Bruce Minoru Wakai

US Patent:

59737220, Oct 26, 1999

Filed:

Sep 16, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/716541

Inventors:

Bruce Minoru Wakai - Cypress CA
Robert Troxel - Brea CA
Marc Booth - La Habra CA
Kaz Takata - Placentia CA
Karen Evensen - Lake Forest CA
Loi Ninh - Ranch CA

Assignee:

Sony Corporation - Tokyo
Sony Trans Com Inc. - Irvine CA

International Classification:

H04N 716

US Classification:

348 8

Abstract:

An in-flight passenger entertainment system has a first digital network for communication among components of a headend system including a data server, media controller, one or more media servers, system interface unit, system manager unit and attendant control panel. The in-flight entertainment system is coupled to an aircraft's existing systems through the system interface unit and the system manager unit. The components of the headend system are all coupled to a network switch for routing data within the first network. The network switch is also coupled to one or more zone bridge units, each of which is coupled to multiple seat electronics units. The zone bridge units and the seat electronics units together form a second digital network. The first digital network is preferably an ATM network with fibre optic cables used to carry the data. The second digital network is preferably an IEEE 1394 serial bus network.

US Patent:

59534290, Sep 14, 1999

Filed:

May 27, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/863448

Inventors:

Bruce M. Wakai - Cypress CA
John E. Lemmer - Laguna Hills CA
William Arlington Frost - San Juan Capistrano CA

Assignee:

Matsushita Avionics Systems Corporation - Irvine CA

International Classification:

H04B 300

US Classification:

381 77

Abstract:

A passenger entertainment system employing an improved digital audio signal distribution system and method for use on commercial aircraft and other vehicles. A plurality of digital audio signal sources are provided for generating a plurality of compressed digital audio signals. The compressed digital audio signals are provided to a multiplexer which domain multiplexes those signals to produce a single composite digital audio data signal. The composite digital audio data signal is provided to a demultiplexer which is capable of selecting a desired channel from the composite digital audio data signal. The selected channel is provided to a decompression circuit, where it is expanded to produce a decompressed digital output signal. The decompressed digital output signal is then provided to a digital-to-analog converter and converted to an analog audio signal. The analog audio signal is provided to an audio transducer.

US Patent:

55966470, Jan 21, 1997

Filed:

Jun 1, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/071218

Inventors:

Bruce M. Wakai - Cypress CA
John E. Lemmer - Laguna Hills CA
William A. Frost - San Juan Capistrano CA

Assignee:

Matsushita Avionics Development Corporation - Irvine CA

International Classification:

H04J 302

US Classification:

381 77

Abstract:

A passenger entertainment system employing an improved digital audio signal distribution system and method for use on commercial aircraft and other vehicles. A plurality of digital audio signal sources are provided for generating a plurality of compressed digital audio signals. The compressed digital audio signals are provided to a multiplexer which domain multiplexes those signals to produce a single composite digital audio data signal. The composite digital audio data signal is provided to a demultiplexer which is capable of selecting a desired channel from the composite digital audio data signal. The selected channel is provided to a decompression circuit, where it is expanded to produce a decompressed digital output signal. The decompressed digital output signal is then provided to a digital-to-analog converter and converted to an analog audio signal. The analog audio signal is provided to an audio transducer.

US Patent:

56173318, Apr 1, 1997

Filed:

Jun 7, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/480666

Inventors:

Bruce M. Wakai - Cypress CA
John E. Lemmer - Laguna Hills CA
William A. Frost - San Juan Capistrano CA

Assignee:

Matsushita Avionics Development Corporation - Irvine CA

International Classification:

H04H 102

US Classification:

364514A

Abstract:

A passenger entertainment system employing an improved digital audio signal distribution system and method for use on commercial aircraft and other vehicles. A plurality of digital audio signal sources are provided for generating a plurality of compressed digital audio signals. The compressed digital audio signals are provided to a multiplexer which domain multiplexes those signals to produce a single composite digital audio data signal. The composite digital audio data signal is provided to a demultiplexer which is capable of selecting a desired channel from the composite digital audio data signal. The selected channel is provided to a decompression circuit, where it is expanded to produce a decompressed digital output signal. The decompressed digital output signal is then provided to a digital-to-analog converter and converted to an analog audio signal. The analog audio signal is provided to an audio transducer.