MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20120250879A1
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Phitek Systems Limited (Amphenol Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Phitek Systems Limited (Amphenol Corporation)
• Inventors: MOODY, ROY
• Application Number:
  US13/435,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20120250879A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/86
• 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: B64D 11/0624 Arrangements of electrical connectors, e.g. for earphone, internet or electric supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/4028 the transportation system being an aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A media and video communication system is described that may be used, for example, in an aircraft. The disclosed system includes a camera for capturing an image of a user, and a video display unit (VDU) for displaying an image on a screen. A microphone or array of microphones may also be provided. One microphone may be configured to capture the voice of the user, enabling video communication. An additional microphone or microphones may be used to capture ambient noise to feed into a noise cancellation circuit.

Claims

1. A passenger visual display unit (VDU) having a camera associated therewith, the camera being adapted to capture an image of a passenger using the VDU.

2. The passenger VDU of claim 1 wherein the camera is incorporated into a housing of the VDU.

3. The passenger VDU of claim 1 wherein the camera is incorporated in a screen surround of the VDU.

4. The passenger VDU of claim 1, wherein the VDU is in communication with one or more microphones adapted to receive a voice signal from the passenger.

5. The passenger VDU of claim 4, wherein an array of microphones is provided.

6. The passenger VDU of claim 4 wherein an audio signal processor filters unwanted sound from the audio signal received from the one or more microphones.

7. A passenger visual display unit (VDU) including an image processor for providing an image captured by a camera in an appropriate digital format for provision to a communications or information system.

8. The passenger VDU of claim 7 wherein the communications or information system comprises an IFE system.

9. The passenger VDU of claim 7 wherein the processor comprises a video codec comprising one or more of the following functions:

1. Face recognition optimization

2. Image stabilization

3. Autofocus.

10. The passenger VDU of claim 7 wherein the VDU is in communication with one or more microphones adapted to receive a voice signal from the passenger.

11. The passenger VDU of claim 10 wherein an array of microphones is provided.

12. The passenger VDU of claim 11 wherein the array is directed to receive sound from the passenger and substantially exclude sound from the area adjacent to the passenger.

13. The passenger VDU of claim 10 wherein an audio signal processor filters unwanted sound from the audio signal received from the one or more microphones.

14. A video communication system for a vehicle passenger, the system including an image processor for providing an image captured by a camera in an appropriate digital format for provision to a communications or information system.

15. The video communication system of claim 14 wherein the system includes an audio interface to provide a voice signal from the passenger in an appropriate digital format for provision to a communications or information system.

16. A video communication system of claim 15 wherein the system further comprises self identification of an audio device such as a microphone and/or headphone.

17. The video communication system of claim 16 wherein an audio signal processor filters unwanted sound from an audio signal received from one or more microphones.