Video display unit cassette assemblies for aircraft seats andenhanced in flight entertainment user experience

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016297526-A1
Application number	US-201615091272-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 5, 2016
Priority date	Apr 10, 2015
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A video display unit cassette assembly includes a cassette frame, a display coupled to the cassette frame, one or more electronic components between the cassette frame and the display, and a delethalization cover coupled to the display. The one or more electronic components receive data content from a network and generate video signals provided to the display. The cassette assembly is sized and configured to be releasably mounted in an installed position in a mounting structure defined in a seatback of a vehicle seat.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A video display unit cassette assembly comprising:
a cassette frame; a display coupled to the cassette frame; one or more electronic components between the cassette frame and the display, the one or more electronic components receiving data content from a network and generating video signals provided to the display; and a delethalization cover coupled to the display; wherein the cassette assembly is sized and configured to be releasably mounted in an installed position in a mounting structure defined in a seatback of a vehicle seat.

2 . The cassette assembly of claim 1 wherein the cassette frame comprises a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle configured to receive a corresponding fastener of the mounting structure to secure the cassette assembly in the installed position.

3 . The cassette assembly of claim 2 wherein the plurality of receptacles comprises:
a plurality of ledges extending from a first sidewall of the cassette frame with an aperture defined in each of the supports and configured to receive one of the fasteners; and
a plurality of ledges extending from a second, opposite sidewall of the cassette frame with an aperture defined in each of the supports and configured to receive one of the fasteners.

4 . The cassette assembly of claim 3 wherein a cassette assembly alignment and/or guidance feature is defined on a rear surface of a back wall of the cassette frame, the cassette assembly alignment and/or guidance feature configured to receive at least one guide post of the mounting structure to align and/or guide the cassette assembly into the installed position.

5 . The cassette assembly of claim 4 wherein the cassette assembly alignment and/or guidance feature comprises two columns of a plurality of pins defining a space therebetween that is sized and configured to receive the guide post.

6 . The cassette assembly of claim 1 wherein the cassette frame comprises an upper display bracket at an upper portion of the cassette frame and a lower display bracket at a lower portion of the cassette frame, and wherein:
an upper portion of the display is held between the delethalization cover and the upper display bracket; and
a lower portion of the display is held between the delethalization cover and the lower display bracket.

7 . The cassette assembly of claim 6 wherein the cassette frame comprises a gasket member coupled to the upper and lower display brackets, the gasket member holding the delethalization cover adjacent and/or against the display and extending along the entire outer periphery of the display.

8 . The cassette assembly of claim 7 wherein an upper portion of the delehalization cover extends above the upper portion of the display and a lower portion of the delethalization cover extends below the lower portion of the display, and wherein, in the installed position:
the upper portion of the delethalization cover is adjacent and/or abuts an upper recessed surface of the mounting structure; and
the lower portion of the delethalization cover is adjacent and/or abuts a lower recessed surface of the mounting structure.

9 . The cassette assembly of claim 8 wherein:
the mounting structure comprises first and second opposite inner side surfaces, an upper inner surface that extends orthogonally away from the upper recessed surface, and a lower inner surface that extends orthogonally away from the lower recessed surface; and
in the installed position, the cassette frame and/or the display are held between the first and second opposite inner side surfaces, the upper inner surface and the lower inner surface of the mounting structure.

10 . The cassette assembly of claim 1 wherein the cassette frame comprises a back wall, and wherein the one or more electronic components are mounted to the back wall.

11 . The cassette assembly of claim 1 wherein the delethalization cover has an elongated opening defined therein, the cassette assembly further comprising a connectivity port assembly including a front surface with a plurality of connectivity ports defined therein, and wherein the connectivity port assembly is configured to be releasably coupled to the cassette frame so that the front surface of the connectivity port is flush with a front surface of the delethalization cover.

12 . The cassette assembly of claim 1 wherein the display comprises a touch sensitive screen and wherein the delethalization cover comprises tempered glass that does not substantially reduce a touch sensitivity of the touch sensitive screen.

13 . The cassette assembly of claim 1 wherein, in the installed position, the display extends substantially the entire width of the seatback to provide edge to edge video.

14 . The cassette assembly of claim 1 wherein the display has a diagonal length of at least 20 inches.

15 . A system comprising:
a mounting structure in the seatback of an aircraft seat, the mounting structure comprising a seat frame member and a cassette bezel coupled to the seat frame member; and a cassette assembly comprising:
a cassette frame;
a display coupled to the cassette frame;
one or more electronic components between the cassette frame and the display; and
a delethalization cover coupled to the display;
wherein the cassette assembly is sized and configured to be releasably mounted in an installed position in the mounting structure.

16 . The system of claim 15 wherein:
the seat frame member comprises a lower cross member comprising first and second lower fasteners extending into a lower portion of the cassette bezel;
the seat frame member comprises an upper cross member comprising first and second upper fasteners extending into an upper portion of the cassette bezel;
the cassette frame comprises a first lower bracket having a first lower aperture defined therein extending from a first sidewall of the cassette frame and a second lower bracket having a second lower aperture defined therein extending from a second, opposite sidewall of the cassette frame;
the cassette frame comprises a first upper bracket having a first upper aperture defined therein extending from the first sidewall of the cassette frame and a second upper bracket having a second upper aperture defined therein extending from the second sidewall of the cassette frame; and
in the installed position, the first lower fastener is received and the first lower aperture, the second lower fastener is received in the second lower aperture, the first upper fastener is received in the first upper aperture and the second upper fastener is received in the second upper aperture.

17 . The system of claim 16 wherein at least one of the upper and lower cross members comprises a locator post extending therefrom, and wherein two parallel columns of pins defining a space therebetween extend from a rear surface of the cassette frame, the space between the columns of pins sized and configured to receive the locator post to align and/or guide the cassette assembly into the installed position.

18 . The system of claim 15 wherein:
the cassette frame comprises a gasket member that holds the delethalization cover adjacent and/or against the display;
the delethalization cover comprises an upper portion that extends above a top of the display;
the delethalization cover comprises a lower portion the extends below a bottom of the display;
the cassette bezel comprises an upper recessed surface, a lower recessed surface, and first and second opposed inner side surfaces each extending between the upper recessed surface and the

Assignees

• Thales Avionics Inc

Inventors

• Everhart Jeffrey S
• Salazar Lori Elizabeth
• Darvell John Howard

Classifications

• H05K5/0204

  Mounting supporting structures on the outside of casings · CPC title

• H05K5/0017

  with operator interface units · CPC title

• B64D11/00151 Primary

  Permanently mounted seat back monitors · CPC title