Antenna assembly for satellite and wireless services

• US 20040110463A1
• Filed: 12/10/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OnLive Incorporated, Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: OnLive Incorporated
• Inventors: Perlman, Stephen G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,493,078 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.02
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/247 with frequency mixer, e.g. for direct satellite reception or Doppler radar
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/132 Horn reflector antennas; Off-set feeding
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

An antenna assembly includes a reflector dish and a unit attached at a distal end of an arm to receive satellite signals reflected from the reflector dish. The unit includes at least one low-noise block converter (LNB) to receive the satellite signals and a wireless communication transceiver that operates to transmit and receive video and data information within a surrounding range. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. Antenna apparatus comprising:

at least one low-noise block converter (LNB) to receive satellite transmission signals;

a wireless communication transceiver mounted with the at least one LNB, the wireless communication transceiver operating as an 802.11x compliant device.

2. The antenna apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication transceiver operates to transmit and receive data within a surrounding range.

3. The antenna apparatus of claim 1 wherein the satellite transmission signals occupy a first frequency band and the wireless communication transceiver operates in a second frequency band distinct from the first frequency band.

4. The antenna apparatus of claim 3 wherein the second frequency band is the 5 GHz band.

5. The antenna apparatus of claim 2 wherein the wireless communication transceiver receives control signals transmitted in a frequency range of about 40 MHz to about 1.2 GHz.

6. The antenna apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a housing to enclose the at least one LNB and the wireless communication transceiver, and a feed horn protruding from the housing.

7. The antenna apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one LNB comprises first and second LNBs.

8. The antenna apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a wireless antenna coupled to the wireless communication transceiver.

9. The antenna apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication transceiver operates in accordance with IEEE 802.11a specification.

10. An antenna assembly comprising:

a reflector dish;

a unit attached at a distal end of an arm to receive satellite signals reflected from the reflector dish, the unit including;

at least one low-noise block converter (LNB) to receive the satellite signals;

a wireless communication transceiver.

11. The antenna assembly of claim 10 further comprising a support, the reflector dish being mounted to the support.

12. The antenna assembly of claim 10 wherein a proximate end of the arm is attached to the reflector dish.

13. The antenna assembly of claim 11 wherein a proximate end of the arm is attached to the support.

14. The antenna assembly of claim 10 wherein the unit further comprises:

a housing to enclose the at least one LNB and the wireless communication transceiver; and

a feed horn protruding from a side of the housing nearest the reflector dish.

15. The antenna assembly of claim 10 wherein the wireless communication transceiver operates to transmit and receive data within a surrounding range.

16. The antenna assembly of claim 10 wherein the satellite transmissions occupy a first frequency band and the wireless communication transceiver operates in a second frequency band distinct from the first frequency band.

17. The antenna assembly of claim 16 wherein the second frequency band is the 5 GHz band.

18. The antenna assembly of claim 15 wherein the data includes video programs.

19. The antenna assembly of claim 10 wherein the at least one LNB comprises first and second LNBs.

20. The antenna assembly of claim 10 wherein the wireless communication transceiver operates as an 802.11x compliant device.

21. An antenna assembly, comprising:

a reflector dish;

a unit attached at a distal end of an arm to receive satellite signals reflected from the reflector dish, the unit including;

a first low-noise block converter (LNB) to receive the satellite signals having a first polarization;

a second low-noise block converter (LNB) to receive the satellite signals having a second polarization;

a wireless communication transceiver that operates to transmit and receive video and data within a surrounding range.

22. The antenna assembly of claim 21 further comprising a support, the reflector dish being mounted to the support.

23. The antenna assembly of claim 21 wherein a proximate end of the arm is attached to the reflector dish.

24. The antenna assembly of claim 22 wherein a proximate end of the arm is attached to the support.

25. The antenna assembly of claim 21 wherein the unit further comprises:

a housing to enclose the first and second LNBs and the wireless communication transceiver.

26. The antenna assembly of claim 25 further comprising a feed horn protruding from a side of the housing nearest the reflector dish.

27. The antenna assembly of claim 21 wherein the satellite transmissions occupy a first frequency band and the wireless communication transceiver operates in a second frequency band distinct from the first frequency band.

28. The, antenna assembly of claim 27 wherein the second frequency band is the 5 GHz band.

29. The antenna assembly of claim 21 wherein the wireless communication transceiver operates as an 802.11x compliant device.

30. The antenna assembly of claim 21 wherein the wireless communication transceiver receives control signals transmitted in a frequency range of about 40 MHz to about 1.2 GHz.

31. Apparatus for reception of satellite transmissions and distribution of network services comprising:

a reflector dish;

at least one low-noise block converter (LNB) attached at a distal end of an arm to receive satellite signals reflected from the reflector dish;

a wireless communication transceiver that operates as an 802.11x compliant device to distribute network services in a surrounding range.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the network services comprise satellite broadcast services.

33. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the network services comprise interactive data services.

34. The apparatus of claim 31 further comprising a distribution box coupled to the at least one LNB via a cable for distributing the satellite signals, the wireless transceiver being disposed in the distribution box.

35. The apparatus of claim 31 further comprising a housing, the at least one LNB and the wireless communication transceiver being disposed within the housing.

36. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the satellite transmissions occupy a first frequency band and the wireless communication transceiver operates in a second frequency band distinct from the first frequency band.

37. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the second frequency band is the 5 GHz band.

38. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the at least one LNB comprises first and second LNBs.

39. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the wireless communication transceiver operates according to IEEE 802.11a specification.

45. The antenna assembly of claim 31 wherein the satellite transmissions occupy a first frequency band and the wireless communication transceiver operates in a second frequency band distinct from the first frequency band.

46. The antenna assembly of claim 31 wherein the second frequency band is the 5 GHz band.

40. Antenna assembly comprising:

a reflector dish;

at least one low-noise block converter (LNB) attached at a distal end of an arm to receive satellite signals reflected from the reflector dish;

a wireless communication transceiver that operates to distribute network services in a surrounding range; and

a solar cell panel coupled to provide power to the wireless communication transceiver.

41. The antenna assembly of claim 40 wherein the wireless communication transceiver operates as a repeater in an extended wireless network.

42. The antenna assembly of claim 40 wherein the network services comprise interactive data services.

43. The antenna assembly of claim 40 wherein the wireless communication transceiver operates as an 802.11x compliant device.

44. The antenna assembly of claim 40 further comprising a housing, the at least one LNB and the wireless communication transceiver being disposed within the housing.

47. The antenna assembly of claim 40 further comprising a support, the reflector dish and solar cell panel being mounted to the support.

48. The antenna assembly of claim 40 wherein the wireless communication transceiver operates according to IEEE 802.11a specification.