Terk Technologies Corporation

Other

Ntl Technologies, Inc.

Neil D Terk

George Skahill

John A Lofgren

William R Steinike

Stephen Melamed

Luc Heiligenstein

Sabrina L Tongish

Video programming signals from a broadband source are distributed on installed telephone wiring to the individual units of a commercial structure or multiple unit dwelling. In all methods and associated devices a first transponder device centrally located in a utility space is paired with a second terminal transponder device located on a telephone subscriber premises. The devices cooperate in converting a video signal into a form suitable for transmission on telephone lines and deconverting that signal into a form suitable for reception by consumer video equipment. The methods and devices discussed differ in placement of the central device, and in the particular method of signal conversion.

Video transmission system and method utilizing phone lines in multiple unit dwellings

An antenna subassembly includes a terrestrial and/or satellite auxiliary antenna and a support that mounts the auxiliary antenna to a reflector of a dish antenna. The support can be used to removably affix and position a wide variety of antennas to the dish antenna via magnetic attraction. The support preferably conforms to at least a portion of the dish antenna.

Method and apparatus for mounting an auxiliary antenna to a reflector antenna

An antenna assembly is disclosed that comprises a terrestrial antenna and a support that mounts the antenna assembly on a satellite dish antenna. The satellite dish antenna has a convex/concave configuration, a periphery, a front signal receiving surface. The terrestrial antenna comprises a pair of dipoles. A power amplifier has an input connected to the terrestrial antenna to receive and amplify its terrestrial video signal. A diplexer is further provided and has first and second input terminals and an output terminal. The second input terminal is connected to the power amplifier to receive the amplified terrestrial video signal. The first input terminal is adapted to be connected to the satellite dish to receive the satellite video signal. The diplexer operates to sum the amplified terrestrial signal and the satellite video signal to provide an aggregate signal to the output terminal.

Apparatus and method for processing satellite and terrestrial signals

A wireless receiving subsystem operatively connectable to a broadcast receiver unit having a frequency tuner has an antenna with a feed point, an amplifier located essentially at the feed point, and a transmission line extending from the feed point of the antenna and the amplifier to a signal input of the broadcast receiver unit. The transmission line having a pair of conductors, for example, coaxial conductors. A manually operated switch is disposed in the transmission line for applying a DC voltage across the conductors, while a relay switch is operatively connected to the transmission line for changing a connection state of the amplifier to the transmission line in response to the voltage.

Wireless receiving subsystem

In an antenna system with an antenna disposed outside a building structure, a motor is operatively connected to the antenna for moving the antenna about at least one rotation axis. A wireless control signal receiver is provided for receiving a short-range wireless channel selection signal identifying a broadcast channel. The signal receiver is operatively connected to the motor for energizing the motor in response to the wireless channel selection signal. The signal receiver is an infrared signal receiver located inside the building structure. The antenna system then further includes a signal transmission link extending between the infrared signal receiver and the motor for enabling control of the motor by the infrared signal receiver. Generally, the transmission link is an electrical conductor. However, it is alternatively possible for the link to be a short-range radio link.

Outdoor antenna system with remote control and method for optimizing

An antenna assembly is disclosed that comprises a terrestrial antenna and a support that mounts the antenna assembly on a satellite dish antenna. The satellite dish antenna has a convex/concave configuration, a periphery, a front signal receiving surface. The terrestrial antenna comprises a pair of dipoles. The support comprising a pair of sleeves for readily receiving and supporting the pair of dipoles respectively in a substantially parallel relationship to each other, and a support variably mounting the terrestrial antenna on the satellite dish antennas of varying size and configuration.

Apparatus and method of mounting VHF/UHF antenna assembly on satellite

A device for optimizing antenna operation comprises a wireless control signal detector for detecting a wireless control signal generated by a remote control unit, and a microprocessor operatively connected to the detector. The microprocessor is programmed to analyze the wireless control signal during a learning operation to determine a coding format of the wireless control signal and to analyze the wireless control signal during a normal use operation to determine a broadcast channel or station selected by a user. The device additionally comprises a plurality of tuning elements operatively connectable to an antenna for tuning the antenna, and a plurality of switching circuits operatively connected to the tuning elements and to the microprocessor. The switching circuits are operable to selectively couple the tuning elements to the antenna, in response to signals from the microprocessor, thereby optimizing signal reception by the antenna for a channel or station selection encoded in the wireless control signal.

Antenna tuning control system

TV or radio broadcast transmission line amplifier with switch bypass

An assembly or system for effecting control of an electronic device having an infrared sensor for receiving an infrared control signal from a manually actuated remote control comprises, in accordance with the present invention, an infrared sensor for receiving and converting the infrared control signal from the remote control to an electrical signal, the sensor being attached to an audio speaker assembly of an audio reproduction system. A signal generator also attached to the speaker assembly is operatively connected to the sensor for generating an RF carrier signal modulated by control information encoded in the infrared control signal and the electrical signal. A transmission link is provided for transmitting the modulated RF carrier signal from the speaker assembly to the electronic device. A signal receiver disposed adjacent to the infrared sensor of the electronic device receives the modulated RF carrier signal and converts the modulated RF carrier signal to a secondary infrared signal essentially identical to the infrared control signal.

System for extending infrared remote control

A device for optimizing antenna operation, a wireless control signal detector detects a wireless control signal generated by a remote control unit, and a microprocessor is operatively connected to the detector. The microprocessor is programmed to analyze the wireless control signal during a learning operation to determine a coding format of the wireless control signal and to analyze the wireless control signal during a normal use operation to determine a broadcast channel or station selected by a user. The device additionally comprises a plurality of tuning elements operatively connectable to an antenna for tuning the antenna, and a plurality of switching circuits operatively connected to the tuning elements and to the microprocessor. The switching circuits are operable to selectively couple the tuning elements to the antenna, in response to signals from the microprocessor, thereby optimizing signal reception by the antenna for a channel or station selection encoded in the wireless control signal.

Growing community of inventors

Laurel Hollow, NY, United States of America

Neil D Terk