Title: Wireless aircraft passenger audio entertainment system

I claim:

1. A method of supplying audio information in several audio channels via headsets to passengers seated aboard an aircraft in rows of seats including armrests and being distributed along an elongate passenger section inside a metallic fuselage, comprising in combination the steps of:

running a transmitting antenna along the passenger section of said aircraft for radio transmission inside such elongate passenger section in a frequency range including at least a band between 72 and 73 MHz;

providing individual antennas for said seats for receiving said radio transmission and distributing such receiving antennas among predetermined armrests of said seats;

providing said audio information in radio frequency channels in said band between 72 and 73 MHz;

coupling said distributed receiving antennas via seated passengers to said transmitting antenna;

transmitting said radio frequency channels in said band via said transmitting antenna, seated passengers and distributed receiving antennas to said predetermined armrests;

deriving said audio information in said audio channels from said transmitted radio frequency channels in said predetermined armrests;

individually enabling passengers to select audio information from among audio channels containing said derived audio information; and

applying said selected audio information individually to said headsets.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said providing of audio information in radio frequency channels includes providing several radio frequency carriers, each corresponding to a different one of said audio channels and each having a frequency different from the frequency of any other carrier of said several carriers, and modulating said radio frequency carriers with audio signals by modulating audio signals in each channel on the corresponding radio frequency carrier; and

said transmitting of radio frequency channels includes applying said modulated radio frequency carriers at their respective frequencies directly and simultaneously to said transmitting antenna, and transmitting said applied modulated radio frequency carriers at their respective frequencies with said transmitting antenna.

3. In a method of supplying audio information in several audio channels to passengers aboard an aircraft, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:

providing several radio frequency carriers, each corresponding to a different one of said audio channels and each having a frequency different from the frequency of any other carrier of said several carriers;

modulating said radio frequency carriers with audio signals by modulating audio signals in each channel on the corresponding radio frequency carrier;

providing an antenna in said aircraft;

providing a series of hybrid transformers having inputs for receiving said modulated radio frequency carriers;

applying said modulated radio frequency carriers at their respective frequencies via said hybrid transformers directly and simultaneously to said antenna; and

transmitting said applied modulated radio frequency carriers at their respective frequencies with said antenna in said aircraft.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said applying of said modulated radio frequency carriers includes linearly summing said modulated radio frequency carriers; and

said transmitting includes transmitting said linearly summed modulated radio frequency carriers with said antenna in said aircraft.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3 or 4, including the steps of:

providing a plurality of receiving antennas at different locations in said aircraft; and

receiving said transmitted modulated radio frequency carriers with said receiving antennas.

6. In a method of transmitting signals in several distinct signal channels simultaneously via a single antenna system, the improvement comprising in combination the steps of:

providing several radio frequency carriers, each corresponding to a different one of said signal channels and each having a frequency different from the frequency of any other carrier of said several carriers;

modulating said radio frequency carriers with signals in said signal channels by modulating the signals in each channel on the corresponding radio frequency carrier;

providing a series of hybrid transformers having inputs for receiving said modulated radio frequency carriers;

applying said modulated radio frequency carriers at their respective frequencies via said hybrid transformers directly and simultaneously to said single antenna system; and

transmitting said applied modulated radio frequency carriers at their respective frequencies with said single antenna system.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

said applying of said modulated radio frequency carriers includes linearly summing said modulated radio frequency carriers; and

said transmitting includes transmitting said linearly summed modulated radio frequency carriers.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6 or 7, including the steps of:

providing a plurality of receiving antennas at different locations; and

receiving said transmitted modulated radio frequency carriers with said receiving antennas.

9. A method as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein:

said modulating of radio frequency carriers includes modulating each radio frequency carrier with audio signals of a different audio signal channel.

10. Apparatus for supplying audio information in several audio channels via headsets to passengers seated aboard an aircraft in rows of seats including armrests and being distributed along an elongate passenger section inside a metallic fuselage, comprising in combination:

first means for providing said audio information in radio frequency channels in a frequency band between 72 and 73 MHz;

second means connected to said first means and including an antenna extending along the elongate passenger section of said aircraft for transmitting said radio frequency channels inside the elongate passenger section of said aircraft;

third means including individual antennas for said seats for receiving said transmitted radio frequency channels;

fourth means connected to said receiving antennas for deriving said audio information in said audio channels from said received radio frequency channels;

fifth means connected to said fourth means for individually enabling passengers to select audio information from among audio channels containing said derived audio information;

sixth means connected to said fifth means for applying said selected audio information individually to said headsets; and

seventh means for distributing said receiving antennas, fourth means, fifth means and sixth means among said seats, including means for mounting said receiving antennas, fourth means, fifth means and sixth means at least partially in predetermined armrests of said seats.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said first means include means for providing several radio frequency carriers, each corresponding to a different one of said audio channels and each having a frequency different from the frequency of any other carrier of said several carriers, and means for modulating said radio frequency carriers with audio signals, including means for modulating audio signals in each channel on the corresponding radio frequency carrier; and

said second means include means connected to said modulating means for applying said modulated radio frequency carriers at their respective frequencies directly and simultaneously to said antenna extending along said elongate passenger section.

12. In apparatus for supplying audio information in several audio channels to passengers aboard an aircraft, the improvement comprising in combination:

means for providing several radio frequency carriers, each corresponding to a different one of said audio channels and each having a frequency different from the frequency of any other carrier of said several carriers;

means connected to said providing means for modulating said radio frequency carriers with audio signals, including means for modulating audio signals in each channel on the corresponding radio frequency carrier;

an antenna in said aircraft; and

means connected to said modulating means for applying said modulated radio frequency carriers at their respective frequencies directly and simultaneously to said antenna for transmission thereby;

said applying means including a radio frequency channel combiner comprising a series of hybrid circuits including a series of hybrid transformers having inputs for receiving said modulated radio frequency carriers.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said means for providing several radio frequency carriers and said means for modulating said radio frequency carries comprise a separate radio frequency transmitter for each audio channel.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said applying means comprise means for linearly summing said modulated radio frequency carriers and means connected to said antenna for applying said linearly summed modulated radio frequency carriers directly to said antenna for transmission thereby.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, 13 or 14, including:

a plurality of radio frequency receivers, each including a receiving antenna, for receiving the transmitted radio frequency carriers.

16. In apparatus for transmitting signals in several distinct signal channels simultaneously via a single antenna system, the improvement comprising in combination:

means for providing several radio frequency carriers, each corresponding to a different one of said signal channels and each having a frequency different from the frequency of any other carrier of said several carriers;

means connected to said providing means for modulating said radio frequency carriers with signals in said signal channels, including means for modulating the signals in each channel on the corresponding radio frequency carrier; and

means connected to said modulating means for applying said modulated radio frequency carriers at their respective frequencies directly and simultaneously to said single antenna system for transmission thereby;

said applying means including a radio frequency channel combiner comprising a series of hybrid circuits including a series of hybrid transformers having inputs for receiving said modulated radio frequency carriers.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

said means for providing several radio frequency carriers and said means for modulating said radio frequency carriers comprise a separate radio frequency transmitter for each signal channel.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

said applying means comprise means for linearly summing said modulated radio frequency carriers and means connected to said antenna system for applying said linearly summed modulated radio frequency carriers directly to said single antenna system for transmission thereby.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, 17 and 18, including:

a plurality of radio frequency receivers, each including a receiving antenna, for receiving the transmitted radio frequency carriers.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, 17 or 18, wherein:

said modulating means include means for modulating each radio frequency carrier with audio signals of a different audio signal channel.

21. A method of supplying audio information in several audio channels via headsets to passengers seated aboard an aircraft in rows of seats including armrests and being distributed along an elongate passenger section inside a metallic fuselage, comprising in combination the steps of:

running a transmitting antenna from a transmitter to an antenna termination along the passenger section of said aircraft for radio transmission inside such elongate passenger section in a frequency range including at least a band between 72 and 73 MHz;

providing individual antennas for said seats for receiving said radio transmission and distributing such receiving antennas among predetermined armrests of said seats;

providing said audio information in radio frequency channels in said band between 72 and 73 MHz;

coupling said distributed receiving antennas via seated passengers to said transmitting antenna;

transmitting said radio frequency channels in said band with said transmitter via said transmitting antenna, seated passengers and distributed receiving antennas to said predetermined armrests;

deriving said audio information in said audio channels from said transmitted radio frequency channels in said predetermined armrests;

individually enabling passengers to select audio information from among audio channels containing said derived audio information; and

applying said selected audio information individually to said headsets.

22. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said providing of audio information in radio frequency channels includes providing several radio frequency carriers, each corresponding to a different one of said audio channels and each having a frequency different from the frequency of any other carrier of said several carriers, and modulating said radio frequency carriers with audio signals by modulating audio signals in each channel on the corresponding radio frequency carrier; and

said transmitting of radio frequency channels includes applying said modulated radio frequency carriers at their respective frequencies directly and simultaneously to said transmitting antenna, and transmitting said applied modulated radio frequency carriers at their respective frequencies with said transmitting antenna.

23. Apparatus for supplying audio information in several audio channels via headsets to passengers seated aboard an aircraft in rows of seats including armrests and being distributed along an elongate passenger section inside a metallic fuselage, comprising in combination:

means including a transmitter for providing said audio information in radio frequency channels in a frequency band between 72 to 73 MHz;

means connected to said providing means and including an antenna termination and an antenna extending from said transmitter to said antenna termination along the elongate passenger section of said aircraft for transmitting said radio frequency channels inside the elongate passenger section of said aircraft;

means including individual antennas for said seats for receiving said transmitted radio frequency channels;

means connected to said receiving antennas for deriving said audio information in said audio channels from said received radio frequency channels;

means connected to said deriving means for individually enabling passengers to select audio information from among audio channels containing said derived audio information;

means connected to said enabling means for applying said selected audio information individually to said headsets; and

means for distributing said receiving antennas, deriving means, enabling means and applying means among said seats, including means for mounting said receiving antennas, deriving means, enabling means and applying means at least partially in predetermined armrests of said seats.

24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein:

said means for providing said audio information in radio frequency channels include means for providing several radio frequency carriers, each corresponding to a different one of said audio channels and each having a frequency different from the frequency of any other carrier of said several carriers, and means for modulating said radio frequency carriers with audio signals, including means for modulating audio signals in each channel on the corresponding radio frequency carrier; and

said transmitting means include a radio frequency channel combiner comprising a series of hybrid circuits including a series of hybrid transformers having inputs for receiving said modulated radio frequency carriers and means connected to said hybrid transformers for applying said modulated radio frequency carriers at their respective frequencies directly and simultaneously to said antenna extending along said elongate passenger section.

25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, 16 or 24, wherein:

said hybrid transformers each have two inputs for combining said radio frequency carriers in pairs; and

said combiner includes hybrid circuitry, connected to said hybrid transformers for combining said pairs further into pairs for transmission by said antenna.

Other info:


Inventors: Oxman, Martin H. (Malden, MA)

Application Number: 06/082849
Filing Date: 1979-10-09
Publication_date: 1982-09-28
Assignee: BELL & HOWELL CO

Primary Class(es): 455/41.200 725/76, 455/345, 381/80, 379/55.100
Other Classes: H04B5/00; H04B5/00
US Patent Ref:

2567431	September, 1951	Halstead	455/41
2851537	September, 1958	Rosenberg	179/82
2908766	October, 1959	Taylor	179/82
3162726	December, 1964	Rosenberg	179/82
3474451	October, 1969	Abel	179/82
4165487	August, 1979	Corderman	455/41

Other Refs: Other References: Guided Radiation . . . The Key to Tunnel Talking, R. A. Farmer,

Primary Examiner: Chin, Tommy P.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Benoit Law Corporation