# US 9,521,678 B2 · Wireless data concentrators for aircraft data networks

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- Number: US 9,521,678 B2
- Document ID: US9521678B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/656,623
- Filed: 2015-03-12
- Published: 2016-09-15
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-12
- Assignees: The Boeing Company
- Applicants: The Boeing Company
- Inventors: Stephen G. Dame; Yakentim M. Ibrahim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521678B2

## CPC

- H04W 72/51: based on terminal or device properties
- H01Q 1/2291: {used in Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi® devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN] (H01Q1/241 takes precedence; WLAN in general H04W)}
- H01Q 1/38: formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support {(patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142)}
- H01Q 1/521: {reducing the coupling between adjacent antennas}
- H01Q 1/526: {Electromagnetic shields}
- H01Q 9/04: Resonant antennas
- H01Q 9/0421: {with a shorting wall or a shorting pin at one end of the element (H01Q9/0414 takes precedence)}
- H01Q 21/28: Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems {(multiple beam H01Q25/00)}
- H04B 1/40: Circuits
- H04W 4/70: Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72)
- H04B: TRANSMISSION

## Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide for a four-channel Wireless Data Concentrator (WDC) for a data network of an aircraft. One embodiment of a WDC includes a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), and a controller. The controller is electrically coupled to a top surface of the PCB and is proximate to a centerline of the PCB. The WDC further includes four Radio Frequency (RF) transceivers electrically coupled to the top surface of the PCB that are disposed orthogonally to each other around the controller. Each RF transceiver communicates with at least one wireless sensor that measures an environment of the aircraft. The WDC further includes four inverted-F PCB trace antennas fabricated along the top surface of the PCB. Each inverted-F PCB trace antenna is electrically coupled to one of the RF transceivers and is disposed orthogonally to each other around the controller.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wireless data concentrator for a data network of an aircraft, the wireless data concentrator comprising:
a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) having a top surface and a bottom surface;
a controller electrically coupled to the top surface of the PCB and proximate to a centerline of the PCB;
four Radio Frequency (RF) transceivers electrically coupled to the top surface of the PCB that are disposed orthogonally to each other around the controller, each configured to communicate with the controller and at least one wireless sensor that measures an environment of the aircraft; and
four inverted-F PCB trace antennas fabricated along the top surface of the PCB, each electrically coupled to one of the RF transceivers and disposed orthogonally to each other around the controller;
the controller configured to receive sensor data about the environment of the aircraft from the at least one wireless sensor utilizing at least one of the RF transceivers, and to provide the sensor data to an application server of the data network of the aircraft utilizing a data backbone of the data network.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The wireless data concentrator of claim 1 further comprising:
a connector coupled to the bottom surface of the PCB proximate to the centerline of the PCB that electrically couples the controller to the application server.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The wireless data concentrator of claim 1 further comprising:
an RF transparent radome configured to mechanically shield the top surface of the PCB.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The wireless data concentrator of claim 1 further comprising:
a metal shield proximate to the top surface of the PCB that is configured to surround the RF transceivers and the controller, and to expose the inverted-F PCB trace antennas.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The wireless data concentrator of claim 1 further comprising:
a metal shield proximate to the bottom surface of the PCB that is configured to surround PCB traces for the RF transceivers and the controller, and to expose the bottom surface of the PCB that is adjacent to the inverted-F PCB trace antennas.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The wireless data concentrator of claim 1 wherein the sensor data about the environment of the aircraft comprises at least one of a temperature of the environment, a pressure of the environment, and a vibration of the environment.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The wireless data concentrator of claim 6 wherein:
the controller is configured to forward the at least one measurement to the application server utilizing the data backbone of the network.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The wireless data concentrator of claim 1 wherein:
each of the inverted-F PCB trace antennas are located along an outside edge of the PCB.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The wireless data concentrator of claim 8 wherein:
an area along the outside edge of the PCB between each of the inverted-F PCB trace antennas is devoid of PCB traces.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The wireless data concentrator of claim 9 wherein:
the PCB is fabricated in a shape of a cross, with each of the inverted-F PCB trace antennas located in one of four ends of the cross.

### Claim 11

A wireless data concentrator for a data network of an aircraft, the wireless data concentrator comprising:
a Printed Circuit Board (PCB);
a controller electrically coupled to the PCB;
four Radio Frequency (RF) transceivers electrically coupled to the PCB that are disposed around the controller, each configured to communicate with the controller and at least one wireless sensor that measures an environment of the aircraft; and
four inverted-F PCB trace antennas fabricated into the PCB, each electrically coupled to one of the RF transceivers and disposed orthogonally to each other around the controller;
the controller configured to receive sensor data about the environment of the aircraft from the at least one wireless sensor utilizing at least one the RF transceivers, and to provide the sensor data to the data network of the aircraft utilizing a data backbone of the data network.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The wireless data concentrator of claim 11 further comprising:
a connector coupled to the bottom surface of the PCB proximate to the controller that electrically couples the wireless data concentrator to the data backbone.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The wireless data concentrator of claim 12 wherein:
the controller is configured to forward the at least one measurement to the data network of the aircraft utilizing the data backbone.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The wireless data concentrator of claim 11 wherein:
each of the inverted-F PCB trace antennas are located along an outside edge of the PCB.

### Claim 15

A wireless data concentrator for a data network of an aircraft, the wireless data concentrator comprising:
a controller electrically coupled to a Printed Circuit Board (PCB);
four Radio Frequency (RF) transceivers electrically coupled to the PCB that are disposed around the controller, each configured to communicate with the controller and at least one wireless sensor that measures an environment of the aircraft; and
four PCB trace antennas fabricated into the PCB, each electrically coupled to one of the RF transceivers and disposed orthogonally to each other around the controller;
the controller configured to receive sensor data about the environment of the aircraft from the at least one wireless sensor utilizing at least one of the RF transceivers, and to provide the sensor data to the data network of the aircraft.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The wireless data concentrator of claim 15 wherein:
the PCB trace antennas comprise inverted-F antennas.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The wireless data concentrators of claim 16 wherein:
each of the inverted-F antennas are located along an outside edge of the PCB.