LNB having indication function

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a LNB, in particular, to a LNB having indication function.

2. Description of Prior Art

LNB (Low Noise Block Down Converter, abbreviated and referred as LNB in the following) is a satellite feed used for lowering frequency and amplifying satellite signals. LNB is used for lowering the frequency of satellite signals from 3.4˜4.2 GHz (C band) or 0.7˜12.75 GHz (Ku band) to intermediate frequency required by satellite receiver (950 MHz˜2050 MHz, the required intermediate frequency range is subject to the types of LNB).

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a satellite receiver receiving satellite signals. Typically, a satellite 10 is distanced from the earth more than 30,000 km. Accordingly, satellite signals S 1 of the satellite 10 is weakened upon arriving a dish antenna 20 and a LNB 30 then is used for amplifying the received satellite signals. A coaxial cable 50 is connected between the LNB 30 and a satellite receiver 60 . Due to that the signal loss increases as the transmitting frequency of coaxial cable increases, the LNB 30 converts the frequency of the satellite signals S 1 from high frequency to intermediate frequency via local oscillating circuit (not shown in the diagram) to facilitate the signal transmission of the coaxial cable 50 and modulation decoding on the satellite receiver 60 in order to display the sound and image carried by the satellite signals on a television set 70 .

Traditionally, dish antennas are adjusted in a manner that a user 40 A standing outdoors manually adjusts the position and angle of a dish antenna 20 whereas the other user 40 B indoor stands in front of the satellite receiver 60 and the television set 70 . As the outdoor user 40 A adjusting the position and the angle of the dish antenna 20 for better reception of the satellite signals S 1 , the indoor user 40 B talks to the outdoor user 40 A directly or via a walkie talkie to inform the outdoor user 40 A the display quality of satellite signals S 1 on the television set 70 , which can be inconvenient under many circumstances.

In order to address the above mentioned inconveniences, new products are developed yet with disadvantages such as the solution is not able to recognize the name of the satellite, the solution is expensive, the solution requires external device and steps to remove the external device upon adjustment is completed etc. . . .

In order to address the disadvantages of the above mentioned prior art, the invention is mainly to provide LNB having indication function.

The LNB having indication function of present invention comprises a supporting stage; a micro-controller; an indication unit electrically connected to the micro-controller; and a LNB unit electrically connected to the micro-controller. The micro-controller, the indication unit and the LNB unit are installed on the supporting stage. The micro-controller sends an indication signal for driving the indication unit.

The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, may be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, which describes an exemplary embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a satellite receiver receiving satellite signals;

FIG. 2 is an exterior diagram of the LNB having indication function of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the LNB having indication function of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of another embodiment of a LNB having indication function according to present invention;

FIG. 5 is a functional flow chart of an indication process of the LNB having indication function of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary flow chart of the micro-controller sending the indication signal to drive the indication unit;

FIG. 7 is an exploded diagram of the embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is another exploded diagram of the embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 to FIG. 11 are partial sectional side views of the embodiment according to the present invention; and

FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are perspective diagrams 3 of the embodiment according to the present invention.

In cooperation with attached drawings, the technical contents and detailed description of the present invention are described thereinafter according to a preferable embodiment, being not used to limit its executing scope. Any equivalent variation and modification made according to appended claims is all covered by the claims claimed by the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exterior diagram of the LNB having indication function of the present invention and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the LNB having indication function of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1 , the LNB having indication function 30 A of present invention replaces the position of the LNB 30 in FIG. 1 in field embodiments.

The LNB having indication function 30 A of present invention comprises a wave guide 22 , a supporting stage 38 , a micro-controller 34 , an indication unit 36 and an LNB unit 32 . The micro-controller 34 is electrically connected to the indication unit 36 and the LNB unit 32 , and the micro-controller 34 , the indication unit 36 and the LNB unit 32 are installed on the supporting stage 38 . The wave guide 22 is connected to the supporting stage 38 .

The indication unit 36 can be components such as an LED or a buzzer for reminding users via emitting light or making sounds. The indication unit 36 can also include a red LED (electrically connected to the micro-controller) and a green LED (electrically connected to the micro-controller) so that the indication unit 36 provide red light, green light and yellow light generated by mixing red and green light.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of another embodiment of an LNB having indication function according to present invention. The LNB having indication function 30 A further comprises a first amplifier 302 A, a second amplifier 302 B, a third amplifier 302 C, a bandpass filter 304 , a mixer 306 , a third capacitor 308 C, a first inductor 316 , a low frequency unit LF and a high frequency unit HF. The low frequency unit LF comprises a first capacitor 308 A, a first oscillator 310 A, a first resistor 312 A, a second resistor 312 B, and a first transistor 314 A. The high frequency unit HF comprises a second capacitor 308 B, a second oscillator 310 B, a third resistor 312 C, a fourth resistor 312 D, and a second transistor 314 B.

The second resistor 312 B is electrically connected to the first oscillator 310 A, the first capacitor 308 A, the first resistor 312 A and the first transistor 314 A. The fourth resistor 312 D is electrically connected to the second oscillator 310 B, the second capacitor 308 B, the third resistor 312 C and the second transistor 314 B. The mixer 306 is electrically connected to the bandpass filter 304 , the first amplifier 302 A, the first capacitor 308 A and the second capacitor 308 B. The micro-controller 34 is electrically connected to the indication unit 36 , the first resistor 312 A, the third resistor 312 C and the first inductor 316 . The third capacitor 308 C is electrically connected to the first amplifier 302 A and the first inductor 316 . The third amplifier 302 C is electrically connected to the second amplifier 302 B, the bandpass filter 304 and the LNB unit 32 .

The micro-controller 34 controls whether to input the low frequency unit LF or the high frequency unit HF into the mixer 306 . The micro-controller 34 directly configures the desired receiving frequency bandwidth at the satellite receiver 60 so as to avoid unnecessary channel switching during modulation pause. The micro-controller 34 also can be used for polarization switching.

FIG. 5 is a functional flow chart of an indication process of the LNB having indication function of the present invention. Referring together with FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 , firstly, the user 40 B configures desired specific satellite (S 10 ) to receive at the satellite receiver 60 . Following that, the LNB having indication function 30 A configures associated bandwidth (S 20 ); and the user 40 A standing outdoor adjusting the positions and angles of the dish antenna 20 to receive satellite signals (S 30 ). Following the satellite signals received by the LNB having indication function 30 A, the satellite signals are amplified, filtered and frequency-down converted. Consequently, the processed satellite signals are transmitted to the satellite receiver 60 (S 40 ).

Subsequently, the satellite receiver 60 performs demodulation on satellite signals to generate a satellite strength signal S 3 to display on the television set 70 (S 50 ). Next, the LNB having indication function 30 A retrieves the satellite strength signal S 3 (S 60 ). The micro-controller 34 sends an indication signal S 2 via the satellite strength signal S 3 to drive the indication unit 36 (S 70 ). The user 40 A is acknowledged the signal strength of the satellite signals and confirms if the adjustment process is completed (S 80 ). If the signal strength of the satellite signals is bad, the process moves back to the step S 30 to repeat the step of adjusting positions and angles of the dish antenna 20 . If the signal strength of the satellite signals is good, the adjustment of positions and angles of the dish antenna 20 is completed and the micro-controller 34 stops driving the indication unit 36 .

FIG. 6 is an exemplary flow chart of the micro-controller 34 sending the indication signal S 2 to drive the indication unit 36 (S 70 ). In present embodiment, the indication unit 36 comprises a red LED and a green LED.

Firstly, the micro-controller 34 determines if the satellite strength signal S 3 of the satellite receiver 60 exceeds a threshold value of satellite signal. If not, the micro-controller 34 controls the indication unit 36 to emit flashing red light and the flashing frequency increases as the strength of the satellite strength signal S 3 increases (S 702 ). When a user sees the flashing red light, the user is acknowledged that the received satellite signals strength is undesirable.

If the satellite strength signal S 3 of the satellite receiver 60 exceeds a threshold value of satellite signal, and the satellite receiver 60 determines that the received satellite signals do not come from the satellite configured to receive, then the micro-controller 34 controls the indication unit 36 to have yellow light flashing once. Following that, the micro-controller 34 determines the retrieved satellite strength signal S 3 of the satellite receiver 60 exceeds the maximum of the history records. If not, the micro-controller 34 controls the indication unit 36 to have red light flashing once (S 710 ). As a result, when the user sees yellow light and red light flash one after another, the user is acknowledged that the received satellite signals do not come from the desired satellite configured to receive, and satellite signals strength does not improve by adjusting the positions and angles of the dish antenna 20 .

If the satellite strength signal S 3 of the satellite receiver 60 exceeds a threshold value of satellite signal, and the satellite receiver 60 determines that the received satellite signals do not come from the satellite configured to receive and the micro-controller 34 controls the indication unit 36 to have yellow light flashing once. Following that, the micro-controller 34 determines the retrieved satellite strength signal S 3 of the satellite receiver 60 exceeds the maximum of the history records. If yes, the micro-controller 34 controls the indication unit 36 to have yellow light flashing once (S 708 ). As a result, when the user sees yellow light flashing continuously, the user is acknowledged that the received satellite signals do not come from the desired satellite configured to receive, and satellite signals strength improves by adjusting the positions and angles of the dish antenna 20 .

If the satellite strength signal S 3 of the satellite receiver 60 exceeds a threshold value of satellite signal, and the satellite receiver 60 determines that the received satellite signals come from the satellite configured to receive, then the micro-controller 34 controls the indication unit 36 to have green light flashing once. Following that, the micro-controller 34 determines the retrieved satellite strength signal S 3 of the satellite receiver 60 exceeds the maximum of the history records. If not, the micro-controller 34 controls the indication unit 36 to have red light flashing once (S 704 ). As a result, when the user sees green light and red light flashing one after another, the user is acknowledged that the received satellite signals come from the desired satellite configured to receive, and satellite signals strength do not improve by adjusting the positions and angles of the dish antenna 20 .

If the satellite strength signal S 3 of the satellite receiver 60 exceeds a threshold value of satellite signal, and the satellite receiver 60 determines that the received satellite signals come from the satellite configured to receive, then the micro-controller 34 controls the indication unit 36 to have green light flashing once. Following that, the micro-controller 34 determines the retrieved satellite strength signal S 3 of the satellite receiver 60 exceeds the maximum of the history records. If yes, the micro-controller 34 controls the indication unit 36 to have green light flashing once (S 706 ). As a result, when the user sees green light flashing continuously, the user is acknowledged that the received satellite signals come from the desired satellite configured to receive, and satellite signals strength improves by adjusting the positions and angles of the dish antenna 20 . The process to adjust the positions and angles of the dish antenna 20 is completed by the user 40 A.

In addition to the embodiment shown in the FIG. 6 , an alternative indication means is flashing red light indicating the target satellite signals configured to receive are not received; flashing yellow light means target satellite signals configured to receive are received yet the strength is insufficient; and flashing green light means target satellite signals configured to receive are received with good signal strength.

In addition to determining if the received satellite signals come from the satellite configured to receive in the beginning according to the data saved in the satellite receiver 60 , video identification data is further saved in the micro-controller 34 as references to assisting with determining if the received satellite signals come from the satellite configured to receive.

The LNB having indication function 30 A of present invention combines the LNB, the micro-controller 34 and the indication unit 36 disposed on the supporting stage 38 . The indication unit 36 indicates the satellite signal strength and correct position of the satellite such that the outdoor user 40 A quickly and correctly adjusts the dish antenna 20 without extra equipments (for example a satellite finder). Also, it is no longer required to have the user 40 B standing in front of the satellite receiver 60 and the television set 70 observing, shouting or talking via an intercom to inform the user 40 A about the status.

The LNB having indication function 30 A of present invention is installed outdoor. The designed structure has to be easily observed under the sun to a user so that the outdoor user 40 A is acknowledged of the signal strength of the satellite signals. The process is detailed in the following disclosed embodiment where the indication unit 36 is exemplified with the LED 362 :

FIG. 7 is an exploded diagram of the embodiment according to the present invention. The LNB having indication function 30 A of present invention further comprises an LED 362 , a light guide 364 , a light cover 366 and a cover unit 368 . The cover unit 368 further comprises a depression 368 a . When the cover unit 368 is disposed on the supporting stage 38 , the depression 368 a and a protruding portion 38 a of the supporting stage 38 is positioned correspondingly so as to assure the installation is error free. The light guide 364 is a rectangular column and having a light receiving end 364 a and a corresponding light emitting end 364 b . The light guide 364 is installed on the a through hole 364 d of the cover unit 368 , extending along the light emitting direction of the LED 362 . The light receiving end 364 a receives the light emitted by the LED 362 along the through hole 364 d , and guiding the light vertically along the light guide 364 . The light emitting end 364 b has a chamfer 364 c . The chamfer 364 c is positioned according to a predetermined angle (for example by 45 degree) to allow the light reflected within the chamfer vertically or horizontally.

Alternatively, the light cover 366 has a cap unit 366 a and an opening 366 b disposed on one side of the cap unit 366 a . The cap unit 366 a can be integrally formed with the housing 80 of the LNB. The opening 366 b is disposed corresponding to the chamfer 364 c of the light emitting end 364 b so that the light reflected by the chamfer 364 c transmitting horizontally through the opening 366 b . The cap unit 366 a of the light cover 366 is used for effectively blocking external light, as a result the user 40 A observes the signal light without being interfered by the surrounding light and is allowed to make correct observation of the light emitting through the opening 366 b.

FIG. 8 is another exploded diagram of the embodiment according to the present invention. The configuration of the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 8 is similar to the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 7 , accordingly, identical components are given the same numerals. The light guide 364 disclosed in FIG. 8 is divided into two parts: a leading column 364 ′ and a guiding column 364 ″ positioned on the leading column 364 ′. The leading column 364 ′ is a rectangular column and installed on a LED 362 via a cover unit 368 . The guiding column 364 ″ is a rectangular column having a chamfer 364 c . The guiding column 364 ″ is installed rotatably on the leading column 364 ′ (detailed in the following) to form a light receiving end 364 a and a light emitting end 364 b rotatable by a certain degree limit.

The LNB having indication function 30 A of present invention further comprises a support frame 365 , the support frame 365 having a main body 365 a , a clip frame opening 365 b formed in the main body 365 a , and a hook 365 c extended from the main body 365 a . The clip frame opening 365 b is preferably shaped as a circle clipping on the guiding column 364 ″. The light cover 366 further has a base 366 c disposed on the bottom of the light cover 366 , a first clip side 366 d and a second clip side 366 e and a clip 366 f extending from the bottom of the base on one side of the cap unit 366 a . The light cover 366 is rotatably installed in a hole 82 of the housing 80 via the first clip side 366 d and the second clip side 366 e . In further details, the light cover 366 is rotatably installed within the hole 82 via the base 366 c , the first clip side 366 d and the second clip side 366 e.

The hook 365 c of the support frame 365 is hooked in the clip 366 f of the light cover 366 . As the light cover 366 rotates within the hole 82 , the guiding column 364 ″ clipped by the support frame 365 rotates accordingly, such that the angle of the light emitting end 364 b is changed (it should be noted that the chamfer 364 c of the clipped guiding column 364 ″ should position corresponding to the opening 366 b to assure the light is guided through the light cover 366 ). Consequently, as the user 40 A rotates the light cover 366 freely to control the angle of the opening 366 b , the guiding column 364 ″ also rotates correspondingly to guide the light of the LED 362 through the opening 366 b.

The cap unit 366 a of the light cover 366 is used for effectively blocking external light, as a result the user 40 A observes the signal light without interfered by the surrounding light and is allowed to make correct observation of the light emitting through the opening 366 b . Additionally, the user 40 A may rotate the light cover 366 to desired angle when required.

FIG. 9 to FIG. 11 are partial sectional side views of the embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are perspective diagrams 3 of the embodiment according to the present invention.

The LNB having indication function 30 A of present invention have the advantages as follows:

1. The implementation according to the present invention improves the inconvenient designs in prior art.

2. The implementation according to the present invention precisely recognizes the name of the satellite configured to receive.

3. The manufacturing cost according to the present invention is low.

4. The implementation according to the present invention can work with prior art LNB without external devices required and the step to remove the device upon adjustment completed. Upon the adjustment completed, the micro-controller 34 stops driving the indication unit 36 .

As the skilled person will appreciate, various changes and modifications can be made to the described embodiments. It is intended to include all such variations, modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the invention, as defined in the accompanying claims.