Avicom International, Inc.

Hughes Aircraft Company

Audio in Motion

Richard A Bertagna

Dickey J Berry

Rudolfo M Ruiz

Benjamin H Stansbury, Jr

Kenneth A Tarlow

A video monitor or terminal (14,80) is provided in front of each passenger seat in an aircraft or other vehicle. Each terminal (14,80) includes a video display screen (22) which may be mounted in a seatback (16) or bulkhead facing the respective seat, or at the end of a pivotable swing arm (92) extending from the armrest console (84) of the seat. A transparent touch panel (24) overlies the screen (22) and has a plurality of touch sensitive areas for generating discrete electrical selection signals when touched. A computing unit including a text generator (30) displays visual prompts corresponding to passenger-selectable operations on the screen (22) underlying predetermined pressure sensitive areas of the touch panel (24). The operations may include selection of a multiplexed video channel for viewing, control of an individual video tape player (86), ordering of food, drinks and catalog merchandise and placing of telephone calls. A credit card reader (36) may be provided for payment for ordered items. An electronic control unit (28,94) is responsive to the selection signals from the panel (22), and controls the video terminal (14,80) to perform the operations corresponding thereto.

Entertainment and data management system for passenger vehicle including

Transaction monitoring and security control system for the sale and

A transaction monitoring and security system records data from the sale of articles and provides security for inventor and sales receipts. The system includes container for storing articles to be distributed, and computer-controlled locking system for controlling access to the articles. The initial inventory of articles stored in the container is bar-coded, and the bar code data provide a digital data record of articles stored and locked in the container. A central computing unit (CCU) includes a housing with locked compartments for receiving and storing a plurality of hand-held portable transaction monitoring units (PTMU's) used to record transaction data from the sale of articles in the container. Each PTMU contains a microprocessor and data storage for communicating with the CCU and with memory in the cart. The PTMU off-loads a digital data record of the inventory of articles stored in the container. A computer-controlled locking system permits removal of articles from the container only in response to a coded input from the PTMU. Transactions involving each article removed from the container for sale and distribution are recorded in the PTMU. After sales transactions are completed, data from the PTMU are off-loaded to the CCU by the PTMU. The PTMU can include a rotatable turret and bar code reading lens with an isolated amplifier inside the turret for amplifying signals generated by the read head for coupling to the microprocessor in the PTMU housing. Electrical shielding in the turret protects the amplifier from receiving interference signals from the electromics in the PTMU.

Portable transaction monitoring unit for transaction monitoring and

Headset

An over-the-head style headset to be used in the airline industry and supplied to passengers in flight to provide audio reception of one or more programs. The headset is designed to be snap-assembled from economically manufactured parts, and is capable of being easily converted between acoustic and electromagnetic operation.

A controlled access storage system provides for selectively permitting custodial access to valuable items that can be stored in a safe within the system. The system provides an item-removal mode of operation during which a record member is used to gain access to stored valuable items and is captured until an ensuing item-replacement mode of operation.

Controlled access storage system

An improved acoustic headset of the type used with sound reproduction equipment in airline entertainment systems. The headset has a yoke supporting a pin of curved sound-transmitting horns which terminate in soft tips for insertion in a passenger's ears. To provide improved alignment with the ear canals, the horns are rotatably mounted on the yoke, and are curved through more than a right angle. The headset provides improved frequency response and comfort to the user, and is designed for easy packaging and cleaning for repeated use.

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San Dimas, CA, United States of America

Richard A Bertagna