Telecommunications – Wireless distribution system – Receiver for satellite broadcast
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-25
2003-04-15
Vo, Nguyen T. (Department: 2682)
Telecommunications
Wireless distribution system
Receiver for satellite broadcast
C455S003060, C455S131000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06549754
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems, and more particularly to IFE systems that provide on a world-wide basis live video/audio programming to passengers/operators of an aircraft using broadcast signals transmitted in either circular or linear polarized form.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional IFE systems, that distribute live video/audio programming to aircraft passengers, such as an Airborne Satellite Television System (ASTS) manufactured by the assignee of the present invention, derive the live video/audio programming signals from a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) that transmits broadcast signals in the form of right and left circular polarized RF signals. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,790,175, issued on Aug. 4, 1998, entitled “Aircraft Satellite Television System for Distributing Television Programming Derived From Direct Broadcast Satellites,” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,751, issued on Sep. 1, 1998, entitled “Distribution of Satellite Television Programs to Passengers in an Aircraft When It Is Out of Range of the Satellites,” the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein, describe an IFE system that provides live television programming derived from signals broadcast by the DIRECTV DBS system.
Conventional IFE systems, however, are limited because they cannot derive live video/audio programming signals if DBS signals are not in the form of right and left circular polarized RF signals. Although DBS systems that provide service within the continental United States broadcast signals in the form of right and left circular polarized RF signals, DBS systems whose service regions lie outside North and South America generally broadcast signals in the form of horizontal and vertical linear polarized RF signals. For this reason, conventional IFE systems are unable to provide live video/audio programming when the aircraft travels outside the continental United States and into regions serviced by these DBS systems.
In co-pending U.S. Patent Application entitled “Passenger Entertainment System Providing Live Video/Audio Programming Derived from Satellite Broadcasts,” the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein, an IFE system that is capable of deriving video/audio programming signals from satellite broadcast signals transmitted in either the circular polarized form or the linear polarized form is disclosed. This system is able to derive the video/audio programming signals from satellite broadcast signals transmitted by satellite constellations within any geographical region, so that live video/audio programming may be distributed to aircraft passengers on a worldwide basis.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an IFE system that derives video/audio programming signals from satellite broadcast signals transmitted either in circular polarized form or linear polarized form, using an intermediate frequency (IF) signal generating unit that receives downconverter control signals and DC power over IF signal output cables.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of producing IF signals from satellite broadcast signals using downconverter control signals and DC power that are delivered over IF signal output cables.
The above and other objects are achieved by diplexing the downconverter control signals and DC power onto the IF signal output cables. By using the IF signal output cables as input lines for the downconverter control signals and DC power, the wiring structure is greatly simplified in the IFE system according to the present invention. This results in valuable weight savings for the aircraft. Additionally, the IFE system according to the present invention employs: a pair of bias-T connectors that are arranged in the IF signal output cables. The bias-T connectors permit the IF signals that are generated by the downconverter to be supplied over the output cables in a first direction while extracting the downconverter control signals and DC power that are received in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction.
Additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description of preferred embodiments which follows.
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U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/085,180 Infiesto et al., filing date of May 26, 1998.
Bartlett James L.
Larson Curtis J.
Miller Scott D.
Phillipp Ralph
Eppele Kyle
Jensen Nathan O.
Orgad Edan
Rockwell Collins, Inc.
Vo Nguyen T.
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