AIRCRAFT SECURITY

• US 20100109912A1
• Filed: 10/31/2008
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saf-T-Glo Limited
• Original Assignee: Saf-T-Glo Limited
• Inventors: O'kell, Sean Patrick, Stokes, Peter David
• Granted Patent: US 8,044,825 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 27/001 Signalling to an emergency team, e.g. firemen

Abstract

An aircraft has a passenger cabin security alert system for alerting authorised personnel (flight crew) in the flight deck to a problem in the passenger cabin. The system employs portable wireless transmitter units suitable to be carried or worn on the person of authorised personnel (cabin crew) in the passenger cabin. Each transmitter unit is adapted to transmit a warning signal when actuated that is received by detector units that communicate with control means operable to determine the position P in the passenger cabin of the transmitter unit that has been actuated. The control means activates an alert unit in the flight deck to indicate the existence and position of the problem to authorised personnel (flight crew) in the flight deck.

Claims

1. An aircraft comprising a flight deck, a passenger cabin isolated from the flight deck by a bulkhead, and a passenger cabin security alert system for alerting authorised personnel (flight crew) in the flight deck to a problem in the passenger cabin, the system comprising a plurality of portable wireless transmitter units, each transmitter unit being suitable to be carried or worn on the person of authorised personnel (cabin crew) in the passenger cabin and being adapted to transmit a warning signal when actuated, and means arranged to receive a warning signal transmitted by a portable transmitter unit, determine the position in the cabin area of the portable transmitter unit that has been actuated and activate an alert unit in the flight deck for indicating the existence and position of the problem to authorised personnel (flight crew) in the flight deck.

2. An aircraft according to claim 1 wherein, the receiver means comprises a plurality of detector units including a master control module and at least one relay module, each unit being capable of detecting a warning signal transmitted by a portable transmitter unit, and control means responsive to detection of the warning signal by at least two units for determining the location of the portable transmitter unit within the cabin area.

3. An aircraft according to claim 2 wherein the control means includes a microprocessor for handling information/data received from the detector units and determining the position of the transmitter unit that has generated the warning signal received by the detector units, and wherein the warning signal transmitted by each transmitter unit is unique to that unit and the control means is configured to recognise and distinguish between different signals.

4. An aircraft according to claim 2 wherein, the at least one relay module detects and forwards the warning signal to the master control module by a hard wired link or by a wireless link.

5. An aircraft according to claim 1 wherein the alert unit provides a visual and/or audible warning of the existence of a problem in the cabin area following detection of a warning signal.

6. An aircraft according to claim 1 wherein the alert unit provides a visual and/or audible indication of the position in the cabin area of the transmitter unit that has been actuated to generate the detected warning signal.

7. An aircraft according to claim 6 wherein, the alert unit includes a screen providing a visual display of the cabin area and the position of the transmitter unit in the cabin area that has been actuated.

8. An aircraft according to claim 1 wherein the alert unit provides a visual and/or audible indication of the identity of the transmitter unit that has been actuated to generate the detected warning signal.

9. An aircraft according to claim 8 wherein the warning signal transmitted by each transmitter unit includes an identification code unique to that transmitter unit by means of which the control means can identify the transmitter unit and its position in the cabin area.

10. An aircraft according to claim 1 wherein the cabin security alert system includes one or more of a re-set function to cancel the warning signal when the problem no longer exists and return the system to a stand-by condition, a mute function to switch-off the alert warning after it has been generated, a self-test function for checking the system is operational, and a memory function to log and store information/data relating to the status and operation of the system on a continuous or intermittent basis.

11. An aircraft according to claim 10 wherein the self-test function includes means in the flight deck area such as a test button on the alert unit to generate a warning signal in the cabin area for detection and display.

12. An aircraft according to claim 10 wherein the memory function is accessible locally or remotely to retrieve stored information/data.

13. An aircraft according to claim 3 wherein the control means is responsive to receipt of the warning signal to generate a confirm signal that is received by the portable transmitter unit that generated the warning signal to confirm receipt of the warning signal.

14. An aircraft according to claim 13 wherein the confirm signal causes the portable transmitter unit to vibrate.

15. An aircraft according to claim 3 wherein the control means is operable to generate an alert signal that is received by all the portable transmitter units.

16. An aircraft according to claim 1 wherein each portable transmitter unit is of a size and shape that can be held in the hand and includes means for generating and transmitting a warning signal, said means including a manually operable actuator requiring at least two inputs to activate the unit.

17. An aircraft according to claim 16 wherein the actuator is recessed into the unit and comprises two buttons configured to activate the unit by operating the buttons at or about the same time the unit and the actuator.

18. A passenger cabin security alert system for a passenger vehicle having a control section and a passenger section, the system comprising a plurality of portable wireless transmitter units, each transmitter unit being suitable to be carried or worn on the person of authorised personnel in the passenger section and being adapted to transmit a warning signal when actuated, and means arranged to receive a warning signal transmitted by a portable transmitter unit, determine the position in the passenger section of the portable transmitter unit that has been actuated and activate an alert unit in the control section for indicating the existence and position of the problem to authorised personnel in the control section.