Solar-powered satellite dish heater

The solar-powered satellite dish heater is configured for use with a satellite dish. The satellite dish is an antenna that is configured to receive radio frequency transmissions from a satellite. The solar-powered satellite dish heater is a heating device that prevents an accumulation of ice from inhibiting the satellite dish from receiving the radio frequency transmissions from the satellite. The solar-powered satellite dish heater comprises the satellite dish and a heating structure. The heating structure generates heat that is transferred to the satellite dish such that any ice that has accumulated on the satellite dish will melt.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

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REFERENCE TO APPENDIX

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of electricity and basic electric elements including antennas, more specifically, a deicing arrangement for an antenna. (H01Q1/02)

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The solar-powered satellite dish heater is configured for use with a satellite dish. The satellite dish is an antenna that is configured to receive radio frequency transmissions from a satellite. The solar-powered satellite dish heater is a heating device that prevents an accumulation of ice from inhibiting the satellite dish from receiving the radio frequency transmissions from the satellite. The solar-powered satellite dish heater comprises the satellite dish and a heating structure. The heating structure generates heat that is transferred to the satellite dish such that any ice that has accumulated on the satellite dish will melt.

These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the solar-powered satellite dish heater will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the solar-powered satellite dish heater. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

The solar-powered satellite dish heater100(hereinafter invention) is configured for use with a satellite dish101. The satellite dish101is an antenna that is configured to receive radio frequency transmissions from a satellite. The invention is a heating device that prevents an accumulation of ice from inhibiting the satellite dish101from receiving the radio frequency transmissions from the satellite. The invention100comprises the satellite dish101and a heating structure102. The heating structure102generates heat that is transferred to the satellite dish101such that any ice that has accumulated on the satellite dish101will melt.

The satellite dish101is an antenna. The satellite dish101receives radio frequency signals from a satellite. The primary shape of the satellite dish101has a bifurcated paraboloid structure. The design and use of a satellite dish101are well-known and documented in the electrical and telecommunication arts. The satellite dish101comprises a reflector111, an LNB downconverter112, and a satellite dish mount113.

The reflector111is a bifurcated paraboloid structure. The reflector111reflects and focuses the radio frequency signals received from a satellite towards a focal point where the LNB downconverter112is located.

The LNB downconverter112is a transducer. The LNB downconverter112converts the radio frequency electromagnetic waves focused on the LNB downconverter112into an electric signal that is fed into an externally provided receiver.

The satellite dish101mount113is a mechanical device that attaches the satellite dish101to a supporting structure. The satellite dish101mount113attaches the satellite dish101into a fixed position that allows the satellite dish101to focus on the appropriate satellite.

The heating structure102is an electrical device. The heating structure102is a photoelectric device. The heating structure102generates the heat used to melt off any ice that accumulates on the satellite dish101. The heating structure attaches to the convex surface of the bifurcated paraboloid structure of the satellite dish101such that the use of the heating structure102will not interfere with the use of the satellite dish101as an antenna. The heating structure102comprises a shell121, a control circuit122, and a power circuit123. The control circuit122and the power circuit123mount in the shell121.

The shell121is a mechanical structure. The shell121has a bifurcated paraboloid structure. The shape of the shell121is geometrically similar to the shape of the reflector111of the satellite dish101such that the convex surface of the reflector111of the satellite dish101fits flush in the convex surface of the bifurcated paraboloid structure of the shell121. The shell121is secured to the convex surface of the reflector111such that the heat generated by the shell121warms the reflector111of the satellite dish101. The shell121comprises a reflector111cover131, a satellite dish101mount113slot132, and a heating element141mount133.

The reflector111cover131is a bifurcated paraboloid structure. The reflector111cover131is geometrically similar to the shape of the reflector111. The reflector111cover131is formed such that the convex surface of the reflector111fits flush into the concave surface of the reflector111cover131.

The satellite dish101mount113slot132is a negative space formed into the reflector111cover131. The satellite dish101mount113slot132allows the reflector111cover131to slide over the convex surface of the reflector111of the satellite dish101such that the reflector111cover131will fit around the satellite dish101mount113as the reflector111cover131is placed on the reflector111.

The heating element141mount133is a slot that is formed in the concave surface of the bifurcated paraboloid structure of the reflector111cover131. The heating element141mount133forms the negative space within the reflector111cover131in which the heating element141of the control circuit122mounts. The heating element141mount133is positioned within the reflector111cover131such that the heat generated by the heating element141is transferred directly to the convex surface of the reflector111to which the reflector111cover attaches.

The control circuit122is an electric circuit. The control circuit122generates the heat used to melt ice off of the reflector111of the satellite dish101. The control circuit122controls the operation of the heating structure102such that the control circuit122: a) heats the reflector111when the temperature falls below a previously determined temperature; and, b) discontinues heating the reflector111when the temperature rises above the previously determined temperature. The control circuit122comprises a heating element141and a switching circuit142.

The heating element141is an electrical device. The heating element141is a resistive device. The flow of electricity through the heating element141generates the heat released from the heating structure102into the reflector111of the satellite dish101.

The switching circuit142is an electric circuit. The switching circuit142is a switching device. The switching circuit142controls the flow of electricity from the power circuit123into the heating element141. The switching circuit142comprises a master switch161, a thermostat162, and a bypass switch163.

The thermostat162is a switching device. The thermostat162measures the temperature of the reflector111of the satellite dish101. The thermostat162actuates a switch to a closed position when the measured temperature of the reflector111falls below a previously determined temperature. The thermostat162actuates a switch to an open position when the measured temperature of the reflector111climbs above the previously determined temperature. The thermostat162controls the flow of electricity from the master switch161to the heating element141such that the heating element141heats the reflector111when the measured temperature of the reflector111falls below the previously determined temperature.

The bypass switch163is a maintained switch. The bypass switch163is wired in parallel with the switching element of the thermostat162. The bypass switch163allows for the flow of electricity from the master switch161into the heating element141when the master switch161is in the closed position. The master switch161is wired in series with the parallel circuit construction of the thermostat162and the bypass switch163.

The master switch161is an electric circuit component. The master switch161is a maintained switch. The master switch161controls the flow of electricity from the battery151of the power circuit123into the thermostat162. The master switch161controls the flow of electricity from the battery151of the power circuit123into the bypass switch163. The master switch is effectively the power switch of the invention100.

The power circuit123is an electric circuit. The power circuit123is an electrochemical device. The power circuit123is a photoelectric device. The power circuit123generates the electrical energy required to operate the control circuit122. The power circuit123converts electromagnetic radiation into electrical energy. The power circuit123stores the received electrical energy into a chemical potential energy. The power circuit123converts the stored chemical energy back into electrical energy that is consumed by the control circuit122during the process of heating the reflector111of the satellite dish101. The power circuit123comprises a battery151, a diode152, and a photovoltaic cell153. The battery151is further defined with a first positive terminal171and a first negative terminal181. The photovoltaic cell153is further defined with a second positive terminal172and a second negative terminal182.

The battery151is an electrochemical device. The battery151converts chemical potential energy into the electrical energy used to power the control circuit122. The battery151is a commercially available rechargeable battery151. The chemical energy stored within the rechargeable battery151is renewed and restored through the use of the photovoltaic cell153. The photovoltaic cell153is an electrical circuit that reverses the polarity of the rechargeable battery151and provides the energy necessary to reverse the chemical processes that the rechargeable battery151initially used to generate the electrical energy. This reversal of the chemical process creates the chemical potential energy that will later be used by the rechargeable battery151to generate electricity.

The diode152is an electrical device that allows current to flow in only one direction. The diode152installs between the rechargeable battery151and the charging port YYY such that electricity will not flow from the first positive terminal171of the rechargeable battery151into the second positive terminal172of the photovoltaic cell153.

The photovoltaic cell153is an electrical device. The photovoltaic cell153converts electromagnetic radiation into an electric current that transfers electrical energy into the battery151for conversion into chemical potential energy.

The following definitions were used in this disclosure:

Antenna: As used in this disclosure, an antenna is an electrical apparatus used to: a) convert electrical current into electromagnetic radiation; and, b) convert electromagnetic radiation into electrical current. An antenna is a type of transducer.

Battery: As used in this disclosure, a battery is a chemical device consisting of one or more cells, in which chemical energy is converted into electricity and used as a source of power. Batteries are commonly defined with a positive terminal and a negative terminal.

Bifurcate: As used in this disclosure, to bifurcate means to divide an object or space into two pieces or segments.

Concave: As used in this disclosure, concave is used to describe: 1) a surface that resembles the interior surface of a sphere; or, 2) a function with a curvature structure wherein a chord that connects any two points of the function will be lesser than (graphically below) or equal to the value of the function at any point along the chord.

Convex: As used in this disclosure, convex is used to describe: 1) a surface that resembles the outer surface of a sphere; or, 2) a function with a curvature structure wherein a chord that connects any two points of the function will be greater than (graphically above) or equal to the value of the function at any point along the chord.

Diode: As used in this disclosure, a diode is a two terminal semiconductor device that allows current flow in only one direction. The two terminals are called the anode and the cathode. Electric current is allowed to pass from the anode to the cathode.

Flush: As used in this disclosure, the term flush is used to describe the alignment of a first surface and a second surface on a single plane.

Heating Element: As used in this disclosure, a heating element is a resistive wire that is used to convert electrical energy into heat. Common metal combinations used to form heat elements include a combination of nickel and Chromium (typical: 80/20), a combination of iron, chromium and aluminum (typical 70/25/5), a combination of copper, nickel, iron, and manganese (typical 66/30/2/2) (use for continuously hot), and platinum.

Maintained Switch: A used in this disclosure, a maintained switch is a switch that maintains the position that was set in the most recent switch actuation. A maintained switch works in an opposite manner to a momentary switch.

Paraboloid: As used in this disclosure, a paraboloid is a type of quadric surface. An elliptic paraboloid is described by the equation: (x{circumflex over ( )}2/a{circumflex over ( )}2)+(y{circumflex over ( )}2/b{circumflex over ( )}2)=z. The hyperbolic paraboloid is described by the equation: (x{circumflex over ( )}2/a{circumflex over ( )}2)−(y{circumflex over ( )}2/b{circumflex over ( )}2)=z. A paraboloid of rotation refers to an elliptic paraboloid where a=b. Unless stated otherwise within the specification, the use of the term paraboloid refers to an elliptic paraboloid.

Parallel Circuit: As used in this disclosure, a parallel circuit refers to a method of electrically connecting a plurality of circuit elements to a voltage source. In a parallel circuit each circuit element receives a voltage equal to the full voltage produced by the voltage source.

Photoelectric: As used in this disclosure, photoelectric is an adjective used to describe an electronic component in which the performance of the electronic component is modified by light. Typical photoelectric devices include, but are not limited to, photoelectric transistors, photoelectric diodes, and photoelectric resistors.

Photovoltaic Cell: As used in this disclosure, a photovoltaic cell is a photoelectric device that directly converts light energy into electrical energy.

Quadric Surface: As used in this disclosure, a quadric surface is a three-dimensional surface that varies in the three Cartesian coordinates in an algebraically defined manner. The conic section is a two-dimensional embodiment of a quadric surface. Euclidian planes as well as the surfaces of ellipsoids, spheres, paraboloids, and cones are examples of quadric surfaces. The Euclidian plane is technically considered a degenerate form of a quadric surface but, unless specifically stated otherwise within this disclosure, is explicitly included in this definition. Quadric surfaces are described by the general algebraic form: Ax2+By2+Cz2+Dxy+Exz+Fyz+Gx+Hy+Iz+J=0.

Receiver: As used in this disclosure, a receiver is an electric device that is used to receive and demodulate electromagnetic radiation such as radio signals.

Series Circuit: As used in this disclosure, a series circuit refers to a method of electrically connecting a plurality of circuit elements to a voltage source. In a series circuit, the proportion of the voltage received by each individual circuit element is divided proportionally between the plurality circuit elements based on the resistance (or impedance) of each circuit element relative to the total resistance of the plurality of circuit elements. The series circuit forms a linear or loop structure often referred to as a daisy chain.

Switch: As used in this disclosure, a switch is an electrical device that starts and stops the flow of electricity through an electric circuit by completing or interrupting an electric circuit. The act of completing or breaking the electrical circuit is called actuation. Completing or interrupting an electric circuit with a switch is often referred to as closing or opening a switch respectively. Completing or interrupting an electric circuit is also often referred to as making or breaking the circuit respectively.

Thermostat: As used in this disclosure, a thermostat is a device that monitors the temperature of a space such that the thermostat 1) operates a switch when the measured temperature exceeds or falls below a first preset temperature; and, 2) performs the opposite operation on the switch when the measured temperature falls below or exceeds a second preset temperature. The thermostat is well-known and documented in the electrical arts.

Transducer: As used in this disclosure, a transducer is a device that converts a physical quantity, such as pressure or brightness into an electrical signal or a device that converts an electrical signal into a physical quantity.