Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Pennacchia

Thomas E. Pennacchia 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).

  • Method and apparatus for power tuning a terminal of a bi-directional communications system
    Patent number: 6111887
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for power tuning a terminal of a bi-directional communications system, such as a cable television plant. An iterative or cycle method is used to achieve a proper terminal transmitter power level at a remote terminal. A polling signal is transmitted in a downstream direction from a controller to the terminal. If the controller receives a status signal which is transmitted upstream from the terminal, then the controller compares a received power level measured at a head end against a predetermined range of acceptable power levels. If the power level is outside of the predetermined range, then the controller calculates and transmits a terminal transmitter power level in a downstream direction to the terminal. The iterative or cyclic method repeats until the received power level is within the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Mack S. Daily, Thomas M. Johnson, Thomas E. Pennacchia