Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Willis, III

Thomas M. Willis, III 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: 11018525
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, generating, by a waveform generator, an alternating waveform by selectively enabling one or more switches coupled to a storage device, and supplying, by the waveform generator, the alternating voltage waveform to a winding coupled to a magnetic core of an inductive power supply to modify an alternating magnetic flux in the magnetic core from current alone flowing through a transmission medium coupled to the inductive power supply. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property 1, L.P.
    Inventors: Giovanni Vannucci, Thomas M. Willis, III, Paul Shala Henry
  • Patent number: 11018401
    Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments, a dielectric coupler includes a neck portion configured to receive a first electromagnetic wave from a hollow waveguide. A flared portion is configured to generate, responsive to the first electromagnetic wave, a second electromagnetic wave along a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the flared portion at least partially surrounds the transmission medium, wherein the second electromagnetic wave propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path. A tapered portion is configured to interface the neck portion to the flared portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Shala Henry, Giovanni Vannucci, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 10992343
    Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments, a communication system includes a transmitter configured to generate a first communication signal conveying data. A first coupler is configured to generate first guided electromagnetic waves in response to the first communication signal, wherein the first guided electromagnetic waves are guided by an external surface of a metallic shield of a underground power cable and propagate, without requiring any electrical return path, via a wave mode having a majority of field strength within the protective jacket of the underground power cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Willis, III, Paul Shala Henry, Giovanni Vannucci, Irwin Gerszberg, Peter Wolniansky, Robert Bennett, Donald J. Barnickel, Farhad Barzegar
  • Patent number: 10985436
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a transmission medium for propagating electromagnetic waves. The transmission medium can include a core for propagating electromagnetic waves guided by the core without an electrical return path, a rigid material surrounding the core, wherein an inner surface of the rigid material is separated from an outer surface of the core, and a conductive layer disposed on the rigid material. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Bennett, Paul Shala Henry, Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Donald J. Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 10978773
    Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments, a guided wave launcher includes a dielectric cable having an unexposed dielectric core portion that is surrounded by a dielectric cladding portion. The unexposed dielectric core portion is configured to receive a first electromagnetic wave at the end of the dielectric cable and to guide the first electromagnetic wave along the first unexposed dielectric core portion. An exposed dielectric core portion of the dielectric cable, that is not surrounded by the dielectric cladding portion, is configured to couple a portion of the first electromagnetic wave to a transmission medium in proximity to the exposed dielectric core portion, wherein the portion of the electromagnetic wave coupled to the transmission medium propagates as a second electromagnetic wave along the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Bennett, Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Thomas M. Willis, III, Paul Shala Henry
  • Patent number: 10965344
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system for generating a plurality of electromagnetic waves having differing signal characteristics, each electromagnetic wave of the plurality of electromagnetic waves conveying a communication signal, and the plurality of electromagnetic waves propagating along a transmission medium without radiating into free space. The system can be further configured for generating, by an antenna coupled to the transmission medium, a plurality of wireless signals according to the plurality of electromagnetic waves. The differing signal characteristics of the plurality of electromagnetic waves thereby enables a device to obtain the communication signal by combining the plurality of wireless signals. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property 1, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Shala Henry, Giovanni Vannucci, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 10965340
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system for receiving first electromagnetic waves via a transmission medium without utilizing an electrical return path, and inducing second electromagnetic waves at an interface of the transmission medium without the electrical return path. In an embodiment, the first and second electromagnetic waves have a non-optical frequency range. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Bennett, Paul Shala Henry, Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Donald J. Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 10964995
    Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments, a coupling system includes a plurality of dielectric couplers configured to generate, responsive to first electromagnetic waves received via a hollow waveguide, second electromagnetic waves along a surface of a transmission medium, wherein the plurality of dielectric couplers each have an end at differing azimuthal orientations relative to the transmission medium and wherein the second electromagnetic waves propagate along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path. A controller is configured to control a generation of the first electromagnetic waves in accordance with a first set of phases, wherein the second electromagnetic waves generated by the plurality of dielectric couplers combine on the surface of the transmission medium to propagate via a first selected wave mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Shala Henry, Giovanni Vannucci, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 10957977
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system for generating electromagnetic signals that resonate in a cavity having a plurality of reflectors resulting in resonating electromagnetic signals and combining the resonating electromagnetic signals to form an electromagnetic wave that traverses a reflector and couples onto a physical transmission medium. One or more of the reflectors is implemented via a programmable substrate. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Shala Henry, Robert Bennett, Donald J. Barnickel, Giovanni Vannucci, Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Thomas M. Willis, III, Bruce E. Stuckman
  • Patent number: 10959072
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining, by an unmanned aircraft including a processor, a control signal that causes the unmanned aircraft to fly in proximity to a transmission medium, where the unmanned aircraft includes a carrying system that releasably carries a communication device, and where a positioning of the communication device in proximity to the transmission medium enables the communication device to be physically connected on the transmission medium and enables the communication device to provide communications. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Ken Liu, Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Pamela A. M. Bogdan, Donald J. Barnickel, Brandon Pimm, Thomas M. Willis, III, David M. Britz, Paul Shala Henry, Robert Bennett, Dorothy Zarsky, James Gordon Beattie, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10958307
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a coupling device including a first antenna that radiates a first RF signal conveying first data; and a second antenna that radiates a second RF signal conveying the first data from the at least one transmitting device. The first RF signal and second RF signal form a combined RF signal that is bound by an outer surface of a transmission medium to propagate as a guided electromagnetic wave substantially in a single longitudinal direction along the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Shala Henry, Robert Bennett, Irwin Gerszberg, Farhad Barzegar, Donald J. Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 10951265
    Abstract: A repeater includes a first coupler receives a first guided electromagnetic wave that propagates along a surface of a transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, the first coupler generating a first received signal in response to the first guided electromagnetic wave. Impulse cancellation circuitry generates a first impulse noise signal in response to impulse noise in the first received signal. Transceiver circuitry generates a first transmit signal based on the first received signal and the first impulse noise signal, wherein the transceiver circuitry cancels the first impulse noise signal when generating the first transmit signal. A second coupler converts the first transmit signal to a second guided electromagnetic wave that propagates along the surface of the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Shala Henry, Giovanni Vannucci, Irwin Gerszberg, Peter Wolniansky, Robert Bennett, Thomas M. Willis, III, Donald J. Barnickel, Farhad Barzegar
  • Patent number: 10951267
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system that facilitates adjusting an adjustable waveguide structure according to properties of a physical transmission medium and inducing electromagnetic waves that are guided by the adjusted waveguide structure along the physical transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Bennett, Peter Wolniansky, Jeffrey J. Farah, Paul Shala Henry, Giovanni Vannucci, Thomas M. Willis, III, Donald J. Barnickel, Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg
  • Patent number: 10945138
    Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments, a communication device includes an antenna array configured to receive first millimeter wave (MMW) signals from a remote device in a millimeter wave (MMW) frequency band and to transmit second millimeter wave (MMW) signals to the remote device in the MMW frequency band. A base transceiver station is configured to generate a consolidated steering matrix in accordance in a radio frequency (RF) band based on a consolidated feedback matrix in accordance with the RF band, wherein the MMW frequency band is above the RF band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Shala Henry, Giovanni Vannucci, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 10944177
    Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments, an antenna system includes a dielectric antenna having a feed point, wherein the dielectric antenna is a single antenna. At least one cable having a plurality of conductorless dielectric cores is coupled to the feed point of the dielectric antenna, wherein electromagnetic waves that are guided by differing ones of the plurality of conductorless dielectric cores to the dielectric antenna result in differing ones of a plurality of antenna beam patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property 1, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Shala Henry, Donald J. Barnickel, Farhad Barzegar, Robert Bennett, Irwin Gerszberg, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 10938123
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, antenna that includes a first plurality of antenna elements radially arranged in a first plane to wirelessly transmit first channel signals received from a guided wave communication system to a plurality of client devices via a first plurality of beams at a corresponding first plurality of angles. A second plurality of antenna elements are radially arranged in a second plane that is displaced a first distance from the first plane to wirelessly transmit second channel signals received from the guided wave communication system to the plurality of client devices via a second plurality of beams at a corresponding second plurality of angles that are angularly displaced from the first plurality of angles. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Shala Henry, Irwin Gerszberg, Robert Bennett, Farhad Barzegar, Donald J Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 10938108
    Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments, an antenna system includes a dielectric antenna having a feed-point, wherein the dielectric antenna is a single antenna having a plurality of antenna beam patterns. At least one cable having a plurality of conductorless dielectric cores is coupled to the feed-point of the dielectric antenna, each of the plurality of conductorless dielectric cores corresponding to one of the plurality of antenna beam patterns. A frequency selective launcher generates electromagnetic waves and couples the electromagnetic waves to a selected one of the plurality of conductorless dielectric cores, the selected one of the plurality of conductorless dielectric cores corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of antenna beam patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Shala Henry, Donald J. Barnickel, Farhad Barzegar, Robert Bennett, Irwin Gerszberg, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 10930992
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system for receiving electromagnetic waves that propagate along a transmission medium, generating, according to the electromagnetic waves, first signals and second signals, wirelessly providing, via a short-range dielectric antenna of the waveguide system, the first signals to a base station device, and wirelessly providing, via an array of dielectric antennas of the waveguide system, the second signals to a communication device remotely located from the waveguide system. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Farhad Barzegar, Paul Shala Henry, Giovanni Vannucci, Peter Wolniansky, Thomas M. Willis, III, Robert Bennett, Irwin Gerszberg, Donald J. Barnickel
  • Patent number: 10931018
    Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments, an antenna system includes a dielectric antenna having a feed-point, wherein the dielectric antenna is a single antenna having a plurality of antenna beam patterns. At least one cable having a plurality of conductorless dielectric cores is coupled to the feed-point of the dielectric antenna, each of the plurality of conductorless dielectric cores corresponding to one of the plurality of antenna beam patterns. A core selector switch couples electromagnetic waves from a source to a selected one of the plurality of conductorless dielectric cores, the selected one of the plurality of conductorless dielectric cores corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of antenna beam patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Shala Henry, Donald J. Barnickel, Farhad Barzegar, Robert Bennett, Irwin Gerszberg, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 10931012
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, a system for generating electromagnetic signals that resonate in a cavity having a plurality of reflectors resulting in resonating electromagnetic signals and combining the resonating electromagnetic signals to form an electromagnetic wave that traverses a reflector and couples onto a physical transmission medium. One or more of the reflectors is implemented via a programmable substrate. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Shala Henry, Robert Bennett, Donald J. Barnickel, Giovanni Vannucci, Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Thomas M. Willis, III, Bruce E. Stuckman