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EP0570198A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Video distribution for aircraft entertainment

Assignee: Raytheon Co
•
Filing: 1993-05-11
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2013-05-11
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Abstract

Abstract An aircraft entertainment system employing a fiber optic distribution system and bidirectional signaling. A C-band or K-band conformal antenna is employed on the surface of the aircraft to receive television signals transmitted from a satellite. Received television signals are converted to video signals and these signals are amplified and converted to optical signals using a laser. The optical signals are then coupled to monitors located at the seats in the aircraft by way of the fiber optic distribution system. The fiber optic distribution system routes the optical signals by way of an optical splitter coupled to a plurality of optical fibers that are each coupled to a separate seat group in the aircraft. A photodetector is located adjacent each seat group and is coupled to a plurality of satellite television receivers located adjacent each seat in the respective seat group. The satellite television receivers in turn drive individual television monitors provided for the passengers of the aircraft. Passenger service requests are processed by a central computer that is coupled to keypads and/or phones at passenger locations using the fiber optic distribution system. The distribution system includes electronics and optical circuitry that process and couple the service requests to the central computer for monitoring.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gregory L. Tangonan

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 23:40
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/20; H04N7/22

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 149 words
An aircraft entertainment system comprising: an antenna adapted to receive television signals transmitted from a satellite; a receiver for converting the received television signals transmitted from the satellite into video signals useable by satellite television receivers; a distribution system for distributing the video signals to a plurality of television monitors that comprises: a laser coupled to the receiver for converting the received television signals into corresponding optical signals; a fiber optic distribution system for routing the optical signals to the satellite television receivers that comprises: an optical splitter coupled to the laser; a plurality of optical fibers coupled to the optical splitter; a plurality of optical photodetectors that are respectively coupled to individual ones of the optical fibers; a plurality of satellite television receivers coupled to respective ones of the optical photodetectors; and wherein the plurality of television monitors are respectively coupled to each of the satellite television receivers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 162 words
In an aircraft entertainment system comprising an antenna adapted to receive television signals transmitted from a satellite, a receiver for converting received television signals transmitted from the satellite into video signals useable by a plurality of satellite television receivers, and a plurality of television monitors respectively coupled to each of the satellite television receivers for displaying television signals to passengers in the aircraft, a distribution system for distributing the video signals to the television monitors comprising: a laser coupled to the receiver for converting the received television signals into corresponding optical signals; a fiber optic distribution system for routing the optical signals to the satellite television receivers that comprises: a optical splitter coupled to the laser; a plurality of optical fibers coupled to the optical splitter; a plurality of optical photodetectors that are respectively coupled to individual ones of the optical fibers; and coupling means coupled between respective ones of the plurality of optical photodetectors and the plurality of satellite television receivers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
The system of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the antenna comprises a C-band or a K-band conformal antenna disposed on the surface of the aircraft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
The system of claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising amplifier means coupled between the receiver and the laser for amplifying the converted signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 26 words
The system of claim 4 further comprising variable attenuator means coupled between the amplifier and the laser for controllably attenuating amplified signals provided by the amplifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
The system of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the optical photodetectors comprise PIN diode photodetectors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
The system of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the individual optical photodetectors are located adjacent predetermined seat groups in the aircraft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
The system of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the plurality of satellite television receivers are respectively located adjacent seats in the respective seat group.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 133 words
The system of claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising: signal generator means for generating request signals indicative of passenger service requests; light generation means for converting the request signals into corresponding optical request signals; access controller means coupled between the signal generator means and the light generation means for processing the request signals to cause the light generation means to output the optical request signals; a second optical splitter coupled to the optical fiber for coupling the optical request signals thereto; a third optical splitter coupled to the optical fiber for coupling the optical request signals out of the optical fiber; optical detector means for converting the optical request signals into electrical request signals; and computer means coupled to the detector means for processing the request signals indicative of passenger service requests.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 14 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the optical detector means comprise PIN diode photodetectors.

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