US5589837A — Apparatus for positioning an antenna in a remote …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 248 words

An apparatus for aiding the orientation of a directional antenna of a remote ground terminal which transmits and receives a signal via said antenna, said apparatus comprising: a signal generator for producing a frequency variable reference signal having a variable duty cycle of frequency, a controller coupled to said signal generator, said controller operative to analyze said signal received via said antenna and to vary the duty cycle of said reference signal in accordance with an identification tag forming part of said signal received via said antenna, said identification tag identifying a designated central hub station which originates said signal to be transmitted to said remote ground terminal, and a detector coupled to said signal generator to receive said reference signal, said detector producing an output signal having an average amplitude proportional to the duty cycle of said reference signal, wherein said controller commands said signal generator to produce a reference signal having a first duty cycle when a signal having an identification tag not corresponding to the designated central hub station is received by said antenna, and to produce a reference signal having a second duty cycle when a signal having an identification tag corresponding to the designated central hub station is received by said antenna, said first duty cycle causing the average amplitude of said output signal of said detector to equal a first value and said second duty cycle causing the average amplitude of said output signal of said detector to equal a second value.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 248 words

An apparatus for aiding the orientation of a directional antenna of a remote ground terminal which transmits and receives a signal via said antenna, said apparatus comprising: a signal generator for producing a frequency variable reference signal having a variable duty cycle of frequency, a controller coupled to said signal generator, said controller operative to analyze said signal received via said antenna and to vary the duty cycle of said reference signal in accordance with an identification tag forming part of said signal received via said antenna, said identification tag identifying a designated central hub station which originates said signal to be transmitted to said remote ground terminal, and a detector coupled to said signal generator to receive said reference signal, said detector producing an output signal having an average amplitude proportional to the duty cycle of said reference signal, wherein said controller commands said signal generator to produce a reference signal having a first duty cycle when a signal having an identification tag not corresponding to the designated central hub station is received by said antenna, and to produce a reference signal having a second duty cycle when a signal having an identification tag corresponding to the designated central hub station is received by said antenna, said first duty cycle causing the average amplitude of said output signal of said detector to equal a first value and said second duty cycle causing the average amplitude of said output signal of said detector to equal a second value.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 35 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein upon receiving said signal said controller operates to measure the signal strength of said received signal and to vary the duty cycle of said reference signal in accordance therewith.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 47 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said signal generator varies the frequency of the reference signal between a first and second frequency once during a predefined period, said duty cycle of said reference signal equaling the percentage of said predefined period that the first frequency is present.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the average amplitude of said output signal of said detector varies linearly with said duty cycle of said reference signal.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said detector comprises a phase detector which receives said reference signal as an input and which produces an output signal having an amplitude proportional to the frequency of said reference signal.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 73 words

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said detector further comprises a comparator having a first input coupled to the output of said phase detector and a second input coupled to a reference voltage, said reference voltage selected such that the output signal of said comparator is a logic "1" when said reference signal is tuned to said first frequency and a logic "0" when said reference frequency is tuned to said second frequency.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said detector further comprises a capacitor coupled in series between said output of said phase detector and said first input of said comparator.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 33 words

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said output signal of said detector is the output signal of said comparator, said output signal of said comparator coupled to an external port of said apparatus.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said controller is a microprocessor and operates to compare said identification tag forming part of said received signal to verify that the received signal originated from said designated central hub station.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 193 words

A method for aiding the orientation of a directional antenna of a remote ground terminal which transmits and receives a signal via said antenna, said method comprising: producing a frequency variable reference signal having a variable duty cycle, analyzing a signal received via said antenna and varying the duty cycle of said reference signal in accordance with an identification tag forming part of said signal received via said antenna, said identification tag identifying a designated central hub station which originates the signal to be transmitted to said remote ground terminal, detecting the duty cycle of said reference signal so as to produce an output signal having an average amplitude which varies proportionally with the duty cycle of said reference signal, and controlling the duty cycle of said reference signal such that when a signal having an identification tag not corresponding to the designated central hub station is received by said antenna, said average amplitude of said output signal equals a first value, and when a signal having an identification tag corresponding to the designated central hub station is received by said antenna, said average amplitude of said output signal equals a second value.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 193 words

A method for aiding the orientation of a directional antenna of a remote ground terminal which transmits and receives a signal via said antenna, said method comprising: producing a frequency variable reference signal having a variable duty cycle, analyzing a signal received via said antenna and varying the duty cycle of said reference signal in accordance with an identification tag forming part of said signal received via said antenna, said identification tag identifying a designated central hub station which originates the signal to be transmitted to said remote ground terminal, detecting the duty cycle of said reference signal so as to produce an output signal having an average amplitude which varies proportionally with the duty cycle of said reference signal, and controlling the duty cycle of said reference signal such that when a signal having an identification tag not corresponding to the designated central hub station is received by said antenna, said average amplitude of said output signal equals a first value, and when a signal having an identification tag corresponding to the designated central hub station is received by said antenna, said average amplitude of said output signal equals a second value.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 10, further comprising measuring the signal strength of said received signal and varying the duty cycle of said reference signal in accordance therewith.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 10, further comprising measuring the average amplitude of said output signal so as to determine if the average amplitude equals the first or second value.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 71 words

The method of claim 10, wherein said remote ground terminal comprises an indoor unit and an outdoor unit which are coupled to one another via a cable, said indoor unit comprising a signal generator for producing said reference signal and a controller for analyzing the signals received via said antenna, said outdoor unit comprising a detector for producing said output signal which is proportional with the frequency of said reference signal.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 13, wherein said signal generator varies the frequency of the reference signal between a first and second frequency once during a predefined period, said duty cycle of said reference signal equaling the percentage of said predefined period that the first frequency is present.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 14, wherein the average amplitude of said output signal of said detector varies linearly with said duty cycle of said reference signal.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 13, wherein said detector comprises a phase detector which receives said reference signal as an input and which produces an output signal having an amplitude proportional to the frequency of said reference signal.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 73 words

The method of claim 16, wherein said detector further comprises a comparator having a first input coupled to the output of said phase detector and a second input coupled to a reference voltage, said reference voltage selected such that the output signal of said comparator is a logic "1" when said reference signal is tuned to said first frequency and a logic "0" when said reference frequency is tuned to said second frequency.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 17, wherein said detector further comprises a capacitor coupled in series between said output of said phase detector and said first input of said comparator.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 17, wherein said output signal of said detector is the output signal of said comparator, said output signal of said comparator coupled to an external port of said apparatus.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 13, wherein said controller is a microprocessor and operates to compare said identification tag forming part of said received signal to verify that the received signal originated from said designated central hub station.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-12-31	2000-07-01	2000-12-31	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-12-31	2004-07-01	2004-12-31	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-12-31	2008-07-01	2008-12-31	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for positioning an antenna in a remote ground terminal

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