Cabin situation alert system

• US 20030132859A1
• Filed: 01/14/2002
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard L. Bissett
• Original Assignee: Richard L. Bissett
• Inventors: Bissett, Richard L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,819,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0059 by communicating emergency situations to ground control or between crew members
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/008 with transmission via TV or radio broadcast

Abstract

Each flight attendant would carry a small portable receiver/transmitter device, similar in size to a pager, and a central receiver/transmitter located in the cockpit. Each portable receiver/transmitter has a numerical designation (1, 2, 3, etc.) which is unique to that one device. The portable receiver/transmitter has two buttons (yellow alert and red alert), a numerical display, indicator lights, and a vibrator. In a developing situation, a nearby flight attendant presses either the yellow or red alert button (depending on the severity of the situation), producing a radio frequency (RF) signal. The central receiver/transmitter receives, processes, and re-broadcasts the signal to all other portable receiver/transmitters worn by flight attendants. The portable receiver/transmitters vibrate to alert the wearers to the situation. A light (either red or yellow) illuminates on all portable receiver/transmitters, and the numerical designation of the sending receiver/transmitter appears on the displays. In addition, a light corresponding to the sending receiver/transmitter'"'"'s numerical designation appears on the central receiver/transmitter, as well as an audible alarm sound.

Claims

1. An aircraft mounted cabin situation alert system (CSAS) comprising:

A central receiver/transmitter unit, and

a plurality of portable receiver/transmitter units (no fewer than two), and

hidden, guarded buttons in various locations in the aircraft, and

a system to prevent inadvertent removal of said portable receiver/transmitter units from the aircraft, and

optional instrument panel-mounted displays.

2. A central receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 1 which is mounted in the cockpit area of a commercial airliner and comprising means for receiving signals from said portable receiver/transmitter units.

3. A central receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 1 comprising means for displaying situation alert data from said portable receiver/transmitter units.

4. Means for receiving signals according to claim 2 comprising an antenna, a receiving assembly, and a processor section.

5. An antenna according to claim 4 which is shielded to prevent interference with other aircraft systems, and may be installed in various locations in the aircraft to facilitate ease of reciving signals from and transmitting signals to said portable receiver/transmitter units.

6. A receiving assembly according to claim 4 which is capable of detecting digitally coded radio frequency signals transmitted by said portable receiver/transmitters and supplying that detected signal to said processor section.

7. A processor section according to claim 4 which is capable of accepting a signal from said receiver assembly and providing appropriate data to said display.

8. A display according to claim 3 comprising a plurality of colored lights and an audible warning tone to attract the attention of the cockpit crew.

9. A central receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 3 providing means for the user to cancel any displayed information by means of controls on its front panel.

10. A central receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 1 which provides means to test, store, and recharge said portable receiver/transmitter units.

11. Means to test said portable receiver/transmitter units according to claim 10 comprising a push-to-test button mounted on the front panel of said central receiver/transmitter, and special circuitry allowing only the testing of said portable receiver/transmitter units which are physically inserted in said central receiver/transmitter.

12. Means to store and recharge said portable receiver/transmitter units according to claim 10 comprising recessed slots in the front panel of said central receiver/transmitter unit.

13. Recessed slots according to claim 12 comprising contact points to transfer electrical power from said central receiver/transmitter unit to recharge the batteries of said portable receiver/transmitter units.

14. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 1 having means to allow it to be worn on the person of a flight attendant or other cabin crewmember.

15. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 1 having a rechargable battery.

16. Means of allowing a flight attendant or other cabin crew to wear said portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 14 comprising either a lanyard attach point, or a belt clip.

17. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 1 having means to transmit a signal to said central receiver/transmitter unit.

18. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 1 having means to transmit a signal to said central receiver/transmitter unit,

and to other portable receiver other portable receiver/transmitter units.

19. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 17 having means to transmit a signal comprising at least two buttons, a coded identifier, a processor section, a transmitter section, and an antenna.

20. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 19 having at least two buttons, permitting the user to transmit a signal based on the severity of the situation (yellow alert or red alert).

21. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 1 having means to prevent inavertent actuation of said buttons.

22. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 21 having means to prevent actuation of said buttons comprising a removable cover.

23. A coded identifier according to claim 19 having means to program, by means of DIP switches, a digital value corresponding to a printed number on the face of said portable receiver/transmitter unit;

said coded identifier adapted to be used by other portable receiver/transmitter units and the central receiver/transmitter unit to identify which portable receiver/transmitter unit is activated.

24. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 19 having processor means for producing a pulse train composed of said coded identifier and a code based on the severity of the alert, and having routing means to rout it to said transmitter.

25. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 19 having acceptor means for accepting said pulse train and for adding it to a radio frequency signal.

26. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 19 having an antenna which is an integral part of said portable receiver/transmitter unit, which antenna is capable of propagating said signal to the far end of the aircraft.

27. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 1 having means to receive, decode, and display information transmitted by other portable receiver/transmitter units.

28. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 25 having means to receive information comprising an antenna, a receiver section, and a processor section.

29. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 28 wherein said antenna has detecting means for detecting a signal from another portable receiver/transmitter unit at the far end of the aircraft, and rourting means for routing said signal to said receiver section.

30. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 29 wherein said detecting means for removing the intelligence from said signal and said routing means comprises a pulse train to said processor section.

31. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 27 wherein said means to display comprises and a digital display mounted on the face of said portable receiver/transmitter unit.

32. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 27 wherein said means to display comprises lights including at least one indicator light, at least one one of which illuminates depending on the severity of the situation that is broadcast by said sending portable receiver/transmitter unit.

33. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 31 in which said digital display displays the number of the sending portable receiver/transmitter unit.

34. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 1 having means to provide a tactile alert to the wearer in the event another portable receiver/transmitter unit is activated.

35. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 1 wherein said tactile elert comprises a vibrator assembly.

36. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 1 wherein said tactile alert comprises hidden, guarded buttons located at strategic points within the aircraft.

37. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 36 wherein said tactile alert comprises hidden, guarded buttons located at strategic points within the aircraft.

38. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 36 wherein said tactile alert buttons included a cover to guard against accidental activation.

39. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 1 comprising means to prevent inadvertent removal of said portable receiver/transmitter units according to claim 1, comprising sensors mounted at in aircraft doorways.

40. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 39 wherein said sensors have sending means to send a signal to said portable receiver/transmitter unit, and for activating its vibrator to alert the wearer that it is about to be removed from the aircraft.

41. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 40 wherein said sending means which will send a signal to said central receiver/transmitter unit to activate an aural alarm.

42. A portable receiver/transmitter unit according to claim 41 wherein said signal activates instrument panel-mounted displays which provide a visible indication of a potential emergency situation.