Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – With ice clearer or preventer
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-15
2001-02-27
Phan, Tho (Department: 2821)
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
With ice clearer or preventer
C343S912000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195055
ABSTRACT:
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to antenna reflectors and, more particularly, heated antenna reflectors.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
A reflector, commonly called a dish, is generally a parabolic section having a round, elliptical or other configuration. Dish antennas are typically used to receive and transmit electromagnetic signals, such as radio frequency (RF) or microwave signals transmitted to or received from a satellite or other source. When used for receiving signals, the parabolically-shaped reflector of the dish antenna serves to reflect and focus received signals onto a detecting or amplifying unit, known as a feed horn, positioned at the focal point of the dish antenna.
The performance of a typical dish antenna is dependent upon and greatly affected by the geometrical accuracy, or integrity, of the shape of the parabolic reflective surface and the position of the amplifying unit relative to the focal point of the reflected electromagnetic signals. If the parabolic reflective surface of the dish antenna is deformed, the electromagnetic signals may not be reflected to a single focal point, or the position of that focal point may be significantly shifted from its design position. The strength of the reflected electromagnetic signals received by the amplifying unit may therefore be of dramatically reduced strength. Thus, physical distortion of the parabolic reflecting surface ultimately results in significantly degraded antenna performance and, therefore, degraded reception quality.
Dish antennas vary widely in size, having diameters ranging approximately from less than one meter to in excess of seven meters, and are typically constructed of light weight materials, such as aluminum mesh, providing little or no structural support or rigidity. Typically, dish antennas are installed in locations where they are exposed to the harsh outside environment, including the precipitation of snow and/or ice which may accumulate on the parabolic reflecting surface of the antenna. The weight of accumulated snow and/or ice may distort the shape of the parabolic reflecting surface, particularly where the antenna is constructed of materials offering little or no structural support or rigidity as discussed above. Such physical distortion, by affecting the integrity of the parabolic shape of the reflecting surface, may significantly degrade the performance of the antenna.
The mounting of various insulating covers and/or heating elements onto a dish antenna may prevent the accumulation of snow or ice on the antenna. However, when these devices are mounted to a dish antenna the load they place on the structure thereof may be of a sufficient magnitude to result in the distortion of the parabolic reflector. Typical insulating covers and/or heating element devices for dish antennas are installed adjacent to the rear side of the parabolic reflector and are physically attached to the outer rim of the dish antenna, thus placing a load on the structure of the dish antenna. This load is magnified by the moment arm that results from the attachment of such devices to the outer rim of the dish antenna. Thus, the physical distortion of the parabolic reflecting surface and the degradation in antenna performance are also magnified.
The assembly of the various insulating covers and/or heating elements, and the attachment thereof to a dish antenna, typically involves a number of component parts and an associated assortment of assembly and mounting hardware, such as bolts, nuts, screws and other fasteners. Thus, installation of the various insulating covers and/or heating elements may be a difficult and labor-intensive task requiring a certain degree of mechanical skill, and perhaps requiring the labor of more than one person.
Typical insulating covers passively retain heat generated by the heating element by insulating the heated portion or surface of the dish antenna from the ambient environment. Such a passive insulating cover may be constructed of a dense and, therefore, relatively heavy, material, in order to achieve a certain insulation factor and/or efficiency. Insulating covers constructed of such materials typically have a fixed size and shape. Thus, installation of the various insulating covers is further complicated due to their weight, bulk, fixed size and shape, and rigidity.
Therefore, what is needed in the art is a dish antenna heating assembly that is lightweight, flexible and/or pliable, and is therefore easy to install. Furthermore, what is needed in the art is an antenna dish heating assembly that actively reflects heat back toward the dish antenna surface being heated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a dish antenna heating assembly for use with a dish-type antenna that is very lightweight, pliable, and simple to install. Furthermore, the present invention provides a dish antenna heating assembly having an insulating cover that reflects heat back toward the portion or surface of the dish antenna over which it lies.
The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a dish antenna heating assembly including a dish antenna having a convex rear surface, a heating element associated with at least a portion of the convex rear surface, a fabric cover overlying at least the portion of the convex rear surface with which the heating element is associated, and spacer elements disposed between the convex rear surface of the dish antenna and the fabric cover.
An advantage of the present invention is that the dish antenna heating assembly is very light in weight and imposes a negligible load on the structure of the dish antenna, thus preventing distortion of the parabolic reflecting surface and preserving antenna performance.
Another advantage is that the accumulation of snow and/or ice on the parabolic reflecting surface of the dish antenna is prevented, thus preventing distortion of the parabolic reflecting surface and preserving antenna performance.
Yet another advantage is that the heater assembly can be easily installed by one person, and may be installed on antennas that are already installed in their operating positions.
A further advantage is that the insulating cover reflects heat back toward the portion or surface of the dish antenna to which it is attached.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2679003 (1954-05-01), Dyke et al.
patent: 4866452 (1989-09-01), Barma et al.
patent: 5010350 (1991-04-01), Lipkin et al.
patent: 5796368 (1998-08-01), Arthur
patent: 5844526 (1998-12-01), Jones
patent: 5963171 (1999-10-01), Jones
MSX, Inc.
Phan Tho
Taylor & Aust P.C.
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