The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 10, 1996
Filed:
May. 25, 1995
Edward F Tuck, West Covina, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
The present invention comprises methods and apparatus for providing programming from both satellites (11) and local sources (L) using a single receiving antenna (32). In a preferred embodiment, beams (18) emanating from a geosynchronous satellite (11) are collected using the main lobe (36) of a home receiving antenna (32), while a rebroadcast signal (26) generated by an airplane (20) circling above the home (H) is simultaneously sensed using a side lobe (38) of the receiving antenna (32). The airplane (20) flies along a path (40) which is a closed loop so that it is always positioned in a region where the aircraft antenna (24) can supply signals (26) to the receiving terminal (28) using the side lobe (38). The present invention may be implemented using any form of airborne platform (20), whether it is manned or unmanned. A wide range of methods may be employed to deliberately enhance the sensitivity of the side lobe (38) of the receiving antenna (32). The invention allows immediate and inexpensive enhancement to existing geostationary broadcast services.