Airplane seat computer connection
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsWillie P. Rowland, Donald B. Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible computer connection attaches to a passenger seat in an airplane to supply a personal computer used by a passenger with electrical power and communications with an external location such as a ground source for telecommunications and connecting to the internet.
Claims17
An adjustably positionable person computer connecting device adapted to couple a computing device to a main communication line, the person computer connecting device comprising:
- a PC connector;
- a light source for illuminating a work area;
- a flexible support structure supporting and encapsulating a power supply conductor, a light power conductor and a communications conductor, the flexible support structure supporting the PC connector at a first end and being adapted to be fixedly coupled to a support structure so as to project from the support structure;
- the communication conductor being connected to the PC connector the communication conductor passing through a second end of the flexible support structure for attaching to the main communication line for communicating with the main communication line;
- and
- wherein the light source is coupled to the flexible support structure and a discrete power source.
A personal computer connecting device for connecting a personal computer to a ground terminal external to the mobile platform, the personal computer connecting device comprising:
- a PC connector;
- a communications wire connecting the PC connector to a transmission device in the mobile platform, the transmission line device for communicating with the ground terminal;
- a light source for illuminating a work area;
- a light power wire connecting the light source to a power supply to supply power to the light source;
- a power connector;
- a power supply wire connecting the power connector to the power source;
- the flexible support structure supporting and encapsulating the power supply wire, light power wire and communications wire, the flexible support structure comprising:
- an outer sheath;
- a peripheral support connected to a first end of the outer sheath, the peripheral support that supports the power connector, light source and PC connector;
- and
- a base connected to a second end of the outer sheath.
An aircraft comprising:
- a fuselage;
- a passenger seat positioned inside the fuselage;
- a personal computer connecting device connected to the passenger seat, the personal computer connecting device comprising:
- a PC connector;
- a communications wire connecting the PC connector to a transmission device for transmitting or receiving with a ground station;
- a fight source for illuminating a work area;
- a light power wire supplying power from a power source to the light source;
- and
- a flexible support structure, the flexible support structure supporting the PC connector and the light source at a first end, the flexible support structure attached to the passenger seat at a second end, the flexible support structure supporting and encapsulating the light power wire and the communications wire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.