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:
Nov. 09, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 22, 1997
Gregory J Gagnon, Torrance, CA (US);
Jeffrey W Crosby, Sherman Oaks, CA (US);
Hughes Electronics Corporation, El Segundo, CA (US);
Abstract
A video apparatus for receiving broadcast direct-to-home audiovisual program data is provided with a position generator disposed at a position which generates a position signal corresponding to the position, an antenna for receiving broadcast audiovisual program data, the antenna being positionable in a plurality of different orientations including an initial orientation, a decoder coupled to the antenna for decoding the program data and being adapted to be connected to e.g. a home video display for display of programming corresponding to the program data, and an adjustment mechanism coupled to the antenna for automatically adjusting the initial orientation of the antenna based upon the position signal generated by the position generator. The antenna may be, for example, a satellite dish that is adapted to receive broadcast carriers from a broadcasting satellite. The adjustment mechanism may automatically orient the antenna based upon the relative qualities (e.g. magnitudes and/or error rates) of at least one broadcast signal received by the antenna when the antenna is in a first orientation and when the antenna is in a second orientation.