Video display unit docking assembly for fiber-to-the-screen inflight entertainment system
First Claim
1. A video display unit (VDU) docking assembly for an inflight entertainment (IFE) system, comprising:
- a video display unit (VDU) docking station having a dock, a first electrical connector and a converter communicatively coupled with the first electrical connector, the converter being adapted to perform optical-to-electronic conversions on optical signals inbound to the video display unit (VDU) and electronic-to-optical conversions on electronic signals outbound from the video display unit (VDU); and
a video display unit (VDU) having a second electrical connector, wherein the first electrical connector is adapted to blind mate with the second electrical connector upon slidably mounting the video display unit to the dock.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A Video Display Unit (VDU) docking system for a dedicated fiber optic in-flight-entertainment (IFE) system allows VDUs to be quickly replaced by personnel who do not need specialized training in fiber coupling without risk of damage to fiber optic components of the dedicated fiber optic IFE system. In some embodiments, a VDU docking station is configured to receive a VDU such that when a VDU is inserted therein, the VDU becomes automatically communicatively coupled with a fiber optic distribution network of the IFE system via a blind mate connection. In some arrangements, a blank LRU having no operative user interface elements but sufficient functionality to maintain communicative coupling is mounted in the VDU docking station in lieu of a VDU. In some configurations, the VDU docking station includes an embedded switch for maintaining communicative coupling across the VDU docking station in the absence of a VDU.
422 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A video display unit (VDU) docking assembly for an inflight entertainment (IFE) system, comprising:
-
a video display unit (VDU) docking station having a dock, a first electrical connector and a converter communicatively coupled with the first electrical connector, the converter being adapted to perform optical-to-electronic conversions on optical signals inbound to the video display unit (VDU) and electronic-to-optical conversions on electronic signals outbound from the video display unit (VDU); and a video display unit (VDU) having a second electrical connector, wherein the first electrical connector is adapted to blind mate with the second electrical connector upon slidably mounting the video display unit to the dock. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A video display unit (VDU) docking assembly for an inflight entertainment (IFE) system, comprising:
-
a video display unit (VDU) docking station having a dock, a first electrical connector and a converter communicatively coupled with the first electrical connector, the converter being adapted to perform optical-to-electronic conversions on optical signals inbound to the video display unit (VDU) and electronic-to-optical conversions on electronic signals outbound from the video display unit (VDU); and a blank line replaceable unit (LRU) having a second electrical connector, wherein the first electrical connector is adapted to blind mate with the second electrical connector upon slidably mounting the blank line replaceable unit (LRU) to the dock whereby communicative coupling is maintained across the video display unit (VDU) docking station. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
-
-
16. A video display unit (VDU) docking assembly for an inflight entertainment (IFE) system, comprising:
-
a video display unit (VDU) docking station having a dock, and a first optical connector and a converter communicatively coupled with the first optical connector, the converter being adapted to perform optical-to-electronic conversions on optical signals inbound to the video display unit (VDU) and electronic-to-optical conversions on electronic signals outbound from the video display unit (VDU); and a blank line replaceable unit (LRU) having a second optical connector, wherein the first optical connector is adapted to blind mate with the second optical connector upon slidably mounting the blank line replaceable unit (LRU) to the dock whereby communicative coupling is maintained across the video display unit (VDU) docking station. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
-
-
19. An inflight entertainment (IFE) system, comprising:
-
a first video display unit (VDU) docking station having a first video display unit (VDU) slidably mounted therein; wherein the first video display unit (VDU) docking station comprises a dock, a first electrical connector and a converter communicatively coupled with the first electrical connector, the converter being adapted to perform optical-to-electronic conversions on optical signals inbound to the first video display unit (VDU) and electronic-to-optical conversions on electronic signals outbound from the first video display unit (VDU); wherein the first video display unit (VDU) has a second electrical connector, wherein the first electrical connector is adapted to blind mate with the second electrical connector upon slidably mounting the first video display unit (VDU) to the dock; a second video display unit (VDU) docking station having a second video display unit (VDU) slidably mounted therein; and a third video display unit (VDU) docking station having no video display unit (VDU) slidably mounted therein operatively coupled between the first video display unit (VDU) docking station and the second video display unit (VDU) docking station, wherein communicative coupling between the first video display unit (VDU) docking station and the second video display unit (VDU) docking station is maintained across the third video display unit (VDU) docking station. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
-
Specification