AIRCRAFT IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM HAVING A DUAL-BEAM ANTENNA AND ASSOCIATED METHODS

• US 20140150034A1
• Filed: 01/31/2014
• Published: 05/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LiveTV LLC (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: LiveTV LLC (Thales SA)
• Inventors: FRISCO, JEFFREY A., Lynch, Michael J., Anderson, Brian D., Keen, Robert M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,426,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/68
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6193 involving transmission via a satellite arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session in a satellite broadcast system H04B7/18526
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks

Abstract

An aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system for an aircraft includes a radome to be carried by the aircraft, and a dual-beam satellite antenna and at least one positioner coupled thereto to be carried by the aircraft and protected by the radome. The dual-beam satellite antenna is to generate dual antenna beams for television programming and Internet data from respective spaced apart satellites. The dual-beam satellite antenna includes a first aperture for receiving the television programming, and a second aperture adjacent the first aperture for receiving the Internet data. A television programming distribution system is to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the dual-beam satellite antenna to provide television programming within the aircraft. At least one access point is to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the dual-beam satellite antenna to provide a wireless local area network (WLAN) within the aircraft for the Internet data.

Claims

1-38. -38. (canceled)

39. An aircraft in-flight entertainment (IEE) system for an aircraft and comprising:

a dual-beam satellite antenna and first and second positioners coupled thereto to be carried by the aircraft, said dual-beam satellite antenna and comprising

a first aperture to be positioned by said first positioner and configured to operate within a Ku frequency band for receiving television programming, and

a second aperture to be positioned by said second positioner and adjacent said first aperture and configured to operate within a Ka frequency band for receiving Internet data;

a television programming distribution system to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to said dual-beam satellite antenna to provide television programming within the aircraft; and

at least one access point to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to said dual-beam satellite antenna to provide a wireless local area network (WLAN) within the aircraft for the Internet data.

40. The IFE system according to claim 39 wherein at least one of said first and second apertures comprise a phased array.

41. The IFE system according to claim 39 further comprising a controller coupled to said first and second positioners.

42. The IFE system according to claim 39 wherein each antenna beam has a respective antenna beam boresight.

43. The IFE system according to claim 39 wherein said dual-beam satellite antenna is configured to transmit to the satellite providing the Internet data.

44. The IFE system according to claim 39 wherein said first and second apertures each have different polarizations associated therewith;

and further comprising at least one polarization correction module to adjust at least one of the polarizations based upon aircraft position.

45. The IFE system according to claim 39 wherein said first aperture provides orthogonal polarizations toward one of the satellites and said second aperture provides orthogonal polarizations toward the other satellite;

and further comprising;

a first polarization correction module associated with said first aperture for adjusting the corresponding polarizations based upon aircraft position; and

a second polarization correction module associated with said second aperture for adjusting the corresponding polarizations based upon aircraft position.

46. The IFE system according to claim 39 wherein said television programming distribution system comprises cabling extending throughout the aircraft;

and at least one video display coupled to said cabling for displaying the television programming.

47. The IFE system according to claim 39 wherein the at least one access point is to communicate with personal electronic devices (PEDs) within the aircraft.

48. The IFE system according to claim 39 wherein said at least one access point comprises a Pico-cell.

49. The IFE system according to claim 39 wherein the WLAN comprises at least one of an 802.11 WLAN and an 802.16 WLAN.

50. An aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system for an aircraft and comprising:

a dual-beam satellite antenna and first and second positioners coupled thereto to be carried by the aircraft, said dual-beam satellite antenna comprising

a first aperture to be positioned by said first positioner and configured to operate within a Ka frequency band, and

a second aperture to be positioned by said second positioner and adjacent said first aperture and configured to operate within a Ku frequency band.

51. The IFE system according to claim 50 further comprising a radome to be carried by the aircraft for protecting said dual-beam satellite antenna and said first and second positioners.

52. The IFE system according to claim 50 wherein at least one of said first and second apertures comprise a phased array.

53. The IFE system according to claim 50 further comprising a controller coupled to said first and second positioners.

54. The IFE system according to claim 50 wherein each antenna beam has a respective antenna beam boresight.

55. The IFE system according to claim 50 wherein said first and second apertures each have different polarizations associated therewith;

and further comprising at least one polarization correction module to adjust at least one of the polarizations based upon aircraft position.

56. The IFE system according to claim 50 wherein said first aperture provides orthogonal polarizations toward one of the satellites and said second aperture provides orthogonal polarizations toward the other satellite;

and further comprising;

a first polarization correction module associated with said first aperture for adjusting the corresponding polarizations based upon aircraft position; and

a second polarization correction module associated with said second aperture for adjusting the corresponding polarizations based upon aircraft position.

57. An aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system for an aircraft and comprising:

a dual-beam satellite antenna and first and second positioners coupled thereto to be carried by the aircraft, said dual-beam satellite antenna comprising

a first aperture to be positioned by said first positioner and configured to operate within a first frequency band, and

a second aperture to be positioned by said second positioner and adjacent said first aperture and configured to operate within a second frequency band.

58. The IFE system according to claim 57 further comprising a radome to be carried by the aircraft for protecting said dual-beam satellite antenna and said first and second positioners.

59. The IFE system according to claim 57 wherein the first and second frequency bands are non-overlapping.

60. The IFE system according to claim 57 at least one of said first and second apertures comprise a phased array.

61. The IFE system according to claim 57 further comprising a controller coupled to said first and second positioners.

62. The IFE system according to claim 57 wherein each antenna beam has a respective antenna beam boresight.

63. The IFE system according to claim 57 wherein said first and second apertures each have different polarizations associated therewith;

and further comprising at least one polarization correction module to adjust at least one of the polarizations based upon aircraft position.

64. The IFE system according to claim 57 wherein said first aperture provides orthogonal polarizations toward one of the satellites and said second aperture provides orthogonal polarizations toward the other satellite;

and further comprising;

a first polarization correction module associated with said first aperture for adjusting the corresponding polarizations based upon aircraft position; and

a second polarization correction module associated with said second aperture for adjusting the corresponding polarizations based upon aircraft position.

65. A method for operating an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system for an aircraft and comprising a dual-beam satellite antenna, first and second positioners to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the dual-band satellite antenna, the method comprising:

controlling the first and second positioners so that the dual-beam satellite antenna simultaneously generates first and second antenna beams, the dual-beam satellite antenna comprising

a first aperture to be positioned by the first positioner and configured to operate within a first frequency band for receiving signals via the first antenna beam, and

a second aperture to be positioned by the second positioner and adjacent the first aperture and configured to operate within a second frequency band for receiving signals via the second antenna beam.

66. The method according to claim 65 further comprising a radome to be carried by the aircraft for protecting the dual-beam satellite antenna and the first and second positioners.

67. The method according to claim 65 wherein the first and second frequency bands are non-overlapping.

68. The method according to claim 65 wherein at least one of the first and second apertures comprise a phased array.

69. The method according to claim 65 further comprising a controller coupled to the first and second positioners.

70. The method according to claim 65 wherein each antenna beam has a respective antenna beam boresight.

71. The method according to claim 65 wherein the first and second apertures each have different polarizations associated therewith;

and further comprising at least one polarization correction module to adjust at least one of the polarizations based upon aircraft position.

72. The method according to claim 65 wherein the first aperture provides orthogonal polarizations toward one of the satellites and the second aperture provides orthogonal polarizations toward the other satellite;

and further comprising;

a first polarization correction module associated with the first aperture for adjusting the corresponding polarizations based upon aircraft position; and

a second polarization correction module associated with the second aperture for adjusting the corresponding polarizations based upon aircraft position.