Antenna system

• US 7,068,235 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2004
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anuvu IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Row 44 Incorporated (Global Eagle Entertainment Incorporated)
• Inventors: Guidon, John, Fialcowitz, Gregg
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Trinh Vo
• Application Number:
  US10/900,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20060017638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 343/757
• US Class Current: 343/757
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/005 Slotted waveguides arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/04 for varying one co-ordinate of the orientation

Abstract

In some embodiments, the multiple antennas are cooperated in the system to provide simultaneous communication with multiple remote sites. Embodiments comprises a first variable inclined continuous transverse stub (VICTS) antenna that comprises a perimeter and an inactive region within the perimeter, a second VICTS antenna positioned at the inactive region of the first antenna, a first antenna control that steers the first antenna, and a second antenna control that steers the second antenna independent of the first antenna. In some embodiment, an antenna system is provided that comprises a first turntable having a perimeter, a first antenna having a perimeter, where the first antenna is secured on a first surface of the first turntable, a second antenna positioned proximate the first antenna and extending within the perimeter of the first turntable, where the second antenna is steerable independent of the first antenna.

Claims

1. An antenna comprising:

a first variable inclined continuous transverse stub (VICTS) antenna comprising a perimeter and an inactive region defined within the perimeter; and

a second VICTS antenna positioned at the inactive region within the perimeter of the first VICTS antenna;

a first antenna control cooperated with the first VICTS antenna to steer the first VICTS antenna; and

a second antenna control cooperated with the second VICTS antenna to steer the second VICTS antenna independent of the first VICTS antenna.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first VICTS antenna comprises an aperture defining at least a portion of the inactive region, and the second VICTS antenna is positioned at the aperture of the first VICTS antenna.

3. The antenna of claim 2, wherein the second antenna control comprises a first steering mechanism that extends through the aperture in the first antenna and couples with a perimeter of the second antenna.

4. The antenna of claim 2, wherein the first steering system comprises first, second and third rotational drives cooperated with the perimeter of the second antenna to control azimuth, elevation and polarization characteristics of the second antenna.

5. The antenna of claim 4, wherein the first antenna control comprises a second steering system comprising fourth, fifth and sixth rotational drives cooperated with the perimeter of the first antenna to control azimuth, elevation and polarization characteristics of the first antenna.

6. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first VICTS antenna comprises a plurality of stub elements extending across a least a portion of the first VICTS antenna, where each of the plurality of stub elements have gaps separating first portions from second portions of the plurality of stub elements such that the gaps at least in part define the inactive region of the first VICTS antenna.

7. The antenna of claim 6, wherein the first VICTS antenna further comprises a plurality of non-radiating connectors where each of the plurality of non-radiating connectors electrically couples with a first portion and a second portion of one of the first plurality of stub elements.

8. The antenna of claim 7, wherein the plurality of non-radiating connectors extending around a perimeter of the inactive region.

9. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the second antenna comprises an extension ring extending from a perimeter of the second antenna and defining a extension ring perimeter a distance from the perimeter of the second antenna that is proximate to the perimeter of the first antenna.

10. The antenna of claim 9, wherein the second antenna control comprises first steering mechanism coupled with the extension ring at the extension ring perimeter of the second antenna;

and

the first antenna control comprises a second steering mechanism coupled with the perimeter of the first antenna.

11. The antenna of claim 1, further comprising:

a third VICTS antenna comprising a perimeter and an inactive region defined within the perimeter of the third antenna such that the first antenna is positioned at the inactive region of the third antenna; and

a third antenna control cooperated with the third antenna to steer the third antenna independently of the first and second antennas.

12. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first antenna transmits and receives wireless data communication and the second antenna transmits and receives wireless multimedia communication.

13. An antenna system, comprising:

a first turntable having a perimeter,

a first antenna having a perimeter, where the first antenna is secured on a first surface of the first turntable; and

a second antenna comprising a second turntable, and the second antenna is positioned proximate the first antenna such that at least a portion of the second antenna is positioned to extend within the perimeter of the first turntable, where the second antenna is steerable independent of the first antenna.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first antenna communicates with a first remote communication system, and the second antenna communicates with a second remote communicate system.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first antenna transmits data to the first remote communication system and receives data from the first remote communication system;

and

the second antenna transmits data to the second remote communication system and receives data from the second remote communication system.

16. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

an enclosure that encloses and protects the first turntable, the first antenna, the second turntable, and the second antenna from the environment.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the second antenna is a flat planar antenna.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the first antenna further comprises an inactive region defined within the perimeter of the first antenna;

and

the second antenna is positioned at the inactive region of the first antenna.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first antenna is a variable inclined continuous transverse stub (VICTS) antenna comprising a first plurality of elements traversing at least a portion of the first antenna with a second plurality of elements of the first plurality of the elements having gaps separating two portions of each of the elements of the second plurality of elements where the gaps define the inactive region;

and

a plurality of non-radiating connectors electrically connecting the two portions of the elements of the second plurality of elements.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of non-radiating connectors extend circumferentially around the inactive region of the first antenna.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the inactive region comprises an aperture within which the second turntable and the second antenna are positioned.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a first rotational drive coupled with the second turntable to adjust a rotational positioning of the second antenna; and

a second rotational drive coupled with the second antenna to adjust a first characteristic of the second antenna, wherein the first and second rotational drives extend through the aperture to contact the turntable and second antenna, respectively.

23. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a first rotational drive coupled with the second turntable to adjust rotational positioning of the second antenna;

a second rotational drive coupled with the second antenna to adjust a first characteristic of the second antenna;

a third rotational drive coupled with the first turntable to adjust the positioning of the first turntable; and

a fourth rotational drive coupled with the first antenna to adjust a first characteristic of the second antenna.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

a fifth rotational drive coupled with the first antenna to adjust a polarization of the first antenna;

a sixth rotational drive coupled with the second antenna to adjust a polarization of the second antenna; and

wherein the first characteristic of the first antenna comprises an elevation at which that first antenna is directed such that the fourth rotational drive adjusts the elevation of the first antenna, and the first characteristic of the second antenna comprises an elevation at which that second antenna is directed such that the second rotational drive adjusts the elevation of the second antenna.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the first rotational drive adjusts the second turntable adjusting an azimuth of the second antenna, and the third rotational drive adjusts the first turntable adjusting an azimuth of the first antenna.

26. The system of claim 13, wherein the second antenna is a VICTS antenna.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the first antenna is a VICTS antenna.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the first antenna is a tilting flat panel antenna.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the first antenna is a Lumberg lens antenna.