# US 8,789,116 B2 · Satellite television antenna system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,789,116 B2 - Document ID: US8789116B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/680,042 - Filed: 2012-11-17 - Published: 2013-05-23 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-11-18 - Assignees: Electronic Controlled Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Craig Miller; Sam Shuster - Inventors: Craig Miller; Sam Shuster - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8789116B2 ## CPC - H01Q 1/1257: {using the received signal strength} - H01Q 1/42: Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome - H01Q 3/08: for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation - H01Q 19/19: comprising one main concave reflecting surface associated with an auxiliary reflecting surface - H04N 21/426: Internal components of the client {; Characteristics thereof} (H04N5/44 takes precedence) - H04N 21/6143: {involving transmission via a satellite} - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract The satellite television antenna device receives a set of desired satellite identifications (IDs) from a set top box (STB). The antenna device scans the sky and locks onto a satellite candidate by measuring microwave radiation. The antenna acquires identification of the satellite candidate from a set top box (STB), if ID is possible. Then, if the candidate was identifiable, the antenna system compares the candidate's ID to the set of desired satellite IDs. If the candidate ID is a member of the set, then the satellite antenna's dish orientation is stored in memory. The antenna then attempts to acquire the remaining members of the set of desired satellite IDs until all members are acquired or no further candidates remain. If the candidate is not identifiable, or not a member of the set, then the antenna proceeds to the next satellite candidate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A satellite television antenna apparatus, comprising: an enclosure, wherein at least a portion of the enclosure comprises an electromagnetic wave permeable material; a reflector dish disposed inside of the enclosure, the dish configured to be movable in at least one of an azimuth orientation and an elevation orientation; a first motor disposed inside of the enclosure and operably engaged with the dish to move the dish in at least one of the azimuth and elevation orientations; an antenna control system disposed fully inside of the enclosure, the antenna control system including a physical memory and a microprocessor, the microprocessor communicatively coupled to the first motor to control the operation of the first motor, the antenna control system including executable code stored in the memory, wherein the antenna control system is configured to receive a set of desired satellite identifications (IDs) from an external set top box (STB), wherein each satellite ID of the set of desired satellite IDs corresponds to a satellite location; lock onto a first satellite candidate; receive a first ID for the first satellite candidate from the STB; compare the first ID for the satellite candidate to the set of desired satellite IDs; communicate a status of the antenna apparatus to the STB; and energize the first motor to change at least one of the azimuth and elevation orientations of the dish to lock onto a second satellite candidate if the entire set of desired satellite IDs have not been located. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The satellite television antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna control system is further configured to initiate a background microwave radiation scan and set a signal-to-noise ratio prior to locking onto the first satellite candidate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The satellite television antenna apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second motor disposed inside of the enclosure, the second motor operably coupled to the dish to move the dish in at least one of the azimuth and elevation orientations. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The satellite television antenna apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a single coaxial cable coupled to a fitting disposed on the outside of the enclosure, the single coaxial cable in communication with the antenna control system to communicate the status of the antenna apparatus to the STB and to communicate the set of desired satellite IDs and the first ID from the STB to the antenna control system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The satellite television antenna apparatus of claim 4, wherein the antenna system draws power to operate the motor and the antenna control system from the single coaxial cable. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The satellite television antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna control system is further configured to store the azimuth and elevation orientations of the dish corresponding to each satellite candidate whose ID matched the set of desired satellite IDs. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The satellite television antenna apparatus of claim 6, wherein the antenna control system is further configured to directly switch the azimuth and elevation orientations of the dish without scanning in response to a user changing channels on the STB. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The satellite television antenna apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna control system is further configured to store the azimuth and elevation orientations of the dish corresponding to each satellite candidate whose ID did not match the set of desired satellite IDs. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The satellite television antenna apparatus of claim 8, wherein the antenna control system is further configured to store the azimuth and elevation orientations of the dish corresponding to each satellite candidate whose ID could not be determined by the STB. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The satellite television antenna apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a subreflector disposed adjacent the focal point of the dish and a low noise block converter disposed behind the dish. ### Claim 11 A satellite television system comprising a motorized enclosed antenna apparatus, the antenna apparatus configured to receive satellite television signals broadcast from a satellite in geosynchronous orbit above the Earth and relay those signals to a remotely-located STB via a communications conduit, the STB configured to decode the audio and video signals received from the antenna apparatus and to send signals back through the same communications conduit to the antenna apparatus, the antenna apparatus comprising: an enclosure, wherein at least a portion of the enclosure comprises an electromagnetic wave permeable material; a reflector dish disposed inside of the enclosure, the dish configured to be movable in at least one of an azimuth orientation and an elevation orientation; a first motor disposed inside of the enclosure and operably engaged with the dish to move the dish in at least one of the azimuth and elevation orientations; an antenna control system disposed inside of the enclosure, the antenna control system configured to control the operation of the first motor, receive a set of desired satellite IDs from the STB via the communications conduit, control the first motor to move the dish during a scan of the sky and lock onto a first satellite candidate, receive from the STB an ID corresponding to the first satellite candidate; determine whether the ID corresponding to the first satellite candidate is listed in the set of desired satellite IDs; and determine whether all members of the set of desired satellite IDs have been located, wherein each satellite ID of the set of desired satellite IDs corresponds to a satellite location. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the antenna apparatus further includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver disposed inside of the enclosure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the antenna control system is further configured to determine a particular elevation range of the sky to scan based upon a location of the antenna apparatus determined by the GPS receiver. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the antenna control system is further configured to initiate a background microwave radiation scan and set a signal-to-noise ratio prior to initiating a scan for the first satellite candidate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the antenna apparatus is powered solely via the communications conduit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the antenna control system is further configured to store the azimuth and elevation orientations of the dish corresponding to each satellite candidate whose ID is included in the set of desired satellite IDs, each satellite candidate whose ID is not included in the set of desired satellite IDs, and each satellite candidate whose ID could not be determined by the STB. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the antenna control system is further configured to store the azimuth and elevation orientations of the dish corresponding to each satellite candidate whose ID is included in the set of desired satellite IDs, and to initiate switching of the dish azimuth orientation between two or more stored azimuth orientations of the dish without scanning in response to a user changing channels on the STB. ### Claim 18 A method of obtaining location information for television broadcast satellites by a portable motorized satellite antenna device, the method comprising: receiving by the portable motorized satellite antenna device a set of desired satellite IDs from a STB, each satellite ID of the set of desired satellite IDs corresponding to a satellite location, and the STB being located remote from the portable motorized satellite antenna device; moving a parabolic reflector dish of the portable motorized satellite antenna device via a motor in at least one of an azimuth orientation and an elevation orientation until the portable motorized satellite antenna device is locked onto a first satellite candidate; receiving by the portable motorized satellite antenna device from the STB at least one of an ID corresponding to the first satellite candidate or an indication that an ID corresponding to the first satellite candidate cannot be determined; determining by the portable motorized satellite antenna device whether the ID corresponding to the first satellite candidate is a member of the set of desired satellite IDs; moving the parabolic reflector dish by the portable motorized satellite antenna device via the motor in at least one of the azimuth and elevation orientations until the portable motorized satellite antenna device is locked onto a second satellite candidate if either the ID corresponding to the first satellite candidate as supplied by the STB is determined by the portable motorized satellite antenna device to not be a member of the set of desired satellite IDs or the ID corresponding to the first satellite candidate is not determined by the STB; and determining by the portable motorized satellite antenna device whether there are any further members of the set of desired satellite IDs to be located if the ID corresponding to the first satellite candidate is determined to be a member of the set of desired satellite IDs. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising storing in memory contained in the portable motorized satellite antenna device at least one of the azimuth and elevation orientations of the dish corresponding to each satellite candidate whose ID is included in the set of desired satellite IDs, each satellite candidate whose ID is not included in the set of desired satellite IDs, and each satellite candidate whose ID could not be determined by the STB. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising sending satellite acquisition status information from the portable motorized satellite antenna device to the STB via a two-way communications conduit, and powering the antenna device solely through the two-way communications conduit.