KVH Industries, Inc. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140139386 | High Efficiency Agile Polarization Diversity Compact Miniaturized Multi-Frequency Band Antenna System With Integrated Distributed Transceivers - A compact, agile polarization diversity, multiband antenna with integrated electronics for satellite communications antenna systems is disclosed. The antenna includes a feed assembly having integrated microwave electronics that are mechanically and electromagnetically coupled thereto in a distributed arrangement so that diverse polarization senses having a low axial ratio and electronic switching control is provided. The microwave electronics include a distributed transmitter that can include high-band and low-band transceivers. The high-band and low-band transceivers can include high-band and low-band transmitter and receiver pairs, respectively. The antenna presented enables the mechanical rotation of the orientation of the high-band transceiver for skew alignment while the low-band transceiver remains stationary relative to the antenna assembly. The low-band transmitter and receiver pair can include planar interfaces electromagnetically coupled to the feed assembly between a main reflector and subreflector via OMTs. The highly compact antenna system presented offers polarization performance previously achievable by only larger devices. | 05-22-2014 |
20140057576 | Agile Diverse Polarization Multi-Frequency Band Antenna Feed With Rotatable Integrated Distributed Transceivers - A compact, agile polarization diversity, multiple frequency band antenna with integrated electronics for terrestrial terminal use in satellite communications systems is disclosed. The antenna includes an antenna feed having highly integrated microwave electronics that are mechanically and electromagnetically coupled thereto in a distributed arrangement so that diverse polarization senses having a low axial ratio and electronic switching control of the polarization senses is provided. The arrangement of the integrated distributed transceiver configuration enables the mechanical rotation of the orientation of a first transceiver for skew alignment while a second transceiver remains stationary relative to the antenna feed assembly. The first transceiver can be a high-band transmitter and receiver pair that supports linear polarization senses and the second transceiver can be a low-band transmitter and receiver pair that supports circular polarization senses. The antenna system presented is highly compact and offers improved polarization performance previously achievable by only larger devices. | 02-27-2014 |
20080271092 | Methods and apparatus for controlling a satellite antenna - Methods and apparatus are provided for issuing instructions to a satellite antenna configured to receive a transmission from any of a group of satellites and to provide a signal to a receiver. In accordance with one embodiment, the receiver is queried (e.g., by a control module, which in one embodiment is a device equipped with a microprocessor and memory storing instructions defining the query) to determine information relating to a channel selected by a user. Based on the information, a determination is made whether the antenna should receive a transmission from a satellite other than a currently selected satellite. If so, the antenna is instructed (e.g., by the control module) to locate the other satellite. In another embodiment, methods and apparatus are provided for use in systems having multiple receivers, including one master receiver coupled to the antenna and one or more other slave receivers which do not issue instructions to the antenna. In accordance with this embodiment, a determination is made whether a user of a slave receiver has selected a channel provided by a transmission from a satellite other than a currently selected satellite, and if so, the antenna is caused (e.g., by a control module coupled to the slave receiver) to locate the other satellite. | 10-30-2008 |
20080248777 | Apparatus and method for communicating in a high noise, multiple-recipient environment - An apparatus and method for communicating in a high noise, multiple-recipient environment, such as a convoy or other collection of vehicles or personnel operating in adverse conditions. A plurality of user terminals is provided. For example, each vehicle in a military convoy may be provided with a user terminal. The user terminals each comprise a commercial, off-the-shelf processor capable of running a commercially available operating system and at least one software program that uses predefined icons to communicate information to other users, as described further below. Users can select a message icon by which a message corresponding to the icon may be sent to all other users. The message is sent from the user terminal to a communications control unit associated with that user terminal via a communications link. The communications control unit, among other functions, compiles the message to be sent into a desired format for transmission. From the communications control unit the message is sent via an RF modem and communications link to an RF antenna from which it is transmitted. | 10-09-2008 |