# US 2021/0276715 A1 · Short throw projector as in-flight entertainment display

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- Number: US 2021/0276715 A1
- Document ID: US20210276715A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/136,898
- Filed: 2020-12-29
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-05
- Assignees: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
- Applicants: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
- Inventors: Tippanna Shetgar; Rajesh Mohanam; Aravinda Mahabaleshwara; Sivakumar Dwaraganathan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210276715A1

## CPC

- B64D 11/00151: {Permanently mounted seat back monitors}
- H04N 9/3138: {using arrays of modulated light sources (electroluminescent display devices G09G3/30)}
- B64D 11/0015: {Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television}
- G03B 21/00: Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor (devices for changing pictures G03B23/00)
- G03B 21/10: Projectors with built-in or built-on screen
- G03B 21/145: {Housing details, e.g. position adjustments thereof}
- G03B 21/28: Reflectors in projection beam {(in illumination beam G03B21/2066)}
- G03B 21/30: adapted to collapse or fold, e.g. for portability
- H04N 5/7475: {Constructional details of television projection apparatus}
- H04N 9/3141: {Constructional details thereof (details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14)}
- H04N 9/3144: {Cooling systems (cooling of liquid crystal cells in general G02F1/133382; cooling of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/16)}
- H04N 9/3147: {Multi-projection systems (video walls G06F3/1446)}
- H04N 9/315: {Modulator illumination systems (general applications of lighting devices F21V; general optical systems G02B; lamp houses for projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/20)}
- H04N 9/3152: {for shaping the light beam (beam shaping per se G02B27/09)}
- B60R 11/0229: {for displays, e.g. cathodic tubes}
- B60R 11/0235: {of flat type, e.g. LCD}
- Y02T 50/40: Weight reduction
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

An in-flight entertainment system is disclosed. In various embodiments, the in-flight entertainment system includes a display having a viewing surface and a back surface opposite the viewing surface; and a projector connected to the display and configured to illuminate the viewing surface.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An in-flight entertainment system, comprising:
a display having a viewing surface and a back surface opposite the viewing surface; and
a projector connected to the display and configured to illuminate the viewing surface via at least one mirror configured to configured to receive a light signal from a light source and to reflect the light signal onto the viewing surface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The in-flight entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the projector is connected to the back surface and includes the light source configured to direct the light signal in a first direction substantially parallel to a portion of the back surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The in-flight entertainment system of claim 2, wherein the projector includes a first mirror oriented to redirect the light signal from the first direction to a second direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The in-flight entertainment system of claim 3, wherein the projector includes a second mirror oriented to redirect the light signal from the second direction onto the viewing surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The in-flight entertainment system of claim 4, further comprising an electronics package configured to power the light source, the electronics package mounted on the back surface of the display.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The in-flight entertainment system of claim 5, wherein the electronics package includes a printed circuit board and a heat sink configured to cool the light source.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The in-flight entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the projector includes a first portion connected to the back surface of the display and a second portion directed toward the viewing surface.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The in-flight entertainment system of claim 7, wherein the first portion of the projector includes a first mirror oriented to redirect the light signal, incident from a first direction substantially parallel to a portion of the back surface, toward a second mirror.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The in-flight entertainment system of claim 8, wherein the second mirror is disposed within the second portion of the projector and oriented to redirect the light signal toward the viewing surface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The in-flight entertainment system of claim 9, wherein an overall length of the projector in a direction parallel to a surface normal of the viewing surface is between about one inch and about four inches.

### Claim 11

An aircraft passenger seating arrangement, comprising:
a first seat having a seatback; and
an in-flight entertainment system disposed within the seatback, the in-flight entertainment system including
a display having a viewing surface and a back surface opposite the viewing surface, and
a projector connected to the display and configured to illuminate the viewing surface.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The aircraft passenger seating arrangement of claim 11, wherein the projector is connected to the back surface and includes a light source configured to direct a light signal in a first direction substantially parallel to a portion of the back surface.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The aircraft passenger seating arrangement of claim 12, wherein the projector includes a first mirror oriented to redirect the light signal from the first direction to a second direction, the second direction being substantially parallel to a surface normal defined by the viewing surface.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The aircraft passenger seating arrangement of claim 13, wherein the projector includes a second mirror oriented to redirect the light signal from the second direction onto the viewing surface.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The aircraft passenger seating arrangement of claim 14, further comprising an electronics package configured to power the light source, the electronics package disposed within the seatback and mounted on the back surface of the display.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The aircraft passenger seating arrangement of claim 15, wherein the electronics package includes a printed circuit board and a heat sink configured to cool the light source.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The aircraft passenger seating arrangement of claim 16, wherein the projector includes a first portion connected to the back surface of the display and a second portion directed toward the viewing surface.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The aircraft passenger seating arrangement of claim 17, wherein the first portion of the projector includes the first mirror oriented to redirect the light signal and the second mirror is disposed within the second portion of the projector and oriented to redirect the light signal toward the viewing surface.

### Claim 19

A method of illuminating a display having a viewing surface and a back surface opposite the viewing surface, comprising:
directing a light signal in a first direction substantially parallel to the back surface toward a first mirror;
redirecting the light signal in a second direction toward a second mirror; and
redirecting the light signal received by the second mirror toward the viewing surface.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the light signal is generated by a light source connected to the back surface of the display and oriented to direct the light signal in the first direction.