Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02943519 2016-09-29
Aircraft Camera Viewing System
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to systems for viewing signals from cameras
mounted to the exterior
of a vehicle such as an airplane.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Flying in planes can be a claustrophobic experience for passengers. Due
to the structural
requirements the windows are quite small and the field of view limited. In
addition, those sitting
in the middle seats on larger passenger airplanes cannot even see out the
window, which may
induce anxiety for some passengers. Whereas children are generally not as
anxious as adults, they
would still prefer an unobstructed view from the plane's cockpit and be able
to see the ground
while the plane is airborne. Unless a passenger has a seat adjacent to a
window, he or she has a
very limited view of the outside world. Moreover, the cockpit is far less
accessible as a result of
newly implemented secure air passenger regulations.
[0003] Aircraft security is another relevant issue as terrorists may attack
the airplane from its
periphery, from which those aboard cannot detect such threats. Additionally,
in the event of an
airplane crash, further documentation is useful to those investigating what
took place. Using
camera footage from the airplane's exterior, passengers may view the stars at
night, and may be
shown advertisement, allowing for unique marketing potential.
[0004] The in-flight view as it stands is very limited, showing passengers
only an icon on a map.
Additionally, the Field of View [FoV] from the cockpit is limited and only
people with the window
seat have access to the view albeit limited as it is. An external camera
system would provide
everyone with access to a broader, more pleasing view of the flight no matter
where they are
positioned.
[0005] Therefore, there is a need for a camera system mounted on the plane's
exterior, so that
passengers may view from various angles of the airplane.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In an embodiment of the invention, a system for enabling passengers to
observe the
surroundings of an aircraft has one or more weatherproof cameras mounted on an
external surface
of the aircraft; a network switch in communication with the one or more
cameras, configured to
receive and transmit the signal from the one or more cameras; a control unit
in communication
with the switch configured to process the camera signals into camera images;
and one or more
digital devices to which the camera images are transmitted from the control
unit, configured to
display the camera images.
[0007] In an embodiment, the cameras are encased in polycarbonate. The cameras
may show a
cockpit view, and/or show starboard and port views, and/or show front and rear
views, and/or show
top and bottom views. The camera images may be transmitted by wireless signal,
and the control
unit may restrict the transmission of the camera images.
[0008] A system for enabling passengers to observe the surroundings of an
aircraft has one or
more weatherproof cameras mounted on an external surface of the aircraft; a
network switch in
communication with the one or more cameras, configured to receive and transmit
the signal from
the one or more cameras; a control unit in communication with the switch
configured to process
the camera signals into camera images; and an in-flight entertainment system
to which the camera
images are transmitted from the control unit, configured to display the camera
images.
[0009] A method for enabling passengers to observe the surroundings of an
aircraft, has the steps
of: capturing surroundings of an aircraft with a camera to produce a camera
signal; transmitting
the camera signal to an encoder to encode the signal; transmitting the signal
to the control unit
wherein the camera signal is converted into a camera image; and transmitting
the camera images
from the control unit to the in-flight entertainment and one or more portable
digital devices.
[0010] The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the invention, will
be apparent from
the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the
invention, the
accompanying drawings, and the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects
and advantages
thereof, reference is now made to the ensuing descriptions taken in connection
with the
accompanying drawings briefly described as follows.
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[0012] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagrams of presently preferred embodiments of an
external viewing
system for an aircraft, according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0013] Fig. 2 is a flow chart showing the data flow of the system; and
[0014] Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing the steps of a method for an external
viewing system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Preferred embodiments of the present invention and their advantages may
be understood
by referring to Figures 1 ¨ 2 wherein like reference numerals refer to like
elements.
[0016] With reference to Figure 1, the airplane 2 has a number of external
cameras 5 which permit
color or black & white images from a cockpit view (camera 7), a starboard view
(camera 9), a port
view (camera 11), aft view (camera 13), and downward view (camera 15) from the
belly of the
plane. The cameras 5 are weatherproof and in an embodiment are sealed within
polycarbonate
enclosures 16 for protection. The cameras may have a dedicated power system,
and resolution up
to 1080p or greater. In addition, to reduce perforation of the aircraft
fuselage, the cameras may
include streaming capabilities through wireless networking, for example Wifi,
Bluetooth, or
Ethernet. The cameras may also have image stabilization features to avoid
jerkiness. They feed
into a network switch 18, such as an Ethernet switch. A wired switch is
preferable to reduce
conflict between wireless signals emitting from the other systems in the
aircraft. However wireless
signals, such as Bluetooth and Wifi are useful where there is no interference
with other aircraft
systems. Although basic wireless transmission may occur through hardwire
Ethernet cables,
Wireless transmission has the benefit of reducing perforations in the
fuselage. Wi-Fi transmissions
would most likely run through a 5.1 channel to remove the possibilities of
direct interference with
any technology whether it be personal or airline related.
[0017] The cameras 5 may be visible-light cameras, or may have infrared or
ultraviolet
components. The camera signals are transmitted from the network switch 18 to
the primary system
control unit, which converts the raw video signals into viewable image
signals. In an embodiment,
this conversion takes place within the camera. The crew may manage the system
through the crew
panel 24 which gives an overview interface of the system, including the images
being transmitted
by each of the cameras 5, as well as being able to control whether each of the
signals is available
for viewing at a given time. A master override may be available with the
possibility of restricting
which cameras are available to view at any given time, in the event that a
camera is needed to be
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disabled for any reason. For example, during flight the cockpit camera may be
unavailable to
restrict outsider knowledge of cockpit activity.
[0018] The camera signals are also transmitted through the in-flight
entertainment system (IFES)
27 to seat-back displays 30, wherein the passenger can cycle through the
camera views to receive
their view of choice, for example an unimpeded view downwardly from the belly
of the aircraft.
The camera signals may also be transmitted through a Wifi router 32 to
portable wireless devices
within the airplane, allowing a passenger to view the camera views one at a
time, or all at once.
[0019] With reference to Figure 2, in an embodiment, the system would have a
secured network,
with accessibility only through authorized channels or applications to avoid
unauthorized
connections. In an embodiment the system would not be connected to any part of
the plane's
electronics, other than the in-flight entertainment system, to avoid any
unnecessary security
complications that might arise. The camera signals may be tracked by the black
box flight recorder.
In step 38, the video is captured by cameras mounted on or near the surface of
the aircraft, viewing
the surroundings. In step 40, the camera signal is encoded. In step 42, the
transmission is send by
WiFi (step 46) or Ethernet (step 44), and in step 48 the signal is transmitted
to the central control.
From the central control, the signal is either transmitted through the in-
flight entertainment system
in step 51, or through Bluetooth/WiFi in step 52 to mobile devices in step 53.
[0020] With reference to Figure 3, the steps of a method for transmitting an
outward projecting
view of an airplane are as follows: in step 50, photographing an outward
projecting view from
the body of an airplane; in step 55, transmitting a signal of the outward
projection to an encoder,
in step 60, transmitting the camera signal via Wi-Fi or similar wireless
communications to a
central control unit, and in step 65, transmitting the signal from the central
control unit to the in-
flight entertainment system. Alternatively, the camera signal may be
transmitted from the central
control unit via wireless network to mobile devices.
[0021] The method may have the further steps of transmitting the signal to
passenger wireless
devices by WiFi and/or controlling the cameras that are viewed from a crew
panel. The in-flight
entertainment system may have the further step of displaying the views on one
or more seat-back
displays.
[0022] The invention has been described herein using specific embodiments for
the purposes of
illustration only. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the
art, however, that the
principles of the invention can be embodied in other ways. Therefore, the
invention should not be
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regarded as being limited in scope to the specific embodiments disclosed
herein, but instead as
being fully commensurate in scope with the following claims.
