Aircraft with television system

• US 3,972,045 A
• Filed: 05/20/1974
• Issued: 07/27/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bell & Howell LLC (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Bell & Howell LLC (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Perret, Ludwig A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieberman, Eli
• Application Number:
  US05/471,253
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 343/705, 343/708, 343/795, 343/818, 343/765, 343/766, 343/872
• US Class Current: 343/705
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/28 Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/30 the primary active element being centre-fed and substantially straight, e.g. Yagi antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

Apparatus for transporting and entertaining passengers comprise an aircraft, a rotary supporting structure, equipment connected to the aircraft and to the rotary supporting structure for mounting the rotary supporting structure in the aircraft, a set of antenna elements constituting a directional television antenna on the rotary supporting structure for receiving transmitted television signals, equipment for selectively changing the orientation of the directional television antenna, including equipment coupled to the supporting structure for selectively rotating the supporting structure, and equipment connected to the directional television antenna for processing and displaying the received television signals inside the aircraft.

In an aircraft, there is provided a structural member on the outside of the aircraft of a material permeable to transmitted television signals. A container of electrically insulating material is located inside the aircraft and adjacent the permeable structural member. This container has a circular peripheral rim portion and a pair of spaced sheets located at opposite ends of the circular rim portion and delimiting a circular hollow space having a height smaller than its radius. A rotary supporting structure is located in the container. A set of antenna elements constituting a directional television antenna are located on the rotating supporting structure for receiving transmitted television signals. Equipment for selectively changing the orientation of the directional television antenna includes equipment coupled to the supporting structure for selectively rotating the supporting structure. Equipment is connected to the direction television antenna for processing and displaying the received television signals inside the aircraft.

Claims

1. Apparatus for entertaining passengers in an aircraft, comprising in combination:

a rotary supporting structure including an essentially circular sheet;

means connected to said aircraft and to said rotary supporting structure for mounting said rotary supporting structure in said aircraft;

a set of antenna elements located on said circular sheet and constituting a directional television broadcast receiving antenna on said rotary supporting structure for receiving transmitted television signals;

means for selectively changing the orientation of said directional television antenna, including means coupled to said supporting structure for selectively rotating said supporting structure and means coupled to said supporting structure for selectively tilting said supporting structure relative to a horizontal plane through said aircraft; and

means connected to said directional television antenna for processing and displaying said received television signals inside said aircraft.

2. In an aircraft, the improvement comprising in combination:

a vertical fin having a portion permeable to transmitted television signals;

a rotary supporting structure including an essentially circular sheet in said permeable portion of said vertical fin;

a set of antenna elements located on said circular sheet and constituting a directional television broadcast receiving antenna on said rotary supporting structure for receiving said transmitted television signals;

means for selectively changing the orientation of said directional television antenna, including means coupled to said supporting structure for selectively rotating said supporting structure and means coupled to said supporting structure for tilting said supporting structure relative to a horizontal plane through said aircraft; and

means connected to said directional television antenna for processing and displaying said received television signals inside said aircraft.

3. In an aircraft, the improvement comprising in combination:

a structural member on the outside of said aircraft of a material permeable to transmitted television signals;

a container of electrically insulating material located inside said aircraft and adjacent said structural member, said container having a circular peripheral rim portion and a pair of spaced sheets located at opposite ends of said circular rim portion and delimiting a circular hollow space having a height smaller than its radius;

a rotary supporting structure located in said container;

a set of antenna elements constituting a directional television broadcast receiving antenna on said rotating supporting structure for receiving transmitted television signals;

means for selectively changing the orientation of said directional television antenna, including means coupled to said supporting structure for selectively rotating said supporting structure and means for tilting said supporting structure relative to a horizontal plane through said aircraft; and

means connected to said directional television antenna for processing and displaying said received television signals inside said aircraft.

4. In an aircraft, the improvement comprising in combination:

a structural member on the outside of said aircraft of a material permeable to transmitted television signals;

a container of electrically insulating material located inside said aircraft and adjacent said structural member, said container having a circular peripheral rim portion and a pair of spaced sheets located at opposite ends of said circular rim portion and delimiting a circular hollow space having a height smaller than its radius;

a rotary supporting structure located in said container;

a set of antenna elements constituting a directional television broadcast receiving antenna on said rotating supporting structure for receiving transmitted television signals;

means for selectively changing the orientation of said directional television antenna, including means coupled to said supporting structure for selectively rotating said supporting structure;

means connected to said container for tilting both said container and said supporting structure and antenna elements relative to a horizontal plane through said aircraft; and

means connected to said directional television antenna for processing and displaying said received television signals inside said aircraft.