Patents by Inventor Sean Russell Mercer
Sean Russell Mercer 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: 11677158Abstract: An integrated antenna array device includes a circuitry component layer having bounds defining a circuitry zone. The circuitry component layer includes beam steering circuitry. The integrated antenna array device also includes an antenna component layer affixed to the circuitry component layer in the circuitry zone. The antenna component layer includes a radiating region and an interconnecting region. The radiating region is outside the circuitry zone and includes one or more antenna arrays having radiating antenna elements. The interconnecting region is substantially defined within the circuitry zone and interconnects the beam steering circuitry with the one or more radiating elements.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2021Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Sean Russell Mercer, Nahal Niakan
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Patent number: 11483726Abstract: The technology disclosed herein includes an apparatus including an antenna, a plurality of wireless endpoints using the antenna, and a co-ex manager configured to measure an activity level of a wireless endpoint over a predetermined time period, compare the measured activity level of the wireless endpoint with a threshold activity level, and in response to the comparison, change an antenna operating mode of the wireless endpoint.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2020Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Charbel Khawand, Sean Russell Mercer, Guy Bernard Major
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Patent number: 11336006Abstract: A communication device includes two antennas operational within a first frequency range in the communication device. An integrated isolating antenna array component is positioned between the two antennas in the communication device to reduce radiofrequency coupling between the two antennas. The integrated isolating antenna array component includes an interconnection substrate and an antenna array adjacent to the interconnection substrate and including one or more radiating elements. The antenna array is configured to drive the one or more radiating elements within a second frequency range in the communication device. The second frequency range is higher than the first frequency range. The integrated isolating antenna array component also includes an isolator affixed to the interconnection substrate and configured to be connected to electrical ground. The isolator is configured to reduce the radiofrequency coupling between the two antennas within the first frequency range.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2019Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Nahal Niakan, Sean Russell Mercer
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Publication number: 20210384643Abstract: An integrated antenna array device includes a circuitry component layer having bounds defining a circuitry zone. The circuitry component layer includes beam steering circuitry. The integrated antenna array device also includes an antenna component layer affixed to the circuitry component layer in the circuitry zone. The antenna component layer includes a radiating region and an interconnecting region. The radiating region is outside the circuitry zone and includes one or more antenna arrays having radiating antenna elements. The interconnecting region is substantially defined within the circuitry zone and interconnects the beam steering circuitry with the one or more radiating elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2021Publication date: December 9, 2021Inventors: Sean Russell MERCER, Nahal NIAKAN
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Patent number: 11101570Abstract: An integrated antenna array device includes a circuitry component layer having bounds defining a circuitry zone. The circuitry component layer includes beam steering circuitry. The integrated antenna array device also includes an antenna component layer affixed to the circuitry component layer in the circuitry zone. The antenna component layer includes a radiating region and an interconnecting region. The radiating region is outside the circuitry zone and includes one or more antenna arrays having radiating antenna elements. The interconnecting region is substantially defined within the circuitry zone and interconnects the beam steering circuitry with the one or more radiating elements.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2019Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Sean Russell Mercer, Nahal Niakan
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Patent number: 11031971Abstract: A method and system for selecting a sub-band in a television white space frequency band may include configuring an antenna matching circuit based on the selected sub-band and configuring a bandpass filter based on the selected sub-band. The method may include receiving a first signal through a radio-frequency path including the antenna matching circuit and not including the bandpass filter, measuring a parameter of received first signal, and determining whether the selected sub-band is usable based on the measured parameter of the received first signal. The method may include receiving a second signal through radio-frequency path including the antenna matching circuit and the bandpass filter, measuring a parameter of the received second signal, and determining whether the selected sub-band is usable based on the measured parameter of the received second signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2020Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Nahal Niakan, Sean Russell Mercer
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Publication number: 20210159606Abstract: An integrated antenna array device includes a circuitry component layer having bounds defining a circuitry zone. The circuitry component layer includes beam steering circuitry. the integrated antenna array device also includes an antenna component layer affixed to the circuitry component layer in the circuitry zone. The antenna component layer includes a radiating region and an interconnecting region. The radiating region is outside the circuitry zone and includes one or more antenna arrays having radiating antenna elements. The interconnecting region is substantially defined within the circuitry zone and interconnects the beam steering circuitry with the one or more radiating elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2019Publication date: May 27, 2021Inventors: Sean Russell MERCER, Nahal NIAKAN
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Publication number: 20210119331Abstract: A communication device includes two antennas operational within a first frequency range in the communication device. An integrated isolating antenna array component is positioned between the two antennas in the communication device to reduce radiofrequency coupling between the two antennas. The integrated isolating antenna array component includes an interconnection substrate and an antenna array adjacent to the interconnection substrate and including one or more radiating elements. The antenna array is configured to drive the one or more radiating elements within a second frequency range in the communication device. The second frequency range is higher than the first frequency range. The integrated isolating antenna array component also includes an isolator affixed to the interconnection substrate and configured to be connected to electrical ground. The isolator is configured to reduce the radiofrequency coupling between the two antennas within the first frequency range.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2019Publication date: April 22, 2021Inventors: Nahal NIAKAN, Sean Russell MERCER
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Patent number: 10924145Abstract: A radiofrequency (RF) power regulator includes a forward RF power detection circuit to detect forward RF power supplied by an RF transmitter circuit to an RF transmitting antenna. An RF power sampler is coupled to the forward RF power detector circuit and provides RF power samples of the supplied forward RF power. Multiple filters are coupled to receive the RF power samples. Each filter differently filters the received forward power samples to apply a different average power period. Each filter activates an RF power adjustment trigger signal while a time-averaged forward RF power supplied to the RF transmitting antenna satisfies a forward RF power adjustment condition for the average power period of the filter. Forward RF power adjustment logic is coupled to filters and operable to adjust the forward RF power supplied by the RF transmitter circuit to the RF transmitting antenna based on the RF power adjustment trigger signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2019Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Sean Russell Mercer, Charbel Khawand, Wenkai Zhong
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Publication number: 20210044990Abstract: The technology disclosed herein includes an apparatus including an antenna, a plurality of wireless endpoints using the antenna, and a co-ex manager configured to measure an activity level of a wireless endpoint over a predetermined time period, compare the measured activity level of the wireless endpoint of the wireless endpoint with a threshold activity level, and in response to the comparison, change an antenna operating mode of the wireless endpoint.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2020Publication date: February 11, 2021Inventors: Charbel Khawand, Sean Russell Mercer, Guy Bernard Major
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Patent number: 10893488Abstract: Radio Frequency (RF) power back-off optimization techniques are described for specific absorption rate (SAR) compliance. A mobile device may be configured to intelligently modify antennas and radio device transmission levels to maintain compliance with SAR limits while minimally perturbing radio operations. The mobile device may implement a SAR optimization scheme that accounts for user presence and signal conditions to maintain compliance. Rather than setting a fixed back-off, user presence detectors may be employed along with information on current signal conditions to determine potential for excessive SAR exposure and selectively apply variable adjustments to RF transmission power (e.g., “back-offs”), accordingly. The mobile device may also be configured to report SAR conditions and/or mitigation actions to a base station to enable the base station to manage a connection to services based at least in part upon knowledge of SAR actions taken by the mobile computing device.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2013Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Charbel Khawand, Sean Russell Mercer, Mahesh M. Pai
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Publication number: 20200336167Abstract: A method and system for selecting a sub-band in a television white space frequency band may include configuring an antenna matching circuit based on the selected sub-band and configuring a bandpass filter based on the selected sub-band. The method may include receiving a first signal through a radio-frequency path including the antenna matching circuit and not including the bandpass filter, measuring a parameter of received first signal, and determining whether the selected sub-band is usable based on the measured parameter of the received first signal. The method may include receiving a second signal through radio-frequency path including the antenna matching circuit and the bandpass filter, measuring a parameter of the received second signal, and determining whether the selected sub-band is usable based on the measured parameter of the received second signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2020Publication date: October 22, 2020Inventors: Nahal NIAKAN, Sean Russell MERCER
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Patent number: 10749264Abstract: A cavity-backed slot antenna is disclosed that includes a stripline. The stripline includes a conductive strip between two ground planes separated by a dielectric. The conductive strip feeds the cavity-backed slot antenna. The stripline also includes a first segment and a second segment. The first segment has a first characteristic impedance. The second segment is proximate the cavity-backed antenna and has a second characteristic impedance different than the first characteristic impedance. The second characteristic impedance provides impedance for matching a load impedance of the cavity-backed slot antenna.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2017Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Nahal Niakan, Sean Russell Mercer, Toby James Morris
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Patent number: 10707914Abstract: A method and system for selecting a sub-band in a television white space frequency band may include configuring an antenna matching circuit based on the selected sub-band and configuring a bandpass filter based on the selected sub-band. The method may include receiving a first signal through a radio-frequency path including the antenna matching circuit and not including the bandpass filter, measuring a parameter of received first signal, and determining whether the selected sub-band is usable based on the measured parameter of the received first signal. The method may include receiving a second signal through radio-frequency path including the antenna matching circuit and the bandpass filter, measuring a parameter of the received second signal, and determining whether the selected sub-band is usable based on the measured parameter of the received second signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2018Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Nahal Niakan, Sean Russell Mercer
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Patent number: 10666312Abstract: The technology disclosed herein includes an apparatus including an antenna, a number of endpoints using the antenna, and a co-existence manager configured to share the antenna among the plurality of endpoints by sending a resource request to one or more of the plurality of endpoints with at least one of a time for antenna resource use and a priority level for the antenna resource use request. Once the co-existence manager has received acknowledgement from the endpoints controlling use of the antenna resource, programming a scheduler with one or more scheduled events controlling access to the antenna by the plurality of wireless endpoints, wherein the scheduled events control one or more switches to connect the plurality of wireless endpoints to the antenna.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2019Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Charbel Khawand, Sean Russell Mercer, Paul Klies
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Publication number: 20190379421Abstract: A method and system for selecting a sub-band in a television white space frequency band may include configuring an antenna matching circuit based on the selected sub-band and configuring a bandpass filter based on the selected sub-band. The method may include receiving a first signal through a radio-frequency path including the antenna matching circuit and not including the bandpass filter, measuring a parameter of received first signal, and determining whether the selected sub-band is usable based on the measured parameter of the received first signal. The method may include receiving a second signal through radio-frequency path including the antenna matching circuit and the bandpass filter, measuring a parameter of the received second signal, and determining whether the selected sub-band is usable based on the measured parameter of the received second signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2018Publication date: December 12, 2019Inventors: Nahal NIAKAN, Sean Russell MERCER
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Publication number: 20190334571Abstract: The technology disclosed herein includes an apparatus including an antenna, a number of endpoints using the antenna, and a co-existence manager configured to share the antenna among the plurality of endpoints by sending a resource request to one or more of the plurality of endpoints with at least one of a time for antenna resource use and a priority level for the antenna resource use request. Once the co-existence manager has received acknowledgement from the endpoints controlling use of the antenna resource, programming a scheduler with one or more scheduled events controlling access to the antenna by the plurality of wireless endpoints, wherein the scheduled events control one or more switches to connect the plurality of wireless endpoints to the antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2019Publication date: October 31, 2019Inventors: Charbel KHAWAND, Sean Russell MERCER, Paul KLIES
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Publication number: 20190253095Abstract: A radiofrequency (RF) power regulator includes a forward RF power detection circuit to detect forward RF power supplied by an RF transmitter circuit to an RF transmitting antenna. An RF power sampler is coupled to the forward RF power detector circuit and provides RF power samples of the supplied forward RF power. Multiple filters are coupled to receive the RF power samples. Each filter differently filters the received forward power samples to apply a different average power period. Each filter activates an RF power adjustment trigger signal while a time-averaged forward RF power supplied to the RF transmitting antenna satisfies a forward RF power adjustment condition for the average power period of the filter. Forward RF power adjustment logic is coupled to filters and operable to adjust the forward RF power supplied by the RF transmitter circuit to the RF transmitting antenna based on the RF power adjustment trigger signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Inventors: Sean Russell Mercer, Charbel Khawand, Wenkai Zhong
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Patent number: 10276922Abstract: A wireless transmission system disclosed herein includes a radiating structure integrated into a computing device case that substantially encloses electronics of a computing device. The radiating structure includes an insulator that forms a boundary with the metal plate on the computing device case. A proximity sensor collects data from an exposure point located within the radiating structure.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2017Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Sean Russell Mercer, Charbel Khawand
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Patent number: 10224974Abstract: A radiofrequency (RF) power regulator includes a forward RF power detection circuit to detect forward RF power supplied by an RF transmitter circuit to an RF transmitting antenna. An RF power sampler is coupled to the forward RF power detector circuit and provides RF power samples of the supplied forward RF power. Multiple filters are coupled to receive the RF power samples. Each filter differently filters the received forward power samples to apply a different average power period. Each filter activates an RF power adjustment trigger signal while a time-averaged forward RF power supplied to the RF transmitting antenna satisfies a forward RF power adjustment condition for the average power period of the filter. Forward RF power adjustment logic is coupled to filters and operable to adjust the forward RF power supplied by the RF transmitter circuit to the RF transmitting antenna based on the RF power adjustment trigger signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2017Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Sean Russell Mercer, Charbel Khawand, Wenkai Zhong