Thales Avionics, Inc.

Ton Do

Kevin Judd

Bipin Bopaliya

John J Daly

Brian Johnson

Sam Yoon

Francesco Finizio

Gerald E Lester

Randall Welch

Lili Hong

Brian Humphrey

Terry Lo

Tomson Tseng

Deo M Magakat

Raghunath Gunti

Douglas Green

A first connector, for coupling to a second connector, including a support structure, a set of spring-biased pogo pins arranged in a linear configuration and configured to carry at least one of electrical signals and power, a resilient structure extending across a face of the support structure, and a first pair of magnetic couplers attached to the resilient structure on opposite sides of the set of spring-biased pogo pins is disclosed. The spring- biased pogo pins are each located in a corresponding passage in the support structure. The first pair of magnetic couplers are configured to mate with a corresponding second pair of magnetic couplers of the second connector and compress the resilient structure to bias the set of spring-biased pogo pins against a corresponding set of target contact pads of the second connector.

Floating pogo connectors for tablet computers of aircraft inflight entertainment systems and crew terminals

In flight entertainment remote control handset

A docking station for storing a handset. A storage tray has a first recessed area for storing the handset and a second recessed area for a passenger to grip a top surface of the stored handset. The docking station includes a second latch extended into the second recessed area to engage an indent in the bottom surface of the handset. The docking station includes a first latch extended into the second recessed area to engage an indent located in the front surface of the handset. Depression of a release actuator retracts the first latch to release the top surface of the handset. The release actuator extends through an opening in the first recessed area, which has a length sufficient to allow a finger to actuate the release actuator and grip the top surface of the remote control handset while the remote control handset is stored in the storage tray.

Docking station storing remote control for inflight entertainment systems

A handset device controls a vehicle entertainment system. The handset device includes an interface configured to communicate control signaling to the entertainment system, user selectable interface elements, light devices arranged to form light zones providing backlighting to corresponding groups of one or more of the user selectable interface elements, and controller circuitry. The controller circuitry is configured to respond to user selections among the user selectable interface elements by triggering corresponding control signaling to be communicated through the interface. The controller circuitry determines a lighting setting to select one of the light zones to activate to backlight the corresponding group of the one or more of the user selectable interface elements, and controls power flow to at least one light device in the selected light zone based on the light setting to backlight the corresponding group of the one or more of the user selectable interface elements.

Handsets for controlling inflight entertainment systems

An interface for a bulkhead monitor in an in-flight entertainment system, and a method for using the same. More specifically, a one-wire interface use to electrically couple a tapping unit and its associated monitor in an in-flight entertainment system. The wire has a first end for coupling to an input of a comparator in the tapping unit, and a second end for coupling to an input of a comparator in the monitor, to couple the tapping unit to the monitor. The interface further includes a second wire for coupling the wire to a load, such as an indicator which indicates an on or off condition of at least the video monitor. The wire of the interface can also carry a signal indicating a indicating at least one of transmitting state and a receiving state of a microcontroller of the monitor.

Interface for bulkhead monitor and method for using the same

A mounting device for a line replaceable unit in an aircraft, and a method for using the same. The mounting device provides for easy installation and removal of a line replaceable unit from overhead mounting apparatus or mounting rails in an aircraft, in particular, an Airbus. The mounting device includes a fixing block having a least one opening, and at least one assembly including a shaft portion passing through the opening, a clamping element and a visual position element whose orientation indicates an orientation of the clamping element. The assembly is operable such that the clamping element secures the device to a component of the vehicle when positioned in a first position, and releases the device when positioned in a second position, and the visual position element provides an indication of whether the clamping element is in the first or second position.

Mounting device for a line replaceable unit in an aircraft and a method for using the same

A low-profile D-subshell connector system is provided with interlocking components that can be used where space limitations are required. The system comprises a connector plug that has a connector; a backshell that houses a portion of the connector and is affixed to the connector; and a latch that is affixed to the connector and backshell. The latch comprises an angled tab that is resiliently pivotally mounted to a front portion of the latch. The tab comprises a wide region, a narrow region, and a release protrusion extending perpendicular from a top surface of the tab. A catch assembly engages the tab of the latch, the catch comprising a front portion having a notch therein. A part of the catch front portion serves to engage the wide region of the tab, thereby forcing the tab to pivot when the connector is partially inserted; and the narrow region of the tab resides in the catch notch when the connector is fully inserted.

Low-profile D-subshell connector system with interlocking components

Growing community of inventors

Corona, CA, United States of America

Ton Do