Patents by Inventor John William Broughton

John William Broughton has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Satellite apparatus with omnidirectional and manually steerable directional antenna
    Patent number: 6542117
    Abstract: A mobile satellite communications terminal (2) comprises a portable computer (68), an interface card (8) containing intermediate frequency (IF) conversion circuitry (28, 52), and an antenna assembly (10) including RF conversion circuitry (34, 50) and an antenna (44). The interface card (8) is connected to the antenna assembly (10) by a detachable cable (32), which carries IF signals. This arrangement reduces RF power losses and interference. The antenna (44) is manually steerable towards a geostationary or quasi-geostationary satellite (12). A navigation signal antenna (56) is mounted on the antenna assembly (10) and is steerable independently of the antenna (44) so as to be vertically aligned, which is the optimum position for receiving navigation signals. The antenna assembly (10) includes orientation sensors (70, 75) which allow the difference between the current and the correct orientation of the antenna (44) to be calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Inmarsat Limited
    Inventor: John William Broughton