LAYOUT APPARATUS, RADIO APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING IN AN AIRPLANE

• US 20110188862A1
• Filed: 06/25/2010
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: GLASER, Daniel, FUSS, Tim
• Granted Patent: US 8,750,708 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/115
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/2575 Radio-over-fibre, e.g. radio frequency signal modulated onto an optical carrier

Abstract

A layout apparatus for communicating includes, but is not limited to, a structural device, a first signal adjustment device and a radio device. The structural device is designed for configuring the layout of a room, and the first signal adjustment device is adapted for the electrical-optical conversion of an antenna signal. Furthermore, the first signal adjustment device and the radio device are arranged in the structural device, and the radio device is connected to the first signal adjustment device in such a manner that the antenna signal can be transmitted and/or received as a radio signal.

Claims

1. A layout apparatus for communicating, comprising:

a structural device;

a first signal adjustment device; and

a radio device;

wherein the structural device is adapted for configuring a room;

wherein the first signal adjustment device is adapted for the electrical-optical conversion of an antenna signal; and

wherein the first signal adjustment device and the radio device are arranged in the structural device;

wherein the radio device is connected to the first signal adjustment device in such a manner that the antenna signal can be transmitted and/or received as a radio signal.

2. The layout apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radio device is a radio device selected from the group of radio devices consisting of:

an antenna;

an antenna array;

a stripline conductor;

an electronic antenna; and

a broadband antenna.

3. The layout apparatus of claim 1, wherein the structural device is a structural device selected from the group of structural devices consisting of:

a ceiling plate;

a ceiling panel;

an interior lining;

a fuselage structure;

a monument;

a galley;

a wing;

an airplane wing;

a floor panel; and

a toilet.

4. The layout apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first signal adjustment device is exchangeable.

5. The layout apparatus of claim 1, furthermore comprising:

an energy supply device;

wherein the energy supply device is adapted for optically supplying energy to the first signal adjustment device.

6. The layout apparatus of claim 1, furthermore comprising an optical separating device and/or an optical combining device;

wherein the optical separating device is adapted for separating at least two optical signals;

wherein the optical combining device is adapted for combining optical signals.

7. The layout apparatus of claim 1, furthermore comprising:

a connecting device;

wherein the connecting device is adapted for connecting the signal adjustment device to the radio device.

8. The layout apparatus of claim 1, furthermore comprising:

a connecting device;

wherein the connecting device is adapted for connecting the signal adjustment device to a light conductor.

9. The layout apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first signal adjustment device is adapted for converting an analogue antenna signal.

10. A method for communicating by a layout apparatus, comprising:

converting an antenna signal between an electrical quantity and an optical quantity by a first signal adjustment device;

transmitting and/or receiving the antenna signal as a radio signal by a radio device;

wherein the first signal adjustment device is arranged in a structural device of the layout apparatus;

wherein the structural device is arranged for configuring a room.

11. A radio apparatus comprising:

a radio system device;

a second signal adjustment device;

wherein the radio system device is adapted for generating and/or receiving an antenna signal;

wherein the second signal adjustment device is adapted for the electrical-optical conversion of an antenna signal of the radio system device.

12. The radio apparatus of claim 11, wherein the radio system device is selected from the group of radio system devices consisting of:

a mobile radio system device;

a WLAN radio system device;

a mobile-radio-interferer radio system device;

a DVB-T radio system device; and

a DMB radio system device.

13. A method for transmitting an antenna signal, comprising:

generating and/or receiving an antenna signal;

converting the antenna signal between an electrical quantity and an optical quantity by a second signal adjustment device.

14. A communication system comprising:

a radio system apparatus comprising

a radio system device;

a second signal adjustment device;

wherein the radio system device is adapted for generating and/or receiving an antenna signal;

wherein the second signal adjustment device is adapted for the electrical-optical conversion of an antenna signal of the radio system device;

a layout apparatus comprising;

a structural device;

a first signal adjustment device;

a radio device;

wherein the structural device is adapted for configuring a room;

wherein the first signal adjustment device is adapted for the electrical-optical conversion of an antenna signal; and

wherein the first signal adjustment device and the radio device are arranged in the structural device;

wherein the radio device is connected to the first signal adjustment device in such a manner that the antenna signal can be transmitted and/or received as a radio signal;

wherein the radio system apparatus and the layout apparatus are connected via an on-board optical waveguide system.

15. A computer-readable storage medium in which a program code is stored which, when executed on a processor, executes at least one from the method for communicating by means of a layout apparatus, the method comprising:

converting an antenna signal between an electrical quantity and an optical quantity by a first signal adjustment device;

transmitting and/or receiving the antenna signal as a radio signal by a radio device;

wherein the first signal adjustment device is arranged in a structural device of the layout apparatus;

wherein the structural device is arranged for configuring a room;

and the method for transmitting, the method comprising;

generating and/or receiving an antenna signal;

converting the antenna signal between an electrical quantity and an optical quantity by a second signal adjustment device.

16. An airplane comprising at least one layout apparatus the layout apparatus comprising:

a structural device;

a first signal adjustment device;

a radio device;

wherein the structural device is adapted for configuring a room;

wherein the first signal adjustment device is adapted for the electrical-optical conversion of an antenna signal; and

wherein the first signal adjustment device and the radio device are arranged in the structural device;

wherein the radio device is connected to the first signal adjustment device in such a manner that the antenna signal can be transmitted and/or received as a radio signal and/or comprising at least one radio apparatus the radio apparatus comprising;

a radio system device;

a second signal adjustment device;

wherein the radio system device is adapted for generating and/or receiving an antenna signal;

wherein the second signal adjustment device is adapted for the electrical-optical conversion of an antenna signal of the radio system device and/or comprising at least one communication system the communication system comprising;

a radio system apparatus comprising;

a radio system device;

a second signal adjustment device;

wherein the radio system device is adapted for generating and/or receiving an antenna signal;

wherein the second signal adjustment device is adapted for the electrical-optical conversion of an antenna signal of the radio system device;

a layout apparatus comprising;

a structural device;

a first signal adjustment device;

a radio device;

wherein the structural device is adapted for configuring a room;

wherein the first signal adjustment device is adapted for the electrical-optical conversion of an antenna signal; and

wherein the first signal adjustment device and the radio device are arranged in the structural device;

wherein the radio device is connected to the first signal adjustment device in such a manner that the antenna signal can be transmitted and/or received as a radio signal;

wherein the radio system apparatus and the layout apparatus are connected via an on-board optical waveguide system.

17. A signal adjustment device for the electrical-optical conversion of an antenna signal, wherein the signal adjustment device is adapted for converting an antenna signal between an analogue electrical quantity and an analogue optical quantity corresponding to the antenna signal.