Patents by Inventor Michael E. Rodeffer

Michael E. Rodeffer 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).

  • Method for automatically positioning a satellite dish antenna to satellites in a geosynchronous belt
    Patent number: 5471219
    Abstract: A receiver connected to the satellite dish antenna receives signals from an electronic compass for generating a magnetic direction signal. The approximate latitude and longitude values of the parked vehicle are displayed and the user of the system manually selects the latitude and longitude coordinates corresponding to the parked vehicle location. The receiver determines an initial search position for the satellite dish antenna based upon the magnetic reading and the entered latitude and longitude values. The satellite dish antenna is moved from an unstowed position to an initial search position. The satellite dish antenna is then moved in a first rectangular spiral search pattern to obtain a rough-tune position corresponding to the detection of a signal peak for a selected audio subcarrier frequency in a selected channel of a target satellite. The frequency selected is not present in corresponding selected channels of satellites near the target satellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Winegard Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Rodeffer, John D. Byers, Michael E. Rodeffer
  • Method for automatically positioning a satellite dish antenna to satellites in a geosynchronous belt
    Patent number: 5296862
    Abstract: A receiver connected to the satellite dish antenna receives signals from an electronic compass for generating a magnetic direction signal. The approximate latitude and longitude values of the parked vehicle are displayed and the user of the system manually selects the latitude and longitude coordinates corresponding to the parked vehicle location. The receiver determines an initial search position for the satellite dish antenna based upon the magnetic reading and the entered latitude and longitude values. The satellite dish antenna is moved from an unstowed position to an initial search position. The satellite dish antenna is then moved in a first rectangular spiral search pattern to obtain a rough-tune position corresponding to the detection of a signal peak for a selected audio subcarrier frequency in a selected channel of a target satellite. The frequency selected is not present in corresponding selected channels of satellites near the target satellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Winegard Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Rodeffer, John D. Byers, Michael E. Rodeffer