Aircraft in-flight entertainment system having wideband antenna steering and associated methods
First Claim
1. An aircraft in-flight entertainment system comprising:
- an antenna;
a satellite television (TV) receiver connected to said antenna for receiving a plurality of satellite TV programming channels from at least one satellite TV transponder;
at least one video display connected to said satellite TV receiver for displaying satellite TV programming channels;
an antenna steering positioner connected to said antenna; and
an antenna steering controller connected to said antenna steering positioner and comprising a signal strength detector for generating a received signal strength feedback signal based upon signals received over a relatively large bandwidth of the at least one satellite TV transponder, and a processor for controlling said antenna steering positioner based upon the received signal strength feedback signal during aircraft flight.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An aircraft in-flight entertainment system includes an antenna, a satellite TV receiver connected to the antenna, at least one video display connected to the satellite TV receiver, and wherein the antenna is steered using received signals from the relatively wide bandwidth from at least one satellite TV transponder, such as a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) transponder. The system may include an antenna steering positioner connected to the antenna, and an antenna steering controller comprising the received signal detector for generating a received signal strength feedback signal based upon signals from the at least one satellite TV transponder. A processor may be connected to the detector for controlling the antenna steering positioner during aircraft flight and based upon the received signal strength feedback signal. The antenna steering controller may further comprise at least one inertial rate sensor, and the processor may calibrate the sensor based upon the received signal strength feedback signal. The antenna steering controller may also include a global positioning system (GPS) receiver connected to the processor, and the processor may further calibrate the rate sensor based upon the GPS receiver.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. An aircraft in-flight entertainment system comprising:
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an antenna;
a satellite television (TV) receiver connected to said antenna for receiving a plurality of satellite TV programming channels from at least one satellite TV transponder;
at least one video display connected to said satellite TV receiver for displaying satellite TV programming channels;
an antenna steering positioner connected to said antenna; and
an antenna steering controller connected to said antenna steering positioner and comprising a signal strength detector for generating a received signal strength feedback signal based upon signals received over a relatively large bandwidth of the at least one satellite TV transponder, and a processor for controlling said antenna steering positioner based upon the received signal strength feedback signal during aircraft flight. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
a plurality of spaced signal distribution devices; and
a cable network connecting said satellite TV receiver to said signal distribution devices, and connecting said signal distribution devices to said video displays.
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10. An aircraft in-flight entertainment system according to claim 1 wherein said satellite TV receiver comprises a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) receiver.
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11. An aircraft in-flight entertainment system according to claim 1 wherein the aircraft is a narrow-body aircraft having a single passenger aisle.
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12. An aircraft in-flight entertainment system comprising:
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an antenna;
a satellite television (TV) receiver connected to said antenna for receiving a plurality of satellite TV programming channels from at least one satellite TV transponder;
a plurality of video displays for displaying satellite TV programming channels;
a plurality of signal distribution devices;
a cable network connecting said satellite TV receiver to said signal distribution devices, and connecting said signal distribution devices to said video displays;
an antenna steering positioner connected to said antenna; and
an antenna steering controller connected to said antenna steering positioner and comprising a signal strength detector for generating a received signal strength feedback signal based upon signals received over a relatively large bandwidth of the at least one satellite TV transponder, a processor for controlling said antenna steering positioner based upon the received signal strength feedback signal during aircraft flight, and at least one inertial rate sensor calibrated by said processor based upon the received signal strength feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An aircraft comprising:
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a fuselage and a plurality of passenger seats arranged therein defining a single passenger aisle;
an in-flight entertainment system carried by said fuselage and comprising an antenna mounted on the fuselage, a satellite television (TV) receiver connected to said antenna for receiving a plurality of satellite TV programming channels from at least one satellite TV transponder, at least one video display connected to said satellite TV receiver for displaying satellite TV programming channels, an antenna steering positioner connected to said antenna, and an antenna steering controller comprising a signal strength detector for generating a received signal strength feedback signal based upon signals received over a relatively large bandwidth of the at least one satellite TV transponder, and a processor for controlling said antenna steering positioner based upon the received signal strength feedback signal during aircraft flight. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
a plurality of spaced apart signal distribution devices; and
a cable network connecting said satellite TV receiver to said signal distribution devices, and connecting said signal distribution devices to said video displays.
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30. An aircraft according to claim 21 wherein said satellite TV receiver comprises a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) receiver.
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31. A method for controlling antenna steering positioner for a satellite television (TV) antenna for receiving signals from at least one satellite TV transponder in an aircraft in-flight entertainment system, the method comprising:
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using a wide bandwidth signal strength detector for generating a received signal strength feedback signal based upon signals received over a relatively large bandwidth of the at least one satellite TV transponder; and
controlling the antenna steering positioner during aircraft flight based upon the received signal strength feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification