Simplified cabin services system for an aircraft

• US 20070061847A1
• Filed: 12/16/2005
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Laib, Trevor, Callahan, Kevin, Sanford, William, Mitchell, Bradley
• Granted Patent: US 8,166,506 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/76
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00155 Individual entertainment or communication system remote controls therefor, located in or connected to seat components, e.g. to seat back or arm rest
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

A cabin services system for an aircraft is disclosed. The cabin services system comprises at least one wireless network, the at least one wireless network providing at least one cabin service. The cabin services system further includes a cabin attendant panel for communicating with the at least one wireless networks and configured to control the at least one cabin service.

Claims

1. A cabin services system for an aircraft comprising:

at least one wireless network, the at least one wireless network providing at least one cabin service; and

a cabin attendant panel for communicating with the at least one wireless networks and configured to control the at least one cabin service.

2. The cabin services system of claim 1 wherein the at least one wireless network comprise:

a passenger service unit for communicating wirelessly with the cabin attendant panel; and

a passenger control unit for communicating wirelessly with the passenger service unit.

3. The cabin services system of claim 1 wherein the passenger service unit comprises:

a wireless receiver for communicating with the passenger control unit; and

a controller system for communicating with the receiver and for controlling the at least one cabin service.

4. The cabin services system of claim 3 wherein the at least one cabin service comprises any of a reading light, an attendant call light, an attendant call cancellation, and a personal air outlet.

5. The cabin services system of claim 3 wherein the controller system comprises:

a controller; and

a memory coupled to the controller.

6. The cabin services system of claim 3 wherein the passenger service unit is coupled to a mounting rail, wherein the mounting rail supplies power to each of the passenger service units in the seat group network.

7. The cabin services system of claim 6 wherein the passenger service unit includes an electrical contact assembly which is coupled to the mounting rail.

8. The cabin services system of claim 7 wherein the electrical contact assembly further includes an electrical spring and an insulating plastic support coupled to the electrical spring.

9. The cabin services system of claim 7 wherein the passenger service unit is clipped onto the mounting rail.

10. The cabin services system of claim 6 wherein the passenger service unit includes:

a first electrical circuit coupled to the mounting rail for allowing operation of essential functions while electrically connected to the mounting rail; and

a second electrical circuit coupled to the mounting rail for allowing operation of non-essential functions while electrically connected to the mounting rail.

11. The cabin services system of claim 10 wherein the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit operate alternately based upon the polarity of the power of the mounting rail.

12. The cabin services system of claim 10 wherein the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit operate concurrently.

13. A passenger service unit for providing cabin services in an aircraft in cooperation with a control unit, the passenger control unit including a plurality of switches and a wireless transmitter, the passenger service unit comprising:

a plurality of cabin services elements each configured to provide a cabin service and at least one of which corresponds to one of the switches of the control unit;

a wireless receiver configured to receive wireless control signals from the control unit; and

a controller in communication with the cabin services elements and the wireless receiver and configured to actuate the at least one of the service elements upon receipt of a control signal from the corresponding switch.

14. The passenger service unit of claim 13 wherein the plurality of cabin services comprises any combination of reading light, attendant call light, attendant call cancellation, and personal air outlet.

15. The passenger service unit of claim 13 wherein the controller system comprises:

a controller; and

a memory coupled to the controller.

16. The passenger service unit of claim 13 wherein the passenger service unit is coupled to a mounting rail, wherein the mounting rail supplies power to each of the passenger service units in a cabin services system.

17. The passenger service unit of claim 16 wherein the passenger service unit includes an electrical contact assembly which is coupled to the mounting rail.

18. The passenger service unit of claim 17 wherein the electrical contact assembly further includes an electrical spring and an insulating support coupled to the electrical contact spring.

19. The passenger service unit of claim 17 wherein the passenger service unit is clipped onto the mounting rail.

20. The passenger service unit of claim 16 wherein the passenger service unit includes:

a first electrical circuit coupled to the mounting rail for allowing operation of essential functions while electrically connected to the mounting rail; and

a second electrical circuit coupled to the mounting rail for allowing operation of non-essential functions while electrically connected to the mounting rail.

21. The passenger service unit of claim 20 wherein the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit operate alternately based upon the polarity of the power of the mounting rail.

22. The passenger service unit of claim 20 wherein the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit operate concurrently.

23. The passenger service unit of claim 13, wherein the passenger service unit is further operable to provide prognostic data to a system within the aircraft using one or more of the following methods:

sending the prognostic data over a power rail, transmitting the prognostic data wirelessly, or sending the prognostic data over wires.

24. The passenger service unit of claim 23, wherein the prognostic data comprises one or more of a signal strength of a transmitter that transmits to the passenger service unit, performance of a fan associated with a personal air outlet, or performance of a reading light.

25. The passenger service unit of claim 13, wherein the passenger service unit is operable to indicate that a component within the passenger service unit has failed by turning on or off a reading light or a light emitting diode (LED).

26. A seat group network for an aircraft comprising:

a passenger service unit for communicating wirelessly with the cabin zone unit; and

a passenger control unit for communicating wirelessly with the passenger service unit.

27. The seat group network of claim 26 wherein the passenger service unit comprises:

a wireless receiver for communicating with the passenger control unit; and

a controller system for communicating with the receiver and for controlling a plurality of functions.

28. The seat group network of claim 27 wherein the plurality of functions comprises any combination of reading light, attendant call light, attendant call cancellation, and personal air outlet.

29. The seat group network of claim 27 wherein the controller system comprises:

a controller; and

a memory coupled to the controller.

30. The seat group network of claim 27 wherein the passenger service unit is coupled to a mounting rail, wherein the mounting rail supplies power to the passenger service unit.

31. The seat group network of claim 30 wherein the passenger service unit includes an electrical contact assembly which is coupled to the mounting rail.

32. The seat group network of claim 31 wherein the electrical contact assembly further includes an electrical spring and an insulating support coupled to the electrical contact spring.

33. The seat group network of claim 31 wherein the passenger service unit is clipped onto the mounting rail.

34. The seat group network of claim 30 wherein the passenger service unit includes:

a first electrical circuit coupled to the mounting rail for allowing operation of essential functions while electrically connected to the mounting rail; and

a second electrical circuit coupled to the mounting rail for allowing operation of non-essential functions while electrically connected to the mounting rail.

35. The seat group network of claim 34 wherein the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit operate alternately based upon the polarity of the power of the mounting rail.

36. The seat group network of claim 34 wherein the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit operate concurrently.

37. The seat group network of claim 27 wherein an air supply for a plurality of personal air outlets is drawn directly from a passenger cabin of the aircraft.

38. The seat group network of claim 27 wherein an air supply for a plurality of personal air outlets is drawn from an air distribution system.

39. The seat group network of claim 27 wherein an air supply for a plurality of personal air outlets is drawn from an inlet of the personal air outlets being located in close proximity to an air distribution nozzle outlet associated with an air distribution system.

40. A method for configuring a passenger service unit in an aircraft;

the method comprising;

clearing a memory of the passenger service unit of all identifiers, wherein each of the identifiers provides an indication of a function being associated with a passenger control unit; and

sending at least one new identifier to associate the passenger service unit with an appropriate passenger control unit.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the at least one new identifier comprises at least one transmitter identifier.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein the clearing and sending steps are performed wirelessly.

43. The method of claim 40 wherein the sending step includes storing the at least one new identifier in the memory.

44. The method of claim 41 wherein the sending step includes storing the at least one transmitter identifier in the memory.

45. The method of claim 41 wherein the at least one transmitter identifier is sent to the passenger service unit based upon a telegram.

46. The method of claim 40 wherein the at least one identifier comprises a plurality of identifiers.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein a plurality of telegrams are sent and stored to associate a plurality of passenger control units with the appropriate passenger service unit.

48. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for configuring a passenger service unit in an aircraft;

the program instructions for;

clearing a memory of the passenger service unit of all identifiers, wherein each of the identifiers provides an indication of a function being associated with a passenger control unit; and

sending at least one new identifier to associate the passenger service unit with an appropriate passenger control unit.

49. The computer readable medium of claim 48 wherein the at least one new identifier comprises at least one transmitter identifier.

50. The computer readable medium of claim 48 wherein the clearing and sending steps are performed wirelessly.

51. The computer readable medium of claim 48 wherein the sending step includes storing the at least one new identifier in the memory.

52. The computer readable medium of claim 49 wherein the sending step includes storing the at least one transmitter identifier in the memory.

53. The computer readable medium of claim 49 wherein the at least one transmitter identifier is sent to the passenger service unit based upon a telegram.

54. The computer readable medium of claim 48 wherein the at least one identifier comprises a plurality of identifiers.

55. The computer readable medium of claim 54 wherein a plurality of telegrams are sent and stored to associate a plurality of passenger control units with the appropriate passenger service unit.

56. A wireless passenger service network for providing cabin services in an aircraft, the network comprising:

a service unit including;

a wireless receiver;

a controller operatively connected to the wireless receiver; and

a plurality of cabin service elements operatively connected to the controller and each configured to provide a cabin service; and

a control unit including;

a plurality of switches corresponding to a respective plurality of the cabin service elements; and

a wireless transmitter operatively connected to the switches and configured to transmit a control signal to the wireless receiver of the service unit when one of the switches is actuated to cause the controller to actuate the service element corresponding to the actuated switch.

57. An aircraft comprising a plurality of wireless passenger service networks each configured to provide cabin services and each including:

a service unit including a wireless receiver;

a controller operatively connected to the wireless receiver; and

a plurality of cabin service elements operatively connected to the controller and each configured to provide a cabin service; and

a control unit including;

a plurality of switches corresponding to a respective plurality of the cabin service elements; and

a wireless transmitter operatively connected to the switches and configured to transmit a control signal to the wireless receiver of the service unit when one of the switches is actuated to cause the controller to actuate the cabin service element corresponding to an appropriate activated switch.

58. An aircraft comprising a cabin services system configured to provide cabin services and including:

a plurality of wireless networks each including a passenger service unit having a plurality of cabin service elements each configured to provide a cabin service; and

a cabin attendant panel in wireless communication with the plurality of wireless networks and configured to control at least one of the cabin service elements.

59. A method of manufacturing an aircraft, the method comprising:

installing a plurality of wireless passenger service units each including a plurality of cabin service elements configured to respectively provide a plurality of cabin services, wherein the service units are installed such that the service elements are in operative proximity with a respective seat of the aircraft; and

installing a plurality of wireless passenger control units each including a plurality of switches respectively corresponding to a respective plurality of the cabin service elements, wherein the passenger control units are installed in operative proximity with a corresponding plurality of seats and in wireless operative proximity with a respective one of the passenger service units.