Thomcast Communications, Inc.

Thales Avionics, Inc.

Thales Broadcast & Multimedia, Inc.

Thomson Licensing

Thales North America, Inc.

Communication Microwave Corporation

Paulo Correa

Carl Ungvarsky

Clifford Harris

Alvin B See

Kenneth A Brady, Jr

Gary Vanyek

Anh Nguyen

Harmon F Law

V Ian McClelland

Arnaud Heydler

A wireless communication system for a vehicle includes a seat or overhead video display unit, a control and audio unit that is associated with and located remotely with respect to the video display unit, a first wireless transceiver associated with the video display unit, a second wireless transceiver associated with the control and audio unit, where the first and second wireless transceivers are linked together for communication. The video display unit receives audiovisual content and splits audio content for transmission to the control unit. The control unit can similarly transmit control and selection information to the video display unit.

Wireless audio distribution system and method for an in-flight entertainment system

A communication system for a vehicle includes a server that includes a real time operating system, at least one cabin function application that runs on the real time operating system, and at least one in-flight entertainment application that runs on another operating system on top of the real time operating system. Thus, an in-operation entertainment system is capable of providing audio and/or visual content to a large number of locations in a cabin of the vehicle, and a cabin function system is capable of providing various cabin applications, e.g., lighting level control, attendant calling, air conditioning control, etc. at different locations in the vehicle cabin in a manner that is isolated and prioritized over the entertainment system.

Server design and method

A circuit to monitor ac line current through resistors employed to provide a 'step start' in a power supply, including means to monitor the current flowing through the step start resistors, comprising a peak detector, a sample and hold circuit, an analog to digital convertor and a microprocessor. The output of the current monitoring circuit may be employed to abort starting if abnormalities are sensed. The circuit may also be used to identify when the step start resistors need longer cooling time, and to continuously monitor current at times other than during starting. A timing circuit is also incorporated, which senses zero crossings of the voltage input to the power supply, so as to control the timing of the current monitoring circuit. The discrete circuits employed may be replaced by either a digital signal processor integrated circuit or a general-purpose computer implementing the same steps in a suitable algorithm.

Apparatus, method and computer program product for monitoring AC line current through the step start resistors of a high voltage power supply

A circuit to monitor AC line current through resistors employed to provide a 'step start' in a power supply, including means to monitor the current flowing through the step start resistors, comprising a peak detector, a sample and hold circuit, an analog to digital convertor and a microprocessor. The output of the current monitoring circuit may be employed to abort starting if abnormalities are sensed. The circuit may also be used to identify when the step start resistors need longer cooling time, and to continuously monitor current at times other than during starting. A timing circuit is also incorporated, which senses zero crossings of the voltage input to the power supply, so as to control the timing of the current monitoring circuit. The discrete circuits employed may be replaced by either a digital signal processor integrated circuit or a general-purpose computer implementing the same steps in a suitable algorithm.

A controller-based radio frequency amplifier method and module are employed in a modular transmission system in which respective of the controller-based radio frequency amplifier modules amplify a portion of a signal that is input into the system. Each amplifier module includes an amplifier submodule have a plurality of discrete amplifiers arranged in an amplifier chain, a processor submodule is configured to control a level of the amplified output signal that is output from each amplifier module, a power supply module, and an enclosure. The processor submodule is configured to control the discrete amplifiers in the amplifier submodule such that the module may be removed or added to the system without damaging the power amplifier module or other system components.

Controller-based radio frequency amplifier module and method

A computer program product is configured to control a modular transmission system having a control processor and at least N power amplifier modules, each having a controller submodule, wherein the system receives an input signal which may be a single carrier or multiple carriers. The signal is passed to a one-by-N divider which divides the signal N ways. Each of the N divided signals are independently amplified by the power amplifier (PA) modules 'slices' (i.e., PA modules) that includes an RF amplifier module, a microcontroller module, and a power supply module, all of which are tightly coupled via a plurality of signal, power, control, and status connections. Each the PA slices amplifies its respective input signal and outputs a respective radio frequency output signal at a predetermined power level as controlled by the microcontrol module, the driver, and the system controller, or a network manager via a system input/output interface. The output coupler provides power coupling and status monitoring via feedback lines to support control at a module-level, a system-level, and a network-level.

Computer program product configured to control modular transmission

A modular broadband transmission system and method include an input signal connector that receives an input signal which is then divided into N parts and amplified with an amplifier have N power amplifier modules. Outputs of the N power amplifier modules are passed through transmission lines and to a radial combiner that combines the outputs. The radial combiner, transmission lines and power amplifier modules are configured such that if one of the power amplifier modules fails, the other power amplifier modules may still operate acceptable well, with minimal impact on total output power. An output of the amplifier is provided to a coupler that measures a power level of the output signal and feeds the measured power level back to a controller where the controller adjust an overall output power based on the number of the power amplifier modules that are functioning properly. Each of the power amplifier modules have a processor such that respective of the power amplifier modules may be taken off-line, and replaced while the other power amplifier modules continue to operate in a transmit mode of operation. The modular broadband transmission system and method may conveniently be used as either a broadband booster for amplifying a plurality of input signals, or a head and transmitter configured to amplify one or more different input signals.

Modular transmission system and method

A dielectric resonator filter is configured to suppress emissions in an out-of-band frequency portion of an amplified radio frequency (RF) signal prior to transmission of the RF signal by an antenna assembly. The filter includes plural tunable resonant cavities, each of which have a dielectric resonator and are arranged to suppress a magnitude of a frequency component in the out-of-band frequency portion of the RF signal. The amplified RF signal is applied to the plural resonant cavities with a microstrip transmission line. The dielectric resonators are arranged so as to automatically compensate for temperature-induced resonance condition variations.

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Kingston, PA, United States of America

Paulo Correa