Abstract: An in-flight entertainment system provides live video/audio programming to passengers and operators over an aircraft video/audio distribution system. The programming signals are derived from intermediate frequency (IF) signals that are produced by frequency downconverting satellite broadcast signals and supplied over a pair of IF signal output cables. The control signals and the DC power used in the frequency downconversion process are received over the same IF signal output cables, but in a reverse direction. A bias-T connector is provided in each of the IF signal output cables to extract out the control signals and the DC power.

Abstract: An in-flight entertainment system provides live video/audio programming to passengers and operators over an aircraft video/audio distribution system. The programming signals are derived from satellite broadcast signals that may be in either circular polarized form or linear polarized form. The broadcast signals are collected by two probes and extracted as right and left circular polarized signals. The right and left circular polarized signals are converted into either circular or linear polarized IF signals, and the IF signals are processed by a receiver/decoder unit to produce the live video/audio programming signals.

Abstract: A lightning protection element is incorporated into the portion of an aircraft signal distribution system which connects an antenna to flight critical equipment. The lightning protection element rejects surge currents associated with direct lightning strikes on the antenna, or its surrounding radome, while passing communication signals without significant interference with those signals. In a preferred embodiment, the lightning protection element comprises an optical fiber isolator element. A segment of optical fiber in the isolator prevents surge currents associated with the lightning strikes from reaching the equipment while passing communications signals transmitted on the signal distribution system.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a moving receiver station capable of receiving broadcast entertainment signals from a first geostationary satellite associated with a first program provider, or from a second geostationary satellite associated with a second program provider. The receiver station is part of an aircraft and includes a tracking antenna and switching and control system that locks the tracking antenna on either the first or second satellite. The switching and control system receives position information, program attribute information and satellite coverage area information to determine when the aircraft is leaving one coverage area and entering another. The switching and control system switches the antenna to the second satellite when the aircraft enters the second coverage area, and limits the availability of received programming based on whether the aircraft is leaving the first coverage area or entering the second coverage area.