Wireless communication inside shielded envelope

• US 20040229607A1
• Filed: 05/12/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Bogart, David W., La Chapelle, Michael de
• Application Number:
  US10/435,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20040229607A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/431
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1492 Structure and mounting of the transparent elements in the window or windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0059 by communicating emergency situations to ground control or between crew members
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0063 by avoiding the use of electronic equipment during flight, e.g. of mobile phones or laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/22 for communication related to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/68 using passive jamming, e.g. by shielding or reflection shielding of apparatus or components against electric or magnetic field H05K9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/84 related to preventing electromagnetic interference in petrol station, hospital, plane or cinema

Abstract

A system and method limit transmission of wireless electromagnetic device radiation through the windows of a mobile platform outer envelope. The mobile platform includes at least one window on an outer envelope. A shielding layer is applied to the window and electrically grounded to the outer envelope. At least one transceiver hub is located within the mobile platform receiving and/or transmitting the electromagnetic device radiation. An off-board communication device wirelessly communicates with the transceiver hub. The shielding layer attenuates a portion of the radiation contacting the window. Only a communication path between the transceiver hub and the off-board communication device is therefore operable. Wireless device transmission and/or reception via a window path is effectively blocked by the shielding layer, decreasing the potential for disruption to mobile platform electrical systems and interfering with ground-based communication systems.

Claims

1. A mobile platform window system able to attenuate electromagnetic radiation between interior and exterior areas of said mobile platform, wherein an envelope of said mobile platform defines a boundary between said interior and exterior areas, said window system comprising:

at least one window disposed on said mobile platform;

an electromagnetic radiation shielding layer applied to said window; and

at least one electrically conductive member electrically joining said shielding layer to said envelope of said mobile platform.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising:

said window having a plurality of panes; and

said shielding layer operably forming a conductive coating when applied to a surface of at least one of said panes.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said shielding layer comprises a semi-transparent, metal-based film.

4. The system of claim 1, comprising:

said window having a plurality of panes; and

said shielding layer operably forming a conductive interlayer when disposed adjacent to one of said panes.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said plurality of panes includes an external pane, an intermediate pane, and a protective pane disposed inward of said intermediate pane, said outer and intermediate panes being separably spaced apart by an air volume.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said shielding layer is disposed over an inner area facing surface of said intermediate pane.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said shielding layer comprises a metallic film having an adhesive layer for installation of said shielding layer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said shielding layer comprises a metallic layer deposited directly on said window.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said member comprises a spring clip self biased into contact with said shielding layer.

10. The system of claim 1, comprising:

at least one busbar electrically connected to said shielding layer, defining a first portion of an electrical grounding path between said shielding layer and said envelope; and

a mechanical fastener operably joining said member to said envelope, said member and said fastener defining a second portion of said electrical grounding path.

11. The system of claim 9, comprising at least one grounding strap electrically linking each said busbar to said envelope.

12. A system to limit the transmission of electromagnetic radiation through one or more windows penetrating an outer envelope of a mobile platform, the electromagnetic radiation being generated by wireless devices located within the outer envelope, said system comprising:

an electromagnetic radiation shielding layer applied to said window and electrically grounded to said outer envelope;

at least one wireless transceiver hub located within the outer envelope in wireless communication with the wireless devices; and

an off-board communication device located remote from the outer envelope in wireless communication with said transceiver;

wherein said shielding layer operably attenuates the electromagnetic radiation such that a communication path between the mobile platform and said off-board communication device is operable only between said transceiver and said off-board communication device.

13. The system of claim 12, comprising an outer envelope mounted antenna in communication with each said transceiver hub, for wirelessly linking each said transceiver hub and said off-board communication device.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein each said wireless transceiver hub comprises a picocell base station for communication with a plurality of wireless telephone handsets.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said electromagnetic device radiation has a frequency range within a cellular telephone frequency range and compatible with each said picocell base station.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein each said at least one transceiver hub comprises one of a picocell base station for communication with a plurality of wireless telephone handsets, and a wireless network gateway for communication with a plurality of wireless network devices.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said electromagnetic device radiation includes a frequency range in accordance with each of a cellular telephone frequency range compatible with said picocell base station, and an Internet protocol wireless access point frequency range compatible with said wireless network gateway.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein said off-board communication device comprises one of a satellite and a ground-based communication terminal.

19. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a transceiver in communication with each said transceiver hub;

a router in communication with said transceiver;

a server in communication with said router; and

a satellite communication transceiver in communication between said router and said outer envelope mounted antenna.

20. The system of claim 19, comprising an electrical conductor forming an electrical path disposed between each said transceiver hub and said transceiver.

21. A system to control a signal path for electromagnetic radiation associated with passenger wireless devices in use on an aircraft having at least one window and a conductive outer layer defining a boundary between an internal area and an external area of the aircraft, said system comprising:

a conductive coating applied over each said window, said conductive coating operably forming at least a partial ground path for attenuating said radiation between the window and the outer layer;

an antenna connected to the outer layer;

at least one transceiver hub located within the internal area, said transceiver hub communicatively linked to said antenna through the outer layer;

an off-board communication device located remote from the aircraft in wireless communication with said antenna; and

a wireless signal path formed between said antenna and said off-board communication device operable to permit two-way communication of the electromagnetic radiation between the passenger wireless devices, through said transceiver hub, and said off-board communication device.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said off-board communication device comprises a satellite.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said off-board communication device further comprises a ground-based communication system in wireless communication with said satellite.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein said conductive coating comprises a metallic layer disposed on a plastic film.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein said signal path comprises a two-way, wireless electromagnetic radiation path for both transmitted and received signals having a frequency range up to and including one hundred gHz.

26. A method to control electromagnetic radiation associated with passenger wireless devices on a mobile platform, comprising the steps of:

applying a conductive shield over each of a plurality of windows of said mobile platform;

electrically grounding each conductive shield;

using a transceiver hub positioned within said mobile platform to collect a portion of the electromagnetic radiation; and

transmitting said portion of said electromagnetic radiation to a device located remote from said mobile platform.

27. The method of claim 26, comprising distinguishing said portion of said radiation between each of a cell phone frequency range and an Internet protocol data wireless access point frequency range.

28. The method of claim 27, comprising using a picocell antenna as said transceiver hub to collect said radiation in said cell phone frequency range.

29. The method of claim 27, comprising using a network gateway antenna as said transceiver hub to collect said radiation in said Internet protocol data wireless access point frequency range.

30. The method of claim 27, comprising:

transmitting said portion of said radiation to a satellite; and

redirecting said portion of said radiation from said satellite to a ground-based receiving station.

31. The method of claim 30, comprising using said ground-based receiving station to redirect radio frequency energy in each of said cell phone frequency range and said Internet protocol data wireless access point frequency range.