Granted Patent B2

US 7,388,551 · App. 11/426,901 · Granted Jun 17, 2008

Abstract

Claims (35)

1. An antenna comprising:

a first variable inclined continuous transverse stub (VICTS) antenna comprising a perimeter and an inactive region defined within the perimeter; and

a second VICTS antenna positioned at the inactive region within the perimeter of the first VICTS antenna, wherein the second VICTS antenna is steerable independent of the first VICTS antenna.

2. The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the first VICTS antenna comprises an aperture defining at least a portion of the inactive region, and the second VICTS antenna is positioned at the aperture of the first VICTS antenna.

3. The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the first VICTS antenna comprises a plurality of stub elements extending across a least a portion of the first VICTS antenna, where each of the plurality of stub elements have gaps separating first portions from second portions of the plurality of stub elements such that the gaps at least in part define the inactive region of the first VICTS antenna.

4. The antenna of claim 3 , wherein the first VICTS antenna further comprises a plurality of non-radiating connectors where each of the plurality of non-radiating connectors electrically couples with a first portion and a second portion of one of the plurality of stub elements.

5. The antenna of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of non-radiating connectors extend around a perimeter of the inactive region.

6. The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the second antenna comprises an extension ring extending from a perimeter of the second antenna and defining a extension ring perimeter a distance from the perimeter of the second antenna that is proximate to the perimeter of the first antenna.

7. The antenna of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third VICTS antenna comprising a perimeter and an inactive region defined within the perimeter of the third antenna such that the first antenna is positioned at the inactive region of the third antenna.

8. The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the first antenna transmits and receives wireless data communication and the second antenna transmits and receives wireless multimedia communication.

9. A method, comprising:

steering a first variable inclined continuous transverse stub (VICTS) antenna in response to receiving a first control signal, the VICTS antenna comprising a perimeter and an inactive region defined within the perimeter; and

steering a second VICTS antenna in response to receiving a second control signal, the second VICTS antenna being positioned at the inactive region within the perimeter of the first VICTS antenna.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising steering the first VICTS antenna independent of the second VICTS antenna.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising communicating with a first remote communication system via the first VICTS antenna, and communicating with a second remote communication system via the second VICTS antenna.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising utilizing a first steering system to steer the second VICTS antenna, the first steering system comprising first, second and third rotational drives cooperated with the perimeter of the second antenna to control azimuth, elevation and polarization characteristics of the second antenna.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising utilizing a second steering system to steer the first VICTS antenna, the second steering system comprising fourth, fifth and sixth rotational drives cooperated with the perimeter of the first antenna to control azimuth, elevation and polarization characteristics of the first antenna.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising steering a third VICTS antenna in response to receiving a third control signal, the third VICTS antenna comprising a perimeter and an inactive region defined within the perimeter of the third antenna such that the first antenna is positioned at the inactive region of the third antenna.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising steering the third antenna independent of the first antenna and the second antenna.

16. A method, comprising:

providing a first turntable having a perimeter;

securing a first antenna having a perimeter on a first surface of the first turntable; and

positioning a second antenna comprising a second turntable at a location proximate the first antenna such that at least a portion of the second antenna is positioned to extend within the perimeter of the first turntable, wherein the second antenna is steerable independent of the first antenna.

17. The method of claim 16 , comprising providing an enclosure that encloses and protects the first turntable, the first antenna, the second turntable, and the second antenna from the environment.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising positioning the second antenna at an inactive region of the first antenna, the inactive region being defined within the perimeter of the first antenna.

19. The system of claim 16 , further comprising:

providing a first rotational drive coupled with the second turntable to adjust rotational positioning of the second antenna;

providing a second rotational drive coupled with the second antenna to adjust a first characteristic of the second antenna;

providing a third rotational drive coupled with the first turntable to adjust the positioning of the first turntable; and

providing a fourth rotational drive coupled with the first antenna to adjust a first characteristic of the first antenna.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

providing a fifth rotational drive coupled with the first antenna to adjust a polarization of the first antenna;

providing a sixth rotational drive coupled with the second antenna to adjust a polarization of the second antenna; and

wherein the first characteristic of the first antenna comprises an elevation at which that first antenna is directed such that the fourth rotational drive adjusts the elevation of the first antenna, and the first characteristic of the second antenna comprises an elevation at which that second antenna is directed such that the second rotational drive adjusts the elevation of the second antenna.

Assignments (25)