Patents by Inventor William D. Killen

William D. Killen 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).

  • Publication number: 20040008145
    Abstract: A spatial filtering surface includes a dielectric substrate and a plurality of spaced, geometrically configured, resonant elements positioned on the dielectric substrate. The resonant elements form concentric rings that each attenuate any electromagnetic radiation passing therethrough a different amount wherein a spatial filter transform is imparted for tapering the magnitude and phase of a produced aperture field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Killen, Heriberto Delgado
  • Publication number: 20040008147
    Abstract: An antenna system includes a ground plane and/or antenna elements forming an antenna array. A spatial filtering surface is positioned adjacent the antenna array through which electromagnetic radiation to or from the antenna array passes. The spatial filtering surface includes a dielectric substrate and a plurality of spaced, geometric configured, resonant elements printed on the dielectric substrate and configured and spaced from each other to have a resonant frequency to filter an electromagnetic field at a selected frequency with respect to an angle of incidence to the dielectric substrate. A dielectric filler is positioned between, above and below each resonant element printed on the dielectric substrate. A spatial filter taper transform is imparted when electromagnetic radiation passes therethrough. A standing wave is created between the ground plane and spatial filtering surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Killen, Heriberto Delgado
  • Publication number: 20040008149
    Abstract: A spatial filtering surface includes a dielectric substrate and a plurality of spaced, resonant dipole elements positioned on the dielectric substrate. Each dipole element has dipole ends and an associated diode for controlling amplitude taper and a reflection phase of an electromagnetic field at a selected frequency with respect to an angle of incidence to the dielectric substrate. Bias lines interconnect the dipole elements for conducting a bias current to a dipole element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Killen, Heriberto Delgado
  • Publication number: 20040001025
    Abstract: A printed circuit log periodic dipole array (LPDA) includes dipole elements with arms having reduced size through use of high effective permittivity substrate portions. The radiation efficiency degradation generally associated with use of a high permittivitty substrate can be be reduced through addition of magnetic particles to provide enhanced permeability in the high permittivity regions. The substrate preferably includes meta-materials. The feed line can provide a broadband transformation by being configured as a plurality of segments having quarter wave electrical lengths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: William D. Killen, Randy T. Pike
  • Publication number: 20040000977
    Abstract: A transmission line structure for reduced coupling of signals between circuit elements. The structure includes an RF transmission line disposed on a circuit board (100) formed from a dielectric substrate material. The RF transmission line includes an elongated conductive metal trace (110) and has opposed elongated edge portions. The structure also includes a pair of elongated substrate boundary regions (105) coextensive with at least a portion of the elongated conductive metal trace (110). Each of the boundary regions (105) is positioned adjacent to a respective one of the opposing edge portions to define an elongated substrate channel region (205). A pair of conductive metal traces (410) can be disposed on the substrate channel region (205) within the substrate boundary regions (105). The conductive metal traces (410) are spaced apart by an intermediate substrate region (405) and are parallel to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: William D. Killen, Randy T. Pike
  • Publication number: 20040000966
    Abstract: A circuit for processing radio frequency signals. The circuit includes a substrate where the circuit can be placed. The substrate can be a meta-material and can incorporate at least one dielectric layer. A four port circuit and at least one ground can be coupled to the substrate. The dielectric layer can include a first region with a first set of substrate properties and a second region with a second set of substrate properties. Substrate properties can include permittivity and permeability. A substantial portion of the four port circuit can be coupled to the second region. The permittivity and/or permeability of the second region can be higher than the permittivity and/or permeability of the first region. The increased permittivities and/or permeabilities can reduce a size of the four port circuit and effect a change in a variety of electrical characteristics associated with the four port circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: William D. Killen, Randy T. Pike
  • Publication number: 20040001026
    Abstract: An antenna formed on a dielectric substrate including at least a first and second dielectric substrate region. One or more antenna-radiating element is formed on the first region of the dielectric substrate and defines a conductive path. Feed circuitry for the antenna can be formed on the second region of the dielectric substrate. The feed circuitry can comprise a balun, an impedance transformer, and/or a feed line. The dielectric substrate in the first region can preferably have a first relative permeability and/or first permittivity different from a second relative permeability and/or a second permittivity of the dielectric substrate of the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: William D. Killen, Randy T. Pike
  • Publication number: 20040000971
    Abstract: An RF filter that includes a substrate having a plurality of regions, each having respective substrate properties including a relative permeability and a relative permittivity. At least one filter section is coupled to one of the regions of the substrate which has different substrate properties in comparison to other regions. Other filter sections can be coupled to other substrate regions having different substrate properties. The permeability and/or permittivity can be controlled by the addition of meta-materials to the substrate and/or by the creation of voids in the substrate. The RF filter can be a stepped impedance filter. One filter section includes a transmission line section having an impedance influenced by the region of the substrate on which the filter section is disposed. The transmission line section construction can be a microstrip, buried microstrip, or stripline. A supplemental layer of the substrate can be disposed beneath the filter section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: William D. Killen, Randy T. Pike
  • Publication number: 20040000960
    Abstract: A printed circuit (100) for processing radio frequency signals includes a substrate (110) including substrate regions (101, 103, 105, 111, and 119) upon which the printed circuit can be placed. The circuit is a lowpass filter including a transformer line section (112), at least a first stub section (114 or 116), and transmission line sections (117) interconnecting the transformer line section with at least the first stub section. The transformer line section, the transmission line sections, and at least the first stub section are coupled to respective substrate regions that have substrate characteristics that are each independently customizable. The circuit further comprises at least one ground or ground plane (120) coupled to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: William D. Killen, Randy T. Pike
  • Publication number: 20040000963
    Abstract: The invention concerns an impedance transforming device that includes a dielectric circuit board substrate. The substrate has at least one region that has a relative permeability or a relative permittivity different from a remaining portion of the substrate. In order to control the permeability and permittivity, in this way, meta-materials can be used to selectively modify portions of the substrate. A transmission line transformer is disposed on the substrate and coupled to the region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: William D. Killen, Randy T. Pike
  • Publication number: 20040000962
    Abstract: A circuit for processing radio frequency signals. The circuit includes a substrate where the circuit can be placed. The substrate can be a meta material and can incorporate at least one dielectric layer. A quarter-wave transformer and at least one ground can be coupled to the substrate. The dielectric layer can include a first region with a first set of substrate properties and a second region with a second set of substrate properties. Substrate properties can include a permittivity and a permeability. A substantial portion of the quarter-wave transformer can be coupled to the second region. The permittivity and/or permeability of the second region can be higher than the permittivity and/or permeability of the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: William D. Killen, Randy T. Pike
  • Publication number: 20040000964
    Abstract: A circuit for processing radio frequency signals. The circuit includes a substrate where the circuit can be placed. The substrate can be a meta material and can incorporate at least one dielectric layer (100). A directional coupler (106) and at least one ground (112) can be coupled to the substrate. The dielectric layer can include a first region (102) with a first set of substrate properties and a second region (104) with a second set of substrate properties. The substrate properties can include a permittivity and a permeability. A substantial portion of the directional coupler (106) can be coupled to the second region (104). The permittivity and/or permeability of the second region (104) can be higher than the permittivity and/or permeability of the first region (102). The increased permittivities and/or permeabilities can reduce a size of the directional coupler (106) and effect a change in a variety of electrical characteristics associated with the directional coupler (106).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: William D. Killen, Randy T. Pike
  • Publication number: 20040001027
    Abstract: The invention concerns a dipole antenna of reduced size and with improved impedance bandwidth. The antenna is preferably formed on a dielectric substrate having a plurality of regions, each having a characteristic relative permeability and permittivity. First and second dipole radiating element defining conductive paths can be selectively formed on first characteristic regions of the substrate having a first characteristic permeability and first permittivity. A reactive coupling element can be interposed between the dipole radiating elements for reactively coupling the first dipole radiating element to the second dipole radiating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: William D. Killen, Randy T. Pike
  • Publication number: 20040000978
    Abstract: A circuit for processing radio frequency signals. The circuit can include a substrate board that has at least one dielectric layer (100) having a first set of substrate properties over a first region (102). The first set of substrate properties can include a first permittivity and a first permeability. A second region (140) can be provided with a set of second substrate properties. The second region can have a second set of substrate properties including a second permittivity and a second permeability. The second permittivity can be different than the first permittivity and/or the second permeability can be different than the first permeability. A first transmission line (102) having at least one discontinuity can be coupled to the second region (108). The discontinuity can include a bend, corner, non-uniformity, break in the transmission line, or a junction between the first transmission line and a second transmission line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: Raymond Charles Rumpf, William D. Killen, Randy T. Pike
  • Publication number: 20040001029
    Abstract: The invention concerns an efficient loop antenna of reduced size. The antenna is formed on a dielectric substrate disposed on a conductive ground plane. The substrate has a plurality of regions of differing substrate characteristics. An elongated conductive antenna element is arranged in the form of a loop and disposed on a first region of the substrate. The antenna element can have first and second adjacent end portions separated by a gap. The first region of the substrate has a relative permeability that is higher as compared to a second region of the substrate on which the remainder of the circuitry is disposed. According to one aspect of the invention, the relative permeability of the first region is greater than 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: Francis Parsche, William D. Killen, Randy T. Pike
  • Publication number: 20040000976
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a circuit for processing radio frequency signals. The resonant circuit includes a substrate. The substrate can be a meta material and can incorporate at least one substrate layer. A resonant line and at least one ground can be coupled to the substrate. An end of the resonant line can electrically shorted to the ground or electrically open with respect to ground. The substrate layer can include a first region with a first set of substrate properties and at least a second region with a second set of substrate properties. At least a portion of the resonant line can be coupled to the second region. The first and/or second set of substrate properties can be differentially modified to vary a permittivity and/or a permeability over a selected region. A third region can be provided with a third set of substrate properties as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: William D. Killen, Randy T. Pike
  • Publication number: 20040000975
    Abstract: A printed circuit for processing radio frequency signals. The printed circuit includes a substrate. The substrate can be a meta material and can include at least one dielectric layer. The dielectric layer can have a first set of dielectric properties over a first region and a second set of dielectric properties over a second region. The dielectric permittivity and/or magnetic permeability of the second set of dielectric properties can be different than the first set of dielectric properties. The printed circuit also can include a single port resonant line and a ground coupled to the substrate. The dielectric properties can be controlled to adjust the size of the resonant line. The dielectric properties also can be controlled to adjust an impedance, quality factor and/or capacitance on the resonant line. Resonant characteristics of the resonant line can be distributed through the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: William D. Killen, Randy T. Pike
  • Publication number: 20040000972
    Abstract: A printed circuit for processing radio frequency signals includes a substrate including substrate regions upon which the printed circuit can be placed. The circuit is an interdigital filter including a plurality of resonator elements. The plurality of resonator line elements are at least partially coupled to respective substrate regions that have substrate characteristics that are each independently customizable. The circuit further comprises at least one ground or ground plane (50) coupled to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: William D. Killen, Randy T. Pike
  • Publication number: 20040001024
    Abstract: A printed circuit array of log periodic dipole arrays (LPDA) where each LPDA includes dipole elements with arms having reduced size through use of high effective permittivity substrate portions. The radiation efficiency degradation generally associated with use of a high permittivitty substrate can be be reduced through addition of magnetic particles to provide enhanced permeability in the high permittivity regions. The substrate preferably includes meta-materials. The feed line can provide a broadband transformation by being configured as a plurality of segments having quarter wave electrical lengths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: William D. Killen, Randy T. Pike
  • Publication number: 20040000970
    Abstract: A printed circuit for processing radio frequency signals includes a substrate including substrate regions upon which the printed circuit can be placed. The circuit is a coupled line filter including a plurality of resonator elements. The plurality of resonator line elements are at least partially coupled to respective substrate regions that have substrate characteristics that are each independently customizable. The circuit further comprises at least one ground or ground plane (50) coupled to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: William D. Killen, Randy T. Pike