Aircraft in-flight entertainment system having a dual-beam antenna and associated methods

• US 9,426,512 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2014
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• 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): Pham, Chi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huang, Weibin
• Application Number:
  US14/169,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20140150034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 21/41422 located in transportation means, e.g. personal vehicle arrangements specially adapted for transportation systems in broadcast systems H04H20/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6193 involving transmission via a satellite arrangements for data linking, networking or transporting, or for controlling an end to end session in a satellite broadcast system H04B7/18526
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks

Abstract

An aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFE) system for an aircraft includes a radome to be carried by the aircraft, and a dual-beam satellite antenna and at least one positioner coupled thereto to be carried by the aircraft and protected by the radome. The dual-beam satellite antenna is to generate dual antenna beams for television programming and Internet data from respective spaced apart satellites. The dual-beam satellite antenna includes a first aperture for receiving the television programming, and a second aperture adjacent the first aperture for receiving the Internet data. A television programming distribution system is to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the dual-beam satellite antenna to provide television programming within the aircraft. At least one access point is to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the dual-beam satellite antenna to provide a wireless local area network (WLAN) within the aircraft for the Internet data.

Claims

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

a dual-beam satellite antenna and first and second positioners coupled thereto to be carried by the aircraft, said dual-beam satellite antenna comprising

a first aperture to be positioned by said first positioner and configured to operate within a Ku frequency band for receiving television programming,

a second aperture to be positioned by said second positioner and adjacent said first aperture and configured to operate within a Ka frequency band for receiving Internet data,

said first aperture providing orthogonal polarizations toward a satellite and said second aperture providing orthogonal polarizations toward another satellite,

a first polarization correction module associated with said first aperture for adjusting the corresponding polarizations based upon aircraft position, and

a second polarization correction module associated with said second aperture for adjusting the corresponding polarizations based upon aircraft position;

a television programming distribution system to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to said dual-beam satellite antenna to provide television programming within the aircraft; and

at least one access point to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to said dual-beam satellite antenna to provide a wireless local area network (WLAN) within the aircraft for the Internet data.

2. The IFE system according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second apertures comprise a phased array.

3. The IFE system according to claim 1 further comprising a controller coupled to said first and second positioners.

4. The IFE system according to claim 1 wherein each antenna beam has a respective antenna beam boresight.

5. The IFE system according to claim 1 wherein said dual-beam satellite antenna is configured to transmit to the satellite providing the Internet data.

6. The IFE system according to claim 1 wherein said television programming distribution system comprises cabling extending throughout the aircraft;

and at least one video display coupled to said cabling for displaying the television programming.

7. The IFE system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one access point is to communicate with personal electronic devices (PEDs) within the aircraft.

8. The IFE system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one access point comprises a pico-cell.

9. The IFE system according to claim 1 wherein the WLAN comprises at least one of an 802.11 WLAN and an 802.16 WLAN.

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

a dual-beam satellite antenna and first and second positioners coupled thereto to be carried by the aircraft, said dual-beam satellite antenna comprising

a first aperture to be positioned by said first positioner and configured to operate within a Ka frequency band,

second aperture to be positioned by said second positioner and adjacent said first aperture and configured to operate within a Ku frequency band,

said first aperture providing orthogonal polarizations toward a satellite and said second aperture providing orthogonal polarizations toward another satellite,

a first polarization correction module associated with said first aperture for adjusting the corresponding polarizations based upon aircraft position, and

a second polarization correction module associated with said second aperture for adjusting the corresponding polarizations based upon aircraft position.

11. The IFE system according to claim 10 further comprising a radome to be carried by the aircraft for protecting said dual-beam satellite antenna and said first and second positioners.

12. The IFE system according to claim 10 wherein at least one of said first and second apertures comprise a phased array.

13. The IFE system according to claim 10 further comprising a controller coupled to said first and second positioners.

14. The IFE system according to claim 10 wherein each antenna beam has a respective antenna beam boresight.

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

a dual-beam satellite antenna and first and second positioners coupled thereto to be carried by the aircraft, said dual-beam satellite antenna comprising

a first aperture to be positioned by said first positioner and configured to operate within a first frequency band,

a second aperture to be positioned by said second positioner and adjacent said first aperture and configured to operate within a second frequency band,

said first aperture providing orthogonal polarizations toward a satellite and said second aperture providing orthogonal polarizations toward another satellite,

a first polarization correction module associated with said first aperture for adjusting the corresponding polarizations based upon aircraft position, and

a second polarization correction module associated with said second aperture for adjusting the corresponding polarizations based upon aircraft position.

16. The IFE system according to claim 15 further comprising a radome to be carried by the aircraft for protecting said dual-beam satellite antenna and said first and second positioners.

17. The IFE system according to claim 15 wherein the first and second frequency bands are non-overlapping.

18. The IFE system according to claim 15 at least one of said first and second apertures comprise a phased array.

19. The IFE system according to claim 15 further comprising a controller coupled to said first and second positioners.

20. The IFE system according to claim 15 wherein each antenna beam has a respective antenna beam boresight.

21. A method for operating an aircraft in-flight entertainment (IFF) system for an aircraft and comprising a dual-beam satellite antenna, first and second positioners to be carried by the aircraft and coupled to the dual-band satellite antenna, the method comprising:

controlling the first and second positioners so that the dual-beam satellite antenna simultaneously generates first and second antenna beams, the dual-beam satellite antenna comprising

a first aperture to be positioned by the first positioner and configured to operate within a first frequency band for receiving signals via the first antenna beam,

a second aperture to be positioned by the second positioner and adjacent the first aperture and configured to operate within a second frequency band for receiving signals via the second antenna beam,

the first aperture providing orthogonal polarizations toward a satellite and the second aperture providing orthogonal polarizations toward another satellite,

a first polarization correction module associated with the first aperture for adjusting the corresponding polarizations based upon aircraft position, and

a second polarization correction module associated with the second aperture for adjusting the corresponding polarizations based upon aircraft position.

22. The method according to claim 21 further comprising a radome to be carried by the aircraft for protecting the dual-beam satellite antenna and the first and second positioners.

23. The method according to claim 21 wherein the first and second frequency bands are non-overlapping.

24. The method according to claim 21 wherein at least one of the first and second apertures comprise a phased array.

25. The method according to claim 21 further comprising a controller coupled to the first and second positioners.

26. The method according to claim 21 wherein each antenna beam has a respective antenna beam boresight.