Broadcast reception apparatus receiving broadcast by using directional antenna

• US 7,624,414 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2006
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Onomatsu, Takehiro, Narita, Shusuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENGESHA, MULUGETA A
• Application Number:
  US11/345,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20060174317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 725/72, 348/725, 348/730
• US Class Current: 725/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42638 involving a hybrid front-end, e.g. analog and digital tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/46 for receiving on more than one standard at will deflecting circuits of multi-standard receivers H04N3/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/63 Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers

Abstract

A broadcast reception apparatus is connected to a directional antenna capable of changing an airwave reception direction. The broadcast reception apparatus includes a tuner selecting a frequency of airwave received by the directional antenna. When a prescribed condition is satisfied, power is supplied to the tuner, and thereafter power is supplied to the directional antenna.

Claims

1. A broadcast reception comprising:

a connection portion connected to a directional antenna capable of changing an airwave reception direction;

a tuner selecting a frequency of airwave received by said directional antenna;

a control unit accepting power supply from an external power supply and controlling a manner of power supply from the external power supply to said tuner and said directional antenna; and

a determination unit determining whether said directional antenna is properly connected to said connection portion,

wherein said control unit allows power supply to said directional antenna after power supply to said tuner, and

wherein said control unit causes an operation to supply power to said directional antenna to stop when said determination unit determines that said directional antenna is not properly connected to said connection portion after power supply to said directional antenna is started.

2. The broadcast reception apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said determination unit includes

a transmission unit transmitting a prescribed signal to said directional antenna,

a reception unit receiving a signal from said directional antenna, and

a decision unit deciding whether said reception unit has received a specific signal, and when said decision unit decides that said reception unit has received said specific signal, said determination unit determines that said directional antenna is properly connected to said connection portion.

3. The broadcast reception apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said control unit controls a direction of airwave reception by said directional antenna,

said determination unit includes

a transmission unit transmitting a prescribed signal to said directional antenna,

a reception unit receiving a signal from said directional antenna, and a decision unit deciding whether said reception unit has received a specific signal, and

when said decision unit decides that said reception unit has not received said specific signal or when a manner of reception is not changed even if said control unit causes the direction of reception by said directional antenna to change with regard to the airwave in a specific channel, said determination unit determines that said directional antenna is not properly connected to said connection portion.