Method and apparatus for providing a wireless aircraft interphone system

• US 6,950,627 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2002
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microelectronics Research
• Original Assignee: Microelectronics Research
• Inventors: Vicari, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Application Number:
  US10/108,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20040192362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/400, 455/3.06, 455/431
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service

Abstract

A radio frequency transceiver system is used for communications among the crewmembers of an aircraft, either inside or immediately outside. Aside from employing analog and digital circuits, the system utilizes Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS), Digital Spread Spectrum (DSDS), Time Division Duplex (TDD) or Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) as to provide reliable and secure communications contact, regardless of adverse weather conditions, handling or operating stresses, or other conditions which would otherwise affect transmissions as in prior art devices. The system virtually eliminates interconnect aircraft cable damage; operational delays caused by missing cables, or broken cables; and delays or malfunctions resulting from having cables of the wrong size, length, weather resistance, etc. Since a crewmember has no interconnecting aircraft cable, this system allows greater freedom of moment about the aircraft, and crewmembers can no be inadvertently tripped, or lose balance.

Claims

1. A wireless communications system for an aircraft interphone system compromising:

a master radio frequency (RF) transceiver having an internal power source;

coupling means to connect to an interphone system, the coupling means further detects electrical current from the interphone system; and

at least one portable slave radio frequency (RF) transceiver having an internal power source and disposed away from a master unit, for use in communications with the interphone system.

2. The wireless communications system of claim 1 where the master and slave RF transceivers further comprise means to support either half or full duplex operation.

3. The wireless communications system of claim 1 where the master and slave RF transceivers further comprise means to provide either analog or digital data communications.

4. The wireless communications system of claim 1 in further combination with a uniquely associated network, and where the master and slave RF transceivers further comprise means to automatically acquire and track each other in the network.

5. The wireless communications system of claim 1 where the master and slave RF transceivers further comprise means to automatically hop to a different channel when interference is detected.

6. The wireless communications system of claim 1 where the master and slave RF transceivers further comprise means to support multiple networks of transceivers sharing the same radio frequency spectrum.

7. The wireless communications system of claim 1 where the master and slave RF transceivers further comprise means to employ a unique, reconfigurable “

N-Bit”

identification code for control channel and signal scrambling.

8. The wireless communications system of claim 1 where the master and slave RF transceivers further comprise audible announcement means including at least a speaker, buzzer, or piezoelectric device associated with an operation of display, announcement, control, status, or configuration.

9. The wireless communications system of claim 1 where the master and slave RF transceivers further comprise means to externally configure, signal, or operate the baseband processor by use of switches, buttons, keypad, or transmissions from another transceiver.

10. The wireless communications system of claim 1 where the master and slave RF transceivers further comprise display indication means including at least an incandescent, light emitting diode (LED), and liquid crystal display (LCD) to display status conditions associated with an operation of display, announcement, control, status, or configuration.

11. The wireless communications system of claim 1 where the master and slave RF transceivers further comprise means for connection to each other through wired means or wirelessly to verify performance capability before or after placing the master and slave RF transceivers into service.

12. The wireless communications system of claim 1 where the master and slave RF transceivers further comprise means to detect acquisition or loss of a communication link between each other as distinguished over interference.

13. The wireless communications system of claim 1 where the master and slave RF transceivers further comprise means to track calendar or chronological time.

14. The wireless communications system of claim 1 where the master and slave RF transceivers further comprise means to track of elapse time.

15. The wireless communications system of claim 1 where the master and slave RF transceivers further comprise means to store and recall in nonvolatile memory information including at least operational parameters, constants, or messages.

16. The wireless communications system of claim 1 where the master RF transceiver is connected to the aircraft interphone system.

17. The wireless communications system of claim 16 where the master RF transceiver has an internal power source and transmits its internal power source status to the slave RF transceiver.

18. The wireless communications system of claim 17 where the master RF transceiver generates a signal through the aircraft interphone system when the internal power source is low, or when replenishment is necessary.

19. The wireless communication system of claim 16 where the master RF transceiver further comprises means to transmit its connection or coupling status with the aircraft interphone system to the slave RF transceiver.

20. The wireless communications system of claim 16 where the master RF transceiver generates audio or other signals communicated to the aircraft interphone system when the master RF transceiver is connected to the aircraft interphone system.

21. The wireless communications system of claim 16 where the master RF transceiver further comprises an illumination beacon so it can be easily spotted.

22. The wireless communications system of claim 1 where the master RF transceiver is integrated into the aircraft interphone system.

23. The wireless communications system of claim 22 where the master RF transceiver mechanically accepts headsets, handsets, microphones, or earphones that require a 3-circuit, quarter-inch audio jack for connection.

24. The wireless communications system of claim 1 where the master RF transceiver further comprises means for receiving digital or audio signals from the slave RF transceiver and propagating slave RF transceiver transmission signals through the aircraft interphone system.

25. The wireless communications system of claim 1 where the master RF transceiver communicates audio or other signals through the aircraft interphone system when the communication link with the slave RF transceiver is lost or established.

26. The wireless communications system of claim 1 in further combination with a passenger address system and where the master RF transceiver further comprises means for initiating a passenger address (PA) key to direct audio transmitted by the slave RF transceiver and as received by the master RF transceiver to the passenger address (PA) system.

27. The wireless communications system of claim 1 in combination with a call station selection system and where the master RF transceiver further comprises means for receiving a control signal from the slave RF transceiver to designate routing of a call chime signal to the called station such as cockpit, forward cabin, mid cabin or aft cabin, and where the slave RF transceiver further comprises means for initiating a control signal to the master RF transceiver to designate routing of a call chime signal to the called station such as cockpit, forward cabin, mid cabin or aft cabin.

28. The wireless communications system of claim 1 in combination with a headset, handset, or microphone and where the slave RF transceiver further comprises means to transmit signals from the headset, handset, or microphone to the master RF transceiver that is connected to or integrated with an aircraft interphone system.

29. The wireless communications system of claim 1 in combination with a headset or handset having a microphone that requires a 3-circuit, quarter inch jack and where the slave RF transceiver further comprises means to provide an electrical bias for the microphone circuit in the headset or handset which is connected with the slave RF transceiver.

30. The wireless communications system of claim 1 in further combination with a handset or headset having earphones and where the slave RF transceiver is packaged integrally with or is packaged separately from the handset or headset.

31. The wireless communications system of claim 1 in further combination with a handset or headset having earphones and where the slave RF transceiver is packaged integrally with or is packaged separately from the handset or headset which includes a push-to-talk (PTT) switch.

32. The wireless communications system of claim 1 in further combination with a handset or headset having earphones and where the slave RF transceiver is packaged integrally with or is packaged separately from the handset or headset which includes “

switched on”

transmission (SOX) capability for “

hands-free”

operation.

33. The wireless communications system of claim 12 in further combination with an earphone and internal power in the slave RF transceiver, and where the slave RF transceiver generates a tone in the earphone when the communication between the master RF transceiver and slave RF transceiver is lost, interfered with, or broken, or when the internal power source is low, or requires replenishment.

34. The wireless communications system of claim 26 where the slave RF transceiver further comprises means for initiating a control signal to the master RF transceiver to designate routing of an audio signal to the passenger address (PA) system.

35. A wireless communications system for an aircraft interphone system comprising:

a master radio frequency (RF) transceiver for interfacing with the aircraft interphone system and for communicating with crew members, either within or outside of the aircraft, wherein the master RF transceiver is connected with the aircraft interphone system; and

at least one slave radio frequency (RF) transceiver used by a crew person for wireless communications to the master RF transceiver and thence to the aircraft interphone system;

wherein the aircraft interphone system is characterized by having an electrical bias current and where the master RF transceiver uses an input the electrical bias current originating from the aircraft interphone system, and where the master RF transceiver mechanically connects to the aircraft interphone system by means of a 3-circuit, quarter-inch audio plug.