System and method for securing a removable seat electronics unit without detachment of the communication cable

• US 6,038,426 A
• Filed: 08/26/1996
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Sony Transcom Incorporated (Rockwell International Corporation), Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Williams, Howard A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John W.
• Application Number:
  US08/702,938
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.1, 455/3.3, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/6.2, 455/6.3, 348/6, 348/10, 348/7, 348/12, 348/13, 348/8
• US Class Current: 725/77
• 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 11/00153 Monitors mounted on or in the seat other than the seat back
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00155 Individual entertainment or communication system remote controls therefor, located in or connected to seat components, e.g. to seat back or arm rest

Abstract

A seat electronics unit ("SEU") designed for quick and easy replacement. The SEU includes a line-replaceable SEU providing control over telephony and in-flight entertainment associated with a group of passenger seats, and a receiver adapted to receive the line-replaceable SEU. The receiver is attached to one of the group of passenger seats and operates as an interface between the line-replaceable SEU and a plurality of communication cables propagating the telephony and in-flight entertainment. The receiver is configured to allow the line-replaceable seat electronics unit to be removed without removal of the communication cables.

Claims

1. An in-flight entertainment system comprising:

at least one communication cable propagating information in digital form; and

electronic circuitry coupled to the at least one communication cable, the electronic circuitry including

a removable seat electronic unit, and

a receiver connected to the at least one communication cable and the seat electronic unit, the receiver is configured to allow the seat electronic unit to be detached without disconnecting the at least one communication cable.

2. The in-flight entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the seat electronic unit and the receiver are securely fastened together by a latch partially mounted to both a first side of the receiver and a side of the seat electronic unit.

3. The in-flight entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is securely supported by at least one torque seat tube of a passenger seat.

4. The in-flight entertainment system according to claim 3, wherein the receiver includes

a backplane configured to provide an electrical interface between the at least one communication cable and the seat electronic unit;

and

a plurality of sides coupled to the backplane, a first side including a latch means for maintaining the seat electronic unit in close proximity to the receiver, and a second side being attached to the at least one torque seat tube.

5. The in-flight entertainment system according to claim 4, wherein the backplane includes at least one cable connector, the cable connector electrically connecting the at least one communication cable to the seat electronic unit.

6. The in-flight entertainment system according to claim 4, wherein a third side of the plurality of sides is oriented adjacent to a leg of a passenger seat.

7. The in-flight entertainment system according to claim 4, wherein a third of the plurality of sides is placed adjacent to a seat cushion of a passenger seat.

8. The in-flight entertainment system according to claim 1, wherein the seat electronic unit may be removed from the receiver without disrupting power supplied to the receiver through the at least one communication cable.

9. Interconnected to a plurality of communication cables, electronic circuitry comprising:

a removable seat electronic unit; and

a receiver coupled to the plurality of communication cables and removably coupled to the seat electronic unit, the receiver to allow the seat electronic unit to be removed without removal of the plurality of communication cables.

10. The electronic circuitry according to claim 9, wherein the receiver is securely attached to at least one torque seat tube of a passenger seat.

11. The electronic circuitry according to claim 10, wherein the receiver includes

a backplane configured to provide an electrical interface between the plurality of communication cables and the seat electronic unit;

and

a plurality of sides coupled to the backplane, a first side includes a first latch element used in part to secure the seat electronic unit to the receiver, and a second side is attached to the at least one torque seat tube.

12. The electronic circuitry according to claim 11, wherein the backplane includes a plurality of cable connectors, each cable connector electrically connecting one of the plurality of communication cables to the seat electronic unit.

13. The electronic circuitry according to claim 11, wherein a third side of the plurality of sides is oriented adjacent to a leg of a passenger seat.

14. The electronic circuitry according to claim 11, wherein a third side of the plurality of sides is adjacent to a seat cushion of a passenger seat.

15. The electronic circuitry according to claim 9, wherein the electronic unit may be removed from the receiver without disrupting power supplied to the receiver through one of the plurality of communication cables.

16. A receiver adapted for connection to a plurality of communication cables and a removable seat electronic unit of an in-flight entertainment system, the receiver comprising:

a backplane configured to provide an electrical interface between the plurality of communication cables and the seat electronic unit, the backplane includes a plurality of cable connectors which provide a mechanical and electrical connection with the plurality of communication cables; and

a plurality of sides coupled to a perimeter of the backplane, the plurality of sides include a first side including a first latch element to maintain the seat electronic unit in close proximity to the receiver.

17. A method for removal and installation of a removable seat electronic unit that controls the propagation of information routed through communication cables to devices associated with a passenger seat, the method comprising:

electrically disconnecting the seat electronic unit from a receiver while the receiver remains attached to the communication cables;

inserting the seat electronic unit into the receiver; and

electrically connecting the seat electronic unit to the receiver.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein prior to the electrically disconnecting the seat electronics unit, the method further comprises:

separating a first latch element from a second latch element to unfasten the seat electronic unit from the receiver.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein after electrically connecting the seat electronics unit, the method further comprises:

re-fastening the first latch element to the second latch element to secure the seat electronic unit to the receiver.

20. Terminating a communication cable within an aircraft by a first connector and attached to a seat of the aircraft, a seat electronic unit comprising:

a receiver including the first connector and a second connector coupled to the first connector; and

electronic circuitry that plugs into the second connector to be connected with the communication cable and unplugs from the second connector while the communication cable remains attached to the first connector.

21. The seat electronic unit according to claim 20, wherein the electronic circuitry is partially inserted within the receiver to plug into the second connector.

22. The seat electronics unit according to claim 20, wherein the receiver is securely supported by at least one torque seat tube of the seat.

23. The seat electronic unit according to claim 20, wherein the receiver includes

a backplane including the first and second connectors, said backplane to provide an electrical interface between the communication cable and the electronic circuitry;

and

a plurality of sides coupled to the backplane, a first side includes a first latch element used to secure the electronic circuitry to the receiver, and a second side is attached to the at least one torque seat tube.

24. The seat electronics unit according to claim 23, wherein a third side of the plurality of sides is generally oriented in parallel to the first side.

25. The seat electronic unit according to claim 20, wherein the electronic circuitry is unplugged from the second connector while power is still supplied to the first connector.

26. Attached to a support of a seat of an aircraft and providing an interface between a communication cable and a removable seat electronic unit, a receiver comprising a first connector protruding from an exterior surface of a backplane and a second connector coupled to the first connector, the second connector protruding from an interior surface of the backplane and providing an electrical connection for the line-replaceable electronics seat unit.

27. The receiver according to claim 26 further comprising

a plurality of sides coupled to a perimeter of the backplane, the plurality of sides partially surrounding the seat electronic unit when connected into the second connector.

28. The receiver according to claim 27, wherein a first side of the plurality of sides includes a first latch element to maintain the seat electronic unit in close proximity to the receiver.

29. A method for installation of a first removable seat electronic unit that interconnects a communication cable to input and output devices associated with a seat of an aircraft, the method comprising:

providing a receiver that is pre-attached to the seat and includes a first connector coupled to the communication cable and a second connector coupled to the first connector;

inserting the first seat electronic unit into the second connector; and

securing the mated relationship between the second connector and the first seat electronic unit.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein prior to inserting the first seat electronics unit, the method further comprises:

disconnecting a second seat electronic unit from the receiver while the receiver remains attached to the communication cable.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein prior to disconnecting the second seat electronics unit, the method further comprises:

separating a first latch element from a second latch element to unfasten the second seat electronic unit from the receiver.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein after the inserting the first seat electronics unit, the method further comprises the step of:

re-fastening the first latch element to the second latch element to secure the first seat electronic unit to the receiver.

33. An in-flight seat-to-seat entertainment system implemented in a mass transit vehicle including a plurality of passenger seats having dedicated peripherals, the in-flight seat-to-seat entertainment system comprising:

connecting means for transferring content and power; and

a seat electronic unit coupled to said connecting means, said seat electronic unit including

means for propagating said content and power to peripherals associated with the seat electronic unit, and

receiver means for allowing said propagating means to be detached therefrom and maintain coupling with said connecting means.

34. A system comprising:

at least one communication cable propagating information in digital form; and

electronic circuitry coupled to the at least one communication cable, the electronic circuitry including

a removable electronic unit, and

a receiver connected to the at least one communication cable and the seat electronic unit, the receiver is configured to allow the seat electronic unit to be detached without disconnecting the at least one communication cable.

35. The system according to claim 34, wherein the electronic unit and the receiver are securely fastened together by a latch partially mounted to both a first side of the receiver and a side of the electronic unit.

36. The system according to claim 34, wherein the receiver includes

a backplane configured to provide an electrical interface between the at least one communication cable and the electronic unit;

and

a plurality of sides coupled to the backplane, a first side including a latch for maintaining the electronic unit in close proximity to the receiver.

37. The system according to claim 36, wherein the backplane includes at least one cable connector, the cable connector electrically connecting the at least one communication cable to the electronic unit.

38. The system according to claim 34, wherein the electronic unit may be removed from the receiver without disrupting power supplied to the receiver through the at least one communication cable.