Abstract: An IEEE 1394 cable includes two individually shielded twisted data pairs of wires, carrying differential signals TPA and TPB, and two power conductors, carrying power signals VP and VG. The two twisted data pairs of wires are each individually shielded by a braided shield. The cable also includes an overall braided shield and a no smoke, no halogen, flame retardant jacket. Preferably, the cable has a length of 4.5 meters and includes 26 gauge wire for the two twisted data pairs. Longer, alternate embodiments of the cable incorporate heavier gauge wire for the two twisted data pairs. Preferably, the gauge wire used for the two power conductors is constant for the different lengths of cable. An active disconnect is used to provide an active repeater between IEEE 1394 cables. The active disconnect provides ports, into which cables are connected, and a physical connection including electronics necessary to form an active node on the IEEE 1394 serial bus.

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.

Abstract: An IEEE 1394 cable includes two individually shielded twisted data pairs of wires, carrying differential signals TPA and TPB, and two power conductors, carrying power signals VP and VG. The two twisted data pairs of wires are each individually shielded by a braided shield. The cable also includes an overall braided shield and a no smoke, no halogen, flame retardant jacket. Preferably, the cable has a length of 4.5 meters and includes 26 gauge wire for the two twisted data pairs. Longer, alternate embodiments of the cable incorporate heavier gauge wire for the two twisted data pairs. Preferably, the gauge wire used for the two power conductors is constant for the different lengths of cable. An active disconnect is used to provide an active repeater between IEEE 1394 cables. The active disconnect provides ports, into which cables are connected, and a physical connection including electronics necessary to form an active node on the IEEE 1394 serial bus.

Abstract: An in-flight entertainment system includes several liquid crystal display (LCD) retract units mountable in a passenger service unit of aircraft. Each of the LCD retract units includes an input connector and an output connector arranged such that signals provided to the input connector appear at the output connector. A system control unit (SCU) is also provided. The SCU is configurable to provide video, power and control signals independently to the input connector of each of the LCD retract units and is also configurable to provide video, power and control signals to the input connector of only a first of the LCD retract units. In the second configuration, the input and output connectors of successive LCD retract units are connected in a daisy chain fashion such that the same signals are provided to each of the LCD retract units. In another aspect of the present invention, each of the plurality of LCD retract units includes status communications bus electronics such as RS-485.

Abstract: In low power audio and video applications, an audio/video signal converter converts balanced and unbalanced signals using a first converter which converts a balanced signal to an unbalanced signal and a second converter which converts an unbalanced signal to a balanced signal. The first and second converters may be selected (either separately or in any combination) based on any desired signal conversion. The input impedances, output impedances, and the gains, of each of the first and second converters, may be adjusted either manually or automatically, and either independently or jointly, for proper loading and termination of signals.

Abstract: A vehicle passenger information system, for example an inflight entertainment system, has a combination of improvements for reducing electromagnetic interference ("EMI") and electrostatic discharge ("ESD"). A microprocessor based system controller has a system controller chassis with a first conductive EMI shield layer, a low impedance aircraft chassis ground path directly electrically connected to the shield layer and to controller components. Additionally, a display unit has a chassis with a second conductive EMI shield layer enclosing a plurality of PCBs directly electrically connected to the shield layer. The display unit supports are grounded through a plurality of system connectors penetrating the display chassis and a low impedance display unit ground path directly electrically connects the two shield layers. A method of decreasing the EMI and ESD susceptibility of, and the levels of radiated EMI from, a vehicle entertainment system is also provided.

Abstract: A connector module for terminating a video signal for a monitor in an aircraft entertainment system is disclosed. The module includes a switch having a post that is movable between an extended position for terminating the video signal and a retracted position for enabling transmittance of the video signal through an output connector for the monitor. In addition, the module includes a lever rotatably attached adjacent to the output connector. The lever is rotatable to a terminating position wherein the lever is adjacent to the post to enable positioning of the post in the extended position. Further, upon attachment of the video cable to the output connector, the video cable contacts the lever to cause rotation of the lever against the post to move the post to the retracted position.