Patents by Inventor Steven W. Drost

Steven W. Drost 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: 5886590
    Abstract: Coax to microstrip orthogonal launchers that use a compressible fuzz button center conductor as a solderless interconnect. The launcher comprises a coaxial connector having a center conductor that contacts a compressible fuzz button interconnect. In certain embodiments, the fuzz button interconnect directly contacts one end of a microstrip line. In another embodiment, the microstrip line is formed on a curved microstrip circuit board, and the fuzz button interconnect contacts a pin that has a thin metal tab that is adhesively secured to the one end of the microstrip line. In all embodiments, a second coaxial connector has a center conductor that contacts the opposite end of the microstrip conductor line. The present invention eliminates need for precise soldering by using the fuzz button interconnect to create a solderless compression contact between the coaxial connector and the microstrip line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Clifton Quan, Steven W. Drost, Mark Y. Hashimoto, Rosie M. Jorgenson
  • Patent number: 5543815
    Abstract: A shielding screen for use in an integrated antenna system that includes at least two antennas that emit interfering signals that interfere with each other and at least one antenna that emits a non-interfering signal that does not interfere with the interfering signals. The shielding screen incorporates a frequency selective surface configured and dimensioned to reflect the interfering signals and to transmit the non-interfering signals. The shielding screen is positioned between the antennas that emit interfering signals and has a surface disposed substantially orthogonal to a line extending therebetween. The screen is dimensioned to block the interfering signals emitted by each of the two antennas from impinging upon the other of the antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Te-Kao Wu, William W. Milroy, Steven W. Drost
  • Patent number: 5196812
    Abstract: An n-way waveguide power divider wherein microwave power entering a first waveguide section is directionally coupled simultaneously into a plurality of parallel waveguide sections that share a longitudinal portion of their broad walls with a different longitudinal portion of the broad walls of the first waveguide section. The power is coupled through an individual pair of elongated axially-aligned coupling members in each of the shared broad wall longitudinal portions. The coupling members may have a variety of shapes including square, rectangular, circular, cross, or dog bone shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Steven W. Drost, William W. Milroy