Magnetic Connectors Improve Audio Quality for Airline Passengers
Magnetic connectors remove the frustrations passengers experience with erratic audio connections on airline entertainment systems. Airlines save money through reduced maintenance expense and reduced expenditure on headphones for passengers.
Palo Alto, CA, January 23, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Magnetic connectors remove the frustrations passengers experience with erratic audio connections on airline entertainment systems. On average, 10% of audio connectors in the seats of an aircraft have problems that include audio that fades in and out, audio that is missing in one stereo channel or no audio at all. Common causes of connector failures are passengers bumping against headphone cables that are plugged in, passengers leaving their seats with headphones still on their heads and people tripping over headphone cables as they pass between seats.
The new Herculeze BreakFree™ magnetic audio connectors address these problems through the use of magnetic forces instead of the detent mechanisms of conventional audio connectors. A BreakFree™ plug can be rapidly and forcibly removed at any angle thereby eliminating strains that normally cause damage to connectors. This means that audio jacks and headphones stay in service far longer while providing passengers with clear, enjoyable entertainment throughout their flights.
Herculeze Connectors undertook the development of their BreakFree™ series of connectors after researching audio problems on aircraft and interviewing maintenance supervisors at leading airlines. This research indicated that a large number of problems were being caused by the small components that comprise audio connectors. It was found that on some aircraft 17% of in-seat audio jacks are replaced each week.
In addition to the time maintenance personnel allocate to audio jack replacement, the operations of airlines are negatively impacted in other areas as well. For instance, flight attendants are often called upon to diagnose audio problems to be either in the audio jack in the seat-arm or a problem with the headphone and then document their findings for maintenance follow up. For those airlines that clean and repackage their headphones for future use, tests of workability often let headphones with intermittent faults back onto the aircraft only to have them fail again when back in the hands of a passenger.
Because the BreakFree™ magnetic connectors eliminate the majority of stress and strain that connectors and cables are normally subjected to, fewer of these problems arise. The benefits include more reliable audio delivered to passengers, maintenance personnel spend less time repairing audio systems, less money is spent on in-seat audio jacks, flight attendants receive fewer audio-related complaints and less money is spent on headphones.
BreakFree™ audio connectors are designed with a one pound (0.45 kilogram) magnetic holding force. This high force, in a small package, is achieved through the use of powerful, rare-earth magnets. This force securely mates the BreakFree™ plug with the BreakFree™ jack and allows normal cable movement while maintaining a static-free audio signal. As soon as the force exceeds one pound, the plug quickly disconnects without causing any damage or strain.
Testing of the BreakFree™ connectors has demonstrated useful life exceeds one hundred thousand (100,000) cycles in normal-use-mode. When subjected to abuse-tests such as very rapid disconnections the connectors exceed twelve thousand (12,000) cycles before functionality is compromised.
The company, Herculeze Connectors, develops and produces a variety of styles and mounting configurations of its magnetic connectors for use on aircraft. For further information, including demonstration videos of the Herculeze BreakFree™ magnetic connectors visit www.herculeze.com.
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The new Herculeze BreakFree™ magnetic audio connectors address these problems through the use of magnetic forces instead of the detent mechanisms of conventional audio connectors. A BreakFree™ plug can be rapidly and forcibly removed at any angle thereby eliminating strains that normally cause damage to connectors. This means that audio jacks and headphones stay in service far longer while providing passengers with clear, enjoyable entertainment throughout their flights.
Herculeze Connectors undertook the development of their BreakFree™ series of connectors after researching audio problems on aircraft and interviewing maintenance supervisors at leading airlines. This research indicated that a large number of problems were being caused by the small components that comprise audio connectors. It was found that on some aircraft 17% of in-seat audio jacks are replaced each week.
In addition to the time maintenance personnel allocate to audio jack replacement, the operations of airlines are negatively impacted in other areas as well. For instance, flight attendants are often called upon to diagnose audio problems to be either in the audio jack in the seat-arm or a problem with the headphone and then document their findings for maintenance follow up. For those airlines that clean and repackage their headphones for future use, tests of workability often let headphones with intermittent faults back onto the aircraft only to have them fail again when back in the hands of a passenger.
Because the BreakFree™ magnetic connectors eliminate the majority of stress and strain that connectors and cables are normally subjected to, fewer of these problems arise. The benefits include more reliable audio delivered to passengers, maintenance personnel spend less time repairing audio systems, less money is spent on in-seat audio jacks, flight attendants receive fewer audio-related complaints and less money is spent on headphones.
BreakFree™ audio connectors are designed with a one pound (0.45 kilogram) magnetic holding force. This high force, in a small package, is achieved through the use of powerful, rare-earth magnets. This force securely mates the BreakFree™ plug with the BreakFree™ jack and allows normal cable movement while maintaining a static-free audio signal. As soon as the force exceeds one pound, the plug quickly disconnects without causing any damage or strain.
Testing of the BreakFree™ connectors has demonstrated useful life exceeds one hundred thousand (100,000) cycles in normal-use-mode. When subjected to abuse-tests such as very rapid disconnections the connectors exceed twelve thousand (12,000) cycles before functionality is compromised.
The company, Herculeze Connectors, develops and produces a variety of styles and mounting configurations of its magnetic connectors for use on aircraft. For further information, including demonstration videos of the Herculeze BreakFree™ magnetic connectors visit www.herculeze.com.
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Contact
Herculeze Connectors
Henry C. DeBey
650-575-5934
Henry C. DeBey
650-575-5934
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