Patent Application
20080117116
The present disclosure relates generally to a satellite signal receiving outdoor unit, and more particularly, to an outdoor unit having multiple feeds for receiving various frequency bands.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Satellite data and television systems use an outdoor unit that includes a reflector that directs satellite signals to a feed. The reflector is typically aligned at a particular satellite so that the signals from the satellite are concentrated at the feed. This allows the feed to receive a strong signal. Satellites typically generate one frequency and the feed is tuned for that particular frequency.
Some satellite systems include satellites that are capable of transmitting more than one frequency. That is, a satellite may be provided with more than one transponder that is capable of generating signals at another frequency than another transponder on the same satellite. The second frequency signals are thus not utilized.
Satellite television providers try to increase the amount of services they provide. Additional satellites are expensive and, thus, maximizing the amount of services from existing satellites is an important goal.
Therefore, it is desirable to utilize signals at a different frequency than a primary frequency in a satellite system.
In one aspect of the disclosure, a system includes a first satellite at a first orbital slot having a first transponder generating a first downlink signal at a first frequency and a second downlink signal at a second frequency. The system also includes an outdoor unit directed at the first satellite that includes a support structure, a reflector coupled to the support structure and reflecting the first downlink signal and the second downlink signal, a first feed coupled to the support structure receiving the first downlink signal and a second feed concentric with the first feed and coupled to the support structure receiving the second downlink signal.
In a further aspect of the disclosure, an outdoor unit includes a support structure, a reflector coupled to the support structure reflecting a first downlink signal from a first satellite and a second downlink signal from a second satellite and a first feed coupled to the support structure receiving the first downlink signal. A second feed is concentric with and coupled to the support structure and receives the second downlink signal.
One advantage of the disclosure is that the system may be implemented in a bolt-on configuration. That is, existing outdoor units having a feed support structure and primary reflector may be retrofitted with a concentric feed to receive signals in both frequencies. The system may also be implemented in a factory-ready implementation already including the concentric feed.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. The present disclosure is described with respect to a satellite television system. However, the present disclosure may be used for various uses including satellite transmission and data transmission and reception for home or business uses.
Referring now to
The satellites 12, 14 and 16 may be positioned at various orbital spots A, B and C. In one configuration, orbital spots A, B and C comprise orbital spots 99° West, 101° West and 103° West, respectively. The orbital spacings are consecutive geosynchronous orbital spacings. However, the orbital spacings need not be consecutive. It should be noted that the government requires a two degree spacing between orbital slots for Ka band in the geosynchronous plane. Spacing for Ku band is nine degrees. The present satellites 12, 14 and 16 are geosynchronous satellites.
An outdoor unit 50 coupled to a building 52 such as a home, multi-dwelling unit or business, receives the satellite downlink signals 44 and provides the signals to a processing circuit such as an integrated receiver decoder 54. Data signals may be used by the computer 56 and television signals may be used by the television 58. The outdoor unit 50 includes a receiving antenna structure 60.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The reflector 64 and the feeds 66A-D are coupled to support structure 80. Support structure 80 may be configured in various ways to support the reflector and the feeds. In this embodiment, the support structure 80 includes a reflector support 82, an extension portion 84 and a feed support 86. The reflector support 82 may be coupled to an elevation adjustment mechanism 88 and an azimuth adjustment mechanism 90 to allow for pointing of the reflector 64 and locking the reflector 64 in a desired position or orientation.
As was mentioned above, the arrow 44A-D represents the downlink signals from the satellite 14. In this view, all signals are aligned. From a top view only signals 44B and C are aligned. Signals 44B, C originate from the same orbital spot and the same satellite or collocated satellites and share a primary axis 94. The primary axis 94 is aligned toward the feed 66B,C. Both signals 44B, C are aligned at feed 66B,C. When the signals 44B, C reflect from the reflector 64, both signals diverge slightly. This allows the concentric feeds to be used. This is illustrated in
Referring now to
While particular embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described, numerous variations and alternate embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the disclosure be limited only in terms of the appended claims.
