Dish antenna rotation apparatus
A rotation apparatus for a dish antenna provides a system for easily adjusting the dish antenna to a precise receiving position. The rotation apparatus includes a dish bracket which is fixed to the back of the dish antenna. The dish bracket includes a plurality of circular grooves and a concentric axle center. An elevation bracket includes a pair of wings and a bottom. The wings are parallel, and the bottom is perpendicular to the wings. Each wing pivots about an axle which passes through a first portion of each wing. A second portion of each wing includes a guide groove to adjust a elevation angle of the dish. The bottom includes a central axle hole and a plurality of holes. The central axle hole is coupled to the concentric axle center. After the dish is rotated to a selected position, the plurality of holes are secured to the circular grooves using a plurality of screws.
Latest Wistron NeWeb Corporation Patents:
The present application claims priority from Taiwan Patent Application No. 089209347, entitled “Dish Antenna Rotation Apparatus,” filed on May 24, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The invention provides a dish antenna rotation apparatus. The apparatus comprises a dish bracket and an elevation bracket. The dish bracket can more easily and exactly adjust a rotation angle. The elevation bracket can more easily and exactly adjust an elevation angle.
2. Description of the Related Art
A synchronous direct broadcast satellite (DBS) is a one point to multi-points communication system in which signals from the DBS can be received by a small antenna and a tuner device. Generally speaking, the DBS can receive signals from a specific earth surface transmitter, and then the DBS can send the signals to multiple earth surface receivers. After an earth surface receiver collects the signals of the DBS into a dish reflector, the signals are focused on at least one low noise block with feed convertor (LNBF), which is in the rear of the dish reflector. The LNBF can selectively receive the signal. The LNBF has the same functions as those for a filter and an amplifier, and further comprises a forward waveguide antenna and a backward component. The forward waveguide antenna can receive the signals, and the backward component can transform the radio frequency signals into the intermediate frequency signals to the tuner devices.
For the better communications between a receiver and a DBS, the receiver needs to be positioned based on the difference of longitudes and latitudes of the receiver and the DBS. In other words, the receiving angles of the receiver, such as a rotation angle, an elevation angle and an azimuth angle, have to be adjusted based on the location of the DBS.
According to the foregoing, a multi-beam antenna rotation apparatus can be used for receiving the signals of multiple satellites. The rotation apparatus can be adjusted to a selected rotation angle, to a selected elevation angle and to an azimuth angle of a dish antenna. Taking the U.S. and the PRC, for example, three DBSs are respectively located at 101 degrees west longitude, 110 degrees west longitude, and 119 degrees west longitude. Thus, the rotation angle of the apparatus ranges between +55 degrees and −55 degrees, and the elevation angle ranges between 0 degree and 65 degrees.
In addition, because the receiver is sensitive to the position of the DBSs and has to be able to endure 60 m/s of wind pressure, the receiver is more difficult to manufacture. Therefore, the design of a rotation apparatus of the receiver becomes very important.
As shown in
As shown in
Furthermore, the fold wings 22 are coupled to each other by only the bolt 23. This causes the symmetry of the fold wings to be weak. Thus, the fold wings cannot be symmetrically rotated with the dish 10, which results in a poor receiving precision. Furthermore, once the fold wings 22 are respectively readjusted, the fold wings 22 may change shape due to forced pulling and forced dragging. The changed shapes of the fold wings may further result in rough rotating when the next adjustment is made, which makes it more difficult to adjust the position of the clamp 31 for an accurate elevation angle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn order to strengthen a rotation apparatus of a dish antenna as mentioned above, the present invention is directed to a dish bracket that provides a support for strengthening a rotation apparatus and a dish. Further, the invention uses three screws in triangular form to strongly secure an elevation bracket and the dish bracket.
In order to avoid readjusting a rotation angle that results in an elevation angle readjustment, the invention separates the relationship between a rotation angle and an elevation angle so that the two angles can be adjusted independently. Only the horizontal grooves are included as part of the elevation bracket. The vertical grooves are included as part of the dish bracket. Therefore, there is no need to readjust the elevation angle when the rotation angle is readjusted.
In addition, because the fold wings have a design that differs from the prior art, the fold wings are symmetrically rotated. The shapes of the fold wings do not change, and thus the clamp does not encounter rough movement when it is re-rotated.
In order to solve the foregoing problems of the prior art, the invention provides two fold wings that are coupled by a bottom portion. The fold wings and the bottom portion comprise an organic whole that operates as an elevation bracket. Because the bottom portion of the elevation bracket is close to the dish bracket, the bottom portion of the elevation bracket and the dish bracket can be rotated smoothly. In other words, the present invention solves the problem of unsymmetrical rotating so that exact adjustment of a rotation angle and an elevation angle can be accomplished. Furthermore, the fold wings also may advantageously include a trimmer device for providing better precision adjustment of the elevation angle.
In preferred embodiments, the dish bracket further includes a related peripheral device for installation as required by a multi-beam reflection antenna such as installing a multi-switch bracket for a multi-switch device and installing an arm for LNBFs.
The following detailed description, given by way of examples and not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments described herein, will best be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 3 and
For use with DBSs, the circular grooves 51 of the dish bracket 50 allow the elevation bracket 60 to be rotated through a rotation angle of at least 110 angular degrees. The wings of the elevation bracket 60 allow the clamp 31 to be rotated through an elevation angle of at least 65 angular degrees.
In addition, because the elevation bracket 60 is an organic (i.e., integral) whole, the symmetry of the wings 601 is maintained, and the clamp 31 can be smoothly and exactly rotated to a selected elevation angle.
As discussed above, in order to more strongly combine the elevation bracket 60 with the dish bracket 50, the elevation bracket 60 of the invention uses the three screws 631-633 (
The pedestal 33 is connected to the mast 32. The pedestal 33 can be settled in the ground, secured to a wall or positioned in other locations to secure the dish 40 in a position to receive signals.
While the invention has been described with reference to various illustrative embodiments, the description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, will be apparent to those people skilled in the art upon reference to this description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments as may fall within the scope of the invention defined by the following claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A rotation apparatus for accurately positioning a dish antenna, comprising:
- a dish bracket connected to a back of said dish antenna, said dish bracket including a plurality of circular grooves and a concentric axle center; and
- an elevation bracket adjustably positioned proximate to said dish bracket, said elevation bracket comprising: a pair of parallel wings, wherein a pivot hole is formed on the front portion of the each wing for receiving a bolt which passes through each of said wings and a respective guide groove is formed in a portion of each of said wings to adjust an elevation angle of said dish antenna; and a bottom perpendicularly integrated to said wings, said bottom including a central axle hole coupled to said concentric axle center of said dish bracket, said bottom further including at least one hole aligned with said circular grooves of said dish bracket through which at least one fastener may engage engages said circular grooves to secure said elevation bracket to said dish bracket.
2. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including a clamp, a mast and a pedestal, wherein said clamp is positioned between said wings and rotates on said bolt, said clamp further attached to said mast, said mast further coupled to said pedestal to support said dish antenna.
3. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said clamp includes a pair of holes, said bolt passing through said pair of holes so that said clamp moves about said pivot.
4. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said mast rotates to determine an azimuth angle of said dish antenna.
5. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said circular grooves and said guide grooves have scales to indicate rotation angles.
6. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said wings and said bottom are an organic whole.
7. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said dish bracket and said dish antenna are an organic whole.
8. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said dish bracket includes a device bracket to support a multi-switch device.
9. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said dish bracket includes an arm.
10. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said arm couples a Y-adaptor, said Y-adaptor coupling a plurality of low noise blocking converters.
11. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said circular grooves are positioned to allow said dish antenna to rotate through a range of at least 110 degrees.
12. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said guide grooves of said elevation bracket include scales to provide a visible indication of an elevation angle, and wherein the elevation bracket allows said dish antenna to be moved through a range of elevation angles of at least 65 degrees.
13. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said wings of said elevation bracket includes a hole which positions a trimming device, said trimming device coupled to said bolt of said guide grooves of said wings.
14. A rotation apparatus for a dish antenna, which enables the dish antenna to be easily adjusted to an a precise receiving position, comprising:
- a dish bracket attached to a back of said dish antenna, said dish bracket including a plurality of circular grooves and a concentric axle center; and
- an elevation bracket adjustably positioned proximate to said dish bracket, said elevation bracket comprising: a pair of parallel wings, wherein a pivot hole is formed on the front portion of the each wing and a respective guide groove is formed in a portion of each of said wings to adjust an elevation angle of said dish antenna; a bottom perpendicularly integrated to said wings, said bottom including a central axle hole coupled to said concentric axle center of said dish bracket, said bottom further including at least one hole in alignment with said circular grooves of said dish bracket; a bolt which passes through said pivot hole of said wings to provide a pivot about which said wings move to adjust an elevation angle of said dish antenna; and at least one fastener positionable through said holes to engage said circular grooves to secure said elevation bracket to said dish bracket after said dish antenna is rotated to a selected position.
15. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein at least a portion of at least one of said circular grooves includes a scale which provides a visible indication of a rotation angle of said dish antenna.
16. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein at least a portion of at least one of said guide grooves includes a scale which provides a visible indication of an elevation angle of said dish antenna.
17. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 14, further including a clamp, a mast and a pedestal, wherein said clamp is positioned between said wings and rotates on said pivot, said clamp attached to said mast, said mast coupled to said pedestal to support said dish antenna.
18. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said mast rotates to determine an azimuth angle of said dish antenna.
19. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said clamp includes a pair of holes and wherein said pivot passes through said pair of holes.
20. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said dish bracket and said dish antenna are an organic whole.
21. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said dish bracket includes a device bracket for a multi-switch device.
22. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said dish bracket includes an arm.
23. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein said arm couples a Y-adaptor, and wherein said Y-adaptor couples a plurality of low noise block convertors.
24. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said circular grooves allow said dish antenna to rotate through a range of rotation angles of at least 110 degrees.
25. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said guide grooves of said elevation bracket allow said dish antenna to move through a range of elevation angles of at least 65 degrees.
26. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein at least one of said wings of said elevation bracket includes a hole which positions a trimming device, said trimming device coupled to said guide grooves of said at least one wing of said elevation bracket wings.
27. A rotation apparatus for accurately positioning a dish antenna, comprising:
- a dish bracket connected to a back of said dish antenna, said dish bracket including a plurality of circular grooves; and
- an elevation bracket adjustably positioned proximate to said dish bracket, said elevation bracket comprising: a pair of parallel wings wherein a pivot hole is formed on the front portion of each of said wings for receiving a bolt which passes through each of said wings and a respective guide groove is formed in a portion of each of said wings to adjust an elevation angle of said dish antenna; and a bottom perpendicularly integrated to said wings, said bottom including at least one fastener engaged with said circular grooves of said dish bracket to move along said circular grooves and to secure said elevation bracket to said dish bracket.
28. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 27, further including a clamp, a mast and a pedestal, wherein said clamp is positioned between said wings and rotates on said bolt, said clamp further attached to said mast, said mast further coupled to said pedestal to support said dish antenna.
29. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 28, wherein said clamp includes a pair of holes, said bolt passing through said pair of holes so that said clamp moves about said bolt.
30. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 28, wherein said mast rotates to determine an azimuth angle of said dish antenna.
31. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein said circular grooves and said guide grooves have scales to indicate rotation angles.
32. A rotation apparatus for a dish antenna, which enables the dish antenna to be easily adjusted to a precise receiving position, comprising:
- a dish bracket attached to a back of said dish antenna, said dish bracket including a plurality of circular grooves; and
- an elevation bracket adjustably positioned proximate to said dish bracket, said elevation bracket comprising: a pair of parallel wings, wherein a pivot hole is formed on the front portion of each of said wings and a respective guide groove is formed in a portion of each of said wings to adjust an elevation angle of said dish antenna; a bottom perpendicularly integrated to said wings, said bottom including at least one fastener engaged with said circular grooves of said dish bracket to move along said circular grooves and to secure said elevation bracket to said dish bracket; and a bolt which passes through said pivot hole of said wings to provide a pivot about which said wings move to adjust an elevation angle of said dish antenna.
33. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein at least a portion of at least one of said circular grooves includes a scale which provides a visible indication of a rotation angle of said dish antenna.
34. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 32, further including a clamp, a mast and a pedestal, wherein said clamp is positioned between said wings and rotates on said pivot, said clamp attached to said mast, said mast coupled to said pedestal to support said dish antenna.
35. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 34, wherein said mast rotates to determine an azimuth angle of said dish antenna.
36. The rotation apparatus as defined in claim 34 wherein said clamp includes a pair of holes and wherein said pivot passes through said pair of holes.
37. A rotation apparatus for accurately positioning a dish antenna, comprising:
- a dish bracket connected to a back of said dish antenna, said dish bracket including a circular groove and a concentric axle center; and
- an elevation bracket adjustably positioned proximate to said dish bracket, said elevation bracket comprising: a pair of parallel wings, wherein a pivot hole is formed on the front portion of each of said wings for receiving a bolt which passes through each of said wings and a respective guide groove is formed in a portion of each of said wings to adjust an elevation angle of said dish antenna; and a bottom perpendicularly integrated to said wings, said bottom including a central axle hole coupled to said concentric axle center of said dish bracket, said bottom further including at least one hole aligned with said circular groove of said dish bracket through which at least one fastener engages said circular groove to secure said elevation bracket to said dish bracket.
Type: Grant
Filed: Sep 1, 2004
Date of Patent: Oct 12, 2010
Assignee: Wistron NeWeb Corporation (Hsi-Chih, Taipei hsien)
Inventors: Eric Liu (Hsinchu), Cosine Guo (Hsinchu), Jeffrey Gau (Hsinchu)
Primary Examiner: Shih-Chao Chen
Attorney: Winston Hsu
Application Number: 10/931,241
International Classification: H01Q 3/02 (20060101); H01Q 1/12 (20060101); H01Q 1/08 (20060101);