Albert Houston

US Patent:

48019402, Jan 31, 1989

Filed:

Oct 30, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/792786

Inventors:

John Y. Ma - Milpitas CA
David H. McCracken - San Jose CA
Steven Weiss - Los Gatos CA
Albert C. Houston - Santa Cruz CA

Assignee:

Capetronic (BSR) Ltd. - Kowloon

International Classification:

H01Q 300

US Classification:

342359

Abstract:

A TVRO earth station having a satellite seeking system comprising at least one controllable motor for adjusting the position of an antenna for receiving signals from a satellite having multiple transponders transmitting signals at prescribed nominal center frequencies and with different polarizations, control means for energizing the motor to move said antenna along a predetermined satellite-searching path, a receiver for receiving the incoming signals from the antenna and successively tuning to the center frequencies at each of a succession of intervals along the searching path, means responsive to the signals detected by the receiver for producing a signal or value representing the quality of the detected signals at each of the successive intervals along the searching path, and means responsive to the quality-representing signal or value for identifying the locations along the searching path at which the antenna receives signals from a satellite.

US Patent:

48767395, Oct 24, 1989

Filed:

Dec 31, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/140037

Inventors:

John Y. Ma - Milpitas CA
Albert C. Houston - Santa Cruz CA

Assignee:

Capetronic (BSR) Ltd. - Kowloon

International Classification:

H04B 110

US Classification:

455266

Abstract:

A TVRO receiver for receiving frequency-modulated video signals, the receiver comprising a tuner including a superheterodyne circuit having a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), means for supplying a controlling input voltage to the VCO, and a mixer for combining incoming 1st IF signals with the output of the VCO to reduce the frequency of the 1st IF signals to a 2nd IF frequency which is sufficiently high to permit the output frequency of the VCO to be above the frequency range of the 1st IF signals, and a linear phase passband filter for passing a single video channel in the 2nd IF output from the mixer, the filter producing an output which is at least about 10 dB down from its peak at both +10 MHz and -10 MHz from the center of the passband of the filter.

US Patent:

47853026, Nov 15, 1988

Filed:

Oct 30, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/792780

Inventors:

John Y. Ma - Milpitas CA
David H. McCracken - San Jose CA
Steven Weiss - Los Gatos CA
Albert C. Houston - Santa Cruz CA

Assignee:

Capetronic (BSR) Ltd. - Kowloon

International Classification:

H01Q 2106

US Classification:

342362

Abstract:

In a TVRO earth station having an antenna for receiving incoming satellite signals and polarizing means associated with the antenna for adjusting the relative alignment of the antenna orientation and the polarization of the incoming signals, an automatic polarization control system comprising means for producing an electrical control signal for controlling the polarizing means to adjust the relative alignment, means for detecting the noise level in the satellite signals received by the antenna, and means responsive to the detected noise level for adjusting the control signal, and thereby adjusting the polarizing means, to minimize the detected noise level.

US Patent:

47181176, Jan 5, 1988

Filed:

Oct 30, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/792767

Inventors:

John Y. Ma - Milpitas CA
Albert C. Houston - Santa Cruz CA

Assignee:

Capetronic (BSR) Ltd. - Kowloon

International Classification:

H04B 126

US Classification:

455314

Abstract:

A TVRO receiver for receiving frequency-modulated video signals, the receiver comprising a tuner including a superheterodyne circuit having a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), means for supplying a controlling input voltage to the VCO, and a mixer for combining incoming 1st IF signals with the output of the VCO to reduce the frequency of the 1st IF signals to a 2nd IF frequency which is sufficiently high to permit the output frequency of the VCO to be above the frequency range of the 1st IF signals, and a linear phase passband filter for passing a single video channel in the 2nd IF output from the mixer, the filter producing an output which is at least about 10 dB down from its peak at both +10 MHz and -10 MHz from the center of the passband of the filter.