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US5440319A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Integrated microwave antenna/downconverter

Assignee: Calamp Corp
•
Filing: 1993-10-01
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Granted: 1995-08-08
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Expires: 2013-10-01
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Abstract

Abstract An antenna/downconverter directed to the subscription television distribution industry. The antenna/downconverter (20) includes an integral multidisc director mounted to a housing (51) which defines a reflector cup (54), side lobe suppression ears (38) and a chamber (66) which provides environmental protection for downconverter electronics (184). Received microwave energy is coupled to the downconverter electronics from the perimeter of a receive disc (50) axially spaced from the reflector cup. The housing defines a plurality of jaws (36) which facilitate alignment to variously polarized microwave signals when an installer receives a mounting mast in a selected one of the jaws.

Inventors

  • 👤 Joel J. Raymond
  • 👤 Lawrence G. Crawford

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 18:46
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q19/00; H01Q19/28; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/12; H01Q1/125; H01Q1/22; H01Q1/24; H01Q1/247

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 93 words
A microwave antenna suitable for use by subscription television subscribers for selectively receiving differently polarized microwave signals, comprising: a housing defining an axis and having first and second axially spaced exterior faces; a first arcuate side lobe suppression ear extending axially from said housing first face spaced radially outward from said axis; a second arcuate side lobe suppression ear extending axially from said housing first face spaced diametrically from said first ear; and a director comprising a plurality of axially spaced transversely oriented discs extending along said axis from said housing first face.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 93 words
A microwave antenna suitable for use by subscription television subscribers for selectively receiving differently polarized microwave signals, comprising: a housing defining an axis and having first and second axially spaced exterior faces; a first arcuate side lobe suppression ear extending axially from said housing first face spaced radially outward from said axis; a second arcuate side lobe suppression ear extending axially from said housing first face spaced diametrically from said first ear; and a director comprising a plurality of axially spaced transversely oriented discs extending along said axis from said housing first face.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
The antenna of claim 1 further comprising means, disposed between said director and said housing first face, for receiving any selected one of said polarized microwave signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 31 words
The antenna of claim 2 further including a reflector cup defined on said first face of said housing and wherein said receiving means includes a receive disc disposed within said cup.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 43 words
The antenna of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of jaws circumferentially spaced on said housing second face, each of said jaws configured to engage a mast and located to orient said receiving means with a selected one of said polarized microwave signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 29 words
The antenna of claim 4 wherein each of said jaws defines a plurality of ridges arranged to abut said mast and said jaws are arranged in diametrically opposed pairs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
The antenna of claim 4 further including a clamp carried by said housing to grip said mast between said clamp and a selected pair of said jaws.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 45 words
The antenna of claim 6 further including a plurality of stops defined on said second face, each of said stops positioned to abut said clamp for retention thereof on said housing when said antenna is aligned with a different one of said polarized microwave signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 19 words
The antenna of claim 3 further including a dielectric wafer disposed across said cup to enclose said receive disc.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 131 words
An integrated microwave antenna/downconverter suitable for use by subscription television subscribers for selectively receiving differently polarized microwave signals, comprising: a housing defining an axis and having first and second axially spaced exterior faces; a first arcuate side lobe suppression ear extending axially from said housing first face spaced radially outward from said axis; a second arcuate side lobe suppression ear extending axially from said housing first face spaced diametrically from said first ear; a director comprising a plurality of axially spaced transversely oriented discs extending along said axis from said housing first face; means, disposed between said director and said housing first face, for receiving any selected one of said polarized microwave signals; and means, carried within said housing and responsive to said receiving means, for downconverting said received microwave signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 131 words
An integrated microwave antenna/downconverter suitable for use by subscription television subscribers for selectively receiving differently polarized microwave signals, comprising: a housing defining an axis and having first and second axially spaced exterior faces; a first arcuate side lobe suppression ear extending axially from said housing first face spaced radially outward from said axis; a second arcuate side lobe suppression ear extending axially from said housing first face spaced diametrically from said first ear; a director comprising a plurality of axially spaced transversely oriented discs extending along said axis from said housing first face; means, disposed between said director and said housing first face, for receiving any selected one of said polarized microwave signals; and means, carried within said housing and responsive to said receiving means, for downconverting said received microwave signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 43 words
The antenna/downconverter of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of jaws circumferentially spaced on said housing second face, each of said jaws configured to engage a mast and located to orient said receiving means with a selected one of said polarized microwave signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 29 words
The antenna/downconverter of claim 10 wherein each of said jaws defines a plurality of ridges arranged to abut said mast and said jaws are arranged in diametrically opposed pairs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 27 words
The antenna/downconverter of claim 10 further including a clamp carried by said housing to grip said mast between said clamp and a selected pair of said jaws.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 45 words
The antenna/downconverter of claim 12 further including a plurality of stops defined on said second face, each of said stops positioned to abut said clamp for retention thereof on said housing when said antenna is aligned with a different one of said polarized microwave signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 31 words
The antenna/downconverter of claim 9 further including a reflector cup defined on said first face of said housing and wherein said receiving means includes a receive disc disposed within said cup.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 100 words
Apparatus for mounting an antenna on a mast to selectively receive differently polarized microwave signals, comprising: a housing defining an axis and having first and second axially spaced exterior faces, said antenna extending axially from said first face; a plurality of pairs of diametrically opposed jaws circumferentially spaced about said axis, each pair of said jaws configured to engage said mast and positioned on said housing to orient said antenna with a selected one of said polarized microwave signals; and a clamp carried by said antenna to grip said mast between said clamp and a selected pair of said jaws.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 100 words
Apparatus for mounting an antenna on a mast to selectively receive differently polarized microwave signals, comprising: a housing defining an axis and having first and second axially spaced exterior faces, said antenna extending axially from said first face; a plurality of pairs of diametrically opposed jaws circumferentially spaced about said axis, each pair of said jaws configured to engage said mast and positioned on said housing to orient said antenna with a selected one of said polarized microwave signals; and a clamp carried by said antenna to grip said mast between said clamp and a selected pair of said jaws.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 48 words
Apparatus of claim 15 further including a plurality of pairs of stops defined on said second face, a different pair of said stops positioned to abut said clamp for retention thereof on said housing when said antenna is aligned with a different one of said polarized microwave signals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 20 words
The antenna of claim 15 wherein each of said jaws defines a plurality of ridges arranged to abut said mast.
Claim 21
Independent Claim 92 words
A method of selectively receiving differently polarized microwave signals along a receive axis, comprising the steps of: providing a first arcuate side lobe suppression ear extending axially from a housing first face spaced radially outward from said axis; providing a second arcuate side lobe suppression ear extending axially from a housing first face spaced diametrically from said first ear; providing a plurality of axially spaced transversely oriented director discs extending along said axis from said housing first face; and disposing a signal receive structure between said director and said housing first face.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 92 words
A method of selectively receiving differently polarized microwave signals along a receive axis, comprising the steps of: providing a first arcuate side lobe suppression ear extending axially from a housing first face spaced radially outward from said axis; providing a second arcuate side lobe suppression ear extending axially from a housing first face spaced diametrically from said first ear; providing a plurality of axially spaced transversely oriented director discs extending along said axis from said housing first face; and disposing a signal receive structure between said director and said housing first face.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 51 words
The method of claim 18 further including the step of circumferentially spacing a plurality of jaws on a second housing face radially spaced from said first face with each jaw configured to engage a mast and located to align said signal receive structure with a selected one of said microwave signals.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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US3245642A Cited
US4295141A Cited
US4356493A Cited
GB2120856A Cited
US4819006A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1998-08-07 1999-02-06 1999-08-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-08-07 2003-02-06 2003-08-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-08-07 2007-02-06 2007-08-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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