Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – With housing or protective covering
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-03
2001-02-20
Ho, Tan (Department: 2821)
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
With housing or protective covering
C343S840000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06191753
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to systems and methods for covering antennas and, more particularly, to systems and methods for covering parabolic dishes and converters used as part of digital satellite communications systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Digital satellite communications systems employing digital television signals in the Ku microwave band (12 GHz) are increasingly popular for a number of reasons but principally because the frequencies employed allow small aperture antenna systems on the receiving end. Such small aperture receiving systems are highly desirable for home use.
The use of such high frequency signals increases the chance that these signals will be refracted or absorbed by moisture in the atmosphere as they propagate from the satellite to the receiving antenna. These systems are designed for a given amount of signal attenuation due to such interference, but excessive signal attenuation can result in an inadequate signal at the receiving location.
Accordingly, when localized precipitation causes signal attenuation beyond that for which the system was designed, the subscribers may experience what is called rain fade and eventually lose the transmitted signal entirely.
The need thus exists for systems and methods that alleviate the problem of signal loss due to moisture related interference.
RELATED ART
A device called a radome is commonly placed over antennas to protect the antenna from ice, snow, and wind. A common use of such radomes is on mountain top microwave relay stations in telephony communications networks. These radomes are typically heated and/or have special coating so that any accumulation of ice or snow on the cover is dissipated.
Similar radomes are attached to aircraft over aircraft radar antennas to protect the antennas while preserving the aerodynamic shape of the aircraft.
The applicant is also aware of a class of products specifically designed for digital satellite television systems that are, essentially, nylon bags that have drawstrings or a zipper. The bag is placed over the satellite dish and then drawn tight therearound. These bag type covers have several problems, however.
First, no matter how tight these bags are stretched over the dish, they eventually loosen and begin to collapse under the weight of rain or snow. Signal interference will likely occur when the bag collapses. In addition, the bags and drawstrings stretch and, in some cases, rot under a continuous exposure to moisture. Zipper type fasteners can rust or, if made of plastic, may not withstand the repeated stress from high winds. And these bag designs may not be used on antennas mounted on recreational vehicles because they can not withstand the constant and sustained wind force at highway speeds.
A search conducted by the applicant also turned up the following U.S. patents.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 304,454 to Serres appears to disclose a bag type cover for satellite dishes.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 387,356 to Kelly et al. discloses a satellite dish cover using a flexible bag.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,125 to Kelly also discloses a bag type satellite cover having a cinching mechanism for cinching and tightening the main body panel about the dish and feeder horn of satellite dish assembly.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
From the foregoing, it should be apparent that a primary object of the present invention is to provide improved systems and methods for covering antennas used in digital satellite communications systems.
Another more specific object of the present invention is to provide systems and methods for covering antennas having a favorable mix of the following characteristics:
reduces signal interference from precipitation falling between the antenna dish and the signal converter or collecting on the signal converter;
easily adapts to a variety of antenna configurations
can be installed quickly and inexpensively by a non-technician; and
may be manufactured easily and inexpensively.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a cover assembly for a parabolic antenna assembly designed for use in a satellite communications system. The cover assembly is designed with a mounting portion that engages the satellite dish and a nose portion that extends out from the satellite dish around a converter assembly of the antenna system.
The cover assembly is rigid and the nose portion will not buckle or fold under the weight of precipitation such as rain or snow. The cover assembly is made from a material that is impermeable to water and permeable to high frequency signals of the type to be received by the antenna system.
The mounting portion may be dedicated to one type of antenna assembly or may be designed with a plurality of mounting areas formed therein, with each mounting area being designed to attach to a different type of antenna assembly.
In particular, antenna dishes are sold in a number of different configurations. The mounting portion may comprise a mounting area that is sized and dimensioned to accommodate one of the dish configurations. Accordingly, the cover manufacturer need not manufacture and ship, and the retailer need not store and sell, a separate design for each type of antenna system.
The cover assembly is preferably made of first and second cover members that are attached to each other along a cover seam. This greatly facilitates manufacturing, storage, and assembly of the cover assembly over the antenna assembly, but a single piece cover member could be manufactured according to the principles of the present invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 304454 (1989-11-01), Serres
patent: D. 387356 (1997-12-01), Kelly et al.
patent: 5451972 (1995-09-01), Franklin
patent: 5528253 (1996-06-01), Franklin
patent: 5815125 (1998-09-01), Kelly et al.
patent: 5940047 (1999-08-01), Pfnister
4-page website paper entitled SAT-Cover from Satcover, downloaded on Jul. 19, 1999.
3-page website paper entitled ‘DSS’ & ‘DISH’ Covers (Umbrella Deluxe Model 2) from Hobby Corner Satellite, downloaded on Jul. 19, 1999.
Ellis Mark
Geer Jeff
Ho Tan
Hughes & Schacht, P.S.
Schacht Michael R.
LandOfFree
Systems and methods for covering antennas used in digital... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Systems and methods for covering antennas used in digital..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Systems and methods for covering antennas used in digital... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2615748