PASSENGER ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM HAVING DIRECT COUPLED SEAT RECEIVERS

Abstract: A passenger entertainment system having direct coupled individual seat receivers. Direct coupling of receivers to the passenger entertainment power and intelligence information signals is provided through a seat track transmission line consisting of one or more conductors (18) associated with the seat track (10) and running parallel to the seat track (10).

Description: The present invention relates to passenger entertainment systems in commercial aircraft and more particularly to a means and method of coupling the individual seat receivers to the passenger entertainment system transmitter. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The patent literature is replete with various types of power distribution systems having current-carrying bars, electrical traps for supplying currents and other current-carrying transmission arrangements. The patent art more specifically is exemplified by U.S. Patent No. 3,603,918 which shows an electric power distribution system having a current-carrying bar; U.S. Patent No. 4,032,208 showing a connector for track lighting systems; and U.S. Patent No. 4,083,439 showing a power collection device for electric powered rail cars. An earlier U.S. Patent No. 4,428,078 assigned to The Boeing Company shows transmission of power and multiplex data from a parallel transmission line on the aircraft floor to an air-core multi-turn loop located in the seat leg framework on the seat module. This configuration is unable to provide the power transfer capabilities which the present direct coupled system provides. Typical commercial airplane entertainment and service systems are hard wired requiring cable and connector interconnection to the seat modules. A typical installation requires the installation of permanent wire bundles in aircraft structure routed to convenient locations along the fuselage or beneath the floor. The nearest seat module, in a group of seat modules, is connected to the permanent wiring and then all remaining seat modules are linked, in a daisy-chain fashion, from one another in succession. Interconnecting cables are then required to be protected and concealed in a trough running parallel to the seat tracks. An example of such a prior art hard wired system is disclosed in US-A-3986228, which teaches an audio passenger entertainment system for transmission of receiver power and intelligence information to a plurality of receiver means associated with a respective plurality of seat units distributed along a seat track, comprising an electrically conductive transmission line extending along the length of said seat track and parallel therewith, and electrical connector means disposed between said plurality of receiver means associated with a plurality of seat units distributed along said seat track, and said electrically conductive transmission line. Such systems are deficient in the sense that any radical change in seat configuration would require the fabrication of new interconnect cables of the proper length to match the new seat spacing dimensions. Seat removal or configuration changes require a labor intensive effort including revision of connect cables, their interconnection, and their protection and removal from the aforementioned trough. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has for its object to provide an audio passenger entertainment system as described in the preamble of claim 1, which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks. This is accomplished according to the invention in that said electrically conductive transmission line includes an electrically conductive strip separated from said seat track by means of an electrical insulator strip disposed therebetween. Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims 2-4. A signal box so installed in the seat track provides direct coupling to seat receivers disposed at various positions along the length of the track without need for a hard wired connection thereby eliminating the problems existent in prior entertainment and service systems which required interconnection of seat receivers on an individual basis. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view in partial section illustrative of a first embodiment of the invention showing a seat track having parallel extending conductors; FIG. 2 is illustrative of the pincer like spring-loaded mechanism for interconnecting the individual seat receiver with the track embodiment of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a further embodiment of seat track utilized in the present direct coupling of seat receivers and further illustrative of probe contact to an individual receiver seat track station; FIG. 4 is a top plan view of another embodiment of direct coupled seat track receiver comprising a retrofit seat track assembly in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 5 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4; FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 taken along the lines 7-7 of FIG. 4; and, FIG. 8 is a sectional view of an assembly of FIG. 4 showing seat track coupling in detail. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to FIG. 1 and a first embodiment of the present direct coupling of passenger entertainment systems to individual seat receivers, it will be observed that a seat track indicated generally at 10 consists of a generally rectangular shaped chamber 12 having a top flap 13 with individual apertures 15 for insertion of seat legs (not shown). Insulator strips 17 run parallel with and in contact with the outer sidewalls of rectangular shaped chamber 12. Insulator strips 17 support the parallel extending conductor members 18. As seen in the vertical sectional view of FIG. 2 a seat post 20 is inserted through aperture 15 into track 10 with the outer surfaces of conductor strips 18 available for a direct coupling by conductive contact to the power supply and electronics of the individual seat receivers 16. A seat receiver 16 may be of the type shown under numeral 16 of U.S. Patent 4,428,078. Further a transmitter 23 of the type shown in U.S. Patent 4,428,078 provides the passenger entertainment signals to the conductive transmission line formed by conductors 18 of FIG. 2. In FIG. 2 a pulley 30 is shown to make and break the conductive coupling connections at 34 through energization and de-energization of spring means 32. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2 the seat latch assembly can therefore through pulley 32 make the automatic connection and although a line and pulley is utilized in the embodiment of FIG. 2 other equivalent mechanical means may be utilized between the seat latch assembly (not shown) and the electrical contacts 34 which are made and broken depending upon the connection and disconnection condition of the seat latch. While a pincer like, spring-loaded contactor mechanism is shown to provide the direct coupling in FIG. 2, an actual probe makes the direct contact in the embodiment of FIG. 3 with a conductive plate 50 which is in the form of a strip extending parallel with and along the bottom of the seat track 10. Probe 60 which as in the embodiment of FIG. 2 may be also energized by actuation of the seat latch to make the contact with conductive plate 50 makes and breaks the direct coupling dependent upon the status of the seat latch. It can also be seen that in the embodiment of FIG. 3 the conductive plate 50 extending along the bottom of the seat track is required to be insulated on bottom and sides by insulators 52 running along the sides of and underneath the conductive plate member 50. Above conductor probe 60 from which it protrudes, is seat leg 20 which may have the receiver electronics 16 which receiver electronics 16 may be coupled by suitable coupling means shown generally at 62 to the probe 60. The aforementioned embodiments of direct coupled passenger entertainment systems to the individual seat receivers eliminates the previous problem of power transfer through inductive coupling between transmission lines in the seat tracks and provides individual direct connections to the seat receivers 16 at the time the seats are installed. Turning now to the complete seat track assembly showing the direct conductive contact in FIG. 8 with side and sectional views thereof in FIGS. 4-7, there can be seen a seat post 102 and seat frame 103 installed. A layer of insulating material 104 is mounted in seat track 101. Direct coupling conductors 105 are supported by layer of insulating material 104, the angled side portion providing self aligning capability with the individual seat group associated conductor 106 and associated holding bracket 107 which is in turn spring mounted in nonconductive housing member 108. Each nonconductive housing member 108 includes more than one seat group associated conductor 106 and associated holding bracket 107 thereby providing reliable direct electrical contact. It can be seen that seat group associated conductor 106, spring loaded holding bracket 107 and nonconductive housing member 108 comprises a single assembly which can easily be mounted (or removed from) a seat frame thereby providing easy retrofit capability using any standard aircraft seat.

Claims: An audio passenger entertainment system for transmission of receiver power and intelligence information to a plurality of receiver means (16) associated with a respective plurality of seat units distributed along a seat track (10), comprising an electrically conductive transmission line extending along the length of said seat track (10) and parallel therewith, and electrical connector means disposed between said plurality of receiver means (16) associated with a plurality of seat units distributed along said seat track (10), and said electrically conductive transmission line, characterized in that said electrically conductive transmission line includes an electrically conductive strip (18;50;105) separated from said seat track (10) by means of an electrical insulator strip (17;52;104) disposed therebetween. The entertainment system according to claim 1, characterized in that said electrical connector means (34;60;106) is disposed such as to contact said electrically conductive strip (18;50;105) at least when said seat units are installed on said seat track (10). The entertainment system according to claim 2, wherein said electrical connector means (34;60;106) comprises a conductive transfer probe (60) actuated by a seat latch. The entertainment system according to claim 2, wherein said electrical connector means (34;60;106) comprises a pincer like spring-loaded mechanism (34).

Inventors: DANIELS, JAMES W., ERICKSON, CARL W.
Applicants: THE BOEING COMPANY
Application year: 1987
Main classification: H04R3
IPC codes: B64D11, H04R3, B64C1, H04R27