GB2207557A

GB2207557A - Antenna

Info

Publication number: GB2207557A
Application number: GB08712828A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wai-Leung Chan
Original assignee: LEADER RADIO CO Ltd
Current assignee: LEADER RADIO CO Ltd
Priority date: 1987-06-01
Filing date: 1987-06-01
Publication date: 1989-02-01
Also published as: GB8712828D0

Abstract

An antenna arrangement for a television comprises an antenna 2 and an amplifier 3 housed in a plastics box 4 to provide a compact unit for use in areas of low signal strength. <IMAGE>

Description

Antenna Device The present invention relates to an antenna or aerial, particularly for the reception of UHF and VHF television signals.

In areas where the strength of the received signal is low it is necessary to provide a larger aerial to improve reception of the signal and/or to amplify the received signal at the television receiver.

A first aspect of the invention provides an antenna device comprising an antenna for receiving a broadcast television signal and an amplifier in close proximity to the antenna and connected thereto for amplifying a television signal received by the antenna.

Preferably the antenna and amplifier are housed together in a housing. Preferably the housing is substantially waterproof.

The invention provides a compact television signal receiving arrangement which may be readily mounted outdoors, on a rooftop or by a window, or may be used indoors, the box providing a pleasing aesthetic appearance.

A socket may be provided on the box wall for connection of a coaxial lead to supply the received signal to a television.

A power supply for the amplifier may be housed in the box, or power may be fed from an external source, possibly down the coaxial lead.

The invention will be further described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic, exploded view of an antenna device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a front view of a device of the type seen in Figure 1, assembled and shown in more detail; Figure 3 is a rear view of the device of Figure 2, Figures 4 and 5 are opposite side views of the device of Figure 2; and Figure 6 is an underneath view of the device of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows schematically an antenna device 1 according to the invntion. The device comprises an antenna 2 which may be of any suitable type, for example a simple dipole antenna, or a yagi or log periodic array. The signal receiving dipole conductors are connected by wiring 30 to an amplifier 3. The amplifier is shown as a box which houses electronic circuitry for amplifying the signal received by the antenna 2.

The antenna 2 and amplifier 3 are housed in a substantially waterproof, opaque plastics box 4 comprising a base part 5 and lid 6. Lid 6 is preferably a snap fit on the base 5. A hole 7 is provided on a housing wall 8 below the amplifier 3, and a socket 32 is mounted on the wall 8 and is wired to the amplifier 3.

The amplifier 3 may be powered by an on-board power supply, for example dry cell batteries, or by a supply from a mains source, through a stepdown transformer which may also be housed in the box 4.

In the example shown, power is fed to the amplifier through a coaxial lead 33 which is also used for feeding the received signal from the antenna to the television.

A transformer and filter device 34 is connected to a mains power supply and feeds 24 Volt AC power to the amplifier 3 along coaxial cable 33. The amplifier 3 feeds the amplified received TV signal from the antenna 2 onto the same cable 33. Device 34 receives the TV signal and passes it on to a TV receiver along a coaxial cable 35, the device serving to isolate the TV receiver from the 24 volt power signal. The power supply may be fed to the amplifier independently of the coaxial lead 33.

A preferred construction for the housing 4 will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 6. The housing 4 comprises a box part 5 having a rear wall 8 and peripheral side wall 9. The base part 5 is moulded from plastics material and a rectangular recess 10 is formed in a lower part of the rear wall 8 for receiving and mounting an amplifier 3 (not shown in Figures 2 to 6). A somewhat deeper recess 11 is formed on a rear wall 12 of the recess 10 for attachment of a bracket and mounting arm assembly 13. A base board or housing of the amplifier may be bolted to the rear wall 12 of recess 10.

The bracket assembly designated generally by reference numeral 13 comprises an iron plate 14 attached to a rectangular aluminium tube 15. Plate 14 is bolted to the central recess 11 by bolts 16 which extend respectively through an open slot 17 and kidney shaped slot 18 in the plate 14 to allow some adjustment of the position of the base part 5 relative to the plate 14.

At the lower end of the tube 15, a saddle clamp 19 is provided. Clamp 19 comprises a first channel shaped member 20 on the tube 15 having a recess 21 in each sidewall 22. A cooperating second channel shaped member 23 is mounted on studs 24 having butterfly nuts 25, studs 24 being fast with or attached to the member 20 to allow the member 23 to be moved towards or away from member 20 on the studs 2 to grip a bar or rail for mounting the aerial device on a roof or balcony etc.

Member 20 is attached to the tube 15 by a bracket 26 which is has a channel shaped recess for receiving the tube 15. Tube 15 is gripped between the bracket 26 and member 20, the bracket 26 being bolted to the member 20 by bolts 27.

The clamp 19 may be rotatable out of the plane of the tube to facilitate mounting the aerial in different orientations.

The front cover 6 is slightly convex, whilst having a recessed central area 29 as seen by reference to Figures 2 and 4 to 6.

In use the antenna device is mounted at the desired location and connected to an appropriate power supply a coaxial lead is run from the amplifier to the television, the amplifier serving to amplify the received signal before it is fed to the television along the coaxial lead.

The invention thus provides a neat, compact unit particularly suitable for use in areas of poor signal strength which would otherwise require a large, obtrusive antenna to provide the necessary strength signal for a television.

Various modifications may be made to the invention and it is desired to include all such modifications as fall within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. An antenna device comprising an antenna for receiving a broadcast television signal and an amplifier in close proximity to the antenna and connected thereto for amplifying a television signal received by the antenna.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna is a yagi array.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna is a log periodic array.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the antenna and amplifier are housed in a housing.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the housing encloses the antenna and amplifier substantially completely.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the housing is substantially waterproof.

7. A device as claimed in claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the housing is of non-electrically conducting material.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the housing is of plastics material.

9. A device as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the housing comprises a base part supporting the antenna and amplifier and a lid part.

10. A device as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein a power supply for the amplifier is incorporated in the housing.

11. An antenna device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 or Figures 2 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A device as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein a power supply for the amplifier is provided externally of the housing.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the power from the power supply is fed to the amplifier along a coaxial lead which also carries a television signal, received by the aerial, to a television receiver.

13. An antenna device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 or Figures 2 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

AMENDED CLAIMS TO REPLACE CLAIMS AS FILED WITH APPLICATION 1. An antenna device comprising an antenna for receiving a broadcast television signal and an amplifier in close proximity to the antenna and connected thereto for amplifying a television signal received by the antenna, wherein the antenna and amplifier are enclosed together in a housing.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna is a yagi array.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna is a log periodic array.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the housing is substantially waterproof.

5. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the housing is of non-electrically conducting material.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the housing is of plastics material.

7. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the housing comprises a base part supporting the antenna and amplifier and a lid part.

8. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a power supply for the amplifier is incorporated in the housing.

9. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a power supply for the amplifier is provided externally of the housing.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the power from the power supply is fed to the amplifier along a coaxial lead which also carries a television signal, received by the aerial, to a television receiver.