Aircraft in-flight entertainment system having a multi-beam phased array antenna and associated methods

• US 8,917,207 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2008
• Issued: 12/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LiveTV LLC (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: LiveTV LLC (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Frisco, Jeffrey A., Lynch, Michael J., Anderson, Brian D., Keen, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): McGue, Frank J
• Application Number:
  US12/252,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20090096857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,260 Days
• Field of Search: 342/359
• US Class Current: 342/359
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/125 Means for positioning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1257 using the received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/34 by electrical means active lenses or reflecting arrays H01Q3/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2146 located in mass transportation means, e.g. aircraft, train or bus flight-deck installations for entertainment or communications B64D11/0015; arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62; moving wireless networks H04W84/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/226 Characteristics of the server or Internal components of the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks

Abstract

An in-flight entertainment (IFE) system for an aircraft includes a phased array antenna and control circuitry associated therewith to be carried by the aircraft and to generate dual antenna beams for television programming and Internet data from respective spaced apart satellites. A television programming distribution system is to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the phased array antenna and control circuitry to provide television programming within the aircraft. At least one access point is to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the phased array antenna and control circuitry to provide a wireless local area network (WLAN) within the aircraft for the Internet data.

Claims

1. An in-flight entertainment (IFE) system for an aircraft and comprising:

a radome to be carried by the aircraft;

a phased array antenna to be carried by the aircraft and protected by said radome, said phased array antenna comprising a first plurality of antenna elements sized to operate at a first frequency, and a second plurality of antenna elements sized to operate at a second frequency different from the first frequency, and with said first and second plurality of antenna elements being laterally interspersed with one another;

control circuitry to be carried by the aircraft and associated with said first and second plurality of antenna elements to simultaneously generate dual antenna beams for receiving television programming and Internet data from respective spaced apart satellites, with each antenna beam having a respective antenna beam boresight;

a television programming distribution system to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to said phased array antenna and control circuitry to provide the received television programming within the aircraft; and

at least one access point to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to said phased array antenna and control circuitry to provide a wireless local area network (WLAN) within the aircraft for the received Internet data.

2. The IFE system according to claim 1 wherein said control circuitry comprises:

a plurality of antenna beam shaping elements coupled to said phased array antenna; and

a controller coupled to said plurality of antenna beam shaping elements for control thereof so that said phased array antenna generates respective antenna beams toward the spaced apart satellites.

3. The IFE system according to claim 1 wherein said phased array antenna and control circuitry are configured to transmit to the satellite providing the Internet data.

4. The IFE system according to claim 1 wherein said phased array antenna is configured to operate over a frequency range of 10.7 to 30 GHz.