Motorized antenna pointing device
AssigneeBellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
InventorP. Thomas Watson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Portable devices and associated methods for orienting a receiver that is supported on a mast by a mounting bracket in a desired orientation. In one embodiment, the portable device includes an actuator that is removably coupled to the mounting bracket and, upon actuation thereof, rotates the mounting bracket and the receiver about the mast to the desired orientation and, upon deactivation thereof, may be decoupled from the mounting bracket while the mounting bracket retains the receiver in the desired orientation.
Claims34
A portable device for orienting a receiver that is supported on a mast by a mounting bracket that selectively permits the receiver to be rotated about the mast to a desired orientation and thereafter retained at the desired orientation, said portable device comprising an actuator that is removably coupled to the mounting bracket and, upon actuation thereof, rotates the mounting bracket and the receiver about the mast to the desired orientation and, upon deactivation thereof, may be decoupled from the mounting bracket while the mounting bracket retains the receiver in the desired orientation.
A method for orienting a receiver at a desired orientation, said method comprising:
- coupling an actuator to the receiver;
- actuating the actuator to rotate the receiver to the desired orientation;
- retaining the receiver at the desired orientation;
- and
- decoupling the actuator from the receiver while maintaining said retaining.
A method of installing an antenna, comprising:
- supporting the antenna on a support member;
- coupling an orientation device to the antenna;
- actuating the orientation device to move the antenna to a desired orientation;
- retaining the antenna in the desired orientation;
- and
- decoupling the orientation device from the antenna while performing said retaining.
A method of installing an antenna, comprising:
- supporting the antenna on a support structure;
- coupling an orientation device to the antenna;
- actuating the orientation device to orient the antenna at desired azimuth and elevation orientations;
- retaining the antenna in the desired azimuth and elevation orientations;
- and
- decoupling the orientation device from the antenna while performing said retaining.
A method of orienting an antenna, comprising:
- supporting the antenna on a support member;
- coupling an orientation device to the antenna;
- actuating the orientation device to move the antenna to a desired azimuth orientation;
- assessing a signal strength of a satellite signal received by the antenna;
- adjusting the azimuth orientation to achieve a desired signal strength;
- retaining the antenna in the adjusted azimuth orientation;
- and
- decoupling the orientation device from the antenna.
A method of orienting an antenna, comprising:
- coupling an orientation device to the antenna;
- assessing a signal strength of a satellite signal received by the antenna;
- actuating the orientation device to orient the antenna in a desired orientation wherein the assessed signal strength is equivalent to a desired signal strength;
- retaining the antenna in the desired orientation;
- and
- decoupling the orientation device from the antenna.
A method of aligning an antenna with a satellite, the method comprising:
- coupling an orientation device to the antenna for adjusting the antenna to an elevation angle and azimuth orientation;
- assessing a signal strength of a satellite signal received by the antenna;
- actuating the orientation device to position the antenna in an elevation position and an azimuth position which result in a desired signal strength;
- providing an indicator when the desired signal strength is achieved;
- retaining the antenna in the elevation an azimuth positions which result in the desired signal strength;
- and
- decoupling the orientation device from the antenna.
A device for orienting a receiver that is supported on a mast and may be rigidly retained in a desired position on the mast, said device comprising an actuator that is removably coupled to the receiver and, upon actuation thereof, moves the antenna to the desired position and, upon deactivation thereof, may be decoupled from the antenna without altering the desired position of the antenna.
A device for orienting a receiver that is supported on a mast and may be rigidly retained in a desired position on the mast, said device comprising an actuator that is removably coupled to the receiver and removably coupled to a structure.
A method of orienting an antenna in a desired orientation, comprising:
- mounting a mast;
- affixing the antenna to the mast with a bracket that permits the antenna to be moved relative to the mast and thereafter retained in position;
- affixing an orientation device to the mast and the antenna;
- actuating the orientation device to move the antenna on the mast to a desired orientation;
- retaining the antenna in a desired orientation;
- and
- decoupling the device from the mast and antenna.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.