Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – With signal – indicator or alarm
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-09
2001-03-27
Wong, Don (Department: 2821)
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
With signal, indicator or alarm
C342S359000, C033S270000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06208315
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a satellite antenna or a satellite dish. More particularly, the invention relates to an antenna for receiving satellite broadcast, which provides easy and convenient installation.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to receive a satellite broadcast program, the orientation of the satellite dish has to be adjusted for directing to a satellite accurately. Upon adjustment, since the radio wave from a broadcasting satellite (BS) is strong, sufficient signal intensity can be obtained even with a certain error in orientation. However, since the radio wave from a communication satellite (CS) is weak, it becomes impossible to obtain sufficient signal intensity unless the orientation of the antenna is correctly directed to the satellite. Various methods and systems for solving such problem have been developed and proposed. The conventional methods and systems are mainly based on the following two systems.
The first system adopts a method to adjust the orientation of the antenna by means of a compass and a level. The second system adopts a method for capturing a direction at which the intensity of received signal becomes at its available maximum.
The first system, namely the system employing the compass and the level, is characterized in simplicity. However, the north directed by the compass deviates about 6.5 degrees from the north of the earth's axis, which causes it difficult to adjust the orientation accurately within one degree of deviation. Furthermore, since the compass is influenced by environmental magnetic field, correct direction cannot be indicated if an antenna mount or a handrail of veranda are formed of magnetic body or the antenna is placed close to a domestic power source or a power cable. Particularly, in case of the antenna of the type, to which a direct current is supplied to a converter module, since a direct current magnetic field is generated quite close to the antenna and a compass, the influence of the magnetic field is significant. Due to the foregoing problems, the method employing the compass can not always enable us to adjust the satellite antenna orientation accurately.
The second system, namely the system employing signal intensity received by a satellite antenna, concerns the adjustment after the satellite antenna has caught the radio wave from the satellite. In case of the CS broadcasting, in which the radio wave is weak on the ground, difficulty is encountered in initially capturing the radio wave. Also, the orientation of the antenna often deviates from the direction with maximum reception intensity during the antenna fixation because fastening the antenna mounts on a mount pole changes the antenna direction somewhat. In the method employing the intensity of the received radio wave, difficulty is encountered to make judgment how much the orientation deviates and to keep the orientation during the fixation of the antenna.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an antenna for satellite broadcast which enables us to adjust the orientation more precisely than the method based on a compass and a level, without being influenced by environmental magnetic field, and to adjust the orientation accurately even before the radio wave from the satellite is not caught. The present invention also enables us to fix the antenna kept in adjusted direction by monitoring the orientation so as not to deviate during fixing operation. The present invention improves of workability in adjustment of antenna orientation consequently.
In order to accomplish the above-mentioned and other objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, an antenna for satellite broadcast having a reflector for converging radio wave from a satellite and a receiver module for receiving the radio wave converged by the reflector, comprises:
a light blocking portion forming a shadow by the sun light;
a scale determining a direction of the sun by the shadow formed by the light blocking portion,
the light blocking portion and the scale being provided at an upper end portion of the reflector.
As set forth above, by equipping the light blocking portion forming the shadow by the sun light and the scale for making judgment of the direction of the sun by the shadow formed by the light blocking portion, it becomes possible to direct the reflector toward the satellite utilizing the direction of the sun indicated by the shadow on the scale formed by the light blocking portion.
Also, according to the present invention set forth above, utilizing the direction of the sun, adjustment of orientation can be performed more precisely than the method using a compass and a level as not being influenced by the difference between the earth's axis and the geomagnetic axis, environmental magnetic field.
On the other hand, in accordance with the present invention, since the radio wave from the satellite is not used for adjustment, adjustment can be performed even when the radio wave from the satellite cannot be received as orientation of the antenna being not matched, when the receiving device is not present or when the receiving device cannot be connected upon installation of the antenna.
Furthermore, even during operation for fixing the antenna after adjustment, reference of orientation can be provided by the shadow formed by the light blocking portion and the scale. Therefore, the deviation from the adequate orientation can be monitored during the antenna fixation, which improves workability in adjustment of orientation of the antenna.
Therefore, according to the present invention, adjustment of the orientation of the satellite antenna can be performed simply and precisely.
In addition, since the light blocking portion and the scale are provided on the upper end portion of the reflector, the shadow formed by light blocking portion is not covered by the shadow of the reflector.
In the construction set forth above, the light blocking portion and the scale may be detachably mounted on the reflector.
Thus, since the light blocking portion and the scale are mounted detachably on the reflector, installation of the satellite antenna is performed in the condition where the light blocking portion and the scale are mounted on the reflector, and after completion of installation, the light blocking portion and the scale may be removed from the reflector.
Also, according to another aspect of the present invention, the satellite antenna having a reflector for converging radio wave from a satellite and a receiver module for receiving the radio wave converged by the reflector, comprises:
a light blocking portion forming a shadow by the sun light;
a scale determining a direction of the sun by the shadow formed by the light blocking portion,
the light blocking portion and the scale being provided at an upper portion of the reflector.
Similarly to the former aspect of the invention, since the light blocking portion forming the shadow by the sun light and the scale for making judgment of the direction of the sun by the shadow formed by the light blocking portion, it becomes possible to direct the reflector toward the satellite utilizing the direction of the sun by making judgment of the direction of the sun with the shadow formed by the light blocking portion on the scale.
In the preferred construction, the light blocking portion and the scale are detachably mounted on the reflector.
The scale may be printed on the reflector. Since the scale is printed on the reflector, the scale portion attached on the reflector may be eliminated.
The light blocking portion may be adjustable of position with respect to the reflector. As set forth above, since the light blocking portion is adjustable of the position relative to the reflector, setting of the installation condition can be easily appreciated by adjusting the position of the light blocking portion. Also, the light blocking portion is adjustable of an angle with respect to the reflector. Since the light blocking portion is adjusta
Alemu Ephrem
McGuireWoods LLP
NEC Corporation
Wong Don
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