Aircraft interior wireless communications system
First Claim
1. A wireless emergency lighting system (WELS) for an aircraft interior, the system comprising:
- a plurality of light assemblies locatable throughout the aircraft interior, each of the plurality of light assemblies including at least one wireless communication device; and
a WELS controller for communicating wirelessly with one or more of the plurality of light assemblies.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless communications system suitable for use within an aircraft, such as a part of a wireless emergency lighting system (WELS) is provided. In an aircraft, EXIT signs are located throughout the interior of the aircraft, including the ceiling (general illumination), seats (floor proximity) and EXIT doors (locator/identifier). A wireless communications system uses an integrated lens antenna system that takes advantage of the quantity and location of emergency lights such that any given light will have a direct radio frequency (RF) path to several other lights. A virtual network can be created such that if the path between any two lights becomes disrupted, alternate paths will be constructed under software control.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A wireless emergency lighting system (WELS) for an aircraft interior, the system comprising:
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a plurality of light assemblies locatable throughout the aircraft interior, each of the plurality of light assemblies including at least one wireless communication device; and
a WELS controller for communicating wirelessly with one or more of the plurality of light assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A lighting device comprising:
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a housing;
one or more light generating elements mounted to the housing; and
a wireless communication device mounted to the housing. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A wireless communications system for an aircraft interior, the system comprising:
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a plurality of devices locatable throughout the aircraft interior, each of the plurality of devices including at least one wireless communication device;
a controller in wireless communication with one or more of the plurality of devices;
wherein the controller communicates with a given device along a given wireless communications path, and the controller changes the wireless communications path between the controller and the given device in response to a disruption between two devices along the given wireless communications path.
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Specification