The Boeing Company

Greg A Bengeult

Jeffrey Paul Harrang

Michael De La Chapelle

Robert Paul Higgins

George W Fitzsimmons

Ronald Steven Carson

William R Richards

Geoffrey O White

Paulus J Martens

Daniel F Miller

Russell Berkheimer

Michael G Lynch

Arthur F Morrison

Richard D Williams, Ii

A system for bi-directional data content transfer between a plurality of mobile platforms, such as aircraft or cruise ships, and a ground-based control segment. The system includes the ground-based control segment, a space segment and a mobile system disposed on each mobile platform. The ground-based control segment includes an antenna which is used to transmit encoded RF signals representative of data content to the space segment. The space segment includes a plurality of satellite transponders, with one of the transponders being designated by the ground-based control segment to transpond the encoded RF signals to the mobile system. The mobile system includes steerable receive and transmit antennas. The receive antenna receives the encoded RF signals from the satellite transponder, which are thereafter decoded, demodulated, D/A converted by a communications subsystem and transmitted to a server. The server filters off that data content not requested by any occupants on the mobile system. A local area network (LAN) receives the remaining data content and provides same to individual users on the mobile platform in accordance with previously submitted programming requests or data input by the users at access stations associated independently with each user. The transmit antenna is used to transmit data content from laptop computers, PDAs or other user electronic devices coupled to the access stations back to the designated satellite transponder. The satellite transponder then transponds the data back to the antenna of the ground-based control segment.

Method and apparatus for providing bi-directional data services and live television programming to mobile platforms

In a system for launching RF energy as a traveling surface wave onto a single wire transmission line and causing such energy to be radiated away from the line at a downstream location, a series of window radiators of annular shape are spaced along the line, coaxial therewith, each for radiating a portion of the surface wave energy. Each radiator has a conductive component that causes decoupling and radiation of a portion of the RF energy, and a dielectric window that allows the remaining portion of RF energy to pass therethrough and continue, as an attached surface wave, downstream to a succeeding, similarly formed radiator where the decoupling and partial radiation occurs again. Thus, from the same surface wave transmission line system, it is possible to radiate RF energy from two or more discrete locations along the line.

Method and apparatus for proportional RF radiation from surface wave

Disclosed is a surface signal launcher for coupling RF signals between a coaxial cable in a single-wire surface wave transmission line. The signal launcher includes a shell-like, electrically conductive launcher horn that is installed at the juncture of the coaxial cable and the surface wave transmission line with the launcher horn concentrically surrunding the portion of the surface wave transmission line that is immediately adjacent the coaxial cable. The coaxial cable outer conductor is electrically connected to the forward end of the launcher horn with the center conductor of the coaxial cable being connected to one end of the surface wave transmission line. To prevent signal reflection at the interface between the coaxial cable and the launcher horn, the diameter of the launcher horn forward end is established to provide an impedance that is equal to the characteristic impedance of the coaxial cable. Aft of the forward end, the diameter of the launcher horn smoothly increases as a function of axial distance in a manner that establishes an impedance/axial distance relationship that corresponds to a Chebyshev impedance taper.

Launcher for surface wave transmission lines

Growing community of inventors

Auburn, WA, United States of America

Greg A Bengeult