparatus, such as an antenna assembly, can include a flexible dielectric sheet, a first flexible conductor coupled to the flexible dielectric sheet, a second flexible conductor coupled to the flexible dielectric sheet, a matching section electrically coupled to the first and second conductors, and a hollow dielectric housing having a curved interior surface. The first and second flexible conductors can be sized, shaped, and laterally spaced a specified distance from each other to provide a specified input impedance corresponding to a specified range of operating frequencies for use in wireless information transfer between the antenna assembly and a satellite. The first and second flexible conductors can be located along the curved interior surface of the hollow dielectric housing following an arc-shaped path along the curved interior surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2010Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Digi International Inc.Inventors: Robert Wayne Ridgeway, Paul A. Dahl
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Publication number: 20120306700Abstract: An apparatus includes a dielectric sheet, and an antenna structure. The antenna structure comprises a first conductive portion located on an exterior surface of the dielectric sheet and a second conductive portion buried in the dielectric sheet and configured for coupling to a return portion of the wireless communication circuit. The second conductive portion includes a plane area adjacent to the first conductive portion in a region proximal to the feed portion and separated from the first conductive portion by a portion of the dielectric sheet, a curved transition portion, the transition portion including a lateral width that tapers along the length of the second conductive portion, and a distal portion comprising two parallel conductive strips, the distal portion electrically coupled to the plane area via the curved transition portion, wherein the parallel conductive strips are thinner in lateral width than the plane area.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2011Publication date: December 6, 2012Inventor: Robert Wayne Ridgeway
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Publication number: 20110156981Abstract: An approximately planar wideband antenna can include a first conductive portion coupled to a dielectric portion and mechanically supported by the dielectric portion, the first conductive portion including at least one edge corresponding to a planar conic section, such as including one or more of an elliptic, a parabolic, or a hyperbolic shape. Such an antenna can be electrically coupled to a matching circuit, the matching circuit configured provide a specified input impedance corresponding to a specified range of frequencies. Such a range of frequencies can span at least an octave, or more.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2010Publication date: June 30, 2011Applicant: Digi International Inc.Inventor: Robert Wayne Ridgeway
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Publication number: 20110122043Abstract: A planar antenna, such as included as a portion of a wireless communication assembly, can include a dielectric portion, a first conductive portion, extending along a surface of the dielectric portion, and a second conductive portion, parallel to the first conductive portion, extending along the surface of the dielectric portion, the second conductive portion laterally offset from the first portion to provide a specified lateral separation between the first and second conductive portions. The first and second conductive portions can be configured to provide respective resonant operating frequencies ranges offset from each other, and the first and second conductive portions can be configured to follow a commonly-shared path, including at least one bend, along the surface of the dielectric portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2010Publication date: May 26, 2011Applicant: Digi International Inc.Inventor: Robert Wayne Ridgeway
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Publication number: 20110105062Abstract: An apparatus, such as an antenna assembly, can include a flexible dielectric sheet, a first flexible conductor coupled to the flexible dielectric sheet, a second flexible conductor coupled to the flexible dielectric sheet, a matching section electrically coupled to the first and second conductors, and a hollow dielectric housing having a curved interior surface. The first and second flexible conductors can be sized, shaped, and laterally spaced a specified distance from each other to provide a specified input impedance corresponding to a specified range of operating frequencies for use in wireless information transfer between the antenna assembly and a satellite. The first and second flexible conductors can be located along the curved interior surface of the hollow dielectric housing following an arc-shaped path along the curved interior surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2010Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: Digi International Inc.Inventors: Robert Wayne Ridgeway, Paul A. Dahl