Touch sensitive input and display arrangement for controlling and monitoring aircraft cabin systems

• US 20020015063A1
• Filed: 05/31/2001
• Published: 02/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Riedel, Christian, Frey, Martin, Kopitzke, Kirsten, Holst, Joerg
• Granted Patent: US 6,988,246 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/810
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00 Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

A monitoring and control device includes a touch sensitive LCD screen, with a basic layout including a display area and touch sensitive keys depicted with associated system and function symbols. A main menu or any one of plural system menus can be selectively displayed in the display area. The system menus relate to cabin systems such as audio, lighting, and water systems. The selected system menu displays status information and touch input keys for the user to monitor the status and to select and control the operation of the system. The main menu is a top level window providing essential information regarding all of the cabin systems and allows a user to select any one of the system menus. The device is compact, user-friendly, and adaptable to various system requirements by mere software reprogramming. The displays and input keys are all virtual elements generated by software.

Claims

1. An arrangement for monitoring the status of and controlling the functions of aircraft cabin systems selected from a cabin information system, a cabin audio system, a cabin video system, a cabin lighting system, a cabin air conditioning system, a cabin smoke detector system, an aircraft door monitoring system, and a water supply and wastewater system,

wherein said arrangement comprises a user interface panel comprising a liquid crystal display screen and a touch sensitive surface input arrangement superimposed at least partly over said display screen,

wherein said user interface panel includes a basic layout including a general display area of said display screen and a plurality of touch input keys respectively labeled with system or function identifying symbols,

wherein said arrangement further comprises a first system menu associated with a first one of said cabin systems and a second system menu associated with a second one of said cabin systems,

wherein said first system menu can be selectively displayed on said general display area whereby said first system menu shows status information and operating functions of said first cabin system and allows a user to select and control said operating functions of said first cabin system via said touch sensitive surface input arrangement, and

wherein said second system menu can be selectively displayed on said general display area whereby said second system menu shows status information and operating functions of said second cabin system and allows a user to select and control said operating functions of said second cabin system via said touch sensitive surface input arrangement.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said touch input keys respectively comprise respective touch input areas of said touch sensitive surface input arrangement, and said system or function identifying symbols are displayed on said display screen at locations respectively in registration with said touch input areas of said touch sensitive surface input arrangement.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said touch input keys are permanent physical input keys separate and distinct from said touch sensitive surface input arrangement.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a computer connected to said user interface panel, and software to be executed in said computer for generating and displaying at least said first system menu and said second system menu on said general display area, and for evaluating and processing touch input signals from said touch sensitive surface input arrangement to select and control said operating functions of said first and second cabin systems.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said arrangement further comprises a main menu that is linked between said basic layout and said system menus, can be selectively displayed on said general display area, depicts essential information representing system status about at least said first and second cabin systems, and allows the user to select a desired one of said first and second system menus from said main menu.

6. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said basic layout further includes a header line which displays an identification of a respective active one of said menus that is being displayed on said general display area.

7. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said touch input keys of said basic layout are maintained available and accessible to the user continuously and regardless which of said menus is being displayed on said general display area.

8. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said user interface panel comprises a versatile adaptable touch sensitive screen that incorporates both said display screen and said touch sensitive surface input arrangement.

9. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said first cabin system is said cabin audio system, said first system menu is a cabin audio system menu, and said cabin audio system menu includes display indicators and input buttons for the user to monitor, select and play pre-recorded announcements of said cabin audio system and to monitor and adjust an on-board music channel of said cabin audio system.

10. The arrangement according to claim 9, wherein said display indicators and said input buttons include a numerical display field and an input keypad, which enable the user to input a corresponding number to select a desired one of the pre-recorded announcements.

11. The arrangement according to claim 9, wherein said display indicators and said input buttons allow all of the pre-recorded announcements to be queued and played in sequence.

12. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said first cabin system is said cabin lighting system, said first system menu is a cabin lighting system menu, and said cabin lighting system menu includes display indicators and input buttons for the user to monitor, select and adjust said cabin lighting system respectively individually for various different areas in an aircraft cabin.

13. The arrangement according to claim 12, wherein said display indicators and input buttons provide three selectable brightness levels of illumination by said cabin lighting system in cabin entry zones in an aircraft cabin.

14. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said first cabin system is said aircraft door monitoring system, said first system menu is a door monitoring system menu, and said door monitoring system menu includes display indicators that represent each door and hatch of the aircraft and indicate a respective status thereof.

15. The arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a status menu that can be selectively displayed on said general display area, whereby said status menu displays status information respectively regarding all of said cabin systems.

16. The arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a programming menu that can be selectively displayed on said general display area, whereby said programming menu includes display indicators and input buttons to allow the user to program functions of a plurality of said cabin systems.

17. A method of operating the arrangement according to claim 5, comprising the following steps carried out by a user:

a) touching a respective one of said touch input keys labeled with a respective one of said system identifying symbols associated with a desired one of said system menus or said main menu to call up and display said desired one of said system menus or said main menu on said general display area;

b) if said main menu is displayed on said general display area, then touching a portion of said main menu corresponding to a desired one of said system menus on said touch sensitive surface input arrangement superimposed over said general display area;

c) when said desired one of said system menus is displayed on said general display area, touching a portion of said desired one of said system menus corresponding to a desired one of said operating functions on said touch sensitive surface input arrangement superimposed over said general display area so as to select and adjust said desired one of said operating functions of a desired one of said cabin systems associated with said desired one of said system menus.