Multi-directional receiving antenna array

• US 7,990,332 B1
• Filed: 05/16/2007
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tischer, Steven N.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCUSO, HUEDUNG XUAN CAO
• Application Number:
  US11/749,373
• Time in Patent Office: 1,539 Days
• Field of Search: 343/810, 343/813, 343820-821, 455/456, 455/457
• US Class Current: 343/810
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1235 Collapsible supports; Means for erecting a rigid antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/125 Means for positioning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0087 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing antenna arrays manufacturing waveguides H01P11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• 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 9/285 Planar dipole H01Q9/065 takes precedence; patch antenna H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

Techniques for providing multi-directional receiving antenna arrays are described herein. The techniques may include selecting a location for an antenna array, generating a guide for one or more station signals for the location, including a station frequency and a station transmitter location, and generating an antenna array configuration from the guide. The techniques may further include attaching the antennas to the antenna array based on the antenna array configuration.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a multi-directional antenna array, comprising:

selecting a location for an antenna array, the antenna array including at least one antenna;

obtaining a guide for one or more station signals for the location including a station frequency and a station transmitter location, the guide further including type of antenna in terms of UHF or VHF;

generating an antenna array configuration from the guide;

associating the at least one antenna with the antenna array based on the antenna array configuration;

selecting the at least one antenna to receive at least one of the one or more station signals;

positioning the at least one antenna in the antenna array; and

orienting the at least one antenna toward the corresponding station transmitter location;

wherein at least one of positioning the at least one antenna in the antenna array and orienting the at least one antenna toward the station transmitter location includes aligning an orientation mark with an alignment mark.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the at least one antenna includes selecting a substantially unidirectional antenna with a high gain value to receive a high definition television signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the guide includes downloading broadcast station information from the internet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein attaching the at least one antenna to the antenna array includes inserting the at least one antenna into a complementary feature on an antenna arm.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the guide for one or more station signals includes at least one of selecting station signals to receive or selecting a station signal not to receive at the location.

6. A method of creating a multi-directional antenna array, comprising:

selecting a receiving location;

and

generating instructions to create a multi-directional antenna based on station frequency and station transmitter location of at least one station to receive station signals from the at least one station, the multi-directional antenna being tuned to the station frequency and station transmitter location;

wherein generating instructions to create the multi-directional antenna includes generating instructions for selectively removing conductive elements from a substantially planar substrate to create a customized antenna array of remaining conductive elements.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 further comprising folding the planar substrate to orient the conductive elements in a substantially vertical configuration.

8. The method as recited in claim 6 further comprising folding the planar substrate to thereby reduce a height of the planar substrate.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising generating a station guide from the receiving location that includes the station frequency and the station transmitter location.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising orienting the conductive elements toward a corresponding transmitting location.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising attaching additional antennas to the planar substrate to receive additional station signals.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein generating instructions to create the multi-directional antenna array includes instructions to print the multi-directional antenna array on the substrate.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein printing the multi-directional antenna array includes printing with conductive ink.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the instructions are transmitted to a printer from a computer to print the multi-directional antenna array.