Aircraft Cabin VLC Link for Flexible Seat Data Without Cabling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft cabin entertainment systems face limitations in flexibility and bandwidth due to cable-based data transmission, electromagnetic interference, and shadowing issues in optical communication, which hinder reconfiguration and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A two-way data communication system using visible light communication between furniture and cabin modules, with transmitters and receivers, enabling flexible furniture arrangement and high transmission rates without electromagnetic interference, utilizing LED and photodiode units with optical fibers for data transmission and inductive power transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If cable-based data transmission is used between monitors and server, then sufficient bandwidth for personal television is achieved, but reconfiguration of aircraft cabin requires new cable glands and completely new cabling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable-based data transmission system with an optical wireless communication system using light sources and light sensors. This substitution eliminates the need for physical cable connections and cable glands, allowing monitors to communicate with the server wirelessly through light signals that can pass through the cabin structure, thereby enabling flexible reconfiguration of aircraft cabin without re-cabling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light as an intermediary medium for data transmission between the server and monitors. Instead of direct cable connections, data is transmitted through light signals that can penetrate the cabin floor and seat structures, serving as a flexible intermediary that eliminates the need for physical cable pathways while maintaining high bandwidth communication.
2Adaptability or versatility
If inductive coupling is used for contactless data and power transmission, then flexibility of aircraft cabin reconfiguration is improved, but bandwidth for data transmission is comparatively low and electromagnetic interference is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces inductive coupling with optical communication using light sources and light sensors. This substitution eliminates electromagnetic interference associated with inductive coupling while providing significantly higher bandwidth for data transmission. The optical system uses light signals that can pass through the cabin structure without generating electromagnetic interference, thereby resolving both the bandwidth and interference issues.
3Quantity of substance
If optical free-space communication is used between transceivers, then high transmission rates are achieved, but communication link may be completely interrupted by shadowing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from line-of-sight optical communication in three-dimensional space to optical communication through the cabin floor structure. By utilizing the floor as a transmission medium, the system eliminates shadowing issues that occur when objects block direct line-of-sight paths. The light signals travel through the floor structure to reach monitors, ensuring reliable communication regardless of object positioning in the cabin.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates flexible aircraft cabin reconfiguration with high bandwidth and electromagnetic compatibility, eliminating the need for cables and reducing interference, while maintaining reliable two-way communication.
Implementation Method 1
the transmitter and receiver units each comprise a controllable light source and a light sensor
Implementation Method 2
light emanating from the light source of one of the transmitter and receiver units of the at least one cabin module is detected by the light sensor of the transmitter and receiver unit of the furniture module
Implementation Method 3
uses inductive coupling between a first coil embedded in the cabin floor and a second coil located on an aircraft seat to wirelessly transmit both power and data
Data Source
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Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a two-way data communication system (1) for aircraft cabins and to a method for the initialization thereof. The two-way data communication system (1) for aircraft cabins comprises at least one cabin module (10, 10') arranged in the aircraft cabin with at least one transmitting and receiving unit (20) as well as a furniture module (15) fixed to a piece of furniture (2) anchored in the aircraft cabin with a transmitting and receiving unit (20). The transmitting and receiving units (20) each have a controllable light source (21) and a light sensor (22). The furniture module is arranged in such a way with respect to the cabin module (10, 10') that light emitted by the light source (21) of one of the transmitting and receiving units (20) of the at least one cabin module (10, 10') is detected by the light sensor (22) of the transmitting and receiving unit (20) of the furniture module (15) and light emitted by the light source (21) of the transmitting and receiving unit (20) of the furniture module (15) is detected by the light sensor (22) of the same transmitting and receiving unit (20) of the at least one cabin module (10, 10').