Patents by Inventor W. Neill Kefauver

W. Neill Kefauver 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: 11881625
    Abstract: A reflector antenna includes a reflector having a curved reflecting surface that extends around a longitudinal center axis, wherein the curved reflecting surface is defined by rotating a concave curve around the longitudinal center axis and wherein one end of the concave curve defines an apex on the longitudinal center axis. The reflector antenna may further include a ground plane extension having a flat reflecting surface abutting an edge of the reflector and extending radially away from the longitudinal center axis. A phased array feed may be arranged spaced apart from and opposite to the reflecting surfaces of the reflector and the ground plane extension. A tapered collar may be arranged adjacent to the phased array feed, wherein the tapered collar tapers outward away from the phased array feed and towards the reflector, and wherein the tapered collar comprises an inner reflective surface facing the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Patrick Cencich, Thomas Henry Hand, Joshua David Gustafson, W. Neill Kefauver
  • Patent number: 11670860
    Abstract: Provided herein are various enhanced antenna structures for radio frequency communications. In one example, an antenna includes a single-arm spiral antenna having an antenna element configured to couple to a radio frequency link at a central node of the spiral. A ground element is disposed proximate to the central node of the spiral and configured to couple to a ground reference for the radio frequency link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Patrick Cencich, W. Neill Kefauver
  • Patent number: 11450962
    Abstract: An antenna element includes a radiator element, a plurality of feed circuits and a multiplexing interface. The radiator element can transceive radio-frequency (RF) signals. The feed circuits, which include impedance and multiplexing features, are realized on multiple feed locations of the radiating element feed slot. The multiplexing interface is electrically coupled to the plurality of feed circuits and can multiplex a number of sub-band signals associated with the feed circuits. The multiplexing interface can provide a high isolation between the feed circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua David Gustafson, W. Neill Kefauver, Thomas Henry Hand, Joseph M. Torres, Thomas Patrick Cencich, James Steven Harrison
  • Patent number: 11217881
    Abstract: A spiral antenna device includes one or more conductive spiral arms that are formed on a dielectric substrate attached to a wall of a cylindrical cavity. One or more coils are formed on the wall of the cylindrical cavity and are coupled to the one or more conductive spiral arms. Starting points of the one or more conductive spiral arms are in a center region of the dielectric substrate and ending points of the one or more conductive spiral arms are electrically coupled to first ends of the one or more coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Patrick Cencich, W. Neill Kefauver, Timothy Edward Palagi
  • Patent number: 10931019
    Abstract: A communications system such as a global position system (GPS) device, a spacecraft tracking device, a handheld radio, or any other communications device may include one or more helix antennas. Each helix antenna may include a conductive circular ring at a distal end of one or more helical arms. In a helical antenna with multiple arms, the arms may be shorted together at the distal end by the conductive circular ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: W. Neill Kefauver, James L. Lovejoy, Jr., Thomas Patrick Cencich
  • Patent number: 9906202
    Abstract: A radio-frequency (RF) antenna with wideband impedance matching includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and patterned connections. The first conductive layer is formed on a first surface of a dielectric material. The second conductive layer is formed on a second surface of the dielectric material. The patterned connections between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are formed through multiple vias to enable the wideband impedance matching. The first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are formed based on an antenna-layout pattern. The multiple vias are formed based on a via pattern that corresponds to the antenna-layout pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: James L. Lovejoy, Jr., Thomas Patrick Cencich, W. Neill Kefauver
  • Patent number: 8604997
    Abstract: A vertical array antenna is disclosed. The antenna includes a housing configured to be positioned above a ground plane and a plurality of antenna elements. Each antenna element produces an individual beam pattern. The antenna elements are attached to the housing at different distances from the location of the ground plane such that the amplitudes of the individual beam patterns of the respective antenna elements have local maxima at a common angle and frequency when the housing is positioned above the ground plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas P. Cencich, Sr., W. Neill Kefauver, Jeannette C McDonnell