Window-Mounted Antenna for Aircraft Data Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data transmission methods for wide-body airliners, such as radio communication with ground stations or satellites, face limitations in range, security, and availability, especially over large sea areas and at polar regions, and require complex and expensive installations with lengthy approval processes.
Innovation Solution
Positioning transceiver antennas near windows in the passenger cabin or cargo hold to establish a line-of-sight connection with airborne communication hubs like LEO satellites or high-flying aircraft, allowing for secure and position-independent data transmission of flight data without requiring permanent installation or passenger access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If satellite antennas are installed separately on the outside of the aircraft for communication with satellites, then data transmission capability is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the antenna from the traditional external mounting location and repositions it to utilize the existing window structure. The window serves as the mounting surface, eliminating the need for separate external antenna installations and complex approval processes while maintaining satellite communication capability through the window material.
Solution Approach 2:
The window structure is given multiple functions: it serves both as the aircraft cabin boundary and as the mounting surface for the satellite antenna. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed and simplifies the overall system while enabling data transmission without additional external installations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If broadband satellite connections are used for data communication, then communication availability is improved, but security deteriorates because passengers can access the data communication
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is segmented into two separate channels: a secure channel for flight data transmission using the window-mounted antenna, and a passenger entertainment channel using existing broadband satellite connections. This segmentation allows both communication availability and data security to be satisfied simultaneously by dedicating different resources to different purposes.
3Device complexity
If conventional radio communication with ground stations is used, then equipment simplicity is improved, but communication range deteriorates over large sea areas and polar regions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces LEO satellites as intermediary communication nodes between the aircraft and ground stations. The window-mounted antenna communicates with these satellites, which then relay the data to ground stations, thereby extending communication range to areas like polar regions and large sea areas while maintaining relative equipment simplicity.
4Reliability
If antennas are permanently installed on the aircraft fuselage for satellite communication, then communication reliability is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to lengthy approval processes
Solution Approach 1:
The design takes advantage of the pre-existing window structures on aircraft, which are already approved as part of the aircraft certification. By mounting the antenna on these pre-approved window surfaces rather than making new modifications to the fuselage, the invention avoids lengthy additional approval processes while maintaining communication reliability.
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
Enables secure, position-independent data transmission of flight data and allows for easy retrofitting without complex approval procedures, decoupling from passenger communication and ensuring data integrity by using removable antennas and a routing device that communicates with the cockpit and credit card readers.
Implementation Method 1
the antenna has a line of sight through the window to the outside in order to establish a data connection between the antenna and a airborne communication hub... radio waves transmitted between the antenna and the airborne communication hub can pass through the window
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for position-independent transmission and reception of data to and from a high-capacity passenger aircraft (10), characterised by the steps of: installing, in the vicinity of a window of said passenger aircraft (10), at least one antenna (16) designed for communicating with an airborne communications hub (22), transmitting and/or receiving the data between at least the antenna (16) and an airborne communications hub (22) during the flight, and transmitting the data within the aircraft (10), between the antenna (16) and a routing device (20) connected to said antenna (16).