APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS FOR HEATING A SATELLITE ANTENNA REFLECTOR
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A satellite dish heating system comprising:
- a heating element that attaches to a satellite antenna reflector;
a battery;
a switch operable to communicatively couple and decouple the heating element and the battery;
control logic operable to command the switch to communicatively couple the heating element and the battery, the heating element drawing power from the battery to heat the surface of the satellite antenna reflector; and
cabling communicatively coupling the battery, the control logic and a satellite antenna to a satellite receiver, the satellite antenna exchanging signals with the satellite receiver over the cabling, the cabling further carrying power from the satellite receiver to the battery, the satellite antenna and the control logic, the battery operable to trickle charge using the power supplied by the satellite receiver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and systems are described herein for heating a satellite antenna reflector to remove snow and ice from the reflector surface. A satellite heating system includes a heating element attached to the satellite antenna reflector and a battery associated with the heating element. A satellite receiver provides a satellite antenna with a supply voltage over cabling communicatively coupling the satellite receiver and the satellite antenna. The supply voltage is further utilized to charge the battery. The heating element may then utilize the power supplied by the battery to heat the surface of the reflector, removing ice and snow from the reflector surface.
14 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A satellite dish heating system comprising:
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a heating element that attaches to a satellite antenna reflector; a battery; a switch operable to communicatively couple and decouple the heating element and the battery; control logic operable to command the switch to communicatively couple the heating element and the battery, the heating element drawing power from the battery to heat the surface of the satellite antenna reflector; and cabling communicatively coupling the battery, the control logic and a satellite antenna to a satellite receiver, the satellite antenna exchanging signals with the satellite receiver over the cabling, the cabling further carrying power from the satellite receiver to the battery, the satellite antenna and the control logic, the battery operable to trickle charge using the power supplied by the satellite receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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a satellite antenna reflector; a satellite antenna operable to receive a signal reflected from the satellite antenna reflector; a heating element that attaches to the satellite antenna reflector; a battery mounted proximate the satellite antenna reflector; a switch operable to communicatively couple and decouple the heating element and the battery; control logic operable to command the switch to communicatively couple the heating element and the battery, the heating element drawing power from the battery to heat the surface of the satellite antenna reflector; and cabling communicatively coupling the battery, the control logic and a satellite antenna to a satellite receiver, the satellite antenna exchanging information with the satellite receiver over the cabling based on the signal, the cabling further carrying power from the satellite receiver to the battery, the satellite antenna and the control logic, the battery operable to trickle charge using the power supplied by the satellite receiver. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A satellite dish heating system comprising:
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a heating element that attaches to a satellite antenna reflector; a battery; a switch operable to communicatively couple and decouple the heating element and the battery; a light sensor operable to detect snow and ice on the surface of the satellite antenna reflector; an electronic temperature sensor operable to detect a temperature of the ambient air around the satellite antenna reflector; a clock; control logic operable to command the switch to communicatively couple the heating element and the battery based on input from the light sensor and at least one of the electronic temperature sensor and the clock, the heating element drawing power from the battery to heat the surface of the satellite antenna reflector; and cabling communicatively coupling the battery, the control logic and a satellite antenna to a satellite receiver, the satellite antenna exchanging signals with the satellite receiver over the cabling, the cabling further carrying power from the satellite receiver to the battery, the satellite antenna and the control logic, the battery operable to trickle charge using the power supplied by the satellite receiver. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification