Satellite receiver protection apparatus

• US 4,999,729 A
• Filed: 08/09/1989
• Issued: 03/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Francis J. Stifter
• Original Assignee: Francis J. Stifter
• Inventors: Stifter, Francis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DeBoer, Todd E.
• Application Number:
  US07/391,336
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 361/111, 361/110, 361/58, 361/117, 361/118, 361/127, 361/126
• US Class Current: 361/56
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 9/005 avoiding undesired transient conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 9/06 using spark-gap arresters

Abstract

A satellite receiver protection apparatus including a housing; an electrical power supply connector retained by the housing and adapted for connection to an AC outlet; a plurality of AC outlet sockets retained by the housing; and an electrical power surge suppressor retained within the housing and connected between the supply connector and the outlet sockets. Also included are an electrical input terminal retained by the housing and adapted for connection to a television antenna; an electrical output terminal retained by the housing and adapted for connection to a television receiver; and an electrical signal surge suppressor retained within the housing and connected between the input terminal and the output terminal.

Claims

1. A satellite receiver protection apparatus comprising:

a housing;

electrical power supply connection means retained by said housing and adapted for connection to an AC outlet;

a plurality of AC outlet sockets retained by said housing;

electrical power surge suppressor means retained within said housing and connected between said supply means and said outlet sockets;

electrical input terminal means retained by said housing and adapted for connection to a satellite dish antenna;

electrical output terminal means retained by said housing and adapted for connection to a television receiver;

electrical signal surge suppressor means retained within said housing and connected between said input terminal means and said output terminal means;

ground circuit means retained by said housing and connected to said power and signal surge suppressor means;

a plurality of first control terminals retained by said housing and adapted for connection to orientation motor and sensor lines of the satellite dish antenna;

a plurality of second control terminals retained by said housing and adapted for connection to the satellite dish antenna orientation control unit;

control line means retained by said housing and connecting said first and second control terminals; and

control line surge suppressor means retained within said housing and connected between said control line means and said ground circuit means.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 including ground circuit means retained by said housing and connected to said power and signal surge suppressor means, a plurality of first control terminals retained by said housing and adapted for connection to orientation motor and sensor lines of a satellite dish antenna, a plurality of second control terminals retained by said housing and adapted for connection to a satellite dish antenna orientation control unit, control line means retained by said housing and connecting said first and second control terminals and control line surge suppressor means retained within said housing and connected between said control line means and said ground circuit means.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 including electrical filter means retained within said housing and connected between said supply connection means and said outlet sockets.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said ground circuit means comprises a ground terminal retained by said housing.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said sockets, said first and second control terminal means, and said ground terminal are accessible externally on said housing.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said sockets are disposed in a top wall of said housing, said first terminals are disposed in one side wall of said housing, and said second terminals are disposed in a different side wall of said housing.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said power supply connection means comprises an AC plug having hot, common, and ground contacts and said ground contact is connected to said ground circuit means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said input terminal means comprises a plurality of input terminals each adapted for connection to a different television antenna, said output terminal means comprises a plurality of output terminals each adapted for connection to a different television received, and said signal surge suppressor means comprises a plurality of signal surge suppressors, one connected between each pair of said input and output terminals.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 including electrical filter means retained within said housing and connected between said supply connection means and said outlet sockets.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said ground circuit means comprises a ground terminal retained by said housing.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said sockets, said first and second control terminal means, and said ground terminal are accessible externally on said housing.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said sockets are disposed in a top wall of said housing, said first terminals are disposed in one side wall of said housing, and said second terminals are disposed in a different side wall of said housing.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said power supply connection means comprises an AC plug having hot, common, and ground contacts and said ground contact is connected to said ground circuit means.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1 including ground circuit means and wherein said input and output terminals are coaxial terminals and said signal surge suppressor means comprises varistor means connected between said ground circuit and outer conductors of said input and output terminals, and gas tube means connected between center and outer conductors of said input and output terminals.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said ground circuit means comprises a ground terminal retained by said housing.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said sockets, said first and second control terminal means, and said ground terminal are accessible externally on said housing.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said sockets are disposed in a top wall of said housing, said first terminals are disposed in one side wall of said housing, and said second terminals are disposed in a different side wall of said housing.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said power supply connection means comprises an AC plug having hot, common, and ground contacts and said ground contact is connected to said ground circuit means.

19. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said input terminal means comprises a plurality of input terminals each adapted for connection to a different television antenna, said output terminal means comprises a plurality of output terminals each adapted for connection to a different television receiver, and said signal surge suppressor means comprises a plurality of signal surge suppressors, one connected between each pair of said input and output terminals.

20. A television receiver protection apparatus comprising:

a housing;

electrical power supply connection means retained by said housing and adapted for connection to an AC outlet;

a plurality of AC outlet sockets retained by said housing;

electrical power surge suppressor means retained within said housing and connected between said supply means and said outlet sockets;

ground circuit means connected to said power surge suppressor means;

coaxial electrical input terminal means retained by said housing and adapted for connection to a television antenna;

coaxial electrical output terminal means retained by said housing and adapted for connection to a television receiver; and

electrical signal surge suppressor means retained within said housing and connected between said input terminal means and said output terminal means;

said signal surge suppressor means comprising varistor means connected between said ground circuit means and outer conductors of said input and output terminals, and gas tube means connected between center and outer conductors of said input and output terminals.