Patents Assigned to E*Star, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6198449
    Abstract: A multiple beam array antenna system including a first group of right-handed circularly polarized subarrays and a second group of left-handed circularly polarized subarrays. Combined signals from the right-handed subarrays are output via low noise amplifiers to a first electromagnetic lens while the outputs of the left-handed circularly polarized subarrays are sent via low noise amplifiers to a second steering electromagnetic lens. A satellite selection matrix output block allows a user to tap into signals from right-handed circularly polarized satellites, left-handed circularly polarized satellites, and linearly polarized satellites. A plurality of satellites (e.g. right-handed satellite “A” and linearly polarized satellite “B”) may be accessed simultaneously thus allowing the user to utilize both signals at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: E*Star, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas L. Muhlhauser, Thomas C. Weakley, Scott A. Townley
  • Patent number: 6181293
    Abstract: A bifocal lens for use in a multiple beam antenna system including a reflector that is at least partially parabolic in one dimension and a pair of waveguides. Multiple received beams are received and reflected by the reflector into an orthogonal mode junction which separates signals of a first polarity from signals of a second orthogonal polarity. The signals of the first polarity are forwarded into a first waveguide and the orthogonal signals of the second polarity are forwarded into a second parallel waveguide. A plurality of satellites may be accessed simultaneously thus allowing the user to utilize both signals at the same time. The bifocal lenses may be located in the waveguides, respectively, with each lens including a step portion defined in at least one edge thereof for matching purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: E*Star, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas L. Muhlhauser, Kenneth P. Cannizzaro, Brian C. Hewett
  • Patent number: 6107897
    Abstract: A multiple beam antenna system including a reflector that is at least partially parabolic in one dimension, a pair of dielectric lenses, and a pair of waveguides. Multiple received beams are received and reflected by the reflector into an orthogonal mode junction which separates signals of a first polarity from signals of a second orthogonal polarity. The signals of the first polarity are forwarded into a first waveguide and the orthogonal signals of the second polarity are forwarded into a second parallel waveguide. A plurality of satellites may be accessed simultaneously thus allowing the user to utilize both signals at the same time. In certain embodiments, each of the dielectric lenses may be of the bifocal type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: E*Star, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas L. Muhlhauser, Kenneth P. Cannizzaro, Brian C. Hewett
  • Patent number: 6087999
    Abstract: A multiple beam antenna system including a reflector that is at least partially parabolic in one dimension, a pair of dielectric lenses, and a pair of waveguides. Multiple received beams are received and reflected by the reflector into an orthogonal mode junction which separates signals of a first polarity from signals of a second orthogonal polarity. The signals of the first polarity are forwarded into a first waveguide and the orthogonal signals of the second polarity are forwarded into a second parallel waveguide. A plurality of satellites may be accessed simultaneously thus allowing the user to utilize both signals at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: E*Star, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas L. Muhlhauser, Kenneth P. Cannizzaro, Brian C. Hewett
  • Patent number: 5742680
    Abstract: A system and corresponding method are provided for selecting one of a plurality of simultaneously received encrypted direct broadcast satellite (DBS) signals for decryption and viewing. A converter box or decrypting device is provided with a plurality of different decrypting smart cards, all of which are simultaneously inserted in the converter box. The user or viewer scans the received signals and selects one for viewing. The different decrypting algorithms of the different smart cards respectively correspond to the different encryptions of the received DBS signals so that the selected encrypted signal is decrypted by the appropriate and corresponding decrypting smart card and subsequently decompressed and viewed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: E Star, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerrell Wilson