Panasonic Avionics Corporation

Steven Lee Sizelove

Christopher Brian Lundquist

Cedric Rhoads

Brian Jennings Kirby

Paul Anthony Margis

Mark Taylor

Mehdi Izadyar

Marshal H Perlman

Christoph Mack

John Andrew Johnson

Drew Calvin Bamford

James A Haak

Rand William Lee

Stefan Pannenbecker

Scott Bright

Ross Collins

Gregory Singleton

Skooks Pong

Henry Sugito Osias

Sebastian Maximilian Johannes Petry

Jonah S Griffith

Jared Randall

Jeff Ladwig

Brian Piquette

Karen Marie Werner

Brian Plquette

Karen Marie Pascarella Werner

An in-flight entertainment system remote controller has a control unit with a generally planar configuration. The control unit has a gaming controls side, an opposed keyboard side, and a top edge segment between the gaming controls side and the keyboard side. A dock is mounted to a passenger seat structure, and defines an open receptacle that is receptive to the control unit. The dock defines an insertion axis that is substantially coplanar with the remote control unit when oriented for mounting. The top edge segment is exposed while the gaming controls side and the keyboard side are concealed, with the control unit in a retracted position.

Control unit for in-flight entertainment system

A method and system are provided for generating imagery of a virtual window within an aircraft cabin. The method may be implemented using computer executable instructions, loaded onto a personal entertainment device (PED) for configuring the PED to link to an aircraft inflight entertainment system (IFE) and access imagery, such as imagery from at least one camera directed to an environment outside of the aircraft. The imagery is displayed on a surface visible to the passenger, and formatted to simulate an aircraft window.

Virtual window display system

A communication connector system for connecting with a peripheral communication connector having a peripheral housing with at least one of a peripheral contact, a peripheral magnet and a peripheral detent and methods for manufacturing and using same. The communication connector system includes a housing assembly with a mating surface. A system contact is disposed on the mating surface and can cooperate with the peripheral contact; whereas, a system magnet is provided in the housing assembly and can cooperate with the peripheral magnet. A magnetically coupling between the system magnet and the peripheral magnet can retain the housing assembly in connection with the peripheral housing during use. The housing assembly likewise can include a housing assembly detent for cooperating with the peripheral detent. An electrical connection between the communication connector and the peripheral communication connector thereby can advantageously be formed via the system contact or the housing assembly detent.

Communication connector system and method

An integrated user interface system being disposed at a chair and methods for manufacturing and using same. The user interface system comprises one or more interface elements that are disposed at an armrest or other suitable chair location and that are obscured from view or otherwise de-emphasized when a user is distal from the user interface system. At least one selected interface element becomes emphasized when a user hand becomes proximate to the user interface system. The selected interface element can become emphasized, for example, by becoming visible and/or by forming a raised projection. Upon becoming emphasized, the selected interface element is activated for use and can be manipulated to interact with available system resources. The chair advantageously can appear to be an ordinary chair when the user interface system is not in use and can present the user interface system when the user wishes to access the system resources.

Integrated user interface system and method

A personal user control device suitable for use in cooperation with information systems, such as vehicle information systems, and methods for manufacturing and using same. The personal user control device provides a user-friendly interface system for interacting with the information system. Unlike conventional control devices, the user interface system includes no dedicated buttons and provides a customizable environment for interacting with the information system. When in communication with the information system, the personal user control device can automatically detect system status information, such as available system functionality, available viewing content, and/or a current system operation mode, of the information system and provides a user interface system that instinctively adapts for use with the information system in light of the detected system status information. The personal user control device thereby provides a versatile and intuitive manner for interacting with the information system.

Portable user control device and method for vehicle information systems

An information system suitable for use in cooperation with portable media devices, such as an Apple iPod&#xae; digital electronic media device, and methods for manufacturing and using same. The information system provides a user-friendly communication interface for coupling with a portable media device and can perform a plurality of integration tasks simultaneously, enabling the personal media device to become fully integrated with the information system. Viewing content thereby can be selected from video and/or audio viewing content stored internally within the personal media device, and the selected viewing content can be communicated from the personal media device to the information system for presentation via a video presentation system and/or an audio presentation system of the information system. The personal media device likewise can receive control commands and/or operating power from the information system. Thereby, the personal media device advantageously can become a seamless part of the information system.

System and method for interfacing a portable media device with a vehicle information system

An information system suitable for use in cooperation with portable media devices, such as an Apple iPod&#xae; digital electronic media device, and methods for manufacturing and using same. The information system supports a simple manner for seamlessly integrating the personal media device with the information system, immersing a user in a rich and intuitive media environment. When the personal media device and the information system are coupled, viewing content from the personal media device can be integrated 'on the fly' into the information system via an interactive user interface system. The personal media device likewise can receive control commands and/or operating power from the information system. Thereby, the user can advantageously enjoy his own personal viewing content from the personal media device via the larger video presentation system and/or the enhanced audio presentation system of the information system, while recharging an internal battery system of the personal media device.

Media device interface system and method for vehicle information systems

A multiplayer gaming system and methods for manufacturing and using same. The multiplayer game has game indicia and a plurality of game elements including one or more exposed game elements and at least one concealed game element associated with each player. Video interface systems are disposed at respective player seats and present different perspective views of the game indicia and the exposed game elements to the players. The multiplayer gaming system likewise includes a plurality of handheld player control devices that provide a customized game interface for presenting the concealed game element to the associated player while inhibiting other players from viewing the concealed game element and for enabling the player to actively control his participation in the multiplayer game. The multiplayer gaming system thereby simulates an experience of physically participating in a tangible game.

System and method for hosting multiplayer games

Integrated user interface system for user seat

A portable media device for use in cooperation with passenger entertainment systems installed in vehicles, such as automobiles and aircraft, and methods for manufacturing and using same. The portable media device is configured to communicate with one or more content sources, which provide viewing content and which may be proximate to, and/or remote from, the portable media device. Preferably being configured to wirelessly communicate with the content sources, the portable media device can select content from any available content source and can download and present the selected content in any conventional manner. The selected content can be streamed to the portable media device for contemporaneous presentation and/or stored by the portable media device for viewing at any time, including after disembarking the vehicle once travel is completed. As desired, the portable media device likewise can be configured to transmit appropriate upload content to the content sources.

Portable media device and method for presenting viewing content during travel

Growing community of inventors

Woodinville, CA, United States of America

Steven Lee Sizelove