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Claims  |
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We claim:
1. An improved modified and collapsible parabolic antenna for receiving
incoming signals having low wind load characteristics mounted to a
support, said antenna having means for sensing reflected signals in its
focal area, said improved antenna comprising:
an elongated boom having two symmetrical half sections, said boom being
further formed to follow a substantially parabolic orientation along its
longitudinal axis,
a first and second series of reflector elements for reflecting said
incoming signals to said sensing means, each of said series being mounted
to one of said half sections of said boom, each of said first and second
series of reflector elements comprising:
(a) a plurality of thin substantially elongated rectangular elements of
equal length being formed in the substantial shape of a parabola along its
longitudinal axis, and
(b) means for mounting the mid-section of each of said elements in a
substantial perpendicular relationship to said boom at equal predetermined
spaced distances from each other, said predetermined spaced distance being
determined in a plane perpendicular to the path of said incoming signals,
and
means releasably connectable to said support for mounting to one end of
each of said boom half sections in the region of the vertex of said boom
parabolic shape, said boom half sections being capable of pivoting in said
mounting means from an outward position wherein said boom half sections
form said parabolic shape to an inward position wherein said boom half
sections are in substantial opposing parallel relationship.
2. The modified and collapsible antenna of claim 1, wherein each of said
reflector elements have at least one embossment substantially extending
the entire longitudinal length of said element for providing structural
strength to said element.
3. The modified and collapsible antenna of claim 1 wherein said mounting
means for each of said reflector elements comprises:
a single fastener connecting the center of said element to said boom, and
means on said element for engaging the exterior of said boom to prevent
said reflector element from pivoting about said fastener and for orienting
said reflector element in said perpendicular relationship to said boom.
4. The modified and collapsible parabolic antenna of claim 1 wherein said
mounting means is capable of mounting said boom to said support in a
vertical or in a horizontal orientation.
5. An improved modified parabolic antenna for receiving incoming signals
having low wind load characteristics mounted to a support, said antenna
having means for sensing reflected signals in its focal area, said
improved antenna comprising:
an elongated boom having two symmetrical ends, said boom being further
formed to follow a substantially parabolic orientation along its
longitudinal axis,
a first and second series of reflector elements for reflecting said
incoming signals to said sensing means, each of said series being mounted
to one of said symmetrical ends of said boom, each of said first and
second series of reflector element comprising:
(a) a plurality of thin substantially elongated rectangular elements of
equal length being formed in the substantial shape of a parabola along its
longitudinal axis, and
(b) means for mounting the mid-section of each of said elements in a
substantial perpendicular relationship to said boom, and
means releasably connectable to said support for mounting said boom in the
region of the vertex of said boom parabolic shape.
6. The modified antenna of claim 5, wherein each of said reflector elements
have at least one embossment substantially extending the entire
longitudinal length of said element for providing structural strength to
said element.
7. The modified parabolic antenna of claim 5 wherein said mounting means is
capable of mounting said boom to said support in a vertical or in a
horizontal orientation.
8. The modified antenna of claim 5 wherein each of said reflector elements
are spaced from each other in equal predetermined distances, said
predetermined distances being determined in a plane perpendicular to the
path of said incoming signals.
9. A modified parabolic antenna for receiving incoming signals having low
wind load characteristics mounted to a support, said antenna having means
for sensing reflected signals in its focal area, said antenna comprising:
an elongated boom connected to said support and having two symmetrical
ends, said boom being further formed to follow a substantially parabolic
orientation along its longitudinal axis,
a first series of spaced reflector elements mounted on one of said ends,
and
a second series of spaced reflector elements mounted on the other end, all
of said reflector elements in said first and second series being
substantially parabolic in shape, being of equal length and being capable
of reflecting said incoming signals into said sensing means.
10. An improved collapsible parabolic antenna for receiving incoming
signals mounted to a support, said antenna having means for sensing
reflected signals in its focal area, said improved antenna comprising:
an elongated boom having two symmetrical half sections, said boom being
formed to follow a substantially parabolic orientation along its
longitudinal axis,
a first series of reflector elements being substantially parabolic in shape
affixed to one of said half sections,
a second series of reflector elements being substantially parabolic in
shape affixed to the remaining one of said half sections, said first and
second series of reflector elements being capable of reflecting said
incoming signals to said sensing means, all of said reflector elements in
said first and second series being identical in shape,
means releasably connected to said support for mounting to the inwardly
directed ends of each of said half sections, said boom half sections being
capable of pivoting in said mounting means from an outward position
wherein said boom half sections form said parabolic shape to an inward
position wherein said boom half sections are in substantial parallel
relationship, and
means selectively engaging said mounting means and said boom half sections
for holding said boom half sections in said outward position.
11. The collapsible parabolic antenna of claim 10 wherein said reflector
elements are spaced from each other at a predetermined distance, said
predetermined distance determined in a plane perpendicular to the wave
front of said incoming signals.
12. An improved modified parabolic antenna mounted to a support for
receiving incoming signals, said antenna having means for sensing
reflected signals in its focal area, said improved antenna comprising:
a plurality of identical parabolically shaped reflector elements receptive
of said incoming signals for reflecting the aforesaid signals to said
sensing means, and
means releasably connected to said support for holding, in spaced
relationship from each other, said reflector elements at the mid-region of
each of said reflector elements, in a substantial parabolic orientation.
13. The modified antenna of claim 12 wherein said spaced relationship is
determined in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the wave front of said
signals.
14. The modified antenna of claim 12 wherein said holding means comprises:
an elongated boom having two symmetrical half sections, said boom being
formed to follow said substantial parabolic orientation along its
longitudinal axis, and
means releasably connectable to said support for mounting to the inwardly
directed ends of said boom half sections, said boom half sections being
capable of pivoting in said mounting means from an outward position
wherein said boom half sections form said substantial parabolic
orientation to an inward collapsed position.
15. An improved modified parabolic antenna for receiving incoming signals,
said antenna having low wind load characteristics and being mounted to a
support, said antenna having means for sensing reflected signals in its
focal area, said improved antenna comprising:
a boom having two symmetrical ends, said boom being formed to follow a
substantially parabolic curve along its longitudinal axis,
means for mounting said boom to said support,
a first series of spaced reflector elements mounted on one of said
symmetrical ends, each of the reflectors in said first series being
mounted to said boom wherein the ends of each element in said first series
extend outwardly from said longitudinal axis of said boom,
a second series of spaced reflector elements mounted on the remaining
symmetrical end of said boom, each of the reflectors in said second series
being mounted to said boom wherein the ends of said second series extend
outwardly from said longitudinal axis of said boom, and
all of said reflector elements in said first and second series being
identical in shape and being formed to follow a substantially parabolic
curve, said first and second series of reflector elements being capable of
reflecting said incoming signals into said sensing means.
16. The modified parabolic antenna of claim 15 wherein all of said
reflector elements are mounted in perpendicular relationship to said boom.
17. The modified parabolic antenna of claim 15 wherein the spacings between
the reflector elements in said first and second series are equal in a
plane perpendicular to the incoming signals.
18. The modified parabolic antenna of claim 15 wherein said mounting means
is capable of mounting said boom to said support in a vertical or in a
horizontal orientation.
19. The modified parabolic antenna of claim 15 wherein the length of said
boom is greater than the length of each of said reflector elements in said
first and second series.
20. The modified parabolic antenna of claim 15 having at least five
reflector elements each in said first and second series.
21. An improved modified parabolic antenna for receiving incoming signals,
said antenna having low wind load characteristics and being mounted to a
support, said antenna having means for sensing reflected signals in its
focal area, said antenna comprising:
an elongated boom having two symmetrical ends, said boom being formed to
follow a substantially parabolic curve along its longitudinal axis,
means for mounting said boom to said support,
a first series of spaced elongated reflector elements mounted on one of
said symmetrical ends, each of the reflectors in said first series being
mounted to said boom wherein the ends of each element in said first series
extend outwardly from said longitudinal axis of said boom,
a second series of spaced elongated reflector elements mounted on the
remaining symmetrical end of said boom, each of the reflectors in said
second series being mounted to said boom wherein the ends of each element
in said second series extend outwardly from said longitudinal axis of said
boom, and
all of said reflector elements in said first and second series being
identical in shape, being formed to follow a substantially parabolic
curve, and being mounted in perpendicular relationship to said boom, the
length of said boom being greater than the length of each of said
reflector elements in said first and second series.
22. An improved parabolic antenna for receiving incoming signals, said
antenna having low wind load characteristics and being mounted to a
support, said antenna having means for sensing reflected signals in its
focal area, said improved antenna comprising:
an elongated boom having two symmetrical ends, said boom being formed to
follow a substantially parabolic curve along its elongated axis,
means for mounting said boom to said support,
a first series of thin elongated reflector elements mounted on one of said
symmetrical ends, the center area of each of the reflectors in said first
series being mounted to said boom wherein the ends of each element in said
first series extend outwardly from and normal to said elongated axis of
said boom, said reflector elements in said first series being spaced apart
from each other.
a second series of thin elongated reflector elements mounted on the
remaining symmetrical end of said boom, each of the reflectors in said
second series being mounted to said boom wherein the ends of each element
in said second series extend outwardly from and normal to said elongated
axis of said boom, said reflector elements in said second series being
spaced apart from each other, and
all of said reflector elements in said first and second series being
identical in shape and being formed to follow a substantially parabolic
curve along an elongated axis, said reflector elongated axis being normal
to said boom elongated axis, the length of said boom being greater than
the length of each of said reflector elements in said first and second
series so that said first and second reflector elements when mounted on
said boom are substantially rectangular in configuration around the
periphery of said antenna when viewed in a plane normal to the direction
of said incoming signals.
23. The improved antenna of claim 22 wherein said shape of each of said
first and second series of reflector elements is substantially rectangular
in configuration.
24. An improved parabolic antenna for receiving incoming signals, said
antenna having low wind load characteristics and being mounted to a
support, said antenna having means for sensing reflected signals in its
focal area, said improved antenna comprising:
an elongated boom being formed to follow a substantially parabolic curve
along its elongated axis,
means for mounting said boom to said support,
a first series of thin elongated reflector elements mounted on one side of
said boom, each of said elements in said first series being connected to
said boom and normal to said elongated axis of said boom, said reflector
elements in said first series being spaced apart from each other,
a second series of thin elongated reflector elements mounted on the
remaining side of said boom, each of the elements in said second series
being connected to said boom normal to said elongated axis of said boom,
said reflector elements in said second series being spaced apart from each
other, and
all of said reflector elements in said first and second series being
identical in length and being formed to follow a substantially parabolic
curve along an elongated axis, said reflector elongated axis being normal
to said boom elongated axis, the length of said boom being greater than
the length of each of said reflector elements in said first and second
series so that said first and second reflector elements when mounted on
said boom are substantially rectangular in configuration around the
periphery of said antenna when viewed in a plane normal to the direction
of said incoming signals. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to parabolic antennas and more particularly to
parabolic antennas which have low wind load characteristics and parabolic
antennas which are collapsible.
2. Prior art
Dish-shaped parabolic antennas are well known. Such antennas come in a
variety of shapes and sizes all of which are readily identifiable by a
solid dish configuration having a three-dimensional parabolic surface with
a sensor mounted at the focal region of the parabolic surface.
These dish-shaped antennas have a common problem in the characteristic high
wind load that is exhibited. Not only must the antenna dish itself be
structurally designed to withstand high wind forces but the corresponding
support structure must also be so designed. All in all, common dish-type
parabolic antennas and their support structure are heavy and sturdy enough
to withstand substantial environmental forces. Additionally, dish-type
parabolic antennas are difficult to transport because they occupy a
significant volume of space.
Some prior art approaches have attempted to minimize the wind load
characteristics of parabolic dish antennas. In one approach, a wire mesh,
resembling a screen, is disposed on a three dimensional parabolic surface
with a support framework disposed around the periphery. In U.S. Pat. No.
3,329,960 commonly assigned with the present invention, a collapsible
parabolic antenna having minimal wind load was set forth.
With the advent of home box office services and other types of
communication networks, a need exists for a consumer parabolic antenna
having an acceptable low price in the market place. Such an antenna should
be retrofitable to the existing television antenna market place utilizing
light weight support poles or masts.
The present invention recognizing the problems existing with prior
parabolic antennas and recognizing the challenge facing the demand for a
consumer parabolic antenna offers a solution. The present invention is a
modified parabolic antenna which is fully collapsible for ease in
transportation, which exhibits low wind load characteristics and which is
capable of being mounted to conventional television masts as supports.
Furthermore, in order to keep costs at a minimum, the present antenna
minimizes the overall number of part components for ease in inventory and
for low cost manufacturing. As will be pointed out subsequently, the
antenna of the present invention utilizes a plurality of identically
shaped reflector elements which are spaced from each other onto identical
and symmetrical supports.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and novel
parabolic antenna exhibiting low wind characteristics.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and novel
parabolic antenna which is fully collapsible for shipping.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and novel
parabolic antenna which uses a plurality of identically shaped reflector
elements which are mounted in predetermined spaced distances on a
parabolic support boom.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The antenna of the present invention includes a parabolically shaped boom,
a plurality of reflector elements mounted on the boom and a mount affixed
to the boom for supporting the boom and reflector elements to a support. A
conventional driven element or sensor is supported from the mount in the
focal region of the parabolic antenna of the present invention.
The boom includes two symmetric half sections which are made from square
tubing and which form a parabolic configuration. Each half section is
pivotally connected to the mount near the vertex region so that the half
sections can pivot between a full outward position wherein the boom
sections form the parabolic curve to a fully collapsed inward position
wherein the two half sections longitudinally oppose each other.
The reflector elements, each identical in shape to the other, are formed
from thin long rectangular material curved in the substantial shape of a
parabola. Each reflector element is centrally affixed in its midsection or
vertex to the boom and are spaced apart from each other so that the widths
between the reflector elements, in the plane perpendicular to the incoming
signal, is constant.
The mount is capable of connecting to the support to hold the antenna
either in a vertical or horizontal orientation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of the antenna of the present
invention mounted so that the antenna is oriented to receive a vertical
polarized signal;
FIG. 2 is the front planar view of a reflector element of the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is a side planar view of the reflector element of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an end planar view of the reflector element of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a cross-section through the midcenter of the reflector element of
FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a side planar view of a boom half section for a ten reflector
element antenna of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a front planar view of the boom half section of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a side planar view of a boom half section for an eighteen
reflector element antenna of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is an end view of the boom support of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a front planar view of the boom half section of FIG. 8;
FIG. 11 is a partial perspective exploded view of the connection of a
reflector element to a boom half section;
FIG. 12 is a partial top planar view of the mounting of a reflector element
to a boom half section;
FIG. 13 is a side cross-section of FIG. 12 detailing the interior of the
boom half section;
FIG. 14 is a side cross-sectional view of FIG. 12 showing the connection of
the reflector element to the boom half section;
FIG. 15 is a top planar view of the antenna of the present invention
mounted horizontally detailing the area of the connection to the support
post;
FIG. 16 is a side planar view of the mounting bracket of the present
invention;
FIG. 17 is a bottom planar view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 16;
FIG. 18 is a side planar view of the mounting bracket of FIG. 16;
FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view detailing the assembly of the
mounting brackets to the boom half sections and to the driven element;
FIG. 20 is a top planar view of the assembled antenna of the present
invention in a pivoting orientation;
FIG. 21 is a top planar view of the assembled antenna of the present
invention fully collapsed;
FIG. 22 is an end planar view of the antenna of the present invention fully
collapsed;
FIG. 23 is an illustration setting forth the equal spacing between the
reflector elements in the plane perpendicular to the incoming signal, and
FIG. 24 is an illustration setting forth the reflection of the captured
signal into the driven element.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
In FIG. 1, the modified antenna 10 of the present invention is shown
mounted to the roof 20 of a building by means of a support 30. The antenna
10 is a modified parabolic antenna having a series of reflector elements
40 mounted to a parabolic boom 50 which in turn is connected to the
support 30 by means of a mount 60. A driven element or sensor 70 is
mounted in the focal area of the parabolic antenna 10 and is supported in
that position by means of a driven element support boom 80.
In operation, incoming wave front 90 from the signal are reflected by the
elements 40 into the driven element 70. The reflected wave front of the
signal is generally designated 100.
The antenna 10 is designed to operate in two orientations. The orientation
shown in FIG. 1 is the vertical orientation (i.e., the driven element 70
is aligned vertically). The antenna 10 can also be oriented so that the
driven element 70 is horizontal.
It can be observed by inspection of FIG. 1 that the wind load of antenna 10
is significantly less than the wind load of a conventional dish-parabolic
antenna. Wind easily flows between the reflector elements 40. The reduced
wind load characteristics and the light weight of the antenna 10 of the
present invention result in a significantly less substantial support 30
than in conventionally used on parabolic antennas. Specifically, the
antenna 10 of the present invention can be mounted onto a standard
television support mast.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
1. Reflector Elements
Each of the reflector elements 40 in the preferred embodiment, are
identical in shape as shown in FIGS. 2 through 5. These reflector elements
are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to be of an elongated rectangular configuration
formed from aluminum or the like. The element 40 is formed around an arced
piece so that it follows a substantially parabolic shape along its
longitudinal axis 300 as shown in FIG. 3. In the region of the vertex of a
parabola it is substantially a circular arc and, hence, the arc near
vertex 310 of element 40 is substantially circular. In manufacturing the
preferred embodiment, these elements are rolled on a circular piece.
In order to provide structural strength for the environmental forces, two
embossments or ridges 200 and 210 are formed along opposing edges 220 and
230, respectively. These embossed ridges, 200 and 210, do not extend to
edges 240 and 250 and, hence, when the embossing occurs the ends flange
slightly outward from edges 220 and 230.
An attachment hole 260 is located in the center, longitudinally and
laterally, (i.e., the vertex of the element parabola) of each element 40.
Four locking tabs 270 are stamped about the hole 260. These locking tabs
270 extend out perpendicular to the surface of the element 40 as shown in
FIG. 4. FIG. 5 sets forth, in cross section, the orientation of the
locking tabs 270.
In FIGS. 2 through 5, a preferred embodiment of the shape of each reflector
element, of the embossment to add structural strength, and a single point
of affixation of the element to a boom is set forth. It is to be
understood, however, that the present invention should not be limited to
such a preferred approach. The element shapes need not be identical to
each other, need not be of an elongated rectangular shape, need not be
embossed as shown, and need not be affixed in the preferred manner to
practice the teachings of this invention as pointed out in the claims.
2. The Reflector Element Boom
Two preferred embodiments of the element boom 50 of the present invention
is shown in FIGS. 6 through 10. The first embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and
7 is designed for holding five elements 40. What is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7
is one-half of the overall boom and, hence, FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a
boom half section for a ten reflector element antenna of the present
invention. The boom half section 600 is made from square tubing material
and is light weight. A rolling fixture bends the tubing material into the
parabolic shape along its longitudinal axis 615. This forms one leg of the
overall parabola as best shown by reference back to FIG. 1. A plurality of
holes 700 are drilled into the half section 600 at predetermined spaced
locations. Typical values, in inches, for these orientations are shown in
FIG. 6. These holes 700 are drilled perpendicular to the surface as best
seen in FIG. 6. As subsequently will be explained, holes 700 comprise
attachment points for each of the reflector elements 40. Additionally, two
holes 610 and 620 are drilled near end 630 of the half section 600. These
holes 610 and 620 will be utilized to mount the boom half sections, as
will be subsequently explained, to mount 60 which in turn is connected to
the support 30.
In FIGS. 8 through 10, are shown the boom half section 800 for an 18
reflector element antenna 10 of the present invention. Wherever possible,
the same designation numbers will be utilized, as for the ten element
antenna shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 for the sake of consistency and clarity.
Again, typical values, in inches, are given for the spacings between the
holes 700.
In FIG. 11 is shown the mounting of a reflector element 40 to a half
section 600. A rivet 1100 engages hole 260 of elemen | | |
