Wireless client device

• US 20070217622A1
• Filed: 03/28/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Takeuchi, Tomotaka, Sakanishi, Yasuaki, Higashida, Masaaki, Ezaki, Toshihiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,565,143 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/86
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools

Abstract

Because wired connections make changing the seating configuration difficult, a wireless client device enables stable wireless transmission. The wireless client device wirelessly transmits to and receives data signals from an access point inside an aircraft. The wireless client device has a seat unit with a seat portion on which aircraft passengers sit, an antenna for sending and receiving the data signals, a signal processing arrangement operable to handle data signal receiving and transmitting processes, and a signal output arrangement operable to output processed reception signals. The antenna arrangement, signal processing arrangement, and signal output arrangement are disposed to the seat unit.

Claims

1. A wireless client device for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data signals from access points inside an aircraft, comprising:

a seat unit with a seat portion;

an antenna arrangement operable to transmit and receive the data signals;

a signal processing arrangement operable to process the received data signals and the data signals to be transmitted; and

a signal output arrangement operable to output the received and processed data signals;

wherein the antenna arrangement, the signal processing arrangement, and the signal output arrangement are disposed to the seat unit.

2. The wireless client device described in claim 1, wherein the seat unit blocks direct wireless signals so that direct RF power is less than or equal to indirect wireless signal power.

3. The wireless client device described in claim 1, wherein an RF shield arrangement is disposed to the seat portion.

4. The wireless client device described in claim 1, wherein the antenna arrangement is disposed to the seat portion.

5. The wireless client device described in claim 1, wherein the RF shield arrangement is disposed below the seat portion.

6. The wireless client device described in claim 1, wherein the antenna arrangement is disposed below the seat portion.

7. The wireless client device described in claim 1, wherein the seat unit comprises an RF shield arrangement, and the antenna arrangement is located below the RF shield arrangement.

8. The wireless client device described in claim 1, wherein one signal processing arrangement supplies N (where N is an integer of one or more) channel data signals to N signal output arrangements.

9. The wireless client device described in claim 8, wherein the N signal output arrangements are disposed to M (where M is an integer of one or more) seat units.

10. The wireless client device described in claim 9, wherein the M seat units are connected together.

11. The wireless client device described in claim 1, wherein one signal processing arrangement transmits and receives L (where L is an integer of one or more) data signals to L antenna arrangement.

12. The wireless client device described in claim 11, wherein the L data signals are MIMO encoded.

13. The wireless client device described in claim 11, wherein the L antenna arrangements are disposed to M (where M is an integer of one or more) seat units.

14. The wireless client device described in claim 13, wherein the L antenna arrangements are disposed in the M seat units with substantially equal spacing between adjacent antenna arrangements.

15. The wireless client device described in claim 13, wherein the L antenna arrangements are disposed to L seat units respectively.

16. The wireless client device described in claim 13, wherein two antenna arrangements are disposed to outside end seat units of the M seat units.

17. The wireless client device described in claim 16, wherein two antenna arrangements are disposed to diagonally opposite portions of the M seat units.

18. The wireless client device described in claim 13, wherein two antenna arrangements are disposed to diagonally opposite portions of the seat portion of one seat unit.

19. The wireless client device described in claim 13, wherein the M seat units are connected together.

20. The wireless client device described in claim 1, wherein one signal processing arrangement is disposed to M (where M is an integer of one or more) seat units.