DATA TRANSMISSION UNIT FOR A VEHICLE INTERIOR, DATA TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IN A VEHICLE INTERIOR, AIRCRAFT

Abstract

The present invention relates to a data transmission unit (1) for a vehicle interior, in particular for an aircraft interior (15), comprising at least one LiFi unit (2), at least one ToF unit (7), and a control unit (4), coupled respectively to these components, comprising a control program (5) for controlling the respective functionalities of these components. Specifically, the at least one LiFi unit (2) and the at least one ToF unit (7) are designed to emit respective light signals for their respective functionalities via a common light source module (9). Furthermore, a data transmission system (14) for a vehicle interior, in particular for an aircraft interior (15), and an aircraft (100) comprising either at least one data transmission unit (1) according to the invention or a system (14) according to the invention are presented. (Fig. 2)

Description

Title of the invention: DATA TRANSMISSION UNIT FOR A VEHICLE INTERIOR, DATA TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IN A VEHICLE INTERIOR, AIRCRAFT TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a data transmission unit for a vehicle interior, in particular for an aircraft interior, a data transmission system in a vehicle interior, in particular for an aircraft interior, and an aircraft comprising either at least one data transmission unit according to the invention or a system according to the invention. PRIOR TECHNOLOGY

[0002] Data transmission techniques are necessary for a wide variety of reasons and in different fields. In particular, radio networks, which are predominantly local today, such as WLAN based on the IEEE-802.11 family of standards or similar, are used in spatially limited areas. In vehicle interiors as well, such technologies are used to transmit data from a transmitting unit to a plurality of terminals located within the vehicle interior.

[0003] Local radio networks are frequently limited to two frequency bands (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz). The most recent developments are characterized by the fact that maximum transmission rates of up to 9.6 Gbit / s can be achieved.

[0004] Local area networks use radio waves to transmit data or data packets between a transmitting unit and a respective terminal. Physical obstacles within the range of the transmitting unit's radio waves do not essentially lead to any significant degradation in data transmission rates. It can be considered a disadvantage that radio signals can therefore also be received outside defined indoor spaces, which could be particularly problematic when transmitting sensitive data.

[0005] In particular, considering the last point, data transmission technologies based on the use of light signals are becoming increasingly attractive. The so-called LiFi technology (derived from English technical terminology) Light Fidelity (LED) is a wireless optical technology that uses modulated light signals for data transmission. Theoretically, the entire light spectrum can be used, although known applications are limited to visible light or infrared radiation. In addition to the wider range of available spectrum, data transmission rates of up to 100 Gbit / s are also possible.

[0006] The use of LiFi-based technologies in vehicle interiors can be complex, as a clear link path is essential for the unimpeded transmission of data or data packets. In this context, opaque objects or people naturally constitute barriers that can block the flow of data from light signals. Additional barrier-free transmission path monitoring systems would not only incur extra costs but could also sometimes not be integrated or implemented in an already limited vehicle interior due to insufficient space. Description of the invention

[0007] In this context, an objective of the present invention is to provide a data transmission unit for an interior vehicle space, in particular for an interior aircraft space, and a data transmission system in an interior vehicle space, which at least partially overcome the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0008] This objective is achieved through a data transmission unit having the characteristics of the invention and a system having the characteristics of the invention.

[0009] According to the present invention, a data transmission unit for a vehicle interior, in particular for an aircraft interior, is provided, comprising at least one LiFi unit, at least one ToF unit, and a control unit, coupled respectively to these components, comprising a control program for controlling the respective functionalities of these components. In this case, the at least one LiFi unit and the at least one ToF unit are designed to emit respective light signals for their respective functionalities via a common light source module.

[0010] The invention further provides for a data transmission system in an interior vehicle space, in particular in an interior aircraft space, which system comprises at least two data transmission units according to the invention, respective control units comprising control programs being designed to evaluate at least two ToF unit information successive data collected using respective ToF units by means of a comparison with a system-specific database or an external database coupled to the system and relating to ToF unit information and LiFi unit information, so that possible coverage of data transmission signals of the respective LiFi units can be detected early and so that optimal system data transmission rates can thus be produced respectively using the respective LiFi units.

[0011] In addition, according to the invention, an aircraft is provided, which includes at least one data transmission unit according to the invention or a system according to the invention.

[0012] A key idea of ​​the invention is therefore to provide a data transmission unit and a system by means of which data can be transmitted quickly and reliably within a vehicle's interior space. To achieve high-speed data transmission, emphasis is placed on the use of LiFi technology. Simultaneously, in the respective devices, data transmission unit, and system according to the invention, ToF technology is combined in such a way that, on the one hand, it is designed to be compact and space-saving, due to the inclusion of a common light source module incorporating LiFi technology, and at the same time, it provides the possibility of monitoring the transmission path between the transmitting light source module and any receiving devices within the devices' light cone, so that appropriate actions can be triggered..

[0013] A first advantage thus lies in the fact that both the data transmission unit according to the invention and the system according to the invention can be provided in a compact and therefore space-saving manner in an interior space of a vehicle, for example an interior space of an aircraft, because two technologies previously provided separately are provided together in a device using the same components, the same light source module and also the same control unit comprising a control program.

[0014] This new concept thus reduces not only the on-site installation space in a vehicle, for example in an aircraft, but also reduces manufacturing costs, since components can now be used together for different technical tasks. In other words, one of the main advantages lies in the fact that instead of two separate devices for LiFi and ToF sensors, only one device is required, which means a reduction in costs for production, installation, maintenance, etc.

[0015] Another advantage of the combined LiFi / ToF device is the ability to detect potential obstacles in the field of view between the LiFi access point and the terminal, which obstacles affect LiFi transmission performance. This The advantage also applies to the system according to the invention, which can also be considered as a whole as a complex device, comprising at least two data transmission units according to the invention.

[0016] The aforementioned advantages, if applicable, are also valid for the aircraft presented.

[0017] According to another embodiment of the invention, the common light source module comprises at least one light modulation unit and at least one light source unit, and the at least one light source unit is selected from: a modulating light source unit, an LED unit, a qDEL unit, a VCSL (surface-emitting vertical cavity laser diode) unit, and the at least one light modulation unit is selected from: an acousto-optic modulation unit, an electro-optic modulation unit, a polarization modulation unit, an interferometric optical modulation unit, a Mach-Zehnder modulation unit, a laser beam modulation unit.

[0018] Depending on the intended use and the structure of the vehicle's interior space, the appropriate components of the common light source module can thus be selected and arranged in the respective device. In particular, the use of VCSL (vertical cavity surface-emitting diode) units with correspondingly adapted light modulation units can be advantageous for the combined use of LiFi and ToF technologies, as the respective light signals can thus be provided in a particularly precise and efficient manner.

[0019] According to another embodiment of the invention, the data transmission unit is designed to be functionally integrated into a passenger service unit for a vehicle, in particular an aircraft, and at least one functionality of the passenger service unit is controllable based on a sequence of signals, evaluated using the control unit comprising a control program, of at least one ToF unit.

[0020] A signal sequence of a ToF unit can be considered in this respect as an emitted light signal and an associated received light signal at the level of at least one ToF unit. In other words, objects within the light cone of the common light source module can thus be detected in the signal sequences. This object detection, for example in the form of a person's arm or hand gesture, can be used in this embodiment as control for at least one function of the passenger service unit. A function of the passenger service unit could, for example, be the switching on of a lamp or the activation of an airflow. Functional integration thus constitutes a form of coupling between devices, which coupling is characterized by Information, for example in the form of command instructions or similar signals, can be exchanged between them. In this context, the coupled passenger service unit and the data transmission unit according to the invention can not only communicate with each other but can also interact with each other. Similarly, command sequences or similar signals can be triggered, at least partially, by the passenger service unit in the data transmission unit, and vice versa.

[0021] According to another embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at least one functionality of at least one LiFi unit can be adapted at least temporarily according to a sequence of signals, evaluated using the control unit comprising a control program, of at least one ToF unit.

[0022] Beyond the definition, already described, of the signal sequence, respective objects can be detected in the light cone of the common light source module using the ToF unit, so that possible blockages of a data transmission signal emitted using the LiFi unit can be detected.

[0023] An interruption in data transmission can, for example, be considered a temporary adaptation, with transmission resuming as soon as the ToF unit detects that the previously detected blockage has been removed. In the case of multiple planned LiFi units, a temporary adaptation can also be achieved by selecting a LiFi unit whose transmission path is not currently blocked or is not significantly blocked. Since the same light source module is used according to the invention, another advantage in this context is that the respective light signals have identical paths, so that any blockages can be detected very precisely and therefore logically.

[0024] In certain embodiments of the invention, the common light source module is provided to comprise at least one array of light source units. An array of light source units has the advantage, on the one hand, that different light source units can be provided within the array. On the other hand, depending on the size of the array, a corresponding area within the vehicle's interior can be covered, so that even if partial coverage is detected, sufficient data can still be transmitted.

[0025] According to another embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a cone of light from the common light source module can be adjusted by the data transmission unit using at least one optical unit coupled to the control unit comprising a control program.

[0026] In this way, it is possible to widen the light cone, in order to provide data transmission to regions that were not previously accessible, for example. This embodiment can also be advantageously used when, for example, an object blocking the optical path is detected. In this case, the optical unit can be adjusted so that a corresponding widening of the light cone is sufficient to produce the desired data transmission.

[0027] According to another embodiment of the invention, the data transmission unit is designed to provide at least one external device with at least one piece of information detected using the ToF unit in a cone of light from the common light source module.

[0028] The control unit provided in the data transmission unit and comprising a control program may, for this purpose, be designed so that the signal sequences collected using the ToF unit are evaluated in order to ultimately obtain information or intelligence relating to a detected object. For example, an empty seat may be detected in this way, this information then being made available to another external device, for example in the form of a crew display or similar, for another use.

[0029] According to another embodiment of the invention, it is provided that respective light signals for respective functionalities of at least one LiFi unit and at least one ToF unit differ at least in terms of their blinking frequency or their duty cycle or their blinking frequency and their duty cycle.

[0030] In this way, the light source module used in common can advantageously be used even more efficiently and an even better association of respective receiving devices with the emitted light signals can be obtained even better.

[0031] According to another embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at least one LiFi unit and at least one ToF unit are designed to receive respective light signals for their respective functionalities through a common receiving module.

[0032] In this way, a more compact data transmission unit can be obtained. It is also possible to ensure even better that respective signals can be predicted for a substantially identical region. In other words, it is therefore possible to detect even more reliably whether a transmission path for information to be transmitted is free or not. It is also possible to switch to another transmission mode more quickly, because an even more rapid response Rapid deployment can be triggered due to increased reliability. The common receiving module can, for example, be designed as a light / photon receiving unit or similar, which is intended to provide the necessary functionalities for both the LiFi unit and the ToF unit.

[0033] According to another embodiment of the invention, the common light source module and the common receiver module are provided substantially in a modular unit.

[0034] In this way, the data transmission unit can be built even more compactly, so that it can be installed in a space-saving manner. Furthermore, other costs can be saved, since common components can then be used where possible. Brief description of the drawings

[0035] The present invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of the embodiment examples shown in the schematic figures:

[0036] [Fig.1] illustrates a schematic view of a data transmission unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] [Fig.2] illustrates a schematic view of another data transmission unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] [Fig.3] illustrates a schematic view of a data transmission system in an interior vehicle space according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] [Fig.4] illustrates a schematic view of an aircraft comprising a data transmission unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] [Fig. 5] illustrates a schematic view of an aircraft comprising a system according to a embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] In the figures of the drawing, identical elements, features and components, of identical function and acting in the same way, are given the same reference signs respectively, unless otherwise indicated.

[0042] DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS GIVEN BY WAY OF EXAMPLE

[0043] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic view of a data transmission unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this simple embodiment of the data transmission unit 1, only a LiFi unit 2 is provided, which is shown coupled to a control unit 4 comprising a control program 5 via a first link line 3. The aforementioned components of the data transmission unit 1 are shown in this instance arranged in a housing 6. The arrangement inside the housing 6 can be variably configured for these components As mentioned above, a maintenance-friendly design is advantageous. A maintenance-friendly design can, for example, be characterized by the arrangement and placement of the aforementioned components so that they can be easily replaced. The control unit 4, which includes a control program 5, can, for instance, be designed as a CPU / FPGA / ASIC processor unit with corresponding software, thus saving not only costs but also weight and space, i.e., installation space.

[0044] In embodiments not shown in further detail, it is conceivable that more than one LiFi 2 unit may be provided. For example, two or more LiFi 2 units may be provided. The respective LiFi 2 units serve as LiFi access points, enabling wireless data transmission to possible terminals. Such terminals may, for example, be laptops, mobile phones, tablets, or the like. Non-mobile terminals installed in the vehicle's interior are also conceivable as receivers of the transmitted data. These may, for example, be respective entertainment units in the aircraft or another vehicle, which are, for example, integrated into the vehicle's seatbacks.It is conceivable that other components of the LiFi 2 unit are planned inside the case 6, for example at a lower edge of the case 6, in particular in recesses of the case 6 provided for this purpose, in order to receive signals introduced for example from the outside.

[0045] The control unit 4 comprising a control program 5 is further represented in a coupled manner to a ToF unit 7 by means of a second link line 8.

[0046] The control unit 4, comprising a control program 5, is designed to generate commands for the respective functionalities of these components, the LiFi unit 2, and the ToF unit 7. The control program 5 may include predefined programs but can also be customized and adaptable. All hybrid solutions between these two extremes are also possible.

[0047] The ToF unit 7 is shown arranged on a lower boundary of the housing 6 relative to the image plane, such that a sensor unit, not shown in further detail, of the ToF unit 7 can detect corresponding reflected light signals from outside the housing 6. First, emitted light signals from the ToF unit 7 and then reflected light signals detected by the ToF unit 7 can, in this case, be considered as a sequence of signals from the ToF unit 7. This sensor unit, not shown in further detail, can, for example, be a photodiode, a photosensor, or something similar.

[0048] Both the LiFi unit 2 and the ToF unit 7 are further shown coupled to a common light source module 9 via a third link line 10 or via a fourth link line 11. In this respect, the light source module 9 shown is used in the same way by both units 2 and 7. In other words, both the LiFi unit 2 and the ToF unit 7 are designed to emit their respective light signals for their respective functions via this common light source module 9. The dashed lines 12 below the housing 6 indicate a region in which the light cone 13 of the light source module 9 radiates.

[0049] The light source module 9 comprises, in this instance, light source units not shown in further detail and corresponding light modulation units. Embodiments comprising only one unit of these components are conceivable. In other embodiments not shown in further detail, two light source units and a common light modulation unit may also be provided. It is also conceivable that different selections of the respective light source modules and light modulation units may be combined.

[0050] In cases where more than two LiFi 2 units are provided, it is possible for data transmission to be performed in parallel via the two LiFi 2 units. It is also possible for the light source module 9 to comprise respective light source units, which are associated with respective LiFi 2 units. In cases where light signals from one of these light source units are blocked by an obstacle and therefore no data transmission can take place, this situation can be detected in accordance with the basic idea of ​​the invention presented using respective ToF units 7, in order to then continue data transmission accordingly via another LiFi 2 unit.Since a common light source module 9 with a corresponding light cone is provided for both the LiFi units 2 and the ToF units 7, the respective states of the data transmission paths can be detected early, so that improvements to data transmissions can be made or trouble-free data transmissions are possible via the emitted light signals. The data to be transmitted can be provided by external devices, which are correspondingly coupled to the data transmission unit 1. Such an external device can be, for example, in the form of a cabin data server or similar in the aircraft, the data being, for example, in the form of video data files and / or other data. or audio data files (streaming, viewing while loading), magazines, web browsing, etc.

[0051] Figure [Fig. 2] illustrates a schematic view of another data transmission unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] This data transmission unit 1 is substantially identical in construction to that shown and described in [Fig. 1], so that identical components with identical reference numerals are not reintroduced at this stage. The only difference is that the data transmission unit 1 illustrated in [Fig. 2] also has a common receiver module 200. This common receiver module 200 is, in this case, provided in substantially the same location within the data transmission unit 1, with which a common light source module 9 is also provided.

[0053] Both the LiFi unit 2 and the ToF unit 7 are represented in a coupled manner to the common light source module 200 by means of a third link line 10 or by means of a fourth link line 11.

[0054] In an alternative embodiment not shown in more detail, it is conceivable that the common receiving module 200 and the light source module 9 used in common are provided substantially in a modular unit.

[0055] Figure 3 illustrates a schematic view of a data transmission system 14 in a vehicle interior according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the vehicle interior is an aircraft passenger interior 15. The system 14 shows a total of three data transmission units 1, which may correspond, for example, to the data transmission units 1 illustrated in Figure 1. It is therefore conceivable that these are three identical data transmission units 1.

[0056] In an embodiment not shown in more detail, it is however conceivable that these are data transmission units 1 made differently, which include, for example, depending on the location of use, a light source module 9 modified differently.

[0057] In [Fig. 3], the respective data transmission units 1 are represented in respective passenger service units 16 above respective aircraft seats 17. The passenger service units 16 may, for example, have conventional functions, not shown in further detail, for passengers in an aircraft interior space 15, such as a user-configurable ventilation system, reading lights, service call buttons, and the like. In this context, it is conceivable that the aircraft seats 17 are respective rows of seats in the aircraft interior space 15, with a passenger service unit 16 then being provided above each seat. seat, which unit then presents for its part, in an integrated manner, a data transmission unit 1 of the system 14 according to the invention.

[0058] In [Fig.3], the passenger service units 16 and the data transmission units 1 of the system 14 are shown coupled to a central aircraft cabin data server 19 by means of a fifth link line 18. It is conceivable, for example, that the data to be transmitted by means of the respective data transmission units 1 are present in this aircraft cabin data server 19 and can be extracted accordingly either directly or by means of the respective passenger service units 16 or even by means of IFE units (IFE = Inflight-Entertainment) not shown in more detail and can be provided to the respective data transmission units 1 for data transmission.

[0059] In the embodiment of the system 14 shown in [Fig.3], an associated data bank 20 is provided in an integrated manner in the aircraft cabin data server 19. This data bank 20 is a data bank relating to ToF unit information and LiFi unit information.

[0060] LiFi unit information can, for example, be any data relating to the planned data transmission using light signals.

[0061] ToF unit information can, for example, be stored in relation to objects to be detected or to sequences of passenger body part movements. For example, an object could be an aircraft seat 17 in its basic position or in its basic position with at least one armrest 21 tilted. A typical movement sequence of a passenger's body part 22 could, for example, be a typical arm movement that the passenger 22 makes to grasp a drink placed in front of them, bring it to their mouth, and then return it to its intended position. The posture of a passenger 22 holding a book or tablet, as shown in the center of [Fig. 3], can also be stored correspondingly as ToF information in the database 20.

[0062] When objects or movement sequences are detected using the respective ToF units 7 of the data transmission units 1 of the system 14, it is thus possible to detect early, by comparison with the data bank 20, whether a data transmission path of a specific LiFi unit 2 is likely to be obstructed. In this case, the system 14 can, provided that other LiFi units 2 cover at least partially the same region, continue data transmission with another LiFi unit 2 of the system 14.

[0063] In other words, possible coverage of data transmission signals, represented in [Fig. 3] by respective light wave symbols 23, of the respective LiFi 2 units can be detected early, so that data rates of optimal data transmission of system 14 can be produced using the respective LiFi 2 units.

[0064] An overlapping arrangement of data transmission signals from neighboring data transmission units 1 is also conceivable in this case, as is an overlap of respective light source units in the respective light source modules 9.

[0065] In the case where an optical unit, coupled to a respective control unit 4 comprising a control program 5 and not shown in further detail, of the data transmission unit 1 is provided, it is also conceivable that a region, which changes by means of the correspondingly controlled optical unit, of a cone of light serves to ensure that sufficient light signals are sent to the detected object so that a possible data transmission can nevertheless take place. In other words, the LiFi data processing rate is hindered in the case of a blockage / obstruction of the field of view. This can, for example, be manifested in a decreasing transmission rate or a falling data rate.Thanks to early detection of potential visual link disruptions, LiFi performance can be improved by proactively transferring data communication to the nearest LiFi access point (LiFi Unit 2), instead of reactively transferring it in the event of a LiFi data link failure. In one embodiment not shown in further detail, this proactive transfer can be carried out in a decentralized manner between the passenger service units 16 / LiFi access points (LiFi Units 2) or managed by the central aircraft cabin data server 19. In another embodiment, individual control of the respective data transmission units 1 is also possible.

[0066] Thanks to obstacle detection, the transfer from one LiFi 2 unit to another LiFi 2 unit, for example from the next data transmission unit 1 or from one LiFi 2 unit into the same data transmission unit 1 can be improved, by the fact that the movement of the obstacle is detected before the field of vision is interrupted by the obstacle.

[0067] However, a separate, independent positioning of this data bank 20 is also conceivable. It is also conceivable that this data bank 20 is not stored in the aircraft cabin data server 19, but instead in one of the data transmission units 1 of the system 14. It is also conceivable that this data bank 20 is stored partly in the data transmission units 1 and partly either in the aircraft cabin data server 19 or even via corresponding link technologies outside the aircraft 100.

[0068] Furthermore, the system 14 shown offers other functions. The ToF portion, i.e., the respective ToF units 7 of the combined device, i.e., the respective data transmission units 1 of the system 14, monitors the environment of the associated sensors (of the light source module 9). It can be used for gesture control of the passenger service unit 16, for example, turning the reading light on / off, bright / dark, actuation of the service call button, control of the ventilation system, etc.

[0069] The ToF sensor, namely the ToF unit 7 comprising the corresponding sensor elements, can also monitor the position of the armrests and backrests of aircraft seat 17, and determine whether aircraft seat 17 is occupied or not. Since the ToF sensor has only a very limited pixel resolution, it can be used for object / passenger detection without impacting the General Data Protection Regulation (no facial identification / recognition is possible).

[0070] Information from the gesture control and passenger service unit control can, for example, be processed locally in the passenger service unit 16 or in the respective control units 4 comprising control programs 5. Information relating to the seat status (armrest, backrest, occupied or not) can be sent to the central aircraft cabin data server 19 and stored there for corresponding evaluation steps by the cabin crew. The information can be further processed by being displayed to the cabin crew via a flight attendant panel (wireless) or sent from it to any onboard server for further processing (big data analysis, monitoring of dwell time, etc.).

[0071] The ToF sensor (ToF unit 7) can also detect whether the field of view for wireless LiFi data communication between the LiFi unit 2 in the passenger service unit 16 and a possible terminal (mobile device of a passenger or crew member, seat-level in-flight entertainment screen, etc.) is blocked, for example by the heads of passengers 22 or other obstacles.

[0072] Figure 4 illustrates a schematic view of an aircraft 100 comprising a data transmission unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0073] Figure 5 illustrates a schematic view of an aircraft 100 comprising a system 14 according to an embodiment of the present invention. List of reference signs

[0074] 1 Data transmission unit

[0075] 2 LiFi Units

[0076] 3 First connecting line

[0077] 4 Control Unit

[0078] 5 Control program

[0079] 6 Housing

[0080] 7 Unit ToF

[0081] 8 Second connecting line

[0082] 9 Light source module

[0083] 10 Third connecting line

[0084] 11 Fourth connecting line

[0085] 12 Dotted line

[0086] 13 Cone of light

[0087] 14 System

[0088] 15 Aircraft interior space

[0089] 16 Passenger Service Unit

[0090] 17 Aircraft seat

[0091] 18 Fifth connecting line

[0092] 19 Aircraft cabin data server

[0093] 20 Database

[0094] 21 Armrest

[0095] 22 Passenger

[0096] 23 Light wave symbol

[0097] 100 Aircraft

[0098] 200 Receiving Module

Claims

Demands

1. Data transmission unit (1) for an interior vehicle space, in particular for an interior aircraft space (15), comprising at least one LiFi unit (2), at least one ToF unit (7) and a control unit (4), coupled respectively to these components, comprising a control program (5) for controlling the respective functionalities of these components, characterized in that the at least one LiFi unit (2) and the at least one ToF unit (7) are designed to emit respective light signals for their respective functionalities through a common light source module (9).

2. Data transmission unit (1) according to claim 1, the common light source module (9) comprising at least one light modulation unit and at least one light source unit and the at least one light source unit being selected from: a modulating light source unit, an LED unit, a pDEL unit, a VCSL (surface-emitting vertical cavity laser diode) unit, and the at least one light modulation unit being selected from: an acousto-optic modulation unit, an electro-optic modulation unit, a polarization modulation unit, an interferometric optical modulation unit, a Mach-Zehnder modulation unit, a laser beam modulation unit.

3. Data transmission unit (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, the data transmission unit (1) being designed to be functionally integrated into a passenger service unit (16) for a vehicle, in particular an aircraft (100), and at least one functionality of the passenger service unit (16) being controllable according to a sequence of signals, evaluated using the control unit (4) comprising a control program (5), of at least one ToF unit (7).

4. Data transmission unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, at least one functionality of at least one LiFi unit (2) capable of being adapted at least temporarily according to a sequence of signals, evaluated using the control unit (4) comprising a control program (5), of at least one ToF unit (7).

5. Data transmission unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the common light source module (9) comprising at least one array of light source units.

6. Data transmission unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, a cone of light of the common light source module (9) being able to be adjusted by the data transmission unit (1) using at least one optical unit coupled to the control unit (4) comprising a control program (5).

7. Data transmission unit (1) according to the preceding claim, the data transmission unit (1) being designed to provide at least one external device with at least one piece of information detected using the ToF unit (7) in a cone of light from the common light source module (9).

8. Data transmission unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, respective light signals for respective functionalities of at least one LiFi unit (2) and at least one ToF unit (7) differing at least in terms of their blink rate or duty cycle or their blink rate and duty cycle.

9. Data transmission unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, at least one LiFi unit (2) and at least one ToF unit (7) being designed to receive respective light signals for their respective functionalities through a common receiver module (200).

10. Data transmission unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the common light source module (9) and the common receiver module (200) being substantially provided in a modular unit.

11. A data transmission system (14) for an interior vehicle space, particularly an interior aircraft space (15), comprising at least two data transmission units (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, respective control units (4) comprising control programs (5) designed to evaluate at least two successive ToF unit informations collected using respective ToF units (7) by means of a comparison with a system-specific database or an external database coupled to the system (14) and relating to ToF unit information and information

12. of LiFi units, so that possible coverage of data transmission signals of the respective LiFi units (2) can be detected early and so that optimal data transmission rates of the system (14) can thus be produced respectively using the respective LiFi units (2). Aircraft (100) comprising at least one data transmission unit (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10 or a system (14) according to claim 11