Automatic antenna direction controller
AssigneeIdiom Press
InventorsDavid R. Sneitzer, Robert C. Locher, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic antenna direction controller which automatically turns an antenna rotor and connected antenna to a desired direction which is preselected by a pointer knob. A dual use meter needle is utilized by action of the pointer knob to select the azimuth of an antenna and to indicate the actual azimuth. A multi-color status LED indicator indicates different colors corresponding to the percentage of rotational completion completed. Control is offered by onboard circuitry for automatic brake release and setting, preset electronic end points for rotation limits, overshoot protection, and an unstick routine. Optional control can also be managed by an outboard computer through an RS-232 connection.
Claims18
In combination, an antenna rotating system comprising:
- a. a rotor control means connected to a rotor which supports and rotates an antenna;
- and,
- b. a control means connected to said rotor control means for rotating said antenna to a predetermined heading after a control means is used to set a compass meter, whereby briefly touching a brake release causes said rotor to rotate to said predetermined heading.
A method of controlling a rotatably directable antenna, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. providing an automatic antenna direction controller for use with a rotor control box, a rotor under control of the rotor control box, a mast extending from the rotor and a boom of an antenna array being carried by the mast, said automatic antenna direction controller including a dual use direction indicator meter, said dual use direction indicator meter having indicia relating to a range of orientation headings and a meter needle pointing toward a heading amongst the range of indicia, said dual use meter displaying, when in a first mode, an indication of a real time heading for the rotor and alternatively displaying, when in a second mode, a selected heading for the rotor;
- and,
- b. selecting a heading while in the second mode.
An automatic antenna direction controller kit comprising:
- a. an automatic antenna direction controller for use with a rotor control box, a rotor under control of the rotor control box, a mast extending from the rotor and a boom of an antenna array being carried by the mast, said automatic antenna direction controller including:
- (1) a dual use direction indicator meter, said dual use direction indicator meter having indicia relating to a range of orientation headings and a meter needle pointing toward a heading amongst the range of indicia, said dual use meter displaying, when in a first mode, an indication of a real time heading for the rotor and alternatively displaying, when in a second mode, a selected heading for the rotor;
- and,
- b. instructions for connecting the controller to the rotor control box.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.