Combination satellite and VHF/UHF receiving antenna

• US 6,166,703 A
• Filed: 07/30/1998
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing Dtv
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Muterspaugh, Max Ward
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US09/117,485
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 343/725, 343/727, 343/840, 343/781 R, 343/756, 343/700 MS
• US Class Current: 343/840
• 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: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/40 Imbricated or interleaved structures; Combined or electromagnetically coupled arrangements, e.g. comprising two or more non-connected fed radiating elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/28 Conical, cylindrical, cage, strip, gauze, or like elements having an extended radiating surface; Elements comprising two conical surfaces having collinear axes and adjacent apices and fed by two-conductor transmission lines waveguide horns or mouths H01Q13/00; slot antennas H01Q13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/285 Planar dipole H01Q9/065 takes precedence; patch antenna H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/44 with a plurality of divergent straight elements, e.g. V-dipole, X-antenna; with a plurality of elements having mutually inclined substantially straight portions combinations of two or more active elements H01Q21/00; turnstile antennas H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/18 Input circuits, e.g. for coupling to an antenna or a transmission line coupling networks between antennas or lines and receivers independent of the nature of the receiver H03H

Abstract

A single antenna assembly receives both direct broadcast satellite signals (DBS) and terrestrial broadcast signals, such as local VHF and UHF television channel broadcasts. The assembly includes an electromagnetic signal reflector for reflecting and focusing electromagnetic signals in a first band of frequencies, such as microwave signals for DBS. Incorporated in the reflector is an antenna for receiving electromagnetic signals in a second band of frequencies.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic signal reflector comprising:

a reflective element for reflecting and focusing electromagnetic signals in a first band of frequencies; and

an antenna element which operates as part of said reflective element for receiving electromagnetic signals in a second band of frequencies and simultaneously reflecting electromagnetic signals in said first band of frequencies.

2. The electromagnetic signal reflector of claim 1 wherein:

said reflective element includes a reflective material which reflects electromagnetic signals in said first band of frequencies and which forms said antenna element.

3. The electromagnetic signal reflector of claim 2 further comprising:

antenna elements coupled to said antenna element extending outwardly from the fringe of said reflective element.

4. The electromagnetic signal reflector of claim 2 wherein:

part of said reflective material forms said antenna element and said antenna element is separated from the rest of said reflective material by a non-conductive gap which width is less than one-eighth of the wavelength of an electromagnetic signal in said first band of frequencies.

5. The electromagnetic signal reflector of claim 4 wherein:

said reflective material adheres to a surface of said reflective element.

6. The electromagnetic signal reflector of claim 5 wherein:

part of said rest of said reflective material forms impedance transforming means.

7. The electromagnetic signal reflector of claim 5 wherein:

part of said rest of said reflective material forms coupling means.

8. The electromagnetic signal reflector of claim 5 wherein:

a first part of said rest of said reflective material forms impedance transforming means; and

a second part of said rest of said reflective material forms coupling means.

9. The electromagnetic signal reflector of claim 4 wherein:

said reflective material is embedded in the body of said reflective element.

10. An apparatus for receiving electromagnetic signals in first and second bands of frequencies comprising:

a reflective element for reflecting and focusing electromagnetic signals in said first band of frequencies;

a horn receiving said electromagnetic signals in said first band of frequencies at a focused point;

feed mount means for positioning said horn at said focused point;

an antenna element which operates as part of said reflective element for receiving electromagnetic signals in said second band of frequencies and simultaneously reflecting electromagnetic signals in said first band of frequencies.