Programmable electronic antenna rotator
First Claim
1. In a system for automatically rotating an antenna to any one of a plurality of preprogrammed positions via operation of either different ones or combinations of keys of a keypad, the preprogramming method for said system comprising the steps of:
- (A) synchronizing said system to a datum position via rotation of said antenna to a known reference position;
(B) manually operating said system via said keypad for rotating said antenna to stop at a desired position;
(C) storing in memory via operating of said keypad the desired position of said antenna for subsequent automatic selection;
(D) repeating steps (B) and (C) for storing in memory each one of said plurality of preprogrammed positions;
(E) selecting from memory via said keypad one of said preprogrammed positions;
(F) automatically rotating said antenna to the selected preprogrammed position under control of said microprocessor; and
(G) detecting a signal from a remote control device for manually operating said system to rotate said antenna to a desired position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for rotating an antenna, including a keypad is used to first program a controller for storing a plurality of individually selectable positions for the antenna, a particular key of the keypad representing a programmed position for the antenna, whereafter programming the keys of the keypad are individually depressed for commanding the controller to operate a motor driven rotator for moving the antenna in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to the position associated with the momentarily depressed key. Also, visual indicators are arranged in a compass configuration for indicating the positioning of the antenna as it rotates, and selectively indicating the rest position of the antenna.
8 Citations
11 Claims
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1. In a system for automatically rotating an antenna to any one of a plurality of preprogrammed positions via operation of either different ones or combinations of keys of a keypad, the preprogramming method for said system comprising the steps of:
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(A) synchronizing said system to a datum position via rotation of said antenna to a known reference position; (B) manually operating said system via said keypad for rotating said antenna to stop at a desired position; (C) storing in memory via operating of said keypad the desired position of said antenna for subsequent automatic selection; (D) repeating steps (B) and (C) for storing in memory each one of said plurality of preprogrammed positions; (E) selecting from memory via said keypad one of said preprogrammed positions; (F) automatically rotating said antenna to the selected preprogrammed position under control of said microprocessor; and (G) detecting a signal from a remote control device for manually operating said system to rotate said antenna to a desired position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A system for automatically or manually controlling the rotation of an antenna from one position to a desired new position, comprising:
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a motor for rotating an antenna; means for energizing said motor; keypad means including a plurality of keys encoded for individually permitting either (1) selection of manual energization of said motor to rotate said antenna from one position to another, or (2) selection of a preprogrammed position for automatically rotating said antenna to the preprogrammed position, or (3) preprogramming of at least one position to which said antenna is "manually" moved, for obtaining subsequent automatic selection of the position; and controller means including memory means for storing said preprogrammed position, said controller means being responsive to (1) continuous depression of either a "CW" or "CCW" encoded key of said keypad means for operating said energizing means to energize said motor for rotating said antenna in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to a desired position, respectively, (2) to momentary depression of a memory ended key subsequent to stopping said antenna at the desired position, for priming said keypad means to next permit momentary depression of a position key for storing the coordinates of the desired position in said memory means, and uniquely designating said last depressed position key to represent the now preprogrammed position, and (3) to subsequent momentary depression of any one of the previously preprogrammed position keys for automatically operating said motor energization means to rotate said antenna to the preprogrammed position, respectively; and indicator means of remotely either (1) providing a visual indication of the position of said antenna as it is being rotated from one position to another, or (2) being responsive to depression of a "display" key on said keypad means for momentarily indicating the rest position of said antenna at that time. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification