Patents by Inventor Steven K. Shafer

Steven K. Shafer 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: 8014373
    Abstract: An antenna assembly for a wireless communications device has an antenna, a filter circuit, and a connector constructed to engage a wireless communications device. A filter circuit includes a band-pass filter and a first notch filter disposed in serial electrical communication with the band-pass filter, the band-pass filter operable to permit the passage of oscillatory electrical signals in a first frequency range, the first notch filter operable to impede the passage of oscillatory electrical signals in a second frequency range, the second frequency range residing within the first frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Malak, Steven K. Shafer
  • Publication number: 20110199490
    Abstract: Embodiments according to the present application can provide hand held portable diagnostic tools and methods for using the same that can terminate a user port in a coaxial cable system to detect whether a digital service marker indicating that fiber optic digital CATV service is present. Embodiments of a hand held portable tool and methods for using the same can include a connector attached at one end of a housing to pass a downstream signal from a coupled user-side coaxial cable port, and a power detector. The detector includes a first filter to pass a selected bandwidth and a rectifying power detector circuit to detect RF power in the selected bandwidth indicative of the digital service marker. Upon detection of the digital service marker, an indicator in the hand held portable diagnostic tools provides detectable or visual results to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven K. Shafer, Raymond Palinkas, Erdogan Alkan
  • Publication number: 20110175787
    Abstract: An antenna assembly for a wireless communications device has an antenna, a filter circuit, and a connector constructed to engage a wireless communications device. A filter circuit includes a band-pass filter and a first notch filter disposed in serial electrical communication with the band-pass filter, the band-pass filter operable to permit the passage of oscillatory electrical signals in a first frequency range, the first notch filter operable to impede the passage of oscillatory electrical signals in a second frequency range, the second frequency range residing within the first frequency range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: JOHN MEZZALINGUA ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Malak, Steven K. Shafer
  • Publication number: 20110138440
    Abstract: A downstream bandwidth output level tilt compensation device that can be inserted into a signal transmission line of a CATV system on a premise of a user. The device includes first and second filters to output first and second band signals, respectively. Detectors output a measurement representative of a characteristic (e.g., RF power) in the first and second band signals, respectively. A comparator uses the measurements from the detectors to determine a correction signal. A variable slope adjusting circuit is provided to adjust the gain slope of the downstream bandwidth responsive to the correction signal. The device includes a third filter after the variable slope adjusting circuit to pass a third band signals corresponding to the first and second signals. A second comparator uses measurements from the third signal to adjust the connection signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven K. Shafer, Erdogan Alkan
  • Publication number: 20100248633
    Abstract: A signal conditioning device, and method thereof, that can be used to maintain an amount of signal RF level adjustment, which is applied to an input, independently of the availability of the power supplied to the device. In one embodiment, the signal condition device comprises an attenuating circuit, which can have a variable attenuator and a non-volatile attenuator. The variable attenuator is configured to provide a primary amount of signal RF level adjustment in a power-on state, and the non-volatile attenuator is configured to store as a secondary amount the primary amount of the signal RF level adjustment. The non-volatile attenuator is likewise configured so that the secondary amount can be applied when the signal conditioning device enters into a power-off state so as to modify the RF level of the input in order to maintain a relative strength of the transmission at a remote device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Noah Montena, Steven K. Shafer
  • Publication number: 20100251320
    Abstract: A premise signal conditioning device is provided that can be inserted into a signal transmission line of a CATV system on a premise of a user. The device includes at least a first diplexer set, each diplexer set including a supplier side diplexer and a premise side diplexer creating a return path for an upstream bandwidth and a forward path for a downstream bandwidth there between. The device further includes a detector configured to measure a level of signals present in a first segment of frequencies between the upstream bandwidth and the downstream bandwidth. The device further includes a switch controller configured to alter a width of the return path from a first width to a second width in response to a level of the signals exceeding a predetermined threshold level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Steven K. Shafer, Michael E. Lawrence
  • Publication number: 20100244980
    Abstract: Presented are method and apparatus embodiments to terminate an interruptible signal path when the interruptible signal path is unterminated. The apparatus can comprise a signal path from a supplier-side port thru a user-side port, a signal source arranged to provide a signal to the conductor; and a signal circuit arranged in the interruptible signal path. The apparatus can determine when the signal path is unterminated and, in that case, interrupt and terminate the signal path by putting a signal switching device in the appropriate state and/or sending signals from the signal path to a prescribed signal level connection point. When a user device is not connected or connected improperly, or the signals through the signal path are otherwise unterminated, the interruptible signal path can be interrupted and terminated. The method and apparatus embodiments can be used in various combinations with multiple signal paths having multiple signal branches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas A. Olson, David Kelma, Joseph Lai, Erdogan Alkan, David H. Jackson, Raymond W. Palinkas, Steven K. Shafer
  • Publication number: 20100251314
    Abstract: An apparatus can include a modem and a conditioning device can be provided and coupled at a signal transmission line of a CATV system at a premise of a user according to embodiments of the application. The apparatus can provide selected information (e.g., Table 1) upstream for use that can improve operations or increase capabilities at one or more users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Olson, David Kelma, Joseph Lai, Noah Montena, Steven K. Shafer
  • Patent number: 7739719
    Abstract: A cable system, and a method for configuring a path of a cable system, wherein the group delay caused by one or more amplifiers having diplex filter networks is substantially equalized over all frequencies within a predetermined band by the use of one or more all-pass delay equalizers. A method of configuring a path includes steps of determining a delay versus frequency characteristic of the path within the predetermined frequency band, and providing from one to a plurality of all-pass delay equalizers in the path, wherein a collective delay versus frequency characteristic of the all-pass delay equalizer(s) within a predetermined frequency band is a mirror image of that caused by the amplifier(s), such that all frequencies within the predetermined frequency band are delayed by substantially the same amount and hence all frequency components of a signal arrive at a receiver at substantially the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven K. Shafer, Raymond Palinkas, Ahmet Burak Olcen
  • Publication number: 20100100921
    Abstract: A frequency band selection device that can be inserted into a signal transmission line of a CATV system on the premise of a user includes at least two signal path sets between a tap side and a premise side. Each signal path set includes two discrete signal paths, a high frequency signal path for a downstream bandwidth and a low frequency signal path for an upstream bandwidth. The high frequency signal path and the low frequency signal path are separated by a cut-off transition frequency that is different for each signal path set. The device further includes a switch controller having at least two discrete switch positions. The switch controller chooses one of the switch positions as a result of an information signal. Each of the switch positions corresponds to a respective one of the signal path sets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Olson, David Kelma, Joseph Lai, Steven K. Shafer
  • Patent number: 7592882
    Abstract: A dual bandstop filter affects frequencies in a lower passband, first and second stopbands separated by a middle passband, and an upper passband. The filter includes two legs. In one version, one leg is a highpass filter while the other leg is a bandstop filter outputting into a lowpass filter. In a second version, one leg is a lowpass filter while the other leg is highpass filter outputting into a bandstop filter. The first version is preferred when the upper value of the lower passband is around 100 MHz or less, while the second version is preferred when the upper value of the lower passband is around 100 MHz or more. In a third version, one leg is a highpass filter while the other leg is a bandstop filter sandwiched between two lowpass filters, preventing second resonances from the lowpass filter from interfering with desired frequencies in the upper passband.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven K. Shafer
  • Patent number: 7592883
    Abstract: A dual bandstop filter affects frequencies in a lower passband, first and second stopbands separated by a middle passband, and an upper passband. The filter includes two legs. In one version, one leg is a highpass filter while the other leg is a bandstop filter outputting into a lowpass filter. In a second version, one leg is a lowpass filter while the other leg is highpass filter outputting into a bandstop filter. The first version is preferred when the upper value of the lower passband is around 100 MHz or less, while the second version is preferred when the upper value of the lower passband is around 100 MHz or more. In a third version, one leg is a highpass filter while the other leg is a bandstop filter sandwiched between two lowpass filters, preventing second resonances from the lowpass filter from interfering with desired frequencies in the upper passband.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven K. Shafer
  • Patent number: 7549157
    Abstract: A relaying device has a content signal input port configured to receive a first electrical signal conveying information, a content signal output port configured to emit a second electrical signal conveying the information and configured to receive a reference signal, a gain regulation circuit in electrical communication with the content signal input port to establish a predetermined gain upon receipt of the reference signal at the content signal output port and generate the second electrical signal by applying the predetermined gain to the first electrical signal, and a control circuit disposed in electrical communication with each of the gain regulation circuit and the content signal output port to receive and measure the reference signal to establish the predetermined gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: David Jackson, Steven K. Shafer, Stephen P. Malak
  • Publication number: 20090073949
    Abstract: An antenna assembly for a wireless communications device has an antenna, a filter circuit, and a connector constructed to engage a wireless communications device. A filter circuit includes a band-pass filter and a first notch filter disposed in serial electrical communication with the band-pass filter, the band-pass filter operable to permit the passage of oscillatory electrical signals in a first frequency range, the first notch filter operable to impede the passage of oscillatory electrical signals in a second frequency range, the second frequency range residing within the first frequency range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Stephen P. Malak, Steven K. Shafer
  • Publication number: 20090067488
    Abstract: In a presentation system, a source device provides uncompressed presentation content in an HDMI format. A first conversion device converts the uncompressed presentation content to an uncompressed second format and entirely transmits the uncompressed presentation content in the second format along an electrically conductive member. A second conversion device receives the uncompressed presentation content in the second format from the conductive member and converts the uncompressed presentation content to the HDMI format. For example, the conductive member may be that of a coaxial cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Stephen J Skeels, Steven K. Shafer
  • Publication number: 20090039980
    Abstract: A dual bandstop filter affects frequencies in a lower passband, first and second stopbands separated by a middle passband, and an upper passband. The filter includes two legs. In one version, one leg is a highpass filter while the other leg is a bandstop filter outputting into a lowpass filter. In a second version, one leg is a lowpass filter while the other leg is highpass filter outputting into a bandstop filter. The first version is preferred when the upper value of the lower passband is around 100 MHz or less, while the second version is preferred when the upper value of the lower passband is around 100 MHz or more. In a third version, one leg is a highpass filter while the other leg is a bandstop filter sandwiched between two lowpass filters, preventing second resonances from the lowpass filter from interfering with desired frequencies in the upper passband.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventor: Steven K. Shafer
  • Publication number: 20080204166
    Abstract: A dual bandstop filter affects frequencies in a lower passband, first and second stopbands separated by a middle passband, and an upper passband. The filter includes two legs. In one version, one leg is a highpass filter while the other leg is a bandstop filter outputting into a lowpass filter. In a second version, one leg is a lowpass filter while the other leg is highpass filter outputting into a bandstop filter. The first version is preferred when the upper value of the lower passband is around 100 MHz or less, while the second version is preferred when the upper value of the lower passband is around 100 MHz or more. In a third version, one leg is a highpass filter while the other leg is a bandstop filter sandwiched between two lowpass filters, preventing second resonances from the lowpass filter from interfering with desired frequencies in the upper passband.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventor: Steven K. Shafer
  • Patent number: 7285945
    Abstract: A fixed filter assembly kit includes a plurality of filters with associated terminals inside a case. A booklet disclosing which filters are associated with which terminals as well as technical information about each filter is includes inside the lid. When the case lid is opened, the terminals are available to a user to perform proof of performance testing on a CATV system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Palinkas, Steven K. Shafer