Patent Grant
9000999
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of enclosure systems for antennas including satellite dish, single frequency, narrowband frequency, and broadband frequency ones.
2. Discussion of the Background
Enclosure systems for antennas have been designed that offer a wide variety of advantages and disadvantages. For satellite dish antennas in particular, systems with radomes are a well known option that cover or enclose the dish and its components (e.g., amplifier and motorized drive). In doing so, radomes offer the distinct, cost-saving advantage that less expensive and lower performing components can be used because the antenna and its components are protected from the elements under the radome. As for example and since the electronics of the system are not exposed to outside elements, they do not necessarily need to have weatherproof housings. Additionally, since the dish or reflector is enclosed and not exposed to high wind conditions, it does not have to be made of the more expensive and rigid materials typically required for uncovered dishes.
A disadvantage of enclosure systems with radomes is that the height of the radome is essentially a function of the size of the dish or reflector. That is, when the system is not in operation, the radome height still remains the same since it houses the dish or reflector. The radome height in most designs must then generally be as high or higher than the maximum dimension of the dish, which is typically the diameter of its rim. This high profile can present problems for example if the enclosure system with the radome is mounted on a recreational or similar vehicle and the vehicle is to be stored in a garage or under a protective structure with a height restriction. Similarly, the high profile can present height problems for storage even if the enclosure system with the radome is removable from the vehicle or is intended for use as a standalone unit since it may still be too high to be stored on a convenient shelf or under the vehicle. So called popup units that have the dish or reflector located outside of a protective housing can normally be stowed or stored in a lower height configuration than an enclosure system with a radome. However, they usually require that the exposed dish and any exposed components be made of more expensive and rigid materials as well as weatherproofed. Such units are also much less suited to mobile tracking applications because the dish or reflector is exposed to wind resistance
With this and other problems in mind, the present invention was developed. In it, a basic enclosure system is provided for satellite dish antennas and other antennas including single frequency, narrowband frequency, and broadband frequency ones that can assume a stored position shorter than the maximum dimension of the dish or other antenna. In the preferred embodiment, the dish or other antenna is covered or enclosed and is designed to actually become part of the protective housing or enclosure and to move with it. In the embodiments designed for housing or enclosing a satellite dish antenna, the invention combines or integrates the protective advantages of an enclosure system with a radome with the alignment advantages of a polar arrangement to create a superior product.
This invention involves an enclosure system for antennas including satellite dish antennas, single frequency, narrowband frequency, and broadband frequency ones. With satellite dish antennas, the system includes at least upper and lower housing portions that are mounted to each other for rotational movement about a first axis inclined to the vertical. In one embodiment, the upper and lower housing portions have respective, substantially circular peripheral sections extending about the first axis and abutting one another. The sections extend substantially parallel to each other and to a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the inclined, first axis. The satellite antenna has a dish-shaped reflector and is mounted to the upper housing portion to extend substantially about a second axis that substantially intersects the first axis at an inclined angle. The dish-shaped reflector has a substantially circular, rim portion extending about the second axis substantially in a plane that is essentially perpendicular to the second axis.
In this embodiment, the upper housing portion can be rotated about the inclined, first axis relative to the lower housing portion wherein the second axis essentially forms or defines a cone about the first axis. In doing so, the plane of the rim portion of the dish-shaped reflector can be positioned as desired in any of a plurality of orientations essentially between a substantially horizontal one and a substantially vertical one. In particular and with the first axis inclined at 45 degrees to the vertical, the plane of the rim portion can be moved to either a horizontal or vertical orientation and any orientation therebetween. In a design chosen for reception in the United States, the first axis could be customized to be inclined at 37.5 degrees to the vertical wherein the plane of the rim portion of the dish-shaped reflector is then movable from the extremes of horizontal and 15 degrees elevation and any orientations in between. In particular and as used herein, any reference to the plane of the rim portion or any other plane as being positionable substantially or nearly vertically is meant to include such a customized variation. The lower housing portion and its supporting base could also be marked for proper azimuth orientation during installation or motorized if desired. Similarly, the adjacent peripheral sections of the upper and lower housing portions can be so marked for elevation and skew.
In the embodiments for a satellite dish antenna, the rim portion of the dish-shaped reflector is preferably covered and the covered reflector becomes part of the protective housing or enclosure. As compared to a typical radome design in which the entire dome of the radome must be made of expensive, radio frequency (RF) permeable material, only the cover over or across the rim portion of the dish-shaped reflector must then be made of such material. This is the case because in the present design, the dish-shaped reflector is fixed to and moves with the housing or enclosure in contrast to the typical radome design in which the dish-shaped reflector moves within and relative to the radome. The present design greatly reduces the cost of the system and even offers the user the option of making the cover out of more expensive and superior RF permeable material at less than or at least no additional, overall cost beyond a typical radome design made entirely of an inferior RF permeable material. That is, the cover can be made of the more expensive, better performing material and the rest of the housing of a much cheaper material as the dish-shaped reflector only receives signals through the cover and no other part of the protective housing as is the case in a typical radome. The result can be not only is a better performing antenna but also a less expensive one. Additionally, the design of the present invention with or without the cover also allows the rest of the enclosure to be made out of non-radio frequency permeable material or materials if desired that would be tailored to a specific application such as ultraviolet (UV) or heat resistance.
Another major advantage of the present design as it is applied to house or enclose a satellite dish antenna is that the dish-shaped reflector can be easily skewed manually in comparison to a typical radome design. This is the case whether or not a protective cover is provided over or across the rim portion of the reflector. That is, common radome designs require that the entire dome be removed to manually skew the antenna whereas the design of the present invention only requires that the protective cover be removed (if one is used). Otherwise, the antenna can be manually skewed directly if no protective cover is provided. The same is true for making other, common adjustments.
Other advantages of the present invention are also provided. As for example and since the protective housing or enclosure can assume a storage position that is shorter than the maximum height of the antenna element (be it a dish-shaped reflector or other antenna), a larger antenna can be used than in a typical radome design in which the storage height is as high or higher than the maximum dimension of the antenna. Being able to use a larger antenna (e.g., larger diameter reflector) can then offer a higher gain for better reception. The present design also allows for a large, interior space or volume for more electronics and devices (e.g., rotors, amplifiers, wireless transmitters, motors, and additional antennas) if desired.
In the embodiments for a satellite dish antenna, the dish-shaped reflector can be recessed into the housing and covered or not covered as discussed above. It could also be fixed to the outside of the housing if desired and the same is true for other antennas such as single frequency, narrowband frequency, and broadband frequency ones. That is, the basic design of the housing can be used as an adjustable mount with the antenna either mounted inside the housing or to its exterior. The basic design of the housing also permits it to be mounted on sloped surfaces such as a roof with the inclined angle of the upper and lower housing portions modified accordingly or an additional, tilt adjustment member could be provided. Further, in instances where height is not critical, the housing can be made more aerodynamic by capping the reflector with an arched cover. This would give the housing an overall spherical or other aesthetic and aerodynamic shape more suitable for marine and vehicle tracking applications.
a-1d are a series of views of one embodiment of the enclosure system of the present invention with the upper or elevation housing portion rotated relative to the lower or azimuth housing portion to orient the planar section of the upper housing portion substantially horizontally. In doing so, the antenna element within the upper housing (e.g., a dish-shaped reflector) is pointed upwardly at substantially 90 degrees to the horizontal.
a-2d are a similar series of views of the enclosure system of
a-3e are a further series of views of the enclosure system with the upper housing portion rotated relative to the lower housing portion to a position between the extremes of
a-7c are a series of views of the enclosure system in its stowed position of
a-8c are a series of further views of the enclosure system at an elevation of 45 degrees as in
As shown in the series of views of
The enclosure system 1 of the present invention can be used with any number of antenna elements including the satellite antenna arrangement with the dish-shaped reflector 11 shown in
The dish-shaped reflector 11 is preferably covered at 13 in
A major advantage of the present invention in this embodiment as best seen in
In operation, it is seen in
In this embodiment, the upper housing portion 3 can be rotated about the inclined, first axis 2 relative to the lower housing portion 5 wherein the second axis 6 essentially forms or defines a cone about the first axis 2. In doing so, the plane of the rim portion 15 of the dish-shaped reflector 11 in
In the embodiments for a satellite dish antenna, the dish-shaped reflector 11 can be recessed into the housing and covered or not covered as discussed above. It could also be fixed to the outside of the housing if desired and the same is true for other antenna elements such as single frequency, narrowband, and broadband ones. That is, the basic design of the housing can be used as an adjustable mount with the antenna either mounted inside the housing or to its exterior. The basic design of the housing also permits it to be mounted on sloped surfaces such as a roof with the inclined angle of the upper and lower housing portions modified accordingly or an additional, tilt adjustment member could be provided. Further, in instances where height is not critical, the housing can be made more aerodynamic by capping the reflector with an arched cover. This would give the housing an overall spherical or other aesthetic and aerodynamic shape more suitable for marine and vehicle tracking applications.
Although specific examples of various angles including 37.5 and 45 degrees have been shown and described in detail,
The above disclosure sets forth a number of embodiments of the present invention described in detail with respect to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in this art will appreciate that various changes, modifications, other structural arrangements, and other embodiments could be practiced under the teachings of the present invention without departing from the scope of this invention as set forth in the following claims. In particular, it is noted that the word substantially is utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement or other representation. This term is also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter involved.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/597,147 filed Feb. 9, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4628323 | Crean | Dec 1986 | A |
| 4825218 | Begout | Apr 1989 | A |
| 7050012 | Chen | May 2006 | B2 |
| 7113144 | Lin | Sep 2006 | B2 |
| 7142168 | Sinclair | Nov 2006 | B1 |
| 7679573 | Shuster et al. | Mar 2010 | B2 |
| 20110006965 | Kits van Heyningen | Jan 2011 | A1 |
| 20110267255 | Locatori | Nov 2011 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20130207868 A1 | Aug 2013 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61597147 | Feb 2012 | US |
