Abstract:
A dish antenna having a multiple contact connector assembly for utilization with one or more viewing systems or other systems such as two-way data exchange systems including satellite receivers and/or television receivers. The single positionable dish can be positioned azimuthally and elevationally to access satellite signals which are then distributed to one or more viewing or other systems. The dish antenna receives and distributes satellite signals utilizing an LNB (low noise block) and a multiple contact connector assembly which features a multiple contact rotary male connector and a multiple contact rotary female connector which mutually engage each other in rotary and sliding contact for multiple circuit passthrough of satellite signals, control voltages and the like in order that one or more viewing or other systems can be used to view or otherwise employ multiple and different channels simultaneously and in order that no cable wrap-up will occur.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority from the earlier filed U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/707,495 filed Aug. 11, 2005, entitled “Dome Antenna With Dual Connector Assembly.” The prior application is hereby incorporated into this application by reference as if fully set forth herein. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to satellite receivers and, more particularly, to a dish antenna incorporating a multiple contact connector assembly to provide for passage of multiple RF signals or other electrical currents for use by one or more satellite receivers or other devices. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The general purpose of the present invention is a to provide a dish antenna with a multiple contact connector assembly for utilization with one or more viewing or other systems including satellite receivers and television receivers. A single positionable dish antenna can be positioned azimuthally and elevationally to access satellite signals which are then distributed to one or more viewing systems. The dish antenna receives and distributes satellite signals utilizing an LNB and a multiple contact connector assembly which features a multiple contact rotary male connector and a multiple contact rotary female connector which offer multiple circuit passthrough capabilities of satellite signals, control voltages, and the like so that one or more viewing systems or other systems can be used to view or otherwise employ multiple and different channels simultaneously. 
   The multiple contact rotary male connector and the multiple contact rotary female connector mutually engage each other in rotary and sliding contact. The described multiple contact rotary male connector and multiple contact rotary female connector include provisions for a sliding common contact means for cooperation with and for conveying signals or other voltages through two other sliding contact means, as now described:
         a. the multiple contact rotary female connector includes a contact socket which rotatingly and slidingly engages a contact pin in the multiple contact rotary male connector for communication of a first RF signal or other electrical current therethrough;   b. the multiple contact rotary female connector includes an intermediate conductor in communication with and in coaxial alignment with a segmented spring contact socket which together serve as a conductor for communication of common RF signals or other electrical current. The segmented spring contact socket is flexible and rotatingly and slidingly engages a cylindrical contact of the multiple contact rotary male connector for communication of a common RF signal or other common electrical current therethrough; and,   c. the multiple contact rotary female connector includes an outer conductor for communication of an RF signal or other electrical current having a segmented spring contact socket which is flexible and which rotatingly and slidingly engages a cylindrical contact of the multiple contact rotary male connector for communication of a second RF signal or other electrical current therethrough.
 
Alternatively, additional cooperating contacts can be incorporated into the multiple contact rotary male and female connectors in concentric fashion to provide for passage of more than two RF paths or other electrical current therethrough.
       

   Elevational control and azimuthal control of a dish antenna and other associated electrical and mechanical devices are provided for signal acquisition and viewing from a moving or stationary vehicle, boat, or the like by methods known in the art. 
   According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a dish antenna having a multiple contact connector assembly including a bearing assembly having an inner part and an outer part, the inner part being mounted to a frame and the outer part being mounted to a base plate, a drive belt and motor which azimuthally position the outer part of the bearing assembly, a dish antenna including an LNB (low noise block) rotatably secured to the upper portion of the frame, a motor which controls the elevation of the dish antenna, an enclosure dome and an enclosure base, a multiple contact connector assembly having a multiple contact rotary male connector and a multiple contact rotary female connector mutually and coaxially aligned and engaged in rotary and sliding contact including provisions for a sliding common contact means for cooperation with and for conveying signals or other voltages through two other sliding contact arrangements, an RF box, a control circuit board, and other closely associated electrical and mechanical components. 
   One significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a dish antenna having a multiple contact connector assembly. 
   Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a multiple contact connector assembly having a multiple contact rotary male connector and a multiple contact rotary female connector mutually and coaxially aligned and engaged in rotary and sliding contact. 
   Still another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a multiple contact rotary male connector having a central conductor, an intermediate conductor, and an outer conductor coaxially aligned and separated by insulators dispersed therebetween. 
   Still another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a multiple contact rotary female connector having a central conductor, an intermediate conductor, and an outer conductor coaxially aligned and separated by insulators dispersed therebetween. 
   Yet another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is the combination of the multiple contact connector assembly with other electrical and mechanical devices known in the art. 
   Having thus briefly described an embodiment of the present invention and having mentioned some significant aspects and features of the present invention, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a dish antenna with multiple connector assembly. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a semi-exploded view of a dish antenna with multiple contact connector assembly, the present invention, showing readily observable components and other structures; 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric front view of the dish antenna with multiple contact connector assembly with the enclosure base and the enclosure dome removed; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded isometric rear view of the dish antenna with multiple contact connector assembly with the enclosure base and the enclosure dome removed; 
       FIG. 4  is a rear isometric view of the dish antenna with multiple contact connector assembly with the enclosure base and the enclosure dome removed; 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded isometric view of the multiple contact connector assembly and an isometric view of the notched optical disk; 
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the multiple contact rotary male connector and the multiple contact rotary female connector in the separated position; 
       FIG. 7  is a cross section view of the multiple contact rotary male connector and the multiple contact rotary female connector along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the multiple contact connector assembly showing the relationship of the multiple contact rotary male connector and the multiple contact rotary female connector; 
       FIG. 9  utilizes the cross section views shown in  FIG. 7  showing the engaged relationship of the multiple contact rotary male connector and the multiple contact rotary female connector and the continuously maintained circuit paths incorporated therethrough and within the other portions of the multiple contact connector assembly during static or rotational states; 
       FIG. 10  is an isometric view bounded by a circle showing the relationship of the multiple contact connector assembly to surrounding components including a rotation fixture; 
       FIG. 11  is an isometric view bounded by a circle showing the relationship of the multiple contact connector assembly to surrounding components with the rotation fixture removed; and, 
       FIG. 12  is a side view of the multiple contact connector assembly mounted to the base plate using a bracket. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1  is a semi-exploded view of a dish antenna with multiple contact connector assembly  10 , the present invention, showing readily observable components and other structures including an enclosure base  12 , an enclosure dome  14 , a frame  16  having a dish antenna  18  mounted thereupon, the frame  16  and dish antenna  18  being azimuthally and continuously positionable about a central vertical axis and the frame  16  including a bottom panel  16   a , opposed side panels  16   b  and  16   c , and a back panel  16   d . The dish antenna  18  is also elevationally positionable, by virtue of being pivotally secured to the frame  16 , and includes an LNB  20  (low noise block) and an LNB mounting framework  22 . A partially visible multiple contact connector assembly  24  is mounted by a bracket  48  ( FIG. 3 ) to a circular base plate  26  and is aligned with the central vertical axis and extends through a large aperture  28  in the bottom panel  16   a  of the frame  16 . A rotation fixture  29  is mounted to the frame bottom panel  16   a  to interface with a portion of the multiple contact connector assembly  24 , as later described in detail. A reference compass  31  is shown extending through an opening in the dish antenna  18 . 
     FIG. 2  is an isometric front view of the dish antenna with multiple contact connector assembly  10  with the enclosure base  12  and the enclosure dome  14  removed, and  FIG. 3  is an exploded isometric rear view of the dish antenna with multiple contact connector assembly  10  with the enclosure base  12  and the enclosure dome  14  removed. The rotation fixture  29  also is removed from  FIG. 2  and various other figures for the purpose of clarity and unblocked illustration. Description of the invention is now made with reference to  FIG. 2  and/or  FIG. 3 . 
   Structure is provided for support and azimuthal and elevational control of the dish antenna  18  and the frame  16 . Shown in  FIG. 2  and/or  FIG. 3  are a base plate  26 , which preferably is round and has centrally located opposed apertures  30  and  32  and which secures to the enclosure base  12  ( FIG. 1 ), a bearing assembly  34  having an inner part  36  which fixedly secures to the bottom panel  16   a  of the frame  16  and having an outer part  38  which surrounds and which is rotatable about the fixed inner part  36 , and a drive belt  40 , which alternatively could be a suitable drive chain, suitably aligned to maintain traction about an arcuate portion of the rotatable outer part  38 . The base plate  26  is suitably attached to the positionable rotatable outer part  38  of the bearing assembly  34 . Also shown is the multiple contact connector assembly  24  which mounts to the base plate  26  via the bracket  48 . Cable connector jacks  88  and  90  at the lower portion of the multiple contact connector assembly  24  extend through the bracket  48  and through the apertures  30  and  32  of the base plate  26  and suitably secure therein and thereto. Other components at the lower portion of the multiple contact connector assembly  24  extend through or align within a large aperture  42  of the inner part  36  of the bearing assembly  34 , and components at the upper portion of the multiple contact connector assembly  24  extend through or align within the large aperture  28  of the frame bottom panel  16   a  ( FIG. 11 ). A notched optical disk  44  having an aperture  46  attaches at the upper portion of the bracket  48  and the lower portion of the bracket  48  attaches to the base plate  26 . The bracket  48  extends through the large aperture  42  of the bearing assembly  34  and through the large aperture  28  of the frame base  16   a  to locate the notched optical disk  44  at a suitable level to interface with an optical sensor assembly  52  to reference azimuthal positioning of the frame  16  and thus the dish antenna  18  with respect to the base plate  26 . The notched optical disk  44  includes a small reference magnet (shown in  FIG. 5  at  97 ) useful for initial referencing procedures. The rotation fixture  29  secures to a mounting post  92  on the optical sensor assembly  52  by a screw  174  and includes vertically oriented tabs  94  and  96  that engage a component of the multiple contact connector assembly  24 , as later described in detail. A motor, herein called the azimuth motor  54 , secures to the frame bottom panel  16   a , and a portion of the azimuth motor  54  extends through the frame bottom panel  16   a  in order to appropriately interface with the drive belt  40 . The azimuth motor  54  provides for azimuthal positioning of the frame  16  and the attached dish antenna  18  with respect to the base plate  26  and other components. 
   Structure is provided for support and elevational control of the dish antenna  18 , as now described. A horizontally oriented motor, herein called the elevation motor  56 , secures to the side panel  16   c  and includes a drive pulley  58 . A bell crank  60  pivotally attaches to the upper portion of the frame side panel  16   c  by a pivot structure  67  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) and is driven about its horizontal pivot axis by a drive belt  62  in cooperation with the drive pulley  58  and an idler pulley  64 . The bell crank  60  attaches to and supports one side of a dish support bracket  66 . The other side of the dish support bracket  66  is pivotally supported by a pivot structure  68  located on the frame side panel  16   b.    
   An RF box  70  (radio frequency) located on the rear of the frame back panel  16   d  functions to sense signal intensity energy from a satellite and controls the azimuth motor  54  and the elevation motor  56  to positionally fine tune the dish antenna  18  for maximum signal intensity and includes a control circuit board  72  which controls motor functions, energy sensing functions, RF signal functions, and other related functions. A control circuit cover  74  covers the control circuit board  72 . A coaxial cable  76  connects between the LNB  20  and the multiple contact connector assembly  24 , a coaxial cable  78  connects between the LNB  20  and the RF box  70 , and a coaxial cable  80  connects between the RF box  70  and the multiple contact connector assembly  24 . Also shown are limit switches  82  and  84  located on the frame side panel  16   b  which interact with the dish support bracket  66  to influence elevational limits of the dish antenna  18 . 
     FIG. 4  is a rear isometric view of the dish antenna with multiple contact connector assembly  10  with the enclosure base  12  and enclosure dome  14  removed. Shown in particular is a gyro assembly  86  mounted to the back of the dish antenna  18 . The gyro assembly  86  includes gyros for sensing elevational and azimuthal orientation of the dish antenna  18  for use by the control circuitry or other components. 
     FIG. 5  is an exploded isometric view of the multiple contact connector assembly  24  and an isometric view of the notched optical disk  44 . Provision is made for inclusion of a magnet  97  to be mounted in the notched optical disk  44  for sensing and referencing by components of the optical sensor assembly  52 . The optical sensor assembly  52  also senses and references the notches  44   a - 44   n  of the notched optical disk  44  and/or the material therebetween for azimuth position information pertaining to the frame  16  and mounted dish antenna  18  with respect to the base plate  26  and other components. 
   The multiple contact connector assembly  24  includes a centrally located multiple contact rotary male connector  98  and a centrally located multiple contact rotary female connector  100  which mutually engage each other in rotary and sliding contact. Both the multiple contact rotary male connector  98  and the multiple contact rotary female connector  100  are depicted as being triaxial connectors, but they are not limited to being triaxial; each can have more contacts than three arranged in concentric fashion. A bottom mounting circuit board  102  includes a plurality of solder pads for accommodation of the multiple contact rotary female connector  100  on the upper surface thereof and for accommodation on the lower surface thereof of the similarly constructed cable connector jacks  88  and  90  each having an outer conductor  104  with connected multiple solder posts  106  and a central conductor  108  with a solder post  110 . A top mounting circuit board  112  includes a plurality of solder pads for accommodation of the multiple contact rotary male connector  98  on the lower surface thereof and for accommodation on the upper surface thereof of the similarly constructed cable connector jacks  114  and  116  each having an outer conductor  118  in common with an outer casing having connected multiple solder posts  120  and a central conductor  122  with a solder post  124  (partially visible). Notches  126  and  128  at the periphery of the top mounting circuit board  112  accommodate the vertically aligned tabs  94  and  96  of the rotation fixture  29  to stabilize the top mounting circuit board  112  for prevention of cable wrap-up or winding. 
     FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the multiple contact rotary male connector  98  and the multiple contact rotary female connector  100  in separated condition; and  FIG. 7  is a cross section view of the multiple contact rotary male connector  98  and the multiple contact rotary female connector  100  along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 . With direct reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7  and with implied reference to other figures, the multiple contact rotary male connector  98  and the multiple contact rotary female connector  100  are now described. The multiple contact rotary female connector  100  is generally tubular in shape including an outer conductor  130  having a segmented spring contact socket  132  and having a plurality of downwardly extending solder posts  134  which are suitably accommodated by and connected to the central portion of the bottom mounting circuit board  102 . An insulator  136  in the form of an annular plastic insert aligns coaxially within a portion of the outer conductor  130 . The insulator  136  accommodates an intermediate conductor  138  having a segmented spring contact socket  140  electrically secured thereto and has a plurality of downwardly extending solder posts  142  which are suitably accommodated by and connected to the central portion of the bottom mounting circuit board  102 . Another insulator  144  in the form of an annular plastic insert aligns coaxially within a portion of the segmented spring contact socket  140  of the intermediate conductor  138 . The insulator  144  accommodates a central conductor  146  having a contact socket  148  and a downwardly extending solder post  150  which is suitably accommodated by and connected to the central portion of the bottom mounting circuit board  102 . The multiple contact rotary male connector  98  is generally tubular in shape including an outer conductor  152  having a cylindrical contact  154  and having a plurality of upwardly extending solder posts  156  which are suitably accommodated by and connected to the central portion of the top mounting circuit board  112 . An insulator  158  in the form of an annular plastic insert aligns coaxially within a portion of the outer conductor  152 . The insulator  158  accommodates an intermediate conductor  160  having a cylindrical contact  162  and a plurality of upwardly extending solder posts  164  which are suitably accommodated by and connected to the central portion of the top mounting circuit board  112 . An insulator  166  in the form of an annular plastic insert aligns coaxially within a portion of the intermediate conductor  160 . The insulator  166  accommodates a central conductor  168  having a contact pin  170  and an upwardly extending solder post  172  which is suitably accommodated by and connected to the central portion of the top mounting circuit board  112 . 
     FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the multiple contact connector assembly  24  showing the engaged relationship of the multiple contact rotary male connector  98  and the multiple contact rotary female connector  100 . The top mounting circuit board  112  including the mounted cable connector jacks  114  and  116  and the mounted multiple contact rotary male connector  98  are continuously and rotatably positionable as a unit with respect to the bottom mounting circuit board  102  including the mounted cable connector jacks  88  and  90  and the mounted multiple contact rotary female connector  100  whereby during static or rotational relationships, uninterrupted electrical connections are maintained regardless of rotational orientation. Although the use of cable connector jacks  88  and  90  is shown in use with the bottom mounting circuit board  102 , it is to be appreciated that, alternatively, a bottom mounting circuit board using solder pads in lieu of the cable connector jacks  88  and  90  can be used for direct soldered connection of coaxial cables thereto, thereby providing connections which have less signal loss and are less susceptible to connector corrosion and the like. Similarly, a top mounting circuit board using solder pads in lieu of the cable connector jacks  114  and  116  can be used for direct soldered connection of coaxial cables thereto, thereby providing connections which have less signal loss and are less susceptible to connector corrosion and the like. 
     FIG. 9  includes the cross section view shown in  FIG. 7  showing the engaged relationship of the multiple contact rotary male connector  98  and the multiple contact rotary female connector  100  and the continuously maintained circuit paths incorporated therethrough and within the other portions of the multiple contact connector assembly  24  during static or rotational states. For purposes of example and illustration, such as for TV reception or two-way data exchange continuous transfer of a “signal A” to a “satellite receiver A” and continuous transfer of a “signal B” to a “satellite receiver B” is demonstrated. A common electrical path is continuously maintained by the segmented spring contact socket  140  and solder posts  142  of the intermediate conductor  138  of the multiple contact rotary female connector  100  through the cylindrical contact  162  and solder posts  164  of the intermediate conductor  160  of the multiple contact rotary male connector  98  to connect the common outer conductors  104  of the cable connector jacks  88  and  90  incorporating solder posts  106  to the common outer conductors  118  of the cable connector jacks  114  and  116  incorporating solder posts  120 . A dedicated electrical path is continuously maintained by the contact socket  148  and solder post  150  of the central conductor  146  of the multiple contact rotary female connector  100  through the contact pin  170  and solder post  172  of the central conductor  168  of the multiple contact rotary male connector  98  to connect the central conductor  108  ( FIG. 5 ) of the cable connector jack  88  incorporating solder post  110  to the central conductor  122  ( FIG. 5 ) of the cable connector jack  116  incorporating solder post  124 . Another dedicated electrical path is continuously maintained by the segmented spring contact socket  132  and solder posts  134  of the outer conductor  130  of the multiple contact rotary female connector  100  through the cylindrical contact  154  and solder posts  156  of the outer conductor  152  of the multiple contact rotary male connector  98  to connect the central conductor  108  ( FIG. 5 ) of the cable connector jack  90  incorporating solder post  110  to the central conductor  122  of the cable connector jack  114  incorporating solder post  124 . The intermediate conductor  138  of the multiple contact rotary female connector  100  and the engaged intermediate conductor  160  of the multiple contact rotary male connector  98  together conveniently act as a shield between the combined central conductor  146  of the multiple contact rotary female connector  100  and the engaged central conductor  168  of the multiple contact rotary male connector  98  and the combined outer conductor  130  of the multiple contact rotary female connector  100  and the engaged outer conductor  152  of the multiple contact rotary male connector  98 . 
     FIG. 10  is an isometric view bounded by a circle showing the relationship of the multiple contact connector assembly  24  to surrounding components. Shown in particular is the rotation fixture  29  secured to the mounting post  92  of the optical sensor assembly  52  by the screw  174 , wherein the tabs  94  and  96 , also shown in  FIG. 3 , engage the opposed notches  126  and  128  of the top mounting circuit board  112  ( FIG. 5 ) in a suitable and convenient order. Thus, the top mounting circuit board  112  is held in position and referenced to the position of the coaxial cables  76  and  80  to preclude unwanted cable twisting or wrap-up and to positionally fix and anchor the top mounting circuit board  112  and attached components to prevent turning in unison of the top mounting circuit board  112  with the bottom mounting circuit board  102  which is attached to the base plate  26 . Such referencing is beneficial whether the frame  16  is rotated relative to the base plate  26  or whether the base plate  26  is rotated relative to the frame  16  during signal reception and vehicle movement. 
     FIG. 11  is an isometric view bounded by a circle showing the relationship of the multiple contact connector assembly  24  to surrounding components. The rotation fixture  29  shown in  FIG. 10  is removed for the purpose of clarity and unblocked illustration. Shown in particular is the support of the notched optical disk  44  above the level of the large aperture  28  by the bracket  48  and the relationship of the bracket  48  to the multiple contact connector assembly  24 . 
     FIG. 12  is a side view of the multiple contact connector assembly  24  mounted to the base plate  26  using the bracket  48 . The bearing assembly  34  and the rotation fixture  29  have been removed for the purpose of clarity and unblocked illustration. 
   MODE OF OPERATION 
     FIG. 9  best illustrates the mode of operation of the dish antenna with multiple contact connector assembly  10  with special attention directed to the multiple contact connector assembly  24 . Operation of other associated electrical and mechanical components of the instant invention are known in the art. 
   Various modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the apparent scope hereof. 
   DISH ANTENNA WITH MULTIPLE CONTACT CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY PARTS LIST 
   
       
         10  dish antenna with multiple contact connector assembly 
         12  enclosure base 
         14  enclosure dome 
         16  frame 
         16   a  bottom panel 
         16   b  side panel 
         16   c  side panel 
         16   d  back panel 
         18  dish antenna 
         20  LNB (low noise block) 
         22  LNB mounting framework 
         24  multiple contact connector assembly 
         26  base plate 
         28  large aperture 
         29  rotation fixture 
         30  aperture 
         31  reference compass 
         32  aperture 
         34  bearing assembly 
         36  inner part 
         38  outer part 
         40  drive belt 
         42  large aperture 
         44  notched optical disk 
         44   a - n  notches 
         46  aperture 
         48  bracket 
         52  optical sensor assembly 
         54  azimuth motor 
         56  elevation motor 
         58  drive pulley 
         60  bell crank 
         62  drive belt 
         64  idler pulley 
         66  dish support bracket 
         67  pivot structure 
         68  pivot structure 
         70  RF box 
         72  control circuit board 
         74  control circuit cover 
         76  coaxial cable 
         78  coaxial cable 
         80  coaxial cable 
         82  limit switch 
         84  limit switch 
         86  gyro assembly 
         88  cable connector jack 
         90  cable connector jack 
         92  mounting post 
         94  tab 
         96  tab 
         97  magnet 
         98  multiple contact rotary male connector 
         100  multiple contact rotary female connector 
         102  bottom mounting circuit board 
         104  outer conductor 
         106  solder post 
         108  central conductor 
         110  solder post 
         112  top mounting circuit board 
         114  cable connector jack 
         116  cable connector jack 
         118  outer conductor 
         120  solder post 
         122  central conductor 
         124  solder post 
         126  notch 
         128  notch 
         130  outer conductor 
         132  segmented spring contact socket 
         134  solder post 
         136  insulator 
         138  intermediate conductor 
         140  segmented spring contact socket 
         142  solder post 
         144  insulator 
         146  central conductor 
         148  contact socket 
         150  solder post 
         152  outer conductor 
         154  cylindrical contact 
         156  solder post 
         158  insulator 
         160  intermediate conductor 
         162  cylindrical contact 
         164  solder post 
         166  insulator 
         168  central conductor 
         170  contact pin 
         172  solder post 
         174  screw