Method and system for multi-service reception

• US 8,466,850 B1
• Filed: 07/11/2012
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Entropic Communications, LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Maxlinear Incorporated
• Inventors: Ling, Curtis, Chominski, Paul P.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOANGANH T
• Application Number:
  US13/546,704
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 343/725, 343/727, 343/729, 343/893, 343/878, 343/840
• US Class Current: 343/878
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1221 onto a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1264 Adjusting different parts or elements of an aerial unit
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/16 curved in two dimensions, e.g. paraboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/17 the primary radiating source comprising two or more radiating elements H01Q19/15, H01Q25/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• 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 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• 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: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

A multi-service antenna may comprise: a support structure, a reflector mounted to the support structure, a signal processing assembly mounted with the support structure, a first wire strung between the reflector and the support structure and/or the signal processing assembly, and circuitry for processing a first signal received as a result of electromagnetic radiation (e.g., terrestrial television and/or cellular signals) incident on the first wire. The circuitry for processing the first signal may be housed in the signal processing assembly. A second wire may also be strung between the reflector and the support structure and/or the signal processing assembly, and the circuitry may be operable to perform diversity processing of signals received via the two wires.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a support structure;

a satellite signal reflector mounted to said support structure;

a signal processing assembly mounted to said support structure;

a first conductive wire having a first end attached to said satellite signal reflector and a second end attached to either said support structure or said signal processing assembly; and

circuitry for processing a first signal received as a result of electromagnetic radiation incident on said first wire.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said second end of said wire is attached to a boom of said support structure, said boom being made of a conductive material and grounded.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said signal processing assembly comprises said circuitry for processing said first signal, and wherein said circuitry for processing said first signal is housed in said signal processing assembly.

4. The system of claim 1 comprising:

a second conductive wire having a first end attached to said satellite signal reflector and a second end attached to either said support structure or said signal processing assembly; and

circuitry for processing a second signal received as a result of electromagnetic radiation incident on said second wire.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said circuitry comprises a diversity combiner for diversity combining of said first signal and said second signal.

6. The system of claim 5 comprising:

a third conductive wire having a first end attached to said satellite signal reflector and a second end attached to either said support structure or said signal processing assembly; and

a selector controllable to select, for input to said diversity combiner, any two of;

said first signal, said second signal, and a third signal received as a result of electromagnetic radiation incident on said third wire.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said first signal is a terrestrial television signal.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry is operable to output satellite television content and terrestrial television content on a single coaxial cable.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein an angle between said first wire and said reflector is adjustable.

10. A system comprising:

a satellite dish assembly;

a plurality of antenna elements mounted to said satellite dish assembly, said plurality of antenna elements being configured for reception of terrestrial signals; and

circuitry, mounted with said satellite dish assembly, for diversity combining of a plurality of signals via said plurality of antenna elements, wherein;

each of said plurality of antenna elements comprises a wire attached to said satellite dish assembly at two attachment points;

a location of one or both of said attachment points is adjustable; and

adjustment of said location of one or both of said attachment points of a particular one of said plurality of antenna elements alters an angle between said particular one of said antenna elements and a satellite signal reflector of said satellite dish assembly.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said plurality of signals result from terrestrial television signals incident on said plurality of antenna elements.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said plurality of signals result from terrestrial cellular signals incident on said plurality of antenna elements.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said circuitry is operable to output satellite television content and terrestrial television content on a single coaxial cable.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein:

said circuitry comprises a selector controllable to select a subset of said antenna elements to be used for said reception of said plurality of signals.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said selector is controlled based on measured performance metrics of said plurality of signals.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said selector is controlled based on a control signal from a receiver coupled to said circuitry.