Patents by Inventor Tom A. Johnson

Tom A. Johnson 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: 6456504
    Abstract: A contact system is disclosed that includes a metal contact clip capable of being surface-mounted to a printed circuit board that facilitates the electrical coupling of the opposing conductive covers in a circuit card assembly having conductive enclosures with a reference potential, such as ground, on the printed circuit card which provide protection against electrostatic discharge (ESD) on the printed circuit card. The clip spans a cut-out region on the printed circuit card and includes opposing tabs the extend from the spanning portion for electrically contacting the conductive covers. The clip further includes geometries such as springs for exerting forces upon the conductive covers thereby providing a reliable contact interface with the conductive covers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: 3Com Corporation
    Inventors: Steven LoForte, Mike Johnston, Tracy Boyd, Charles Eric Posey, Tom Johnson
  • Publication number: 20010054985
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an antenna which is configured to plug into a retractable connector on an electronic apparatus. Some embodiments of the present invention may be configured to plug into common RJ-11 or RJ-45 jacks allowing devices equipped with these jack to utilize external antennas to increase range and functionality. Further, some embodiments of the present invention comprise at least a partial ground plane located in the antenna plug which connects to a jack. The present invention also comprises connectors such as RJ jacks which comprise ground plane elements which may be used to improve antenna range and efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventors: JEFFREY L. JONES, DAVID OLIPHANT, DAVID ANDRUS, TOM JOHNSON
  • Publication number: 20010053159
    Abstract: A cable modem system and method is provided for the transfer and processing of data in accordance with specialized data transfer protocols while utilizing conventional cable modem termination system (CMTS) equipment. A cable modem system in accordance with the invention includes a cable modem that provides for the modification of data packets in accordance with a proprietary protocol and the addressing of the modified data packets to a headend server. The headend server is adapted to reconstruct the data packets for transmission to other local cable modems or to a packet-switched network. In additional embodiments, the CMTS itself rather than a headend server operates to reconstruct the data packets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Fred Bunn, Tom Johnson
  • Patent number: 4753148
    Abstract: A media loaded computerized sound emphasizer device for synchronizing a light show performance to music based upon active computer control instead of conventional passive sound control or inaccurate manual comprising a computer and media playback unit controlled by the computer, a power distribution unit, and one or more light units, wherein each song used with this apparatus cooperates with an individualized program thereby allowing the audience to experience the audio detail through the visual sense.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Inventor: Tom A. Johnson