The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 10, 1994
Filed:
Jul. 02, 1992
Dickey J Berry, La Verne, CA (US);
Richard A Bertagna, San Dimas, CA (US);
Hughes Aircraft Company, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
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.