WO2003024110A1

WO2003024110A1 - In-flight seatback with pocket for pcu

Info

Publication number: WO2003024110A1
Application number: PCT/US2002/027420
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wayne P. Chen; Tola I. Chin; Shan E. Gaw; John A. Johnson; Chris Lundquist; Paul Margis; Steve Sizelove; Philipp Steiner; Oliver F. Grabes
Original assignee: Matsushita Avionics Systems Corporation
Priority date: 2001-09-11
Filing date: 2002-08-27
Publication date: 2003-03-20
Also published as: CN1554191A; EP1425917A1; IL160211A0

Abstract

The invention is a passenger entertainment system comprising a passenger control unit (PCU) that can be simply retained and retrieved from a pocket (12) on an airline seatback (14). A cable retractor for retracting a cable (24) connected to the PCU (10) can be provided at a suitable location, such as underneath the airline seat. The passenger control units (10) can take any of several forms with suitable controls for selecting video channels, audio channels, controlling volume, selecting a menu of options, and the like. The PCU can be used for accessing and sending e-mails.

Description

DESCRIPTION

IN-FLIGHT SEATBACK WITH POCKET FOR PCU

The present invention relates to passenger entertainment equipment such as for aircraft, and more particularly relates to a compact entertainment passenger control unit which can be hand held and simply retained, and be retrieved from a pocket on a passenger seatback.

Background Of The Invention

Various forms of in-flight entertainment systems are available today and which provide video and audio programming, and other information. Some areas of aircraft, particularly the coach/economy class on commercial airliners are relatively confined, thereby presenting problems for placement of various controls that may be needed or desired for an entertainment system. Most systems today use controls on a seat arm rest, and some provide controls on a video display which may be mounted on a seat back or elsewhere. In the confined area of some seating sections, and even on business and first class compartments, space for providing suitable controls may not be available or may be relatively cluttered.

Summary Of The Invention

According to the present invention, an in-flight entertainment passenger control unit (PCU) is provided and which is relatively compact and can be hand held, and which can be located in an add-on pocket or panel, such as of fabric, provided in or attached to the seatback of an airline seat. Various controls are provided on the PCU, and generally obviating the need for video and audio controls on the seat armrest. Devices according to the present invention solve the problem of locating a PCU that can have a large enough display to provide audio on demand, video, and textural and graphical information, such as in the confined area of coach/economy class on common commercial airliners. The advantages of the implementation this provides are flexibility in shape of the PCU; that is, it need not be subject to physical seat arm constraints; does not require seat arm modification; and can have easier cable routing. Although the concepts of the present invention are particularly applicable for coach and economy class, the concepts also are applicable to business and first class sections of aircraft. In addition, the concepts of the present invention can provide a device which can be an option for airlines to provide enhanced audio entertainment and/or information such as travel updates, schedules, weather conditions, and news. E-mail, web browsing and other features also can be made available.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved entertainment passenger control unit. Another object is to provide a hand held passenger unit which can be stored in a seatback pocket.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become better understood through a consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a passenger retrieving for use an inflight entertainment passenger control unit (PCU) according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates an exemplary passenger control unit and seatback pocket for receiving and holding the unit; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of an aircraft seat illustrating a PCU disposed in a seatback, and an exemplary method of cable routing and a cable retractor;

Figs. 4a through 4d illustrate a first simple version of a PCU and pocket according to the present invention;

Figs. 5a through 5d illustrate another version; Figs. 6a and 6b illustrate a video PCU;

Figs. 7a-7b illustrate a passenger email version, Fig. 7c a volume and channel in-line control, and Fig. 7d an optional arm mounted electronic jack;

Fig. 8 shows an airline seatback and PCU stored therein; and

Figure 9 shows an optional separate arm mounted unit. Detailed Description

Turning now to the drawings, and first to Figures 1 through 3, the basic concepts of the present invention are generally illustrated as comprising a new form of passenger control unit (PCU) 10 which is retained and supported in a pocket 12 on a seatback 14 of a conventional airline seat 16. The seatback 14 has the usual fold-down tray 18 (Fig. 3) and magazine pocket 20. Fig. 1 illustrates a second seat 16a and a passenger 22 reaching for and retrieving the PCU 10 from the pocket 12 of the seat 16 in front. The PCU is connected by a cable 24 which extends down the back of the seat back 14 to a suitable cable retractor and electrical terminal 26 typically on the bottom of the seat 16 which, in turn, is connected to the in-flight entertainment system (not shown) of the aircraft. Several embodiments of the PCU will be described subsequently.

Turning again to the seatback pocket 12, in one version the same can be a pocket which is thermoformed plastic or foam covered with fabric and sewn into the seat cover of the seatback 14 as particularly seen in Fig. 2. The PCU cord 24 runs to the retractor and terminal 26 and thus is retained in a manner that will not disturb or interfere with other passengers. The pocket 12 may extend across the seatback 14, or only partially across, at any convenient location, but preferably just behind the upper portion of the magazine pocket 20. More detailed views of exemplary PCU's, PCU pockets, passenger seat and optional accessories are illustrated in Figures 4 and 9 and will be discussed in greater detail subsequently.

The passenger control unit 10 can take any of several forms, from a relatively simple unit to a very sophisticated unit. Relatively simple versions of exemplary PCU's are illustrated in Figures 4a - 4c and 5a - 5c. These PCU's are similar, each having a case 30, LCD screen 32 and control section 34. The main differences between the embodiment of Figures 4a - 4c and that of Figures 5a - 5c are a different case configuration, and the addition of a hook 36 in the latter embodiment, and in the specific control buttons disposed in control section 34. Each of these buttons includes a navigation key 40, a back button 42, "OK" or enter button 44 and menu button 46. In the embodiment of Figures 5a - 5c, the back and "OK" buttons are in the form of a rocker-type button. The screen 32 allows any menu-based information available in the airline entertainment system to be accessed, and the menu provides a means of bringing up the menu. The navigation key 40 allows scrolling up and down, and right and left, as needed as is familiar to those skilled in the electronic art, the back button 42 allows going back one step, and the OK button 44 allows an event to be selected. The events available can include audio selections, video selections, and the like. For example, one can create a song play list, pick a movie, access and play a game, or the like by using the controls and the screen. The hook 36 allows the PCU to be hung on a suitable hook (not shown) on a seat back or other suitable and convenient area, such as the front of the arm rest. In addition to the screen 32 and control area 34, the PCU can also include a card reader and card reader slot 48 (Fig. 4c) for reading various types of cards, such as credit cards, frequent flyer cards, and the like.

Figures 6a and 6b illustrate two versions of a video PCU which has controls similar to those of the other embodiments including control a keypad 50 like 34 but further having a keyboard 52 to allow the entry of specific information in selecting video and/or audio programming. The differences in the embodiments of Figs. 6a and 6b are in the button configuration. The video PCU can be used for email also, using the seatback monitor as the screen. Figures 7a and 7b illustrate PCU's for e-mail applications. These each include a display 32 and a keyboard 52 as well as suitable control sections 50 with navigation, back, menu and OK buttons similar to those previously discussed. Figure 7c further illustrates an inline audio unit 60 which can be inline in the cable 24 and which includes a mode button 62, volume up and down rocker button 64, and channel up and down rocker button 66. Figure 7d illustrates an optional USB, ethernet and audio jack unit 70 which preferably can be mounted in the front side of an armrest, although it could be mounted to the side or elsewhere.

Figure 8 shows a more detailed view of a typical airline seatback with tray 18, magazine pocket 20, and showing the PCU 10 in its seatback pocket. This Figure further illustrates a video display 76 having suitable controls including a channel dial 78. Individual video channels can be selected by rotating the dial rather than tapping a button which sometimes is objectionable to the passenger in the front seat. Figure 9 illustrates an optional unit 80 which typically can be mounted as a fixed separate unit in the side of an armrest. It can include controls for providing access to audio on demand, passenger control unit, and with USB, ethernet and audio jacks as shown to the left.

While embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, and all such modifications and equivalents are intended to be covered.

Claims

1. An in-flight entertainment system comprising a passenger control unit including controls at least for enabling selection of video and audio programming, and a pocket on a seatback of an airline seat configured for receiving the passenger control unit for storing and allowing retrieval of the control unit from the pocket for use by a passenger behind the seatback.

2. An in-flight entertainment system as in Claim 1 wherein the pocket is provided by affixing the same to the seatback.

3. An in-flight entertainment system as in Claim 2 wherein the pocket is affixed inside and near the top of a magazine pocket of the seatback.

4. An in-flight entertainment system as in Claim 1 wherein the passenger control unit includes a screen for visually presenting information to a passenger, and the controls include at least a navigation control for facilitating selection of programming, and a menu control for allowing access to available programming.

5. An in-flight entertainment system as in Claim 4 wherein the passenger control unit further includes a keyboard for allowing entry of information on the screen.

6. An in-flight entertainment system as in Claim 4 wherein the passenger control unit includes a card reader for retrieving information from a card having information stored therein.

7. An in-flight entertainment system as in Claim 4 wherein the passenger control unit further includes an in-line control for facilitating control of audio programming.

8. An in-flight entertainment system as in Claim 1 further including a terminal unit having at least one of an audio jack, USB port and ethernet port.

9. An in-flight entertainment system comprising a portable hand-held passenger control unit including controls at least for enabling selection of video and audio programming, the passenger control unit including a communication cable connected thereto and adapted to be connected to a cable retractor and electrical terminal on an airline passenger seat to allow the passenger control unit to be retrieved for use from a pocket on a seatback of the airline seat and returned to the pocket for storage.

10. An in-flight entertainment system as in Claim 9 wherein the passenger control unit includes a screen for visually presenting information to a passenger, and the controls include at least a navigation control for facilitating selection of programming, and a menu control for allowing access to available programming.

11. An in-flight entertainment system as in Claim 10 wherein the passenger control unit further includes a keyboard for allowing entry of information on the screen.

12. An in-flight entertainment system as in Claim 10 wherein the passenger control unit includes a card reader for retrieving information from a card having information stored therein.

13. An in-flight entertainment system as in Claim 10 wherein the passenger control unit further includes an in-line control for facilitating control of audio programming.

14. An in-flight entertainment system as in Claim 9 further including a terminal unit having at least one of an audio jack, USB port and ethernet port.

15. An in-flight entertainment system for a passenger section of an aircraft having a plurality of passenger seats, the system comprising a plurality of passenger control units including controls at least for enabling selection of video and audio programming, and at least a plurality of the seats each including a pocket on a seatback of the seat and which pocket is configured for receiving the respective passenger control unit for storing and allowing retrieval thereof from the pockets for use by a passenger behind a respective seatback.

16. An in-flight entertainment system as in Claim 15 wherein the passenger control unit includes a screen for visually presenting information to a passenger, and the controls include at least a navigation control for facilitating selection of programming, and a menu control for allowing access to available programming.

17. An in-flight entertainment system as in Claim 16 wherein the passenger control unit further includes a keyboard for allowing entry of information on the screen.

18. An in-flight entertainment system comprising a hand held passenger control unit including controls at least for enabling selection of video programming, and a pocket on a seatback of an airline seat configured for receiving the passenger control unit for storing and allowing retrieval thereof from the pocket for use by a passenger behind the seatback.

19. An in-flight entertainment system comprising a hand held passenger control unit including controls at least for enabling selection of audio programming, and a pocket on a seatback of an airline seat configured for receiving the passenger control unit for storing and allowing retrieval thereof from the pocket for use by a passenger behind the seatback.

20. An in-flight entertainment as in Claim 19 wherein the passenger control unit further includes an in-line control for facilitating control of audio programming.