US3508274A - Motor driven portable dipole antenna - Google Patents

Description

Aprii21,1970 RBK SLE'R am 1 3,508,274

MOTOR DRIVEN PORTABLE DIPOLE ANTENNA Filed Dec. 14, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 QU/m T0 LEAD #2 0F 26 1 N VEN TORS RAYMOND B. KIEGSLER BY ROY V. HURT April. 21,, 1970 M 5, KESLER ETAL 3,508,274

MOTOR DRIVEN PORTABLEDI POLE ANTENNA Filed Dec. l4, 1966 s Sheets-Sheet a s1 3o 3 'l REVERSIBLE 5 I smcmzonous 4 I l MOTOR I29 I I l 22 FlG.l)

N b enem A ril 21,, 1970 R, B. KES LE R ETAL 3,508,274

MOTOR DRIVEN PORTABLE DIPOLE ANTENNA 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 14 1966 FIG.-- l2 INVENTORS RAYMOND B. KESLER BY ROY v. mums AGENT us; Cl. 343-758 States Patent 3,508,274 MOTOR DRIVEN PORTABLE DIPOLE ANTENNA Raymond B. Kesler and Roy V. Hurtig, both of 1754 E. Atchison St., Altadena, Calif. 91001 Filed Dec. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 601,699 Int. 'Cl. H01q 3/00, 9/16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to antenna systems and more particularly to an antenna system for very high frequency and ultra high frequency use which provides means therein for rotating the antenna and means for controlling the direction of rotation and orientation of the antenna either by wire connection or remotely by a wireless means.

Antenna assemblies for ver high frequency apparatus such as may be employed in television reception, radio ama'teur broadcast and reception, or military or commercial communication by radio may, for various reasons, be more desirably installed within the walls of a building rather than conspicuously on the roof of the structure. Inside,'such antennas are not subject to the corrosive effects of weather, etc.

Some of the other reasons may involve mere convenience, still others may be for concealment purposes, while yet others may arise out of necessity, where exterior installations are prohibited by ordinance, agreement of the planners of a neighborhood, or the whim of a landlord as in multi-unit apartment dwellings. In the latter instance large numbers of roof antennas could be unsightly and even hazardous to those who might find it necessary to be on the roof at any time. In some instances architectural design may not permit the roof antenna to be used without. disturbing the appearance sought by the architects.

This invention contemplates a novel antenna system which may be used outdoors but which is primarily intended'for indoor use. The new antenna includes novel antenna element structures and means for rotating the structures, novel direction indicating means, and novel remote control means for the rotating means which employs newprinciples of directional rotation control .through wired connection or remote wireless means.

-m agnetic switching means actuated from a distance by direct wire connection to the rotating means or by a remote wireless arrangement.

It is another object of the invention to provide relative- 1y, economical, electrically-operated antenna structures in- ,clu ding rotor means for rotating the antenna structure in a relatively small area such as a living room, said antenna structures being maintained as attractive furnishings rather than as the electrical and mechanical technicalities they encompass.

These and other objects of the invention will become more. clear from the specification which follows and the appended claims, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which representative embodiments of the invention are shown. These embodiments are not to be construed as limiting the invention to the specific structures described herein, but rather as illustrative of the inventive concept and teachings in the light of which those skilled in the art may conceive other embodiments Within the ambit of the claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a representative embodiment of the invention showing an antenna of one form used in the invention with a wired remote control device according to the invention connected thereto;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the remote control device shown in FIGURE 1, with the exterior cut away to reveal internal structural elements thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a representative under-the-cover view of the remote control box of the invention similar to that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a circuit diagram showing one form of the arrangement of the control box of FIGURES 13;

FIGURE 5 is a circuit diagram similar to that in FIG- URE 4, showing an alternative arrangement thereof;

FIGURE 6 is a partially schematic and partially structural diagram of a remote control operated antenna system similar to that shown in FIGURE 1, with a part of the base structure cut away to reveal interior elements thereof, and including another form of antenna element;

FIGURE 6a is a detail view of the top gear in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway view of a remote control means incorporating a magnetic contact switch for operation of the devices of this invention;

FIGURE 8 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of the invention showing another type of antenna and drive therefor;

FIGURE 9 is a front elevational view of a still further embodiment of the invention employing novel counterrotating partially completed loop elements;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the magnetic switch used in the device shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of another form of the invention involving counterrotatable antenna element combinations, with an inset 11a showning details thereof; and

FIGURE 12 is a chart of the antenna signal capture patterns of antennas according to the invention.

As has been briefly described above, the invention encompasses novel antenna structures arranged in assemblies for rotation thereof, the means .for rotation of the assemblies, and means for controlling the direction of rotation of the antenna assemblies so as to orient the antenna structure directionally for most efiective capture of broadcast signals.

The controlling means as contemplated herein may be either electrically connected by wire conductors with the antenna structure and its associated rotator, or arranged to operatethe rotating means remotely, as by radio, to effect the direction of rotation and start and stop the rotation without a wire connection. Radio remote control devices for actuating switches are wellknown in the art.

-With reference now to the device illustrated in FIG- URE 1, there is shown generally a broadband folded dipole antenna 10 including dipole elements 11 and 12 disposed in a rotatable top 14 of a motor housing 15 including a base 17 and a motor 20 (FIGURE 6). Rotatable top 14, though not specifically shown in such detail herein is mechanically coupled to the shaft of motor 20 for rotation thereon, as it would necessarily have to be to eifect the rotation thereof.

, In base 17 there is an aperture 18 through which indicia 19 on a translucent ring, part of cover 14 may be seen. Lamps may be provided behind the translucent ring to illuminate the indicia. These indicia 19 may be provided to show the orientation of the antenna in degrees of the circle of rotation or in compass headings, or both. Out of base 17, wires 22 are drawn to a box 24 which contains switching devices according to this invention for operating the motor 20 in housing 15. The switching devices are actuated by the switch control lever or knob shown at 25 in box 24. Wires 26 are interconnected between the antenna assembly in housing 15, and a television receiver as indicated at 27. Not shown in FIGURE 1 but part of the assembly of the antenna article therein is a power cord for connection of the device to a source of electric power, an obvious necessity for operation of the motor 20. Alternatively, batteries may be provided to power motor 20.

In the cutaway of FIGURE 2 the box 24 of FIGURE 1 is revealed as containing a pair of reed switches 28 and 29 (an example being shown in FIGURE 10) disposed in parallel within box 24 near opposite sides 31 and 32 thereof. Lever 25 which has been shown in FIGURE 1 is also cut away 'in part in FIGURE 2 to reveal the magnet 30 attached to the underside of lever or knob 25. A yoke 33 holds magnet 30 to lever or knob 25. A pair of parallel rails 35, 36 are positioned perpendicularly to reed switches 28, 29 and above them. Knob or lever 25 is slidably positioned on rails 35, 36 so as to bring magnet 30 closer to either switch 28 or 29, or hold the magnet exactly centered between them. The switch to which the magnet 30 is closest will close. When the magnet 30 is exactly centered between switches 28, 29 neither is closed and the circuit to motor is incomplete. Whichever of switches 28 or 29 is closed determines the direction of rotation of the rotor of motor 20 and consequently the direction of rotation of antenna 10. The bottom view of switch box 24 shown in FIGURE 3 shows the relationship of the components therein from another viewpoint.

The underside of box 24 is shown in FIGURE 3 to illustrate how magnet 30 slides along rails 35, 3'6 under knob which is not fully visible under magnet 30. The direction of movement of magnet is indicated by arrows 37, 38 FIGURE 4. The circuit diagram of FIG- URE 4 illustrates the electrical and magnetic operation of the switching devices 28, 29 in box 24. p

In FIGURE 7 a roller type, magneticallyoperated switch is shown wherein magnet 30 is installed in a base portion 60 thereof upon which are raised upright posts 62. The posts 61 and 62 have pivots 63, 64 upon which a cylinder roller 65 may be rotatably moved. Roller 65 has internally fixed therein a pair of magnetically actuable switches 28, 29, the leadsof which (71, 72) extend out so as to act as contact terminals for electrical connections. Rotor stops 73, 74 limit rotation of roller or cylinder 65 against overshoot in either direction of rotation as indicated by arrows 75, 76.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, motor 20 includes the rotor 43 and drive coils 41, 42 connected to power leads 40 at one end and to current limiting resistance units 45, 46 in box 24. When magnet 30 is brought close to either switch 28 or 29 by lever 25 or rotor 65 it closes to complete the circuit through its associated resistance 45, 46 and coil 41, 42 to the return line 47 of power leads 40. The circuit through switch 29, resistor 46, and coil 41- rotates motor rotor 43 in one direction. The circuit through switch 28, resistor 45, and coil 42 rotates rotor 43 in the opposite direction. It should be obvious to those skilled-in the art that gearing may be used to slow down the final speed of rotor 43 or the final shaft connection to antenna 10 as previously described so that the motion of antenna 10 will; be slow enough to be observed and stopped at a desired position of antenna 10.

FIGURE 5 illustrates an alternative to the circuit of FIGURE 4 employing a pair of magnets 30a and 30b which are poled (N, S) so as to close switches 28, 29 when moved as shown by arrows 49, 50. The operation of the circuit of FIGURE 5 is like that of FIGURE 4.

In the antenna structure shown in FIGURE 6 the motor 20 housing 15 and rotation mounts 14, 14a have inserted therein respective half circle antenna elements 80, 82. Alternatively these may be nearly completed circles as in dashed lines 81a, 82a.

Rotating mount 14 with its hollow shaft 14b is fixedly coupled to a beveled gear 83, the bevel of which is upward. Mount 14 and gear 83 are free to rotate on its hollow shaft 14b about a motor shaft 84. On shaft 84 near its attachment to the motor rotor of motor 20 is fixedly attached another beveled gear 85. On a shaft 86 in housing 15 a third beveled gear 87 is positioned so as to engage gears 83, thus when gears 83, 85, 87 are in contact and shaft 84 rotates, mount 14a rotates with shaft 84 and gear 83 is thereby counterrotated to rotate mount 14 in the opposite direction about shaft 84 on hollow shaft 14b. Thus, antenna elements 81, 82 rotate counter to one another on an axis through shaft 84. The counter rotation of element 82 and mount 14 may be stopped at any time with respect to the rotation of shaft 84 by applying upward pressure on a yoke lever 89 as indicated by arrow 88. This raises gear 83 from gear 87 so that now mount 14a and 14 can rotate together in the same direction, the angle between elements 81, 82 being that at which gear 83 was raised by lever 89.

In FIGURE 6 motor reversal is accomplished by a polarized relay 90 connected by leads 91 to respective forward and reverse signal receivers 92 and 93. The action of polarized relay 90 is such that when .the appropriate relay signal is received for forward or reverse operation the motor 20 rotates in the appropriate direction. When no signal is received, the motor stops. The box shown at 94 can be either a radio transmitter or a supersonic signal transmitter having a two-tone or two-frequency output which, via the spaced path between box 94, provides the signals represented by symbol 95 to drive or excite receivers 92 or 93 when lever 96 is moved in either of the directions indicated by arrow 97. v

The operation of receivers 92 or 93 in response to the signals 95 received via the spaced path from transmitter 94 closes relay arm 98 to either lead 99 or 100 to complete the circuit to motor 20 for forward or reverse operation thereof.

In FIGURE 8 a form of antenna is shown which has a globe-like appearance. In a rotation axis frame 104, having pivot ends 106, 107 a pair of rings 103, 109 are rotated. Ring 103, is of plastic and normal to ring 109 which is an incomplete metal ring. Ring 109 is rotatable on the axis formed by pivot ends 106, 107. Ring 103 is attached to ring 109 at points 111.

Motor 20, in FIGURE 8, is shown schematically as being equipped with a shaft 101 and flexible drive rod 102. The rotation of shaft 101 results in drive rod 102 pressing against ring 103 causing it to rotate as shown by arrows 102 about the axis A between pivot points 106, 107, resulting in rotation of ring 109 attached to ring 103 and consequently also incomplete metal ring 108 which is attached to plastic ring 103. The incomplete portionsof the metal being shown in dashed line at 113 on ring 109 and 1 14on ring 108 to represent plastic inserts.

The's'e'incor'nplete metal circles or rings 108, 109 each form 'a'metallic antenna element which may be connected either by leads, not shown, or slip ring contacts, not shown (but well-known in electrical contacting arts), to a television or other receiver.

The selection of the angle between the planes or rings 108, 109 may be arbitrarily made. It has been found that when theseplanes are 90 apart at some point in their rotation on ring 103 in the directions indicated by arrow 102 a signal maximumis received bythe antenna.

In FIGURE 9 the gear box 120 including bracket 128 attached to motor is arranged to provide counter rotation of antenna elements 121, 122 about one another in a manner similar to that shown in FIGURE 6 at 81, 82. The elements 121, 122, as is the case with elements 81, 82 would be connected by leads or slip ring connections to a receiver. At some point in the rotations of antenna elements 121, 122 or 81, 82, a maximum signal is received. In the use with a television receiver it will be a best picture reception that is experienced at some point in the rotation paths. The operation of the drive gear elements 123-127 is similar to that described in connection with FIGURE 6, gears 83-87. It should be noted that any number of loop-like configurations similar to elements 121, 122 (FIGURE 9) or 11, 12 (FIGURE 1) or 81, 82 (FIGURE 6) as either half or nearly complete loops. Loops 121 and 122 terminate in gears 124 and 126 at 121A and 122A.

In FIGURE 11 an array of antenna elements 140, 142, 144 and 104A, 142A and 144A is disposed in-line on counter-rotatable shafts of a non-metallic hollow cylindrical configuration 136, 136A. Shafts 136, 136A are fitted upon the hubs of beveled gears 134, 134A resiliently positioned (by springs 138, 138A) on a bar 150 forming the cross piece of a T, the vertical element of which 129 is the shaft of a motor 130. About shaft 129 and attached to the case of motor 130 a beveled gear 132 is positioned so as to engage gears 134 and 134A. As shaft 129 rotates, the bar 150 of the T formed as above described rotates about the axis formed by shaft 129. Gears 134, 134A engaging gear 132 (fixed to the case of motor 130) counterrotate so that hollow cylinders 136, 136A rotate with them. Straight dipole elements 140, 142, 144 in cylinder 136 rotate oppositely from curved reflector elements 140A, 142A, and 144A in cylinder 136A as shaft 129 rotates T bar element 150. This is shown by arrows 146, 148. Cylinders 136 and 136A considered as one shaft in line with T bar element 150 also rotate about the axis of shaft 129 as shown by arrows 162. This is more clearly shown in inset FIGURE 11a.

By pressing gears 134 and 134A away from shaft 129 against the urge of resilient (spring) elements 138, 138A they are disengaged from gear 132 and the rotation indicated by arrows 146, 148 is terminated. The rotation shown by arrows 162 continues until the antenna is positioned for best reception. The orientation of dipoles may be varied manually to overcome reflective (multipath) reception conditions and thus better images result.

A solenoid 164, 'with plunger 165, and expandable links 166, 167 can be used to push gears 134, 134A apart electrically.

There has been described hereinabove a number of rotatable and counterrotatable indoor antenna elements, motor driven and controllable as to direction of rotation either by a wired or remote radio or audio controlled switch.

These inventors have found that by the counterrotatability they have devised in the antenna structures better recepion is possible and one merely adjusts reception by pressing the manual switch device for direction of rotation or counterrotation of elements. The elements may be rotated together by adjustable means by which they are separated from the gearing means by which they are counterrotated.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A rotatable antenna structure comprising:

a reversible motor having a shaft extending therefrom and electrical switching means connected with said motor to provide selectively rotation of said shaft in either clockwise or counterclockwise directions;

a first antenna dipole element being fixedly mounted on said shaft extending from said motor and being rotatable therewith;

a hollow shaft concentric with and rotatable about said shaft extending from said motor;

a second antenna dipole element similar to said first dipole antenna element and being fixedly attached to said hollow shaft and being rotatable therewith;

a first beveled gear assembled on said shaft extending from said motor and being rotatable therewith;

a second beveled gear assembled on said hollow shaft and being rotatable therewith;

a third beveled gear coupledbetween said first and said second beveled gears so as to transmit an opposite rotation between said first and said second gears; and

a housing enclosing and supporting said motor, and said gears and being open at the top so that said antenna elements and said shaft extending from said motor and said hollow shaft may freely rotate;

whereby rotation of said shaft extending from said motor in one direction is transmitted through said first and third gears to said second gear so as to rotate said hollow shaft in the opposite direction from said shaft extending from said motor, thereby to counterrotate said antenna elements with respect to one another.

2. The antenna structure defined in claim 1 wherein said first and said second antenna elements are respectively similar folded dipole elements.

3. The antenna structure defined in claim 1 wherein said first and said second antenna elements are respectively similar nearly complete circles, one of said circles being slightly smaller in diameter than the other.

4. The antenna structure defined in claim 1 wherein said first and said second antenna elements are respectively similar half circles, the diameters of the planes of rotation of said respective half circles being one slightly smaller than the other.

5. The antenna structure defined in claim 1 wherein indicating means are coupled respectively to said shafts so as to be rotatable therewith, said indicating means being marked with indicia for indicating the angles of said antenna elements with respect to one another and to a relation mark disposed on said antenna structure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,231,929 2/1941 Lyman 343-758 2,512,129 6/1950 Cady 343761 3,041,609 6/ 1962 Rathenau 343-763 3,281,847 10/1966 Herrero 343-764 OTHER REFERENCES Gernsback, Television News, Radio-Electronics, pages 34, 35, September 1949.

ELI LIEBERMAN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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