IP Library Granted Patent US 7,639,980
Granted Patent B2
US 7,639,980 · App. 11/602,823 · Granted Dec 29, 2009

Method and apparatus for receiving dual band signals from a common orbital location with an outdoor unit using a frequency selective subreflector and additional antenna feed

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,639,980
App. No.
11/602,823
Granted
Dec 29, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system 10 that includes a first satellite 14 at a first orbital slot B includes a first transponder 32 generating a first downlink signal at a first frequency and a second downlink signal at a second frequency. An outdoor unit 50 is directed toward the first satellite 14 . The outdoor unit includes a support structure 80 and a reflector 64 coupled to the support structure 80 and reflecting the first downlink signal from a first satellite. A first reflector reflects the second downlink signal from the first satellite. A first feed 66 is coupled to the support structure and receives the first downlink signal. A reflector 72 having frequency selective surface 74 coupled to the support structure 80 reflects the second downlink signal and passes the first downlink signal therethrough. The second feed 70 B is coupled to the support structure 80 and receives the second downlink signal reflected from the frequency selective surface 74.

Claims (61)

1. A system comprising:

a first satellite at a first orbital slot having a first transponder generating a first downlink signal at a first frequency and a second downlink signal at a second frequency;

an outdoor unit directed at the first satellite comprising,

a support structure;

a first reflector coupled to the support structure and reflecting a first downlink signal from a first satellite, said first reflector reflecting a second downlink signal from the first satellite;

a first feed coupled to the support structure receiving the first downlink signal;

a frequency selective surface coupled to the support structure reflecting the second downlink signal and passing the first downlink signal therethrough;

a second feed coupled to support structure receiving the second downlink signal reflected from the frequency selective surface.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the second downlink signal is generated by a second transponder.

3. A system as recited in claim 2 further comprising a second satellite at a second orbital slot having a third transponder generating a third downlink signal, said frequency selective surface passing the third downlink signal therethrough.

4. A system as recited in claim 3 wherein the outdoor unit comprises a third feed adjacent to the first feed coupled to the support structure for receiving the third downlink signal.

5. A system as recited in claim 3 wherein the first and third downlink signal comprises a Ka band signal.

6. A system as recited in claim 3 further comprising a third satellite at a third orbital slot having a fourth transponder generating a fourth downlink signal, said frequency selective surface passing the fourth downlink signal therethrough.

7. A system as recited in claim 6 wherein the outdoor unit comprises a fourth feed coupled to the support structure proximate to the first feed for receiving the fourth downlink signal.

8. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein the fourth feed is adjacent to the first feed.

9. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein the fourth feed is adjacent to the first feed opposite the third feed.

10. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein the fourth downlink signal comprises a Ka band signal.

11. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first downlink signal comprises a video signal.

12. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the second downlink signal comprises a video signal.

13. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first downlink signal and the second downlink signal comprises a digital video signal.

14. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first downlink signal or second downlink signal comprises a high-definition digital video signal.

15. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first downlink signal comprises a digital video signal and the second downlink signal comprises a high-definition digital video signal.

16. An outdoor unit comprising:

a support structure;

a first reflector coupled to the support structure and reflecting a first downlink signal from a first satellite, said first reflector reflecting a second downlink signal from the first satellite;

a first feed coupled to the support structure receiving the first downlink signal;

a frequency selective surface coupled to the support structure reflecting the second downlink signal after the first reflector and passing the first downlink signal therethrough;

a second feed coupled to support structure receiving the second downlink signal reflected from the frequency selective surface.

17. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 16 wherein the first downlink signal comprises a Ku band signal and the second downlink signal comprises a Ka band signal.

18. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 16 wherein the first reflector reflects a third downlink signal, said frequency selective surface passing the third downlink signal therethrough.

19. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 18 wherein the outdoor unit comprises a third feed adjacent to the first feed coupled to the support structure for receiving the third downlink signal.

20. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 19 wherein the first and third downlink signal comprises a Ka band signal.

21. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 18 wherein the reflector reflects a fourth downlink signal, said frequency selective surface passing the fourth downlink signal therethrough.

22. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 21 wherein the outdoor unit comprises a fourth feed coupled to the support structure proximate to the first feed for receiving the fourth downlink signal.

23. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 22 wherein the fourth feed is adjacent to the first feed.

24. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 22 wherein the forth feed is adjacent to the first feed opposite the third feed.

25. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 22 wherein the fourth downlink signal comprises a Ka band signal.

26. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 16 wherein the first downlink signal comprises a video signal.

27. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 16 wherein the second downlink signal comprises a video signal.

28. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 16 wherein the first downlink signal and the second downlink signal comprises a digital video signal.

29. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 16 wherein the first downlink signal or second downlink signal comprises a high-definition digital video signal.

30. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 16 wherein the first downlink signal comprises a digital video signal and the second downlink signal comprises a high-definition digital video signal.

31. An outdoor unit comprising:

a support structure;

a first reflector coupled to the support structure and reflecting a first downlink signal from a first satellite along an axis, said first reflector reflecting a second downlink signal from the first satellite along the axis;

a first feed coupled to the support structure along the axis receiving the first downlink signal;

a second reflector having frequency selective surface coupled to the support structure intersecting the axis and reflecting the second downlink signal after the first reflector and passing the first downlink signal therethrough;

a second feed coupled to support structure receiving the second downlink signal reflected from the frequency selective surface.

32. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 31 wherein the first reflector reflects a third downlink signal, said frequency selective surface passing the third downlink signal therethrough.

33. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 32 wherein the outdoor unit comprises a third feed adjacent to the first feed coupled to the support structure for receiving the third downlink signal.

34. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 33 wherein the first and third downlink signal comprises a Ka band signal.

35. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 31 wherein the first reflector reflects a fourth downlink signal, said frequency selective surface passing the fourth downlink signal therethrough.

36. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 35 wherein the outdoor unit comprises a fourth feed coupled to the support structure proximate to the first feed for receiving the fourth downlink signal.

37. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 36 wherein the fourth feed is adjacent to the first feed.

38. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 36 wherein the fourth feed is adjacent to the first feed opposite the third feed.

39. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 36 wherein the fourth downlink signal comprises a Ka band signal.

40. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 31 wherein the first downlink signal comprises a video signal.

41. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 31 wherein the second downlink signal comprises a video signal.

42. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 31 wherein the first downlink signal and the second downlink signal comprises a digital video signal.

43. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 31 wherein the first downlink signal or second downlink signal comprises a high-definition digital video signal.

44. An outdoor unit as recited in claim 31 wherein the first downlink signal comprises a digital video signal and the second downlink signal comprises a high-definition digital video signal.

Assignments (6)
SUCCESSION OF AGENCY IN PATENT SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Oct 3, 2025
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH (AS SUCCESSOR TO CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH)
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
Reel/Frame 072994/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 25, 2024
From: DIRECTV, LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066371/0690 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 5, 2021
From: DIRECTV, LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058220/0531 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 3, 2021
From: DIRECTV, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057695/0084 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2021
From: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
To: DIRECTV, LLC
Reel/Frame 057020/0291 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 21, 2006
From: STROES, GUSTAVE R.; LONER, PATRICK J.; SANTORU, JOSEPH; CHEN, ERNEST C.; MOTAMED, NAVID
To: DIRECTV GROUP, INC., THE
Reel/Frame 018632/0480 →