Antenna components and manufacturing method therefor
AssigneeBellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation
InventorTimothy H. Weaver
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A support arm arrangement or assembly for a satellite antenna and manufacturing method therefor. In one embodiment, the support arm arrangement includes a hollow support arm having a front end and a real attachment end is affixed to the antenna reflector adjacent is perimeter. A mounting arm may be attached to the rear surface of the reflector or, in another embodiment, the mounting arm comprises an integral portion of the support arm. A feed/LNBF assembly is supported with the front end of the support arm. The feed/LNBF assembly may be electronically coupled to a set top box by a cable that is passed through the hollow support arm and the hollow mounting arm. Methods of constructing support arm assemblies for satellite antennas are also disclosed.
Claims42
A support arm arrangement for an antenna having a parabolic reflector that has a perimeter, a front surface and a rear surface, said support arm arrangement comprising:
- a feed support arm having an attachment portion and a front portion, said attachment portion attached to the perimeter of the reflector, said feed support arm having a front flange extending across a portion of the front surface of the reflector to cover a point of attachment wherein said attachment portion is attached to the perimeter of the parabolic reflector;
- and
- a reflector mounting arm attached to said rear surface of said reflector.
An antenna, comprising:
- a molded parabolic reflector having a front surface, a rear surface, and a perimeter;
- a feed support arm having an attachment end and being formed from a first feed support arm portion having a first support arm trough therein and a second feed support arm portion having a second support arm trough therein, said first and second feed support arm portions interconnected such that said first support arm trough and said second support arm trough forms a first wireway and wherein said attachment end of said feed support arm is attached to said reflector adjacent said perimeter thereof, said feed support arm having a front end and an attachment end, said attachment end having a front flange and a bottom flange for covering a point of attachment and providing rigidity to said feed support arm wherein said feed support arm is attached to said reflector;
- a feed/LNBF assembly supported in said front end of said feed support arm;
- a reflector mounting arm formed from a first reflector mounting arm portion having a first mounting arm trough and a second mounting arm portion having a second mounting arm trough, said second mounting arm portion interconnected to said first mounting arm portion such that said first and second mounting arm troughs form a second wireway, said reflector mounting arm pivotally affixed to said rear surface of said reflector;
- and
- a cable extending through said first and second wireways and connected to a set top box and said feed/LNBF assembly.
A support arm assembly for an antenna having a parabolic reflector that has a perimeter, a front surface and a rear surface, said support arm assembly comprising a support arm attached to said perimeter of said reflector, said support arm having an integral front portion and an integral rear-mounting portion for mounting said antenna to a support structure.
An antenna comprising:
- a parabolic reflector having a perimeter, a front surface and a rear surface;
- and
- a hollow support arm attached to said perimeter of said reflector, said hollow support arm further having an integral rear flange for attachment to said rear surface of said reflector, said hollow support arm having an integral front portion and an integral rear mounting portion;
- a feed/LNBF assembly supported in said front portion of said hollow support arm;
- and
- a cable extending through said hollow support arm and connected to a set top box and said feed/LNBF assembly.
A method of manufacturing an antenna, comprising:
- molding a parabolic reflector from a first material, the parabolic reflector having a front surface, a rear surface, and a perimeter;
- molding a hollow feed support arm from the first material, the hollow feed support arm having a front end and a rear attachment end;
- affixing the rear attachment end of the hollow feed support arm to reflector at its perimeter thereof;
- molding a hollow reflector mounting arm;
- affixing a portion of the hollow reflector mounting arm to the rear surface of the reflector;
- supporting a feed/LNBF assembly in the front end of the feed support arm;
- and
- electrically coupling the feed/LNBF assembly to a set top box.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.