Wireless client device

• US 7,565,143 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2006
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Takeuchi, Tomotaka, Sakanishi, Yasuaki, Higashida, Masaaki, Ezaki, Toshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah; Charles N
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONTEE, JOY KIMBERLY
• Application Number:
  US11/390,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20070217622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 455/431, 455/11.1, 455/98, 455/3.06, 455/427, 455/41.2, 455/550.1, 455/556.2, 455/73, 455/517
• US Class Current: 455/431
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools

Abstract

Because wired connections make changing the seating configuration difficult, a wireless client device enables stable wireless transmission. The wireless client device wirelessly transmits to and receives data signals from an access point inside an aircraft. The wireless client device has a seat unit with a seat portion on which aircraft passengers sit, an antenna for sending and receiving the data signals, a signal processing arrangement operable to handle data signal receiving and transmitting processes, and a signal output arrangement operable to output processed reception signals. The antenna arrangement, signal processing arrangement, and signal output arrangement are disposed to the seat unit.

Claims

1. A wireless client device for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data signals from access points inside an aircraft, comprising:

a seat with a seat portion;

an antenna arrangement operable to transmit and receive the data signals;

a signal processing arrangement operable to process the received data signals and the data signals to be transmitted; and

a signal output arrangement operable to output the received and processed data signals;

wherein the antenna arrangement, the signal processing arrangement, and the signal output arrangement are disposed to the seat portion, and

an RF shield arrangement is disposed to the seat portion.

2. The wireless client device described in claim 1, wherein the seat blocks direct wireless signals so that direct RF power is less than or equal to indirect wireless signal power.

3. The wireless client device described in claim 1, wherein the antenna arrangement is disposed to the seat portion.

4. The wireless client device described in claim 1, wherein the RF shield arrangement is disposed a lower part of the seat portion.

5. The wireless client device described in claim 1, wherein the antenna arrangement is disposed below the seat portion.

6. The wireless client device described in claim 1, wherein the antenna arrangement is located below the RF shield arrangement.

7. The wireless client device described in claim 1, comprising N of said signal output arrangement where N is an integer of one or more, wherein said signal processing arrangement supplies N channel data signals to said N signal output arrangements.

10. The wireless client device described in claim 1, comprising L of said antenna arrangement, wherein said signal processing arrangement transmits and receives L data signals to said L antenna arrangements.

11. The wireless client device described in claim 10, wherein the L data signals are MIMO encoded.

12. The wireless client device described in claim 10, comprising M of said seat where M is an integer of one or more, wherein the L antenna arrangements are disposed to said M seats.

13. The wireless client device described in claim 12, wherein the L antenna arrangements are disposed in the M seats with substantially equal spacing between adjacent antenna arrangements.

14. The wireless client device described in claim 12, wherein L and Mare equal and the L antenna arrangements are disposed to M seats respectively.

15. The wireless client device described in claim 12, wherein two antenna arrangements are disposed to outside end seats of the M seats.

16. The wireless client device described in claim 15, wherein two antenna arrangements are disposed to diagonally opposite portions of the M seats.

17. The wireless client device described in claim 12, wherein two antenna arrangements are disposed to diagonally opposite portions of the seat portion of one seat.

18. The wireless client device described in claim 12, wherein the M seats are connected together.

19. The wireless client device described in claim 1, comprising M of said seat where M is an integer of one or more, wherein said signal processing arrangement is disposed to said M seats.

8. The wireless client device described in claim, comprising M of said seat where M is an integer of one or more, wherein said N signal output arrangements are disposed to said M seats.

9. The wireless client device described in claim 8, wherein the M seats are connected together.