Patent Application
20120155514
Many communication antennas are “directional” in that they must be aligned in a desired direction, or must maintain a specific orientation, in order to transmit communication signals to, and/or receive communication signals from, a particular remote communication device or system. One example of such an antenna is a parabolic “dish” antenna typically associated with Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) and related satellite television systems. Such an antenna typically must be directed at the intended source satellite within a relatively small angular tolerance to allow the parabolic surface of the antenna to direct the received television signals to a low-noise block-converter (LNB) or similar signal-receiving circuitry of the antenna to capture the television programming reliably.
During the antenna installation process, a satellite system installer typically employs a signal meter to monitor the power, strength, or intensity of the satellite signal being received as the installer alters the angular orientation of the antenna to search for the orientation at which the received signal strength is maximized. To this end, the installer adjusts the antenna orientation in any or all of three angular directions: azimuth (i.e., left and right parallel to the horizon), elevation (i.e., up and down perpendicular to the horizon), and polarization or “skew” (i.e., rotationally about a central axis perpendicular to, and passing through, the dish portion of the antenna). In many cases, the meter is fairly substantial in size and weight, sometimes measuring nearly one foot across, and costing several hundred dollars. Further, some meters are designed to check only the power of the signal from the antenna by way of analog gauges, while more modern units provide more advanced functionality, such as displaying the desired azimuth, elevation, and skew for a selected satellite in response to a particular geographical location entered by the installer.
Many aspects of the present disclosure may be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily depicted to scale, as emphasis is instead placed upon clear illustration of the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also, while several embodiments are described in connection with these drawings, the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents.
The enclosed drawings and the following description depict specific embodiments of the invention to teach those skilled in the art how to make and use the best mode of the invention. For the purpose of teaching inventive principles, some conventional aspects have been simplified or omitted. Those skilled in the art will appreciate variations of these embodiments that fall within the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the features described below can be combined in various ways to form multiple embodiments of the invention. As a result, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described below, but only by the claims and their equivalents.
The electronic device or fixture 100 includes an enclosure 108 containing interfacing circuitry 106 configured to receive signals over a first connector 102. The interfacing circuitry 106 is also adapted to generate digital data representative of the received signals, and to forward the digital data over a second connector 104 to the portable communication device. The enclosure 106 provides mechanical support for the first connector 102 and the second connector 104, as well as protection for the interfacing circuitry 106. In one implementation, the enclosure 108 may be composed of one or more impact-resistant materials, such as rubber or a soft plastic, to protect the interfacing circuitry 106 and the portable communication device from physical damage.
In one embodiment, the enclosure 108 provides a communication device cavity 110 in which the portable communication device rests while being engaged with the second connector 104. Further, the second connector 104 is oriented such that the back surface of the portable communication device faces the enclosure 108, such that the front surface of the portable communication device that provides a display and a user interface faces outward from the enclosure 108. In some examples, the cavity 110 may be shaped to provide a close fit with a particular type of portable communication device. By allowing the enclosure 108 to extend beyond the communication device in each direction, the cavity 110 may thus serve to protect the portable communication device from damage if the electronic device 100 is accidentally dropped onto a table or other large, substantially flat surface. In another example, an enclosure attachment 112 may be attached to the top of the electronic device 100 to retain the communication device within the cavity 110, and to preserve the connection between the second connector 104 and the communication device.
Many physical variations of the electronic device 100 may be devised without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the positions of the first connector 102 and the second connector 104 relative to the enclosure 108 may be altered to make the electronic device 100 useful in a variety of operational environments. In one case, while the type and positioning of the second connector 104 as shown in
While an iPhone® is specifically mentioned as an example of a portable communication device to be used in conjunction with the electronic device 100 of
Generally, as described in greater detail below, the electronic device 100 of
In this implementation, as well as those discussed hereinafter, the combination of the electronic device 100 and the portable communication device 210 helps determine a characteristic of the antenna signal 230, such as signal strength, power, or intensity. An installer or user may employ this information to determine an optimum orientation of the satellite antenna for proper reception of the satellite signals 225. Generally, this optimum orientation is the orientation of the antenna at which the power, strength, or intensity of the satellite signals 225 is maximized.
While the example of
To perform the signal measurements desired, interfacing circuitry 106 of the electronic device 100 is configured to receive the antenna signals 230 and generate digital data representative of some characteristic of the antenna signals 230, such as power, strength, or intensity, although other characteristics of the antenna signals 230 may be quantified in a similar manner. For example, the interfacing circuitry 106 may generate data representing the electrical voltage and/or current of the signals 230 as carried over the coaxial cable 204.
Any circuitry capable of performing the above functions associated with the interfacing circuitry 106 may be employed. Examples of such circuitry may include any one or all of amplifiers, filters, analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), and the like. The interfacing circuitry 106 may also include a processing unit, such as a microprocessor, microcontroller, or digital signal processor (DSP), executing software or firmware instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for generating the digital data described above. In another example, the interfacing circuitry 106 may include strictly hardware circuitry capable of providing such functionality, or may employ some combination of hardware, firmware, and software elements. Any of the above circuitry may be embodied on one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) held within the enclosure 108 of the electronic device 100.
The interfacing circuitry 106 forwards the generated digital data 220 via the second connector 104 to the portable communication device 210. In one example, the second connector 104 is a multi-conductor data connector adapted to carry the digital data 220 in a serial and/or parallel data format to the portable communication device 210. However, other types of connectors compatible with the particular portable communication device 210 to be employed in the signal metering system 200 may be utilized in other implementations.
In addition to the first connector 102, the second connector 104, and the interfacing circuitry 106 depicted in both
As illustrated in
As mentioned earlier, the electronic device 100 forwards the digital data 220 via the second connector 104 to the portable communication device 210. As shown in
The data connector 212 of the portable communication device 210 is configured to engage with the second connector 104 of
The control circuitry 214 is configured to communicate with, and possible control, any of the display component 216, the user interface 218, the geographical location circuitry 217, and the communication circuitry 219 of the communication device 210. The control circuitry 214 may include one or more processors, such as a microprocessor, microcontroller, or DSP, configured to execute instructions directing the processor to perform the functions associated with the control circuitry 214. In another implementation, the control circuitry 214 may be completely hardware-based logic circuitry, or may include a combination of hardware, firmware, and/or software elements.
The display component 216 may be any kind of visual interface, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen configured to provide visual information to a user. The user interface 218 provides means by which the user may enter data, make selections, and provide other input to the communication device 210. The user interface 218 may include, for example, a set of user-actuated keys or buttons that, when pressed by the user in isolation or in combination, provide a desired input to the communication device 210. In another example, the user interface 218 may be implemented via a touch-screen interface incorporated with the display component 216 of the communication device 210. Other examples of either or both of the display component 216 and the user interface 218 may be utilized in other implementations.
In operation, the control circuitry 214 receives the digital data 220 via the data connector 212 and presents some indication of that data 220 to the user or installer via the display component 216. An audio generation circuit, including an audio speaker (not shown in
Other information related to the reception of the satellite signal 225 may also be received in the digital data 220 and forwarded to the display component 216 for presentation to the user. For example, in the case of multiple satellites residing in geosynchronous orbit about the earth, the satellite signal 225 may include an indication of the specific satellite which is sourcing the satellite signal 225. Such information may be included in the digital data 220 received at the communication device 210, which may then be presented to the user of the communication device 210.
In another implementation, the portable communication device 210 may also provide information that is useful for the antenna orientation task. For example, the portable communication device 210 may store in memory (not explicitly shown in
Additionally, instead of relying upon the user or installer to enter accurate geographical information regarding the current location of the antenna, the portable communication device 210 may employ the geographic location circuit 217 to make that determination without user guidance. In one example, the geographic location circuit 217 receives locating signals from multiple satellites of the Global Positioning System (GPS) to determine the location of the portable communication device 210 and, hence, the antenna. Other geographical location circuitry 217 configured to determine the location of the antenna may be utilized in alternate implementations.
To realize this functionality in a smart phone or similar device, the user may be able to download and install an application or applet capable of providing this functionality into the portable communication device 210. In one implementation, the control circuitry 214 may use the communication circuitry 219 shown in
The communication circuit 219 may also be utilized to transfer information regarding the signal metering system 200 to an external device, such as a communication node or data collection center. Such information may include, for example, some or all of the digital data 220 received at the portable communication device 210, a summary of the data 220, or data generated by the control circuitry 214 in response to the digital data 220 and/or user input supplied via the user interface 218. The device or unit receiving this data may utilize the data to determine how well the antenna is aligned with the desired satellite sourcing the received satellite signals 225, the overall performance of the user or installer involved, and other information. The user of the signal metering system 200 may also employ the communication device 210 to communicate with supervisors or other personnel for guidance during the antenna installation or peaking process, as a user would normally employ the communication device 210 to communication with other people.
In order to perform its duties, the LNB 202 requires electrical power, which is typically received at the LNB 202 from a satellite television receiver or set-top box via the coaxial cable 204 during normal operation. In one example, a battery 207 installed in the electronic device 100 may supply the necessary power over the coaxial cable 204 in lieu of a set-top box so that the LNB 202 may provide the required antenna signals 230 to the electronic device 100 for measuring.
In some examples, other components of, or associated with, the signal metering system may supply the required power to the satellite antenna LNB 202, as well as the electronic device 100.
In another example shown in
Whether or not coupled with the LNB 202, the combination of the electronic device 100 and the portable communication device 210 may be coupled to an external device or system via the third connector 209 to perform other tasks. For example, in the block diagram of
In the example of
At least some embodiments as described herein thus facilitate the signal metering or peaking of a communication signal received via an antenna by leveraging the processing and display capabilities of a portable communication device, such as a cell phone or PDA, in conjunction with an interfacing device that is directly connectable to the antenna circuitry via a cable or similar connection. Use of a readily available communication device for such a purpose tends to reduce the size, weight, and cost typically associated with peaking meters. In some implementations, the interfacing device or fixture provides a measure of protection for the portable communication device against accidental impacts. Further, the use of the portable communication device for such a purpose may be facilitated via an application that may be downloaded to, and executed on, the communication device.
While several embodiments of the invention have been discussed herein, other implementations encompassed by the scope of the invention are possible. For example, while various embodiments have been described largely within the context of satellite antennas and associated receiver circuitry, other antennas engaging in wireless directional signal transmission and/or reception, such as terrestrial (“over-the-air”) signal antennas, may benefit from various aspects of the functionality of the metering systems described above to similar effect. In addition, aspects of one embodiment disclosed herein may be combined with those of alternative embodiments to create further implementations of the present invention. Therefore, while the present invention has been described in the context of specific embodiments, such descriptions are provided for illustration and not limitation. Accordingly, the proper scope of the present invention is delimited only by the following claims and their equivalents.
