The Boeing Company

Theboeing Company

Daniel J Ellis

Steven J Avila

John Patrick Baron

Anil Kumar

Henry Zhenhua Zhang

Guillermo De Vivero

Antonio Sanchez

Aaron N Voigt

Ryan Kevin Torgerson

John P Baron

Henry Z Zhang

Modular RF assemblies are described for radio networks. The modular RF assemblies include a number of replaceable elements for simplified maintenance and upgradability. In particular, the modular RF assemblies include a control assembly which includes electronics, an RF antenna assembly that includes one or more RF antennas, and a mounting plate. The RF antenna assembly is removably mounted to the control assembly, and the control assembly is removably mounted to the mounting plate. During a maintenance operation and/or an upgrade operation, the control assembly and/or the RF antenna assembly may be replaced to resolve a defective component, to modify the orientation or type of the one or more RF antennas, to change the type of wireless spectrum used for the radio network, etc.

Modular radio frequency (RF) antenna assemblies

A method and apparatus for communicating RF signals is described. In one embodiment, the apparatus is evidenced by a multi-band integrated antenna assembly comprising a blade antenna having a conductive ground plane, a planar antenna array for communicating a second signal, and a signal processor. The planar antenna array transmits and receives signals using a passive Rotman lens beam former that can be utilized in environmentally challenging applications.

Multi-system multi-band antenna assembly with Rotman lens

An aircraft interface device comprising two or more data interface devices, an external data transceiver, a power module, a domain switch, and a controller is disclosed. The two or more data interface devices communicate data, the external data transceiver communicate to an external communication device, and the power module provides power to the two or more data interface devices and the external data transceiver. The two or more data interface devices comprise a first data interface device that communicates with avionics equipment when the first data interface device is powered and a second data interface device that communicates with non-avionics equipment when the second data interface device is powered. The domain switch selectively provides power from the power module to at least one of the two or more data interface devices. The controller provides a data communication path between the selectively powered data interface device and the external data transceiver for the external communication device.

Aircraft interface device

A method and apparatus for transmitting RF signals is described. In one embodiment, the apparatus is evidenced by a multi-band antenna assembly. The multi-band antenna assembly comprises of a base portion, a blade antenna supporting omni-directional beam while the second one is an antenna array that has a directional beam. The top portion comprises a first surface facing away from the base portion, the first surface having an first antenna array including a plurality of first antenna elements; a second surface facing the base portion; and a peripheral surface on a periphery of the top portion and disposed between the first surface and the second surface, the peripheral surface comprising one or more further antenna arrays having a plurality of further antenna elements.

Multi system multi band antenna and antenna arrays assembly

Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for universal aircraft broadband control within an aircraft flight deck. In one example, a system includes a control panel and a switch coupled to the control panel. The system further includes a controller coupled to the switch and configured to determine a switch position based on a switch position signal associated with a position of the switch, receive a conditioned aircraft signal associated with parameters of an aircraft, and provide a controller control signal to control whether transmissions occur from an aircraft antenna based on at least one of the switch position signal and the conditioned aircraft signal.

Universal broadband control panel systems and methods

Systems and methods according to one or more embodiments are provided for an aircraft flight crew secure communication path to multiple aircraft data domains. In one example, a system includes one or more data interface devices configured to communicate data. A power module is configured to provide power to the one or more data interface devices, and a switch coupled between the power module and each of the one or more data interface devices is configured to selectively provide power from the power module to at least one of the one or more data interface devices. A data transceiver is configured to couple to an external communication device, and a controller coupled between the one or more data interface devices and the data transceiver is configured to provide a data communication path between the selectively powered data interface device and the data transceiver for the external communication device.

Growing community of inventors

Bellevue, WA, United States of America

Daniel J Ellis