# US 2019/0356510 A1 · Multi-use optical data, powerline data, and ground power interface for an airplane

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- Number: US 2019/0356510 A1
- Document ID: US20190356510A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/980,606
- Filed: 2018-05-15
- Published: 2019-11-21
- Earliest claimed: 2018-05-15
- Assignees: The Boeing Company
- Applicants: The Boeing Company
- Inventors: Donald B. Lee; Timothy M. Mitchell; Brian E. Ward
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190356510A1

## CPC

- H04B 10/808: {Electrical power feeding of an optical transmission system}
- H04L 12/40045: {Details regarding the feeding of energy to the node from the bus}
- G02B 6/3817: {containing optical and electrical conductors (cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence)}
- G06F 1/266: {Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips}
- G06F 13/4068: {Electrical coupling}
- G07C 5/008: {communicating information to a remotely located station (transmission systems for measured values G08C)}
- H01R 13/7172: {Conduits for light transmission}
- H04B 3/54: Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
- H04B 10/25: Arrangements specific to fibre transmission
- H04B 10/2589: {Bidirectional transmission}
- G02B 6/32: having lens focusing means {positioned between opposed fibre ends (with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262)}
- H04L 2012/4028: {the transportation system being an aircraft}
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for a multi-use optical data, powerline data, and ground power interface for an airplane are disclosed. A method for communicating data between a vehicle and a ground system comprises disposing a pin of a connector of a multi-use power interface, which is connected to the ground system, into a socket of a connector of the vehicle such that a lens located on an end of the pin mates with an interior surface of a bottom of the socket. The pin and the socket each comprise an optical portion and a power portion. The method further comprises providing, by the ground system, power to an onboard system on the vehicle via the power portions of the pin and socket. Further, the method comprises communicating data between the onboard system and the ground system via the optical portions and the power portions of the pin and socket.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for communicating data between a vehicle and a ground system, the method comprising:
disposing a pin of a connector of a multi-use power interface, which is connected to the ground system, into a socket of a connector of the vehicle such that a lens located on an end of the pin mates with an interior surface of a bottom of the socket,
wherein the pin and the socket each comprise an optical portion and a power portion;
providing, by the ground system, power to an onboard system on the vehicle via the power portions of the pin and the socket; and
communicating at least a portion of the data between the onboard system and the ground system via the optical portions of the pin and the socket.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises communicating at least a portion of the data between the onboard system and the ground system via the power portions of the pin and the socket.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the lens is concave shaped and the interior surface of the bottom of the socket is convex shaped.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the lens is convex shaped and the interior surface of the bottom of the socket is concave shaped.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises spreading, by the lens, a beam of an optical signal radiating from the optical portion of the pin.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is one of an airborne vehicle, a space vehicle, a terrestrial vehicle, or a marine vehicle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the data comprises at least one of aircraft control domain data, aircraft information systems data, or inflight entertainment data.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the pin is removable from the connector of the multi-use power interface.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the power comprises alternating current (AC) power.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the onboard system is one of an avionics system, an aircraft control domain system, an aircraft information system, a video surveillance system, an inflight entertainment system, or a mission system.

### Claim 11

A system for communicating data between a vehicle and a ground system, the system comprising:
the ground system connected to a multi-use power interface;
the vehicle comprising a connector, which comprises a socket; and
the multi-use power interface comprising a connector, which comprises a pin that is to be disposed into the socket such that a lens located on an end of the pin mates with an interior surface of a bottom of the socket,
wherein the ground system is to provide power to an onboard system on the vehicle via power portions of the pin and the socket, and at least a portion of the data is communicated between the onboard system and the ground system via optical portions of the pin and the socket.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the data is communicated between the onboard system and the ground system via the power portions of the pin and the socket.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the lens is concave shaped and the interior surface of the bottom of the socket is convex shaped.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the lens is convex shaped and the interior surface of the bottom of the socket is concave shaped.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the lens is to spread a beam of an optical signal radiating from the optical portion of the pin.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle is one of an airborne vehicle, a space vehicle, a terrestrial vehicle, or a marine vehicle.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the data comprises at least one of aircraft control domain data, aircraft information systems data, or inflight entertainment data.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the pin is removable from the connector of the multi-use power interface.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the power comprises alternating current (AC) power.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the onboard system is one of an avionics system, an aircraft control domain system, an aircraft information system, a video surveillance system, an inflight entertainment system, or a mission system.