Patents Issued in March 6, 2001
  • Patent number: 6198402
    Abstract: A Power system protection and control system has protection and control terminals that perform protection and control of a power system by operation of a plurality of CBs in response to state variables input from power system; and a power system monitoring and control host mutually connected in a fashion to permit data exchange through a transmission system (communication network) with protection and control terminals and that performs monitoring and control of power system in accordance with data transmitted from protection and control terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Osamu Hasegawa, Yosihiro Sirota, Yasuo Kaino
  • Patent number: 6198403
    Abstract: In this micro-controller-based line voltage meter/monitor instrument, an AC signal-under-test is sensed from the line voltage via a broadband isolation transformer, and processed to provide RMS and fast peak signals. These are A/D converted in the micro-controller in a sampling process synchronized from a zero-cross signal detected from the AC voltage-under-test. An LED (light-emitting diode) display with 40 LED segments provides resolution of one volt RMS per LED step/segment, and is color-coded to overlay the CBEMA nominal limits. RMS values ranging from 95 to 135 volts are indicated on a bar graph, and fast peak values ranging from 120 to 500 volts at the waveform crest are indicated by the selected LED cell flashing at a 1 Hz rate, with selectable peak hold time. An internal real time calendar/clock enables accumulation of time-related data regarding the ongoing quality of the power line voltage levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventors: Michael L. Dorrough, Michael J. Cane
  • Patent number: 6198404
    Abstract: A small, portable, low cost, battery operated, radio-controlled decoy simulates the sound of small arms fire. The units may be deployed remotely in the field to distract and confuse defending forces when attacked by advancing or infiltrating forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Carl Campagnuolo, James Chopack, Jonathan Fine, William Allman
  • Patent number: 6198405
    Abstract: A driver circuit 1000 for driving functional devices, such as an LED 1020-1023, a buzzer 1060, a voltage converter or an EL-lamp, and a method of operating the driver circuit are provided. The circuit includes an inductor 1030, first and second connection points for connection of a voltage source 1050, switching means 1040 which when in a first state allows an electrical current to flow from the first connection point and through the inductor to thereby charge the inductor with energy and when in a second state substantially prevents an electrical current from flowing from the first connection point to the inductor and at least two functional devices, the function of which are activated when energy is discharged from the inductor to the at least two functional devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
    Inventors: HÃ¥kan Andersson, Johan Uggmark
  • Patent number: 6198406
    Abstract: A portable subscriber unit (PSU) (222) operating in a plurality of messaging systems selects (605) a first messaging system to monitor for messages. The PSU then initiates (610) background scanning according to a scan list (326), including a plurality of system parameters ranked by appropriateness for the PSU, at a rate not slower than the rate established by a predetermined set of rules known to a controller (212) which sends the messages to the portable subscriber unit, in an attempt to find a system identifier identifying a second messaging system more appropriate for the PSU than the first messaging system. The PSU concurrently monitors (618) the first messaging system for receiving messages until identifying the second messaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Jheroen Pieter Dorenbosch
  • Patent number: 6198407
    Abstract: A Radio Paging Receiver includes several types of notifying elements such as a speaker, vibrator, and an LED, and a memory for storing notification information to link one of the notifying elements with a time section where notification by one of the notifying elements is conducted. Also included is one or more switches which allow a user to input the notification information, and structure for writing the notification information for input by the switches into the memory, selecting one of the notifying elements corresponding to a time section in which a call time belongs when the radio paging receiver is called according to the notification information stored in the memory, and controlling notification of the call by one of the notifying elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Kuniaki Koga
  • Patent number: 6198408
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling an electrical appliance by means of a command signal transmitted by a particular remote control transmitter, by means of a converter device which includes a receiver for receiving the command signal, a microprocessor for converting the command signal, according to a predetermined conversion process compatible with various types of command signals, to a code unique to that particular remote control transmitter, and a storage device for storing the unique code. The microprocessor may be programmed to operate in a Learn Mode to convert the command signal according to the predetermined conversion process to the unique code, and to store the unique code, and then to operate in an Operational Mode to convert any subsequently-received command signal to a code according to the predetermined conversioned process, to compare the two codes, and to effect the control of the electrical device when a match is found to be present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Elihay Cohen
  • Patent number: 6198409
    Abstract: A vehicle blind spot detection display system displays indications from a blind spot detector. The system includes a first indicator assembly positioned on the vehicle in the vicinity of an exterior mirror and adapted to producing an indication at least of the presence of an object adjacent the corresponding side of the vehicle. A second indicator assembly is provided on the vehicle interior mirror assembly and adapted to producing an indication at least of the presence of an object adjacent the same corresponding side of the vehicle. In this manner, redundant indications are provided at both the interior and exterior mirrors in order to assist the driver in a premaneuver evaluation of conditions surrounding the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 6198410
    Abstract: An illuminatable traffic sign including a traffic sign secured to a support post. The traffic sign has indicia disposed thereon. The traffic sign has an outer periphery. A plurality of lights are positioned on the traffic sign along the outer periphery and outlining the indicia thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventors: Larry White, Dorothy White
  • Patent number: 6198411
    Abstract: A method of determining a first sector within a zone on a recording medium. The recording medium has several zones, each zone having several subtracks, each subtrack having several sectors. Each sector has a position identifier field identified as S(M,N) for sector N and subtrack M. The values for each subtrack form a sequence of values with a break in the sequence that is used to mark the first sector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Barbara L. Chambers
  • Patent number: 6198412
    Abstract: Transform encoding techniques are disclosed which permit reductions in entropy coding memory requirements. In an illustrative embodiment, a selected discrete linear transform is applied to a discrete-valued version of an information signal to be encoded. The transform is selected such that it produces a transformed output that can be entropy coded using a reduced codeword memory without a substantial increase in entropy coding rate. The entropy coding may be, for example, scalar entropy coding which independently codes each of the components of the transformed discrete-valued version of the information signal, using a single entropy codebook for all of the components to be encoded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Vivek K. Goyal
  • Patent number: 6198413
    Abstract: A coding system includes methods and apparatus for producing a (0,6) run length limited rate 16B/18B code. The code produced is dc balanced and capable of operating near the theoretical performance limits for a 16B/18B code. This means the code is near optimum for run length and digital sum variation for a 16B/18B code. In one aspect of the invention, each 16-bit input data stream or block is broken into a 9-bit and a 7-bit sub-block and encoded separately while maintaining both dc balance and run length constraints across all block and sub-block boundaries. The present invention also provides a plurality of special purpose control characters such as commas, delimiters, idle characters, etc., by using the extra bits in the coded blocks whereby the special characters may be readily distinguished from data, while at the same time maintaining the dc balance and run length limitations in such characters. The 16B/18B transmission coding system of the invention also provides error correction techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Albert X. Widmer
  • Patent number: 6198414
    Abstract: An analog signal, for example in a sound recording process, is converted into an input series of digital signals and is then encoded using a special differential encoding scheme. The scheme involves generating two series of signals, one series corresponding to some of the terms of the input signals, while other terms of the input series are excluded. For example the first series may include every second term of the input series. The second series includes terms corresponding to a difference between at least two terms of the input series, at least one of which is not included in the first series. Preferably the two terms of the input series defining a term of the second series are sequential or at most separated by one other term. The two series can be combined and can be either transmitted to a receiver or recorded on a medium. A high quality output is then obtained by reconstructing the input series from the two series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Warneer Music Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. McPherson, Gregory B. Thagard
  • Patent number: 6198415
    Abstract: A control voltage is supplied from a phase locked loop (PLL), which includes a phase detector and a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), to a delay circuit. The VCO is made up of a plurality of inverters connected together in a ring. The control voltage is also supplied to each of these inverters so as to control an oscillation frequency of the VCO. The control voltage is defined based on a phase difference between a reference clock signal and an oscillation clock signal. The delay circuit is made up of a plurality of inverters connected in series to each other. A delay caused by each of these inverters is controlled with the same voltage as the control voltage. A serial signal is input to an initial-stage one of the inverters. A latch circuit latches the output signals of the respective inverters of the delay circuit in response to a latch clock signal, which has been generated by dividing the frequency of the reference clock signal. And based on a result of latching, a parallel signal is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takefumi Yoshikawa, Toru Iwata
  • Patent number: 6198416
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a compensator for compensating linearity errors, such as harmonic distortion and intermodulation distortion, in devices. The compensator includes a means for phase-shifting and a means for exponentiation to generate a compensation signal such that the linearity error distortion signals are canceled in the system output while maintaining the desired fundamental signal. Another aspect of the invention is directed to methods for calibrating the linearity error compensator. Another aspect of the invention is directed to a modeling linearity errors in a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Scott R. Velazquez
  • Patent number: 6198417
    Abstract: A pipelined oversampling analog-to-digital converter having a first conversion block including inputs for receiving an analog input signal and an analog reference signal, and a plurality of conversion blocks following the first conversion block. Each conversion block includes means for receiving the analog input signal and the analog reference signal, and at least one analog integrator input and at least one digital decimator input from a previous conversion block; a D/A converter having at least one distinct analog output level and an analog input of the analog reference signal; at least one integrator; a quantizer that computes at least one bit as an output; means for combining the output of the quantizer with the at least one digital decimator input; and means for providing an analog output signal output, at least one analog integrator output, and at least one digital decimator output to a following conversion block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Susanne A. Paul
  • Patent number: 6198418
    Abstract: A digital-to-analog converter has two power supply nodes connected through a ladder-type resistor network to n-p-n bipolar transistors supplied with a reference voltages and directly supplied to n-p-n bipolar transistors responsive to a digital input signal, respectively, when a manufacturer tests the digital-to-analog converter, the tester sequentially changes the value of the digital input signal, and an ammeter measures the amount of electric current flowing through the ladder-type resistor network into the n-p-n bipolar transistors for accurately diagnosing the digital-to-analog converter on the basis of the variation of the electric current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 6198419
    Abstract: A DAC system provides an expanded SFDR when compared to the SFDR of an individual DAC(s) that makes up the DAC system. The DAC system uses a clipping arrangement which receives the digital input signal and provides an amplitude-limited signal and resulting signal distortion to a first DAC for digital input signals whose amplitudes would result in an insufficient SFDR for the first DAC. By amplitude-limiting the digital input signal, the amplitude of the digital input signal is effectively reduced or “clipped,” thereby improving the SFDR performance for the first DAC. The signal distortion resulting from the amplitude adjustment is routed to a second DAC. The first DAC converts the amplitude-limited digital signal to an analog signal with an expanded SFDR due to the lower amplitude of the adjusted digital signal. The second DAC receives the signal distortion which can be viewed as the clipped amplitude portion of the digital input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack Chi-Chieh Wen
  • Patent number: 6198420
    Abstract: A DC coupled serial data stream receiver system utilizing a switched capacitor based differencing front end which compares the instantaneous value of an analog voltage with respect to its long term minimum value to a series of reference voltages V1 to Vn in a flash analog to digital converter style front end. The circuit is designed to interface directly to a discrete fiberoptic preamplifier. The receiver can handle multiple amplitude serial data as produced by multiple fiberoptic transmitters on the same fiber without any data loss and without any interruption in data transfer being necessary as one transmitter halts and a second one starts transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Silicon Systems Research Limited
    Inventors: John G. Ryan, John A. Keane, Rudolf G. van Ettinger
  • Patent number: 6198421
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a flash analog-to-digital converter (ADC) based on a feedforward perceptron. The ADC includes a plurality of N stages to provide N digital signals. The plurality of N stages includes a first stage to provide a sum of an input current, related to a voltage to be converted, and of a reference current. The first stage provides a first digital signal in one of first and second states if the sum has one of first and second signs, respectively. The plurality of N stages further includes i stages, with i=2 . . . N. Each stage i includes an output circuit and 2(i−2) sub-stages coupled to the output circuit. Each sub-stage includes an input and a hidden circuit coupled therebetween. The input circuit is configured to provide a first sum of the input current and of a first reference current. Each hidden circuit provides to the output circuit a second reference current when the first sum has a first sign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Intle Corporation
    Inventors: James T. Doyle, Carl F. Liepold
  • Patent number: 6198422
    Abstract: A low-voltage A/D converter is provided which improves resolution by applying a sampling block at input terminal of a comparator to 0˜Vdd period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: LG Semicon Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong Won Kim
  • Patent number: 6198423
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter system 10 is provided that comprises an analog-to-digital converter pipeline 12 coupled to a memory system 14 and a calibration system 16. An arithmetic logic unit 18 receives a raw output from the analog-to-digital converter system 12 and calibration quantities from the calibration system 16 to generate a calibrated output. The calibration system 16 is able to iteratively generate multiple order calibration values that can be used to eliminate capacitor mismatch errors. The techniques described are equally applicable to analog-to-digital converter architectures which resolve multiple bits per stage of the analog-to-digital converter system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Paul C. Yu
  • Patent number: 6198424
    Abstract: Disclosed is a low power time domain reflectometry radar (LPTDRR) level transmitter for calculating levels of first and second products in a tank. A termination extends into the first and second products in the tank. A pulse generator transmits a pulse along the termination into the first and second products. A pulse receiver receives first and second reflected wave pulses corresponding to reflection of a first portion of the transmit pulse at a first product interface and reflection of a second portion of the transmit pulse at a second product interface, respectively. A threshold controller generates a first threshold for detection of the first reflected wave pulse and a second threshold for detection of the second reflected wave pulse. A dielectric constant calculator determines a dielectric constant of the first product as a function of the first reflected wave pulse. A level computer calculates levels of the first and second products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Rosemount Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt C. Diede, Brian E. Richter
  • Patent number: 6198425
    Abstract: A target detection device of the electromagnetic transmitter-receiver reaction type comprising a radio frequency oscillator which is integral with its radiating system and detector. It incorporates a pulse modulator which drives the oscillator to periods of high power transmission and a signal processing system to reject unwanted data and to effect detonation of the warhead at the optimum point on its trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1970
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: John J. Nastronero
  • Patent number: 6198426
    Abstract: The present position of a previously recognized stationary object group (SOp) is estimated based on past position data and the movement of the traveling vehicle during a past time (&Dgr;T). A clearance (Mwr, Mwl) between a traveling vehicle (Mx) and an adjacent stationary object group (Mxr, Mxl) is obtained based on the estimated position data. A clearance (Twr, Twl) between a preceding vehicle (Tx) and an adjacent stationary object group (Txr, Txl) is obtained based on the estimated position data and the position data of the preceding vehicle. A same lane judgement is performed to judge whether the traveling vehicle (VM) and the preceding vehicle (VT) are traveling on a same traffic lane based on at least one of the detected clearances (Mwr, Mwl, Twr, Twl).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Yukimasa Tamatsu, Hiroaki Kumon
  • Patent number: 6198427
    Abstract: A series of police doppler single mode radars and a multimode police doppler radar, all with direction sensing capability are disclosed. A quadrature front end which mixes received RF with a local oscillator to generate two channels of doppler signals, one channel being shifted by an integer multiple of 90 degrees in phase relative to the other by shifting either the RF or the local oscillator signal being fed to one mixer but not the other. The two doppler signals are digitized and the samples are processed by a digital signal processor programmed to find one or more selected target speeds. Single modes disclosed are: stationary strongest target; stationary, fastest target; stationary, strongest and fastest targets; moving, strongest, opposite lane; moving, strongest, same lane; moving, fastest, opposite lane; moving, fastest and strongest, opposite lane; moving, fastest, same lane; moving fastest and strongest, same lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Applied Concepts, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Aker, Robert S. Gammenthaler
  • Patent number: 6198428
    Abstract: A three-dimensionally designed display radar in which a two-dimensional image data and three-dimensionally designed image data are depicted in combination in a video memory by the aid of an image controller, and they are simultaneously depicted on a screen of a display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Japan Radio Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chogo Sekine
  • Patent number: 6198429
    Abstract: The present invention provides a radar apparatus and like systems and method which comprise coordinate converting means for signals defined in a polar coordinate system to corresponding signals defined in Cartesian coordinate system, an image memory, and an indicator with pixels the number of which being the same as that of memory elements of the image memory, and further comprise means for drawing imaginary first and second sweep lines on pixels or memory elements of the image memory to determine a first sample point for a pixel on the second sweep line or to determine a last sample point for a pixel on the first sweep line, and perform a signal processing such as data correlation or interpolation in response to the detected last sample point or the first sample point detected so that displayed image quality is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Furuno Electric Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takumi Fujikawa, Motoji Kondo
  • Patent number: 6198430
    Abstract: A method of generating a differentially corrected pseudorange residual in a differential global positioning system includes tracking at a base station first and second GPS signals, having first and second frequencies, from a first satellite. At the base station, a first pseudorange measurement is determined from the tracked first GPS signal. At the base station, a first smoothed pseudorange measurement is calculated from the determined first pseudorange measurement as a function of both the first and second GPS signals. The first smoothed pseudorange measurement is provided to a remote GPS receiver. The remote GPS receiver calculates the differentially corrected pseudorange residual as a function of the first smoothed pseudorange measurement provided by the base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick A. Hwang, Gary A. McGraw, John R. Bader
  • Patent number: 6198431
    Abstract: A light weight compact portable GPS receiver and transmitter for use on the person during outdoor activity, data logging receiver, data logging software supported by battery pack and modified active GPS patch antenna with chips, download connector, download docking station, charging units, mapping software to transfer the GPS data onto various maps including ortho-rectified, flat topographical maps, 3-D projection view topographical maps and street maps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: MapTrek LLC
    Inventor: James M. Gibson
  • Patent number: 6198432
    Abstract: A pseudolite for transmitting a global positioning system (GPS) signal having identification information for a GPS satellite that is currently out-of-view. The pseudolite mimics a global positioning system (GPS) signal by using a C/A pseudorandom (PRN) identification code for a GPS satellite that is allocated in the GPS system but is unreceivable in the local vicinity and location-determination information including ephemeris data corresponding to the geographical location of the pseudolite. In order to ensure that two of the GPS pseudolites in the same vicinity do not use the identification PRN code from the same out-of-view GPS satellite, the pseudolite listens first before transmitting to detect the identifications in the received GPS signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: James M. Janky
  • Patent number: 6198433
    Abstract: A multiple-beam electronic scanning antenna including an array of phase-shifters (2, Dij). The N simultaneous beams are obtained in N directions by a law of excitation (fij) applied to each computed phase-shifter (Dij) by summing the phase laws &psgr;1, &psgr;2, . . . &psgr;k, . . . &psgr;N associated respectively with each 1, 2, . . . k, . . . N order direction and by applying the resultant phase-shift (&psgr;tij) to the phase-shifter, without applying the resultant amplitude modulation (&rgr;ij). The multiple-beam electronic scanning antenna especially is applicable to uniquely phase-controlled antennas in satellite or terrestrial communications requiring simultaneous communications with several variable sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Joël Herault, Michel Soiron, Gérard Garnier
  • Patent number: 6198434
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing antenna beams having reduced grating and side lobes when steered off of the antenna broadside are disclosed. According to the present invention an arrangement of antenna elements suitable for use in generating antenna beams steered at greater angles off of the antenna broadside is utilized with a beam feed network consistent with the antenna beams being steered at the greater angles and reduced antenna element spacing to provide the reduced grating and side lobes. A preferred embodiment utilizes a 2n+1 Butler matrix coupled to 2n+1 antenna columns spaced according to the present invention to provide 2n antenna beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Metawave Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Gary A. Martek, J. Todd Elson, Leibing Huang
  • Patent number: 6198435
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for improving trunking efficiency of a sectored cell by providing overlapping sectors. The disclosed invention teaches the use of multiple narrow beams composited to form a radiation pattern. Signals associated with each such narrow beam may be provided to inputs of a base station signal quality measuring device for assigning a mobile to a particular sector during call origination which inputs are associated with a particular sector of the radiation pattern. The number of narrow beam signals provided inputs associated with a particular sector defines the azimuthal width of that sector. By providing a same antenna beam signal to multiple sector inputs, overlapping sectors are defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Metawave Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas O. Reudink, Mark D. Reudink, Thomas W. Hammond, Scot D. Gordon, Sheldon K. Meredith, Curtis F. McClive
  • Patent number: 6198436
    Abstract: An integrated receiver includes an Instantaneous Frequency Measurement (IFM) device, an interferometer and switches. The IFM receives signals from a target and determines the frequency of the signals. The IFM includes the shared N-channel phase receiver. The interferometer also receives the signals from the target and determines the angle-of-arrival (AOA) of the signals. The interferometer includes the shared N-channel phase receiver and shares the shared N-channel phase receiver with the IFM. The switches selectively connect the shared N-channel phase receiver to the IFM when the IFM is determining the frequency of the signals, and selectively connect the shared N-channel phase receiver to the interferometer when the interferometer is determining the AOA of the signals. The shared N-channel phase receiver determines phase information indicative of the frequency of the signals and the AOA of the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Ail Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Rudish
  • Patent number: 6198437
    Abstract: A broadband microwave coplanar antenna suitable for use in singular antenna or antenna array dispositions in a plurality of military and other present day uses. The disclosed antenna combines desirable characteristic of the patch and slot antenna forms into an arrangement having both patch resonances and slot resonances. These resonances may be individually accessed and either combined in frequency location or dispersed in frequency to accomplish a broadband combination antenna characteristic. Broadband electrical impedance characteristics are also provided in the dispersed resonance arrangement. The antenna includes a coplanar ground plane member disposed surrounding the active patch/slot element with both physical dimensions of the active patch/slot element and spacings from the ground plane element determining the resonances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Paul M. Watson, Kuldip C. Gupta
  • Patent number: 6198438
    Abstract: A reconfigurable microstrip antenna array geometry which utilizes Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) switches to electrically connect groups of printed patch radiators for operation at multiple frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Herd, Marat Davidovitz, Hans Steyskal
  • Patent number: 6198439
    Abstract: The multifunction printed-circuit antenna is designed for the reception of radioelectric waves sent by the GPS, GLONASS and MLS radio navigation systems. It comprises first, second and third circular patches that are parallel to one another and superimposed in this order above one and the same ground plane that is parallel to them, the centers of the patches being aligned on one and the same axis z′z perpendicular to the plane of the three patches, the patches being separated from one another by thicknesses of a substrate-forming dielectric material for each of the patches. The first and second patches form, with the ground plane, the antenna structure for the reception of the GPS, GLONASS waves. The MLS antenna reception structure is formed by the third and second patches. The second patch also serves as a ground plane for the MLS antenna structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Philippe Dufrane, Pascal Roy
  • Patent number: 6198440
    Abstract: A dual band antenna for a radio terminal consists of a retractable whip antenna and a helical antenna with irregular pitches, wherein the whip antenna is independent of the helical antenna. The helical antenna includes first and second helical portions having first and second pitches, respectively and the first and second helical portions are operable at different frequency bands independently. The whip antenna includes a conductive core line, a conductive substance covering a first portion of the conductive core line to serve as a choke and an isolation element extending from an upper end of the conductive core line, for filling a gap between the conductive core line and the conductive substance. Here, only the first portion of the conductive core line is operable at a first frequency band and the entire conductive core line is operable at a second frequency. A fixing element fixes the helical antenna and the whip antenna to the radio terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-In Ha, Ho-Soo Seo, Seong-Joong Kim, Alexandre Goudelev, Konstantin Krylov
  • Patent number: 6198441
    Abstract: A wireless handset with a built-in tunable antenna has a circuit that tunes the center frequency of impedance matching of the antenna to a call frequency. The wireless handset is used in a communication system that switches between a plurality of call channels. For each call, by adaptively changing the center frequency of impedance matching of the antenna to the frequency used for the call, the frequency band that the antenna should have can be decreased. A first control signal containing call frequency information or data used in a central processing unit to generate the first control signal is used to generate a second control signal in a control signal generator, whereby the center frequency of impedance matching of the tunable antenna can be tuned to a call frequency without having to provide an additional circuit for specifying the call frequency information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Okabe, Ken Takei
  • Patent number: 6198442
    Abstract: A multiple frequency band antenna for a communications device, such as a radiotelephone, includes a dielectric substrate having high and low frequency band radiating elements disposed on a surface thereof. The high and low frequency band radiating elements have meandering patterns and are electrically connected to a feed point. Lumped electrical elements are electrically connected in series between the high and low frequency band radiating elements at the feed point to reduce coupling effects between the high and low frequency band radiating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Ericsson Inc.
    Inventors: Kim Rutkowski, Gerard James Hayes
  • Patent number: 6198443
    Abstract: A switched, dual helical, retractable, dual band antenna for a cellular communication device comprising a device which functions at two specific frequency bands when in the retracted mode and which functions at two specific frequency bands when in the extended mode. The antenna includes an elongated radiator which is in circuit when the antenna is in its extended position and includes inner and outer helical radiators which are in circuit when the antenna is in the retracted mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Centurion Intl., Inc.
    Inventors: Jon J. Powles, Todd M. Blacksher
  • Patent number: 6198444
    Abstract: A double pole limit switch (340) includes an insulator (410), a conductive spring element (420), and a conductive element (430). The conductive spring element is attached to the insulator for providing spring coupling between a substrate (210) and the insulator, and has a first electrical contact (355) and a conductive substrate attachment portion (425). The conductive element is attached to the insulator and has a second electrical contact (350) and a conductive actuator feature (435). The first and second electrical contacts are moved into a plane of the conductive substrate attachment portion by application of opposing forces to the conductive actuator feature and the conductive substrate attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Sailsman, John Delianides, Keith W. Nuetzman
  • Patent number: 6198445
    Abstract: A conformal load bearing antenna structure for attachment to an aircraft having an outer skin. The conformal load bearing antenna structure comprises a top face sheet and an end fed radiating element disposed thereon. Disposed adjacent to the top face sheet is a dielectric and a structural core disposed adjacent to the dielectric. In the preferred embodiment, a bottom face sheet is disposed adjacent to the structural core and an absorber is disposed adjacent to the bottom face sheet. Accordingly, the top face sheet, the dielectric, the structural core, and the bottom face sheet are configured to provide structural strength to the aircraft when the antenna is attached to the outer skin thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Herman Alt, Michael David Durham, Allen John Lockyer, Daniel Patrick Coughlin, James Kenneth Gath, Jayanth Nandalke Kudva
  • Patent number: 6198446
    Abstract: A multifunction antenna feed structure (30) that acts as a feed for a multibandwidth antenna system (22) used in connection with a modern tactical aircraft. The feed structure (30) includes a first feed (32) and a second feed (34) electrically connected to first and second feed points on an antenna element (24) at a location where the first feed (32) is impedance matched to the VHF/FM and UHF frequency bands and the second feed (34) is impedance matched to the VHF/AM frequency band. The first and second feeds (32, 34) are positioned within a flared notch (28) between the antenna element (24) and a conductive aircraft structural component (26). The feeds (32, 34) can take on different geometrical configurations, such as cylindrical feeds, cone feeds or taper feeds. The feeds are (32, 34) electrically isolated from conductive aircraft component (26) and are electrically connected to a matching network (70, 80).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: Allan C. Goetz, Haigan K. Chea
  • Patent number: 6198447
    Abstract: A window pane antenna suitable for radio communication, for automobiles, consists of a loop-shaped antenna conductor (6) and of a conductive area (8) disposed in the edge zone of the glass pane (1). The feed point (7) of the antenna conductor (6) is disposed in the immediate vicinity of the conductive area (8, 9, 10) without connection to it. The other end (6′) of the antenna conductor (6) is in electrically conducting connection with the conductive area (8, 9, 10). In comparison with known antenna structures for radio communication, the tuning behavior of this antenna structure is comparative insensitive to mechanical tolerances during installation of the antenna window pane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage International
    Inventor: Gerd Sauer
  • Patent number: 6198448
    Abstract: In an antenna assembly (10) including a whip antenna (1, 9) provided with a stopper (5) of a conductive material at a lower end of the whip antenna, a helical antenna (2) provided with a conductive sleeve (6) mounted on a top end of the whip antenna, and a holder (4) of a conductive material for slidably holding the whip antenna, each of the stopper, the conductive sleeve, and the holder is of a light metal having a specific gravity not greater than 3 g/cm3. The holder is electrically connected to the stopper when the whip antenna is in an extended position. The holder is electrically connected to the conductive sleeve when the whip antenna is in a retracted position. The light metal may includes at least one of aluminum and magnesium. Alternatively, the light metal essentially consists of 0.4% or less Si, 0.7% or less Fe, 5.0-6.0% Cu, 0.30% or less Zn, 0.2-0.6% Bi, 0.2-0.6% Pb, and the balance Al in weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Tokin Corporation
    Inventors: Fumihiro Suzuki, Kazuo Minegishi
  • Patent number: 6198449
    Abstract: A multiple beam array antenna system including a first group of right-handed circularly polarized subarrays and a second group of left-handed circularly polarized subarrays. Combined signals from the right-handed subarrays are output via low noise amplifiers to a first electromagnetic lens while the outputs of the left-handed circularly polarized subarrays are sent via low noise amplifiers to a second steering electromagnetic lens. A satellite selection matrix output block allows a user to tap into signals from right-handed circularly polarized satellites, left-handed circularly polarized satellites, and linearly polarized satellites. A plurality of satellites (e.g. right-handed satellite “A” and linearly polarized satellite “B”) may be accessed simultaneously thus allowing the user to utilize both signals at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: E*Star, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas L. Muhlhauser, Thomas C. Weakley, Scott A. Townley
  • Patent number: 6198450
    Abstract: A hemispherical dielectric resonator is arranged on a metal substrate to make a flat surface of the hemispherical dielectric resonator contact with the metal substrate, and a dielectric wave-guiding channel is connected with a curved side surface of the hemispherical dielectric resonator. Therefore, a dielectric resonance antenna in which the hemispherical dielectric resonator and the dielectric wave-guiding channel are placed on the same metal substrate is obtained. A signal transmitting through the dielectric wave-guiding channel is fed in the hemispherical dielectric resonator, the hemispherical dielectric resonator is resonated, and an electromagnetic wave is radiated. Therefore, the dielectric resonance antenna functions as a wave radiation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventors: Naoki Adachi, Takashi Fukagawa, Suguru Fujita, Kenichi Maeda, Kazuaki Takahashi, Makoto Hasegawa, Morikazu Sagawa, Mitsuo Makimoto
  • Patent number: 6198451
    Abstract: An antenna feed for a 94 GHz radar combining quasi-optic and microwave integrated circuit (MIC) techniques. The optical components (15-23) couple MIC receive and transmit boards (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) to the antenna, which may be a steerable cassegrain. Co-polar and cross-polar received signals are coupled out of the optical system by transmitting/reflecting grids (3 and 5) and the transmit signal may be similarly coupled into it (7). The MIC's have antenna patch arrays which are oriented to suit the respective polarization plane and associated grid. The use of a Faraday rotator (17) in conjunction with a grid (5) in the optic path permits spearation of the transmit path (13) from the receive path (25), each then having it own MIC (FIG. 4 and FIG. 3). Alternatively, duplexing is performed in a common MIC (FIG. 6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Marconi Electronic Systems Limited
    Inventors: Michael James Aylward, Charles Anthony Rowatt