Kenneth M Gainey

US Patent:

6362790, Mar 26, 2002

Filed:

Aug 26, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/384041

Inventors:

Kenneth M. Gainey - Satellite Beach FL

Assignee:

Tantivy Communications, Inc. - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

H01Q 124

US Classification:

343702, 343878, 343895

Abstract:

A miniaturized directional antenna for use with system to provide data communication over wireless radio channels. The unit supports multiple antenna elements with a known orientation with respect to an earth ground plane reference. This greatly provides predictability in the steerability and other directional attributes of the antenna array using miniaturized chip multilayer or helical antenna elements, the unit may be constructed in a case or other form factor of approximately 3Ã3Ã1 inches for operation within the frequency bands around 1900 MHz.

US Patent:

6369771, Apr 9, 2002

Filed:

Jan 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/773377

Inventors:

Bing Chiang - Melbourne FL
Kenneth M. Gainey - Satellite Beach FL
Griffin K. Gothard - Satellite Beach FL
Christopher A. Snyder - Palm Bay FL

Assignee:

Tantivy Communications, Inc. - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

H01Q 928

US Classification:

343795, 343700 MS, 343820, 343821, 343829

Abstract:

A dipole antenna for use with a mobile subscriber unit in a wireless network communications system. The antenna is fabricated with printed circuit board (PCB) photo-etching techniques for precise control of the printed structure. The dipole antenna includes a planar substrate made of dielectric material. A conductive planar element is layered on one side of the substrate in an upper region of the substrate, and a conductive planar ground patch is layered on the other side of the substrate in a lower region of the substrate. That is, the conductive planar element is stacked above the conductive planar ground patch. A feed strip is connected to the bottom of the conductive planar element, and extends from the element to a bottom edge of the substrate and terminates at a bottom feed point. Typically, the feed point is connected to a transmission line for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the dipole antenna. The conductive planar ground patch includes a bottom end for connecting the ground patch to a ground plane upon which the dipole antenna is mounted.

US Patent:

6396456, May 28, 2002

Filed:

Jan 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/773277

Inventors:

Bing Chiang - Melbourne FL
Kenneth M. Gainey - Satellite Beach FL

Assignee:

Tantivy Communications, Inc. - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

H01Q 928

US Classification:

343795, 343700 MS, 343846

Abstract:

A dipole antenna for use with a mobile subscriber unit in a wireless communications system. The antenna is fabricated with printed circuit board (PCB) photo-etching techniques for precise control of the printed structure to mass produce antenna elements with repeatable features. The antenna includes a planar substrate made of dielectric material. A conductive planar element layered on one side of the substrate, and a conductive planar ground patch is located on the other side of the substrate. The conductive planar element is located in an upper region of the substrate, while the location of the planar ground patch is offset from the conductive planar element in a lower region of the substrate. A feed strip is connected to the conductive planar element, extends from the element to a bottom edge of the substrate, and terminates at a bottom feed point. The conductive planar ground patch includes two portions.

US Patent:

6404386, Jun 11, 2002

Filed:

Jul 14, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/616588

Inventors:

Kenneth M. Gainey - Satellite Beach FL

Assignee:

Tantivy Communications, Inc. - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

H01Q 322

US Classification:

342368, 342372

Abstract:

An antenna apparatus which can increase capacity in a cellular communication system. The antenna operates in conjunction with a mobile subscriber unit and provides a plurality of antenna elements, each coupled to a respective signal control component such as a switch. The switch position of each antenna element is programmed for optimum reception during, for example, an idle mode which receives a pilot signal. The antenna array creates a beamformer for signals to be transmitted from the mobile subscriber unit, and a directional receiving array to more optimally detect and receive signals transmitted from the base station. By directionally receiving and transmitting signals, multipath fading is greatly reduced as well as intercell interference. Various techniques for determining the proper arrangement of signal control components for each antenna element are accommodated.

US Patent:

6448938, Sep 10, 2002

Filed:

Jun 12, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/879807

Inventors:

Bing Chiang - Melbourne FL
Kenneth M. Gainey - Satellite Beach FL

Assignee:

Tantivy Communications, Inc. - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

H01Q 2160

US Classification:

343850, 343853

Abstract:

A phased array antenna provides a subscriber unit with an ability to transmit and receive signals in different directions to allow for optimum gain in both directions, simultaneously. In this way, refraction and multipath effects resulting from communication signals operating at different frequencies can be compensated for to improve gain in both the forward and reverse links. Frequency selective components are coupled to respective antenna elements. At least two weighting structures are coupled to the frequency selective components to produce independently steerable beams having spectrally separated signals. The weighting structures may include phase shifting elements to steer the beams independently and include at least one variable gain amplifying component to independently amplify the signals received by or transmitted by the respective antenna, thereby optimizing the respective shapes of the beams. By having independently steerable and shapable beams, the directive antenna is attractive for use in a multi-band and/or multipath environment, same frequency or spread spectrum network.

US Patent:

6515635, Feb 4, 2003

Filed:

May 1, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/846693

Inventors:

Bing Chiang - Melbourne FL
Griffin K. Gothard - Satellite Beach FL
Kenneth M. Gainey - Satellite Beach FL
Joe T. Richeson - Melbourne FL

Assignee:

Tantivy Communications, Inc. - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

H01Q 1910

US Classification:

343834, 343836, 343837, 343853

Abstract:

A directive antenna includes plural antenna elements in an antenna assemblage. A feed network connected to the antenna elements includes at least one switch to select a state of one of the antenna elements to be in an active state in response to a control signal. The other antenna elements are in a passive state, electrically coupled to an impedance to be in a reflective mode. The antenna elements in the passive state are electromagnetically coupled to the active antenna element, allowing the antenna assemblage to directionally transmit and receive signals. The directive antenna may further include an assisting switch associated with each antenna element to assist coupling the antenna elements, while in the passive state, to the respective impedances. The antenna assemblage may be circular for a 360Â discrete scan in N directions, where N is the number of antenna elements. The directive antenna is suitable for use in a high data rate network having greater than 50 kbits per second data transfer rates, where the high data rate network may use CDMA2000, 1eV-DO, 1Extreme, or other such protocol.

US Patent:

6518920, Feb 11, 2003

Filed:

Aug 28, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/942257

Inventors:

Kenneth M. Gainey - Satellite Beach FL

Assignee:

Tantivy Communications, Inc. - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

H04B 700

US Classification:

342367, 342372

Abstract:

An antenna apparatus which can increase capacity in a cellular communication system. The antenna operates in conjunction with a mobile subscriber unit and provides a plurality of antenna elements, each coupled to a respective programmable phase shifter. The phase of each antenna element is programmed for optimum reception during, for example, an idle mode which receives a pilot signal. The antenna array creates a beamformer for signals to be transmitted from the mobile subscriber unit, and a directional receiving array to more optimally detect and receive signals transmitted from the base station. By directionally receiving and transmitting signals, multipath fading is greatly reduced as well as intercell interference. Various techniques for determining the proper phase of each antenna element are accommodated.

US Patent:

6600456, Jul 29, 2003

Filed:

May 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/859001

Inventors:

Griffin K. Gothard - Satellite Beach FL
Christopher A. Snyder - Palm Bay FL
Bing Chiang - Melbourne FL
Joe T. Richeson - Melbourne FL
Douglas H. Wood - Palm Bay FL
Kenneth M. Gainey - Satellite Beach FL

Assignee:

Tantivy Communications, Inc. - Melbourne FL

International Classification:

H01Q 324

US Classification:

343834, 342372

Abstract:

An antenna apparatus which can increase capacity in a cellular communication system. The antenna operates in conjunction with a mobile subscriber unit and provides a plurality of antenna elements. At least one active antenna element is active and essentially centrally located within multiple passive antenna elements. The passive antenna elements are coupled to selectable impedance components. Through proper control of the passive antenna elements, the cellular communication system directs an antenna beam pattern toward an antenna tower of a base station to maximize gain, and, consequently, signal-to-noise ratio. Thus, optimum reception is achieved during, for example, an idle mode which receives a pilot signal. The antenna array creates a beamformer for signals to be transmitted from the mobile subscriber unit, and a directional receiving array to more optimally detect and receive signals transmitted from the base station. By directionally receiving and transmitting signals, multipath fading is greatly reduced as well as intercell interference.