Video Display Units for Aircraft In-Flight Entertainment Systems and Methods of Adapting the Same

• US 20120066726A1
• Filed: 09/09/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2010
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Thales Avionics Incorporated (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Thales Avionics Incorporated (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Mondragon, Christopher K., Bleacher, Brett, Dunleavy, Stuart
• Application Number:
  US13/229,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20120066726A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/76
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00151 Permanently mounted seat back monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/30 Image reproducers optical systems for producing stereoscopic or other three-dimensional effects G02B30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 using polarisation multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2146 located in mass transportation means, e.g. aircraft, train or bus flight-deck installations for entertainment or communications B64D11/0015; arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62; moving wireless networks H04W84/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present invention provide video display units including at least one video display monitor at least one sheet of polarized material configured to extend on a viewing surface of the at least one video display monitor. The video display unit is adapted for use in an aircraft in-flight entertainment system. Some video display units include a plurality of video display monitors. Related methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A video display unit comprising:

at least one video display monitor; and

at least one sheet of polarized material configured to extend on a viewing surface of the at least one video display monitor, the video display unit being adapted for use in an aircraft in-flight entertainment system.

2. The video display unit of claim 1:

wherein the at least one video display monitor comprises a plurality of video display monitors, each of the plurality of video display monitors having an associated viewing surface; and

wherein the at least one sheet of polarized material is configured to extend over substantially all the viewing surfaces of the plurality of video display monitors.

3. The video display unit of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of video display monitors displays video content distinct from remaining ones of the plurality of video display monitors.

4. The video display unit of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of video display monitors are configured to be powered on and/or off independently of remaining ones of the plurality of video display monitors.

5. The video display unit of claim 2:

wherein the at least one sheet of polarized material comprises a plurality of sheets of polarized material corresponding to each of the plurality of video display monitors; and

wherein each of the plurality of sheets of polarized material is configured to extend over substantially all the viewing surface of the corresponding video display monitor.

6. The video display unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one sheet of polarized material comprises active polarized glass, passive polarized glass, active polarized plastic and/or passive polarized plastic.

7. The video display unit of claim 1, wherein the video display unit is adapted for use in an aircraft in-flight entertainment system by being adapted to comply with at least one of electro-magnetic interface standards, flammability standards, head-impact compatibility standards and environmental standards including shock and vibration.

8. The video display unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one sheet of polarized material comprises a mirrored surface and wherein the video display monitor is disposed behind the mirrored surface.

9. The video display unit of claim 8:

wherein the video display monitor is configured to be unnoticed behind the mirrored surface when the video display monitor is powered off; and

wherein the video display monitor is configured to be viewed through the mirrored surface when the video display monitor is powered on.

10. The video display unit of claim 1, wherein the video display monitor is disposed in a seatback of the aircraft and/or a tabletop in the aircraft.

11. The video display unit of claim 1, wherein the video display monitor comprises an interactive screen configured to generate a signal in response to contact by a user.

12. The video display unit of claim 1, further comprising a camera configured to provide camera gesture recognition control such that the video display unit can be controlled responsive to gestures of a user.

13. The video display unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one polarized surface includes at least one of a lighting effect and a logo effect.

14. The video display unit of claim 1, further comprising a processor coupled to the at least one video display monitor, wherein the processor is configured to receive input from a user through a user interface associated with the at least one video display monitor and alter content of the at least one video display monitor based on the received input from the user.

15. The video display unit of claim 14, further comprising an in-flight entertainment system coupled to the processor.

16. A video display unit comprising:

a plurality of video display monitors; and

a sheet of polarized material configured to extend on substantially all viewing surfaces of the plurality of video display monitors, the video display unit being adapted for use in an aircraft in-flight entertainment system such that the video display unit complies with standards of the federal aviation administration and/or aircraft manufacturers.

17. The video display unit of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of video display monitors displays video content distinct from remaining ones of the plurality of video display monitors.

18. The video display unit of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of video display monitors are configured to be powered on and/or off independently of remaining ones of the plurality of video display monitors.

19. The video display unit of claim 16, wherein the sheet of polarized material comprises active polarized glass, passive polarized glass, active polarized plastic and/or passive polarized plastic.

20. The video display unit of claim 16, wherein the standards include at least one of electro-magnetic interface standards, flammability standards, head-impact compatibility standards and environmental standards including shock and vibration.

21. The video display unit of claim 16, wherein the sheet of material comprises a mirrored surface and wherein the video display monitor is disposed behind the mirrored surface.

22. The video display unit of claim 16, wherein the video display monitor is disposed in a seatback of the aircraft and/or a tabletop in the aircraft.

23. A method of providing a video display unit for an aircraft, the method comprising:

providing at least one video display monitor having a sheet of polarized material over substantially all of a viewing surface of the at least one video display monitor; and

adapting the video display unit for use in an aircraft in-flight entertainment system by modifying the video display unit to comply with standards associated with the federal aviation administration.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein adapting the video display unit for use in an aircraft in-flight entertainment system further comprises modifying the video display unit to comply with standards associated with an aircraft manufacturer.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein adapting the video display unit for use in an aircraft in-flight entertainment system by modifying the video display unit to comply with standards associated with the federal aviation administration comprises modifying the video display unit to comply with at least one of electro-magnetic interface standards, flammability standards, head-impact compatibility standards and environmental standards including shock and vibration.

26. The method of claim 23:

wherein providing the at least one video display monitor comprises providing a plurality of video display monitors, each of the plurality of video display monitors having an associated viewing surface; and

wherein the sheet of polarized material is configured to extend over substantially all the viewing surfaces of the plurality of video display monitors.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising positioning the at least one video display unit in a seatback of the aircraft, behind a mirrored surface in the aircraft and/or in a tabletop of the aircraft.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the sheet of polarized material comprises active polarized glass, passive polarized glass, active polarized plastic and/or passive polarized plastic.