Device for positioning an antenna

Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – With means for moving directive antenna for scanning,...

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C343S757000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06188367

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of satellite antennas, and more specifically to the field of mechanisms for positioning an antenna, and in particular, to the field of mechanisms for positioning an antenna for use on a recreational vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to place an antenna on a vehicle such as a boat or recreational vehicle (RV) for receiving signals from a satellite, for example, a direct television signal. U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,205 issued to van Heyningen, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,250 issued to Sherwood, et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,804 issued to Rodeffer teach various apparatus and methods for mounting and positioning such antennas. Each of these patents is incorporated by reference herein.
Prior art devices for positioning antenna are typically driven by electric motors connected to the antenna by a gear mechanism. To reduce the size and cost of the drive motors, high ratio gear trains are often employed. However, such gearing systems create excessive slop in the drive train, thereby limiting the precision with which the antenna can be positioned. Furthermore, prior art devices are often limited in the amount of rotation that can be provided in the azimuth direction. For applications on boats and RV's an unlimited amount of rotation is desirable.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a device for positioning an antenna that has small size, low cost, high accuracy of position, and an unlimited range of movement in the azimuth direction.
SUMMARY
In order to achieve these and other objects of the invention, a device for positioning an antenna is provided having: a frame for mounting the antenna, the frame having a first arm and a second arm connected about an axis of elevational rotation; a first timing belt having a first end connected to the first arm and a second end connected to the second arm; and a means for driving the first timing belt to rotate the frame about the axis of elevational rotation. The device may further have a means for maintaining tension in the first timing belt as the antenna is rotated. A device according to this invention may also have a bracket pivotally connected to the frame about the axis of elevational rotation and a base plate pivotally connected to the bracket for rotation of said bracket about an axis of azimuth rotation. A second timing belt may be wrapped in contact with at least a portion of a perimeter edge of the base plate; with a means for driving the second timing belt being connected to the bracket and operable to rotate the bracket about the axis of azimuth rotation. Electrical signals for the drive motors and the antenna may be multiplexed and passed through a single coaxial rotary joint.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3987452 (1976-10-01), Godet
patent: 4392140 (1983-07-01), Bastian et al.
patent: 4577825 (1986-03-01), Pinson
patent: 5471219 (1995-11-01), Rodeffer et al.
patent: 5517205 (1996-05-01), van Heyningen et al.
patent: 5528250 (1996-06-01), Sherwood et al.
patent: 5554998 (1996-09-01), Sherwood et al.
patent: 5585804 (1996-12-01), Rodeffer
patent: 5646638 (1997-07-01), Winegard et al.

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