KVH Industries announced last Friday (July 30) that it has been awarded U.S. Design Patent #D493,164, "Mobile Antenna," for the design of its low-profile TracVision A5 satellite TV antenna for automobiles and other passenger vehicles.
"The 5-inch high TracVision A5 offers a rugged, sleek design that houses our innovative hybrid phased-array antenna technology," commented Jim Dodez, KVH's vice president of marketing.
"During the development of this product, we overcame the technical hurdles of inventing an affordable, flat in-motion satellite TV antenna. However, we also faced the challenge of designing a housing that offered a streamlined, advanced look that would appeal to consumers, mount easily to virtually any vehicle, and be able to withstand rigors of the road. Our team created a design that met each of these challenges."
The TracVision A5 is designed specifically for use in passenger vehicles and offers the option of either a roof rack or rooftop mounting system for added versatility. It uses KVH's hybrid phased-array antenna technology and works exclusively with DIRECTV(R) satellite TV programming.
The TracVision A5 is the only low-profile, in-motion satellite TV system for automobiles that is currently available to consumers in the United States. It was recently named a Design and Engineering Honoree by the Consumer Electronics Association during the 2004 International Consumer Electronics Show.
In addition, the TracVision A5 was a finalist in Product Design and Development Magazine's 2003 Engineering Awards.
"The TracVision A5 is one of the premier satellite TV antennas in KVH's family of products and remains the only low-profile satellite TV system available specifically for use on SUVs, minivans, and other passenger vehicles," concluded Dodez.
"This patent is the first to be granted for the TracVision A5's design and antenna technology, and is based on one of the several TracVision A5 patent applications currently under consideration. Patents such as this contribute significantly to our competitive advantage and serve to discourage copycat designs that could confuse consumers and the marketplace."
